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#genshinluvr
genshinluvr · 11 months
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The Fallen Star
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: You wake up in a void and see someone towering over you. He's breathtaking and covers the sun and sky. One minute you are talking to him, but then you gain consciousness. You wake up to a silver-haired man giving you (failed) CPR, only to find yourself on the Xianzhou Luofu with four other people who soon later become your (temporary?) traveling companions.
Note: Welcome to my first Honkai Star Rail fanfiction! This work is part of a brand new series called "Brightest Star in the Universe." Yes, it's Isekai like the Genshin fics. This is going to be cross-posted on AO3 as well (like all of my fics). To be honest, I didn't think I was going to be posting a Honkai Star Rail series so soon, but here I am. Since there are unreleased characters in this series (Luocha and Blade), their personalities are going to be a bit out of character. Then again, most HSR men's personalities are going to be out of character for a bit until I'm familiar with all of them. I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Mentions of blood, but it's not bad
Word Count: 8.6k
The last thing you remembered before you woke up was a tall man towering over you, blocking the sun and sky from your view. He had silver-white hair and tanned skin, and his arms were in pieces, gold bleeding through the cracks over his body. He was beautiful, but his beauty intimidated you. The way he gazed at you, his eyebrows furrowed.
You felt yourself tremble beneath his gaze. Who was this man, and why was he bigger than the sun and sky? “Where am I? Who are you?” You whispered, your voice trembling with fear and confusion.
The world around you rumbled, making you wince and look around in panic. It took you a moment to realize that the huge man before you was chuckling. The man gazed at you with amusement before squatting down before you without taking his eyes off of you. Wait, does he even have legs?
“My name is not important, little one,” he replies. “You and I will meet again soon, but for now, it’s time for you to wake up from your slumber.”
You looked at him quizzically before scanning your surroundings. There was no one else but you and him. You and this man were in a vortex of some sort. The light is blocked out by his figure. You pinched yourself and winced in pain. What does he mean by ‘wake up from your slumber?’ Were you not awake the entire time?
You look at the man, only to see that he is still staring at you with an unreadable expression on his face. “What do you mean by that?” You whispered.
The silence in the void is deafening. Even if you whispered, your voice echoed in the abyss. You shifted in your spot before getting up from the ground. You dust your clothes off and gaze at the ginormous man before you, waiting for him to answer. The world around you slowly turns black, and the man nods at you before your vision turns black.
Just as you’re gaining consciousness, you hear voices around you. The voices are muffled, almost as if you’re underwater, and the voices of the people are above you and all over the place. Your ears are ringing, and your limbs feel like lead. You want to open your eyes, but your eyelids feel heavy.
“Are you sure they’re alive?” You hear a girl ask.
You hear a slow sigh coming from your left. “Of course, they’re alive, March. Can’t you see the steady rise and fall of their chest?” the male to your left asks.
“If they’re alive, then why are they not waking up? Aside from being unconscious, of course,” says March.
You feel someone tap your cheeks repeatedly. You groan and try to swat the hands away from your face, only for your hands to fall back to the ground. The girl named March lets out a loud gasp. 
The man beside you lets out a sigh. “March, can you go find Mr. Yang? In the meantime, Caelus and I will stand guard and make sure this person is okay,” he says.
‘March’ makes a disgruntled noise before stomping away. Something beneath you shifts, and you open your eyes to see a silver-haired man leaning down, his lips puckering. You open your mouth to say something, but the man covers your mouth with his. You let out a combination of a squeak and a gasp. The silver-haired man backs up and looks down at you with wide eyes, his fringe covering a part of his eyes. 
The silver-haired man blushes and clears his throat. “It’s good to see that you’re awake! Ahem… how are you feeling?” He asks.
You swallow the lump in your throat and slowly prop yourself up on your arms, rubbing the back of your neck. “I-I’m fine! Um… that’s an interesting way to wake someone up,” you said, giving the silver-haired man a sheepish smile. 
“I was trying to give you CPR, but that didn’t turn out how I thought it was going to,” replies the silver-haired man, his cheeks flushing red. He looks over at the black-haired man with a glare. The man with black hair looks away, his lips pressed into a thin line while his shoulders are shaking. The silver-haired man narrows his eyes at the black-haired man before punching him in the shoulders lightly, causing the man to grunt and let out a cough. Was he laughing? You sit up and look around, dazed and confused about how you ended up on a ship. Wait, is it a ship? Where are you?
You clear your throat and rub your throbbing temples. How did you end up on a ship? Or wherever you are. Gosh, you’re so out of it that you’re having a hard time figuring out where you’re at. You close your eyes, feeling a wave of nausea hit you like a train. One minute you were in a void with an extremely tall man that bleeds gold, and now you’re somewhere with two men at your side. One man is trying to stifle his laughter, while the other is almost as red as tomatoes. 
The red-faced silver-haired man clears his throat. “My name is Caelus, and the one that’s laughing beside us is Dan Heng,” Caelus says, nudging Dan Heng beside him with a small glare as if he’s telling Dan Heng to be quiet.
Dan Heng clears his throat before fixing his composure, crossing his arms over his chest. “How are you feeling? You were out cold when we found you on the Xianzhou Luofu,” says Dan Heng, staring at you emotionlessly.
“Other than a slight headache, I’m feeling okay. Confused, but okay nonetheless,” you reply. 
The two men stand up while you remain on the floor. You continue to take in your surroundings, eyes focusing on the stars hanging above you and the two men on this…. ship. You’re on a flagship… in space… traveling to who knows where. You look at the men behind you, pointing at your surroundings.
You clear your throat. “So, I was unconscious on the Xianzhou Luofu? That’s how you two found me?” You ask, rubbing your eyes while remaining on the ground. “Huh. How did I end up here?”
Rapid footsteps approach you, Dan Heng, and Caelus. You look up to see a pink-haired girl running toward the three of you, with a brown-haired man following close behind. The pink-haired girl’s eyes light up when the two of you make eye contact. You get up from the ground, dusting off your clothes.
The girl and brown-haired man stop before you. “Oh, goodie! You’re awake this time! I was starting to get worried!” She says, propping her hands on her hips. “Mr. Yang, this is the unconscious person I was telling you about! Well, they’re not unconscious anymore, but we stumbled across them when we split up while trying to look for Kafka.”
The brown-haired man— or Mr. Yang— strokes his chin while analyzing you from head to toe. You’re definitely not from the Xianzhou Luofu, and you’re certainly not from Jarlio-VI. 
The man hums before crossing his arms over his chest. “Do you know how you ended up here?” asks Mr. Yang.
You shake your head. “I don’t know how I ended up here. One minute, I was in a void with a man that towered over me, and now I somehow ended up on a ship.” You reply. 
Now that you said it out loud, you wouldn’t believe yourself if you were someone else. Would these people believe you? The pink girl hums thoughtfully, tilting her head to the side while gazing at you curiously.
“I’m March 7th, by the way! But you can call me March! This man here is Welt Yang!” She gestures to the brown-haired man beside her. “I’m assuming those two have introduced themselves to you already?”
You nod. “They have! Apologies for not introducing myself earlier, but my name’s [Y/N].” You say, rubbing the back of your neck with a sheepish smile.
You look at your surroundings. While you’re on the Xianzhou Luofu, you’re not entirely sure where you, Dan Heng, Caelus, Mr. Yang (should you call him by his first name or by his last name?), and March are precisely on the ship. Looking at your surroundings, all you see are boxes— you’re assuming they’re cargo of some sort. The air is nice and chilly, causing goosebumps to appear on your arms.
“We have to meet with General Jing Yuan. There are some things we still need to discuss with him,” Mr. Yang says, pulling his phone out to look at the time.
March points at you. “What do we do with [Y/N]? Do we bring them along with us as well?” asks March, looking at Mr. Yang for answers.
Your eyes widen, and you shake your head, waving your hands in front of you. “Oh, no! You don’t have to bring me along with you guys! Plus, you mentioned meeting with a general…. That sounds important, and I don’t want to intrude. After all, I am an outsider and, uh, don’t fit in this situation,” you said.
The five of them were heading to meet with the General of the Xianzhou Luofu. Dan Heng, Caelus, and March ended up stumbling across your unconscious body on the Xianzhou Luofu in an area where there aren’t many people roaming around. You sort of threw them off while they were headed toward their destination. Surely you can’t just tag along with them now, can you?
March huffs and frowns at you. “Hey! You’re not the only one who’s an outsider! The four of us aren’t from the Xianzhou Luofu either!” March interjects, stepping toward you and linking her arm around yours. “Besides! I think you should tag along with us either way! We don’t want to leave you behind, especially when you’re not from the Xianzhou Luofu! You are now a Trailblazer like us!” 
Mr. Yang sighs and pushes his glasses up. “Let’s go. We have no time to lose. [Y/N], we’ll talk about this after meeting with General Jing Yuan,” says Mr. Yang, looking in your direction.
You nod and follow after the group, setting off to the location where General Jing Yuan told them to meet. 
Upon arriving at the destination, you have concluded that you like the Xianzhou Luofu! Not only is it beautiful and vast, with a nice view of the universe, but you find the citizens of the Xianzhou Luofu interesting, and you’re curious about everything, really. 
Now that you think about it, the ship and the people you’re tagging along with feel familiar. You know what this place is; you know it! It’s on the tip of your tongue, but dealing with sudden scenery changes and the brain fog is throwing you off.
The grand doors open, and the five of you step into the room. You look around, eyes wide with wonder and curiosity. Many people are walking in and out of the room, people gathering around in one spot while others are tending to their duties on the ship. Mr. Yang, March, Dan Heng, Caelus, and you approach the white-haired man sitting on a chair. He seems to be occupied with the game of chess. You can’t tell if his blond opponent looks frustrated or focused. His eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes focused on the chessboard before the two of them. Hearing footsteps approaching their direction, the blond boy and white-haired man look at your group.
The white-haired man stands up, looking at the blond boy and nodding. The blond boy gets up from his seat and walks off, looking at your group from the corner of his eyes as he passes the five of you.
“I hope the journey wasn’t too complicated. It’s good to see you all again,” says the white-haired man.
Mr. Yang nods. “General Jing Yuan, it’s nice to see you again. We’re here to discuss the matters you wanted to speak to us about regarding the situation….” Mr. Yang’s voice slowly becomes muffled as you continue to look at your surroundings.
There are holograms of the people, you assume, that work on the Xianzhou Luofu! Holograms! You have never seen a hologram before, and it looks so cool! What was this place called again? You recalled that they were supposed to meet up at the general’s office, but the location was changed. Was the office called the Seat of the Divine Foresight? Although, with the number of people going in and out of the room, it’s certainly not the general’s office. Where in the world are you exactly? Gosh, it’s like you have the name on the tip of your tongue, but it’s not coming out.
“Care to introduce me to your new friend?” General Jing Yuan’s voice pulls you out of your thoughts.
You blink and look up to see General Jing Yuan looking right at you. You freeze in your spot like a deer in headlights, blinking at the white-haired man owlishly. A soft smile appears on his face, a low rumbling coming from his chest. You couldn’t help but feel intimidated by his presence. Such power and authority exude from the man standing before the five of you. 
Your face heats up when more people look in your direction. You clear your throat and stand there awkwardly, not sure what to do. Sure, you could introduce yourself to General Jing Yuan, but you were hoping he didn’t notice a new face around the Xianzhou Luofu. You point at yourself dumbly, blinking cluelessly at the man approaching you. Oh gosh, he’s walking toward you. 
General Jing Yuan nods. “Yes, I was talking to you. I’ve never seen you around the Xianzhou Luofu, nor have I seen you with Welt Yang and his traveling companions,” says General Jing Yuan, now standing in front of you.
Dear gosh, this man is standing right in front of you. He’s not a hologram. He’s flesh and blood. If you reach out right now, you would be touching him with your hands. You give General Jing Yuan a shy smile, face hotter than ever.
You raise your hand in an awkward wave before introducing yourself. “Hi! I, uh, my name’s [Y/N]! It’s a pleasure to meet you, General Jing Yuan!” You squeak.
General Jing Yuan lets out a hearty laugh. “It’s nice to meet you, [Y/N]. Please, just call me Jing Yuan. No need to call me General— General is merely a temporary title,” says Jing Yuan, giving you a cat-like smile.
Jing Yuan grabs your hand gently and raises your hand to his face before pressing a kiss on your knuckles without breaking eye contact. Dear gosh, it’s like this man wants your face to feel hotter than it already is. 
“Since when is he a flirt?” You hear March mutter to Caelus, Dan Heng, and Mr. Yang. 
Jing Yuan releases your hand while you stand there awkwardly while tucking your hair behind your ear. You give Jing Yuan a flustered smile before looking away after clearing your throat. Dan Heng sighs while Mr. Yang steps up, grabbing Jing Yuan’s attention. You take a step back and stand between Dan Heng and Caelus, refusing to look at them after feeling intense stares at your head.
“That was something,” Caelus comments, crossing his arms over his chest.
Dan Heng hums in agreement. “It really is, isn’t it? Who knew that the General of the Xianzhou Luofu has such a charm,” Dan Heng comments.
You clear your throat again. “Maybe it’s how people greet on the Xianzhou Luofu!” You say.
March scrunches her nose and shakes her head. “They don’t do that on the Xianzhou Luofu. We’ve visited a couple of times, but not once were we greeted like how the General greeted you, [Y/N],” March teases, giving you a cheeky smile.
While Mr. Yang and Jing Yuan are conversing with each other about the situation, Dang Heng, Caelus, and March would interject here and there while the two are speaking. As usual, since you’re not part of the conversation, you would space out and look at your surroundings. It’s tempting to wander off, but you stay where you’re standing and listen to their conversation.
The doors to the room fly open, and enter a man with long, blond hair and a brown-haired girl with pigtails. The girl looks mildly miffed, while the blond man looks pleased with himself as he follows the girl into the room with a giant casket behind him. You look at the casket in horror and look at Caelus, Dan Heng, and March. The trio did not seem to be phased by the fact that the blond man was carrying around a casket like it was a backpack. 
The blond man notices you’re staring at him, and he smiles at you, keeping a firm grip on the casket behind him. “I see you notice the coffin behind me,” he comments.
You nod in response. “Yeah! It’s, uh, hard to overlook it,” you reply.
The brown-haired girl huffs and crosses her arms over her chest with a deep frown on her face. “It’s strange, isn’t it?” asks the girl, looking in your direction.
You blink at her with surprise. “Ah, strange?” You squeak. 
What was she talking about? The man carrying a large casket with him, or was there something else you’re missing? After all, she did enter the room with the blond man, looking visibly peeved.
The brown-haired girl drags out a sigh, propping her right hand on her hip. “For a foreign trader like himself to be carrying a casket around so casually,” she replies. “I didn’t think it was a casket until I asked him about it.”
The blond man clears his throat. “This coffin isn't mine, Sushang. I was merely entrusted to take the body back to the Xianzhou Luofu,” the man says casually. “My name’s Luocha. As Sushang said, I am a foreign trader. Currently, I was tasked to return this casket to the Xianzhou Luofu.” He gestures to the casket behind him.
You stare at the casket and then look at the blond man, who raises his eyebrows at you with an amused look. It seems like Luocha knows what you want to ask him. What is in the casket? More importantly, who is in the coffin, and why does he need to deliver it back to the Xianzhou Luofu?
Luocha crosses his arms over his chest. “It’s alright if you want to ask who’s in the coffin. I’ve had a few people ask me the same question while on my journey to the Xianzhou Luofu,” says Luocha, looking at Sushang from the corner of his eyes.
You give Luocha a sheepish smile and shake your head. “No, no! I wasn’t going to ask you that question! I was wondering how you can carry a coffin around for so long without getting tired of it. You would think there would be an easier way to transport a casket,” you say.
You did wonder who was in the coffin. I mean, like Luocha said, he has had a few people ask him who (or what) was in the large casket behind him. As much as you’re curious, you don’t think it would be appropriate to ask since it’s none of your business, and it would be rude to ask.
Sushang looks at you curiously, examining you from head to toe. “You don’t look like you’re from the Xianzhou Luofu. Are you Dan Heng’s newly added traveling companion?” asks Sushang.
You make an uncertain noise, giving Sushang and Luocha a ‘so-so’ gesture. “Kind of! I… I’m not sure if now is the right time to explain the situation,” you murmur, turning to look at your new traveling companions.
March, Dan Heng, and Caelus shrug their shoulders simultaneously. You sigh and turn to look at Luocha and Sushang with a fake smile. Now would be a good time to leave the Xianzhou Luofu, but even if you were to leave the ship, would they (your temporary traveling companions) be okay with you tagging along? 
Sushang looks at you curiously. “Oh? Why do you seem uncertain about being their new traveling companions?” Sushang asks.
You press your lips into a thin line and rock back and forth on the balls of your feet. Would this be a good time to tell them (Sushang, Luocha, and Jing Yuan) about your situation? Maybe they’ll know the answer to it! Hopefully, they know the answer! You go on to tell Sushang and Luocha your situation: how you wake up to Caelus giving you CPR, and you find yourself on the Xianzhou Luofu despite not being from the Xianzhou Luofu. 
Sushang hums and strokes her chin, squinting her eyes at you while chewing on the inside of her cheek. “Do you have memory loss by any chance?” Sushang asks.
Your gaze falls to the ground after hearing her question. Now that you think about it, the last thing you remembered before waking up was being in the void with a man towering over you. He’s so huge that he covered the sun and sky! Should you mention that to them too? You don’t know the man’s name. He told you his name isn’t important, but you know that’s not the case.
“I guess? I don’t really know how I ended up here, really. The last thing I remembered before waking up was being in a void with this tall person, but then I gained consciousness, and here I am!” You say, shrugging your shoulders. 
They all probably think you’re crazy after explaining to them the last thing you saw before waking up to Caelus giving you CPR. You weren’t lying about being in a void with an extremely tall person. Technically, he wasn’t tall— he was a giant. They all look at you like you have just grown a second head. 
Mr. Yang walks over to the group and nods at you, Dan Heng, March, and Caelus. “Alright, General Jing Yuan has given me some information on what we need to do. So far, there aren’t many things to check on the Xianzhou Luofu, but we do have to stop by Jarlio-VI per Caelus’ request,” says Mr. Yang.
March looks at Mr. Yang quizzically. “Why stop by Jarlio-VI? We have already completed what we needed to do on Jarlio-VI,” says March, crossing her arms over her chest.
Caelus hands his phone over to March. March grabs Caelus’ phone and skims through the messages on Caelus’ phone. March sighs and nods, handing Caelus back his phone before propping her hands on her hips.
“Well, it looks like we’ll be seeing some familiar faces again!” March announces.
You look at the group cluelessly, rubbing your arm. Does that mean you’ll have to go to Jarlio-VI with the group as well? I mean, there’s nowhere else for you to go, really. The best option is to tag along with the people that found you unconscious.
March nudges you and gestures to follow her and the three men. “Let’s go! I’ll introduce you to Pom-Pom and Himeko! You’ll love them and the Astral Express!” March grins, grabbing your wrist and pulling you along.
The five of you wave to Sushang, Jing Yuan, and Luocha goodbye before walking out of the room. You didn’t know where they were leading you, but you assumed it was to an area where the four of them were dropped off before they found you unconscious on the ground of the Xianzhou Luofu. 
Right when the five of you are about to reach your destination (or, that’s what you’re assuming because you’re not familiar with the Xianzhou Luofu, nor are you sure where they’re taking you), a figure swoops in out of nowhere and snatches you from March’s grasp.
Everyone stops in their tracks and turns to look at the person holding you hostage. Your back is pressing against the man’s chest, and you feel the man press his sword up against your neck. March, Caelus, and Mr. Yang glare at the man behind you while Dan Heng looks like he just witnessed someone massacre everyone in his village. You swallow your fear and slowly turn your head to see a man with long, dark hair and red eyes. His eyes are focusing on the people standing in front of the two of you.
“So this is the fallen star Kafka mentioned,” the man mutters, looking down at you.
You blink at the man behind you and look at the others cluelessly. “Who is this man, and what does he mean by that?” You ask.
The man behind you tightens his grip around you, his arm wrapping across your chest while continuing to press the sword against your neck. March glares at the man behind you and seethes with anger.
“Let them go, Blade! Don’t involve them in anything!” March shouts.
Dan Heng takes a step closer toward you and Blade, only for Blade to take a step back, bringing you with him. Blade glares at Dan Heng and the others, pressing the edge of the sword against your neck. You close your eyes and visibly wince when the blade nicked your neck, causing a trail of blood to slowly trickle down. Dan Heng and Caelus glare at Blade, getting ready to step forward, when Mr. Yang grabs onto both of the men’s shoulders, shaking his head. 
Blade smirks and chuckles. “I wouldn’t step any closer if I were you. If you want them to come out unscathed, then you will comply with my and Kafka’s orders,” said Blade.
You nudge the man behind you. “What do you mean when you mentioned fallen star? I’m not a fallen star,” you grumble, glaring at Blade from the corner of your eyes. “And for your information, I didn’t come out unscathed.” You gesture to your neck.
One minute you were in a void with an enormous man before you, then you woke up to Caelus giving you CPR on the Xianzhou Luofu, and now you’re being held hostage by a man named Blade on the Xianzhou Luofu. Can this get any worse?
Blade huffs and tightens his grip around you, not taking his eyes off the people standing before you and him. “Two hours before your arrival to the Xianzhou Luofu, Kafka reported a strange light flying across the galaxy. That light was presumed to be a fallen star, and the light led to the Xianzhou Luofu. In case none of you realized it, the fallen star is this one right here,” says Blade, gesturing to you.
You furrow your eyebrows after hearing Blade’s explanation. You have to be honest here; whatever Blade just said to you, Mr. Yang, Dan Heng, Caelus, and March, it sounds ridiculous. You? A fallen star? What does that even mean? You fell out from the sky and somehow ended up on the Xianzhou Luofu? Not only does it sound ridiculous, but it doesn’t seem probable because you didn’t have any markings on you aside from the cut on your neck from Blade’s sword.
You close your eyes and rest your head on Blade’s shoulders, catching him off guard. You turn your head slightly and peek at him. “And what do you and this Kafka person want from me exactly? You make it seem like I’m some rare gem from space, finally crashing and landing somewhere,” you comment.
Blade remains silent, staring down at you while you stare at him in return. It almost seems like he doesn’t have a plan for what to do with you. Other than holding you hostage in front of your (possibly) temporary traveling companions. You frown at Blade after a few minutes of him not responding to your question. You elbow Blade in the gut before pushing his arms off you with a huff, walking away from the man.
You and the others were surprised to see that Blade didn’t retaliate. He seems to be the type that gets set off easily. But since he didn’t slash at you or lash out at you for elbowing him in the stomach and pushing his arms off your person, it genuinely shocked the others. You rub and graze your fingers over the cut on your neck. 
You narrow your eyes at Blade and walk over to where the others are standing. March runs up to you to assess the open wound on your neck. March sighs in relief, looking over at Blade with a glare before pulling you to the side while Caelus, Dan Heng, and Mr. Yang deal with Blade to the side.
You watch Blade, Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang stand before each other, not saying a word. Their weapons are drawn out, but no one has started anything. They all stand there, staring at each other in silence, while March struggles to pull a bandaid out from her pocket. March hands you the bandaid after successfully grabbing the bandaid. 
March turns to look at the four men with one hand on her hip while the other is on your shoulder. “Hey, are you guys just going to stand there and stare at each other all day, or are you guys going to fight it out?” demands March, glaring at the men.
Blade smirks and tightens his grip on his sword. “If that’s what you want, then a fight is what you shall receive,” says Blade.
Blade was about to lunge at the three men before him, but a woman with red wine-colored hair appeared out of nowhere, placing her hand on Blade’s shoulders. Blade stops in his tracks and looks over his shoulders at the woman. 
She gives him a smile and chuckles, looking in your direction. “It’s good to see you, little shooting star. I apologize that you had to meet us this way, but our destinies are intertwined no matter where you go and how far we are from each other,” says the woman.
Everyone stares at the woman in silence. Everyone but you seem tensed at her mere presence. She takes her hand off Blade’s shoulders before walking toward your and March’s direction. Caelus and Dan Heng block her way, holding their weapons out in front of them while glaring at the woman.
The woman frowns and looks at Caelus with a pout. Almost like she was mocking him. “Oh, Caelus. Do you not trust me after all we’ve been through?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
March lets out a loud scoff. “Can you blame us for not trusting you after all that stuff you put us through, Kafka?!” March asks, glaring at the red wine-colored-haired woman.
‘Kafka?’ you mouthed to yourself, furrowing your eyebrows. The gorgeous woman is Kafka? Not only was she stunning, but the way she was looking at you was sending chills down your spine. There’s something about her you couldn’t put your fingers on. She seems powerful and the leader of this whole situation. Maybe the word ring-leader would suit her since Blade does follow her orders around like a dog. 
Kafka turns around and starts walking away. “Come on, Bladie. It seems like we’ll have to find another time to meet [Y/N] again. For now, let’s part our ways,” says Kafka.
You freeze in your spot and look at Kafka with wide eyes. How in the world does she know your name when you haven’t introduced yourself to Blade and Kafka? Kafka looks over her shoulders and smiles at you before disappearing from everyone’s sight. Blade huffs and puts his sword away, turning around and following after Kafka. 
March huffs. “Kafka and her dog are going to search for [Y/N] again. I don’t think it’s safe for them to be alone,” March states, looking at Mr. Yang, Dan Heng, and Caelus. “It’s best they remain on the Astral Express with us until further notice.”
You furrow your eyebrows and give March a questioning look. What does she mean by you remaining on the Astral Express until further notice? Until you find a home somewhere and can finally leave them alone? Where are you going to go? You’re on a ship that’s traversing through space, and now you’re going to be on a train that also travels through space. 
“Let’s return to the Astral Express, and then we can talk about it after stopping by Jarlio-VI,” says Mr. Yang.
The five of you continued your way to the area where Dan Heng, Caelus, March, and Mr. Yang were dropped off. You’re kind of excited to step foot on the Astral Express and Jarlio-VI. Mainly Jarlio-VI because of how March described it, along with the stories she told you when she, Caelus, and Dan Heng visited the frozen planet due to the eternal freeze.
A frozen planet sounds interesting because not many things can survive and thrive in such conditions. It makes you wonder if there were any wild animals that roam Jarlio-VI aside from humans and creatures March, Dan Heng, and Caelus passively mentioned. Speaking of creatures the trio mentioned, you’re hoping you won’t have to deal with it or get caught in the crossfire. 
Your stay on the Astral Express was short, and you met Pom-Pom and Himeko! They’re very welcoming, and Himeko is like an older sister, and perhaps a mother, figure to you despite you knowing her for less than a few hours. Despite your visitation of the Astral Express being short, you somehow managed to fall asleep while the train was headed to Jarlio-VI.
When you open your eyes, you find yourself in the void again. The very same void you were in before you woke up to Caelus giving you (failed) CPR. You look around, and there is the man towering over you. 
You frown at the (gorgeous) man and rub your eyes. “It seems like the only time I’ll see you again is through my dreams, huh? I’m starting to think you’re not real and that you’re a figment of my imagination,” you say, crossing your arms over your chest. 
The man chuckles and gazes at you with an amused look on his face. Damn, his smile is breathtaking, but it’s too bad he’s not real. Or at least that’s what you’re assuming. The man beckons you to come closer. You push yourself off the ground and walk toward him while scanning your surroundings. 
You weren’t just in a void, but there were tiny stars sparkling around you and the massive man before you. The man holds his hand out, placing them before you. You stare at his hands questionably before stepping on his hand, letting him lift you to his eye level.
“We will meet very soon, little one. Now is not a good time to meet,” he says.
You frown at the man, letting out a huff before crossing your arms over your chest like a petulant child. “No matter what you tell me, I’ll always assume you’re a figment of my imagination. At least tell me your name,” you murmur, looking at him from the corner of your eyes.
The man smiles at you and nods. “My name’s Nanook and I promise we will meet in person soon. For now, this is the only way I will be able to communicate with you--- through your dreams.” He caresses your hair with his index finger.
You stare at Nanook without saying a word, still not convinced that he’s real. Nanook sighs and gives you a small smile. From a distance, you hear someone call your name. You look away from Nanook and begin searching for the voice. Nanook sighs, putting you back on the ground and smiling at you almost sadly. You’re about to ask him what was wrong when the world around you slowly fades away.
“Wake up!”
Your eyelids snap open, and you sit up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. March sighs and collapses across from you while Caelus and Dan Heng stand to the side with unreadable expressions on their faces. 
March huffs and narrows her eyes at you. “Finally! I’ve been trying to wake you up for the past ten minutes!” March says.
You blink at March and look at Dan Heng and Caelus, who nods in response. How long have you been asleep? March was trying to wake you up for ten minutes, but it didn’t feel that long. You were with Nanook in your dreams for what felt like three minutes or less. Were you asleep for that long?
“We’re arriving at Jarlio-VI very soon. Gepard and Sampo will be meeting us at the Administrative District,” says Dan Heng.
Caelus and Dan Heng walk off, leaving you and March alone on the couch. Caelus nudges Dan Heng, looking at you from over his shoulders and then at the black-haired man worriedly. Dan Heng chews on the inside of his cheek, leaning against the wall while waiting for the Astral Express to reach its destination.
“You heard that, right? [Y/N] mumbling Nanook’s name in their sleep,” says Caelus.
Dan Heng nods. Before Dan Heng can reply, the Astral Express comes to a complete stop, and Pom-Pom announces the Astral Express’s arrival to Jarlio-VI from where they were standing. You and March get up from the couch and stretch your arms and legs. 
You rub the base of your neck and wince when you feel it strain. Great, now you have a crick in your neck from sleeping on the couch in the Astral Express for who knows how long. March loops her arms around yours, dragging you out of the Astral Express with Dan Heng and Caelus following behind. 
March looks over her shoulders, shouting, “Come on, Mr. Yang! We don’t have all day!” March continues to pull you along to the Administrative District with a wide smile on her face while you’re trying your best to keep up with the hyperactive girl. 
Himeko crosses her arms over her chest and taps on her chin. “You feel it too, right?” Himeko asks, looking over at the brown-haired man.
Mr. Yang raises his eyebrows at Himeko, waiting for her to clarify. Himeko chuckles, shaking her head, looking at the entrance of the Astral Express, where you, March, Dan Heng, and Caelus ran out. Technically, you were dragged out of the Astral Express by March.
“The sense of familiarity with [Y/N]. Almost like we know them despite never meeting them. This connection….” Himeko trails off, humming softly. Himeko chuckles and looks at Mr. Yang, gesturing for him to follow after you, March, Dan Heng, and Caelus.
Back to you and the trio, the three of you walk around the Administrative District searching for these Gepard and Sampo people. From what you have been told, Gepard is the little brother of Serval, and Sampo is some con artist the trio met in the underworld. You’re looking forward to meeting Gepard and Sampo! They sound like interesting people, especially Sampo.
“Fams! There you guys are!” You hear someone call from a distance.
The four of you turn in the direction of the voice to see an indigo-haired man and a blond man approaching your group. The indigo-haired man smiles widely and waves at the four of you. When you and the indigo-haired man make eye contact, his eyes seem to light up, and the smile on his face becomes wider before he sprints in your and the trio’s direction.
The green-eyed indigo-haired man and the blond man with blue eyes stop before your group, looking at you curiously. You can’t help but feel self-conscious under their gaze. Their clothes are interesting, but it looks nice on them. Wait, are you staring at them? You snap out of your thoughts and look away, trying to act like you weren’t staring at them. 
“Caelus, March, Dan Heng, care to introduce us to your new traveling companion?” asks the blond man, staring you down with those blue eyes of his.
March smiles widely and nods before happily introducing you to the two men before you. You smile at them politely and wave at them. The two men introduce themselves to you not long after, and you are glad their names are easy to remember because you’re not the best at remembering the names of the people you have just met.
“Not to come off as rude or anything, but you don’t seem to be from here,” Sampo says, looking at you curiously.
Gepard looks at Sampo from the corner of his eyes before shaking his head. “Sorry if what he said came off as rude. Sampo has no manners,” Gepard mutters, crossing his arms over his chest. 
You laugh and wave your hand in front of you. “No, no, it’s fine! Sampo asked a genuine question, and I’m sure there are other people that are curious as well,” you say, giving Sampo and Gepard a small smile. 
You and the others walk around the Administrative District while you tell Gepard and Sampo the situation. You woke up on the Xianzhou Luofu, unsure of how you ended up on the ship. Prior to gaining consciousness, you were in a void with Nanook. Of course, you didn’t tell Sampo and Gepard about you knowing Nanook’s name, only how he’s a tall figure that covered the sun and sky. 
While you tell the two men your situation, Mr. Yang ends up catching up to your group, and the seven of you stop near the theater. Sampo and Gepard didn’t make a comment on your sudden appearance on the Xianzhou Luofu, but they have tried asking you a few questions. 
“Everything is starting to feel familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.” You murmur, scanning your surroundings.
Belobog is beautiful and cold, but there’s something unnerving about it. On the other hand, the Xianzhou Luofu doesn’t feel eerie or ominous. The others look at you curiously, wondering what you mean when you say everything is starting to feel familiar. 
Sampo, being the man that he is, slides in front of you and gives you a charming smile before flicking his bangs away from his eyes. “Pardon me saying this so suddenly, but I’m sensing you feel a connection between us?” asks Sampo, gesturing between you and him.
You blink at Sampo. “Yes,” you reply slowly. “I guess that’s a better way of putting it.” 
Sampo looks at you with wide eyes, his cheeks tinting pink. Sampo clears his throat and tucks an invisible strand of hair behind his ears. “Oh? So you do feel that connection between us!” Sampo grins.
Your head is beginning to hurt, and there’s a low ringing in your ears that’s gradually getting louder and louder. You tried to act normal and playfully scoffed at Sampo’s comment before walking to the nearest bench near the theater. When you walk off with March at your side, Gepard looks at Sampo while Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and Caelus trade glances at each other.
Gepard hums, furrowing his eyebrows. “So, you feel that too?” Gepard mutters.
Sampo does a double take and looks at Gepard with wide eyes. “What do you mean by ‘too’? I was talking to [Y/N], not you!” says Sampo, huffing.
Dan Heng, Caelus, Mr. Yang, and Gepard stare at Sampo with blank expressions. Sampo blinks at them and laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. Gepard sighs, trying to ignore the strange pull in his chest.
“You’re not the only one that feels that connection, you know?” Gepard hisses, glaring at Sampo.
Sampo’s eyes widen, and he holds his hands up in front of him, laughing. “Whoa, there, buddy. Listen, I don’t know what you’re trying to imply, but I don’t feel a connection with you! I feel a connection with [Y/N], but certainly not you! Plus, why would I, Sampo Koski, be with someone that constantly tries to put me in jail?” Sampo asks.
Caelus snorts and rolls his eyes. “That’s not what Gepard is implying, Sampo,” Caelus comments, pressing his lips into a thin line to prevent himself from laughing in Sampo’s face.
Sampo looks at Caelus quizzically, then at Dan Heng. Dan Heng raises an eyebrow at Sampo, crossing his arms over his chest. 
Dan Heng sighs before answering, “Gepard is implying that you’re not the only one that feels the connection with [Y/N]. Gepard feels the same connection with [Y/N] as well.”
Mr. Yang looks at Sampo and Gepard, surprised. He clears his throat to grab the four men’s attention before pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Himeko mentioned the same thing before I caught up with the rest of you. Himeko says she feels a sense of familiarity when she saw [Y/N], although I don’t think she feels the same as the rest of us,” Mr. Yang explains. 
Gepard’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline. “What do you mean by the rest of us? Do all of you feel the same way toward [Y/N]?” Gepard demands, chewing on his bottom lip.
Despite not getting a response from the four men in front of him, Gepard already knows the answer to his question. Every one of these men feels some kind of connection with you. Heck, even Himeko says she feels a sense of familiarity with you, according to Mr. Yang. A sense of familiarity is different from the tugging in their chests when they’re around you. The best way to describe it is a gravitational pull. It makes them want to be closer to you and be near you.
“Does anyone know they feel the same way?” Gepard asks, looking at you from the corner of his eyes. “I know they told Sampo they feel it as well, but what if they’re saying it to get Sampo off their back?” Gepard asks, propping one hand on his hip while stroking his chin.
The rest of the day went by in a blur to you. The last thing you remembered before losing consciousness was Himeko showing you where your temporary room is located on the Astral Express. Nanook communicated with you through your dreams twice, but this time, he didn’t make an appearance. You slept for a few hours, only to be woken up by someone knocking at the door.
You roll out of bed and stumble to the door, grabbing the doorknob and opening the door without a second thought. At first, you thought it was going to be March that was standing at the door, ready to show a photo book of her, Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and Caelus trailblazing, but instead, it was Jing Yuan, Blade, and Luocha that’s standing at the door.
Just when you were feeling groggy, you’re now alert and surprised. You stare at the trio with wide eyes and peek over their shoulders. Why are they at the Astral Express? Shouldn’t they be at the Xianzhou Luofu? And as for Blade, you’re not entirely sure why he’s with Jing Yuan and Luocha at the Astral Express.
You give the three men a fake smile. “Jing Yuan, Luocha, and Blade! What a surprise! If you don’t mind me asking, what are you three doing here?” You ask, running your hands through your bedhead. 
Jing Yuan chuckles. “It’s good to see you too, [Y/N]. We came to check up on you to see if you were okay. Caelus informed us that you weren’t feeling well when you were on Jarlio-VI,” says Jing Yuan.
You stare at Jing Yuan like a fish out of water. “Oh! I’m fine, really! I didn’t think you would stop by to check up on me after hearing what happened,” you say, clearing your throat.
Luocha smiles and pats your head. “We were worried about your well-being! Of course, we would stop by to see if you’re okay! Are we not allowed to do that?” Luocha asks, batting his eyelashes at you.
You feel yourself becoming flustered under their gaze, and you look away, rubbing the back of your neck. Then you realize that Blade is also standing there, behind Luocha and Jing Yuan, staring at you menacingly. Well, he was just staring at you like a normal person, but the look was menacing to you. 
You point an accusing finger at Blade. “Why are you here? Didn’t you go somewhere with Kafka after our encounter at the Xianzhou Loufu?!” You demand, taking a step back.
Blade blinks at you. “What do you mean? Am I not allowed to check up on you?” Blade asks, raising an eyebrow at you.
You snort and lean against the door, glaring at the long, dark-haired man behind Luocha and Jing Yuan. “That’s rich coming from someone that cut my neck the other day!” You say, pointing at the bandaid on your neck.
Jing Yuan and Luocha slowly turn to look at Blade. Their demeanors shift suddenly, and the temperature in the area seems to drop. Blade frowns and ignores the glares Luocha, and Jing Yuan are giving him.
Blade sighs. “I didn’t mean to cut your neck, alright? I didn’t think the edge of the sword would be that sharp,” Blade mutters.
You grumble and shift on one foot, looking at the ground. “Yeah, well, I’m doing fine now. I appreciate you three checking up on me, really. Even though you all didn’t need to do that.” you say.
Jing Yuan chuckles. “Well, when it comes to you, we’re willing to drop everything we’re doing to make sure you’re safe,” says Jing Yuan, giving you a closed-eye smile.
“Now that we have checked up on you, I think we should leave you alone to rest now,” Luocha says, smiling at you.
You give Luocha a smile in return and bid the three men goodbye before closing the door. You walk to your bed and collapse on it, closing your eyes. When you open your eyes, you’re back in the void, standing before Nanook. Nanook lets you stand on his hand and lifts you to his eyes, caressing your cheek with his index finger.
“My beautiful, shining star. We will meet soon,” Nanook murmurs.
You place your hands over Nanook’s finger, leaning into his touch. “What do you mean by shining star? Blade and Kafka called me a fallen star. Is there a correlation between the two?”  you ask.
“That, I cannot tell you, my shining star. You will know soon enough,” replies Nanook.
The void around you fades away, and you wake up to see people surrounding you. You blink at them and sit up, but Dan Heng pushes you back down on the bed. You look at Dan Heng and the others with a questioning look. Your moment with Nanook was cut so suddenly. Did something happen?
You rub your eyes. “What happened? Why is everyone in my room?” You ask.
Himeko sighs in relief, smiling at you. “We’re just glad you’re okay, that’s all,” says Himeko
You stare at Himeko and the others quizzically. “Then, does that mean I can continue my sleep?” You ask.
March’s eyes widen, and she looks at the others with panic. “Uh, yes! But you’ve been sleeping so much today! Do you want to walk around the Astral Express with us? You know, for fresh air and maybe get something to eat after?” March asks. 
You shrug, rolling off the bed and stretching your arms in the air. “Yeah, sure, why not? I don’t think I had anything to eat today, so I might as well walk around the Astral Express and get something to eat after.”
March grins and grabs you by your wrist before pulling you out of your room with the others following behind. You’re not sure if you want to know what happened before you woke up, but everyone in the room looks… shaken up, if that’s the right way to describe it.
Note: Not gonna lie, I kind of like how this fic turned out. The starting "chapter" of the new series is completely different from how I started the Genshin Impact Isekai fic. I have way too many ideas for Honkai Star Rail, and I'm excited to post more for Honkai Star Rail along with the Genshin fics. I might make a more organized masterlist for all of my fics, but I'm not sure when I'll do that 🤔 To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 9 months
Text
Seeing Stars
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader (Nanook x Isekai'd!Reader)
Summary: Your and Nanook's intimate moment was interrupted by your Astral Express traveling companions. Caelus spots a hickey on your neck, you make a poor excuse regarding that hickey, and all of a sudden, you find Nanook balls deep inside you. Needless to say, Nanook is called the Aeon of Destruction for a reason. And that reason isn't because of destroying the universe, but because he's going to be destroying your insides.
Note: First (horribly written) smut for Honkai Star Rail >:D I don't know how to feel about the smuts I write— I'm not a fan of the smuts I write, but I hope this is at least a tiny bit decent. For those who are new, I tried to keep the smut as gender-neutral as possible, but this smut does lean more toward AFAB!reader/female-bodied reader. All of my smuts do lean towards female!reader/AFAB!reader with gender-neutral pronouns. As usual, minors DO NOT INTERACT! I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Horribly written smut, oral (both receiving), deep throating, fingering, hair pulling, biting, tummy bulge, Nanook's got a big dick (are we surprised? No), cervix fucking, creampie, slight overstimulation, squirting (Nanook is called the Aeon of Destruction for a reason ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°))
Word Count: 7k
You wake up to feeling someone snake their arms around your waist, pulling you against their chest. You crack one eye open and peek at the clock hanging above the door. You rub your eyes and stretch your arms and legs while yawning. A deep chuckle breaks the silence of your bedroom, causing you to jolt and turn to look at the person lying beside you. Nanook is propped up on his left arm, gazing at you with amusement.
“Why are you awake so early?” Nanook asks, peeking at the clock.
You stare at Nanook sleepily. Nanook looks away from the clock, and the two of you lock eyes for a moment. Aeons above… Nanook is so breathtaking. Nanook lies beside you with a soft groan, wrapping his right arm around your waist and bringing you to his chest. You instinctively wrap your arms around his slim waist and bury your face into the nape of his neck.
You sigh. “I can ask you the same. It’s early in the morning, and yet you’re over here, watching me sleep like a creep,” you joke, poking Nanook’s shirtless chest with your pointer finger. 
Nanook chuckles and tightens his grip around your waist, kissing the side of your head. You close your eyes and slowly drift to sleep. As you’re falling asleep, the door to your room slides open. You groan to yourself and continue to keep your face buried in Nanook’s neck. Whoever slides the door open, you’re hoping they’ll leave soon.
“March, if it’s you, please let me and Nanook sleep in peace. It’s still early in the morning, and I want to sleep in before it’s early afternoon,” you say, your voice muffled against Nanook’s neck.
The person, you assume is March, huffs before stomping out of your room and sliding the door close. You peek from Nanook’s neck to see the bedroom is empty. You look at Nanook, who sighs and rests his head on the stacks of pillows. At least you and Nanook are alone, and March isn’t going to try to drag you out of your room at the crack of dawn. You stare at the Aeon of Destruction lying beside you. Nanook raises an eyebrow at you, the corner of his lips curving up into a smirk.
Nanook leans in and kisses the corner of your lips. You close your eyes and wrap your arms around his shoulders as he cages you between his body and your bed. You peek to see his arms beside your head, his biceps bulging as he adjusts himself above you. You gulp audibly when you notice he’s shirtless. While you did poke his shirtless chest not long ago, you didn’t fully realize that the Aeon of Destruction was shirtless the entire time. “How in the world did you not notice?”
“Why are you so pretty? Who gave you permission to be this breathtaking?” You mutter as your eyes trail up from his abs to his face.
Nanook laughs and grips your chin with one hand while balancing his entire weight with the other arm. You and Nanook look into each other's eyes, not saying anything. Nanook looks down at your lips, his eyes half-lidded. You bite your bottom lip, closing your eyes when his face gets near. 
Nanook’s nose brushes against yours, shutting his eyes. Nanook presses his lips against yours, lowering himself onto you. You wrap your arms around his waist, pulling him closer to you by wrapping one leg around his slim waist. Nanook breaks the kiss and begins pressing his lips on your jawlines. Nanook trails his lips from your jaws to your neck, kissing and lightly sucking on your neck.
You tangle your fingers in Nanook’s hair, tilting your head to the side to give him more space to leave small kisses and nibbles behind. Nanook kneels above you, slips his hands beneath your shirt, and gropes your chest.
“Fuck, Nanook,” you whisper, wrapping your other leg around his waist.
Nanook takes that as an opportunity to grind his groin against yours. You involuntarily squeeze your legs around his waist, whimpering when Nanook’s cock rubs against your aching entrance. You claw Nanook’s back as the Aeon continues to litter your neck with kisses. Nanook latches his lips against your neck, lightly sucking on your neck.
You run your fingers through his hair, rolling your hips against his. Nanook groans into your neck, his hands trailing from your chest to the globes of your ass, squeezing them tightly and making you grind your heat against his throbbing cock. You let out a quiet, strained gasp, eyes rolling to the back of your head when Nanook’s pubic bone presses up against your swollen bundle of nerves.
Nanook cups your face from under your chin and tilts your head up. You stare at Nanook— eyes glazed over with pleasure and want. Nanook smirks and pecks your lips. You pout at Nanook, getting ready to protest about him stopping, when there’s a knock at the door. You and Nanook freeze in your spots, slowly looking at the door like a deer caught in headlights.
You clear your throat. “March?” You call out.
“It’s Dan Heng. Did I wake you up by any chance?” Dan Heng asks through the closed door of your room.
“No, you didn’t wake me up. But what you did do is ruin the chance of me getting fucked deep into my mattress by the Aeon of Destruction, that’s what.” You think bitterly to yourself while Nanook cracks a smile beside you. Dan Heng clears his throat from behind the door as if he’s letting you know he’s waiting for your response. You shake your head as Nanook gets off you, lying beside you with one arm tucked underneath his head.
You sit up and rub your eyes with your knuckles. “Not really. March snuck into my room a moment ago, and I told her to let me sleep in. Did something happen?” You ask, pulling the blanket up to your chest.
“Uh, yes, we were wondering if Nanook is in the room with you. Caelus mentioned he peeked into Nanook’s room, only to see it was empty, and he speculated that Nanook snuck into your room,” Mr. Yang speaks up from behind the door.
Your eyes widen, and your head snaps in Nanook’s direction. Nanook looks unbothered as he settles in your bed with his hands behind his head. March went into your room not long ago, and she didn't tell any of the three men about Nanook being in your room? Either she's up to something, or she didn't mention it to the men because she forgot. You clear your throat, looking over at Nanook. The Aeon of Destruction shrugs his shoulders, closing his eyes and rolling over on his side to wrap his arms around your waist.
How are you supposed to answer Mr. Yang's question!? It's not like you're banned from sleeping in the same bed as Nanook, right? You open your mouth to answer Mr. Yang's question, but all of a sudden, Nanook gets off your bed and walks to the door. Your eyes widen, and you kneel, attempting to grab Nanook's wrist, but he slips from your fingers. Nanook grabs the door and slides it open, leaning against the doorframe.
“And there he is,” Caelus comments, propping his hands on his hips while staring at the Aeon blankly. 
Nanook raises his eyebrows at Caelus, who continues to stare at him expressionless. You toss your blanket off your body and stumble over to where the four men are standing. You can feel the awkward tension between them— especially between Caelus and Nanook. You clear your throat to break the awkward tension.
“Is there a reason why you were searching for Nanook? Did something happen?” You ask, scratching the back of your neck.
Mr. Yang smiles and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Nothing happened. However, Caelus has voiced his concern over Nanook constantly disappearing in the middle of the night,” replies Mr. Yang.
Caelus looks away, clearing his throat. Caelus' cheeks and the tips of his ears are almost as red as Himeko's hair, only a couple of shades lighter. You chuckle while Nanook raises his eyebrows at the silver-haired man before you two. Nanook turns to you, giving you an exasperated look before turning to the three men outside of your bedroom.
Nanook pinches the bridge of his nose. “Listen, when I decided to take the form of a human, I did it to protect my little star, alright? I did not sign up to have people hovering over me and watching my every move,” Nanook states, crossing his arms over his chest while glaring at the trio.
Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang all stare at Nanook. Nanook sighs, turns to you, and wraps his arms around your waist, bringing you toward him. You wrap your arms around his waist, rubbing the small of Nanook's back to comfort him. You're aware of how the other men act around you, but you don't think much about it. However, Nanook isn't fond that there are nine other people who share the same sentiments as he does when it comes to you, his little star, his little one.
“Do you not remember what happened prior to your arrival to the Astral Express, Nanook, Aeon of Destruction?” Dan Heng demands, crossing his arms over his chest while glaring at the towering figure beside you.
Nanook glares at the shorter man, his nostril flaring. “I am very well aware of what happened. Why do you think I am here?” The Aeon snarls.
By this point, Nanook and Dan Heng are standing toe to toe— Nanook glaring down and Dan Heng glaring up at the Aeon. Mr. Yang and Caelus place their hands on Dan Heng's shoulders, pulling him back. Dan Heng lets out an infuriated exhale through his nose, glaring to the side with his arms over his chest.
You clear your throat. “Nanook and I will get ready for the day now, alright? Let's talk after,” you say, turning away by is stopped by Caelus gently grabbing your biceps.
“Is that a hickey?” Caelus asks, his eyes zeroing in on the base of your neck.
You quickly cover your neck, eyes wide with shock and embarrassment. “Oh, fuck.” You did not know that the Aeon of Destruction left a hickey on your neck. You turn to Nanook, who looks away with his lips puckered. You narrow your eyes at Nanook, exhaling slowly through your nose while trying to remain calm. Great. First, there's tension between Nanook and Dan Heng, and now Caelus has decided to point out the apparent love bite on your neck, thus making the tension grow.
It's faint, but it's there. 
“It's not a hickey! I actually burnt myself with a hair straightener!” You say.
Okay, not the best excuse you can come up with, but it's the best you can do, and you're hoping they're dumb enough to believe your little white lie. But knowing the three men standing before you and Nanook, they're not as dumb as you hoped they would be in this situation. I mean, what else were you supposed to say? “Yes, it's a hickey on my neck. Nanook marked my neck, and before this entire interaction, we were so close to taking it farther, but that didn't happen?”
Mr. Yang leans forward to get a better look at your neck. He gently grabs you by the jaws and tilts your head to the side. If you weren't in an awkward situation right now, you would've been blushing like a teenager because of the way Mr. Yang grabbed your jaws. He's so gentle, but he also reminds you of a stern father who caught his kid doing something naughty. 
“It doesn't look like a burn,” Mr. Yang murmurs.
You grab Mr. Yang's hands and laugh nervously. “That’s because they're kind of new! I borrowed Himeko's straightener, and well, this happened,” you say, gesturing to the mark on your neck.
You release Mr. Yang's hand and rub the hickey. Aeons, this is even more awkward than you thought. Mr. Yang hums, crossing his arms over his chest, and looks at Dan Heng and Caelus. Just as you feared, Caelus, Dan Heng, and Mr. Yang don't believe your little white lie.
For now, the best thing you can do is to retreat to your room (with Nanook), get ready for the day, and hope that this entire situation dies down. You quickly retreat to your room, grabbing Nanook by the wrist and pulling him with you. Before you shut the door in Mr. Yang, Dan Heng, and Caelus' faces, you give them a fake smile.
“We'll talk about this after Nanook and I get ready for the day! While it's still super early in the morning, today will be the only day I get up early,” you say, slamming the door shut without waiting for their response. 
After you slam the door in the three men's faces, Dan Heng turns to look at Mr. Yang with a deep frown. Caelus pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue, propping his hands on his hips.
“That is definitely a hickey on [Y/N]'s neck,” Caelus says.
Dan Heng rolls his eyes. “Do they think we're that stupid to believe they were burned by a hair straightener?” Dan Heng mutters, walking away with Mr. Yang and Caelus following.
Back in your bedroom, you walk to your dresser and pull out clean undergarments to change into after taking a shower. You're not the type to take showers in the morning, but this time will be the only time you'll shower in the morning. Well, “morning” since you're traversing through space, and there's no time of day, really. While searching for something to wear in your closet, Nanook snakes his arms around your waist and buries his face into the nape of your neck.
You close your eyes and rest your head against his before continuing to do what you were doing.
You're not sure what you want to wear. You're on the fence about whether you want to wear something short and breathable or long and warm because there's a possible chance the Astral Express is going to be stopping by Jarilo-VI. You blank out for a moment when Nanook's big, warm, calloused hands sneak under your shirt to give your chest a light squeeze. 
“Well, aren't you needy today?” You murmur, gazing at the Aeon of Destruction from the corner of your eyes.
Nanook ignores your comment, continuing to squeeze your chest and kissing your neck repeatedly. You shiver when Nanook presses his lips against a specific sensitive spot on your neck. Nanook smirks against your neck and continues where he left off before he is interrupted by Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang. Nanook grabs the bottom of your jaw with his right hand, tilts your head to the side, and continues to nibble on your neck.
“Do you have any idea how irresistible you are?” Nanook murmurs against your neck.
You grab his hand from underneath your shirt and lace your fingers with his. “I could say the same with you. You're over here parading around my bedroom shirtless with your sweat pants hanging very low around your hips,” you reply.
Nanook hums against your neck, breathing in the smell of your shampoo. Nanook's eyes nearly roll to the back of his neck after taking deep breaths of your shampoo. He can never get enough of you, and the more he has to wait, the more he feels his sanity slipping away. Without thinking, Nanook opens his mouth wide and bites down on the area where your neck and shoulders meet. 
“Ah! Nanook!” You whine softly, shuddering in his arms as he manhandles you to your bed.
You fall limp in Nanook's arms as he practically drags you to your bed and tosses you like a rag doll. You stare at the ceiling— Nanook's shadow casts over you as he hovers above you, knees on each side of your hips. You gulp as the Aeon of Destruction cages you against your bed, his bangs nearly covering his eyes. Oh, you like this very much.
Nanook leans down, his lips beside your ear. “What is it, little one?” Nanook whispers.
You close your eyes, heart pounding against your chest as the Aeon above you softly nudges his nose against your cheek and slowly trails down to your neck. Never in your life would you think the Aeon of Destruction has a lot of pent-up frustrations. Can Aeons have babies? Can they reproduce? Nanook's human form certainly has a dick, but does it— Nanook bites down on your neck for the second time.
“You know I can hear your thoughts, right?” Nanook murmurs against your neck.
Your eyes snap open, and you look at Nanook like a fish out of water. Nanook pulls away from your neck and wipes his lips, smirking down at you. You gaped at him. 
“Wait, you can hear my thoughts?”
Nanook nods, his shoulders bouncing as he gazes at you with amusement. “Yes, I can hear your thoughts. Did you happen to forget that we're connected with each other?” Nanook asks, raising an eyebrow at you.
You squint at Nanook, not sure whether you should believe what he's saying or not. Maybe you can say something random, and he'll have to respond to your questions. The Aeon of Destruction mindlessly massages your hipbone, waiting for you to say something. Or at least think of something so he can reply. Aside from wanting you to respond to him, Nanook wants to fuck you against the mattress already. Blood continues to rush down to his semi-harden cock as he waits (im)patiently. 
You stare at Nanook like a deer caught in headlights. If you were to ask this question, would he hear it and possibly humiliate you for it? It’s worth a shot. “Do you know how bad I need you to fuck me into the mattress right now? I desperately need you inside me, or else I'll go crazy.”
Nanook smirks and leans down. “Is that so? You don't have to tell me twice, Little One. I've always wanted to hear what I can coax out of you while you're writhing beneath me,” Nanook murmurs. “Remember that dream of yours a while back?” He latches his lips onto your earlobes, lightly biting your ear.
Dream? Meaning the wet dream you had of Nanook before it was rudely interrupted by March, Dan Heng, and Caelus? The very same wet dream where it felt so real that it made you question whether it was a real thing or just a dream? You swallow the lump in your throat, sputtering out nonsense as you try to wrap your head around the wet dream you had months prior to Nanook's arrival.
“Wait, was that a dream, or was it mental communication the entire time?” You ask breathlessly.
Nanook shrugs above you, hands sneaking back under your shirt to squeeze your chest and tweak your nipples between his thumb and index finger. You gaze at the Aeon above you, wondering if what happened between you and Nanook was mental communication or if it was just another wet dream.
“Nanook?” You ask, lightly tugging on his soft hair.
Nanook snorts and releases your earlobe from between his teeth. The Aeon of Destruction will be destroying something else rather than the entirety of the universe. You would rather have Nanook destroy your insides than the universe, so you'd like to think you're saving everyone by letting the Aeon of Destruction become the Aeon of Destroying your insides. With one swift motion, Nanook tears your shirt off and tosses them to the ground.
Your nipples harden when cool air makes contact with your nipples, sending shivers down your spine. Nanook's lips trail down to your chest and suck on your nipple while tweaking the neglected nipple. You shudder underneath Nanook, wrapping your legs around his waist while he licks and lightly bites your nipples. You cover your mouth to muffle the moans, and Nanook doesn't like that. Without thinking, Nanook bites down on your nipple hard, making you cry out in pain.
“Nanook! Why did you bite my nipple?” You whine, gazing at the Aeon with teary eyes.
Nanook unlatches his lips from your nipples before sitting back on your bed. “I don't want you to cover your moans. I want the others to hear that I'm the one that's making you moan and whimper,” Nanook says, frowning at you.
You gulp and watch Nanook get off your bed and start taking his sweatpants off. You look away with embarrassment when you notice a prominent bulge beneath his boxers. It's bigger than you thought it would be. The Aeon grabs you by your ankles and pulls you toward the edge of your bed. You look at Nanook's face, making sure not to look down at the large tent forming in his pants.
Nanook chuckles, caressing your face. “Why are you suddenly shy, Little one? You were so bold and now look at you,” Nanook teases, lightly pinching your cheek. “A shy little thing.”
You bristled at Nanook's comment, looking at the Aeon with a heated glare. Unphased by your glare, Nanook laughs and leans down to kiss your lips. Nanook hooks his fingers around the band of your shorts and panties before looking at you, waiting for you to give him the signal to continue. Despite being the Aeon of Destruction, he sure is gentle. You nod, silently telling him to strip you bare. 
One minute you have your pants and panties on. The next, you're completely bare in front of the Aeon of Destruction. You quickly cover your naked body with your blanket, making Nanook click his tongue with disapproval. Nanook grabs the blanket from your grasp, yanks it off your bare body, and throws it behind him without breaking eye contact. Heat rushes to your cheek when you realize the Aeon before you are gazing at your body with hunger and lust. As if Nanook wasn't big already, you could've sworn Nanook's dick grew in his boxers.
“It's not fair that I'm the only one naked, and you're still semi-dressed,” you mutter.
Nanook takes his eyes off your body before gesturing for you to sit up. You push yourself up and look at Nanook quizzically as he grabs your hand and places them on his hips. You blink at him as he looks down at you, waiting for you to do something. You clear your throat, pointing at his boxers and then at yourself.
“You want me to take your boxers off?” You squeak.
Nanook smirks. “What else would I want you to do? Hm?” Nanook coos, squeezing your cheeks.
You feel a lump forming in your throat. You gulp for the umpteenth time and nod, grabbing the band of Nanook's boxers and sliding his underwear down. Immediately, Nanook's cock slaps his abdomen, startling you. Nanook's boxers pool at his ankles, and he steps out of them, making his dick bob up and down with the slightest movement. You stare at Nanook's cock with wide eyes, mouth agape. Huge is an understatement at this point. This man is undoubtedly the Aeon of Destruction because you know Nanook's cock is going to be destroying your insides.
“That's not going to fit,” you state, looking at Nanook.
Nanook shrugs, hooking one arm underneath your knees and the other under your back before tossing you on the bed. Nanook crawls over you and slides his hands up your legs and to your thighs, pushing your legs apart to look at your glistening folds. You're too busy staring at Nanook's cock. The mushroom tip of his dick is a deep red, pre-cum beating at the silt of his cock, dripping down the base of his dick. You lick your lips. 
Nanook runs his hands through his hair. “We'll make it fit,” Nanook states.
Nanook dips his fingers and runs them through your folds, making you shudder and gasp. Nanook inserts his index finger into your entrance, looking at your face for a certain reaction. You bite your lips and squeeze your eyes shut when his index finger continues to sink into your sopping-wet entrance. Nanook keeps your legs spread open with one hand as he continues to drill his index finger in and out of your squelching hole. 
“This is so embarrassing,” you whine softly, becoming flustered the louder the squelching gets.
You let out a shaky gasp when Nanook inserts his middle finger into your entrance. The velvety walls of your entrance squeezed and pulsed around his thick, long fingers. 
“Your body is reacting really well to what I'm doing,” Nanook murmurs, watching you gasp and arch your back when the tip of his fingers hit your cervix.
You grit your teeth and reach for Nanook's throbbing cock. Nanook rubs the bundle of nerves with the tip of his thumb, watching you let out a breathy moan and throw your head back with pleasure as you stroke his cock. Nanook groans, letting you stroke his stiff cock. The Aeon watches you stroke and squeeze his cock, rubbing your thumb over the bulbous tip of his cock and spreading the pre-cum around the tip of his dick.
While Nanook continues to finger you and stroke the engorged nub, you sit up to get a taste of his cock. Nanook looks at you quizzically when you sit up, unsure of what you're doing. You latch your lips around the mushroom tip of his cock, licking the pre-cum and briefly sucking on the head of his dick. Taken aback, Nanook moans and curls his fingers inside your entrance, making you jolt and squeeze around his fingers.
You begin bobbing your head on his cock, taking him deeper into your mouth. Nanook's fingers slip out of your entrance before tangling his fingers into your hair, tugging at the roots, moaning, and pushing your head further down on his cock. You nearly gag when the tip of his cock hits your throat. You wrap your fingers around the base of his dick, stroking the base of his cock while fondling and massaging his balls.
Nanook groans and starts thrusting into your mouth, fucking your face while tangling his fingers in your hair. His steady thrusts soon become fast, feeling his cock reach deeper into your throat. Nanook guides your head up and down his cock repeatedly until your nose is pressing up against his pubes. You dig your nails into his ass cheeks, tears brimming your eyes and rolling down your cheeks when his cock hits your throat. 
You take deep breaths through your nostrils, trying not to gag. Nanook pulls his cock out from your mouth and pushes you on your back, and spreads your legs wide open for him to see your slick entrance. You breathe heavily, wiping the tears on the sides of your cheeks while Nanook rubs the engorged bundle of nerves with his index finger. 
“Are you alright?” Nanook asks, looking at you as he continues to rub the nub between your legs.
You nod, sniffling. “Yeah, I'm alright,” you reply meekly.
Nanook hums before tossing both your legs over his shoulders with his face a few inches from your heat. You gulp, combing your fingers through Nanook's soft hair. Nanook pulls you forward and buries his face into your entrance, his tongue flat on your entrance and lapping up your juices. You throw your head back, and your back arches, thighs clamping over his head as the Aeon of Destruction eat you out like a starving man. You cover your mouth with your other hand, whimpering and panting against the palm of your hands.
Nanook swirls his tongue over your entrance, your bundle of nerves messily. The sounds of your muffle moans and Nanook slurping your juices fills your bedroom. Nanook penetrates your heat with his tongue, and the tip of his nose presses against your swollen nub. Nanook shakes his head, thrusting his tongue in and out of your heat, making you squeal.
“Oh, fuck, Nanook!” You gasp, feet planted on his shirtless back as the Aeon of Destruction continues to tongue-fuck you, bringing you close to your orgasm. “Nanook, fuck. I'm going to cum if you continue to do that!”
Nanook pulls away from your sopping-wet heat and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Nanook crawls up to you, his arms caging you against the mattress. Nanook stares down at you, a sense of pride swelling in his chest when he sees the effect he has on you. Your eyes are glazed over with lust, and your mouth is agape while your chest is heaving with deep breaths. Nanook taps your cheek lightly to grab your attention. You look at Nanook with hazy eyes, taking gulps of air.
Nanook snickers and leans down, pressing his lips against yours. You close your eyes and wrap your arms around his shoulders, deepening the kiss. You taste yourself on Nanook's tongue— the tanginess pooling on your tongue as you and Nanook kiss. While distracted, Nanook grabs his throbbing cock and rubs the underside of his dick between your legs, coating his cock in your essence. 
The bulbous tip of his cock lightly brushes against your aching nub, causing you to hiss softly and shudder underneath him. Nanook pulls from the kiss and looks down as he lines the mushroom tip of his cock in front of your entrance. You lick your lips, lift your head to see what he's doing. Nanook presses the hot tip of his dick against your entrance. You gulp and look at Nanook, who's staring at you intently.
Nanook kisses your forehead. “Are you ready?” Nanook murmurs against your forehead.
You nod in response. After getting your confirmation, Nanook takes a breath and pushes the tip into your heat. You suck in a sharp breath when you feel the mushroom tip breaching your entrance, squeezing your eyes shut.
A deep growl emits from Nanook's chest as he sinks his cock into you. Nanook rests on his forearms as you wrap your legs around his waist. Nanook latches his teeth onto your neck, inching his cock into you slowly. Your velvety walls squeeze and pulse around his throbbing cock, driving Nanook crazy. You pant, digging your nails into his back and clawing Nanook's back, leaving angry marks behind.
The tip of Nanook's cock hits something deep inside you, causing you to tense up and wail meekly. Nanook pants looking down to see he didn't sink all the way into your warm entrance. Nanook almost sunk the entirety of his cock into your sopping entrance, but the bulbous tip of his cock hit something. Your thighs tense around Nanook's waist, legs trembling from your walls stretching around Nanook's dick to accommodate his size. 
“Nanook,” you whisper.
Nanook frowns, eyebrows furrowing. Nanook thrusts forward, trying to fit the entirety of his cock inside you, only for it not to work. Nanook leans down and preppers your face with gentle kisses. You pant against Nanook's neck, tears brimming your eyes each time the tip of his dick nudges your cervix. It hurts like a bitch, but it feels so fucking food. Nanook whispers a soft, ‘I'm sorry, Little one’ into your ears. You open one eye to look at Nanook, unsure of why he's apologizing.
Your eyelids fly open when Nanook grips your pillow tightly, ramming his cock all the way into your tight entrance. You wail and flail beneath Nanook, legs wrapping around his waist tightly as you whimper into his chest. Nanook groans and presses his hips hard against your hips, his nails digging into your pillow.
“A-Ah! N-Nanook!” You squeak, face contorting in pain.
Nanook pants, peeking down at you. You gaze at Nanook, tears in your eyes, bottom lips trembling. Nanook feels something stir within him when he sees you underneath him, naked, tearing up, stuffed full with his cock. Nanook's cock twitches inside you as he gulps. Nanook leans down and presses his lips against yours, wiping away the tear making its way down your cheek.
You involuntarily clench around Nanook's throbbing cock. Nanook hisses and pulls away from your lips, closing his eyes while trying to keep his sanity intact, or else he'll lose control. Nanook buries his hands in your hair, gently pulling your hair and tilting your head to the side to lightly nibble on your neck.
“Little one, you're so tight. Try to relax for me, sweetheart,” Nanook grunts into your neck. 
Nanook unlatches his lips from your neck before clenching his jaws as he tries to hold back the urge to fuck you into your mattress until you scream. You pant, digging your nails deep into Nanook's back as you try to take your mind off the fact Nanook shoved the entirety of his huge cock deep into your entrance. Fuck. Your swollen bundle of nerves is throbbing, and you feel your entrance becoming wetter with each passing minute.
You close your eyes, take a deep breath, and try to relax. How does one relax when you have a huge cock stuffing your hole? Nanook reaches down and begins rubbing your aching bundle of nerves with his thumb. You shudder in his arms, letting Nanook tweak your throbbing nub. Nanook kisses the side of your head, feeling you relax underneath him. You swallow the lump in your throat, patting his arm.
“You can move now, Naook,” you whisper.
Nanook nods and slowly pulls his cock out from your sopping-wet entrance, leaving just the tip of his cock inside you. Nanook gazes at his cock— it's soaked in your essence. Nanook glances at your puffy entrance; it's glistening in your juices. Nanook swears he sees your entrance pulsating with want. Nanook thrusts into your heat without warning, making you grunt and tense underneath him, your hands shooting up to grip your pillow. Dear, Aeons. You feel so full. Nanook looks down at your stomach and freezes. You look at Nanook quizzically before following where his eyes are focusing on. You look at your stomach to see a bulge. With shaky hands, you poke the bump and jolt. Nanook places his hand over yours and presses down onto your stomach. You let out a needy moan as pleasure shoots up your body. Oh, fuck. Nanook is so big that his cock created a tummy bulge.
Nanook leans down, his hair tickling your cheeks. “What do you want me to do to you?” Nanook murmurs against your ears. “Say it, and I will do as you say.”
You shiver and clench around his cock, making the Aeon above you groan and squeeze your chest. What you need Nanook to do is to fuck you until you see stars dancing behind your eyelids. You want him to fuck you into your mattress until your walls mold into the shape of his dick. You whimper and close your eyes, heat rushing to your cheeks as you think about having to beg for the Aeon of Destruction to destroy your insides and fill you to the brim with his cum.
“I want you to…” you trail off, whimpering at the slightest movement. “I want you to fuck me until I can't walk and…”
Nanook's eyes widen slightly before laughing breathlessly. “Oh? There's more?” Nanook jokes, rubbing the tip of his nose against your cheek, rutting his hips against yours. 
You cover your face and lightly hit his shoulder. “Nanook! Stop teasing me!” You whine.
“Alright, alright, I'm going to stop teasing you,” Nanook sighs, kissing your forehead. “Now, continue where you left off.”
You try to form coherent sentences, but the more Nanook ruts against you, the more your mind blanks out. You wrap your legs tightly around Nanook's waist, attempting to stop him from continuing, only for you to press Nanook hard against you. Nanook snickers and kisses your jaws, waiting for you to tell him what you want him to do.
“Gosh, just please fuck me until I see stars. I don't think I can wait any longer,” you whisper.
Nanook's chest rumbles with laughter, and he leans down. “If you insist,” Nanook says, kissing the corner of your lips.
Nanook adjusts his position above you, grabs your legs, and unwraps them around his waist. You look at Nanook, confused. Nanook throws your legs over his shoulders and begins plunging his cock in and out of you repeatedly. You yelp and grab his biceps, squeezing your eyes shut as the Aeon pistons his cock into your sopping entrance. You feel your juices pool beneath your bed, spreading to the back of your thighs and onto Nanook's pubes.
Your toes curl with pleasure, and your eyes roll to the back of your head as Nanook rams the tip of his cock against your cervix until you can't hold in your moans any longer. You let out a string of groans and curses, feeling a tight knot beginning to form in your lower abdomen. You clench your jaws when your legs start to feel tingly and numb. You close your eyes and rock your hips against Nanook's hips, his pubic bone pressing and rubbing against your swollen nub.
You shiver, and your velvety walls squeeze around the Aeon's dick. “Oh, fuck,” you whisper, clawing Nanook's back.
Nanook tangles his hands into your hair and pulls your hair back before biting down on your neck hard. You cry out in pain and clench around Nanook's cock as he continues to ram his dick in and out of your squelching entrance vigorously. You can see stars dancing behind your vision with each thrust. You tilt your head back against your pillow as tears trail down your cheeks. You don't know how much longer you can handle being fucked by Nanook. Nanook removes your legs from his shoulders, keeping your legs spread open as he pistons his cock deep into your quivering entrance. Nanook pulls his dick out, leaving only the tip inside before slamming back into your heat. Your back arches, and you choke out a moan as the Aeon repeats his actions. Nanook's thrusts soon become sloppy the longer he continues to ram the bulbous tip of his cock in and out of your dripping entrance. You claw your bedsheets, the knot in your lower abdomen becoming incredibly tight.
“Fuck, Nanook. I'm going to cum,” you whimper.
Your velvety walls squeeze around Nanook's cock tightly. Nanook groans and collapses on top of you as you cum around his cock. Nanook takes a deep breath before proceeding to plunge his thick, long cock in and out of your squelching heat. Nanook reaches for your engorged nub and begins pinching, squeezing, and rolling it between his thumb and index finger. Your eyes widen, and you squeal loudly, squirming beneath Nanook.
“It's too much, Nanook! It's too much!” You sob.
Nanook ignores your cries and continues to stimulate your engorged bundle of nerves while plunging his cock into you as deeply as he can get it. Nanook groans, shooting hot ropes of cum deep inside your entrance as the walls of your hole convulse around his dick. Liquid jets out your entrance, wetting Nanook's lower abdomen and pubes. Nanook gazes at you with wide eyes while you continue to tremble due to overstimulation.
Nanook releases your swollen nub and slowly pulls his cock from your entrance. Nanook groans and lays beside you, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you to his chest. You shudder and close your eyes while your legs continue to tremble. Nanook tucks your hair behind your ears, nibbling on your earlobe as he pulls the blanket over your naked bodies.
“Did you see the stars?” Nanook teases.
You look at Nanook with bleary eyes. “I think I saw something else other than stars,” you whisper.
You snuggle up against Nanook, closing your eyes. Nanook runs his fingers through your hair while you feel yourself start to drift off to sleep. Right when you're about to fall asleep, a knock is heard at the door of your bedroom. Your eyelids fly open, and you hold the blanket to your chest. You look at Nanook like a deer caught in headlights while the Aeon of Destruction yawns and peeks at the door, uninterested.
“Who is it?” You call out, clearing your throat.
“Are you two done with fucking each other's brains out? You've been keeping us waiting for a while,” Sampo whines from behind the door.
You sit up and look at Nanook in horror while the Aeon presses his lips into a thin line to prevent himself from bursting out laughing. You lightly smack Nanook's shoulders, cheeks flaming hot as you try not to freak out. Us?! What does Sampo mean by ‘us’!? Does this mean that other people heard you and Nanook fuck?! 
You toss the blanket over your head. “Who's at the door with you, Sampo? And how long have you guys been standing there?” You ask.
“Uh... Blade, General Jing Yuan, Luocha, Luka, and Gepard are also here with me. Mr. Yang, Caelus, and Dan Heng told us you were getting ready, but he didn't tell us that you and the Aeon of Destruction were getting freaky with each other,” Sampo says nonchalantly.
Luka laughs from behind the door. “I can see why he's called the Aeon of Destruction now,” Luka jokes.
You squeeze your eyes shut and bury your face into Nanook's bare chest. Can someone please end your misery?
"Do you guys think we'll get our turns next?" Sampo whispers.
Nanook raises his eyebrows at Sampo’s question. You peek your head out from underneath the blanket, hoping it won’t be very awkward after you and Nanook take a shower and show up at the Parlor Car. More importantly, you really hope the others don’t tell Mr. Yang, Dan Heng, and Caelus about what they heard.
Note: Not going to lie, I liked the first half of this fic, and toward the end is where I started feeling iffy about the smut. I don't know about you guys, but I think I have created a new headcanon lore of Nanook's title of being the Aeon of Destruction. Nanook is the Aeon of Destroying Insides, that's for sure. I'm okay with this smut— I think the PDA is cute, and the teasing. But overall, I think it's a meh smut (or maybe just horribly written, but whatever). Nanook got the majority of the vote— about over 200 votes. [This part is copied and pasted from the previous fanfic regarding the Discord server] For those who want to join the Discord server but weren't able to, here is the new temporary link to [Zhongli's Abode]! Please make sure to read the server rules— you can lurk, chat and hang out on the server if you'd like! If you don't vibe with the server, you can leave whenever you want ^^ To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @ashwasherelol, @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @reversearrowhead, @pinksaiyans, @n8mareee, @aurelia-xyt, @lilliansstuff, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @kodzuvk, @a-cosmicdawn, @theblades, @wntrsblvd, @raaawwwr, @immahuman, @irisxiel, @siaracarroll, @crazydreamcat, @sen-nes, @sagekun, @orichalcumthief, @dyingsweetmackerel, @rosiesareblue, @ichikanu, @asoulsreverie, @angelmican, @misdollface, @4-34-am, @sxftiebee, @hispasian-otaku (Accounts that I was unable to tag are not tagged in this fic. Those who do not want to be tagged in a specific fic are not tagged. Remember to check your settings to see if you're allowing people to mention you/tag you in posts or not)
Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 9 months
Text
Anything for the Star
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: March has a theory that the men would do anything for their precious shining star. However, you thought it was ridiculous. Due to you being skeptical about March's theory, March decides to put it to the test because those men would do anything for the star, right?
Note: I was supposed to post this yesterday/in the middle of the night, but my little brothers, my older brother, my older brother's fiancee, and I played a drinking game, and I got drunk— I'm a sleepy drunk, apparently! Hence why I wasn't able to post yesterday/in the middle of the night ;v; but fear not! Here is the update! I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: None that I know of
Word Count: 3.9k
Read Part 2 of Anything for the Star [HERE]!
It’s not a secret that these ten men have feelings for you. You’re not oblivious to their advances, nor are you purposefully pretending not to know about their flirtations toward you. In fact, you love it when they flirt with you. If you were good at flirting, you would flirt back, but unfortunately, you’re not a natural flirt. Sometimes your flirtiness will come out of the blue, but most of the time, they’re not present.
The door to your bedroom slides open, making you look up from your phone to see March and Himeko. “[Y/N], can you test something out for me!” March asks, entering your room with the redhead following.
“Uh, sure! What is it that you need me to do?” You ask, shutting your phone off and putting them on your nightstand. “Let me guess, you need me to convince Pom-Pom not to scold you for leaving shoe prints on the Parlor Car’s floor?” you tease.
“Hey!” March huffs loudly while Himeko giggles behind her hands. “I did not leave those shoe prints on the floor! It was Caelus that left those shoe marks!” March exclaims, glaring at you with her cheeks puffing out. 
You grin at March as you migrate toward the edge of your bed. “I’m kidding, March. So, what do you want me to test out?” You ask, hugging your knees to your chest.
March opens her mouth to respond, but the door to your bathroom opens. Nanook walks out of your bathroom with water droplets dripping down his muscular tan chest while clutching onto the towel tied around his waist. Your, Himeko, and March’s eyes widen— the two women looking away flustered.
“Nanook, we talked about this!” You whisper loudly.
Nanook chuckles, running his hands through his damp hair. “Apologies, little one. I did not expect for us to have guests,” Nanook says, walking back to the bathroom as you frantically gesture for him to go to the bathroom and put on some clothes.
You don’t mind seeing Nanook parade around your bedroom in nothing but a towel wrapped around his slim waist, low enough for you to see the silver-white hairs peeking from the towel. You clear your throat, rubbing the back of your neck to grab March and Himeko’s attention. March looks at you with horror, pointing at you and then at the bathroom.
March squeaks, “Did you… Did you and Nanook…” March trails off, her face turning bright red with realization. 
Your eyes widen, and you shake your head fiercely. “No! No, we did not! March! Get your head out of the gutter!” You shriek, grabbing the pillow behind you and chucking it at the pink-haired girl.
March catches the pillow mid-air, grinning wide with victory, and holds the pillow up in the air while laughing triumphantly. She runs toward you, jumping in the air, ready to smack you with the pillow. You scream, roll out of the way and reach for the second pillow and start whacking her with it the minute she lands on your bed. Himeko sighs, shaking her head while chuckling.
“March, are you not going to tell [Y/N] about the favor?” Himeko asks.
You and March stop your mini pillow fight and turn to look at the redhead. Himeko props her hands on her hips and raises her eyebrows at March. March gaze at Himeko with a blank expression, her mouth agape. You lean back on your elbows and watch March try to remember what favor she wants you to do for her. You stifle your laugh as March continues to stare at Himeko blankly. March groans and smacks her forehead, plopping on your bed with an exasperated sigh.
"Great! I don't remember it anymore!" March exclaims, grabbing the pillow and hitting you in the face with it.
You yelp and tumble out the bed dramatically. During your mid-fall, Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang enter your room to see you fall out of the bed after March throws the pillow in your face. While the fall was supposed to be playful and dramatic, you ended up landing on your arm in a funny position, causing you to suck in a sharp breath and clutch your arm to your chest while lying on the ground.
"[Y/N]!" Caelus gasps, running over to you.
Dan Heng kneels beside you, helping you up from the ground by lifting you up by the waist. "Are you alright?"
Mr. Yang turns to March, giving her a disapproving look. "March, can you please be careful next time? [Y/N] got hurt," Mr. Yang scolds.
You shake your head, waving your hand to grab Caelus, Dan Heng, and Mr. Yang's attention. "No, no! It's not March's fault! I thought it'd be funny if I acted dramatic, and, as you can see, that didn't end well on my end," you grunt. 
Dan Heng helps you get up on your bed, making sure not to touch your injured arm. Your arm isn't broken. There wasn't a snap or a crack. You feel fine! Although it does feel like you slept on your arm in a weird position, causing it to be sore and ache if you were to move your arm in the slightest. 
Upon hearing the commotion, Nanook steps out of your bathroom to see the Astral Express crew crowding around you like a worried mother hen. Nanook pushes past the group and kneels beside you, placing a gentle hand on your arm and lightly touching it. You stare at Nanook with a questioning gaze, wondering what he is doing. Nanook doesn't say a word and stands up, crossing his arms over his chest and rubbing his temples.
"Uh, can you guys get me the Immortals Delight? I think it'll make me feel better," you say, not taking your eyes away from the slightly miffed Aeon of Destruction.
"Huh? Immortals Delight? Isn't that on the Xianzhou Luofu?" March asks, propping her hands on her hips. "If we get you the Immortals Delight, we will need to stop by the Xianzhou Luofu if that's the case!"
Mr. Yang clears his throat, nodding. "We were heading to the Xianzhou Luofu already. We'll stop by to grab some Immortals Delight for [Y/N] before meeting up with the General of the Xianzhou Luofu," says Mr. Yang.
You stare at Mr. Yang. Does that mean you won’t be stepping foot out of the Astral Express? Your arm is hurting, but it’s not like you injured your leg and can’t walk. As much as you want to question them, you decide not to. Caelus, Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, March, and Himeko walk out of your room. Before March leaves your room, she stops and jogs back to where you lie. You and Nanook gaze at March quizzically as she plops on the edge of your bed.
"My favor is for you to test out my theory," March says ominously, nodding.
You blink at the pink-haired girl. "And what is that theory of yours? I am all ears!" you say, propping your head on the wrong arm, making you wince in pain.
March squeals, clapping her hands, and skips toward your bed. Nanook helps you sit up, letting you use him as a cushion. March gazes at Nanook, a little hesitant to let Nanook hear her theory. Still, she decides to let it slide for the Aeon of Destruction. March doesn't need you to test her theory out on the Aeon of Destruction when it's already evident that he would do anything for you. The entire time, while March tells you and Nanook (mainly you, she's ignoring Nanook) her theory, you can't help but be skeptical.
"I don't think your theory is going to need testing," Nanook interjects, crossing his arms over his chest.
March sputters, glaring at the Aeon. "And why is that? Is it because you don't want to see men bend to [Y/N]'s will?" March demands, propping her hands on her hips while jutting her hip out.
You clear your throat to break the tension between your best friend and your... Aeon. You have yet to give Nanook a title. You weren't sure if you should call him your friend or your lover because you and Nanook had yet to kiss in person. You wouldn't include the steamy dream/interaction you had with the Aeon a while ago, but regardless, you have yet to give him a title. His calling you his little one or star isn't a relationship title.
"We can test this theory of yours out, March. However, if it's simple requests such as getting me Immortals Delight at the Xianzhou Luofu, it does not count," you say.
March opens her mouth to protest but closes them after seeing the look on your face. It would be best if you were staying in the comfort of your room, but you had Nanook carry you to the Parlor Car to test your theory out. According to March, the heater in the Parlor Car is broken and has yet to be fixed. Since you're wearing shorts and a T-shirt, you're going to see if someone is going to be willing to give their jacket up for you. Or, instead of a jacket, they'll get you a blanket to keep you warm.
"I don't see the need in doing this when I can keep my little one warm without an issue," Nanook grumbles, sitting beside you on the couch in the Parlor Car.
March scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Oh, I know you will do anything for your little star. I want to see how whipped these men are for [Y/N]," March comments.
On cue, Caelus, Dan Heng, and Mr. Yang walk into the Parlor Car with Immortals Delight in their hands. That's right, their hands. There are three Immortals Delight just for you and only you. Your eyes widen, and a huge smile stretches across your face. The three men approach you, Nanook and March before simultaneously holding the Immortals Delight toward you. Oh boy, oh boy! Plenty for you to drink and get a sugar rush of a lifetime!
March makes a face. "I don't think [Y/N] should be drinking that much Immortals Delight," March says with uncertainty. cocking her head to the side.
Caelus shrugs. "Hey, they didn't say how many Immortals Delight they wanted, now, did they?" Caelus asks, cocking an eyebrow at March and handing the drink to you.
You grab the Immortals Delight and hum happily after taking multiple sips of the sweet beverage. Mr. Yang and Dan Heng place the other two Immortals Delight on the table before you. You involuntarily shiver, putting the cup on the table and rubbing your hands together,
"Are you cold? Here, take my coat," Dan Heng says, taking his jacket off and draping them over your shoulders before you could protest.
March turns toward you with a knowing look while Nanook sighs, rolling his eyes. You're immediately engulfed in warmth. You sigh with contentment, grab the Immortals Delight from the table, and continue sipping the sweet beverage. You chew and swallow the boba, turning to Nanook and holding the cup toward him. 
Nanook gazes at the cup and at you. You stare at him curiously, silently asking the Aeon of Destruction if he wants a sip of Immortals Delight.
Nanook sighs, leaning toward the straw, and sips from the same straw. Being the dramatic person that she is, March gasps loudly, covers her hand with one hand, and points at you and Nanook with the other. You, Caelus, Nanook, Dan Heng, and Mr. Yang look at March questionably.
"Why did you gasp like that?" You mutter, scooting close to Nanook as the Aeon of Destruction continues to sip the Immortals Delight and chew on the tapioca pearls.
March giggles behind her hand, shrugging. "I find it cute how you and Nanook practically had an indirect kiss with one another by sharing straws," March says, feigning innocence.
Oh, you see what March is doing. She's trying to set Caelus, Mr. Yang, and Dan Heng off by mentioning the sharing of the straws between you and Nanook.
Or, at least, that's what you're assuming March is trying to do. The doors to the Astral Express open and enter the three men of the Xianzhou Luofu and the three men from Jarilo-VI. You yawn and rub your eyes, sleepiness overcoming you.
"Hello! Welcome to the Astral Express! Is there anything we can assist you with?" You ask, taking another large sip of the Immortals Delight.
Luocha walks toward you, standing beside the table that holds the other two Immortals Delight. "I was informed to check on your arm. Mr. Yang informed me you injured yourself," Luocha replies, sitting beside you.
Huh? Mr. Yang secretly contacted the Xianzhou Luofu? More importantly, he reached out to Luocha about your somewhat injured arm? Personally, you don't think you hurt your arm. Yes, you landed on your arm when you were trying to be dramatic, but the pain should go away within a few days. At least, that's what you're hoping.
"May I check your arm?" Luocha murmurs, holding his hand out.
You sigh and shake Dan Heng's jacket off your shoulders, handing them back to the black-haired man. You extend your arm and let the long, blond-haired man gently caress your arm and begin feeling around your arm. When he squeezes your elbow, you hiss and squeeze your eyes shut.
"There's a faint bruise forming on your arm. Are you sure it was a light tumble?" Luocha asks, turning to look at Mr. Yang.
"It wasn't a bad fall! I didn't hear a snap or a crack," you say, frowning at Luocha. 
You shiver and rub your arm. The Parlor Car is colder than you thought it was, and you're not sure if it's because you drank a cold beverage or if the temperature has dropped even more. Luocha continues where he left off— healing your minor arm injury.
Blade stands over you and Luocha, gazing at your arm. "It's a relief you didn't give yourself tendinitis. If you did manage to do that, you'd need physical therapy, medication to reduce the pain, and you're now allowed to use your arm as often," Blade murmurs.
You sigh in relief. Thank the Aeons, you didn't give yourself tendinitis. You wouldn't know what else to do if you had it! From how Blade described it, it sounds like a burden and torture. Imagine not being able to do certain tasks without putting yourself through immense pain. 
"It's really cold in here. When is the heater going to be fixed?" You mutter, shivering in your seat.
Blade sits between you and Nanook, ignoring the death glare shot in his direction by the Aeon of Destruction. He wraps his arms around your shoulders, pulling you toward his chest. You rest your head on Blade's shoulders, shivering in his arms. 
Blade presses his lips to the side of your head. "I'll keep you warm for the time being," Blade murmurs.
March clears her throat. "We're not sure when exactly, but it should be fixed soon. It looks like you'll need someone to keep you warm until the heater is fixed," March winks at you.
You hum, closing your eyes. You're supposed to test out March's theory, and yet you're having slight issues with this so-called test. First of all, you didn't want to hurt Nanook's feelings if you continued to test the theory out for March. While Nanook hasn't said anything about the test other than glaring at the men that approach you and are handsy with you— and by handsy, you mean them hugging you and lightly brushing their hands against you.
Besides, even if these men are willing to do things as you say, you don't think it's solid proof that they would do anything for you. That is what you told March after the Immortals Delight and Blade letting you cuddle him on the Astral Express situation. And now here you are, sitting in your bedroom with March standing before you, looking like she's about to burst out laughing.
"What are you up to?" You ask, tapping your fingers on your legs anxiously.
March giggles. "Oh, it's nothing, really! Are you ready for your surprise?" March asks, clapping her hands with excitement.
You did not know what March had in mind for the surprise, but you're very curious because of the way she's acting. One minute you were in the Parlor Car, relaxing and hanging out with Himeko and Pom-Pom. The next, March is dragging you to your bedroom after asking you to follow her to your room for a surprise. March never mentioned anything to you, and the sudden secret surprise is making you wary of what's going to happen. The words ‘March’ and ‘surprise’ don't go well together— especially if this surprise is for you.
"Ready as I'll ever be!" You say, mentally preparing for what's to come.
March claps her hands happily. "Alright! Boys, come on out!" March announces, turning toward your bathroom.
The bathroom door opens, and lo and behold, the ten men walk into your room, their faces crimson red. Your eyes widen, and you look at March, baffled. March grins widely and nods, silently laughing while clutching her side. You cover your mouth and close your eyes, trying your best to keep your composure.
You clear your throat, opening your eyes. "How did you convince them to wear maid dresses? And where did you get the maid costumes?" You ask, turning to March.
Panic flashes across March's face. "Oh! Uh! [Y/N], did you not remember?! You told me you wanted to see these men in maid costumes because you believe they will look good in it!" Mach lies, giving you a fake smile.
You stare at the pink-haired girl with your mouth agape. Guess this is your cue to go with whatever March is lying about. 
You nod slowly. "And you guys did it willingly?" You ask, turning to look at the flustered men.
"March 7th said this was your wish, and who are we to turn down your wishes?" Jing Yuan asks, pulling down the too-short skirt. "I hope seeing us in this costume makes you happy." Jing Yuan blushes.
Does it make you happy? Seeing the ten men in maid costumes with skirts that are almost too short? The very same maid costume that is hugging them around the torso, making their muscles bulge under the dress, a garter wrapping around their thick, muscular thighs, biceps flexing with the slightest movement. Dear, Aeons. You nod and gulp, rubbing the back of your neck.
"I mean, sure! Dear, Aeons. I didn't think you guys would look so good in maid costumes," you squeak, nearly choking on your saliva.
Luka steps forward, flexing his biceps and running his prosthetic hand through his luscious hair. "I'm glad you wanted us to wear this, cutie patootie! I look good in this outfit," Luka says, smirking and flexing his biceps for you. "Do you want to feel my muscles?" Luka winks at you.
You stare at Luka, mouth agape. Fuck, do you want to feel Luka's bulging biceps? March notices your hesitation before nodding for you. March nudges you forward, making you stumble forward. You collect yourself as Luka stands before you, smiling down at you. He brushes your hair from your face and stifles his laugh when he feels the heat radiating from your face. You glare at Luka and reach forward with your eyes closed. You place your hand on Luka's bulging biceps, feeling him flex his bicep beneath your hand.
"Holy fuck, he's huge," you whisper to yourself.
You clear your throat for the umpteenth time before pulling your hand away from Luka's biceps, face hotter than it already was. Luka steps back with a laugh, crossing his arms over his chest with an amused smile. Sampo and Gepard then step forward, their arms over their chests. The apples of Gepard's cheek and his ears are almost as red as Himeko's hair, while Sampo looks eager— he has a wide smile on his face, and his cheeks and the tip of his ears are almost as pink as March's hair. 
You stare at the blond man and indigo-haired man skeptically, gnawing on the inside of your cheek. What are these two men up to, and why do they look eager yet shy? You narrow your eyes at them before turning to the pink-haired girl behind you. She grins at you and waves eagerly. You gesture for them to give you a moment before walking over to March, pulling her to the corner of your room. 
You hiss through clenched jaws, "March, what did you do?" 
March bats her eyelashes at you, swaying side to side. "What? I did nothing at all!" March says, crossing her arms over her chest. "Plus, don't you remember that we're testing out my theory?"
You grumble under your breath and push past the pink-haired girl, walking to Gepard and Sampo— feeling a sense of dread falling over you. March is up to something, and you're nervous to see what they have in store for you.
"What did March tell you two?" You ask weakly.
Sampo props his hands on his hips, making sure to flex his biceps. "March 7th informed us about how you wish to be squished between our chests," Sampo announces for everyone to hear.
Dan Heng, Caelus, Mr. Yang, Blade, Luka, Jing Yuan, Luocha, and Nanook raise their eyebrows at Sampo’s comment. Gepard sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose and nodding. You purse your lips and nod slowly. So this is what March refuses to tell you about. 
"Come here, Gumdrop. Get into my arms, and we shall make your dreams come true," Sampo purrs, making the come here motion with his index and middle finger. 
You make a dramatic sniffle before waddling over to Sampo. Sampo wraps his arms around your waist, pulling you to his chest and kissing the top of your head while ignoring the glare Nanook shot in his direction. 
Gepard clears his throat. "March also informs us that you wanted to be sandwiched between us for approximately ten minutes," says Gepard.
"Ten? I recalled thirty minutes!" March huffs, crossing her arms over her chest.
You scoff. "Gepard, Sampo, and I are not going to be standing for thirty minutes!" You exclaim, glaring at the pink-haired girl.
March glares at you and gestures for Sampo and Gepard to step close to each other until you're pressing up against their chest. Sampo releases you and has you stand between him and Gepard. The two men walk toward you until you're squished between the two men. Their beefy pecks press up against your cheeks. Just when you thought your face couldn't be any hotter, you stand corrected.
"This is what you wanted. I don't understand how you're so shy about it," Gepard murmurs, wrapping his beefy arms around your waist before rubbing your hip bone with his thumb.
You sputter, "Well when it's being done in front of nine other people."
You feel something drip from your nose. You sniffle, reaching up and touching the liquid dripping from your nose. You look at your fingers to see crimson red. Oh, fuck. You're bleeding. 
"Huh," you mutter.
Nanook steps forward, gazing at you, worried. "Little one, what happened?" Nanook asks worriedly.
Your eyes roll to the back of your head, and your world turns black. The last thing you heard was everyone gasping and screaming your name. Note to self: Do not test March's theory if it involves the men, or else she will take advantage of it and fluster you as much as she can.
Note: Man, this took me a while to type this out because I have many distractions around me. Writing fanfiction during a family vacation is no joke because they will do anything to distract you and pull you away from the laptop ;v; While I posted this fic at 10 PM PST, it's posted at midnight where I'm currently vacationing at. Uh, this will be labeled as published on July 22nd and July 23rd on my new Masterlist (I linked both Masterlists down below ^^) To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @ashwasherelol, @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @reversearrowhead, @pinksaiyans, @n8mareee, @aurelia-xyt, @ssunset0, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @kodzuvk, @for3very0urs, @a-cosmicdawn, @g3n0dtt, @theblades, @wntrsblvd, @raaawwwr, @immahuman, @irisxiel, @siaracarroll, @crazydreamcat, @sen-nes, @sagekun, @orichalcumthief, @dyingsweetmackerel, @rosiesareblue, @ichikanu, @undecidingfate (Accounts that I was unable to tag are not tagged in this fic. Remember to check your settings if you're allowing people to mention you/tag you in posts or not)
Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 10 months
Text
Prisoner of the Mind
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: You couldn't join March, Mr. Yang, Dan Heng, and Caelus on their trip to Jarilo-VI after Gepard and Sampo informed them of an issue in Belobog. The Astral Express is under attack, putting you and Pom-Pom in a dangerous situation, leading to you sacrificing yourself to save the train's conductor. Needless to say, the Aeon of Destruction was not too pleased about it.
Note: I have officially written the first hurt/comfort fic for the HSR one-shot series! I hope you all like this fic because I enjoyed typing it out, and it got me tearing up a little, not gonna lie! I have officially made a taglist for my Honkai Star Rail fics and series! It will be linked down below for those who want to be tagged in future fics (and along with past fics if you choose that option) ^^ Man, now I have to start planning this upcoming week's fic. I wonder what it will be 🤔 I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Reader gets attacked, mentions of blood
Word Count: 7.4k
Mr. Yang, March, Caelus, and Dan Heng is off the Astral Express, leaving you with Himeko and Pom-Pom. You usually tag along with them when they go trailblazing or when they’re exploring other ships and planets. But unfortunately, you can’t tag along with them this time because they’re going on a dangerous mission, and having you tag along with them can put your safety at risk. You didn’t want to get in their way by getting hurt or putting a target on your back just by being there. Actually, that was a lie because you offered to tag along with them, and they didn’t want you to go with them.
“There’s nothing to worry about, [Y/N],” Himeko says, ruffling your hair.
You sigh and lean back on the chair, looking out the window of the Astral Express. The stars are shining, and Jarlio-VI looks the same as it has always been. Iced over and devoid of life. There’s something nagging at you, but you can’t put your finger on it. It doesn’t feel pleasant, and you’re constantly looking out the window to see what’s going on, even though you can’t see what’s going on down there on Jarlio-VI.
A few days ago, while traversing through space in the Astral Express, Caelus received a text from Gepard and Sampo. Something was going on in Belobog, and they needed help as soon as possible. You offered to tag along, but of course, your offer was shot down almost immediately by the three men.
“You’re not going with us,” Mr. Yang states, crossing his arms over his chest.
Your eyes widen with disbelief. “What?! Why not? This isn’t the first time I’m tagging along with you guys!” You exclaimed, frowning at the older man.
Mr. Yang looks at Caelus, Dan Heng, and March as if he’s asking them to help him. The three stare in return before looking at you. You had this big frown on your face, and your eyebrows were furrowed with confusion and maybe anger. You were more confused than angry because why would you get upset over them not wanting you to tag along? 
Dan Heng sighs. “Caelus received a text from Sampo and Gepard about the situation in Belobog. It won’t be safe if you come with us,” Dan Heng says.
You opened your mouth to retort but only to let out an apprehensive sigh. Caelus walks to you, grabs you by the shoulders, and gazes into your eyes while squatting down to your eye level. You turned your head to avoid his eyes, but Caelus grabbed your chin to make you look at him.
Caelus sighs and gives you a weak smile. “I know you want to come along with us, but we can’t have you come with us for your safety. The situation in Belobog is a safety risk for you, and we don’t want you to get hurt or caught in the middle of it all,” Caelus says.
How was it a safety risk for you when it’s also a safety risk for them? The only thing that’s different between you and them is that they have weapons, and you don’t. And you’re not from their world, but you’ve been adjusting to their universe just fine! With the help of your dear friends from the Astral Express, Xianzhou Luofu, and Jarilo-VI, you’re doing great at getting used to your new environments.
Caelus continues to stare at you with his honey-gold eyes. You sigh and close your eyes, turning your head away from Caelus. Caelus frowns and releases your chin from his grasp, turning to look at March, Mr. Yang, and Dan Heng helplessly. March clears her throat, approaching you and Caelus with a faint smile. 
“Oh, cheer up, [Y/N]! I know you want to tag along with us, but maybe you can stay back on the Astral Express just this once! Plus, it’s going to be somewhere freezing in Jarilo-VI, and I’m pretty sure you don’t want to be somewhere freezing while the four of us are out and about!” March says, propping her hands on her hips.
Damn, March isn’t wrong about that. You’re not a huge fan of the weather on Jarilo-VI, and standing in the blizzard while March, Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and Caelus help Gepard and Sampo with the problems in Belobog is something you don’t want to do. An idea suddenly pops up in your head, and your eyes brighten. Since it’s Sampo and Gepard that contacted Caelus about the problem, you might as well hang out with Luka at Boulder Town Super League while they’re dealing with the situation.
You clear your throat. “Since the four of you, along with Sampo and Gepard, are going to be busy, can I hang out with Luka at the Boulder Town Super League?” You ask, bouncing on the balls of your feet.
Mr. Yang gives you a sympathetic smile and chuckles. “Sweetheart, Luka is going to be coming along with us as well. While we don’t have his phone number like you, Sampo mentioned bringing a friend with him for this situation,” said Mr. Yang. 
March, Dan Heng, and Caelus’ heads snap toward Mr. Yang’s direction after hearing Mr. Yang’s slip up. Mr. Yang didn’t seem to notice it, and neither have you. Instead of throwing a fit or insisting that you tag along with them, you sighed in defeat and nodded. It looks like your chances of visiting Jarilo-VI are nonexistent at this point. 
Caelus looks at Dan Heng, mouthing, ‘Sweetheart?’ only to earn a shrug from the black-haired man. Caelus clears his throat and nods. “Right, uh, Sampo mentioned a friend he’s bringing with him. As much as we would love to bring you along, we don’t want to give you a babysitter. Remember what happened last time?” Caelus asked, raising his eyebrows at you. 
You pursed your lips and rocked back and forth on the balls of your feet. Of course, you remembered what happened the last time you were assigned a babysitter. You got a golf ball-sized bump on your face with a bruise accompanying the bump. It wasn’t pretty, but you certainly met someone pretty that day. That person happened to be the friend of Sampo Koski himself, who is tagging along with your Astral Express and Belobog friends to the site of the issue. 
“That’s beside the point. As harsh as it sounds, you’re not leaving the Astral Express. You can join us when we’re heading to the Xianzhou Luofu, alright?” Dan Heng said.
You nodded glumly. You can’t help but feel like you’re being grounded for something you didn’t do. But you will do as they say and stay on the train. March ruffled your hair before draping her arms over your shoulders, pulling you in for a hug.
You hugged March tightly. “When are you guys leaving?” You ask, peeking from March’s shoulders. 
Mr. Yang replied almost immediately after you asked, “The Astral Express is heading there right now.”
“And how long will you five be gone for?” You ask.
“We don’t know how long we’ll be on Jarilo-VI. It can be a few days, a few hours, or longer than that, depending on the situation,” replied Dan Heng.
You frowned and pulled away from the hug, and sighed. There’s not much for you to do now. All you could do was hope for the best and that everyone involved came out unscathed and safe.
The conversation you had with your traveling companions was a few days ago, and they have yet to return to the Astral Express. You’re on edge and constantly check your phone to make sure they’re okay and alive. Luckily, they respond to your messages fast in the Astral Express group chat. The only time they won’t respond to your message is when they’re in the middle of something they can’t disclose. Of course, they let you know that ahead of time. And now you’re here, sitting on the Astral Express, looking out the window with zero interest.
Himeko sighs. “If you need anything, I’ll be in my cabin, alright? Feel free to stop by,” says Himeko, smiling at you before walking off after you nod.
Once you’re finally alone, you tilt your head back and close your eyes. No matter how many times you zoned out, time seems to be going slower than it is. You crack your eyes open and check your phone for the umpteenth time, only to see no notifications. Not even from Blade, Luocha, or Jing Yuan. Everyone is busy but you. Maybe a nap will take your mind off what’s going on, and maybe Nanook can keep you company.
After arriving at your bedroom, you plug your phone into the charger before collapsing on your bed and closing your eyes. You blindly reach for the lamp on your nightstand and switch the light off. Exhaustion soon overcomes you, your eyelids feel heavy, and you slowly drift to sleep. You didn’t know how long you were asleep, but when you woke up, everything was pitch black. 
You’re miffed that you didn’t see Nanook. You weren’t sure if Nanook was busy, but whenever you go to sleep, you always see Nanook. You didn’t think you did anything to make him upset, plus none of you have gotten off on the wrong foot. Something was wrong, and you don’t know what it is. You reach for the nightstand to turn the lights on, but it doesn’t turn on. You flip the switch repeatedly, but the room remains pitch-dark.
“Dammit. Is the lamp dead?” You sit up and blindly search for your phone in the darkness of your room. You turn your phone on to see that you got a message from Himeko.
1 Message from Himeko („• ֊ •„)
Himeko: “Hey, sleepy head! I got an urgent message from the gang, and they needed my assistance. Sorry to leave the Express without informing you about it. Remember to stay on the ship and do not leave! See you soon!”
You stare at the message that was sent forty-five minutes ago. You’re not sure if you should respond to Himeko’s message. But you didn’t want to leave her on read, so you typed out a message to the redhead.
Y/N: “Urgent message? Are they okay? I didn’t get a notification about it in the group chat…. Did they send the message to you separately?”
Message failed to send.
You furrow your eyebrows. That’s strange.
Y/N: “Himeko?”
Message failed to send.
You kick your blankets off your legs and run to the door. You swing the door open and freeze when you’re met with nothing but darkness. The only source of light was the starry skies shining from the window of the Astral Express. You clutch on your phone tightly, stepping into the pitch-black hallways, swallowing your fears. You turn your phone flashlight, shining it into the darkness that is the Astral Express. Is there a power outage? What happened to Pom-Pom? The thought of Pom-Pom hiding somewhere in the train makes you sprint out of the Passenger Cabins to the Parlor Car, mentally praying to yourself that Pom-Pom is at least safe.
The door to the Parlor Car slams open, and you run into the darkness, shining your phone flashlight while searching for the conductor. Despite there being windows in the train, it doesn’t make the train any brighter. You can’t hear anything else other than blood pounding in your ears. The silence is deafening.
You whimper out, “Pom-Pom? Are you there?”
You’re met with silence. Not even a peep from the conductor of the Astral Express. You hear something shuffling behind you, causing you to snap your head in the direction of the sound. There, hiding behind the chair, is Pom-Pom. Pom-Pom peeks from the chair, shivering with fear.
You sigh in relief. “There you are, Pom-Pom! I was so worried about you!” You said, jogging toward Pom-Pom.
Pom-Pom’s eyes widen, pointing behind you. “Watch out!” Pom-Pom shrieks.
Without thinking, you dive to the ground. You roll over to your knees and turn to look at the thing Pom-Pom pointed at. Right behind you was the Voidranger Reaver, preparing to strike again. You gulp and slowly take a step back, grabbing onto Pom-Pom and pulling the conductor into your arms. There’s no way you and Pom-Pom will be able to escape without getting a couple of cuts. 
There are so many questions you want to ask Pom-Pom, but your mind is racing and is all over the place. Your main objective is to try to escape with Pom-Pom and seek help. The Astral Express is no longer safe for you and Pom-Pom. Who knows what else is going to show up on the train. 
“Help is on the way! I managed to send out an SOS signal to Himeko and Welt. They should be back soon,” Pom-Pom says, tugging on your shirt.
“How soon?” You whisper, eyes scanning the darkness, searching for an exit. 
You’re fucked. You and Pom-Pom are doomed. There’s no escape. There’s no way for you to escape, and you’re fucking terrified. You want to cry. You’re shaking, but you’re trying your best to put on a brave face, but you’re not sure how long it’ll last. Whatever Pom-Pom was saying, it went in one ear and out the other. You grit your teeth, hugging Pom-Pom tightly to your chest before sprinting past the Voidranger Reaver.
The only safe place is your bedroom. You’re not sure if your bedroom door will be able to hold the Voidranger Reaver back. You’re not skilled in any weapon, it’s dark, and you don’t think Himeko and Mr. Yang will make it on time before something happens. You’re fucked. You’re fucked. You run to the Passenger Cabin, hearing the Voidranger Reaver sprinting after you.
You’re so close to your room. So close. You’re so close. Your feet hit the ground, Pom-Pom whimpering in fear, and the vicious growls from the Voidranger Reaver ring in your ears. 
You’re so close to your bedroom. Before you can reach your bedroom, you come to a complete stop, beads of sweat forming on your forehead. Two more Voidranger Reavers step out from the shadows, ready to attack you and Pom-Pom. 
“[Y/N]....” Pom-Pom whimpers, tugging on your shirt.
You pat Pom-Pom’s back with shaky hands. “We’ll be okay, Pom-Pom. I promise,” you whisper. An idea pops up in your head. “Please forgive me, Conductor.”
“H-Hey! Why are you apologizing?!” Pom-Pom exclaims, looking at you with wide eyes.
You didn’t respond. You lift Pom-Pom and throw him over the two Voidranger Reavers and toward your bedroom. When Pom-Pom lands on the floor of your room, the three Voidranger Reavers start attacking you. Slicing your body to shreds. The sounds of your scream echo throughout the pitch-black train.
Your vision blurs, blood pours from every cut on your body, your ears ring, and your legs give out from underneath you. The last thing you see before darkness consumes your vision is the lights turning on in the Astral Express.
Nothing can prepare Welt, Himeko, Caelus, March, and Dan Heng when they arrive at the Astral Express. Sampo, Luka, and Gepard offered to come and help after the five Astral Express crew members were able to help the trio with the issue on Belobog. The Astral Express was under attack by a couple of Voidranger Reavers, but luckily it was only a small number. However, they weren’t prepared to see the damages the Voidranger Reavers caused when they stepped onto the Astral Express.
Furniture was thrown around, and objects were thrown around and askew. There were no signs of Pom-Pom on board, and there were no signs of you in the Parlor Car. Everyone was hoping you and Pom-Pom were safe somewhere on the Astral Express, but the moment they stepped into the Passenger Cabin, time seemed to have stood still from there.
You were lying lifeless on the ground while three Voidranger Reavers continuously slashed your body. Blood pooled from beneath you, painting the floors crimson red as the smell of copper filled the air. The door to your bedroom is wide open, letting the others get a glimpse of the shaking and sobbing train conductor. Dan Heng was the first to attack the Voidranger Reavers, and others soon followed after. 
Once the three Voidranger Reavers were defeated and they all evaporated into thin air, Welt was immediately by your side, pressing his hand against your neck. There’s a pulse, but it’s faint. So faint that he can barely feel it with his gloves on— making him take his glove off and place his index and middle fingers on your neck to the side of your windpipe.
“Someone, contact the Xianzhou Luofu. We need all of the help we can get,” Caelus barks, covering your shredded and bleeding body with his jacket, attempting to stop the bleeding.
Caelus, Welt, and Dan Heng carefully lift you from the ground. March rushes over to a sobbing Pom-Pom, comforting the train conductor while rushing Pom-Pom out of the Passenger Cabin. Gepard, Sampo, and Luka look at one another, not saying a word.
Sampo runs his trembling hands through his hair. “They’re not going to die, are they? Please tell me they’ll be okay,” Sampo whispers, biting on his bottom lip.
“They’ll be okay. They have to be! There’s no way any of us will let them slip from our fingers,” Gepard replies, his hands shaking.
“How can you be so sure? [Y/N] lost so much blood! The floors are literally painted with their blood,” Luka mutters, his eyes never leaving the pool of blood on the once pristine floors of the Astral Express.
The only thing they can do is wait to arrive. While Dan Heng, Welt, and Caelus are trying to put pressure on your wounds to stop the bleeding, Himeko struts through the hallways of the Astral Express with Jing Yuan, Luocha, and Blade following close behind. While Himeko mainly contacted Luocha about the situation, Luocha was quick to inform Jing Yuan and Blade of the state you’re in. 
“Hand them to me,” Luocha states, holding his arms out.
Welt, Dan Heng, and Caelus carefully lower your body in Luocha’s arms before watching the blond man disappear to your bedroom to tend your wounds. Jing Yuan and Blade stare at the bloodied floor. There were bloody handprints on the walls and floors of the Astral Express. You tried to put up a fight, but you were outnumbered and were brutally injured by the Voidrangers Reavers. 
Jing Yuan sighs, rubbing his temples. “How did this happen?”
Blade chuckles humorlessly. “And I thought the Astral Express was safe for [Y/N] to stay at, but I was wrong,” Blade mutters.
“I understand we’re all tensed and worried about [Y/N], but now is not the time to start an argument. I don’t care who you are or what you mean to [Y/N]. They’re in their room, fighting for  their life right now, and you think it’s a good time to start something?” Gepard demands, glaring at the long, dark-haired man before him.
Blade’s red eyes flicker to Gepard’s face, staring at the Captain of the Silvermane Guards wordlessly. Blade clenches his jaws, walking over to the closed door of your room. He leans against the wall, closing his eyes, trying to listen to any sound that comes from your room. He hears nothing. 
“Cheer up, everyone! On the bright side, Mr. Yang was able to feel a pulse. The downside is waiting for them to recover,” Sampo says, rubbing the back of his neck.
Luka sighs, closing his eyes. “While we wait for Luocha to treat [Y/N]’s injuries, we should organize and clean up the Astral Express while we wait,” Luka comments.
Everyone was reluctant to leave the Passenger Cabin to organize the furniture of the Parlor Car. The Parlor Car took less damage and wasn’t nearly as horrendous as the Passenger Cabin. Pom-Pom had a hard time trying to resume his duties as the conductor of the Astral Express. All Pom-Pom wanted to do was to check and see if you were okay. Still, the others prevented him from entering the Passenger Cabin because the Passenger Cabin was going under a deep clean.
“[Y/N] will be okay, Pom-Pom. You have nothing to worry about. Luocha is tending [Y/N]’s wounds right now, and he should be finished soon,” Jing Yuan reassures Pom-Pom.
Pom-Pom sniffles, blinking at the General while his bottom lips tremble. The others don’t know what else to say to console the conductor. Pom-Pom witnessed you get attacked mercilessly. You willingly sacrifice yourself to make sure Pom-Pom is safe and out of harm’s way. While scared shitless and fearing for your life, you put someone else before you because you would rather take the hit than have someone take the hit for you.
“I’m going to make sure there aren’t any breaches on the train,” Blade mutters, walking away from the group.
After what feels like days, Luocha steps into the Parlor Car, looking visibly relieved. Everyone immediately stands up, walking to the blond man. Luocha rubs his temples, letting out a deep breath. 
“After five hours of treating [Y/N]’s injuries, [Y/N] is now in a stable condition. If any of you are going to stop by and make sure they’re okay, please keep your voices down while they rest,” Luocha instructs.
Luocha turns around and walks to your bedroom, with everyone following. The Passenger Cabin is clean, and there aren’t any traces of your blood left behind. The smell of cleaning solution and air freshener wafts through the air, drowning the smell of your blood that barely lingers in the air. Luocha grabs the handle to your room and slides the door open. One by one, each person steps into your dimly lit bedroom. You lay on your bed, sound asleep. Bandages wrap around your body from the neck down, while small bandaids patch up the smallest cuts on your face.
“How long will it take for them to recover?” Sampo whispers, turning to look at Luocha.
Luocha shrugs, sighing. “That’s the issue. I don’t know how long it’ll take for them to recover. [Y/N] is in stable conditions, but now it’s up to them on when they will regain their consciousness,” Luocha replies. 
Gepard takes a step toward your bed, grabbing your frail hands and brushing his thumb over the bandages wrapped around your hands. To any other person, you look like you’re asleep, dreaming about anything. But to the others, it seems like you’re lying on your deathbed with one foot in the grave. It’s terrifying. To see you in such a state scares everyone. 
Gepard clears his throat. “And you said they’re in stable condition, correct?” Gepard asks, keeping his eyes on you.
Luka clears his throat. “I believe Luocha mentioned that a few times already, Gepard,” Luka comments, approaching the blond man and standing by his side.
Poor sweet Gepard. The once cool, calm, and collected Captain of the Silvermane Guard has a hard time trying to digest the image before him. Gepard is trying everything in his power not to break down in tears in front of everyone around him. You almost died. You were standing in front of death’s doorsteps, ready to walk through the doors, leaving him and the others for good.
But you didn’t walk through those doors. Luocha managed to heal you and patch your wounds, preventing you from taking your last breath.
Jing Yuan sits at the edge of your bed, tucking you in your bed and brushing your hair away from your face. Jing Yuan sighs, caressing your cheek. “What horrors did you face before your unfortunate fate?” Jing Yuan whispers, scanning your unconscious face.
Everyone remains silent in your room, staring at your unconscious body. Welt, Dan Heng, and Caelus can’t help but drown in guilt. You wanted to join them, and they wouldn’t let you tag along with them due to safety concerns. But look where that landed you in. You’re injured, you were so close to death, but Luocha was able to save you and prevent that from happening.
Everyone starts to slowly and reluctantly leave your bedroom. Before they leave, they would squeeze your unconscious hand and whisper apologies for not arriving on time and for failing to protect you. Everyone is ridden with guilt. Soon enough, you’re left alone in the comfort of your bedroom.  
You jerk up with a gasp, only to find yourself in someone’s muscular arms. You look up to see Nanook. The Aeon stares down at you while cradling you in his arms. You blink at him and rub your eyes sleepily, looking around the void. You freeze when you realize you’re not your regular height. You’re almost the same height as Nanook. You and Nanook are covering the sun and the sky. 
Nanook tucks your hair behind your ears, kissing the shell of your ears, sighing. “How are you feeling, little one?” Nanook whispers.
“I’m tired, but I’m also confused,” you murmur, closing your eyes.
You and Nanook sit in silence. Nanook runs his fingers through your hair, rubbing your back and holding you close to his chest. There’s no space between you two, but you didn’t mind it. It feels nice to be in someone’s arms. It feels nice to be held. You’ve been yearning for someone to touch and hold you. You can’t help but notice your entire body feels tingly. You shift around in Nanook’s arms, opening your eyes to look down at your body. When you did that, you let out a choked gasp and jolted in Nanook’s grasp, startling the Aeon of Destruction.
You hold out your arm, looking up at Nanook. “Nanook... What’s going on!?” You whisper.
There are stars decorating your skin from head to toe. The stars glitter on your skin like diamonds and precious gems. It’s all over your body, and you don’t know what to do, nor do you know how it got there. You try to wipe it off your skin, only for it not to budge. It’s like you have an entire galaxy scattering across your body.
Nanook grabs your chin and tilts your head up. “The stars are healing you, little one. You were gravely injured back on the train. I couldn’t bear to see you suffer,” Nanook whispers.
You swallow the lump in your throat. The Astral Express. The attack. Pom-Pom. You sacrifice yourself to save Pom-Pom. All of it happened so fast that you could barely process the thought of it. Wait a minute, you’re not dead, are you? Sure, Nanook said the stars are healing you, but what about your physical body outside of your mind? Outside of the void?
“I’m not dead, am I?” You whisper.
Nanook snorts, shaking his head. “No, sweetheart. You’re not dead, little one. Your physical body is currently recovering. That blond man was able to heal your injured body,” Nanook says, kissing your forehead.
You close your eyes, sighing in relief. You’re so glad you’re not dead. 
“Besides, I wouldn’t let you die. Not on my watch,” Nanook mutters.
You smile, wrapping your arms around Nanook’s torso and sighing with contentment. It’s just you and Nanook in the void. No dangers lurking in the corner, no one to bother you. It’s just you and Nanook surrounded by the glittering stars of the abyss, enjoying each other’s presence in silence. 
While you’re with Nanook, your physical body has healed back to its original form before the attack. No scars are left on your body, and there are no bruises and small cuts. You look good as new. Luocha did a fantastic job at healing your body, and he would like to pat himself on the back for that. Despite your body being fully healed and in perfect condition, you did not wake up.
You’re still unconscious, but it’s like you’re sleeping instead of being in a coma. You move around in your sleep and react to the sounds around you, but you have yet to open your eyes since the attack. 
“I thought they would regain their consciousness by now,” Blade mutters, sitting at the end of your bed while staring at your unconscious body.
Luocha sighs, getting up from your bed and crossing his arms over his chest. “While [Y/N] is physically healed of their injuries, it’s up to them to decide when to wake up from their unconsciousness,” says Luocha.
“But it's been days since the attack! How much longer are they going to be unconscious? Are you sure [Y/N]’s okay?” Sampo asks, looking at Luocha pleadingly. 
Yes, it’s been days since the incident, and there are no signs of you waking up any time soon. Yes, you react to the noises around you, and yes, you’re physically okay and have healed from your injuries, but you’re still not awake. March wanted to make sure you didn’t wake up and then go back to sleep to play tricks on everyone, so she would check up on you every other hour (if she wasn’t asleep).
Everyone has decided to stop by your room to visit you every day, making sure you’re still breathing. Luocha even took that chance to make sure there weren’t any internal injuries or bleeding, and thankfully, there were none. You’re physically okay, but mentally…. They’re not sure about that.
“They must’ve been so scared in their final moments,” March whispers.
Caelus gives March a look. “March, why are you putting it that way? It’s like you’re implying [Y/N]’s dead!” Caelus scolds the pink-haired girl.
March huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, it’s been days since we last saw [Y/N] open their eyes! Not being able to text them, talk to them, hang out with them feels like an eternity!” March exclaims.
While unconscious, you still managed to pick up every noise around you. You flinch and whimper in your unconscious state, eyebrows furrowing. Mr. Yang looks at March and Caelus, shaking his head with disapproval.
“March, I understand you miss them, but you need to remember that we can’t control when they can regain consciousness,” says Mr. Yang.
Dan Heng pinches the bridge of his nose before approaching your bed. He sits at the edge of your bed and stares at your unconscious face. The longer Dan Heng stares at your face, the more he realizes something is off.
“What’s that?” Dan Heng asks.
Gepard walks over to where Dan Heng is standing, watching the black-haired man gently grab your face and tilt your head to the side. The others crowd behind Dan Heng and Gepard, staring at your face while trying to see what Dan Heng is looking at. If anyone were to blink, they would’ve missed it because it was quick to appear and disappear. 
Gold runs through your veins across your face. The pattern reminds them of thunder. It starts at the base of your neck, slithering up and across your face before disappearing. Gepard gently nudges Dan Heng to caress your head. Gepard pulls your eyelids up, and alas, the color of your eyes changes from your original eye color to gold.
“Could it be….?” Gepard trails off, furrowing his eyebrows with concentration.
Gepard blinks, and your eyes return to their original color. Blade turns to look at the other men, his chest puffing with anger while gritting his teeth. He clenches his hands into tight fists until they turn white underneath his gloves. 
“Is it possible for Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction, to hold [Y/N] as a prisoner in their mind?” Blade asks.
Jing Yuan chuckles, crossing his arms over his chest. “Now, now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We can’t be certain that Nanook is holding [Y/N] a prisoner in their mind. It’s possible that the Aeon is doing that, but [Y/N] sustained many injuries, and it’s possible their body is keeping them in a comatose state for them to fully heal mentally and physically,” Jing Yuan explains.
Luka hums, shrugging his shoulders. While Luka may have known you for a short time compared to the other men, he doubts Nanook is going to harm you. Before meeting you, Sampo and Gepard would describe you as “Nanook’s chosen one” to Luka. It’s a ridiculous title, but it’s the best they can do to describe how important you are to Nanook. They would praise your beauty and mention the strong connection they feel to you when they’re with you and when they meet you for the first time.
“What if Nanook is keeping [Y/N] asleep because he’s worried about their safety? Like Blade said, it’s possible for Nanook to keep them as a prisoner. I don’t think prisoner isn’t the best way to describe the situation, but Nanook has never hurt [Y/N], has he?” Luka asks, turning to look at the eight men.
Mr. Yang sighs, shaking his head. “[Y/N] never mentioned anything about Nanook hurting them in any way. The only thing we know is that Nanook is very fond of [Y/N], hence why they’re in our world in the first place. Nanook would communicate with [Y/N] through their dreams every time they fall asleep,” Mr. Yang explains, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
While the men are discussing the situation and what they all have witnessed, in your unconscious mind, you’re lying against Nanook. You don’t know how long you’ve been with Nanook, but you like the peace and quiet. While you love being in the void with Nanook, basking in his presence, light touches, and affections, you can’t help but find the void a little bit dull and boring.
How does Nanook deal with this alone? Maybe Nanook is used to it because he’s been around for thousands of years compared to you, a newcomer. You move away from Nanook, grabbing the Aeon’s attention. You sigh, looking around at the sparkling stars in the night sky. Nanook peeks at you, gazing at you worriedly when you let out an apprehensive sigh. Nanook wraps his arms around your waist, pressing his bare chest against your back.
Nanook presses his lips against the shell of your ear. “What’s wrong? Why are you sighing like that?” Nanook murmurs, massaging your hip bones while resting his chin on your shoulders.
How do you tell Nanook that you know he’s keeping you in your “dreams” for a long time? You tried to wake up, but you can’t. You have tried many methods of trying to wake yourself up from this never-ending dream, only to fail in the end. You love being with Nanook, and you don’t mind being in the void with the Aeon, but you can’t possibly stay here forever, can you?
“I know you’re keeping me here, and you’re not letting me leave,” you said hesitantly.
Crap that sounds bad. You didn’t mean for it to come out that way. Think, [Y/N], think! You turn to look at the Aeon of Destruction, who gazes at you blankly. Even though Nanook is gazing at you emotionlessly, you can’t help but feel intimidated by the look he’s giving you. You gulp and grab Nanook’s hands, squeezing them.
You smile at him. “I’m not upset with you for wanting to keep me here. I want to know why you’re keeping me here and refusing to let me wake up,” you murmur.
Nanook sighs, releasing your hand before backing away from you. You let your hands fall to your side as you watch him grow in size. It took you a few seconds to realize you’re back to your original size, and Nanook is now towering over you, still covering the sun and the sky. Fuck, Nanook is not upset with you, is he?
“That is none of your concern, little one,” Nanook states, crossing his arms over his chest.
You frown. “It is very much my business, Nanook. You’re keeping me here with you when my physical body is lying on my bed, unconscious, while my friends are probably wondering why I’m still not awake!” You exclaim.
You wince when your voice echoes in the abyss. Nanook stares at you with a deep frown. You sigh, turning away from Nanook and walking away. You didn’t get far. A hand grabs your wrist, turning you around to face the hand that belongs to a certain Aeon. Nanook, now standing before you, is frowning at you. While he’s the size of a regular person, he continues to tower over you like the men you call your very friends. You assume Nanook is the same height as Jing Yuan but maybe slightly taller than the white-haired General of the Xianzhou Luofu.
“Your friends failed to keep you safe. They left you alone on that train, and what happened? The Astral Express was under attack, and it nearly cost your life!” Nanook growls. “You’re safer here with me than you are with them! Why should I trust them to be around you when they failed at something they were supposed to do in the first place?!”
Tears blur your vision, and you look away from Nanook. Nanook sighs and caresses your face, wiping the tears that slowly make their way down your cheeks. He pulls you into his arms, wrapping both arms around your shoulders while caressing the back of your head and kissing your forehead. You wrap your arms around his waist, burying your face into his chest.
“I’m sorry for raising my voice at you, my precious gem. Witnessing you getting attacked and not being able to do something about it hurts me deeply. I thought I could trust your traveling companions to protect you, but I was wrong,” Nanook murmurs. 
You tighten your grip around Nanook, squeezing your eyes shut. It’s not Nanook’s fault for not being able to protect you, nor is it your friends’ fault either. They wanted you to stay on the Astral Express to protect you, and it was going smoothly until the Astral Express was under attack. It wasn’t like they could predict what was going to happen to the train while they were away.
You swallow the lump in your throat, rubbing Nanook’s back. “It’s no one’s fault, Nanook. My friends were trying to protect me from the dangers on Jarilo-VI, but they didn’t think the Astral Express was going to be under attack. Please don’t blame them or yourself. It’s no one’s fault,” you whisper, pulling away from the hug.
Nanook stares at you. A deep frown remains on Nanook’s face while his eyebrows are furrowing with frustration. You gingerly reach up to Nanook’s face, rubbing his eyebrows, causing the Aeon to stare at you with confusion. Nanook grabs your wrist, raising an eyebrow at you. You and Nanook stare at each other in silence.
“What are you doing?” Nanook mutters, tilting his head to the side.
You clear your throat, lowering your hands awkwardly. “You were furrowing your eyebrows. I thought I should smooth the scrunch away,” you reply.
Nanook smiles with amusement, wrapping his arms tightly around your waist and burying his face into your neck. “Stars, I don’t want to share you with anyone else.” Nanook thinks, squeezing you so tight you swear your back might pop. “Why can’t I have you for myself?”
Nanook snaps out of his thoughts when you call his name softly. 
“Are you alright?” You whisper, carding your fingers through his soft, luscious hair.
Nanook exhales deeply through his nostrils, nodding in response. Nanook doesn’t want you to regain your consciousness outside of the void. He can keep you here for eternity for all he’d like, but that would be selfish of him to do so. But why does it matter? Nanook is the one that brought you into this universe in the first place! Why do other people have to interfere and develop feelings for you too? It’s simply not fair. Nanook wants you for himself, and he doesn’t want to share you with anyone.
POP!
You groan and pat Nanook’s biceps to grab his attention. “You just popped my back, Nanook. Are you sure you’re okay?” You ask, lightly pushing him away to get a clear look at his face.
Nanook quickly apologizes and peppers your face with small kisses. You sigh and lean into his arms while he sways side to side with you. Your eyelids begin to get heavy as you slowly fall asleep, your vision turning black, and the last thing you feel is Nanook kissing your forehead.
The voices around you are muffled, almost like you’re underwater, and they’re above the surface. As you regain consciousness, you realize the voices around you are bickering. You groan and smack the nearest thing, earning a loud yelp.
“Ouch! Gumdrop, why did you hit me?!” Sampo whines.
You crack your eyes open to see nine faces peering down at you. Dear Aeons, you did not expect to see nine faces staring at you while you were unconscious. You rub your eyes and try to sit up. Sampo tackles you into a hug, squeezing you tightly. You groan when you feel your back pop. Gepard and Luocha grab Sampo by the shoulders and pull the indigo-haired man back.
“Be careful! [Y/N] is still recovering from their injury,” Gepard says, shaking his head with disapproval. 
Luocha kneels beside you and brushes your hair from your face. “How are you feeling, Stardust? Any aches and pains?” Luocha asks, eyeing you closely.
You move your arms, move and stretch your legs. So far, you feel fine as ever! “I feel okay. Nothing is hurting, but I do feel like I need to go to a chiropractor,” you say, rubbing the knot in your back.
“[Y/N]. We’re so sorry this happened to you. You wanted to join us, and we didn’t let you accompany us to Jarilo-VI because we wanted to keep you safe from danger. Instead, the Astral Express was under attack, and you were gravely injured,” Caelus says, grabbing your hands and squeezing them.
You shake your head. “It’s not your fault. None of us knew this was going to happen, Caelus. No one is at fault,” you whisper.
“We feel guilty for what happened. We’re not leaving you on the Astral Express alone next time. You’re safer with us than you are alone. Whether you’re on the Astral Express or not,” says Dan Heng.
You open your mouth to respond, but the lights in your room flicker on and off. The men standing around your bed tense up and form a barrier around you, drawing their weapons. The silence in your room was loud, so loud that everyone in the room could hear heavy footsteps approaching your room. The door swings open and enters a towering figure.
You peek between Jing Yuan and Blade’s shoulders, eyes widening when you see…
“Nanook. What are you doing here?” You whisper, getting up from your bed.
You’re about to walk toward Nanook, but Blade and Jing Yuan block your way, glaring at the Aeon of Destruction. Nanook raises his eyebrows at Blade and Jing Yuan, crossing his arms over his bare chest. Nanook clears his throat, watching the nine men stand around you while gazing at the Aeon warily.
Nanook sighs. “Since your…. Friends…. Can barely protect the one I find most precious and hold dear to my heart, I might as well join you on your journey across the universe,” says Nanook.
Blade clenches his jaws. “Oh? The Aeon of Destruction is joining us in our journey?” Blade sneers, tightening his grip around the sword.
“Should we trust him?” Luka whispers, not taking his eyes off the Aeon of Destruction.
Nanook merely rolls his eyes and walks toward the group, reaching over Blade and Jing Yuan to grab you. Nanook wraps his fingers around your wrist, pulling you forward. Nanook wraps his arms around your waist and kisses the side of your head, refusing to take his eyes off the group behind you.
Jing Yuan pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue. “Keep your guard up at all times,” Jing Yuan instructs, keeping his eyes on the Aeon.
Perhaps you should’ve stayed a prisoner in your mind. The tension between your traveling companions and Nanook is so thick and awkward. You don’t know what to do other than be caught in the middle of the ten men. Nine of the men are glaring at the Aeon while the Aeon is running his fingers through your hair, gazing at the fuming nine men with mirth. Oh, this is going to be interesting. 
Note: I hope you all like this fic! Nanook is officially physically in the fic! >:D I wonder what's going to happen now that Nanook is physically in the fic with everyone now! Also, I hope you Luocha wanters have Luocha now! I have Luocha after spending money because Welt ended up coming home instead of Luocha 🥹 Got me spending all of my stellar jades too 😔 anyway! For those who want to be tagged in upcoming HSR fics, I have finally made a taglist form right [HERE]! Oh, and for those who want to, my discord is officially opened! This link is temporary and will expire after seven days. If you want to join, here is the link to [Zhongli's Abode]! If you like the server, you can stay! If it's not your cup of tea, then you can leave whenever you want! Please make sure to read the server rules when you join the server ^^ To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR fics: Will be tagging people when the taglist form is filled out :)
Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
2K notes · View notes
genshinluvr · 9 months
Text
Final Moments
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: You're somewhere alone, bleeding, and on the verge of death. Everyone is scrambling to reach out to you, but you're not picking up your phone, and no one knows where you are. Not even Nanook knows your whereabouts. You didn't think you could die in a universe you didn't belong to, but you were wrong. At least you were able to hear their voices in your final moments, right?
Note: I haven't written angst in so long. This is probably not the best angst I've written. This is an answer to an ask I received not long ago. I'm not sure how I feel about this mini-fic, but I think something sad happening for once is somewhat good for a fanfic one-shot series. To be really honest, it doesn't feel like angst to me. Idk if it's because I wrote it or if it's because it's not sad enough. Who knows. I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Major character death, blood, probably my worst angst
Word Count: 3.9k
Your connection with Nanook has been severed. Whenever you sleep, you and Nanook communicate while you’re asleep. When you’re unconscious due to being knocked out by a flying prosthetic arm, Nanook is there— while you’re physically unconscious. You and Nanook have always been connected through body and mind since your arrival to their— Nanook, your Astral Express, Stellaron Hunter, Xianzhou Luofu, and Jarilo-VI companions— universe. However, this is the first time you realize you and Nanook are no longer connected to each other.
In the state of unconsciousness, you’re in the void. Only this void is different from the one where Nanook is covering the sun and sky. This abyss you’re in is pitch black, and you’re the only living being in the endless darkness. There’s no sky, no sun, no stars to light a path along the way in the void. At first, you’re uncertain whether you’re physically in this void or if you’re just unconscious.
That is until you hear ringing in your ears, and light starts flooding in. You gasp aloud as if you finally made it to the surface after being underwater for more than you can handle. Your lungs hurt, and so does your head. As a matter of fact, now that you have regained consciousness, your entire body aches, and you’re tired. So tired. Your eyelids threaten to shut, but you’re trying your best not to lose consciousness again.
Where are you? 
What happened?
You push yourself upward and slump against the wall, choking out a gasp and breathing heavily. Your heart hurts— you didn’t think it was possible for you to feel your heart hurting to the point where you want to cry. Your vision is blurry, and you try to rub your eyes, but you can’t feel your arms. Exhaustion soon overtakes your body, and you fall unconscious.
Meanwhile, on the Astral Express, everyone is crowding around on the Parlor Car, their phones facing upward on the table. Everyone has been trying to call you, only for them to get a voicemail, or the call would fail to go through. The monotonous beep haunts their minds as everyone frantically tries to reach out to you.
“Are you sure the signal is good? Maybe we can’t call them because of the awful signal on the Astral Express,” Caelus comments, chewing on his nails.
March ignores Caelus’ comment. She presses her phone against her ears, listening to the ringing. If the signal was terrible, then how come the phone call was going through for her? The ringing stopped briefly, making March gasp, startling everyone on the Astral Express.
“Hi, this is [Y/N]! Sorry, I can’t come to the phone right now—”
March groans, ending the call. “Never mind. I thought they answered my call, but I was wrong,” March sighs in defeat, sliding her phone on the table.
The lights on the Astral Express flicker, and the door slams open. Nanook steps into the Parlor Car, his gold eyes scanning the Parlor Car, searching for your face. Nanook sighs and stays close to the entrance, running his hands through his hair. Just as Nanook feared: you’re not on the Astral Express either. 
Welt furrows his eyebrows at the Aeon of Destruction. “Nanook. Your presence is sudden,” says Welt.
“Where is [Y/N]? Are they not on the Astral Express?” Nanook asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Unfortunately, they’re not on the Astral Express. We,” Jing Yuan gestures to him, Blade, Luocha, Luka, Sampo, and Gepard, “were contacted by the Astral Express in hopes that [Y/N] is on the Xianzhou Luofu or Jarilo-VI. To everyone’s disappointment, they are nowhere to be found.”
After hearing Jing Yuan’s explanation, Nanook starts to visibly panic. The Aeon of Destruction paces back and forth, taking deep breaths and muttering something under his breath. Everyone on the Astral Express gazes at Nanook worriedly. This is the first time they see him act this way. Nanook has always had this cool, calm, and collected exterior. Nothing can phase him, and only you can get a reaction out of him.
Sampo raises a finger. “Hold up. Why are you asking us where [Y/N] is? Aren’t you the one who can communicate with [Y/N] inside their dreams?” Sampo asks, crossing his arms over his chest and raising his eyebrows at the Aeon.
“Nanook, have you been able to contact them by any chance? We’ve been hitting countless dead ends, and we’re really worried about them,” Gepard says, looking at Nanook pleadingly.
Nanook sighs and stops pacing. He looks at the people on the Astral Express with a deep frown. While Sampo is correct about him being able to communicate with you through your dreams, the people on the Astral Express, Xianzhou Luofu, and Jarilo-VI aren’t the only ones whose struggling to get into contact with you.
Nanook wasn’t able to contact you through your dreams prior to your disappearance. When Nanook brought you into this universe, Nanook made sure to form this connection with you— this unbreakable bond between you and him. But despite creating this unbreakable bond, it somehow severed, and he can no longer contact you through your dreams and unconscious state.
This bond is supposed to be a way for him to track you anywhere in this universe. No matter how out of reach you are from him. Whether you’re in the Astral Express, on Jarilo-VI, the Xianzhou Luofu, the void, etc., Nanook should be able to feel your presence somewhere throughout the universe. Nanook mutters something, closing his eyes and pulling at the roots of his hair with frustration.
“What’s Nanook saying?” Himeko whispers, not taking her eyes off the anguish Aeon.
Luka whispers, “He’s muttering something about [Y/N] and the bond between them. I can’t hear what Nanook is saying, but those are the things I can pick out.”
Dan Heng stares at his phone intently, staring at your contact picture while listening to the monotonous ring. This is the fourth attempt. The fourth time he’s tried to call you, only for there to be a voicemail or just constant beeping that’s shaking him to his core. You can be anywhere in the universe, and finding your precise location without you telling them where you’re at will be the most challenging thing they deal with.
“Are they still not answering their phone, Dan Heng?” Luocha asks, approaching the black-haired man.
Dan Heng sighs, ending the call when he hears your voicemail through the speakers. “No,” Dan Heng mutters, shaking his head.
Blade stares at the panicking Nanook, frowning deeply. Blade sighs, rubbing his temples with shaky hands. As much as Blade wishes he was mishearing the things Nanook was muttering to himself, the more Blade thinks about it, the more it makes sense. Nanook is the one that brought you into this universe— he should know your exact location no matter what planet and fleet you’re on. Nanook should be able to communicate with you through your dreams or unconscious state, and because Nanook is visibly panicking and stressing out over your whereabouts, Blade concludes that—
“Your connection with [Y/N] has been severed, isn’t it?” Blade asks, breaking the tense silence in the Astral Express and bringing Nanook out of his thoughts.
Nanook clenches his jaws, nodding. “It has been severed, unfortunately. I do not know how it happened, and I’m sure [Y/N] isn’t the one that severed it. There’s no way for them to sever the connection,” Nanook replies.
Everyone stares at Nanook in horror. If Nanook is unable to contact you, then it’s very unlikely they’ll be able to find you sooner. You, [Y/N]. The same person not from their universe, the same precious star everyone holds dear to their hearts— whether as a best friend, little sibling, or a small crush that developed into something bigger— the same star that shines the brightest in the universe. You’re somewhere out there in the universe, exposed to dangers you’re not used to handling. Heck, everyone didn’t plan on letting you be exposed to any hazards that exist in this universe, but now?
“So, you’re saying there’s no way for any of us to contact [Y/N]?” Welt asks, raising his eyebrows at Nanook.
While Welt looks calm on the outside, the man is freaking out internally. How did this happen in the first place? You were supposed to be safe and sound under his watch, but you suddenly disappeared without a trace, and no one was able to reach out to you or track you down. Not even the Aeon of Destruction is able to track you down, and the Aeon has connections with you— well, had a connection with you.
“What are we going to do now, Mr. Yang? Searching for [Y/N] seems impossible at this point,” Caelus says, plopping down on the chair and running his hands through his hair.
Jing Yuan shakes his head. “I’ll have Yanqing lead the Cloud Knights to search throughout the Xianzhou Luofu,” Jing Yuan says, taking his phone from the table and sending rapid texts to his blond retainer.
Gepard nods. “And I will have the Silvermane Guards patrol the Overworld and the Underworld. If they see [Y/N], their duty is to detain [Y/N] until we arrive to get them,” says Gepard as he grabs his phone to message Dunn.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Detain [Y/N]? As in, keep them in cuffs and behind bars?!” Sampo exclaims, propping his hands on his hips, and looks at Gepard with disbelief.
Gepard, Welt, Nanook, and Dan Heng sigh simultaneously, rubbing their temples and pinching the bridge of their noses after hearing Sampo’s question. March snorts, rolling her eyes. The door to the Parlor Car opens. Pom-Pom waddles into the room, his eyes scanning the Parlor Car for a familiar face other than the ones that are present. 
Pom-Pom sighs with disappointment. “I see that none of you have found [Y/N],” Pom-Pom says, crossing his arms over his chest.
Himeko gives Pom-Pom a sympathetic look. “Sorry, Pom-Pom, but we still haven’t found them. They’re not answering our texts or phone calls, and not even Nanook can contact them,” Himeko replies.
Pom-Pom sighs and waddles to the Phonograph, pressing his forehead against the machine. A dark stormy cloud looms over Pom-Pom’s head as he lets out a string of whimpers and sniffles. Everyone on the Astral Express nearly forgot about how close you and Pom-Pom are. The closeness between you two is adorable, and Pom-Pom treats you like his favorite passenger on the Astral Express. Well, you are his favorite passenger. There’s no denying it. Sometimes, when everyone is asleep, you would keep Pom-Pom company and spoil him with his favorite snacks.
Of course, that was before Nanook became a passenger on the Express. Now you would keep Pom-Pom company on the nights you can’t sleep or when Nanook isn’t on the Astral Express due to his duty as the Aeon of Destruction.
“Pom-Pom?” March asks softly.
Pom-Pom turns to face them, his eyes blurred with tears. “How could all of you fail to protect someone that protected me!?” Pom-Pom wails, tears cascading down his cheeks. “What if we never see them again? They could be in danger!”
Everyone looks away, their shoulders slumping. Pom-Pom’s right. They did fail to protect you— this is the second time they failed to protect you, and they wish they could turn back time and prevent it from happening.
“There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll find [Y/N] and bring [Y/N] back to the Astral Express, alright?” Luka says, kneeling in front of Pom-Pom and patting the conductor’s head.
Pom-Pom whimpers. “But what if they’re injured?” Pom-Pom whispers.
“Then I will do everything in my power to heal them,” Luocha answers.
You’re rudely awoken by the sharp pain in your lower abdomen. You gasp and sit up, letting out a strained gasp and whimper. You look down at your body, now realizing the state you’re in. You don’t remember what exactly happened, but the more you look at your surroundings, the more you start piecing things together. You were attacked by the Mara-struck. It happened so fast that you weren’t able to comprehend what happened before it was too late.
And now you’re here, on Cloudford, bleeding out, going in and out of consciousness, with no cell signal to call or text your traveling companions. You can’t even contact Nanook due to the severed connection between you and the Aeon of Destruction. No matter how many times you lose consciousness, Nanook isn’t there— even if you scream his name, bloody murder. You will always be in the void, alone and searching for the Aeon that brought you into his universe.
You sprawl out on the ground, digging your phone from your pockets. Your vision blurs every few minutes, making it hard for you to do your task. You turn your phone on, attempting to call the first person on your contact list. Blade.
You tried to call Blade, but the call didn’t go through. You tried calling every person on your contact list, but the call continues not to go through. You push yourself off the ground, nearly slipping on the pool of blood beneath you. It’s a miracle that you manage to hold on for so long. The question is: how much longer can you hold on? Black dots dotting your vision, you’re extremely tired, your eyelids are threatening to close, and your legs and arms are tingling.
“I can do this, I can do this,” you chanted, limping as far away as you can. “I’ll be okay. I’ll be okay.”
You’re not sure if giving yourself a false sense of hope is going to do any better. Still, it’s better to do that than lay in your puddle of blood, watching the time tick away and your life slipping from your fingers. With each step you take, you feel your strength slipping away. You’re exhausted, and everything hurts. The Mara-struck did not go easy on you until they assumed you were dead. 
As much as you wanted to blame yourself for not being careful enough, there’s no one else to blame. Not even yourself. People will blame you for not being careful and watching your surroundings, but is it really your fault? The Mara-struck are ruthless, and they’ll attack anyone and anything that is alive and not Mara-struck like them.
You’re brought out of your thoughts and self-pity when your foot gets caught over the other, sending you to the ground with a loud thump. You let out a screech of pain and remain on the ground as every part of your body is stinging and throbbing with pain. The small cuts on your body reopen as fresh blood oozes from the wounds, spilling to the ground.
“Please, just end my misery,” you whisper, tears rolling down your bloodstained cheeks as you slowly drift in and out of consciousness.
The faint sound of buzzing coming from your phone wakes you up. You gingerly turn your head to see the screen of your phone lighting up and vibrating. You reach for your phone and roll over on your side to see Blade calling you. You swipe to the green button and hear a faint scream and frantic voices coming from the other end of the call.
“Blade?” You croak, wincing when you feel how dry your throat feels.
Blade sighs in relief on the other side of the call. “Thank the Aeons, you’re okay. Where are you? Are you safe?” Blade asks.
You chuckle bitterly, close your eyes and continue to lie on the ground. At least you’ll be able to hear their voices one last time, right? It’s better to listen to their voice before…. Someone calls your name, grabbing your attention.
“Huh? Sorry, I didn’t catch onto what you were saying,” you mumble, squeezing your eyes shut and fighting back a whimper that’s crawling up your throat.
“[Y/N], please tell us where you are. We’re very worried about you,” Dan Heng says.
You sniffle. The pain is beginning to feel unbearable. Everything hurts so much, and you want someone or something to end your pain and suffering already. You shouldn’t have played dead when the Mara-struck attacked you for who knows how long. You should’ve let them end you right then and there so you wouldn’t have to continue to suffer like how you are right now.
“[Y/N]? Are you still with us?” Caelus asks, his voice crackling through the speakers.
Fuck. Is the connection starting to act up?
“Yeah, yeah. I’m still here,” you reply, black dots dotting your vision. Is it normal to see a small burst of stars in your eyes each time you blink? “Sorry, I’m not feeling well right now.”
The other end of the call falls silent after hearing your response. As of now, Jing Yuan and Gepard haven’t received any reports from the Silvermane Guards and Cloud Knights about finding you. 
The General of the Xianzhou Luofu and the Captain of the Silvermane Gaurds text their trusted companions regarding the search, only for Dunn and Yanqing to reply that they have yet to find out despite the number of Cloud Knights and Silvermane Guards scrambling to find you. 
Mr. Yang walks over to Blade and takes the phone from his hands. “Sweetheart, can you look at your surroundings and tell us where you are? Even if you don’t know the precise location, do you know whether you’re on the Xianzhou Luofu or Jarilo-VI?” Mr. Yang asks.
“I’m on, uh, the Xianzhou Luofu. The Mara-struck…” you trail off, closing your eyes. Your hands are shaking— you don’t think you can hold your phone up any longer. Your arms feel awfully weak, and your phone feels heavy.
Jing Yuan’s voice crackles over the speakers. “What happened with the Mara-struck?”
Jing Yuan sounds frantic.
You shrug, completely forgetting that the others can’t see you. “They attacked me out of nowhere. They left me for dead, and there’s blood. So much blood,” you whisper, cracking your eyes open and looking at your surrounding.
“[Y/N], can you turn on the video call so we can see where you are?” Gepard asks, his voice crackling in the speakers.
You sigh, gritting your teeth as you turn on the video call. Your face appears on the screen— if you weren’t bleeding out and losing consciousness every few minutes, you would be gasping in horror at the sight of your reflection. Dear Aeons, you look horrendous. You blindly show your surroundings for the men to see where you’re at, but you don’t think you’re doing it correctly. Your arm soon grew tired, and your arms collapsed beside you.
“I’m really sleepy, guys,” you whisper, swallowing the lump in your throat. You nearly gagged when you tasted a mouthful of blood. You don’t know how much more you can hold on until they find you.
“Does anyone recognize that area? We’re not from the Xianzhou Luofu— nothing looks familiar for us,” Sampo mutters, gazing at the others worriedly.
Luocha steps forward and takes Blade’s phone from Mr. Yang’s grasp. “I know this is going to be complicated for you, but do not fall asleep, alright? Keep your eyes open and try to stop the bleeding. We’ll be right there soon,” Luocha instructs.
The men hear and see nothing coming from Blade’s phone. The camera is pointed to the sky of  the Xianzhou Luofu— they see the color of your hair peeking in the corner. You rub your eyes and press your hands against the deep gash on your abdomen. You lift your head to see various cuts on your body. All are bleeding.
You whisper, “Which ones do I cover? There’s too many,” you mumble, gazing at the gashes with bleary eyes. 
You let your head fall back on the ground, attempting to cover up as many as you can. How much longer are you going to hold on? You can hear a commotion coming through Blade’s phone as you lie on the ground, your phone lying beside your head. You didn’t think you could die in a universe you didn’t belong to.
“Stay on the phone with us, alright? We’ll be there soon, we promise,” you hear Blade say through the phone.
You can’t tell if Blade is panicking or not. He sounds so far away, no matter how close your phone is to your ears. How could this have happened anyway? It was all your fault, wasn’t it? Were you reckless like last time? No, no. Last time, the Astral Express was under attack. But this time, you left the Astral Express and ended up getting attacked by the Mara-struck. And now look at you, bleeding out on the Xianzhou Luofu while trying to stay conscious.
“You’re not mad at me, are you?” You whisper, staring at the clear blue sky above you.
Luka grunts. “We’re not mad at you, [Y/N]. We’re very worried about you,” Luka replies.
Luka is trying his best to remain calm, but his heart is racing against his chest to the point he fears it might burst. 
You close your eyes, feeling nausea hitting you. “Is Nanook mad at me?” you ask weakly.
Dan Heng looks at Nanook from the corner of his eyes as they run through Cloudford, searching for you. It’s just them racing against the clock to get to where you are— racing against the clock to save you. But will they make it on time before you lose consciousness?
Dan Heng shakes his head. “I’m sure he’s not mad at you, [Y/N]. Why do you think that?”
You crack a smile. “I… Nanook and I aren’t connected with each other anymore. Did I do something wrong for him to sever that tie between us?” You whisper, tears blurring your vision. “If I did something to upset him, please let him know that I’m sorry for whatever it is that I have done to upset him.”
Nanook snatches the phone and gazes into the camera, his gold eyes searching for your face. “I’m not mad at you, little one. However, if you lose consciousness, I will be upset with you,” Nanook states.
You laugh weakly, tears rolling down the side of your face. “I’m sorry, everyone. I’m sorry for not being strong enough,” you whisper.
Just when you lose consciousness, you feel someone cradle you in their arms. Your vision slowly turns black as the voices around you fade away— almost sounding like you’re underwater, sinking deeper into the depths.
“No, no, no, no! Please don’t leave me,” Nanook whispers, pressing you against his chest.
Your head lolls back, laying limp in his arms as blood continues to pour out of your wounds. Luocha kneels before you and Nanook, frantically trying to heal the cuts and deep gashes on your body. Sampo, March, and Himeko look nauseous at the sight of the pool of blood below you and Nanook.
March looked away, closing her eyes as a stray tear made its way down her cheeks. “Please tell me [Y/N]’s going to be okay, please,” March pleads.
Nanook presses his index and middle finger against the side of your neck, frantically searching for a pulse. Nanook buries his face into your neck, his body wracking with sobs as he holds onto you tighter. You can’t be gone. Please, please, please, please. Luocha’s hands fall to his side, and he looks away. 
“Well?” Dan Heng demands, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.
Luocha shakes his head, tears rolling down his flushed cheeks. Luocha grabs your cold hand and presses a kiss on your knuckles. Maybe in another lifetime, you will meet them again. But for now, stars don’t live on forever.
Note: Just because this is angst with death doesn't mean it impacts the overall HSR isekai series. This is a mini-fic, and to make it up to all of you, I will make a Nanook smut for this upcoming week! Yes, smut is finally here! Nanook got the majority of votes. Therefore Nanook is the first HSR male character to be getting smut! As I have stated in my Genshin Isekai fics, the fics in the series are like my multi-verse. Anything can happen in these fics, but it will not significantly impact the overall series. So, even if something traumatic happened to the reader in one fic, the next fic, it never happened to the reader. Some things will impact the story, but others won't be mentioned in other fics. For those who want to be on the taglist, here is the [Google Form]. For those who want to join the Discord server but weren't able to, here is the new temporary link to [Zhongli's Abode]! Please make sure to read the server rules— you can lurk, chat and hang out on the server if you'd like! If you don't vibe with the server, you can leave whenever you want ^^ To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @reversearrowhead, @pinksaiyans, @aurelia-xyt, @lilliansstuff, @ssunset0, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @kodzuvk, @for3very0urs, @a-cosmicdawn, @g3n0dtt, @theblades, @raaawwwr, @immahuman, @irisxiel, @siaracarroll, @crazydreamcat, @sagekun, @orichalcumthief, @dyingsweetmackerel, @rosiesareblue, @ichikanu, @hispasian-otaku, @asoulsreverie (Accounts that I was unable to tag are not tagged in this fic. Those who do not want to be tagged in a specific fic are not tagged. Remember to check your settings to see if you're allowing people to mention you/tag you in posts or not)
Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
971 notes · View notes
genshinluvr · 9 months
Text
The Star that Enchants
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: Ever since Nanook decided to tag along on your journey across the stars, the men have been tensed around the Aeon of Destruction. Nanook notices the men have taken an interest in you and have decided to test their patience and show them who you belong to. Can they blame you? It's not your fault you unknowingly enchant people easily.
Note: Man, I did not plan for this fic to be posted so late 😭 It's almost 7 AM, and the fic is finally here! I didn't fall asleep or abandon this fic. I was just easily distracted (and also had to drive my mom to work). Anyway, the fic is finally here! I hope you guys like this one despite me typing it out with no sleep at all! ;v; There are important links down below for those who want to vote regarding smuts and for those who want to be tagged in the next HSR fics :> I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: None that I know of 🤔
Word Count: 7.4k
You bury your face into your pillow, squeezing your body pillow with all your might. Oddly enough, your body pillow is very hard and not as soft as you remembered. It rumbles underneath you, causing you to groan softly, bury your face into the soft fabric of the pillowcase, and attempt to go back to sleep. Why does the pillowcase smell so good? Something brushes your hair back, rubbing your back. You furrow your eyebrows and crack your eyes open. You slowly remove yourself from your body pillow to see someone lying beside you. You rub your eyes, letting your vision adjust to the darkness of your room. 
Glowing gold eyes gaze at you with mirth. The Aeon smiles at you and brushes your messy hair away from your face. You blink at Nanook sleepily before sitting up and stretching your arms in the air while yawning. Nanook props himself up with one arm, gazing at you fondly. You let your hands fall onto your lap, staring into the dark. “Should I wake up? Or should I go back to sleep?” Who knew that Nanook was very comfortable to snuggle against.
You plop beside Nanook, turning to face the Aeon. Nanook rests his head on the pillow and caresses your face, gently brushing his thumb against the apples of your cheeks. You place your hand over his and close your eyes, fighting back another yawn. You subconsciously scoot closer to the Aeon of Destruction, burying your face into the nook of his neck. Nanook wraps his muscular arms around your waist and covers both your bodies with the blanket.
“You’re going back to sleep?” Nanook asks, running his hands up and down your back.
You nod sleepily. “The bed is comfortable, and I’m snuggling with you. It’s hard to wake up when you’re so comfortable,” you reply.
You throw your arm over his shoulder and sigh with contentment. Nanook was (reluctantly) offered a room on the Astral Express, and as you can see, Nanook decided not to stay in his room. His room was at the end of the hallway of the Passenger Cabin, which was far from where your room is located. Nanook wasn’t too pleased about it but went along with it. 
Now, every night, Nanook would sneak into your room while you were asleep just to be around you. No one knows about it, and Nanook doesn’t intend to let them know about it. Nanook would rather have them walk in on you two snuggling than him informing them about your night escapades. It’s not like you and Nanook were doing something sinful behind their backs. Nanook is just a clingy Aeon who has to be around you, or else he’ll feel like he’s going to die if you’re not near him.
Just when you’re about to fall asleep, the door to your bedroom slams open, startling you. You jolt up and look at the door to see March standing at the entrance with her hands on her hips. March steps into your room and flicks the light on. The light floods your room, blinding you and Nanook momentarily.
“Dammit, Caelus was right,” March curses.
"What do you talking about, March? Did you and Caelus have a bet over something again?" You ask, rubbing your eyes before pulling your legs to your chest. 
Nanook raises his eyebrows at March, who's sulking. Nanook turns to look at you, propping himself up on his arms. When Nanook sits up, March lets out a strained gasp, pointing at you and Nanook in horror. You weren't sure why March was pointing and looking at the both of you in horror. March blinks rapidly, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hands so hard she sees dots in her vision. March lets her hands fall to her side, trying to adjust her vision. March sighs in relief, pressing her hand against her chest.
"Whew! I thought Nanook was shirtless for a moment! It's a good thing Nanook wasn't shirtless! Or else I would've been assuming that...." March trails off, laughing sheepishly.
You raise your eyebrows at March. "Assume what, March?" You tilt your head to the side.
March clears her throat and rubs her neck with a sheepish smile. "Oh, nothing! A-Anyway! I think you two should get up now! Everyone is waiting for you two," says March.
She steps out of your room, ready to slide the door close. When you call out to her, March slides the door halfway closed and looks at you curiously as you're getting out of your bed. You straighten your clothes and walk over to the pink-haired girl, who peeks over your shoulders and narrows her eyes at the Aeon of Destruction. March quickly fixes her composure and smiles at you when you stop in front of her.
"What's up, [Y/N]?" March asks, propping her hands on her hips while leaning on one leg.
You rub your arm. "You never answered my question earlier," you say.
March stares at you blankly, her mouth agape. March tries to go through the conversations not long ago, trying to recall the question you asked her. March presses her lips into a thin line and smiles at you sheepishly.
"Can you repeat that question for me? I don't remember what you asked me," says March.
The bed behind you creaks, and footsteps get close to where you and March are standing. You turn to see Nanook, who stops behind you and grabs the door frame above you, gazing down at you and March curiously. Your face flushes at how close Nanook is standing to you. He's so close that you can feel his body heat radiating from his body. March stares at the Aeon blankly before turning to look at you.
"I was wondering if you and Caelus had a bet or something because you said something along the lines of 'dammit, Caelus was right,'" You reply, crossing your arms over your chest.
March's eyes light up, and she nods. "Ah, yes! That! Uh, well, it wasn't necessarily a bet! Caelus mentioned how he peeked into Nanook's bedroom only to see that it was empty. Caelus assumed that Nanook went to your bedroom overnight," March trails off, taking a quick look at the Aeon towering above both you and her.
You raise an eyebrow at the pink-haired girl before you. "I'm sensing a but after that sentence," you say.
March opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by chattering in the distance. You, March, and Nanook peek from your bedroom to see the trio approaching your bedroom. You sigh and close your eyes, resting your head on the door frame. You just want to go back to sleep, but your peaceful slumber is interrupted by March slamming your bedroom door open. Technically, you were already awake before March barged into your room, but you were about to go back to sleep! 
Caelus's eyes land on you, and he smiles. "Good morning, [Y/N]! How was your sleep?" asks Caelus, stopping beside March.
You smile at the silver-haired man before covering your mouth and yawning. "I slept okay! It would be nice to go back to sleep, but you know March! She will do anything to prevent me from sleeping in," you joke.
Caelus, Dan Heng, and Mr. Yang chuckle in response. March huffs and crosses her arms over her chest, sticking her nose up in the air. Knowing March and the three men, you excused yourself to get ready for the day. Nanook pushes himself off the door frame and follows after you without sparing March, Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang a glance. The tension between them was apparent, and the five of them decided not to say anything to each other.
Mr. Yang clears his throat. "Nanook, I believe you should give [Y/N] some privacy while they change and get ready. You can get ready in your room and meet the five of us at the Parlor Car," says Mr. Yang.
Nanook turns to look at the brown-haired man, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. The Aeon doesn't reply to Mr. Yang. Instead, he looks over in your direction as you're pulling clothes out from your closet. The sudden silence caused you to look at the door with curiosity. None of them say anything to each other. They all stand there in silence, looking anywhere but at each other, aside from Nanook, who's staring at you.
You clear your throat, smiling at the quintet. "You guys can wait for me in the Parlor Car! I'll be out as soon as possible, I promise," you say, walking toward the bathroom connected to your room. 
Nanook hums aloud, grabbing your attention. "What if I want to keep you company while you're getting ready? I don't want you to be alone," Nanook says, approaching you.
Dan Heng lets out an exasperated sigh, crossing his arms over his chest and rolling his eyes at Nanook's comment. Dan Heng is no expert, but he has a feeling that Nanook is hoping to get a little intimate with you after they (he, Mr. Yang, March, and Caelus) leave your room to go to the Parlor Car. Ever since Nanook has decided to keep you and the others company during your journey across the universe, things have been tense.
Nanook has made it clear that you belong to him and only him. The Aeon of Destruction is very possessive of you, and it doesn't surprise anyone because, after all, Nanook is the one that brought you into their universe. Nanook stops before you and wraps his arms around your waist, pulling you to his chest and resting his chin on your head. He leans down and rests his head on your shoulders, peppering kisses on your neck.
"Are you two just going to stand there, or are you guys going to get ready? Sampo, Gepard, Luka, Luocha, Blade, and Jing Yuan are stopping by today," Dan Heng speaks up, narrowing his eyes at Nanook. "Let's not waste time."
Nanook slowly pulls away from you and turns to look at the visibly annoyed black-haired man. The two men stare at each other, not saying a word. You sigh and pat Nanook's arms before going to the bathroom to change. Once the bathroom door closes behind you, the quartet turns to look at one another. Nanook goes to your bed and begins organizing your bed. From fixing the pillowcases to the blankets, Nanook is distracting himself from the stares. He can feel four pairs of eyes staring holes into the back of his head as he organizes your bed. 
"Is there anything I can help you with? If not, I believe you all can wait for me and [Y/N] in the Parlor Car," Nanook says, continuing to organize and straighten your bed.
Mr. Yang clears his throat, keeping his eyes trained on the Aeon of Destruction. "We wondered what drew you toward [Y/N]. You are the reason why they're in our universe, and there has to be a reason why they're here," says Mr. Yang.
Mr. Yang was right. Nanook is the reason why you're in their universe currently. It wasn't like there was this magical portal that you stepped through, and it transported you to another dimension. Nanook fluffs your pillow and turns to look at the quartet before sitting on the edge of your bed.
"There's no explanation needed. I like [Y/N], and I want them to be with me. I can't stand being far from them. I wasn't pleased with the barrier between me and [Y/N], so I had to take it into my own hands and bring them into our world so they can be with me," Nanook replies nonchalantly, leaning back on his arms with a sigh.
Caelus purses his lips, tapping his fingers on his thighs while debating whether he should ask a particular question he has in mind or not. Seeing the Aeon of Destruction sitting on the edge of your bed after organizing your bed and fluffing your pillow was something Caelus never imagined he would witness. Nanook stares at Caelus as the silver-haired man continues to tap his fingers on his thighs, looking around the room to make sure he isn't staring at the Aeon mindlessly. 
"We know you have these strong feelings toward [Y/N], and we were wondering what you would do if there were other people that take an interest in them," Caelus says slowly.
Now looking at the Aeon of Destruction, Caelus can't help but gulp with anxiousness as the white-haired Aeon leans forward and rests his elbow on his knees. Nanook knows there are other people who have taken an interest in you, and while it would bother him, he doesn't feel jealousy in the slightest. It may be because none of these men have tried to pull something with you. Other than giving you endearing nicknames, Nanook knows he is still at an advantage compared to the other men who have feelings for you. Although this one person, in particular, is a little bit too comfortable around you.
Sampo Koski, a merchant from the underworld on Jarilo-VI. The indigo-haired man is too bold for Nanook's liking, and being in the same room as someone bold enough to touch you is something Nanook is not looking forward to dealing with. But since Nanook is with you in person, he doesn't have to worry about it as much as he would when he wasn't physically present. 
Nanook chuckles. "I have nothing to worry about. While I don't mind sharing, I believe this is the only time I won't be sharing," Nanook says.
Dan Heng scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. "And what if [Y/N]'s not interested in dating the Aeon of Destruction?" asks Dan Heng.
Nanook smirks, sizing Dan Heng up. If you weren't interested, you would've expressed it a while ago. If you weren't interested, you would've demanded the Aeon of Destruction to return you to your world. But you have yet to do any of those things. You snuggled against him and let him devour your lips when the two of you saw each other in your dreams. Heck, you woke up beside him on your bed not long ago! If you weren't interested, would you be doing any of these things with Nanook?
"If they're not interested, then they're not interested. I'm not going to force them into something they don't want to be a part of," Nanook says, looking over at the closed bathroom door. "If [Y/N] wasn't interested, then why would they be okay with waking up next to me? Wouldn't they kick me out of their room a long time ago?"
March purses her lips and looks at the three men beside her. None of them answer Nanook's question and continue to stare at the white-haired Aeon. The brown-haired man sighs, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Let's talk about this later. The Astral Express is expecting visitors very soon, and we must prepare for their presence. Let's not act up in front of our guests," Mr. Yang says, exiting your bedroom. Mr. Yang stops in his tracks and turns to look at Nanook, who's watching them blankly. "You should get ready as well. We want you to look presentable in front of the General of the Xianzhou Luofu and the Captain of the Silvermane Guard."
Nanook doesn't reply. Mr. Yang, March, Dan Heng, and Caelus walks away from your bedroom and toward the Parlor Car. Nanook lets out an exasperated sigh, gets up from your bed, and slides the door close. Once the door closes, the door to your bathroom opens, and you step out. You smile at Nanook, who sighs in relief and makes his way toward you. Nanook throws his arms over your shoulders, pulling you against his chest before kissing the top of your head. You poke Nanook's chest to grab his attention. Nanook peeks down at you while you stare at the towering Aeon.
"Are you going to change your clothes? Jing Yuan, Blade, Luocha, Sampo, Luka, and Gepard are going to be at the Astral Express soon," you say.
Nanook continues to stare at you, slowly pushing you away from him while still holding onto your hand. You look breathtaking, and Nanook can't help but feel envious. He's not envious of you. He's envious that other men will see you. You're dressed for the occasion, and Nanook doesn't want other men to ogle you like a piece of steak.
"You look beautiful, little one," Nanook murmurs, twirling you into his arms.
You giggle and wrap your arms around his waist, standing on the tip of your toes and planting a kiss on his jawlines. Nanook smiles and kisses your forehead, rubbing the small of your back. 
You snuggle against Nanook, rubbing your thumb against the fabric of Nanook's shirt. "Thank you. And you, Mister Aeon, need to get dressed and ready!" You say, poking him in the chest with a teasing smile.
Nanook lets out a fake frustrated sigh, chewing on his bottom lip. Does he have to get ready and meet the other men that have feelings for you? Nanook refuses to share you with other men. Unless they can prove that they can protect you, make you happy, and keep you safe from harm, then he will reconsider. But for now, after what had happened, Nanook doesn't think he can trust the nine men that have evident feelings for you.
You look at Nanook pleadingly, telling him to get ready. Nanook sighs and finally gives in. You and Nanook part ways at your door— you walk to the Parlor Car while Nanook goes to his room to get ready. You want to tag along with Nanook, but knowing Sampo, the indigo-haired man will track you down if he doesn't see you. You step into the Parlor Car to see the ten people waiting for your arrival.
"Gumdrop! It's good to see you again!" Sampo sobs, getting up from his seat and sprinting in your direction.
You smile at Sampo, waving at the indigo-haired man as he comes at you at rapid speed. "Hi, Sampo! It's good to see you again! How's business going—" Your sentences are cut off when the tall man tackles you into a tight hug before spinning you around.
Caelus quickly gets up from his seat and runs to where you and Sampo are standing. Caelus places his hand on Sampo's shoulders, laughing nervously while giving you an apologetic smile. Sampo puts you down after a few minutes, rubbing his neck with a cat-like smile.
Caelus clears his throat. "I know you're excited to see [Y/N] again, but please be careful. You could knock them off their feet with one swift motion," Caelus scolds the merchant.
Sampo snorts. "I think you mean ‘sweep them off their feet’! I'm pretty good at doing that," Sampo boasts, winking in your direction.
You, Sampo, and Caelus walk over to where the others are sitting. Blade, Luocha, Luka, Gepard, and Jing Yuan wave at you when you arrive at where they're sitting. You sit at an empty chair beside March and wave back at them, pulling in your seat. You made sure to save a seat for Nanook, but you weren't sure if Nanook planned on staying the entire time. Nanook wasn’t fond of being around the other nine men, and the nine men felt the same way.
"You know, Sampo, you're quite bold when it comes to [Y/N]," Luka comments, leaning back in his seat while gazing at you and Sampo with amusement.
There's no denying that out of all nine men sitting at the same table, Sampo is the only person who's bold enough to show his affection toward you. Sampo gives you a pet name and the public display of affection he shows toward you when he sees you. The man isn't afraid to express his feelings toward you, and the others weren't sure if you were entertaining Sampo by letting him be shameless about his feelings for you or if you feel the same way.
You yawn and rest your head on the top rail of the chair and close your eyes. You woke up way too soon, and now it's starting to catch up to you despite you waking up not long ago. Maybe now is the best time to ask Himeko to make you one of her coffee combinations to wake you up. The stronger, the better; you're not much of a coffee person.
"Did you not get enough sleep last night?" Gepard asks, resting his arm on the table while gazing at you worriedly. 
You open your eyes, yawn into the palm of your hands. "Not really. Plus, I woke up a little earlier before March could slam the door open to wake me up," you reply, looking over at the blond man sitting across from you.
"You look lovely today. Is there an occasion?" Jing Yuan asks, smiling at you,
Heat rushes to your face at Jing Yuan's sudden compliment. You clear your throat, smiling shyly at the General of the Xianzhou Luofu. You rub your neck, sitting up in your seat, and not going to lie, you did dress to impress. But the question is: who are you dressing up for, and who are you trying to impress exactly? 
You reply, "I thought it'd be nice to dress a little differently today. I sort of assumed once everyone arrives, we're going to stop by somewhere for breakfast."
Blade laughs aloud, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, did you now? I thought you prettied yourself up for a certain someone," Blade says, quirking an eyebrow at you.
Aeons. The way Blade is staring at you with his red eyes sends chills down your spine. You can't help but feel like Blade has something against you. Well, maybe not that, but there's this unspoken tension between you and Blade. You weren't sure if it was because of the first impression not long ago or if it was because Nanook favors you. Whatever the answer and reason is, you don't want to feel tense around the dark-haired man. 
Luocha glares at Blade from the other side of Jing Yuan before looking at you with a small smile. "Don't mind him, [Y/N]. Kafka chewed him out the other day. He won't say why, but it has something to do with his fellow Stellaron Hunter," says Luocha, crossing his arms over his chest.
Ah, right. Kafka. How could you forget about the stunning woman? You smile at Luocha and look away briefly with a sigh. The mood quickly died down because of the tension between you and Blade. You lean in your seat, looking elsewhere. Maybe you're just sensitive today because of your lack of sleep. Arms cage you into your seat as someone looms over your figure.
"I know I said this already, but you look beautiful today, little one," Nanook whispers, leaning in to kiss your cheeks.
You turn to look at Nanook, whose face is a few centimeters from yours. You smile at the Aeon shyly and pat the spot beside you. Before pulling the seat out beside you, Nanook glances at the other occupants from the corner of his eyes before kissing your forehead. Now sitting beside you, Nanook grabs your seat and pulls you to sit closer to him. He then drapes his arms over your shoulders, leaning back in his seat and gazing at the nine men (and March) with scrutiny.
Jing Yuan clears his throat, nodding at the Aeon of Destruction. "Nanook, it's a pleasure to meet you in person," Jing Yuan says, breaking the silence that once loomed over everyone in the Parlor Car.
Nanook grunts, nodding to the General of the Xianzhou Luofu. The nine men stare at Nanook, their gaze subconsciously darting to where Nanook has his arms draping over your shoulders. You lean against the Aeon, closing your eyes. Seeing how.... close... you are to the Aeon of Destruction left a bad taste in the nine men's mouths. Are you and Nanook possibly together by any chance?
"So, you and [Y/N] seem close! Have you two always been this close with one another since [Y/N]'s arrival to our universe?" Luocha asks, gesturing between you and Nanook.
March snorts, shaking her head. March wondered why these men were asking the questions they knew the answers to. Nanook communicated with you through your dreams. Nanook is the reason why you're in their universe at this very moment. While you are unconscious, the first being you see when out cold is Nanook. Nanook this, Nanook that. March lets out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head while slapping her forehead lightly.
"You guys are so obvious that it's painful to watch!" March exclaims. "I'm starting to get secondhand embarrassment," March sulks.
The men look away from March, their cheeks flushing to a bright red. Nanook narrows his eyes at the men sitting before you and him, shaking his head. Nanook runs his fingers through your hair, relishing the fact that he can touch you while the others can't. The thought almost brought a smile to his face. 
Nanook grabs you by your chin, tilts your head up. You open your eyes and look into Nanook's golden eyes as he stares into yours. Nanook strokes your chin with his thumb, a small smile appearing. You can feel the gaze burning holes into your body as Nanook continues to stroke your chin.
Gepard clears his throat. "Pardon my interruption, but are you two dating by any chance?" Gepard asks.
You can hear a slight strain in his voice when he asks that question. Nanook chuckles and turns to look at the silently fuming men before him, shaking his head. Nanook leans in his seat, letting his hand fall on your shoulders. Nanook nudges you to answer Gepard's question, making you jolt. You look at the men like a deer caught in headlights, tucking your hair behind your ears shyly.
You swallow the lump in your throat and shake your head. "Uh, no, we're not dating," you reply.
Luka scoffs. "Yet," says Luka. He turns to Gepard and Sampo, muttering, "That bastard claimed [Y/N] before any of us got to!"
"Anyway! What are we going to have for breakfast? Are we going to dine on the Astral Express, or are we going somewhere to have breakfast?" You ask.
Nanook chuckles beside you and rubs your arm. The nine men's eyes zeroed in on Nanook's hands, watching the Aeon display affection in front of them. The audacity. How dare the Aeon of Destruction get to show you public affection when they can't do it? Nanook has known you for as long as the nine men have, yet here he is, touching you as if you two are couples. None of the men reply, only continuing to look at Nanook's hands.
You sigh, rubbing your throbbing temples and closing your eyes. "I'm assuming we'll be having breakfast on the Astral Express then!" You say.
March laughs nervously, nodding in response. "Yep! It looks like it! Hey, [Y/N]! Do you want to get coffee with me and Himeko? You did wake up before I could enter your room!" March says, getting up from her seat.
You nod wordlessly, getting up from your seat. The men look at you and March curiously as you two get begin walking off. Before you and March can leave the Parlor Car, Pom-Pom waddles into the Parlor Car. Pom-Pom's eyes light up when he sees you before waddling toward you as fast as he possibly can.
"[Y/N]! My favorite passenger! How have you been?" Pom-Pom asks, bouncing with excitement.
You smile at Pom-Pom and pat the train conductor's head. "It's good to see you too, Pom-Pom! I've been well! How have you been, conductor?"
You, Pom-Pom, and March walk to the Passenger Cabin together, leaving the ten men alone in the Parlor Car. The tension is at an all-time high as the ten men look around the Parlor Car, trying to avoid making eye contact with each other. Who knows what will happen between these men without you and March present other than awkward stares and thick tension? Blade crosses his arms over his chest before looking at Nanook while leaning back in his seat. Bade lets out an amused hum, the corner of his lips curving up into an amused smile.
"So, Nanook, Aeon of Destruction, care to explain how a feeble mortal such as [Y/N] captured your attention?" asks Blade. "How do you become aware of their presence through a computer screen?"
Nanook stares at Blade, not saying a word. Just when the ten men didn't think the tension could get worse, it was just even more tense after Blade's question. 
Jing Yuan clears his throat, lifts his teacup to his lips, and sips. "I believe now is not a good time to interrogate the Aeon of Destruction, Blade," says Jing Yuan.
Caelus buries his face into his hands, groaning quietly. "[Y/N] and March had the worst timing in getting coffee from Himeko," mutters Caelus, peeking between his fingers.
After a few minutes of sitting in tense, awkward silence, the door of the Parlor Carbin opens, revealing you, Himeko, March, and Pom-Pom with coffee in your hands. Pom-Pom is latching to your side while you're sipping from the glass mug, commenting something to Himeko and March, making the two ladies burst out laughing. You sit beside Nanook while Himeko and March take their seats around the table.
Himeko leans in her seat, crossing her right leg over the other leg, stirring her coffee. "What did you gentlemen chat about while we were gone?" asks Himeko, tapping the spoon on the rim of the cup before sipping her coffee. 
Sampo clears his throat, looking around at the others, whose looking around the Parlor Car. Sampo props his arms on the table, smiling at the redhead. "Oh, nothing interesting! We all sat in silence and.... enjoyed each other's presence," Sampo says, giving you, Himeko, March, and Pom-Pom a fake smile.
"Oh? Is that so? How interesting," Pom-Pom says. "While you all enjoy your breakfast, I have duties to tend to as the conductor of the Astral Express," Pom-Pom says, walking off before waving you all goodbye.
Once Pom-Pom has left the Parlor Car, the room is plunged into the same awkward silence. You quickly excuse yourself to go to the Phonograph to find music that will fit the setting. Plus, you wanted to find a way to escape the awkward tension between the men while sipping your coffee in peace. While you're flipping through the options, Gepard approaches you and taps your shoulders to grab your attention. You look up from the Phonograph and turn to the Captian of the Silvermane Guards. 
You smile at the blond. "Hey, Gepard! Anything I can help you with?"
Gepard clears his throat, his cheeks dusting pink. "I was wondering how you're doing. I know I asked you about it earlier, but genuinely, how do you feel physically and mentally?" Gepard asks, leaning against the wall beside the Phonograph.
You pause and prop one hand on your hip while leaning on your left leg. "Mentally, I'm doing well! Physically, I'm also well. However, I do get phantom pain sometimes. A random spot on my body would hurt all of a sudden, and it would stop as if it never happened," you reply.
"Have you spoken to Luocha about it? As much as I would love to help you, it's out of my field of work," Gepard says, sighing softly.
You smile at the blond mand and shake your head. After what happened, you haven't seen Luocha, Jing Yuan, Blade, Gepard, Sampo, and Luka since you regained consciousness. Everyone had business to tend to back on Jarilo-VI and the Xianzhou Luofu, and the Astral Express docked at the Herta Express for the time being until you have healed.
That meant you weren't allowed to leave the Astral Express for an amount of time, but it didn't mean you weren't allowed to roam the Astral Express and Herta Space Station freely. Of course, you did need to have someone with you at all times. Since Nanook has decided to be present around you and your traveling companions, everyone has decided to keep their eyes on the Aeon of Destruction. The Aeon of Destruction refuses to leave your side. It's like he's attached to your hips at all times, aside from when you're using the bathroom or taking a shower.
 "I heard my name being mentioned in this area, so I had to come and see what the gossip was about," Luocha jokes, stopping before you and Gepard with Luka by his side. Luocha looks at you and smiles. "I heard you mentioned phantom pain?"
You sigh, nodding. "Yes, I had phantom pain every now and then. It's not as often, which I'm grateful for, but it hurts when I do get them. Almost like these injuries were fresh," you answer.
Luka frowns and gazes at you from head to toe. What Blade said earlier, he wasn't wrong, how you're prettied up and not dressing like how you usually would. Luka doesn't think Blade meant it negatively because you do look beautiful. You look breathtaking and effortlessly beautiful. There are faint scars on your body, but according to Luocha, the scars should go away after two years. This does sound like a while from now, but the scars on your body don't make you any less beautiful than you already are.
"I thought phantom pain was only for those who lost a limb," Luka comments, raising his prosthetic arm and waving it around.
You nod. "It is, but every time I think back to that day, I can still feel the knives slicing my skin like a paper shredder," you reply, shuddering.
You turn to the Phonograph and select something that best fits the atmosphere. You take a sip of your coffee and gesture for the three men to follow you back to the table where the others are waiting for your return. Gepard, Luka, and Luocha were genuinely shocked to see that Nanook didn't follow you to the Phonograph. After all, the Aeon of Destruction is very attached to you, and if he were to be far away from you for a short time, Nanook would become restless.
You place your coffee on the table and sit beside Nanook. Nanook automatically wraps his arms around your waist, pulling you close to him. Himeko and March snicker behind their hands while you rest your head on Nanook's shoulders. Blade stares at you and Nanook, tapping his fingers on the table.
"I'm having a hard time believing you two aren't a couple," Blade comments, leaning back in his seat.
You ignore Blade's comment and point at the servers bringing food out for everyone to eat. "Oh, look! Breakfast is finally here," you say.
You have no idea what time it is, but the morning felt like it was being dragged out, and it was. The tension, the stares, the whispers, and the snide comments made it feel like time was slowing down. It was almost excruciating, to say the least. While cutting and chewing on your pancake, you notice Mr. Yang staring at his phone with intensity. Staring is an understatement. The man was glaring at his phone.
You clear your throat to grab the older man's attention, only for it to go unheard. "Mr. Yang, what's wrong?" You whisper loudly among the quiet chatter.
Mr. Yang continues to stare at his phone, his eyebrows furrowing with focus and confusion. You turn to look at Dan Heng, whose looking at you quizzically. You gesture to the brown-haired man. Dan Heng nods, turns to Mr. Yang, and taps on his arms to grab the man's attention.
Dan Heng clears his throat. "Mr. Yang, [Y/N] has something to ask you," says Dan Heng, pointing over in your direction.
Mr. Yang looks up, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Yes, [Y/N]? Is there something you need?" asks Mr. Yang.
You rest your arm on the table, resting your chin in the palm of your hand. "You were staring at your phone for so long that it made me wonder what you're doing over there that's causing you to glare at the screen like that," you say.
Mr. Yang straightens up in his seat, clearing his throat. Caelus peeks over at Mr. Yang's phone, but the older man sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I was trying to figure out how to change my icon," replies Mr. Yang.
Oh, right. You nearly forgot about how Mr. Yang doesn't know how to change his profile picture. It was cute and a little bit funny, but in an endearing way. You cracked a smile and stood up, walking over to the older man. You hold your hand out, gesturing for him to give you his phone. Mr. Yang hands you his phone, and you kneel beside his chair to show him how to change his icon to whatever picture he desires.
Sampo leans over to Gepard and Luka, whispering, "Does he actually not know how to change his profile picture? How old is Mr. Yang again?" 
Gepard shrugs. "I don't think asking how old someone is is appropriate, Sampo. Besides, I don't blame Mr. Yang for not knowing how to change the icon. Sometimes it can be confusing, and the options are barely visible," Gepard mutters.
"And there you have it! A new icon! Do you want me to show you how to do it again, just in case?" You ask, turning to look at the brown-haired man.
Mr. Yang doesn't reply. Instead, he's staring at his phone and then looks at you. You can't put your finger on it, but his expression was hard to read. Heat rushes to your face, and you clear your throat, poking the man lightly. Mr. Yang blinks and looks at his phone, pursing his lips while gazing at his phone. You're guessing that's a yes. You snort and begin showing Mr. Yang step-by-step how you changed his icon picture to the one he wanted. According to Mr. Yang, Caelus didn't know how to change the icon. You turn to look at Caelus, who smiles at you sheepishly.
"Well, now your profile picture has been changed! If you need any more assistance with customizing anything, I'm your go-to person!" You say, propping your hands on your hips with a proud smile. 
Luka looks at you curiously. "How do you know so much about customizing things when you've been in our world for less than three months?" Luka asks.
You rub the back of your neck. You're a total slut for all things customization. From cars to avatars in a video game to social media profiles and custom computer backgrounds. If you cannot customize things to your liking, you're not interested in whatever the game and product is trying to sell. 
"I'm really into customizing things!" You reply. “Plus, it’s easy to change icon pictures.” 
Jing Yuan leans to Luocha, tapping him on the arm subtly. "Is it just me, or is Mr. Yang looking at [Y/N] like they hung the stars and the moon in the sky?" Jing Yuan murmurs, gesturing over to the brunette. 
Luocha chuckles, sipping his drink. "I'm quite certain that [Y/N] is the star that's hanging in the sky. And might I add the brightest star in the sky?" Luocha murmurs. 
From the corner of Jing Yuan's eyes, you're cheering and clapping your hands when you have the older man change his icon to see if he's able to remember what you showed him. Everyone around you chuckles, watching you throw your arms around Mr. Yang's shoulders and patting his head happily. Mr. Yang's cheeks are almost as red as Himeko's hair as he pats your head while you congratulate the man for being able to change his icon.
It's silly, but you're glad Mr. Yang was able to change his icon without having to ask for assistance. Maybe if he needs help with customizing his phone background, you'd be happy to help him! After all, you're a slut for customization. Before you returned to your seat beside Nanook, you pat Mr. Yang's head again with a wide smile.
"I'm proud of you, Mr. Yang! You did good!" You say before sitting beside Nanook, resting your head on the Aeon's shoulders.
You assumed that after breakfast, everyone would relax on the Astral Express and maybe take a nap. But you were wrong because, to your surprise, the Astral Express stopped at the Xianzhou Luofu. Everyone got off the Astral Express and began roaming around the Xianzhou Luofu in groups, chatting and catching up with what's been happening. You lean against the railing and stare at the bustling crowd below.
You close your eyes, sighing. As much as you love the Astral Express, traversing through space, and visiting other fleets and planets in the universe, you miss being in a place you can call home. A place where you can explore and roam around without having to worry about missing the Astral Express and having to go from planet to planet, solving problems and dealing with dangerous situations.
Caelus pokes your cheek, pulling you out of your thoughts. "What's on your mind? You seem distracted," Caelus murmurs, leaning on the railing beside you while looking at you curiously.
You turn to Caelus, huffing softly. "I'm thinking about how I'll never be able to find a secure place to live in this world. How I'll forever be traversing through space, searching for my destiny, and never getting married and having kids," you sigh dramatically.
"Is that a bad thing? Also, what's wrong with traversing through space? I thought you enjoyed it?" March interjects, popping up beside you with a pout.
You hum thoughtfully, leaning against the railing while contemplating. You do enjoy traversing through space on the Astral Express with your traveling companions. How can you not enjoy it when you get to see the stars in the universe? You get to visit many places you've never thought to have existed in your traveling companion's universe, but they exist and intrigue you.
You sulk. "Don't get me wrong! I love the life I have on the Astral Express! But do you see those stars in the universe? They're free and just existing in space!" You say,
Dan Heng blinks at you. "You're kind of doing the same thing, if you think about it," Dan Heng comments. 
Nanook cages you against the railing, his chest pressing against your back as he rests his chin on your head. You turn around in Nanook's arms and wrap your arms around his waist, closing your eyes, yawning. Despite not dating Nanook, you can't help but feel very attached to the Aeon of Destruction. 
While you're distracted with Nanook, you don't notice the look the other nine men are giving you and Nanook. Sensing the awkwardness and emerging tension, March runs off to fetch Diting. You hear a soft bark, making you open your eyes to see what is barking. March runs toward you with Diting in her arms, smiling from ear to ear. 
"I don't think you've met this little guy before! [Y/N], meet Diting!" March says, holding Diting up to your face,
You and Diting stare at one another for a moment. You reach up and pet Diting, who barks happily in response. You squeal softly and take Diting from March's hands, holding the adorable bionic dog up to your face. You put Diting down and begin running off while the small bionic dog chases after you while barking happily. Caelus clears his throat, takes his phone from his pocket, and snaps a quick picture of you running with Diting after your tail.
Satisfied with how the picture turned out, Caelus puts his phone away and turns to talk to Dan Heng, only to see the others were doing the same thing he was doing prior. Caelus looks at Nanook, who leans against the railing of the Xianzhou Luofu, smiling at the sight of you running and laughing while Diting chases after you. 
March snorts, shaking her head. "Who knew a star could enchant so many people," March hums, quickly taking a picture of you and Diting, making a mental note to herself to give you the picture when you all return to the Astral Express.
Note: I was hoping to get this fic posted before 6 AM, but uh it's almost 7 AM for me because my mind kept blanking out while I was trying to type something. So, if you guys see any errors, ignore them. I haven't slept yet, and I'm hoping to sleep once I get this posted on AO3. I kind of like how this fic turned out :> hopefully, next time, I'll write a fic that's not Nanook-centered (sorry Nanook lovers, but the others need at least one chance with the reader). I'm hoping to write smut for HSR soon, so continue voting for who you want to be the first one to get a smut [HSR smut poll]! ^^ If you want to be on the HSR series taglist, the taglist is also right here [HSR series taglist]. The previous week's discord link has now expired, so for those who want to pop into my discord and lurk or chat with other server members, here is a new (and temporary) server link to [Zhongli's Abode]. To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @ashwasherelol, @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @pinksaiyans, @n8mareee, @aurelia-xyt, @ssunset0, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @kodzuvk, @for3very0urs, @a-cosmicdawn, @g3n0dtt, (Accounts that I was unable to tag are not tagged in this fic. Remember to check your settings if you're allowing people to mention you/tag you in posts or not)
Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 11 months
Text
Written in the Stars
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: Your existence in the world of Honkai Star Rail continues to be a mystery, but General Jing Yuan thinks he can help you regain your memory and find out your origins. Who knew that your chances of meeting them was written in the stars.
Note: Thank you for the love on my first HSR fic 🥺❤️ I'm glad that you all liked it and wanted more! And here is the second HSR fic in my harem one-shot series! ^^ It's a bit shorter than the first part by 600 words, but I liked how it turned out! I'm still trying my best to capture the character's personalities. It'll take some time as the game and series progress. Anyway, I wanted you all to know that I do post this fic on AO3 as well! I post all of my works on Tumblr and AO3 and nowhere else. I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: None that I know of 🤔
Word Count: 8k
You open your eyes and find yourself in the void. The same void where you first meet Nanook, the towering figure which covers the sun and sky. You expected to see Nanook towering over you, watching you intently with fondness in those gorgeous gold eyes. But you don’t see Nanook anywhere. You remain sitting on the ground in the abyss, unsure of what to do. Nanook’s way of reaching out to you is through your dreams while you’re asleep, but now that you’re asleep in the cabin of the Astral Express, there is no sight of Nanook anywhere. 
You reluctantly get off the ground and begin walking aimlessly through the void, searching for the massive figure you have befriended in your dreams. Nanook is nowhere to be found, and you’re confused. You stop in your tracks, eyes scanning the little stars in the void and shielding your eyes from the sun.
“Where is Nanook?” You ask.
Your vision suddenly turns black. A deep chuckle rings throughout the void, a chest pressing up against your back. You soon realize that someone’s covering your eyes. 
“Guess who?” The deep voice whispers into your ears.
You blink and place your hands over the person it belongs to. The person behind you chuckles before covering your eyes with one hand while snaking their arm around your torso, pulling you close to their chest.
You hum thoughtfully, tapping on your chin. “Is it…” you trail off, a big smile stretching across your face. “Is it Jing Yuan?” You tease.
The voice scoffs. “As if I would be that old man,” you hear the voice mutter bitterly. 
You snort and gently elbow the person’s gut. “Hey, be nice! I bet you’re as old as he is,” you say, grabbing the person’s hand and pulling away from your face. 
You turn around to see Nanook standing there with a small frown. It almost looks like Nanook was pouting at you. You look at Nanook, surprised. You didn’t think Nanook could shrink down to human size— Nanook is usually massive, covering the sun and sky. A look of amusement appears on Nanook’s face while analyzing the expression on your face.
“Oh, Nanook! I didn’t think you could shrink down to my size! I assumed you have always been massive, covering the sun and sky like usual!” You say.
Nanook smiles at you. “I can take on many forms, [Y/N]. I wanted to surprise you,” Nanook says, looking away while the color pink slowly makes an appearance.
You look at Nanook, surprised. Nanook wanted to surprise you by shrinking down to human size? You feel your face warm up at the flustered look on Nanook’s face and the thought of Nanook wanting to surprise you. 
You find yourself giggling, grabbing Nanook’s attention. “Oh, Nanook! You’re so cute!” You say, grinning at Nanook. The smile on your face slowly fades away, making Nanook concerned.
“What’s wrong?” Nanook asks, caressing your face with one hand while tucking your hair behind your ears with the other.
You close your eyes and let out a long exhale through your nostrils. “Recently, I have been feeling strange about this place. Not just the void but the world outside of it,” you reply, slowly opening your eyes to look at Nanook, who continues to look at you curiously. “There’s a sense of familiarity, but I don’t know how everything feels familiar to me. Do you know what it is?” You ask.
Nanook gives you a sad smile. “As much as I would love to answer your question, I can’t give you an answer. That is for me to know and for you to figure it out yourself,” Nanook replies.
You visibly deflate and let out a shaky sigh. “Oh, I see. That’s disappointing,” you whisper. 
“[Y/N]—”
You cut Nanook off.
“Are you even real? I know we’re communicating with each other through my dreams, but do you really exist, or are you a figment of my imagination?” You ask. 
Nanook nods in response to your question. “Of course, I’m real, [Y/N]. We’ll meet in person very soon, I promise you,” Nanook whispers, stroking your cheek.
You give Nanook a pleading look before sighing in defeat. There’s no point in pushing any further despite wanting Nanook to answer your question on why the void, the Astral Express, Jarilo-VI, and the Xianzhou Luofu feel so familiar. Deep down, you know why everything feels familiar. But it’s like your memory is suppressing it to prevent you from knowing why it’s so familiar. 
From a distance, you hear someone calling out to you. You search your surroundings, trying to find where the voice is coming from. Nanook gives you a sad smile and backs away from you. You look at Nanook, who briefly squeezes your hand before releasing it.
“We can continue the conversation next time we meet,” says Nanook.
And with that, everything fades to black. Your eyelids fly open when you feel something hit you in the face. You roll over to your side and glare at the person about to hit your face for the second time with a pillow. March freezes in her spot with her arms in the air, preparing to hit you with a pillow again. 
March gives you a sheepish smile and tosses the pillow to the ground. “You’re finally awake! You’ve been mumbling in your sleep, and I thought you were about to wake up, but you didn’t!” says March, plopping on the edge of your bed. 
You rub your eyes and give March a sleepy smile. “Sorry, I was exhausted. After all, it’s been a rough few days for me,” you say, combing your fingers through your hair. 
March gives you a sympathetic look. “Is this about your memories again?” March asks, propping herself up on her elbows.
You close your eyes before falling back. “Unfortunately, it is.”
March reaches over and pats your head. “Aw, cheer up, [Y/N]! I’m sure your memories will return to you very soon! I think your brain is trying to protect you from reliving the trauma that happened prior to your arrival on the Xianzhou Luofu!” March says.
“Maybe,” you mutter, rolling over on your side and hugging the blanket to your chest.
You should really get up and get ready for the day, but you can’t find it in you to do so. Before you can wallow in self-pity, Dan Heng and Caelus stand at the entrance of your room, knocking on the door to grab your and March’s attention. 
“Are you two going to get breakfast? Himeko and Mr. Yang were wondering what’s taking you two so long to get out of bed,” Dan Heng says, crossing his arms over his chest. 
March gets off your bed and walks over to where Dan Heng and Caelus are standing. “Hey, I’ve been awake for a while now! I was trying to wake [Y/N] up from their sleep, but it didn’t work because I was standing outside their door the entire time!” March explains, propping her hands on her hips.
Caelus raises his eyebrows at March. “So, when [Y/N] didn’t answer the door, you decided to walk into their room to wake them up yourself?” Caelus asks.
“That is correct! Do you know how many times I called their name, but they continued to sleep through it?” asks March, her head snapping in your direction with a glare. “I bet they could sleep through the battle we had with Cocolia if they were there.”
You kick your blanket off your legs and stretch your arms with a yawn. “I don’t think I’m that much of a heavy sleeper! I think this is the first time I was able to sleep through something,” you say, scratching your cheek before walking over to the closet to find something to wear. “Anyway, you three can wait outside. I’m going to get ready and will meet you with Mr. Yang and Himeko in a moment.”
Caelus chuckles and walks out of your room, with Dan Heng and March following behind. “Make sure not to go back to sleep! If you do, I’ll have someone drag you out of bed, and it’s not going to be March,” Caelus says from over his shoulders.
You give Caelus a sheepish smile and clear your throat. “No promises!” You reply.
About ten minutes later, you find yourself walking out of the Astral Express with Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, Caelus, and March. You assumed you were going to have breakfast on the Astral Express, but it turns out you’ll be having breakfast with Gepard and Sampo in Belobog instead. I mean, you don’t mind having breakfast with the two of them, just as long as you’re informed about it beforehand. 
You jolt out of your thoughts when you feel someone poke your cheeks. You blink and turn to see Sampo standing beside you, leaning on the railing while giving you a cheeky smile. You look at Sampo curiously, who flicks his bangs back and stands up straight.
“What’s on your mind, Gumdrop? You’re a little bit out of it today,” Sampo says, gripping the railing before you two.
You look at Sampo, surprised. “Oh, uh, is it that obvious?” You ask, feeling heat rush to your cheeks.
Sampo nods in response, the cheeky smile replaced by a small frown. “It is obvious, Gumdrop. You’re spacing out, and you didn’t talk to anyone since your arrival at Belobog,” Sampo replies, sighing. “Hey, if you need anyone to talk to, I’m all ears!” 
You give Sampo a grateful smile, placing your hand over his and giving his hand a squeeze. “Thank you, Sampo. I really appreciate it,” you say.
Sampo smiles and nods at you, staring at you with contentment. You stare back, wondering why Sampo is looking at you that way. Then it dawned on you. 
You laugh and rub the back of your neck, clearing your throat for the umpteenth time today. “Oh! You want me to tell you what’s been distracting me, don’t you?” You ask.
Sampo shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t know! Do I?” Sampo grins, playfully bumping his shoulders with yours.
You snort and bump shoulders with Sampo in return. Before Sampo can make a comment, the sound of a metal trash bin being kicked over interrupts Sampo. The two of you turn to where the trash bin was knocked over to see Caelus, March, Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and Gepard staring at the fallen trash bin.
Dan Heng sighs and walks over to you, handing you a sandwich. “Here’s your breakfast sandwich you told me to get for you,” Dan Heng says.
You smile at Dan Heng. “Thank you! You’re the best!” You say, unwrapping the breakfast sandwich from the wrap and taking a bite out of it. 
Dan Heng glances at Sampo, who grins at him and waves in return. Dan Heng sighs and ignores the indigo-haired man before looking at you. “Don’t eat too fast. You’re inhaling the sandwich instead of eating it,” Dan Heng comments, reaching toward you and wiping the crumbs from the corner of your lips and the crumbs sticking to your cheek.
You mumble and turn away from Dan Heng to continue eating your breakfast sandwich in peace. March giggles and skips over to you before looping her arm around yours, gesturing for you to follow her. You let March drag you to the nearest table before pulling out a chair and sitting at the table while eating your sandwich. 
“I think it's cute and impressive that [Y/N] can finish a sandwich in one bite,” Caelus says casually while biting his breakfast sandwich. “I like a person who can vacuum their food,” Caelus jokes, smiling behind his sandwich.
March looks at Caelus with her eyebrows raised. “Did you just—”
Mr. Yang sighs and pushes his glasses up his nose, giving March a subtle glare. March pouts and looks away, sipping on her milkshake beside you. You rub March’s back while occupied with your sandwich. You wipe your mouth with a napkin and look at the men sitting across from you and March. 
“So, what’s today’s plan?” You ask.
Mr. Yang sighs and leans back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest. “After this, we will be heading to the Xianzhou Luofu. After hearing your response a few days ago at the Xianzhou Luofu, General Jing Yuan wants to meet up to discuss the situation,” replies Mr. Yang.
Dan Heng looks at Mr. Yang quizzically. “Do you believe that General Jing Yuan has the answers to [Y/N]’s situation?” Dan Heng asks, crossing his arms over his chest while raising an eyebrow at the older man. 
You squint your eyes and pursed your lips, wondering the same thing. Would someone like Jing Yuan understand what’s going on? Mainly about why you don’t have any memories prior to your sudden arrival at the Xianzhou Luofu? It’s possible that you could have wandered on the Xianzhou Luofu, and something or someone hit your head so hard that you ended up losing your memories. 
Mr. Yang sighs and shrugs. “That, I do not know. We’ll have to wait and see when we arrive at the Xianzhou Luofu after breakfast,” replies Mr. Yang.
Gepard and Sampo trade looks with each other before Gepard says, “We’ll tag along with you guys.”
March does a double take, nearly choking on her milkshake. With wide eyes, March looks at Caelus, Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and you. March presses her hand against her chest and swallows the milkshake she nearly choked on. “I’m sorry, I beg your pardon? Gepard, aren’t you the Captain of the Silvermane Guards? You can’t just up and leave Belobog suddenly to go to the Xianzhou Luofu with us!” March says, looking at Gepard incredulously.
Gepard raises his eyebrows at March, crossing his arms over his chest. “Oh? Am I not allowed to tag along to see what’s going on? After all, I want to know what’s affecting an acquaintance of mine,” Gepard says, looking at you from the corner of his eyes. 
Sampo nods in agreement. “Yeah, same with me! Pluuuuuus…” Sampo trails off, looking at you with a cat-like smile before propping his arms on the table in front of him.
Mr. Yang raises his eyebrows at Sampo, eyeing the indigo-haired man from head to toe. “Plus what, Sampo?” Mr. Yang asks before sipping his warm coffee.
Sampo clears his throat dramatically before getting up from his seat. You take the last bite of the breakfast sandwich, wiping your hand and mouth with the napkin while watching Sampo walk toward you, stopping before you and dropping on one knee dramatically. Your eyes widen, and you look around to see if there are any bystanders witnessing this other than the six people sitting around you and Sampo.
Sampo grabs your hand and presses his lips on your knuckles, holding your hand firmly. “[Y/N], I know we have known each other for a short time, but I was wondering if you would like to go to the Underworld with me?” Sampo asks, flicking his hair away from his eyes. 
Caelus blinks at Sampo and clears his throat. “Sampo, you knew [Y/N] for less than two weeks, and you’re already asking them out on a date?” Caelus asks, crossing his arms over his chest. “Don’t you think you’re moving a little bit too fast?” 
Dan Heng snorts, taking a sip of his water while looking away from you and Sampo. “Do you think he cares about perception of time? You’re talking to the same man that hid from the Silvermane Guards in the pile of snow,” Dan Heng comments. 
March looks at Caelus and Dan Heng with a knowing smirk on her face. She leans on the table, sipping on her milkshake nonchalantly before stirring the shake. “It sounds like someone is jealous,” March sing-song, staring at her milkshake while ignoring the glares Caelus and Dan Heng were giving her. 
Mr. Yang sighs and gets up from his seat. “It seems like we’re all finished with our breakfast. Let’s head to the Xianzhou Luofu. The quicker we get there, the sooner we get our answers,” says Mr. Yang. 
Mr. Yang ended up walking ahead of everyone while you all trailed behind him. On the other hand, Sampo stuck by your side while entertaining you with many of his stories regarding his customers. You’re not sure what he does exactly, but hearing his stories was entertaining. 
Dan Heng glares at the back of Sampo’s head, letting out a disgruntled huff before muttering to March and Caelus, “Do you guys think Sampo is actually going to take [Y/N] to the Underworld with him?” 
March shrugs her shoulders while fiddling with the camera around her waist. “That, I can’t answer! If he does want to take [Y/N] to the Underworld with him for a date, the decision falls in [Y/N]’s hands!” March replies, lifting the camera to her face before taking a picture of you and Sampo walking beside each other. “Well, that is if General Jing Yuan doesn’t snatch [Y/N] up before Sampo gets the chance to take them to the Underworld.” March snickers. 
Mr. Yang peeks from over his shoulders, narrowing his eyes at March, Dan Heng, and Caelus. “What are you three snickering back there?” Mr. Yang asks.
Caelus, Dan Heng, and March look at the brown-haired man like a deer caught in headlights. Mr. Yang raises his eyebrows at them, stopping in his tracks before turning to face them. You, Sampo, and Gepard look at March, Caelus, and Dan Heng curiously. 
Mr. Yang sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, letting out a slow exhale. “You know what? Let's continue walking to the Astral Express. We don’t want to keep General Jing Yuan waiting for too long,” Mr. Yang says.
On the Astral Express, it felt a little bit awkward. You wanted to take a nap on the couch, but March, Dan Heng, and Caelus would prevent you from taking a nap. Gepard and Sampo would look at each other, confused about why the trio wouldn’t allow you to nap on the couch. 
Dan Heng would say, “[Y/N] has a bad habit of napping at random times. They can sleep almost anywhere, anytime, as long as they’re comfortable.” 
Of course, even if Dan Heng explains to Gepard and Sampo why they don’t let you nap, Sampo and Gepard would have an inkling feeling that Dan Heng is keeping something from the two of them. While you talk to Sampo the most on the trip, you notice Gepard would open his mouth to say something, only to shut it and look away. 
You excuse yourself and walk to Gepard, tapping the blond man on the shoulder. Gepard glances at you and gives you an awkward smile. You press your lips into a thin line to prevent yourself from grinning at how adorable Gepard looks. While Gepard is the Captain of the Silvermane Guards, highly respected and the best of them all, Gepard is an awkward man— in a good and endearing way. And that’s okay because that’s how you are.
You clear your throat. “I can’t help but notice you sitting here alone,” You say, rocking back and forth on the balls of your feet. “We don’t talk much, and I want to get to know you more aside from the basics March, Dan Heng, and Caelus have told me!”
Man, this is awkward. You’re not much of a social person, but in times like this, you might as well push through it. Plus, you didn’t want Gepard to feel left out while people around him were talking with each other. 
Gepard smiles at you. “Well, what do you want to know about me?” Gepard asks.
You can’t help but notice how each person carries a weapon on their person. You obviously don’t have any weapons on your person, and if you did, you weren’t sure what you would be carrying around. You heard March make a comment about Gepard’s weapon not long ago, and you weren’t sure if she was kidding or not, so you wanted to see it for yourself. 
You smile at him, rubbing your arm. “I was wondering what your weapon is! I heard March say that your weapon is your sister’s guitar case, and I… not gonna lie, I had a hard time believing her when she said that,” you reply.
Gepard’s eyes widen, and he looks over at March, who’s having a lively conversation with Himeko. Gepard clears his throat, nodding in response to your comment. “Yes, March is correct. My weapon is my sister’s guitar case,” replies Gepard.
Your eyes light up after getting the confirmation from the blond man. You didn’t think it was true at first because March likes to mess with you sometimes. Technically, she likes to mess with you all the time because you still don’t have your memories, so she’s using that to her advantage. 
“Sorry, it’s a sudden question. I wanted you to confirm it because I thought March was messing with me because, well….” you trail off, turning to look at March and Himeko from a distance.
Gepard smiles and rubs his temples. “I’m assuming this isn’t the first time she has fooled you about something, huh?” Gepard asks, raising an eyebrow at you while gazing at you with amusement. 
Gepard receives a huff from you in response while you cross your arms over your chest, refusing to look at him. Gepard snickers but quickly stops and acts like he isn’t laughing when your head snaps in his direction. You narrow your eyes at Gepard and take a step forward, staring at him with fake scrutiny. 
“What are you doing?” Mr. Yang asks, walking up to you and Gepard.
You look at Mr. Yang and smile at him, rubbing the back of your neck. Gepard notices you tend to do that when you’re anxious. Mr. Yang stops in front of you and Gepard, looking between you two with his eyebrows raised. 
You clear your throat. “I was uh….” you trailed off, “you know, I don’t have an answer to your question, Mr. Yang,” you conclude, looking at the brunette with a blank stare.
Gepard smirks and tilts his head to the side. “It looks like you were trying to intimidate the Captain of the Silvermane Guard,” Gepard teases.
Your eyes widen, and you look at Gepard with a glare while your lips are pressed into a tight line. Gepard snickers and watches you run off. Mr. Yang stares after you with amusement, chuckling to himself. While you’ve been on the Astral Express for a short time, your personality is starting to show through despite not having your memories before your sudden appearance at the Xianzhou Luofu.
Upon arriving at the Xianzhou Luofu, Jing Yuan had the Cloud Knights waiting for your arrival to escort your group to the location you previously met Jing Yuan at. You would say the name of the place, but quite frankly, you don’t remember the name of it. It looks like a control room with many people walking in and out of the room, and there are holograms too! That’s the best way you can describe it with your limited memory at the moment. 
You and your six traveling companions step into the room after the Cloud Knights stop at the entrance. There’s a chair in the center of the room with a lot of equipment surrounding the chair. You stop in your tracks and point at the chair, turning to March, “Do you think I have to sit in that chair?” You whisper.
March nods. “It looks like it! The chair and equipment weren’t there the last time we visited,” March replies, stroking her chin.
“Friends and guests! Welcome! It’s great to see that you all have arrived at the Xianzhou Luofu safely!” Jing Yuan announces, entering the room with Luocha and Blade following behind.
Your eyes widen when you see Blade. While Mr. Yang is speaking to Jing Yuan, you slowly step to the side to hide behind Sampo, Gepard, Dan Heng, Caelus, and March. March reaches behind her and gives your hand a squeeze. It’s not like you hated Blade. You can’t help but find the long dark-haired man intimidating. 
I mean, how can you not? He’s always so serious— even though this is probably your third time meeting the man, and he did hold his sword up to your neck and nicked you with the edge of the sword. Not a good first impression, but the man is handsome; you’ll give him that. 
“What are you hiding from?” Someone whispers into your ears.
You tense up and freeze in your spot, not daring to look at the person standing behind you. That voice and that aura… you know it belongs to the man you’ve been hiding from. The looks March, Sampo, Caelus, Gepard, and Dan Heng have on their faces were also a dead giveaway of who’s behind you.
The man with long, blond hair— Luocha is his name— sighs and walks up to your group. “[Y/N], it’s nice to see you again! How are you feeling?” Luocha asks, disregarding Blade’s presence.
You take a step to the right and smile sheepishly. “Luocha! It’s good to see you again! I’m doing well, aside from the occasional headaches and strange dreams,” you say.
Luocha looks at you curiously, tilting his head to the side. “Strange dreams, you say? Do you perhaps remember what you dreamt of?” Luocha asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
Well, shit. You did not mean to mention your dreams to Luocha or anyone within earshot. Your “dreams” were nothing but you communicating with Nanook. Sometimes, your dream consists of you in the void, drifting through the abyss alone. While the stars light up the darkness, the darkness seems endless, and you cannot escape unless someone or something wakes you up. 
Blade hum and stands beside Luocha, now in your line of sight. Blade raises his eyebrows at you, staring at you with those red eyes of his. “Yes, [Y/N]. Care to tell us all what you dreamt of? We’re all curious, and perhaps it can be one of your memories?” Blade asks.
You wave off Blade’s comment. “Oh, my dreams aren’t important right now! I’m more curious about why you’re here at the Xianzhou Luofu with Jing Yuan and Luocha. I assumed you would be with Kafka since you obey her orders and follow her around like a puppy,” you retort, propping your hands on your hips. 
Luocha chuckles. “Feisty, aren’t you?” Luocha says, smirking at you.
You look away, feeling heat rush to your cheeks and ears. “Sorry, I’m still on edge after my first encounter with Blade. What makes it worse is my lack of memory. It’s not an excuse, but…” you trailed off.
Jing Yuan approaches you with Mr. Yang at his side. Jing Yuan stops before you, looking at the others around you before looking at you with a smile. “Are you ready for your test?” Jing Yuan asks.
You blink at Jing Yuan. “Test? I thought we were going to discuss the situation,” you reply, scratching the back of your head. 
Luocha chuckles. “Mr. Yang and General Jing Yuan have already discussed the situation. Your purpose here, aside from answering questions, is to have your brain scanned,” replies Luocha.
Brain scanned? Since when could the Xianzhou Luofu scan people’s brains? This is news for you, and given the looks on March, Dan Heng, and Caelus’ faces, this is news to them too. Gepard and Sampo look at each other from the corner of their eyes, not saying a word.
Blade chuckles. “There’s nothing to be scared of. It’s quick and painless,” Blade comments.
You make a face and walk to the chair in the center of the room. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one that’s in this situation,” you grumble, plopping down on the chair.
The people working under Jing Yuan start attaching wires to your head to the machines. You can’t help but feel embarrassed. With many people staring at you while you have wires attached to your head, you feel like an experiment, if that makes sense. 
“Now, you’re going to need to close your eyes and try to fall asleep, if you can,” says Jing Yuan.
Blade looks at Jing Yuan out of the corner of his eyes, then back at you. “Why do they need to sleep during this?” Blade asks.
“You’ll see,” Jing Yuan replies ominously.
Blade and Luocha blink. You lean in the seat and close your eyes, and after a few minutes, you slowly drift off to sleep. Jing Yuan walks over to the monitor and begins flipping through the screen, searching for any abnormalities in your brain while you sleep. So far, everything looks normal, but something strange started happening.
“What is that?” Luocha whispers, not taking his eyes off your unconscious body.
Blade looks away from you, narrowing his eyes at Jing Yuan. “Are you sure they’re not from this world?” Blade demands.
March scoffs. “I thought it was obvious that they’re not from this world. After all that fiasco you and Kafka caused, you’re now questioning [Y/N]’s origins?” March asks, propping her hands on her hips while glaring at Blade.
While the others are discussing the situation and what they’re witnessing, you find yourself in the void again. This time, instead of you standing in the darkness, looking up at Nanook, you find yourself sitting on Nanook’s hands. Nanook gazes at you, brushing your hair from your face while making sure to be gentle. You blink at the massive figure, wondering if Nanook was holding you the entire time before you woke up. You notice a frown on Nanook’s face. Nanook looks focused, almost frustrated. 
You place your hand over Nanook’s finger. “Nanook?” You whisper. 
Nanook doesn’t reply and continues to stare at you. 
You furrow your eyebrows, looking at Nanook worriedly. “What’s wrong, Nanook?” You ask.
Despite your encounters with Nanook, not once was there silence between the two of you when Nanook was communicating with you through your dreams. You try to reach out toward Nanook, but Nanook suddenly disappears from the void, causing you to plummet into the bottomless abyss. A scream claws its way up your throat, and before you know it, you jolt from your seat, ripping the wires from your head. 
You lean forward in the chair, cradling your head while trying to catch your breath. What happened, and why did Nanook disappear all of a sudden? Your ears are ringing, and the world around you is spinning. You get up from the chair, pressing your hand against the side of your head. Your knees give out from under you, making you collapse to the ground. 
Before you can hit the ground, Blade pulls you into his arms, holding you close to his chest. You weren’t sure if you were hallucinating, but you could’ve sworn that Blade said something to you. Almost like he was comforting you.
“You’re okay, you’ll be okay,” you hear Blade murmur. 
He caresses your head with one hand while his other hand is pressing against your back. Your head is pounding, you are seeing double, and the ringing in your ears is so loud that it's making the headache even worse. Everything was rushing to you at rapid speed, making you feel dizzy and disoriented. From who you are, where you’re from, where you are, and who the people around you are, aside from how they have introduced themselves to you. 
Luocha looks at Jing Yuan. “So, you’re telling me that they’re connected to the Aeon,” Luocha says, raising an eyebrow at Jing Yuan.
Blade carries you to the chair and has you sit down. You close your eyes, rubbing your temples with trembling hands. Whatever happened with Nanook has impacted you as well. Nanook disappeared suddenly, and before Nanook’s sudden disappearance, Nanook looked frustrated and almost not mentally there— almost distracted. Did something happen prior to you waking up in your dreams? Did you do something to make Nanook upset?
“I wouldn’t say they’re connected to the Aeon, but there is some kind of connection between them. If you looked closely, you would be able to see gold blood coursing through their veins while they were unconscious. We know they’re not from this universe, but does [Y/N] know that they’re not from this universe as well?” Jing Yuan asks, raising his eyebrows at Mr. Yang and your other traveling companions.
Dan Heng furrows his eyebrows. “Gold blood? When Blade nicked [Y/N]’s neck with his sword, [Y/N]’s blood was red, not gold,” says Dan Heng.
March laughs nervously. “You don’t view them as a threat, do you? [Y/N] is harmless, and just because an Aeon has some kind of connection with [Y/N] doesn't mean [Y/N]’s no good,” March says. March looks over at you, who’s occupied with trying not to pass out for the second time. “Besides, you said an Aeon has a connection with [Y/N]... don’t you all feel the same way as the Aeon? According to Mr. Yang, Himeko has mentioned it before. Heck, even Sampo and Gepard say they felt a connection with [Y/N] when they first met [Y/N].” 
Blade, Luocha, Jing Yuan, and look at Gepard and Sampo. Everyone stood there in silence while you were trying to recover from what happened. Jing Yuan walks to you and kneels in front of you, caressing your face while lightly tapping on your cheek to grab your attention. You crack your eyes open and look at Jing Yuan with bleary eyes.
Jing Yuan gives you an apologetic smile. “Are you alright? I apologize for putting you in this situation. I didn’t think this would be the outcome,” Jing Yuan says, sighing. 
Jing Yuan looks genuinely apologetic and almost just as shaken up as you are. You know Jing Yuan didn’t think this would happen. You can never get upset with him over something he has no control over. 
In fact, no one thinks this would be the outcome of your little examination. Nanook appeared before you when you were unconscious, but then Nanook disappeared, letting you plummet into the abyss. You don’t think Nanook is to blame. How can you blame Nanook when Nanook did nothing at all?
You clear your throat, giving Jing Yuan a sympathetic smile and placing your hands over his. “Yeah, I’m okay. My head was aching, and my ears were ringing, but I should be okay,” You whisper. “Please don’t blame yourself, Jing Yuan. I’m fine, really!”
Jing Yuan sighs, gazing at you sadly. Man, you have never seen Jing Yuan this upset before. Then again, it’s your first time seeing him like this. You have known the man for a short time, and whenever you see him, he’s either smiling or has this serious look on his face when talking to Mr. Yang, Caelus, Dan Heng, and March about something regarding the Xianzhou Luofu. 
However, the Jing Yuan kneeling before you looks vulnerable and almost like he’s in physical pain from what happened. You smile at Jing Yuan, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. Jing Yuan continues to caress your face while stroking your cheek, occasionally scanning your face to see if there are any visible injuries.
“I’m sorry. This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for me suggesting this method,” Jing Yuan whispers.
You shake your head, giving the man a small glare. “Don’t blame yourself, please, Jing Yuan. None of this is your fault. It’s no one’s fault.”
Sampo leans toward Gepard, Dan Heng, and Caelus. “Psst! I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not liking the way the General is looking at [Y/N],” Sampo whispers to the three men.
Caelus clears his throat, trying to act oblivious. “What do you mean? I’m pretty sure he’s assessing [Y/N] for any injuries,” replies Caelus, crossing his arms over his chest.
Luocha hums at Caelus’s comment, looking over where you and Jing Yuan are sitting. “Well, if that’s the case, then I can always help heal any of their injuries,” Luocha offers.
March walks away from the group and toward you and Jing Yuan, stopping a foot away from behind Jing Yuan. “Sorry for butting into the conversation, but [Y/N], you said you have a headache, and your ears are ringing! Are you really sure you’re okay?” March asks.
You slowly stand up with the help of Jing Yuan and March, who quickly rushes to your side the minute she sees you standing up. You give March a reassuring smile. “Yes, March. I’ll be okay, I promise! Plus, you know the drill. The headache and ringing in my ears won't last as long, especially the ringing. It usually goes away after a few minutes.” 
After what happened, Jing Yuan decided to call it a day. You find yourself lying on a bench outside of the room, trying to process what had happened in the room. All of these scenes popping up in your head like movies made you question whether they’re real or not. Aside from the random images running through your mind, you can’t help but think about Nanook. What happened, and why did Nanook disappear all of a sudden?
“Oh, Nanook. Please let me know you’re okay,” you whisper, staring at the ceiling with bleary eyes. 
You slowly start to drift off to sleep as your eyelids grow heavier and heavier with each passing minute. Right when you’re about to fall asleep, you feel like there are eyes on you. Your eyelids fly open, and you sit up, only to see Blade standing a few feet from the bench. 
You press your hand against your chest. “You really need to stop popping up out of nowhere. At least give me a warning, or announce your presence!” You say, scooting over on the bench to make room for Blade.
Wordlessly, Blade walks to the bench and sits beside you, not saying a word. You hug your knees to your chest, waiting for him to say something. Blade has been silent since the incident that happened not long ago. You’re grateful that he was the one to catch you and to bring some kind of comfort to you, despite how short it was. 
“You’re starting to remember, aren’t you?” Blade asks, turning his head slightly to look at you.
You make a ‘so-so’ gesture in response. “Kind of? To be honest, it doesn’t feel like a memory to me. It’s hard for me to explain it. I have conflicting feelings about whatever is going on in my head. I’m not sure if I can confirm or deny if they’re memories,” you murmur, closing your eyes while resting your chin on your knees.
You didn’t get a response from Blade. You weren’t really expecting one anyway, but out of curiosity, you open your eyes to look at Blade, only to see him reaching toward your face. You blink at Blade, and he stares at you. You look at his hand while Blade continues to stare. Blade slowly pushes your hair away from your face, tucking them behind your ear.
You have to be honest here: you were worried that Blade was going to strangle you this time. Although you’re not opposed to being choked by someone as handsome as Blade— your thoughts were interrupted by searing pain pulsing in your skull. You wince and grab your head with both hands, squeezing your eyes shut.
Blade places his hand on your shoulders, steadying you while you lean toward the edge of the bench. Whatever you have just experienced feels like a blood vein popping in your head, sending pulsating pain throughout your skull that lasts two minutes. You’re no stranger to it, you’ve felt it before, and while the pain is similar, it’s slightly different from the ones you had in the past.
Footsteps approach where you and Blade are sitting, stopping before you two. You open your eyes and look up to see Mr. Yang standing in front of you, holding a drink in front of you. Is that boba? You visibly relax and grab the drink from Mr. Yang’s hand, giving him a grateful smile.
“Thank you, Mr. Yang,” You say softly. 
Mr. Yang sits beside you, sandwiching you between him and Blade. “Do you, perhaps, remember everything now? General Jing Yuan said there’s a chance you should be able to regain your memories after what happened,” says Mr. Yang.
“Kind of? I would say that I did, but I’m having a hard time processing everything, and it’s making my head hurt,” you murmur. “How did I end up in your universe, exactly? There’s no logical explanation. At least in my world, there’s none.”
That’s one good thing— being able to regain your memories despite the headaches that occur after. You want to know how you ended up in their world because, as you said before, there’s no logical explanation for how you could’ve ended up in their world. Unless Jing Yuan ended up knowing what brought you to their world. You sip the drink mindlessly, staring off into space while Mr. Yang and Blade sit in silence.
After a while, you and Blade return to the room where the others are standing. You can’t help but feel self-conscious when everyone looks at you. If they all have the answers as to why or how you ended up in their world, you hope their perception of you didn’t change. 
Then again, you’re not sure how they view you other than Sampo making a comment about how he felt a connection with you. Perhaps that connection is that sense of familiarity Himeko mentioned to Mr. Yang. Gepard walks over to you, his eyebrows furrowing. You weren’t sure if he was worried or if he was angry. Either way, Gepard looks a little terrifying, and you can’t help but stop in your tracks.
Gepard stands in front of you, ignoring Mr. Yang and Blade’s presence beside you. “Are you okay? March spied on you and Blade, and she said you looked like you were about to collapse,” says Gepard.
“What?! I was not spying! Am I not allowed to check up on my friend?!” March exclaims, stomping up to Gepard with steam coming out of her ears. “Checking up on my friend’s well-being without disrupting their peace is not me stalking them, alright?”
You smile at March, watching the girl scowl at Gepard. March turns to you and gives you a sympathetic smile, holding her hand out for you to take. You grab her hand and let her drag you to where Jing Yuan and the others are waiting for you. Mr. Yang, Blade, and Gepard follow shortly after March pulls you away. 
“General Jing Yuan! I have brought [Y/N] with me!” March announces, waving her arm in the air to grab the general’s attention.
Jing Yuan looks at you and smiles, gesturing for you to come closer. You feel your face heat up, walking ahead of March. You’re not prepared for what’s going to happen. You’re hoping for good news, not bad news, and judging by Jing Yuan’s smile, it’s mostly good news. Until you saw the look on Caelus and Dan Heng’s faces. 
Jing Yuan places his hand on your lower back and guides you over to the floating screen. “Before I answer any of your questions, I need you to confirm that you have your memories back,” says Jing Yuan. “March mentioned how she heard you tell Blade that you’re starting to remember but can’t tell whether it’s real or not.”
Jing Yuan gestures for you to sit on the chair. Thankfully, it wasn’t the one you were sitting on before the incident. You didn’t really know what to call it other than an incident. You take a sip of your drink, nodding in response to Jing Yuan’s comment.
“Yes, it seems like I am gaining back my memories. It’s going to take a little longer for me to process everything. Since I regained my memories, are you all going to….” you trail off, looking away from the people standing before you.
Dan Heng raises his eyebrows at you. “Find a way to return you to your world?” Dan Heng asks.
You nod.
Caelus sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. “Even if we were to do that, Nanook would not be happy about it,” replies Caelus, “I mean, it’s not like we want you to go back.” 
You furrow your eyebrows, looking at everyone with your head tilted to the side. What does Caelus mean by that? I mean, it’s not like you wanted to go back either since your life back in your world wasn’t as interesting or exciting as it is now that you’re in their world.
“With your connection to the Aeon, I’m surprised that Nanook has not told you the truth. After all, Nanook seems… what’s that word? Territorial? Of you,” says Luocha, giving you a sympathetic smile. 
You huff, crossing your arms over your chest. “If Nanook was territorial of me, Nanook wouldn’t have disappeared all of a sudden and dropped me into the void,” you mumble. “Anyway, what does Nanook have to do with my sudden appearance in your universe?”
Everyone glances at each other as if mentally debating on who should tell you what. When no one speaks up, Sampo volunteers and grabs your hand, pressing a kiss on your knuckles. Dan Heng sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“If Nanook isn’t going to be the one to take you out, then I will,” Blade deadpans.
Sampo laughs and holds his hand in front of him. “Whoa there, buddy. I’m not interested in you taking me out on a date. I’m only interested in [Y/N],” he gestures to you, “anyway! Since no one wants to answer you, I will be the one to do it!” Sampo says dramatically. 
Gepard rolls his eyes. “We came to the conclusion that Nanook is the reason why you’re here in our world. We’re all aware that we’re fictional characters in your world, but Nanook has taken a liking to you,” Gepard says.
Sampo drops your hand, crosses his arms over his chest, and glares at Gepard. Gepard ignores the glare Sampo shoots in his direction, keeping his eyes on you. You blink at Gepard, trying to process the information being given to you. 
How in the world did they come up with that conclusion? Nanook, an Aeon, taking a liking to you? Well, they’re not wrong about that because of how affectionate Nanook is when you’re in the void. But how are they aware that they’re fictional characters in your world?
Mr. Yang sighs, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Nanook has taken a liking to you that the thought of being far from you is unbearable. So, Nanook somehow brought you to our world. Hence that is how you and Nanook are able to communicate with each other through your dreams.” 
You sigh, suddenly feeling another wave of headaches rolling in. There was so much to process and so many questions you wanted to ask Nanook. The question is whether Nanook is going to be there when you fall asleep or if you’re going to be alone in the void. Unless Nanook wants nothing to do with you anymore. You have a feeling that the reason why Nanook disappeared all of a sudden was because Nanook was aware of the others probing your brain. Whether Nanook dragged you into their world or not, your chances of meeting them were written in the stars.
Note: I'm going to try to make a taglist form, hopefully very soon! It'll be separated from the Genshin taglist that already exists. To be really honest, I had a good title for this fic, but then it completely slipped from my mind, and I ended up choosing the current title. It was a good title, but I forgot what it was! It did involve stars. I have a mini-ish fic idea for HSR, and I'll most likely make and post it either this upcoming week or the week of my finals. To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 10 months
Text
Pictures of a Shining Star
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: Nanook's sudden disappearance has left you feeling sad. To cheer you up, and without your knowledge, Mr. Yang, Dan Heng, Caelus, March, and Himeko decided to get you a phone! March appoints herself as your unofficial official photographer and decides to take pictures of the littlest things for you and sends them your (and the men's) way.
Note: This took me a while to post because I was distracted by HSR. I made a new HSR account and was finishing up the quest in Belobog. So, yeah, that's why it took me a while to continue, finish, and post this fic 💀 This fic is longer than the first two fics I posted in the HSR series, so I hope you all enjoy this fic 🥹 After posting this fic on Tumblr and AO3, I'm heading to bed. I'll make and post the mini-fic for the Isekai Genshin series when I wake up because I've been lacking sleep. I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Kind of starts off depressing in the beginning
Word Count: 9.7k
You expect to see Nanook when you wake up in the abyss, but unfortunately, you do not see the tall figure that once towered over you when you woke up in the void. The same tall figure you first met in the state of unconsciousness when you first arrived at the Xianzhou Luofu not long ago. This was the fifth time you didn’t see Nanook in your dreams, and the last time you talked to Nanook felt like ages ago.
Now, here you are, sitting at the table in the Astral Express, shoving a spoon full of cereal into your mouth before munching it glumly. From a distance, March, Himeko, Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and Caelus look at you worriedly. If the others had to be honest, you look like shit. You have bags under your eyes, your hair is unkempt— you did wake up from your sleep not long ago and didn’t bother to change out of your pajamas or brush your hair before leaving your room— and you look very upset.
Himeko clears her throat. “Does anyone want to speak to [Y/N]? They look upset. Did something happen?” asks Himeko, looking at the four people beside her.
March sighs, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. “Ever since [Y/N] regained their memories, they’ve been a little bit off. I’m not sure if it’s the lack of communication with the Aeon or if it was because they’re not in their universe,” March replies before letting out another sad sigh.
Dan Heng opens his mouth to comment, but a porcelain bowl scraping and squeaking across the table cuts him off. You push the bowl to the side, laying your head on the table and closing your eyes. You weren’t sure why the lack of Nanook was hurting you. Perhaps it’s because Nanook was the first…. Person (being?)…. You met in this universe. 
That, and because Nanook told you that the both of you will meet face-to-face soon, only to disappear without a trace. Gosh, you want to be mad at Nanook, but you can’t get yourself to be upset. Plus, you have another can of worms to deal with, and that is learning how to survive in another universe without accidentally getting yourself killed. 
Footsteps approach your table, and the chair in front of you slides out from underneath the table. You open your eyes and turn to see Mr. Yang sitting across from you. You blink at the older man before sitting up, running your fingers through your unkempt hair. Mr. Yang leans in his seat and clears his throat, sliding the chair closer to the table.
“Do you want to talk about it?” asks Mr. Yang, pushing his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.
You shake your head, resting your chin on the table. “Not really. I’m afraid that if I talk about it, I’ll start crying,” you mumble, letting yourself stare off into space. 
You and Mr. Yang sat in silence. Dan Heng, March, and Caelus slowly make their way toward the table where you and Mr. Yang are sitting. March sits beside you, while Dan Heng and Caelus sit beside Mr. Yang. 
March rests her chin on the table before pressing her cheek on the cool tabletop. “How are you feeling, [Y/N]? You woke up late today,” says March, poking your cheek lightly with her manicured nails. 
You hum, closing your eyes. “I couldn’t sleep last night. Too many things were occupying my mind, and it kept me up most of the night,” you reply.
March gives you a sympathetic smile. “Oh, cheer up, [Y/N]! We got something that’ll cheer you up!” says March, looking at the three men sitting before you and her. The three men stare at March blankly, making the girl laugh nervously. “I saaaaid, ‘We got something that’ll cheer you up!’” 
Again, the three men continue to give March a blank stare. You look between March and the three men sitting before you, confused about what’s supposed to happen. March lets out an exasperated groan, throwing her head back out of frustration. In the distance, Himeko is giggling in the corner with Pom-Pom beside her, shaking his head with an unreadable expression on his face.
“Were we supposed to do something?” Dan Heng asks, raising an eyebrow at March.
March nods rapidly. “Yes! When I said that we have something that’ll cheer [Y/N] up, that was supposed to be your cue!” March exclaims, throwing her hands in the air before rubbing her throbbing temples with a frustrated sigh. 
Caelus laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his head. “In case you haven’t noticed, we weren’t informed of this so-called cue of yours,” Caelus interjects, puckering his lips while staring at the fuming pink-haired girl in front of him.
You reach for your bowl of cereal to slurp the milk, but March unintentionally smacks it out of your hand, sending the bowl in the air before it shatters into a huge mess. You, Mr. Yang, Dan Heng, March, and Caelus stare at the mess on the glossy tile floor. Pom-Pom waddles to your table, glaring at the pink-haired girl.
��You made a mess!” exclaims Pom-Pom, crossing his arms over his chest with a small growl. “Do you know I work tirelessly to make sure the Astral Express is in tip-top shape!?” 
March laughs nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. “Sorry, Pom-Pom! I-I didn’t mean to smack the bowl from [Y/N]’s hands!” March apologizes. 
You get up from your seat, grab a napkin from the table and begin cleaning up the mess. Pom-Pom grumbles under his breath before waddling off. While you’re cleaning up the mess, March is giving the three men an earful while making sure you didn’t hear the conversation. While you’re wiping up the mess, someone walks up to you, stopping in front of the shattered bowl. You look up to see Caelus, who kneels in front of you and holds a box out to you. You stare at the box before grabbing it from Caelus’ hand. 
“What’s this? You guys didn’t need to get me anything,” you murmur, unwrapping the box while Caelus watches you with eagle eyes. 
Caelus clears his throat. “We got it for you because it’s the best way to communicate with each other while we’re far away. In case you’re on the Astral Express and we’re at Belobog or the Xianzhou Luofu, you can reach out to any of us,” replies Caelus.
Your heart sinks into your chest. “Oh, no. You guys got me a phone?” You ask, looking at Caelus and the other three with disbelief. 
It’s not like you were opposed to getting a phone, but you didn’t think they would buy you a phone themselves. Especially since they bought it without your knowledge. You hand the box back to Caelus before picking up the broken pieces of the bowl, placing them on the napkin, and tossing them away into the trash. You grab a broom and begin sweeping the tiny pieces into the dustpan.
Dan Heng looks at you quizzically. “Did you not want us to get you a phone? If we didn’t get you one, how would we be able to contact you while we’re far away or end up getting separated?” Dan Heng asks.
“Plus, when we go Trailblazing together, you can make new memories with us! I volunteer to be your photographer!” March says proudly, raising her hands in the air with a big smile. 
You stroke your chin, staring at the ground. “New memories, huh?” You murmur. “I’m not opposed to making new memories with you guys.”
March perks up and cheers loudly before bouncing over to you and throwing her arms around your shoulders with glee. You snort and wrap your arm around her, making sure not to drop the broom on the ground. After cleaning the mess on the floor, March dragged you to the nearest chair and had you set your phone up while Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang hung around in case you needed any assistance with setting up your phone.
“Oooh! You know what we should do after [Y/N] officially sets their phone up?” March asks, clapping her hands with excitement.
Mr. Yang stares at March, raising his eyebrows at the pink-haired girl. “And what is that?” asks Mr. Yang.
“We should take pictures! Lots and lots of ‘em!” exclaims March. “And as [Y/N]’s unofficial official photographer, I will be the one to take all of the pictures!” 
Once your phone is officially set up, March begins passing your phone around so other people can start saving their phone numbers into your phone before adding your number to their phone. Once your phone returns to you, you put your phone in your pocket, but March stops you.
She holds her hand out in front of you. “Ah, ah, ah! Don’t put your phone away just yet, [Y/N]! We still need to take pictures! I am not letting you walk around without a background for your home and lock screen!” says March, propping her other hand on her hips.
You stare at the girl in front of you. “We can do that after I’m done getting ready? I don’t want to look like a mess in the pictures,” you say.
“Pfft! It’s okay! It’s not like the photos are leaving your phone anyway!” March says.
You shake your head. “Still, I want to look decent,” you mumble.
Realization hits March a few seconds later, and her eyes light up. A smile stretches across her face, giving you a knowing look. You stare at March, heat rushing to your cheeks. You’re hoping no one aside from March notices your change of demeanor. Plus, if March is going to be your unofficial official photographer, you might as well try to look your best in the photos, right? Especially when other people will end up in the pictures soon.
March pretends to let out an exasperated sigh, slumping forward. “Alright, alright! As a professional and your unofficial official photographer, I cannot have you look terrible in your pictures. You may go get ready and freshen up for the pictures…. As long as you give me your phone before getting ready!” says March, holding her hand out.
You shrug your shoulders and hand your phone over to March without questioning her. You walk to your room to get ready for the day after multiple delays before breakfast. After getting ready for the day, you return to where the others are waiting for you, only to see March take a selfie with Dan Heng, Caelus, Mr. Yang, and Himeko. March looks up from your phone, and she beams at you with excitement.
“You’re back! And don’t you look cute! Trying to impress a certain someone?” March teases, poking you when you stand beside her.
You huff and look away from March, snatching your phone from her hands. “How many pictures did you take on my phone while I was away?” You ask, scrolling through your gallery.
March giggles, swaying to the side while watching you search for your gallery. The way you’re scrolling through your phone and searching for the gallery reminds her of Mr. Yang. She wonders if you know how to change profile pictures, unlike Mr. Yang. Poor guy couldn't figure it out and tried to message Caelus about it, only for Caelus to be no help at all. After two minutes of searching for the gallery, you finally found it. Once you clicked the gallery app, your eyes nearly popped out of your head.
“Two hundred?! How are there almost two hundred pictures in the gallery already, March?!” You screeched, turning to look at March incredulously. 
March holds her hands up defensively. “Hey, hey, hey! Taking pictures wasn’t the only thing I did, alright? I also added you to our group chat!” March says, clicking through your phone and showing you the group chat she added you to.
The Astral Express Family. That’s cute. 
March claps her hands. “Okay! Now that [Y/N] is finished with cutesy-ing up for a special someone, let's take pictures now!” March announces.
“Oh? Who’re you ‘cutesy-ing’ up for, [Y/N]?” asks Mr. Yang, approaching you with Dan Heng and Caelus at his side.
Your eyes widen, and you squeak, “Uh! Me? Cutesy-ing up for someone? I’m not cutesy-ing up for anyone, Mr. Yang! I just want to look decent in the pictures in case someone,” you look at March with a glare, “sends the pictures around!” 
Mr. Yang raises his eyebrows at your response, a faint smirk appearing on his face as he gazes at you with amusement. You feel your face heat up as you press your lips into a thin line before nudging March’s side. March snickers and guides you to the front of the three men before standing beside you. Himeko stands beside March, and the six of you take a group selfie. The following picture was of you, March, Dan Heng, and Caelus. Then the next was of you, Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang.
This went on for a while, and the next thing you know, as you had expected, March has you send the pictures to the Astral Express Family group chat for everyone to save on their phones. You didn’t think March was going to have you send the images to the group chat, but boy, you’re glad you decided to, and you quote from March, cutesy up for the photos. You sure as hell did not want any of them to have an awful picture of you on their phones. You’re okay with sending the photos to each person individually if they wish to have the images. Still, March suggested sending it through the group chat to save some time. 
While in the midst of sending the last ten photos to the group chat, March skips up to you and loops her arms around yours, diverting your attention from your phone. 
“So! Are you ready to go to Belobog? Gepard and Sampo kept pestering Caelus about wanting to see you,” says March, wiggling her eyebrows at you with a teasing smile. “Right, Caelus?” March asks, leaning to the side to look at the silver-haired male.
Caelus approaches you and March with Mr. Yang and Dan Heng at his side. “I wouldn’t say that. Both Gepard and Sampo talked about wanting to hang out with us again before we go to the Xianzhou Luofu. I think it’d be nice to hang out with the two of them before we visit the Xianzhou Luofu,” says Caelus. 
You blink at Caelus, March, Mr. Yang, and Dan Heng. “Wait, we’re stopping by the Xianzhou Luofu today after we stop by Belobog?” You ask, cocking your head to the side. 
Mr. Yang looks at the time before sighing. “That is if we have time. Who knows how long we will be at Belobog,” replies Mr. Yang.
Everyone walks to the Parlor Car and begins taking their seats after Pom-Pom announces the Astral Express is taking off soon. You sit on the couch beside March and close your eyes, resting your head on the back cushions, bracing yourself for take off. You still weren’t used to the feeling of the Astral Express traversing through space, and it sometimes made you feel nauseous and dizzy. 
You poke March’s arm to grab her attention. March looks up from her phone and scoots close when you gesture for her to come closer. “I’m going to take a nap. Can you wake me up when we arrive at Jarilo-VI or Belobog?”
March nods before looking back at her phone. You close your eyes and relax against the cushions. Your eyelids grow heavy as you slowly drift to sleep. When you open your eyes, you’re back in the abyss. The stars glimmer around you, and the void is silent. It’s so quiet that if you were to listen closely, you would’ve been able to hear your heart beating against your chest.
“You’re here,” says a familiar voice.
You turn your head and see Nanook towering over you. Nanook gazes at you with glowing gold eyes as you take a step closer. You weren’t sure if Nanook was okay with you getting any closer, but since you didn’t see any negative reaction, you stopped in front of Nanook’s towering form.
You give Nanook a smile. “I should be the one to say that. After all, you’re the one that completely disappeared after that incident,” you say, sitting on the ground. “Where did you go? Were you upset with me by any chance?” You ask, hugging your knees to your chest. 
Nanook hums, refusing to look away from you. “That, I cannot answer. But what I can tell you is that we will be face-to-face in person very soon. I apologize if I made you worried. That was never my intention,” says Nanook, smiling at you.
You pucker your lips before turning around, having your back face Nanook’s direction. Nanook blinks at you quizzically, staring at your back while you stare into the void. Nanook’s lips twitch, trying to fight back a smile that’s forming. Even though Nanook has known you for a short amount of time, Nanook can tell that you’re sulking. 
Nanook pokes you. “Are you upset with me? You’re not upset with me, are you?” asks Nanook, poking your back for the second time.
You huff in response, letting yourself fall over on your side, still hugging your knees to your chest. Nanook lets out an amused laugh before gently sliding his hands underneath your body and lifting you. Nanook stares at you while you continue to have your back facing his direction. Nanook sighs and caresses your hair while you continue to sulk in silence.
Nanook looks down at you, his face a few feet from your body. “If I made you upset and worried, I apologize. Will you forgive me?” Nanook murmurs.
Nanook hears a faint sigh coming from you. You roll over to face the towering silver-white-haired figure before you, staring at him while lying in the palm of his hands. You and Nanook stare at each other without saying a word. You weren’t mad at Nanook. 
But you were worried to the point where you’d try to take as many naps as you could just so you could see the Aeon, making sure you could still communicate with each other. Each time you don’t see Nanook, you can’t help but feel discouraged. And since there wasn’t a way for you to communicate with Nanook outside of your dreams, and Nanook is the one that can make it happen, you feel helpless. 
After all, Nanook is the first being you talked to, and Nanook did bring you into this universe. You and many people around you have no idea how the Aeon was able to take you away from your world and plop you into their universe without warning. You grab Nanook’s finger and hug them to your chest.
“I’m not mad at you. You did, however, make me worry about you. I thought I did something to upset you, causing you to ignore me for weeks!” You say, frowning at the Aeon before you.
Nanook blinks at you. “Little one, I wasn’t ignoring you for weeks,” replies Nanook, a smile gracing those gorgeous features. 
“Well, to me, it felt like weeks! I….” you trailed off with a sharp intake of breath. “I was hoping to see you after you disappeared all of a sudden, but I couldn’t reach out to you. There wasn’t another way for me to talk to you.”
Nanook strokes your cheek, frowning. “I really do apologize for disappearing out of the blue. It wasn’t my intention to make you feel this way. Can you forgive me, little one?” asks Nanook, brushing your hair from your face. 
You wanted to play hard to get, but you can’t. Not when Nanook is giving you what looks like puppy dog eyes. You sit up and nod slowly. A wide smile appears on Nanook’s face. You press your lips into a thin line when you see Nanook’s smile. Nanook puts you on the ground suddenly, disappearing before your sight.
You blink, getting up from the ground, and begin searching around the void for the Aeon. Oh gosh, why did Nanook disappear out of nowhere like last time? Last time Nanook looked upset, but before Nanook put you on the ground, he was smiling. While you are occupied with searching for Nanook, you feel a tap on your shoulders. You turn to see Nanook standing behind you, no longer the once towering figure above you.
Before you can scold him for disappearing so suddenly, Nanook grabs you by your wrist, pulls you to his chest, and wraps his arms around you, resting his chin on your head. You close your eyes and relax in Nanook’s arms, wrapping your arms around his waist. Despite the open wounds on Nanook’s body and gold blood flowing from the wounds like water, you let Nanook hug you tightly against his chest.
“It feels nice to have you in my arms,” you hear Nanook whisper, feeling Nanook press a kiss on your forehead.
You close your eyes, relaxing in Nanook’s arms. It really does feel nice to be in Nanook’s arms. Being in Nanook’s arms is so comfortable compared to sleeping on your bed. The world around you slowly becomes dark, and before you know it, you wake up to someone shaking you awake. You groan and try to swat the hand away, hoping it’ll make the person stop shaking you. 
You hear an obnoxious laugh. “Oh, wow, Gumdrop! You really are a heavy sleeper like what March said,” the person laughs.
Sampo. 
“Come on, Gumdrop! I know you can hear me! If you had those foxian ears, it would’ve been twitching right now because you love the sound of my voice, don’tcha, Gumdrop?” Sampo asks teasingly.
You feel, you presume, Sampo brushes your hair away from your face before caressing your face with his large hands. You hear someone let out an annoyed sigh. You weren’t sure who it was exactly, but it was either Dan Heng, Gepard, or Mr. Yang. 
“Your failed flirting tactic isn’t going to wake [Y/N] up from their slumber,” Dan Heng mutters.
You can hear the irritation in his voice as Sampo continues to caress your face and stroke your cheek with his thumb. You want to continue to sleep. You’re so tired, and your limbs feel like lead. You hear a faint click. 
“Why are you taking a picture of them sleeping in your arms, Sampo? It’s a little creepy for you to do that,” Gepard mutters.
You hear Sampo let out a scandalous gasp. “What? It’s not creepy! [Y/N] looks so cute when they’re sleeping! How can you not want to take a picture of their cute face when they’re sleeping?” Sampo asks.
March makes a ‘meh’ sound before drawing out a sigh. “Gepard’s right on this one, Sampo. As [Y/N]’s unofficial official photographer, even I wouldn’t do something like this,” says March.
You grumble in response and slowly open your eyes. As your eyes gradually adjust to the light around you, you see Sampo grinning down at you through your blurry vision. You bring your hand up to your eyes, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. You look around to see people circling around you, watching you regain consciousness. 
Gepard gives you a tiny smile. “You’re awake. You were sleeping for a while,” comments Gepard, sweeping your hair away from your face when the wind blows it onto your face.
You adjust yourself to sit up in Sampo’s arms, stretching your arms while Sampo wraps his arms around your waist, snuggling up against you. While you’re trying to force yourself to be awake, the others around you are glaring daggers at Sampo. Mr. Yang subtly smacks Sampo’s arms from your waist while glaring at the merchant. 
Gepard holds his hands out for you to take. You smile at Gepard and grab ahold of his hand before standing up. Sampo pouts and crosses his arms over his chest when you get off of his lap. Still feeling exhausted and disoriented from your nap, you rub your eyes with your knuckles really hard.
Gepard grabs your hand to stop you from rubbing your eyes any longer. You stare at Gepard sleepily before looking around. You’re in Belobog now, and somehow you didn’t wake up to the sound of bustling crowds or to the feeling of someone picking you up and carrying you out of the Astral Express. You turn to look at March, Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang. 
“How did I end up here? I thought you guys were going to wake me up before we got off the Astral Express,” you say, running your hands through your hair.
The crisp air of Belobog sends chills down your spine, making you visibly shiver while rubbing your arms. The brisk air nipping at your skin, causing goosebumps to prick on your arms. Noticing your slight discomfort with the temperature of Belobog, Mr. Yang takes his coat off before draping it over your shoulders. You’re immediately engulfed in warmth, making you sigh with contentment.
You smiled at the brown-haired man and mouthed a ‘thank you’ to the stoic man. Mr. Yang nods, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. At that moment, you hear a faint click of a camera but ignore it. You feel the cold nip at your nose and cheeks, making you press your cold hand against your face. Everyone around you seems unbothered by the chilly air of Belobog while you are shivering in your shoes and Mr. Yang’s coat.
Gepard crosses his arms over his chest and gestures to Sampo. “When the Astral Express landed on Belobog, Sampo entered the Express to greet all of you. You were sleeping on the couch in the Astral Express, and March 7th was trying to wake you up. Of course, you didn’t wake up, and Sampo volunteered to carry you,” replies Gepard. 
You turn to look at March, who waddles up to you before linking her arms around yours. You yawn and nod, not questioning why they didn’t leave you on the Astral Express if you weren’t waking up. March nudges you lightly to get your attention. You look at March, blinking at the pink-haired girl owlishly.
March leans to whisper into your ears. “While you were asleep, I put Sampo and Gepard’s number into your phone while they added you to their contacts list. Was that okay?” asks March.
You nod. “Yeah, that’s fine with me! As long as you didn’t take any unflattering pictures of me while I was napping,” you reply.
March stares at you with wide eyes before looking away sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck with a nervous laugh. You narrow your eyes at March’s strange behavior. You unloop your arms from March’s arm, crossing your arms over your chest while staring her down. 
March puffs her cheeks and points at the others around you two. “I’m not the only one that took unflattering pictures of you, you know! They did it too! In fact, Sampo was the first person to do it!” March exclaims, sticking her nose in the air with a loud huff.
You sigh and run your hands through your hair. There are too many people to scold, and you’re too hungry to scold anyone individually. Your phone chimes, and you look at your phone to see a new text message from Sampo. It was a picture of you knocked out in his arms while he was smiling widely at the camera. You groan internally, covering your face with your hand. You can feel the blood rushing to your cheeks, and you can’t tell if it is from the cold or if it’s from embarrassment.
Sampo struts over to you and throws his arms over your shoulders, pulling you to his side. “I think you look adorable when you’re asleep, Gumdrop! I hope you don’t mind that I made it my home screen background,” says Sampo, patting your head. 
Well, at least in this world, you’re someone’s phone background. You smile at Sampo and shake your head. “I don’t mind it as long as it’s not an embarrassing picture of me,” you reply.
“Are we going to do something, or are we going to stand around all day and do nothing in Belobog?” asks Dan Heng, raising his eyebrows at Sampo and Gepard.
Gepard clears his throat, nodding. “Ah, yes, right. Please, follow me as I show you around the Administrative District,” says Gepard, gesturing to you all to follow him while casting a glance in your and Sampo’s direction.
The tour around the Administrative District would have been even better if it wasn’t for the cold. While there are heaters around the area, it’s not enough for you to warm up, and not even Mr. Yang’s coat can keep you warm from the bitter cold. It could be worse. At least it’s not in some mountain surrounded by five feet of snow.
The flower shop, from a distance, grabs your attention. It looks inviting and very warm. Oh, you bet the flower shop is nice and warm on the inside compared to the outside. Without looking away from the flower shop, you grab the nearest person’s arm and tug on their shirt sleeve, pointing at the flower shop. 
“Can we go into the flower shop?” You ask, continuing to tug on the sleeves.
The person hums. “Do you want to look at the flowers?” asks Caelus, gazing down at you and then at the flower shop.
You blink at Caelus and slowly nod. “Yeah! I also want to go in there because it’s really cold, and my hands are freezing,” you reply, pressing your cold hands against Caelus’ warm cheeks.
Caelus flinches and grabs your hands while you’re trying to get warm by pressing yourself against his side. Caelus chuckles and wraps his arms around you, rubbing your hands with his to create heat for your freezing hands. You shiver, pouting while sniffling dramatically. Caelus stifles his laugh, shaking his head. 
While you were pouting and huddling close to Caelus, letting him rub your hands together to create heat, March pulled her phone out and snapped a picture of the two of you. Caelus walks over to the men with you waddling beside him, your hands remaining in his grasp.
“Hey, so [Y/N] wants to go into the flower shop to warm up. Is that okay?” asks Caelus, continuing to rub his hands with yours.
Mr. Yang nods. “That’s fine with us. Is my coat not keeping them warm enough?” asks Mr. Yang as he crosses his arms over his chest.
You stare at Mr. Yang with your mouth agape. The man isn’t wearing the coat he gave you, and yet he’s not freezing or shivering like you. Heck, you don’t even see a single goosebump on this man’s arm! Then again, he’s wearing a long sleeve shirt, so you technically can’t tell if he’s cold or not. 
You press yourself against Caelus’ side. “Are you not cold, Mr. Yang?” You ask.
Mr. Yang shakes his head. “No, I’m not cold. Maybe you’re not used to the weather here,” Mr. Yang answers. 
After getting confirmation that you can go into the flower shop, you pull your hands out from Caelus’ grasp before jogging to the flower shop without hesitation. Caelus sighs, tucking his hands in his pockets before following after you. March skips up to Caelus happily, showing him her phone. Caelus pauses in his steps and presses his lips into a thin line.
“Can you send that to me?” Caelus asks shyly.
March grins at Caelus, wiggling her eyebrows at the silver-haired man before nodding. “Sure! Would you like for me to send it in the group chat or just to you?” 
Before Caelus can reply, Sampo, Mr. Yang, Dan Heng, and Gepard walk up to them. Caelus clears his throat, signaling to March that they’ll continue the conversation another time. March sighs and rolls her eyes, walking up the steps of the small flower shop. When everyone walks into the Eversummer Florist, the first thing they see is you taking pictures of the flowers while Vaska is explaining to you what each flower symbolizes. 
“So! Has anyone ever bought you flowers, dear customer?” asks Vaska, gazing at you curiously. 
You blush and tuck your hair behind your ear. How do you explain to Vaska that no one has ever bought you flowers, whether as a gift or in general? The sound of the bell chiming alerts you and Vaska of new customers, only for you to realize it’s your friends and not random customers. 
You clear your throat. “Oh, uh, no! No one has ever bought me flowers before, Vaska. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to look around!” You say.
Vaska smiles and nods, walking away to other customers that call her over for assistance. You sigh in relief and take Mr. Yang’s coat off, handing it to the brown-haired man while looking around the flower shop. 
Sampo grabs your hand and presses a kiss on your knuckles. “May I be the first person to buy you flowers? A person as beautiful as you deserves to be spoiled with the prettiest and most vibrant flowers to exist in Belobog,” says Sampo, winking at you.
Dan Heng raises his eyebrows at Sampo. “Are you sure you’ll be able to buy every flower in the flower shop for [Y/N]?”
Gepard hums, crossing his arms over his chest while looking around the flower shop. “Flowers can be expensive depending on what type of flower you want and how you want them to be arranged,” Gepard interjects.
March raises her eyebrows at the Captain of the Silvermane Guards, propping her hands on her hips while leaning on one leg. “And how do you know that, Gepard?” March questions, tapping her foot on the ground while waiting for the blond man to reply. 
Gepard goes quiet and looks at March sheepishly. If you were to look closely, you could see a faint blush on Gepard’s cheek. Gepard clears his throat, looking away from the pink-haired girl before continuing to admire the flowers in the flower shop. You chuckle and nudge March while she gives you a devious smile, wiggling her eyebrows at you teasingly. You roll your eyes and walk to the other side of the flower shop, admiring the beautiful flowers while taking occasional pictures of them.
A specific flower captures your attention. You let out an audible gasp in awe, admiring the beautiful flower. You’re contemplating buying yourself a flower to put in your room back on the Astral Express. You look at the Ball Peonies in front of you, admiring their beauty and color. Gosh, it’s so pretty! How can you not buy one for yourself? You lean down, searching for the price of the flower. 
After what felt like ten minutes, you finally found the price tag. You reach for the label, flip it over and let out a choked gasp, dropping the price tag and letting it dangle. You know that flowers can get expensive, but not that expensive! Noticing your shock from afar, Vaska walks up to you and gazes at the Ball Peonies.
Vaska giggles and adjusts the flower. “The Ball Peonies are very expensive, but not as expensive as the Marquis! The Marquis is our most expensive flower,” says Vaska.
You give Vaska a fake smile, rubbing the back of your neck. “The Ball Peonies are beautiful! Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be able to buy these. Maybe in another lifetime,” you joke.
Vaska chuckles and walks away, shaking her head. You sigh for the umpteenth time and walk to another flower before pulling your phone out to scroll through your gallery. You begin sorting your pictures, putting them in different files. While you’re occupied with putting the group pictures in appropriate files, your phone chimes.
‘3 Attachments from March (ノ´ヮ`)ノ*: ・゚’
You click on the notifications, waiting for the messages to load. Someone taps on your shoulders. You turn your phone off and turn around, only to see Gepard standing before you with Ball Peony in his hands, his cheeks and the tip of his ears crimson red. Your eyes widen, gazing at the blond man speechlessly.
Gepard clears his throat and looks away from you before holding the Ball Peony out toward you. “I saw you looking at the Ball Peony. I also saw how shocked and disappointed you were when you saw the price of it, and I didn’t want you to be disappointed,” says Gepard. 
Heat rushes to your cheeks, making your face feel warm. “Gepard, you didn’t have to get me the Ball Peony. They’re expensive,” you whisper, gazing at the ground.
Gepard looks at you. You didn’t see the soft look Gepard had on his face while smiling at you shyly. Gepard clears his throat. “It doesn’t matter to me that they’re expensive. I wanted to see you happy, and…” Gepard trails off, “I wanted to be the first one to buy you flowers.” 
Your face is aflame as you grab the flowers from Gepard’s hands, admiring the Ball Peony. You look up at Gepard, smiling widely before throwing your arms around Gepard’s shoulders, hugging him tightly. Caught off guard by your actions, Gepard stumbles back slightly while wrapping his arms around your waist with wide eyes. If Gepard’s face isn't red already, it’s probably almost as red as Himeko’s hair. March squeals softly, pulling her phone out while snapping multiple pictures of you and Gepard hugging from different angles.
Sampo huffs and looks away, flicking his bangs from his eyes. “I wanted to be the first one to buy [Y/N] flowers, but Mister Captain of the Silvermane Guards had to be the first one to do it!” Sampo grouses, his face pinching up with annoyance. 
You pull away from the hug and thank Gepard shyly. Gepard smiles and brushes the stray hair away from your face. Your phone begins chiming over and over, ruining the sweet moment between you and Gepard. You give Gepard an apologetic smile before pulling your phone out from your pockets to see a ton of attachments from March. 
You raise your eyebrows and look in March’s direction. March looks at you with a wide smile while holding her phone behind her back, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet while feigning innocence. 
Dan Heng clears his throat. “So, now that you’re warmed up. Do you want to continue the tour around the Administrative District, or do you want to return to the Astral Express?” asks Dan Heng, approaching you and Gepard.
You hum, tapping on your chin with one hand. “I don’t know how much longer I can handle the cold. People here are used to the weather, but I’m not. I would like to return to the Astral Express, but I feel bad for wanting to leave so soon,” you say, looking over at Gepard and Sampo.
Sampo smiles at you and props his hands on Gepard’s shoulders. Gepard’s smile falters for a split second before giving Sampo a fake smile, brushing the merchant’s arm off his shoulders. Sampo clears his throat and adjusts himself. 
Sampo ruffles your hair with a big smile. “Oh, come on! Don’t be sad now, Gumdrop! I know you’re going to miss the amazing Sampo Koski, but no need to worry! I, and maybe the Captain of the Silvermane Guard, will be accompanying you on the Astral Express heading to, uh, what’s that ship called again?” Sampo looks at Dan Heng, Caelus, Mr. Yang, and March with a questioning look. 
Mr. Yang sighs, closing his eyes. “We’re heading to the Xianzhou Luofu next. General Jing Yuan wanted us to stop by and visit,” Mr. Yang answers, pushing his glasses up his nose bridge.
You nod, holding the Ball Peony close to your chest. The trip from Jarilo-V to the Xianzhou Luofu is going to take a while, and that means you can take a nap! But knowing March, she will try to find a way for you not to take a nap. According to her, you take too many naps. You dread leaving the flower shop because you’re going to get cold again, and you refuse to borrow anyone’s jacket because you feel bad if they let you borrow their jacket.
After what felt like ages, you all arrive at the Astral Express. Instead of borrowing someone’s jacket like last time, Dan Heng lets you share jackets with him. Of course, March took a picture of that and sent it to you and Dan Heng separately instead of sending the photo through the group chat.
You sigh in relief, stretching your arms in the air. The first thing you’re going to do is get a vase for the Ball Peony. After that, you go to your room and take a nap. Well, sneak off to take a nap because March is going to find a way to stop you from napping.
You scurry to find a vase for your Ball Peony, leaving the others in the Parlor Car. You end up finding the prettiest iridescent vase for the Ball Peony. You fill the vase with water and stick the Ball Peony into the vase, wondering if the Ball Peony is going to survive in a train that’s traversing through space. 
You walk to the Passenger Cabin, holding the vase carefully, making sure not to spill any water. You weren’t sure where you were going to put the flowers, but you were debating on putting them close to the window or on your nightstand beside your bed. You opted for the nightstand and set it down in the center before plopping down on your bed and pulling your phone out to look at the messages March sent to you throughout the day in Belobog. 
You save all of the pictures to your phone, feeling your eyelids grow heavy as you slowly succumb to sleep. Your phone falls from your hands and lies beside you as you drift to sleep. You weren’t sure how long you fell asleep, but you’re rudely awoken by the sound of your phone buzzing uncontrollably and your bedroom door slamming open.
“Why did you burst into [Y/N]’s room like that? You know they were sleeping,” you hear Dan Heng scold someone.
You rub your eyes, tempted to go back to sleep.
March huffs loudly. “Oh, no, you don’t! Get up! We arrived at the Xianzhou Luofu! General Jing Yuan and the others are waiting for us at the entrance!” says March.
March walks up to your bed and yanks your blanket off your body. You groan, stretching in your bed while reaching around for your phone. You look at your phone to see three messages from three unknown numbers.
The first message reads, “Hello, [Y/N]. This is Jing Yuan! In case you’re wondering how I got your number, March informed me, Luocha, and Blade that you have a new phone. She gave us your number. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!”
The second message is from, you’re assuming, Luocha. “Hello, [Y/N]! I hope you’ve been doing well since the last time we saw each other. March informed me that you got a phone, and Caelus sent me your phone number! If you ever need anything, please let me know, and I’ll try my best to help you. Also, this is Luocha.” 
And finally, the last text you received on your phone is from Blade. “This is Blade. Are you still talking to the Aeon?” That was the only message Blade sent to you.
You blink at the message on your phone before unlocking it. You quickly type out a reply to all three men before getting off your bed, running your hands through your hair. You shove your phone into your pocket before following March and Dan Heng out of your bedroom. 
You step out of the Astral Express, yawning for the umpteenth time within the span of five minutes. March nudges you, giving you a worried look. You shake your head as if telling her not to worry about it. After all, it’s not like it’s out of the ordinary for you to feel tired. You did arrive in their universe from another world. You’re still adjusting to everything. Plus, it’s not like there’s a timezone since you’re constantly going to different planets and fleets. 
“And there they are,” Mr. Yang says, smiling at you, March, and Dan Heng. 
Caelus snickers and looks at Dan Heng and March with an eyebrow raised. “Was it really that hard to wake [Y/N] up from their sleep?” asks Caelus, propping his hands on his waist.
March and Dan Heng glare at Caelus while you walk to the nearest bench on the Xianzhou Luofu and plop on it. Luocha sits beside you. You lay your head on Luocha’s shoulders, closing your eyes. 
Luocha smiles and caresses your hair. “Did you not sleep well while on your way to the Xianzhou Luofu?” asks Luocha.
You shake your head. “I haven’t been sleeping well recently. I’m not sure if it’s because my body is trying to adjust to the constant change of environment or if it’s because….”  you trailed off, opening your eyes.
Luocha peeks down at you, looking at you worriedly. “Because what?” Luocha murmurs.
You sit up and pull your phone out, mindlessly rubbing your thumb against the smooth screen. “I don’t know if I want to say it. I’m hoping it’s not true, but who knows,” you shrug your shoulders.
You have a theory that your lack of sleep could come from your and Nanook’s ways of communication. Nanook speaks to you in your dreams, and you’re very well aware that you’re dreaming. But are you really asleep when Nanook communicates with you through your dreams? Or is your physical body unconscious, but the mind isn’t? 
Luocha leans back and gazes at you with his gorgeous green eyes. To Luocha, you do look visibly exhausted. If he were to look closely, you have bags under your eyes, and the little sparkle in your eyes is dim, almost nonexistent. 
“It’s because of that Aeon, isn’t it?” asks Blade as he approaches you with Jing Yuan beside him.
You blink at Blade owlishly. It’s possible that it’s because of your communication with Nanook, but you didn’t want to make assumptions. Plus, prior to March and Dan Heng waking you up from your slumber, you didn’t see Nanook. In fact, you didn’t have a dream, nor were you in the very same void whenever you and Nanook communicated. 
Blade chuckles bitterly, shaking his head. “You don’t have to answer my question. I have a feeling that your loss of sleep is due to your interaction with Nanook,” says Blade. 
As much as you want to agree with Blade, you feel guilty for placing the blame for your lack of sleep on Nanook. All Nanook wanted to do was to see you and speak to you through your dreams because there was no way for Nanook to be there with you physically. Yet. Is it even possible for Nanook to be there with you physically outside of your dreams? Nanook is massive and covers the sun and sky.
You let out a long yawn and cover your mouth.
Someone chuckles. “Aw, it seems like the little one is tired. Aren’t you adorable?” the voice coos into your ears.
You stop mid-yawn and look around, searching for the source of the voice. Luocha, Blade, and Jing Yuan look at you worriedly as you whip your head around to look for the voice of the person.
“[Y/N]? Are you alright?” asks Jing Yuan, kneeling before you. “You look startled.”
You stop looking around. You clear your throat, nodding before resting your head on Luocha’s shoulders, sighing. You realize the voice is coming from inside of your head and that it’s most likely Nanook. If the voice inside your head is Nanook, you’re going to be speaking to the Aeon about it when you’re asleep. Nanook can’t pop in and out of your mind so suddenly without scaring you like that.
“So, March has given you guys my number. She didn’t inform me about it, but I did wake up to a series of text messages other than March slamming my bedroom door open,” you chuckle.
Luocha stands up from the bench and squats in front of you, gesturing for you to get on his back. You blink at the blond man before getting on his back, wrapping your legs around his waist and your arms around his neck. Luocha stands straight and adjusts you on his back before walking over to where the others are standing, with Blade and Jing Yuan walking beside him. You tighten your grip around Luocha’s neck and rest your head on his shoulders, closing your eyes. 
“I was going to say that I was hoping our texting you didn’t disturb your slumber, but you already told us that you woke up to your phone chiming,” Luocha sighs, tightening his grip on your thighs.
You hum, snuggling against Luocha’s back. “It’s fine, really. I would rather wake up to text messages from you guys than March storming into my bedroom to wake me up. She said I take way too many naps,” you chuckle.
“I can hold your phone for you if you’d like. I worry you might drop your phone while holding onto Luocha,” Jing Yuan comments, reaching for your phone. “We wouldn’t want you to break your new phone, now, would we?” Jing Yuan asks, raising his eyebrows at you while poking your cheek. 
You hand Jing Yuan your phone, continuing to hold onto the blond man. Blade peeks at your phone and takes it from Jing Yuan’s hands, tapping on the screen to see a group picture of you and the Astral Express crew smiling at the camera. It’s a cute picture. But when Blade unlocked your phone (your password was predictable), a picture of you with Sampo and Gepard was the background for your home screen. 
“Who took these pictures?” asks Blade, holding your phone up to your face.
You squint and look at the home screen background. “March took the pictures! She’s my unofficial official photographer.”
Blade hums and begins scrolling through your gallery, narrowing his eyes at each photo that wasn’t a group picture. Most pictures look candid, while others look like it was taken without your knowledge. Especially the images of you sleeping in the indigo-haired man’s arms. Your phone buzzes, and a notification appears at the top of the screen.
‘1 Attachment from March (ノ´ヮ`)ノ*: ・゚’
Blade clicks on the notification without thinking, and it takes him to the messages between you and March. The attachment was a picture of you getting a piggyback ride from Luocha. The photo was taken a few seconds ago. Blade looks up from your phone and makes eye contact with the pink-haired girl. March’s eyes widen, and she gives Blade a sheepish smile, hiding her phone behind her back while trying to act casual. Blade hands the phone back to Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan huffs with amusement. “If you don’t mind, would you perhaps take pictures with us as well? I see you’ve been taking pictures with your traveling companions and friends from places you stop by,” says Jing Yuan.
You nod. “Of course we can! We can find a good place to take a picture. We need to let the others know about it first. After all, March is my unofficial official photographer!” you reply. 
When you, Luocha, Blade, and Jing Yuan approach the group, the others give you a questioning look while March has her hands crossed over her chest while staring at you. You give March a sheepish look and wave at her from behind Luocha. Mr. Yang walks up to you and hands you an Immortal’s Delight, causing you to perk up and grab the drink from his hands after saying ‘thank you.’
Luocha squats down, and you get off his back, sipping on the sugary drink. You’re really hoping the drink will keep you up for a little bit before returning to the Astral Express and calling it a day. You tapped March’s shoulders and informed her about wanting to take pictures with Jing Yuan, Blade, and Luocha. You and March were trying to think of places to take photos with the help of Dan Heng and Caelus giving suggestions. Sampo and Gepard walk up to Blade, Luocha, and Jing Yuan, eyeing the three men from head to toe. Blade raises his eyebrows, sizing the two men up. 
Blade points at Sampo. “What’s your association with [Y/N]?” Blade asks. “You seem quite close with [Y/N]. Do they mean anything to you by any chance?” 
Jing Yuan laughs and pats Blade’s shoulders before giving Sampo and Gepard an apologetic smile. “I apologize for Blade suddenly interrogating you about your association with [Y/N]. While we have met a few times, we’re curious about your relationship with [Y/N],” says Jing Yuan. “Well, Blade is more direct about it. As you can see.”
Gepard and Sampo look at one another, staring at the three men in silence. Were they supposed to tell the three strange men their association with you? If those three men (specifically Blade) are curious about it, they will talk to you about it. 
Luocha interjects, getting between the four tense men. “Gentlemen! Let’s save this conversation for later, shall we? I believe [Y/N] has picked out a place for the pictures,” says Luocha, laughing nervously while gesturing over in your direction. Luocha turns to look at Gepard and Sampo, bowing to the two men. “I apologize if they’re causing any hostile environment. I hope we can all get along.”
Jing Yuan blinks at Luocha, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not the one that’s creating a hostile environment. I believe it’s this one over here,” Jing Yuan says, gesturing toward Blade.
You and your traveling companions walk to where the five men are standing. In your hands, you’re holding two more Immortal’s Delight. The men raise their eyebrows at you while Sampo points at the sugary drinks in your hands. 
“Picture time! We have decided to take a picture in this one area of Central Starskiff Haven! Close to where they sell Immortals Delight!” You say, waving the drinks around before taking a sip from one of the cups.
Blade stares at you and then at the cup in your hands. “You’re not going to buy any more of those drinks, are you?” Blade asks, raising his eyebrows at you. 
You pursed your lips and slowly walked away. “I can’t promise you anything! If you want to start blaming someone, blame someone that introduced me to Immortals Delight,” you said. 
Upon arriving at the Central Starskriff Haven, you, Blade, Jing Yuan, and Luocha stand beside each other in front of the railing. Well, Luocha, Jing Yuan, and Blade are standing beside each other while you stand in front of the three men. March begins taking many pictures of you and the three men on your phone.
In the middle of the photo shoot (is it even a photoshoot?), Blade takes your Immortal’s Delight and begins drinking it. You turn to look at Blade with your mouth agape. The dark-haired man looks away from you and continues slurping the sugary drink without care. Your face pinches up with irritation before chasing Blade around Luocha and Jing Yuan. Jing Yuan and Luocha chuckle and try to get the two of you to stop before causing any more issues. 
“This is perfect! It captures their dynamic perfectly!” March says, continuing to snap many pictures of what’s happening.
Jing Yuan sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Blade, give [Y/N] back their drink. It’s rude to drink something that doesn’t belong to you,” Jing Yuan chides.
“Yeah, Blade! Don’t be a jerk and give me back my drink!” You say, glaring at the dark-haired man and stopping in your tracks, placing your hands on your knees and panting. “If you make me chase for that drink, I will make you pay for it.”
“Oh? And how are you going to make me pay for it exactly?” Blade asks, raising his eyebrows at you.
You hold your hand out in front of you. Blade stares at you before holding your hand. You stare at your hands in Blade’s grasp. You drop his hands and huff. Luocha chuckles, giving Blade a teasing smile.
“It seems like you don’t understand what [Y/N] is implying. They want you to give them credit for the Immortal’s Delight, not you holding their hand,” Luocha interjects. “One drink costs about 3600 credits per drink. It is a bit pricey for one drink.”
Blade stares at Luocha with disbelief before handing you back your Immortal’s Delight. Your eyes light up, and you stick your tongue out at Blade before turning to look at your traveling companions standing across from you. You nearly drop your drink when you realize how many people had their phones out.
“Don’t mind us! We’re making sure we get good angles!” says March, holding both your and her phone up while continuing to take pictures of you and the three men.
Unbeknownst to you, the men before you took many pictures of you chasing the Stellaron Hunter. They made sure not to include the three men in the pictures because they were focused on capturing the moments when your eyes light up when Blade returns your drink. Who knew that the brightest star in the universe has tiny specks of stars in their eyes when they’re happy. 
Note: This fic is almost 10k words, and I'm surprised because I didn't think I could type this much with little to no sleep 💀 Since my finals are in three days, I will be posting mini-fics for the Genshin series and for the HSR series! I also realized that I had forgotten about Luka. Hopefully, I can post him in the next upcoming fic. Since I don't know much about him, I'll have to wing it. Also, if there are any errors, that is because I did type the fic half-asleep and while sleep-deprived 🥲 Taglist should be coming soon after finals week! Also, please look at an important note regarding posting works that are "inspired" by the fics I have posted [Important Notice]! To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 7 months
Text
Well, Shit.
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Toddler!Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: Well, Shit. This isn't supposed to happen. How did this even happen in the first place? Yanqing was tasked to watch over you while General Jing Yuan and your traveling companions were out on a mission. Who knew it would end up with you turning into a toddler?
Note: This is a short fic. I guess this can be part 2 of "Yanqing's Babysitting Service" since I mentioned the reader getting hit in the face by Luka's arm situation in this fic. I've had this idea in my head for a while, and I think it would be a cute and fun spin-off to Yanqing's Babysitting Service. I'll link it down if you want to read it— this can be read as a standalone if you're not interested in reading the first part. Anyway! I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: None that I know of
Word Count: 4k
Part 1 of Well, Shit. [Yanqing's Babysitting Service] (Can be read as a standalone fic)
Yanqing looks at the sight in front of him in horror before looking around to see if anyone else was around when it happened. Yanqing gulps nervously before running his fingers through his hair and closing his eyes. This cannot be happening right now. Especially when he is the one that’s tasked to watch over you while the others are away on an important mission on the Xianzhou Luofu. What could have caused this mess?
Yanqing collapses to the ground, covering his face with his hands as he tries to calm down. How would the General react to this? Heck, how would the others react to this? Everything was going well until this happened! The first time Yanqing was tasked to babysit you, you ended up in the medical center in Belobog because Luka’s arm flew off and knocked you out cold. Then again, Yanqing would rather have that happen again because it’s better than whatever the heck is going on right now!
“Please, this can’t be happening. General is going to kill me if he finds out that [Y/N]—” Yanqing’s inner monologue is interrupted by someone tugging on the sleeve of his hanfu.
Yanqing uncovers his eyes to see large eyes staring at him curiously. Standing before him is you— only it’s not really you. You’re not the adult you were. You’re a child, no, a toddler no older than three years old. 
“Y-Yanqing,” you whimper out softly.
Aeons… you’re an adorable baby, and Yanqing doesn’t know how to react. Should he laugh? Should he cry? Yanqing is supposed to be the child here, not you! And yet, here you guys are— the role has switched, and Yanqing doesn’t know what to do. The others should be back from their mission in a few hours, and Yanqing has no idea how to turn you back to your normal self. Wait a minute. If you’re physically a toddler, does that mean you think like one too?
Your bottom lip starts to quiver as tears start pooling in your eyes. Yanqing’s eyes widen with panic as he gently shushes you, wrapping his arms around your waist and lifting you. Yanqing lightly bounces you, patting your back while looking around for help. You grab Yanqing’s hanfu and rest your chin on his shoulders, whimpering occasionally.
“It’s okay! Don’t cry, [Y/N]! I know it’s scary right now, but try to be strong for me, okay?” Yanqing coos, peeking at you to wipe your tear-stained cheeks.
You sniffle and nod, bottom lip jutting out. Yanqing smiles and lightly pinches your cheek before walking around the Xianzhou Luofu with you in his arms. It’s a good thing your clothes shrunk with you because Yanqing wouldn’t know what else to do if the clothes didn’t shrink with your person. 
“Aw, man. What am I going to do?” Yanqing whispers. “How are we going to turn you back to normal?”
You bury your face on Yanqing’s shoulders, rubbing your eyes with your fist. Yanqing stops in his tracks and looks at you worriedly. You yawn and blink at Yanqing slowly. Fuck, was he supposed to know what that means? You begin sniffling, a small cry emitting from you. Panic kicks in as Yanqing tries to figure out what’s wrong.
Yanqing lightly pats your back and bounces you, his eyebrows furrowing with worry. “What’s wrong, [Y/N]?” Yanqing asks softly, quickly wiping the tears that threaten to roll down your cheeks.
You whimper out, “I‘m sleepy.”
“You can sleep in my arms for now, okay? I’ll find a place for you to sleep,” Yanqing coos, patting your head.
You nod glumly and rest your head on his shoulders, holding onto the fabric of Yanqing’s hanfu, and close your eyes. Yanqing isn’t around children often, but when he is around children, he’s not the one who’s dealing with the needs of children. Instead, he would be the one to stand there awkwardly while the mothers and fathers of the children tend to their needs.
Yanqing walks into the Seat of Divine Foresight with you in his arms. You have yet to fall asleep, and Yanqing is glad you haven’t cried or thrown a tantrum yet. Yanqing doesn’t know where to take you, so you can take a nap other than General Jing Yuan’s office. Mainly because there aren’t many people in the General’s office and because the General’s seat is the first place to pop up in his mind when he thinks of a place for you to nap on.
Yanqing sits you down on the seat where General Jing Yuan’s desk is, and you sprawl out on the chair before curling into a ball. Within seven minutes, you were out like a light. Yanqing sighs in relief and rubs the back of his neck as he paces back and forth in front of the white-haired General’s desk. 
“What am I going to say to the General when he and the others return? I don’t know how this happened in the first place!” Yanqing screams internally.
Yanqing walks over to the chair and sits at the end of the seat, resting his chin on the armrest and sighs. Yanqing peeks at you from the corner of his eyes, making sure you’re still asleep. How in the world did you end up aging backward? You were fine earlier today until a little less than an hour ago.
The doors to the Seat of Divine Foresight open, startling the poor blond boy. General Jing Yuan, the Stellaron Hunter, the foreign merchant, the Astral Express crew, and the people visiting from Jarilo-VI enter the white-haired General’s office. Yanqing stands up and looks over at you worriedly and then at the newcomers.
Thankfully, they’re too distracted to notice Yanqing’s presence. Yanqing debates on whether he should carry you out of the General’s office without being seen or let everyone discover the predicament you and Yanqing got into. Yanqing chews on his thumbnail, watching the group converse with one another, still not noticing Yanqing’s presence. 
“Yanqing! I see you and [Y/N] have returned from your day around the Luofu early,” General Jing Yuan says, startling Yanqing.
Blade crosses his arms over his chest. “Speaking of [Y/N]. Where are they?” Blade asks, raising his eyebrows at the blond boy.
Yanqing feels his heart gets caught in his throat. Yanqing laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. What is he supposed to say? It’s not like he can make an excuse and say you’re in the restroom when you’re sleeping on the General’s chair right behind him. Yanqing subtly covers you and adjusts his ponytail, still trying to find a way to answer Blade’s question. 
“[Y/N] told me they will not be making an appearance until they get Immortals Delight,” Yanqing lies, internally wincing when the words come out of his mouth.
Almost everyone raises their eyebrows at Yanqing’s response. Dan Heng and Welt Yang coincidentally hold the sweet drinks up for Yanqing to see. Yanqing exhales loudly— the others mistake Yanqing’s sigh as relief rather than defeat. Yanqing purses his lips and nods slowly. Great, okay, so what is Yanqing going to do now? 
It’s not like he can hide you any longer. Yanqing gestures for the others to wait a moment before turning around. Yanqing bends over to wake you up from your sleep. You crack your eyes open, whining softly. Yanqing quickly shushes you, trying his best not to panic when he knows the others are watching him with eagle eyes. Yanqing looks over his shoulders, giving the audience an awkward smile.
“Please give me a moment! Maybe turn around and don’t look yet!” says Yanqing, gesturing to them to turn and have their backs facing his and your direction.
Luocha raises his eyebrows at Yanqing, crossing his arms over his chest. “What are you hiding from us, Yanqing?” Luocha asks, poking the inside of his cheek with his tongue.
Yanqing ignores Luocha’s question and continues to lift you and carry you in his arms. You wrap your little arms around Yanqing’s shoulders and bury your face into his neck as you try to go back to sleep. 
Yanqing would have melted from the cuteness, but he’s too busy worrying about how the others are going to react to seeing a miniature version of yourself. Yanqing turns around to see the others staring at him. Yanqing bristles and glares at the group, pointing an accusing finger at everyone, ignoring the gasps and wide eyes from them. 
“Hey! I told you guys to turn around and not to look yet!” Yanqing exclaims.
Sampo points at you. “Why do you have a random child in your arms? Where’s my Gumdrop, Yanqing?” Sampo demands, making his way toward the blond boy.
You peek from Yanqing’s shoulders, rubbing your eyes with your knuckles. Sampo stops in his tracks when he gets a better look at your face. You stare at Sampo and blink at the gobsmacked indigo-haired man. Sampo begins sputtering, pointing at you and looking at the group with wide eyes. You lay your head on Yanqing’s shoulder, eyes glazed over before yawning. 
“[Y/N]?” Welt asks softly, tilting his head to the side.
You look at the brown-haired man and look at him curiously, mimicking the brunette by tilting your head to the side like a curious puppy. The brunette sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, nodding when March, Dan Heng, and Caelus look at him quizzically. Despite the trio not saying anything, Welt knew what they wanted to ask.
The child in Yanqing’s arms is indeed you. Aside from the clothing, your hair is the same, and so is your face… but younger. Dan Heng looks at the nervous Yanqing, pointing at the dozing-off child in Yanqing’s arm.
Dan Heng clears his throat to grab Yanqing’s attention. “How did this happen?”
“That’s the problem, Dan Heng! I don’t know how all of this happened! One minute, [Y/N] and I were hanging around the Luofu, and the next, poof! [Y/N] is de-aged!” Yanqing explains, tapping his foot on the ground anxiously.
You squirm in Yanqing’s arms, kicking your feet lightly. Yanqing puts you on the ground before looking at the men (and March) nervously. You look around the Seat of Divine Foresight, eyes bright with wonder and curiosity. You look at the large group of very tall people before cowering in fear and hiding behind Yanqing’s legs, peeking from behind.
Caelus steps forward and squats down, smiling at you. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, [Y/N]. Do you recognize any of us aside from Yanqing?” Caelus whispers. 
You grab Yanqing’s pants and nod hesitantly. Of course, you remember the really tall people! Despite turning into a toddler and not being able to think and communicate like your normal self, you recognize everyone’s face. Gepard squats beside Caelus, looking at you curiously.
“Do you know how this happened?” Gepard murmurs.
You shake your head. “No,” you mumble.
Luka pouts and turns to the others, clutching his chest. “They’re so cute and tiny! Their little ‘no,’” Luka coos, cupping his cheeks and squealing softly.
You lean against Yanqing and rub your eyes with the heel of your hand. You tug on Yanqing’s hanfu to get General Jing Yuan’s blond retainer’s attention. Yanqing looks down and sees you holding your arms up in the air. Yanqing lifts you up and carries you in his arms while you bury your face into his shoulders, mumbling into his shoulders.
March bounces over to you and Yanqing, looking at you with curiosity. You peek from Yanqing’s shoulders and look up at March. March smiles widely and waves at you, cooing softly when you shyly smile at her and wave in return. March squeals softly and pokes your cheek. You bury your face against Yanqing’s shoulders after, making March laugh.
“You’re so cute! Yanqing, let me hold [Y/N]!” March says, holding her hands out for the blond boy to hand you over to her.
Yanqing’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head. “What! No way! I’m not handing [Y/N] to you until they return to their normal self!” Yanqing protests, taking a step back.
March’s jaws drop, and she stomps her foot on the ground. “Huh!? Aren’t you going to feel tired if you hold [Y/N] for a long time?” March exclaims, propping her hands on her hips. “Mr. Yang! Yanqing refuses to let me hold [Y/N]!”
Yanqing and March continue to glare at each other while Welt and General Jing Yuan sigh in unison, pinching the bridge of their noses. Not only do they have to figure out how to turn you back into your normal self, but now they have to deal with March and Yanqing arguing over who gets to hold you.
General Jing Yuan clears his throat. “Yanqing, I believe you should put [Y/N] down. We should reintroduce ourselves to [Y/N] so they won’t feel uncomfortable around us despite knowing who we are,” says General Jing Yuan.
Yanqing makes a disgruntled noise before complying with the white-haired General. Yanqing puts you on the ground and holds his hand out for you to take. You place your little hand in Yanqing’s bigger hand and let the blond boy guide you to the center of the Seat of Divine Foresight. 
You and Yanqing walk down the stairs— Yanqing makes sure to go slow and help you down the stairs, making sure you don’t slip or trip. You stick close to Yanqing, gazing at the group curiously. Everyone looks friendly, especially the two men holding Immortals Delight. Your eyes are glued onto the sweet drinks, tempted to ask the two men if you can have the drinks. 
Luocha chuckles. “Despite turning into a child, [Y/N]’s love for Immortal’s Delight remains,” Luocha comments, turning toward Dan Heng and Welt.
You point at the drink, glancing up at Yanqing. Yanqing looks at the two men holding the beverages and at General Jing Yuan. You tug on Yanqing’s hanfu to grab his attention, silently asking if you can have the sweet drink. 
Dan Heng hums, stroking his chin. “I’m not sure if someone as small as [Y/N] should be drinking two Immortal’s Delight,” Dan Heng murmurs.
Upon hearing Dan Heng’s hesitation, you pout and give Dan Heng puppy dog eyes, your bottom lips quivering. Dan Heng looks away, sighing. How can he say no to your puppy dog eyes? Dan Heng looks over at the brown-haired man, who’s also looking away from you. Welt clears his throat, not saying a thing.
You continue to point at the drink. “Please…” you trail off, blinking away the tears forming in your eyes.
Welt sighs in defeat. “Alright, you can have this drink. But you can only drink one, alright?” Welt says, walking up to you before kneeling before you.
You stare at the older man before looking at the Immortal’s Delight in his hands. One drink? I mean, it’s better than not having any, right? 
You nod. “Okay,” you say softly.
Welt hands you the Immortal’s Delight, patting the top of your head as you latch onto the straw and sip the sweet beverage happily. You look at Yanqing, smiling widely. Yanqing smiles and ruffles your hair before looking at the white-haired General pleadingly. Blade points at you, his eyebrows raised. You stare at Blade, pointing at the Stellaron Hunter while looking at your blond babysitter.
“Baldie?” You squeak.
Sampo and Luka pucker their lips and look away, stifling their laughter. Blade stares at you blankly, trying to process what you just said. Were you trying to call him Bladie? Did he mishear you by any chance? Given the facial expressions on everyone’s face, Blade, in fact, did not mishear you.
Sampo whispers to Luka, “[Y/N] just called Blade ‘Baldie.’” Sampo wipes the tears forming in the corner of his eyes as he tries to keep his composure.
“And they said it with confidence, too,” Luka snickers.
You’re confused about why the others are trying to hide their laughter after you said Blade’s name, but you didn’t question it. You’re drinking Immortal’s Delight, and it tastes amazing. The drink is so good, and you want to get your tiny hands on another Immortal’s Delight. 
Blade clears his throat, slightly glaring at you. “I think you mean Blade, not Baldie,” Blade corrects you.
You shake your head stubbornly, pointing at the long-haired man again. “Baldie,” you state.
Caelus nods, pointing at the now irritated Stellaron Hunter. “Maybe [Y/N] knows something that we don’t!” Caelus says, walking over to Blade and reaching for Blade’s hair, only for Blade to slap his hands away with a scowl.
You soon finish your Immortal’s Delight. Soon enough, your eyes land on the Immortal’s Delight that Dan Heng is holding. You point at the drink, glancing at Yanqing. Yanqing laughs nervously and scratches the back of his head.
“I think you’ve had enough, [Y/N]. It’s not good if you drink two Immortal’s Delight. It’ll make you feel sick,” Yanqing says, squatting down beside you.
Almost immediately, you pout and look at the blond boy with teary eyes. Yanqing starts to panic and looks at the others, alarmed. General Jing Yuan walks to you and hands you a Steamed Puffergoat Milk. You look at the drink curiously before sniffing it. You lift the cup to your lips and take a small sip of the Steamed Puffergoat Milk. 
Gepard chuckles. “It seems like [Y/N] likes it,” Gepard says, watching the white-haired General and his blond retainer panic and make sure you don’t chug the Steamed Puffergoat Milk. 
General Jing Yuan wipes away your milk mustache and carries you in his arms, chuckling. You wrap your arms around General Jing Yuan’s neck and rest your chin on his shoulders. The Immortal’s Delight and the Steamed Puffergoat Milk filled your stomach up really well, and now you’re in need of another nap. You yawn and close your eyes.
“Has [Y/N] eaten?” Dan Heng asks.
Yanqing nods. “That’s the thing! [Y/N] and I had something to eat before [Y/N] turned into a child. The downside is that I have no idea what caused [Y/N] to be de-aged,” Yanqing explains, crossing his arms over his chest. 
March turns to look at the Xianzhou men worriedly. “There is a way to turn [Y/N] back to normal, right?” March asks. “I don’t know if I can handle seeing my best friend as a toddler for more than a day.”
You peek at March, blinking at the pink-haired girl. You yawn again and rub your eyes with your knuckles. General Jing Yuan pats your head and has you rest your head on his shoulders. You comply and snuggle up against the white-haired General. 
“No need to fret. We will try to find the solution to bring [Y/N] back to their normal self,” Luocha says, giving the pink-haired girl a reassuring smile.
It shouldn’t be hard to find the solution, right? You being a toddler for a few days doesn’t sound so bad. So far, you’ve been a pretty good kid aside from your love for sugar, especially your love for Immortal’s Delight and now Steamed Puffergoat Milk, thanks to General Jing Yuan. Not only that, but you have grown quite close with the General’s blond retainer. 
You’re an absolute angel to Yanqing, but you can be a little bit of a pain in the ass to the others. Remember how it was mentioned that you’re a pretty good kid? Yeah, well, you’re a good toddler for selected people. You continued to call Blade “Baldie” despite the number of times you have been corrected by the visibly miffed Stellaron Hunter. 
“Do you think [Y/N] is messing with Blade?” Gepard asks, watching the long-haired Stellaron Hunter chase you around the Xianzhou Luofu while you’re giggling mischievously.
Sampo nods. “Oh, for sure! There’s no way [Y/N] doesn’t know what they’re doing,” Sampo replies, sipping on his Immortal’s Delight.
Blade manages to grab you by your biceps and yanks you up. You thrash around in Blade’s grasp, face scrunching up with annoyance. Blade ignores your kicks and tosses you over his shoulders. You grumble and lightly punch his back, which feels like a thump to Blade. General Jing Yuan stops in his tracks and raises his eyebrows at Blade.
“I see you’re not too fond of [Y/N],” General Jing Yuan comments, smirking at the annoyed Stellaron Hunter.
Blade huffs, “They do nothing but cause trouble and drink Immortal’s Delight until they get cavities.”
Welt walks to Blade and holds his hands out. “Here, hand them to me if you don’t want to deal with [Y/N]’s shenanigans anymore,” Welt says.
Blade stares at Welt and then at the older man’s hand before walking off, leaving Welt standing there quizzically. General Jing Yuan chuckles while Welt rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. Welt was merely offering to take you out of Blade’s hair, and yet Blade didn’t want to hand you over. For someone who isn’t too fond of the toddler version of yourself, Blade sure has a funny way of showing his distaste for your toddler self.
“How much longer is [Y/N] going to be a child for? Don’t get me wrong, [Y/N] is adorable! But I miss messing with March with [Y/N] by my side,” Caelus says, frowning.
March does a double take, glaring at the silver-haired man. “You and [Y/N] have been teaming up to mess with me?!” March screeches, propping her hands on her hips while glaring at him.
Caelus opens his mouth to reply when he sees a familiar face walk into the room. Caelus nudges March and gestures toward the long-haired Aeon. Nanook walks over to you and Blade, snatching you off of Blade’s shoulders and holding you to eye level, your feet dangling in the air. You and Nanook stare at one another in silence. 
“You ate that dessert, didn’t you?” Nanook mutters, eyes narrowing.
Luka looks at Nanook skeptically. “Huh? You knew what turned [Y/N] into a child the entire time!?”
Nanook ignores Luka’s question and continues to stare at you. You smile at Nanook sheepishly and nod. Nanook sighs, giving you a disapproving look. You pout at Nanook and kick your feet in the air. Nanook tosses you up in the air before catching you in his arms. It happened way too fast for the others to comprehend what had happened.
“Make sure not to eat something you’re not familiar with, alright?” Nanook says.
You sigh and nod. “Okay, I won’t. But can you really blame me? It looks like a regular Xianzhou dessert, and I didn’t think it would turn me into a toddler!” You say, attempting to get out of Nanook’s arms.
“Let this be a lesson for you not to eat too many sweets. It’s not good for you, especially Immortal’s Delight,” Nanook says, looking over at Mr. Yang and Dan Heng with a pointed look.
You reluctantly agree to Nanook’s comment. You can cut back on the sweets, but you’re not sure if you can cut back on the number of Immortal’s Delight you ingest. March stomps up to you, her hands on her hips and her eyebrows furrowing. You can practically see steam coming from her ears.
“You have some explaining to do! You pull pranks on me with Caelus!?” March asks.
Your eyes widen, and you peek over March’s shoulders, looking at Caelus. Caelus smiles at you sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders. Well, shit. Just when you thought that turning into a toddler was bad enough, dealing with March’s wrath is even worse. 
You turn to Nanook, whispering, “Can you turn me into a toddler again? Just so I can get away from March’s wrath.”
“No can do, Little One,” Nanook replies.
You groan and look at March with a sheepish smile while she continues to glare at you, tapping her feet on the ground while waiting for you to give your side of the story.
Note: I start school soon! Yay! 🥲 I am officially a senior in university, and that means I need to focus on school and try to graduate on time. I'm not sure if people read notes at the end of my fics, but I wanted to let you all know that I'm going to be on hiatus, meaning the Genshin and HSR isekai fics will be paused. I'm going to try to post something every now and then, but I (and the isekai fanfics for both Genshin and HSR) will be on hiatus. I'll announce it in a separate post soon. Since school is starting soon, this will be the last time I post invite links to my Discord server, and I will not be giving out invite links after the link expires. If you want to join, you can click the temporary link to [Zhongli's Abode]. Anyway, to all my new and returning readers, keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @ashwasherelol, @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @reversearrowhead, @pinksaiyans, @aurelia-xyt, @lilliansstuff, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @kodzuvk, @for3very0urs, @a-cosmicdawn, @g3n0dtt, @theblades, @wntrsblvd, @raaawwwr, @immahuman, @irisxiel, @siaracarroll, @crazydreamcat, @sen-nes, @sagekun, @orichalcumthief, @dyingsweetmackerel, @rosiesareblue, @ichikanu, @undecidingfate, @asoulsreverie, @angelmican, @misdollface, @4-34-am, @sxftiebee, @hispasian-otaku, @the-dumber-scaramouche, @vox34, @tsukkikeisimp, @inapileofbooke
Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
803 notes · View notes
genshinluvr · 5 months
Text
Fountain of Lucine
Pairings: Neuvillette x reader
Summary: Neuvillette insists on being your tour guide around Fontaine, and things unfold from there.
Note: Omg, a fanfic after (almost) two months? :o This is going to be going in a different "mini-fic" section. It will have its own masterlist (I will be making that soon) and fanfic "series" on AO3. I couldn't come up with a better title, but the fic does take place at the Fountain of Lucine in Fontaine. Anyway! I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1.7k
Neuvillette was giving you a tour of Fontaine. While he certainly didn’t need to do it, Neuvillette insisted on being your tour guide rather than having Aether or Lumine show you around the beautiful region. When Neuvillette insisted on being your tour guide, Aether and Lumine were surprised because the Chief Justice of Fontaine giving a tour around the vast region of the Hydro Archon? It was a shock, needless to say. And now here you are, walking toward the Fountain of Lucine with the Chief Justice beside you. Each time your arm brushes against his, you can’t help but blush to the tip of your ears.
“I believe a tour around Fontaine with someone familiar with the region would be more helpful than from those who are merely visitors,” Neuvillette says, snapping you out of your thoughts.
You look at Neuvillette, tucking your hair behind your ear. “I didn’t want to be a distraction, Monsieur Neuvillette. As the Chief Justice of Fontaine, you have a lot on your plate.”
The Fountain of Lucine gradually becomes louder as the both of you approach. Fontainians and Melusines passing by and looking at you and the Chief Justice with curiosity. Neuvillette stops halfway, making you stop beside him. Neuvillette shakes his head, turns towards you, and gazes at you with an unreadable expression. You look at the man curiously as he crosses his arms over his chest before smiling at you.
“Please, [Y/N] will never be a distraction. There’s no need to worry about being a distraction when it was I who offered to show you around the region,” Neuvillette reassures you. “And please, call me Neuvillette. There’s no need for formalities.”
Neuvillette’s hands twitch for a second as if he were going to raise his hand, but his hand remains on his biceps. You nod, cheeks becoming hotter the more he stares at you. Can Neuvillette tell you’re blushing under the moonlight? Your heart is pounding in your ears so loudly that it makes you wonder if Neuvillette can hear your heart racing against your chest.
You smile at the tall man bashfully, rubbing the back of your neck shyly. “That’s a relief to hear, Neuvillette. I’m glad you’re able to show me around Fontaine! I almost decided to explore the region alone, but Aether and Lumine were against the idea.”
Neuvillette’s eyes widen. “And why did you decide on exploring the region alone? It’s dangerous for someone like yourself to explore an unfamiliar environment alone.”
Before you can explain your reason, you hear rapid footsteps getting closer to where you and Neuvillette are standing. You turn to see a member of the Gardes jogging, no, sprinting toward you and Neuvillette. Given the look on his face, something must have happened, and it needs Neuvillette’s attention immediately.
The member of the Gardes stop before you and Neuvillette, panting. “Monsieur Neuvillette! Do you have a moment to spare?” The Garde asks, looking at Neuvillette pleadingly.
Neuvillette gives you a sympathetic look and places a hand on your bicep. “Give me a moment, [Y/N]. Do not leave this spot. I will be right back.”
You nod and watch Neuvillette and the member of the Gardes walk to the side to speak. You can’t help but feel awkward standing in the middle of the walkway as people walk past you. You survey your surroundings, listening to the people of Fontaine chatter away. A soft tug on the hem of your shirt pulls you from your thoughts. You look down to see Blathine and Veleda look up at you with curiosity and excitement.
“Blathine, Veleda! It’s good to see you two again!” You say, smiling at the two Melusines. 
Veleda smiles and bounces on the balls of her feet. “It’s been too long, [Y/N]! I hope you’ve been doing well!”
“I’m doing well! I hope you’ve been doing well, too, Veleda!”
Blathine tugs on your shirt, walking closer to where you stand. “I see the Chief Justice is accompanying you to the Fountain of Lucine,” Blathine teases while poking you with her mitten-like hands. “You two seem close.”
You clear your throat, ignoring the heat rushing to your cheeks. “Neuvillette insisted on giving me a tour around Fontaine. Fountain of Lucine happens to be our last destination.”
Blathine and Veleda glance at each other before bursting into fits of giggles while covering their mouth with their hands. Veleda clears her throat, leaning to the side to get a glimpse of the Chief Justice before looking at you. 
Veleda props her hands on her hips, giving you a closed-eye smile. “Can we tell you a secret?”
You blink at the Melusine and nod. “Of course! What do you want to tell me?”
Blathine claps while Veleda gestures for you to come closer. You inch forward and lean over while Veleda leans up to whisper into your ears.
“Neuvillette—”
“Oh? Trading secrets, now, are we?”
You, Veleda, and Blathine flinch before turning to look at Neuvillette. Neuvillette looks at you and the two Melusines with amusement, his arms crossed over his chest while standing behind you. You, Veleda, and Blathine look at one another, not saying a word.
Blathine laughs nervously, swaying in her spot. “What? Are Melusines and humans not allowed to trade secrets?” Blathine asks.
“That would depend on the secret. Am I allowed to hear in on this secret as well?” Neuvillette asks, raising his eyebrows at the two Melusines.
Blathine and Veleda’s eyes widen, and they quickly look at each other. “Uh…”
You purse your lips, attempting to hold back your laughter. You and Neuvillette lock eyes, and a small smile appears on his face. You smile in return, cheeks tingling. Neuvillette chuckles, shaking his head.
“Alright, alright, you don’t have to tell me if you two don’t want to,” Neuvillette sighs, feigning sadness.
A flash of panic appears on the two Melusines' faces as they turn to one another before looking at you. You do a double take and rub the back of your neck. ‘Do they want me to say something? What do they want me to do?’ You clear your throat and shrug.
“Hey, don’t look at me! I’m still not sure what the secret is,” you say, holding your hands up in surrender.
Veleda huffs and marches closer to you and Neuvillette. “Alright, if both of you want to know the secret, then I shall tell it!” Veleda announces. “The Chief Justice of Fontaine has a cr—”
Veleda is interrupted by the sounds of Neuvillette coughing and clearing his throat. Veleda closes her mouth and stares at the Chief Justice, unamused. You blink and look at Neuvillette, who coughs into his elbows before looking away. If you look closely, you can see the light pink hue on the Chief Justice’s cheeks and the tip of his ears.
You furrow your eyebrows. “The secret is about Neuvillette?” 
Blathine and Veleda nod. Before the two Melusines could say anything else, Neuvillette grabs hold of your hand and gently—very gently, he’s very gentle with you— and tugs you toward the Fountain of Lucine.
“I believe [Y/N] and I should continue our tour of the Fountain of Lucine. If you two excuse us, we should be headed off,” Neuvillette says.
Veleda and Blathine let out a soft ‘hmph!’ as they watch the white-haired man pull you toward the fountain. The rushing water is louder and louder to the point where it’s almost deafening. You can’t hear anyone around you speak, nor can you hear your thoughts. You tilt your head to the side, watching the newlyweds wish for children. 
“You seem to know the secret Veleda and Blathine were about to tell me, Neuvillette,” You comment, gazing at the Chief Justice from the corner of your eyes. “Maybe you would like to tell me the secret yourself?” You tease, turning toward Neuvillette.
“Ah, right…” Neuvillette trails off, looking away. “I am not sure if I want to tell the secret now,” Neuvillette murmurs.
You nod. It’s not like you’re going to push Neuvillette to tell you the secret. If he doesn’t want to tell you the secret now or ever, then he doesn’t need to! Although the curiosity is going to drive you crazy, you’ll be okay with not knowing what it is. 
“I can tell you the secret, but you will have to agree to something,” Neuvillette murmurs, stepping closer to you.
You didn’t realize it, but it just dawned on you that Neuvillette did not let go of your hand when you two arrived at the Fountain of Lucine. Not even once. It feels nice— feeling his warm hands holding yours.
“And that is?” You whisper, looking at him curiously.
Neuvillette brushes a flyaway hair from your face and tucks it behind your ear with his other hand. “Would you like to, perhaps, join me for dinner tomorrow night?”
If your face wasn’t hot already, then it certainly is now. You gulp and nod, smiling at the white-haired man. Is Neuvillette asking you out on a date? It could just be a casual dinner between acquaintances and nothing more! But what if it’s a date? Maybe when you see Aether and Lumine again, you can ask them. Neuvillette smiles and brings your hand up to his lips before pressing a gentle kiss on your knuckles. Or maybe you can ask the Chief Justice himself?
“Is this a date?” You blurt out.
Neuvillette smiles behind your hand while his lips remain pressing against your knuckles. He slowly lowers your hand from his face but doesn’t release it. You purse your lips and continue to stare at Neuvillette.
Neuvillette clears his throat. “You can decide on what you want it to be, [Y/N].” Neuvillette smiles.
“What if I want it to be a date,” you mutter.
Neuvillette chuckles. “Then a date is what it shall be,” Neuvillette concludes.
Oh, fuck, how did he hear that?
“Does that mean you’ll tell me the secret now?” You ask, gazing at the tall man with giddiness.
Neuvillette snorts and shakes his head. “You’ll have to wait until our date, [Y/N],” Neuvillette gently chides.
You make a disgruntled noise while Neuvillette chuckles, lightly pinching your cheek. You press your lips into a thin line to prevent yourself from grinning from ear to ear. Gathering up the courage, you place your hand over his. From a distance, Blathine and Veleda squeal softly, nudging each other with excitement. Blathine and Veleda make a quick note in their minds to inform the other Melusines about the Chief Justice’s upcoming date.
Note: I'm thinking about just making individual character mini-fics for both the Genshin and HSR isekai'd!reader and non-isekai'd!reader. It'll be a separate thing of its own (masterlist, "series" on AO3). I don't plan on posting two stories a week for fics like this since my schedule is unpredictable. But yea :3 I'm hoping to update here and there rather than disappearing for a while and reappearing out of nowhere. This fic along with other mini-fics I plan on making for each Genshin and HSR men will be in a separate masterlist. Anyway, to all my new and returning readers, keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
710 notes · View notes
genshinluvr · 8 months
Text
Trouble in Paradise
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: Nanook has always communicated with you through your dreams because both you and Nanook are connected with each other. But now that Nanook has taken a human form, there's no need to communicate through your dreams! You were certain that it was just Nanook who could communicate with you through your dreams until Phantylia showed up.
Note: Not really sure how I feel about this fic 🤔 I guess the best way I can describe my feelings for it would be a love-hate relationship! I was going to post this fic way earlier, but I decided to push the publication time back. I really want to write this one fic, but I need to see how it goes because the isekai'd!reader isn't really isekai'd... but I guess it can be? There are isekais out there that have a reincarnation theme, right? 🥲 If so, maybe that can be a good way for me to have Dan Heng transform into Dan Heng IL :'> Anyway! I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: A tiny bit of angst, but it doesn't last long (I think). Reader is sleep deprived (aren't we all?)
Word Count: 6.1k
You open your eyes, and you’re in the void. You sit up, looking around quizzically. The last thing you remembered was going to sleep in the comfort of your bed in the Astral Express. Now, you’re in the void, floating through endless space. The last time you were in the void was before Nanook took human form and accompanied you and the others on your trailblazing adventures. A large shadow soon looms over you, causing you to tense up with fear. A seductive yet mischievous giggle echoes the void. The giggle sounds familiar, and yet you’re having a hard time pinpointing who the giggle belongs to.
“So you’re [Y/N],” a woman says.
You didn’t dare to look at the woman, fearing you were going to be correct on who the voice belonged to. You’ve heard this voice before. The same voice belongs to the woman who tried to convert Jing Yuan into a member of the Antimatter Legion. The same woman who impersonated Tingyun. 
The woman towering over you from behind sighs. “Oh, don’t be like that now. Nanook wouldn’t be pleased if he knows you’re treating me like this,” she coos.
You clenched your jaws and squeezed your hands into tight fists. How dare she use Nanook to get you to face her. You slowly turn around to face the woman towering over you. She smiles with mirth, propping her elbows on nothing, tilting her head to the side while gazing at you with interest. 
“Why did you bring me here, Phantylia?” You demand.
Phantylia smirks and leans back, sighing. “Why are you so hostile? I did nothing to you, and yet you’re acting this way toward me?” Phantylia asks, pouting at you mockingly. 
There are many reasons for you to be hostile. One is her trying to convert Jing Yuan to be a member of the Antimatter Legion, and the other is her mentioning Nanook. What does Nanook have to do with whatever is going on between you and Phantylia? You cross your arms over your chest and glare at the woman.
“You didn’t answer my question, Phantylia,” you hiss, narrowing your eyes at her. 
Phantylia sighs, rolling her eyes. “Am I not allowed to meet the person the Aeon of Destruction is fawning over?” Phantylia asks, raising her eyebrows at you.
No, no, she is not. In fact, you did not want to meet her at all, nor did you think about meeting the woman before you. You don’t know how she managed to bring you into this void without being connected with you, like how you are with Nanook. It’s mind-boggling and a little bit terrifying. If she can bring you into this void without having any connections with you, then she can do something else to you— like taking your body as a vessel and killing you afterward. 
You take a deep breath and exhale through your nostrils, trying to remain calm. If you snap at her, who knows what Phantylia will do to you. There’s nowhere to run, and you don’t think she will let you wake up from this “dream” and escape her presence easily. What you find strange is Phantylia wanting to meet you out of nowhere. Does Nanook know about Phantylia wanting to meet you? Nanook didn’t even mention Phantylia once.
You sit on the floor before Phantylia. “Well, you and I have officially met! Is there anything else you want to say to me? I didn’t expect to meet you so soon, nor do I expect to meet you this way,” you say, crossing your arms over your chest.
Phantylia gazes down at your crossed arms and chuckles with amusement. “Why the hostile gesture? I am here to meet you, nothing else, little star,” Phantylia coos.
She reaches toward you and brushes your hair away from your face with her index finger. You merely flinch when her long nail grazes your forehead. You’re not used to someone of her size touching your face— aside from Nanook, but that is a different story. Nanook is the one who brought you into this universe, not Phantylia. The woman before you clicks her tongue softly and leans forward, her face a few inches from yours.
You scoot back to create distance between you and Phantylia, only for her to sigh with dissatisfaction. You’re not sure why she wanted to meet you so badly. You can go your entire life without having to meet her, and yet here you are, sitting in front of Phantylia in the endless void where you and Nanook would meet every time you go to sleep. The space you once considered your safe space when you wanted to escape from the world around you. The void was the first place you woke up in when you arrived in their universe, and the abyss is where you and Nanook first meet before you regained consciousness, woken up by Caelus attempting to give you CPR.
“You’re adorable, you know that? I can see why Nanook is so… enamored with you,” Phantylia chuckles, shaking her head. “However….” she trails off, tapping her chin.
You raise your eyebrows at her, frowning at her sudden change of behavior. First, she talks about Nanook being in love with you, but then she decides to throw in something equivalent to a ‘but?’ You don’t like where this is going.
“‘However’ what?” You demand, a deep frown etching on your face. 
Phantylia hums softly, leaning away from you with a soft sigh. She brushes her hair from her shoulders and taps her bicep with her index finger. The void around you seems to be getting darker and darker as time passes. You don’t know how long you have been in this void with Phantylia, but you have a feeling it might be longer compared to the time you and Nanook spent in the abyss together. Then again, every time you find yourself in the void, your friends make sure you don’t stay in the void for a long time. 
Phantylia suddenly laughs. “Do you think Nanook is going to love you forever?” She asks suddenly.
You blink at Phantylia, confused. “What are you saying, Phantylia? Spit it out and let me return to my world,” you sigh.
She laughs again. “Your world? Your world?! Oh, please! You’re not from this world, little star. Just because Nanook brought you here does not mean you belong here— like how he doesn’t belong to you,” Phantylia huffs, crossing her arms over her chest like a petulant child. 
Oh.
Oh.
Huh….
She’s jealous of what you have with Nanook. How strange. Does Phantylia have feelings for Nanook the entire time? Even if she does have feelings for the Aeon of Destruction, you don’t play a factor in how their “relationship” plays out. Plus, you’re a bystander who was dragged into this world because the Aeon of Destruction has taken a liking to you. 
You hold your hands up. “Listen, Phantylia. You’re not wrong about me not being from this world. I don’t think you should be going around and telling me that I don’t belong here,” you say, crossing your arms over your chest with a frown.
Phantylia scoffs and rolls her eyes. “And why is that? Are you hurt that I said it, or are you hurt over the fact that what I said is true?” Phantylia asks.
You poke the inside of your cheek with your tongue. You don’t like being in the void anymore. You don’t want to be stuck in the same area as Phantylia. You have seen the damages she can cause, but you don’t want to deal with it, nor do you want to deal with her jealousy. Great, now you’re going to be waking up in a bad mood. You’re going to talk to Nanook when you wake up. That is if Phantylia isn’t going to keep you imprisoned, of course. 
“You interpret that however you want. Nanook and I aren’t dating, and, like you said, I don’t belong here.” You shrug your shoulders. 
The abyss of endless stars around you slowly fades away as you find yourself slowly waking up from a nightmare you were trapped in. You open your eyes to see many faces peering down at you, all gazing at you with worry. You rub your eyes and slowly sit up with the help of Caelus and March.
“Are you okay? Nanook rushed to us when you weren’t waking up,” March says, sitting beside you.
You nod, still groggy from your sleep. “I’m fine….” you trailed off.
Phantylia’s words continue to echo in your head. You don’t belong here. Nanook doesn’t belong to you. Heck, none of these men belong to you, so why are you upset over what Phantylia said? She’s not wrong— in fact, she’s right. 
Caelus sits on the other side of your bed. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look shaken up,” Caelus says, rubbing the small of your back.
You tried to smile at Caelus, only for it to come out as a grimace. “Yeah, I’m fine, Caelus,” you whisper, looking at the floor of your bedroom.
You can feel their eyes stare holes into your body while you space out. Should you tell them about Phantylia? You haven’t been dragged into that void since the incident, and Phantylia somehow manages to bring you back. Phantylia was able to keep you in that void for quite some time, not allowing you to leave.
How strong is her bond with Nanook? She is infatuated with Nanook, and yet Nanook is (according to Phantylia) enamored with you. What if the feelings Nanook felt toward you were merely temporary? What happens when the feelings are gone? Will Nanook return you back to your world? 
Dan Heng raises his eyebrows at you, crossing his arms over his chest. “Care to tell us why you didn’t wake up when many of us have tried waking you up?” Dan Heng asks.
You press your lips into a thin line. It looks like you’ll have to say what’s preventing you from waking up from a rude awakening. You just know that somewhere, Phantylia is sitting back with her arms crossed over her chest with a smug smile. If only you were the same size as Phantylia so you could give her a piece of your mind, but she has the upper hand in everything. 
“You don’t have to tell us if you’re not comfortable with it, sweetheart,” Mr. Yang reassures you, kneeling before you and giving your knee a comforting squeeze.
You sigh and look down at your hands on your lap. “I realize that I don’t belong here, nor would I ever belong here, no matter how much time has passed,” you whisper.
Dear Aeons. Why are you lying to them about what’s bothering you? Nanook steps forward, his eyebrows furrowed. Nanook looks like he wants to say something. Is he going to tell you he never had feelings for you in the first place and leave for Phantylia? Nanook looks visibly startled.
Nanook lets out a shaky sigh. “Little One, how do you know Phantylia?” Nanook asks, grabbing everyone’s attention.
Oh, fuck. You forgot Nanook can read your mind because you two have this connection with each other. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Is there a way for you to block Nanook from reading any more of your thoughts? This is not good. You’re fucked. Caelus, Dan Heng, March, and Mr. Yang looks at you quizzically while you dig your nails into the palm of your hands. There’s no way out of this now that Nanook got everyone’s attention regarding Phantylia. 
“Did Phantylia do something by any chance? Did you have a dream about her?” March asks.
You hug your knees to your chest and shake your head. “A dream? No. Did she do something to me? Possibly,” you mumble.
You woke up not long ago, and you’re already being interrogated over the woman who’s in love with the Aeon of Destruction. You don’t like the power she holds over your thoughts. Your headspace is occupied by the things she said to you, and you’re certain that Nanook hears it all but doesn’t want to say anything about it because he wants you to say it yourself. 
“Hey, hey, hey! We’re here!” Sampo says, entering your bedroom with more men beside him.
Gepard sighs in relief and walks to you, trying to keep a calm exterior. “Are you alright? We were informed that you weren’t waking up from your slumber, and we all rushed to the Astral Express as soon as we could,” Gepard explains.
You smile at Gepard, squeezing his hands when he slips his hand into yours. From the corner of your eyes, you notice Nanook tensing up at the mere sight of the small public display of affection between you and Gepard. You squeeze Gepard’s hand one more time before releasing his hand.
“You know how Nanook and I communicate with each other through my ‘dreams’ or when I’m unconscious?” You ask, peeking up at the others.
Luka’s eyes widen, and his eyebrows shoot to his hairline. “What?! No! This is news to me!” Luka exclaims, propping his hands on his hips.
Oh, right. You forgot Luka is still unaware of many things and perhaps your place of origin. You make a mental note to catch Luka up to speed with everything once this is over. You just want Phantylia to leave you alone. You have an inkling feeling that this isn’t going to be the last time you encounter her. 
“As you were saying?” Luocha says, leaning against the wall with his arms over his chest.
You let out a long exhale and squeeze your thighs. You don’t know what’s going to happen after you tell them what’s going on regarding Phantylia. Still, you hope it won’t be too serious. 
You then go into detail on what happened while you were unconscious— from being in the same void you encountered Nanook when you first arrived in their universe to Phantylia being the one to tower over you in this dream to Phantylia telling you that you don’t belong to this universe, etc. It was a lot to process, and the more you said it out loud, the more you realized how crazy you sounded.
“Nanook, how can Phantylia get into contact with [Y/N] when the two of them aren’t connected?” Jing Yuan asks, turning to look at the Aeon of Destruction. 
Nanook has been silent the entire time you explained the situation to everyone. Nanook strokes his chin, skimming through the possibilities of Phantylia managing to communicate with you despite never meeting you or having any connections with you. 
You shake your head and chuckle bitterly. “I don’t think Nanook has the answer to your question, Jing Yuan. Besides, Phantylia is correct about a few things,” you mutter, tapping your fingers on your knees.
Blade raises his eyebrows at you. “And what is that exactly?” Blade asks, now standing at the foot of your bed.
“I don’t belong here, and how Nanook doesn’t belong to me. In fact, none of you belong to me, which is understandable since I’m not dating any of you. Because I’ve been taken from my world and thrown into yours, I’m an anomaly. I don’t belong here, nor would I ever belong here,” you explain.
As depressing as it sounds, it’s also a fact. You don’t belong in their universe, and you’re here because Nanook has taken a liking to you. Nanook didn’t want to be separated from you because of the computer monitor. Nanook somehow brought you into their universe because the Aeon of Destruction couldn’t stand being far from you. 
“Little One—”
You stand up abruptly and cross your arms over your chest. “How does Phantylia know about me? How does she know how to communicate with me through my dreams like you did? Did you tell her?” You demand.
Nanook goes silent and frowns. You chuckle bitterly and shake your head, running your hands through your hair. You don’t want to deal with this conversation right now. You need to clear your mind and distance yourself from Nanook. It’s not reasonable, but until you have a full understanding of how Phantylia is able to trap you in your dreams temporarily to speak to you, you don’t want to deal with Nanook.
“Can everyone please leave? I need time and space to clear my mind, and having everyone in here is overwhelming me,” you murmur.
Mr. Yang nods. “Of course. We will be coming by to check up on you and give you food, alright?” Mr. Yang says.
You nod and sit on the edge of your bed, avoiding everyone’s eyes as they gradually trickle out of your bedroom. Nanook is the last one to leave your room. You and Nanook stare at each other, not saying a word. You silently gestured for him to leave your room. Nanook sighs and exits your room. Once the door to your room slides closed, you lay on your bed and close your eyes.
You want to go back to sleep and sleep the frustrations away. Still, you’re worried that Phantylia will reappear in your dreams, holding you hostage and telling you that you don’t belong in this universe. You hate how she’s right, and you have nothing against her for saying that. Sort of. You have decided not to sleep because what if Phantylia reappears in your dreams and repeats the things she said over and over?
If she wants you to return to your world so badly, then you can’t really do what she wants. How are you going to return to your world if Nanook was the one that brought you to this universe? You know Nanook will refuse to return you back to your world. There’s a very slim chance Nanook would do that, but it’s very unlikely.
You hear a knock coming from your bedroom door. You close your eyes and try to ignore the knocking coming from the door, but the longer the person behind the door knocks, the more you start to get irritated. You get off your bed and walk to the door. You slide the door open to see Pom-Pom standing at the entrance of your room.
“Oh, Pom-Pom. What are you doing here?” You ask.
Pom-Pom props his hands on his hips. “I heard my favorite passenger is upset, and I’m here to provide comfort,” Pom-Pom says, waddling into your room.
As much as you wanted to reject Pom-Pom’s offer, you don’t have the heart to do it. You shut the door behind Pom-Pom before returning to your bed. You lay on your bed and hug your second pillow to your chest. Your pillow smells like Nanook. Despite not having an official title with the Aeon of Destruction, it does seem like he’s your boyfriend.
You don’t mind calling Nanook your boyfriend, but you’re aware of the others having feelings for you. Since Nanook is possessive and makes it known that he doesn’t like people going near you— especially those who have romantic feelings for you, they never make a move on you.
“Pom-Pom?” You whisper.
Pom-Pom hops on your bed and sits beside you, letting his feet hang at the edge of your bed. “Yes, [Y/N]?”
You bite the inside of your cheek. You didn’t want to burden the conductor with your plaguing thoughts. But Pom-Pom insisted on comforting you, and you really appreciate it. It would be best if you talk to the others about it, but you can’t get yourself to do it. What if you said the wrong thing, and everything goes downhill from there?
You take a deep breath. “Do you think I belong on the Astral Express?”
Pom-Pom looks at you incredulously. “Of course I do! No matter what background my passengers are from, you’re always welcome to the Astral Express!” says Pom-Pom.
You chuckle and pat Pom-Pom’s head. Now that you think about it, your main issue isn’t feeling jealous over what Nanook and Phantylia have— your problem is whether you truly belong in this universe or not. Everyone has welcomed you with open arms despite being from another universe. 
Pom-Pom frowns and looks at you worriedly. “Did something happen? Who told you that you don’t belong here!? Tell me their names!” Pom-Pom demands, kicking his feet angrily.
“The ���person’ that said it isn’t on the Astral Express, Pom-Pom. This ‘person’ is like Nanook, but not an Aeon,” you say, running your fingers through your tangled hair.
Pom-Pom huffs angrily and sighs, reaching over to pat your head. You smile at Pom-Pom and lay there in silence. You’re tired, and you want to go back to sleep, but you’re afraid that she will be in your dreams like the last time. Pom-Pom leaves your room fifteen minutes later, leaving you alone in the comfort of your room.
Days go by, and you have yet to speak to anyone on the Astral Express aside from Pom-Pom and Himeko. Nanook is sleeping in his (temporary) room while you remain in yours. Sometimes, you would step out of your room and walk around the Astral Express, but only if the others weren’t on the train aside from Pom-Pom and Himeko. You weren’t ready to talk to them yet. 
You stopped tagging along with them on their trailblazing missions not because you wanted to avoid everyone but because you weren’t sleeping. The last time you slept was when the Phantylia incident happened. Now, you’re going days without sleeping and keeping yourself awake by drinking lots and lots of coffee. 
You’re doing everything you can to avoid falling asleep. You really want to tag along with Nanook, Mr. Yang, Caelus, March, and Dan Heng, but you don’t want them to see you with dark circles under your eyes due to the lack of sleep. Sometimes, you would find yourself falling asleep but would quickly force yourself to stay awake. 
Caelus knocks on your door. “Are you sure you don’t want to go with us? Everyone misses you. I miss you,” Caelus says, pressing his forehead against the door and closing his eyes. “You don’t hate us, do you?”
You shake your head, knowing Caelus won’t see it. “I’m not avoiding any of you, I promise. I’m dealing with reality right now, and it’s a lot to accept,” you reply.
Caelus sighs, turning to look at the others behind him. Dan Heng and Mr. Yang remain silent while March leans against the wall, closing her eyes. There are times when March wakes up in the middle of the night, she hears you moving around your room. March assumes you have issues with sleeping at night because Nanook wasn’t sleeping with you. 
“Hey, [Y/N]. We’re always going to be here if you need someone to talk to. It can be about anything,” Mr. Yang speaks up, walking toward the door of your room. 
March, Caelus, Mr. Yang, and Dan Heng didn’t hear a response from you. Mr. Yang gestures to the others to follow him to the Parlor Car. In your room, you’re knocked out asleep on your bed. You didn’t sleep for a long time. What woke you up from your slumber was your body twitching; it startled you awake. You sit up and bury your face into your hands, having the biggest urge to cry. 
You want to sleep, but you worry that she’s going to be in your dreams again. Trapping you in your dreams and telling you that you don’t belong in this universe repeatedly. You don’t know what else she’s capable of doing after the first time. Quite frankly, you do not want to speak to Phantylia. You lay back down on your bed and stare at the ceiling, eyelids drooping. You’re so tired.
You tried to put up a fight, but you don’t have much fight in you. You managed to stay up for days without sleep, and now you’re exhausted. Maybe it won’t hurt to sleep this time. Maybe she’s not going to show up in your dreams this time. Perhaps you’ll finally be able to sleep in peace without worrying about what Phantylia is saying due to her jealousy. You let sleep overcome you.
You’re in an endless void, floating through space. The stars twinkle around you, and you feel like you’re underwater. It’s peaceful and quiet. No signs of life around you and no Phantylia to disturb your peace. For the first time in days, you feel at peace. The peace did not last long. The same chuckle echoes in the abyss, sending chills down your spine. You fall on your back and groan. You open your eyes, searching around the void, but there are no signs of Phantylia.
You squeeze your eyes shut. “Wake up, wake up, wake up,” you plead, squeezing your hands into tight fists.
A hand reaches out for your wrist, pulling you toward the unknown. You yank your arms back, and the void suddenly disappears, and you’re awake. You stare at your bedroom wall with wide eyes, unable to move. You’re not sure if you’re paralyzed with fear or if you’re having sleep paralysis. You close your eyes, trying to calm your racing heart. You didn’t see her, but you did hear her giggling.
You toss your blanket off your body and walk out of your room. You’re not sure how long you’ve been asleep, but the hallway lights are out. You walk toward the Parlor Car to make coffee for yourself. On your way to the Parlor Car, you bump into March. March looks at you with wide eyes, sighing in relief when she sees you.
“It’s good to see you, [Y/N]! I was worried you were Dan Heng at first!” March says, propping her hands on her hips.
You tilt your head to the side. “It’s good to see you too, March! Uh, may I ask why you were worried that I was Dan Heng?”
March laughs sheepishly and rubs the back of her neck. “You see, Dan Heng said I can’t go to the kitchen for late-night snacks because it would keep me up and make me tired during our trailblazing missions!” March explains.
You nod, chuckling while March grumbles to herself. You and March walk to the kitchen of the Astral Express, not saying anything to each other. You reach for a mug and begin making coffee for yourself while March flips the light on. You squeeze your eyes shut when the lights flood the kitchen and wait for your eyes to adjust to the brightness of the kitchen.
“I think it depends on what you eat as your late-night snacks, March. I’m sure Dan Heng doesn’t mind you getting snacks at night as long as they’re not sweets,” You finally respond to March.
You walk to the coffee maker and begin making coffee. March stops at the fridge and stares at you incredulously. March peeks at the clock on the wall to see it’s still in the middle of the night. March scratches her head, watching you prepare to brew yourself some coffee. 
March clears her throat. “If you don’t mind me asking… Why are you making coffee at a time like this?” March asks, leaning against the refrigerator. 
March narrows her eyes when you don’t respond to her question. You continue to make your coffee with your back facing her direction. March slowly approaches you while you’re occupied. You look at the selection of creamers and toppings sleepily, rubbing your heavy eyelids with your knuckles. You’re exhausted, but you don’t want to sleep. At least not until you know you can sleep soundly without Phantylia disturbing your sleep.
“[Y/N]?” March calls.
You don’t reply.
March reaches forward and grabs your shoulders, turning you around. When March gets a full look at your face, she nearly gasps in horror. You look like you barely slept in days. The bags under your eyes are prominent, and the whites of your eyes are bloodshot. You yawn and rub your eyes before turning back around to continue where you left off.
“I know it’s still early in the morning, but I wanted to make some coffee before going back to my room,” you sigh.
March continues to stare holes into the back of your head. “[Y/N]. You do know that it’s still in the middle of the night, right?” March asks.
You blink and pause what you’re doing. “I can always reheat this coffee when I wake up,” you reply, shrugging.
March ends up abandoning her snacks and watches you from the corner of her eyes, pretending to search the refrigerator for some ‘snacks.’ After your coffee is done brewing, you add some creamer to your coffee and stir the hot liquid with a metal spoon. March peeks from the side of the fridge, watching you take small sips of your freshly made coffee. You look awful. Almost haunting.
“I’m going back to my room, March,” you murmur, walking by the pink-haired girl.
March perks up. “You’re going to bed now, right? No offense, but you look like you haven’t slept a wink,” says March, following after you as you exit the Astral Express’s kitchen.
You hum in response, taking small sips of your coffee. March stops halfway and sighs, watching you disappear into your bedroom and closing the door behind you. So much for getting a snack in the kitchen. Now she has to tell the others about you not getting any sleep at night. Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and Caelus would probably scold you for not getting enough sleep at night. But how would Nanook react to the news of you not getting enough sleep? He does hear your thoughts, does he not? March returns to her bedroom and collapses on her bed with an empty stomach. Looks like Dan Heng wins for today.
When you return to your room, you continue to drink your coffee while scrolling on your phone. You have never done something like this before. Yes, you’ve pulled all-nighters in the past, but staying up for days without a wink of sleep is new to you. This is going to come back and bite you in the ass all because you did not want to deal with Phantylia popping up in your dreams to tell you that you don’t belong in this universe. Seriously, how did Phantylia manage to communicate with you through your dreams like Nanook?
A small knock coming from the door pulls you from your thoughts. You turn your phone off and get off your bed. It’s still in the middle of the night— who could be knocking on your door at this time? It could be March, but you’re not even sure what she’s up to after you left the kitchen. You slide the door open to see Blade.
You and Blade do a double-take after seeing each other. “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” You ask.
“Why do you look like you haven’t slept in ages?” Blade asks, pointing at your face. 
You stare at Blade, not saying a word, while he raises an eyebrow at you. You sigh and open the door wider for Blade to enter your room. Blade enters your room, and just when you’re about to close the door, a hand stops you. You look to see the other men standing there, their hair all over the place and still in their pajamas.
“I hope you don’t mind me inviting the others with me. The pink-haired girl informed each of us of your sleeping habits,” Blade says.
March shouts from the hallway, “Pink-haired girl!? Excuse me, I have a name!”
Blade dismisses March’s exclamation and closes the door once the others step into your room. You sip your coffee before setting the mug on your nightstand. Mr. Yang sighs and sits on the stool in front of your vanity while Luocha sits at the foot of your bed.
“[Y/N], sweetheart, be honest with us. How long has it been since you’ve gotten sleep?” Luocha asks, looking at you worriedly.
You sigh and lay on your bed, curling up in a fetal position. “Since the Phantylia incident, so, a few days now?” You reply with uncertainty.
Luka nods, gesturing to Nanook in the corner of your room. “Trouble in paradise with the Aeon of Destruction?” Luka boldly asks, ignoring the looks the others are giving him.
You purse your lips before making the so-so gesture. You and Nanook haven’t spoken in days since that incident, but then again, you haven’t really talked to the others since then. Plus, the whole Phantylia being jealous and making you slightly— was it slightly?— jealous, you got over that incident. You mainly don’t appreciate Phantylia strutting into your dreams just to tell you that you don’t belong in this universe and that Nanook doesn’t belong to you.
Phantylia isn’t wrong about Nanook not belonging to you, considering there’s no label between you two (or at least you don’t think there is one). You don’t need to be reminded repeatedly that you don’t belong to this universe. Luka is correct about there being trouble in paradise, but the ‘paradise’ isn’t whatever it is that’s going on between you and Nanook. 
“Not really. I got over whatever happened a few days ago. The thing that bothers me the most is how Phantylia—” You sigh and run your hands through your hair. “I feel like I’m repeating myself,” you grumble.
You sit up and reach for your coffee mug, but Jing Yuan takes the cup away from you, shaking his head with disapproval. You huff and sit up against the headboard of your bed. 
Jing Yuan clears his throat. “If you’re worried about Phantylia appearing in your dreams while you’re sleeping, we can sleep in here with you just to be safe,” Jing Yuan offers.
“I don’t think we need to worry about Phantylia appearing in [Y/N]’s dreams. Nanook informed me that he dealt with Phantylia and told her not to bother any of us,” Gepard interjects, gesturing to Nanook.
You glance at Nanook, and the two of you make eye contact. Nanook nods and walks over to your bed while you sigh, still hesitant about sleeping even though you desperately need it. Even if Nanook handled the situation, then what was the dream you had before getting up to get coffee? 
“Come on, Gumdrop! If the big scary lady is not the issue, then what’s wrong? We’re here to listen, you know?” Sampo says, plopping beside you.
It took everything in you to tell them what Phantylia said to you. You told them everything. Yes, you already said it days ago, but it still bothers you. If you don’t belong in this universe, then you might as well return to your world, right? Fuck. You really are repeating everything that happened a few days ago. The lack of sleep is getting to you, isn’t it?
You sigh in defeat. “I’m just repeating myself over and over. It’s tiring, but I can’t help it. How do I let go of something when it’s true?”
Dan Heng sighs, closing his eyes. “It’s okay if what Phantylia said bothers you, no matter how long ago it happened. What Phantylia said doesn’t matter. We don’t care if you’re from another universe and if Nanook brought you here. You’re with us now, and that’s all that matters. You may be from another universe, another reality, or whatever it is. Still, you will always belong here with us on the Astral Express,” Dan Heng says.
You sigh, hug the pillow to your chest, and rest your chin on the pillow. “I can’t help but still be bothered by what she said, though,” you mumble. “I’m also exhausted and irritated.”
Nanook goes to sit beside you, but Blade stops him. Blade looks over his shoulders and glares at Nanook before sitting beside you, pulling you close to him and stroking your hair. You blink and tense up in Blade’s arms. It’s not like you’re against Blade hugging you; you didn’t expect Blade to do that out of nowhere. But you’re not against it, and it’s nice to have someone other than Nanook hold you. 
“Get some rest. We’ll be here when you wake up,” Blade mutters,  stroking your hair.
You peek at the others; some are pouting (Sampo and Nanook) that they can’t hold you because Blade got to you first. You snort and close your eyes, relaxing in Blade’s arms. 
“You guys can trade off on who gets to hold me while I nap. It’s still in the middle of the night, so I expect every person to sleep,” you mutter.
You wrap your arms around Blade’s waist and close your eyes while the red-eyed man lays beside you, letting you lay your head on his biceps. Nanook sighs and lays on the other side of your bed, ignoring the burning feeling deep down. At least Nanook dealt with Phantylia. You don’t have to worry about Phantylia for a while (or forever).
Note: Have you ever been so tired that you unintentionally repeated what you said? That's what happened to the reader— so sleep-deprived that they repeat the same things without even realizing it until it happened. Maybe after this upcoming week's fanfics, I'm going to take a break or something. My brain is fried, and I have school starting toward the end of September, and I need to be mentally prepared for stress over homework. But of course, I haven't fully decided on that yet. When the time comes, I'll let you all know! I wish there was a way to update AO3 readers without having to make a random chapter to talk about a break 🥹 Anyway, to my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @ashwasherelol, @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @reversearrowhead, @pinksaiyans, @n8mareee, @aurelia-xyt, @lilliansstuff, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @kodzuvk, @for3very0urs, @a-cosmicdawn, @g3n0dtt, @theblades, @wntrsblvd, @raaawwwr, @immahuman, @irisxiel, @siaracarroll, @crazydreamcat, @sen-nes, @sagekun, @orichalcumthief, @dyingsweetmackerel, @rosiesareblue, @ichikanu, @undecidingfate, @asoulsreverie, @angelmican, @misdollface, @4-34-am, @sxftiebee, @hispasian-otaku, @the-dumber-scaramouche, @vox34, @tsukkikeisimp, @inapileofbooke
Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 8 months
Text
To be Reborn
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Vidyadhara!Isekai'd!Reader (Reincarnation AU)
Summary: Waking up in Scalegorge Waterscape, you have no recollection of your past life. You are reborn— you are a Vidyadhara— hatched from an egg. A young blond boy awaits your rebirth, the same boy who volunteers to be your protector. Your past life remains a mystery. Your relationship with three particular men remains a mystery as they gaze at you longingly from a distance. Sometimes, it's a curse to be reborn.
Note: Before any of y'all come at me, the relationship between Yanqing and the reader is strictly platonic. Imagine a protective little brother. I'm glad I was able to type this out and get it posted because this idea has been on my mind for a little bit. So, did anyone get Dan Heng IL? :3 I got him with one pull, and that makes me happy and relieved. Anyway! I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Mentions of murder, mentions of blood, Nanook doesn't make an appearance in this fic :<
Word Count: 4.3k
You’re floating in the sea of darkness, floating around aimlessly. You can’t tell if your eyes are open or if they’re closed. You can’t move your arms or legs, and you feel like you’re underwater. The sounds around you are muffled, making it seem like you’re underwater. You have no recollection of how you ended up in this situation. Your mind is blank; no memories are rushing back to you. Your brain is a blank slate— the only thing you can recall is your name, and that’s it. Everything else? You have no memories of it.
Your ears twitch at the sound of faint cracking around you. Light gradually breaks through the endless darkness. The cracking gets louder and louder, and before you know it, the world around you is flooded with brightness, and you fall to the ground. Well, you land on top of someone. You open your eyes to see bright gold eyes staring at you with awe and worry.
“Are you okay?” The young blond boy asks, helping you up from the ground.
You rub your head and look around, dazed and confused. “Yes. I’m fine, thank you,” you reply hesitantly.
You notice a giant egg resting beside you, cracked eggshells on the ground and on your clothes. Did you come from that egg? You look at the young boy, who notices your confusion almost immediately. The blond boy smiles and rubs the back of his neck, his cheeks turning bright pink.
“I hope you don’t mind me waiting here for you to hatch. General Jing Yuan has spoken about you many times, and I wanted to meet you myself,” says the young boy.
General Jing Yuan? The young boy continues to ramble while you stare at him cluelessly, scanning your surroundings. This place… it feels familiar, but you don’t remember anything. You shake your head and rub your throbbing temples, sighing. 
“Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself! My name is Yanqing! I am General Jing Yuan’s retainer! I hope you don’t mind me being the first person you meet after being rebirthed,” says Yanqing, smiling at you sweetly.
You have many questions to ask, but it seems like your questions will be unanswered for the time being. Which you don’t mind. However, what bothers you is your lack of memory. Yanqing tilts his head to the side, gazing at you worriedly.
You snap out of your stupor and smile at Yanqing. “It’s nice to meet you, Yanqing. My name’s—”
“[Y/N], I know your name already because General Jing Yuan would go on and on about you,” Yanqing nods, smiling at you boyishly.
Cute. You want to pinch Yanqing’s cheeks until he smacks your hand away from his face. You smile at Yanqing, still confused about how he knows your name. Yanqing’s smile slips off his face when the realization hits him.
You brush off the look he’s giving you and point at the egg. “How long were you waiting for me to be reincarnated?”
Yanqing looks away, rubbing the back of his neck while giggling awkwardly. You cross your arms over your chest, gazing at Yanqing with amusement. Yanqing is like an adorable little brother who’s attached to his older siblings and is protective of them, but he doesn’t want to show it because he doesn’t want to be teased for it.
“Not long, but I would come here every day to check up on you,” Yanqing mutters, kicking a pebble close by and watching it clatter on the ground. 
You press your lips into a thin line and pat Yanqing’s head. Yanqing silently fumes and turns away with a small huff, crossing his arms over his chest while puffing his cheeks out. You snicker and pull your hand back, sitting on the ground beside the egg you emerged from. 
Yanqing sits beside you, looking at you curiously. “Do you really not have any recollection of your past memories?” Yanqing asks.
You shake your head. “No, I don’t have any of my past memories, Yanqing. Am I supposed to?”
Yanqing exhales slowly and leans back on his arms, kicking his feet back and forth as he debates on what to say. You’re a long-life species with draconic features— a Vidyadhara. Your hair cascades down your back as your tail sways behind you. Your tail and horns are a light pink, almost pastel pink. You look breathtaking, even more breathtaking compared to how General Jing Yuan described you.
You turn to look at the young boy beside you, who blinks at you before turning away. Yanqing hums and nods.
“Yes, you’re supposed to remember your past lives when you reincarnate. Many long-life species remember their past lives and their past lovers,” Yangqing says nonchalantly.
It must be nice to be able to remember your past lives and people in your past. Why is it different for you? How come you’re the only person (well, you’re assuming you’re the only person) who doesn’t remember their past life despite being reincarnated? Maybe you’re the odd one out.
“That’s unfortunate for me. I don’t remember my past life. I only know my name,” you sigh, leaning against the hollow egg you emerged from. 
Yanqing hums, tapping on his chin. “Maybe General Jing Yuan can help you recover your memories!” Yanqing says.
You pucker your lips and hug your legs. It’d be nice to have someone help you “regain” your memories, but their memories will be different from your past memories. Then again, what do you know? You only remember your name, and from what Yanqing has told you, it sounds like you and this General Jing Yuan person have some kind of history with each other.
Your conversation with Yanqing was cut short when both of you heard footsteps approaching your direction. You and Yanqing get off the ground and turn to see a large group of people standing before you two. The four men look at you with wide eyes. You couldn’t help but notice they all have long hair, aside from the others in the group accompanying the four men.
“[Y/N]...” The man with long black hair whispers.
He, too, has horns sprouting from the top of his head. You look at Yanqing, who glares at the four men before standing in front of you as if he’s protecting you from the four newcomers and their guests. The man with white hair smiles at you and Yanqing ruefully. You place your hand on Yanqing’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile when he turns to look at you.
Despite giving Yanqing a reassuring smile, Yanqing continues to keep his guard up, glaring at the four men before him. You sigh and cross your arms over your chest, looking away from the four men. Everything to you is a mystery. Your past, the four men standing before you and Yanqing, your history with this General Jing Yuan person.
The white-haired man narrows his eyes at Yanqing. “Am I missing something, Yanqing?” the white-haired man asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
The man with long, dark hair chuckles bitterly. “It seems like your lapdog is protective of [Y/N],” he says, his red eyes landing on you.
Yanqing growls and holds his sword in front of him. You can’t help but stare at the ground, drowning out the sounds and voices around you. There are whispers in your head, whispers that are loud enough for you to assume it’s all around you. You bite the inside of your cheek, furrowing your eyebrows as you try to listen closely. The whispers are not only loud, but they’re incoherent. You can’t understand what the voices are saying, and it bothers you. Why are the voices loud yet quiet at the same time? You subconsciously reach your temples, rubbing them as a headache forms. 
“[Y/N]?” 
You snap out of your stupor and look up to see the four mysterious men (and Yanqing and the other guests) gazing at you worriedly. You blink and sigh, shoulders slumping. Could the voices be from your past life? Whatever the voices are, it’s causing you nothing but confusion and frustration. How long have you been spacing out?
The blond man looks at you worriedly. “What’s the matter? You look frustrated,” says the blond man.
You give him a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of your neck. “I’m fine,” you reply hesitantly.
The man with horns raises his eyebrows at you, looking at you worriedly. You’re not entirely comfortable with telling these men your situation. While they know your name, you don’t know theirs. Yanqing moves closer to you, whispering into your ears and telling you each of the men’s names.
“I don’t have much recollection of my past life, but I heard you all know me. Or I knew all of you,” you say nervously while playing with the billowing sleeves of your hanfu. 
The white-haired man— also known as General Jing Yuan— nods and gestures for you and Yanqing to follow him and the other three men beside him. The pink-haired girl steps forward, smiling at you while shaking her legs nervously.
The pink-haired girl clears her throat nervously. “You may not know me, but my name is March 7th! But you can call me March! These two are Caelus and Welt Yang,” says March, gesturing to the older man with brown hair and glasses and the silver-haired man standing beside him.
You smile at the trio before walking ahead with Yanqing sticking by your side. You look around in awe. The more you walk further out of this place, the more you see things you have never seen before. Well, you probably did in the past, but everything is new to you. 
Yanqing gently nudges you, glancing over at you. “What’s on your mind?”
“This place is hauntingly beautiful. Where are we, Yanqing?” You ask, passively looking at the other Vidyadhara eggs as you and Yanqing walk by.
How long have you been in the egg you have hatched from? The young boy beside you smiles at you and crosses his arms over his chest. You may have known Yanqing for less than an hour, but Yanqing can’t help but pride himself in being the first person you trust. Unlike the four particular men— well, three men, but he digresss— who have been anticipating your reincarnation.
“We are currently leaving the Scalegorge Waterscape! If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them!” Yanqing announces proudly, propping his hands on his hips.
You smile and pat Yanqing’s head as he leads you out of Scalegorge Waterscape with the others following behind. Scalegorge Waterscape is like another world to you— a secret world only certain people are allowed to know of its existence. 
You hum softly. “How much do you know about my past life, Yanqing? You mentioned how General Jing Yuan would go on and on about me. What has he told you about me?” You ask, crossing your arms over his chest.
That piqued the three Xianzhou men’s interest and curiosity while General Jing Yuan’s smile slipped off his face. General Jing Yuan clears his throat as he slowly picks up his pace to catch up to you and Yanqing. Mostly Yanqing. Yanqing taps on his chin as he racks his brain, trying to recall what the white-haired General said about you.
Yanqing’s eyes light up. “Ah! I remember! There’s this drink on the Xianzhou Luofu, and it’s incredibly sweet. Whenever General Jing Yuan sees someone drinking it at the Seat of Divine Foresight, the General would be like, ‘I remember the time when [Y/N] would sneak out at night and buy Immortals Delight with Dan Feng. They were caught in the act by not only myself but by Yingxing as well,’” Yanqing says, mocking the white-haired General’s voice.
‘Immortals Delight?’ you mouthed to yourself, trying to remember what the drink looked like and what it tasted like for your past self to be obsessed with the drink to the point where you and this Dan Feng person had to sneak out and buy it. Yanqing continues to rack through his memories before smiling widely.
“The General would also talk about how the blooming flowers remind him of—” A hand quickly covers Yanqing’s mouth, shutting the young boy up before he can continue.
You stop in your tracks and look to see General Jing Yuan covering the blond boy’s mouth with his hand. You and General Jing Yuan lock eyes for a moment while Yanqing thrashes around in General Jing Yuan’s grasp, trying to remove the General’s hands from his face. You press your lips into a thin line and cover your mouth with your hands to muffle your laugh.
Mr. Yang smiles and looks at Caelus and March, chuckling. “It looks like the General has fond memories of [Y/N],” says the brown-haired man.
Caelus snorts. “Yeah, very fond memories of [Y/N],” Caelus chuckles.
After some time, General Jing Yuan releases Yanqing. Yanqing huffs and crosses his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at the white-haired General before scrambling over to you. Yanqing throws your arm around his shoulders, catching the others by surprise. You chuckle, and pat Yanqing’s head before the two of you continue your way toward the main entrance of Scalegorge Waterscape. While walking up the steps, Yanqing turns to look at the other four men— specifically Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae, General Jing Yuan, and Blade— before sticking his tongue out at them and turning back around to start a conversation with you.
“I think it’s weird how, allegedly, long-life species remember their past lives, but [Y/N] doesn’t remember theirs,” the indigo-haired man says, propping his hands on his hips.
The blond man in armor rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s not ‘allegedly’ when there’s plenty of evidence about it, Sampo,” the blond man says.
Once you all arrive at the entrance of Scalegorge Waterscape, you turn to the others before scanning the surroundings once more. You don’t think you will be returning to Scalegorge Waterscape, or at least not in the near future. 
A man with his hair in a half-ponytail speaks up, “Why do you look glum?”
You blink at him and the other unfamiliar faces. Caelus slaps his forehead before introducing you to the three extra people you weren’t introduced to— Sampo, Gepard, and Luka. The two men, Gepard and Luka, smile at you politely. At the same time, Sampo magically pulls a comb out of thin air, combing his hair before strutting toward you. However, before Sampo can reach you, Yanqing stands in front of you, pointing the tip of his sword in Sampo’s direction with a murderous glare.
“I wouldn’t get any closer if I were you,” Yanqing hisses.
Sampo holds his hands up. “Whoa there, little guy! I mean no harm!” Sampo says, smiling at Yanqing nervously. 
Yanqing glowers at the nickname Sampo gave him before looking at the white-haired General.  General Jing Yuan chuckles, walking toward you, Yanqing, and Sampo. General Jing Yuan stands behind you and Yanqing, placing both hands on your and Yanqing’s shoulders while smiling politely at Sampo. On the surface, General Jing Yuan is calm. Still, on a deeper level, the white-haired General is mildly annoyed with the indigo-haired merchant.
General Jing Yuan clears his throat. “Yanqing, stand down. There’s no need for hostility. We’re all friends here, are we not?” asks the General.
Yanqing makes a dissatisfied noise before putting his sword away. Yanqing continues to glare at Sampo, propping his hands on his hips before pointing his index finger at the man.
Yanqing demands, “What were your intentions with [Y/N] when you approached them?”
You look at Yanqing, surprised. You look at Sampo and smile at him before patting Yanqing’s shoulders. Yanqing doesn’t budge and continues to glare at Sampo. You sigh in defeat and look at General Jing Yuan, who’s already staring at you. You visibly wince with surprise before quickly looking away from him, your cheeks getting hot while the General chuckles. 
“I see the General’s feelings for [Y/N] have yet disappeared,” Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae murmurs beside Blade, crossing his arms over his chest while watching the scene unfold.
Blade huffs beside Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae, crossing his arms over his chest and glancing at the horned man beside him. “I could say the same thing for you,” Blade says nonchalantly.
Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae ignores the look Blade is giving him, acting like he doesn’t feel or notice an obvious stare from the dark-haired man. Yanqing grumbles to himself before tugging on your arm and pulling you away from the group. You find yourself standing at the docks, doing what you have been doing since you hatched from your egg— look at your surroundings. It bothers you how familiar this place feels, but you can’t remember why.
“Ahem. Care to tell what’s been bothering you?” Luocha asks, now standing beside you as he gazes at the horizon.
Your gaze falls to the ground, feeling the sand beneath your shoes. You poke the inside of your cheek with your tongue and tap your fingers on your biceps, debating whether you should tell them what’s on your mind. As much as you wanted to say to them what was wrong, you’re sure the others already knew the issue. 
You look up at Luocha, who stares at you intently with his sparkling green eyes. You look at the sun setting on the horizon, shoulders slumping as you cross your arms over your chest. It almost feels inappropriate to tell someone your problems, especially when you met them not long ago after being reborn. 
“Is there a reason why I’m unable to remember my past life? I find it strange that I’m the only one who can’t remember their past life after being reborn,” you sigh, rubbing your temples.
Everyone looks at Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae, General Jing Yuan, and Blade. The three men look just as clueless as the rest. You sigh and smile at them ruefully, waving your hand in front of you while shaking your head.
You sigh, “You know what? Forget I asked that question. Maybe there’s a reason why I don’t remember my past life, and perhaps it’s for the best.” Realization soon kicks in. You turn to the audience behind you and Luocha (and Yanqing), eyebrows furrowing with confusion. “Now that I am reborn, where do I go from here?”
Caelus looks at you questionably. “Care to elaborate on that for the rest of us?” Caelus asks, propping his hands on his hips.
“Do I return to the Xianzhou Luofu, or do I go elsewhere? I don’t have a home per se,” you reply, playing with the billowing sleeves of your hanfu. “This is a new and strange concept for me— not remembering my past life and questioning if I belong on the Xianzhou Luofu.”
The rebirth cycle of a Vidyadhara is something you have never experienced. At least, that’s what you assume. The waves crashing on shore are almost deafening, loud enough to keep you semi-occupied from your thoughts. What did you do to deserve to be put in this situation?
Mr. Yang hums, stroking his chin. “Well, you are always welcome to the Astral Express,” says Mr. Yang.
You look at the brown-haired man curiously. The Astral Express, huh? Sounds like you will be going on lots of adventures if you board the Express. It does sound better than doing nothing on the Xianzhou Luofu, especially when you don’t have a place called home. March’s eyes light up, and she runs toward you, linking her arms around yours. For a brief moment, a flash of panic can be seen in Yanqing’s eyes as he reaches forward, ready to pull March away from you. 
What stopped Yanqing from doing so was General Jing Yuan grabbing the young boy by the shoulders and shaking his head. Yanqing huffs and crosses his arms over his chest, grumbling while kicking a pebble close to his feet. March caught you off guard when she linked her arms around yours. You didn’t expect her to be bold enough to touch you (mainly because Yanqing would cut anyone who tried to touch you).
You hum, rocking back and forth on the balls of your feet. “I might consider it, but I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb,” you murmur, pointing to the horns on your head.
You know Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae has horns as well, but he can at least hide his appearance and present himself as a human like the others. You, on the other hand, don’t know if you can do the same. However, having horns and draconic features shouldn’t be a big deal other than dealing with the looks of curiosity from strangers and awkward stares when you make eye contact with the person.
Luka raises his hand to grab your attention. “I have a question. Since Dan Heng can change his appearance, can you change yours as well?” Luka asks, gesturing to the horns on your head.
You subconsciously touch your horns and chew the inside of your cheek. “I’m not sure, Luka. Even if I can’t hide my horns and draconic features, it’s no big deal,” you reply, smiling at the now-blushing man.
You and the others got on the boat to return to the Alchemy Commission. Despite reincarnating and not remembering your past life before being reborn, the Alchemy Commission feels almost as familiar as Scalegorge Waterscape. Although, you can’t help but feel grim when arriving at the Alchemy Commission. 
“Does anything feel familiar by any chance?” Gepard asks, walking beside you.
You nod hesitantly. “The Alchemy Commission feels familiar, but I don’t think it’s a good thing. I can’t help but feel uncomfortable,” you reply, subconsciously rubbing your chest while looking around.
Aside from the Mara-struck roaming around the area, the Alchemy Commission looks eerie and empty. Unbeknownst to you and the others not of the Xianzhou faction, something tragic happened to you before your rebirth. Everyone is standing on the ground where you were ambushed and brutally murdered by someone you once trusted. You were lured to the farthest part of the Alchemy Commission, ambushed, and killed by someone you used to consider a friend. By the time Dan Feng (now Dan Heng), General Jing Yuan, and Yingxing arrived at the scene, they were too late. Stricken with anguish, Yingxing, General Jing Yuan, and Dan Feng tracked down your attackers and killed them all. 
They remember clutching your lifeless body in their arms, trying to stop the bleeding despite you being dead at the scene. Your clothes are torn and bloodied, your hair matted with blood, and your skin stained with your own blood. The three men remember the giant gaping hole where your heart was supposed to be— crimson blood pooling around you on the concrete as you stare up at the three grief-stricken men with lifeless eyes. Perhaps it’s best for you to remain oblivious of your past. It’s better that way, no matter how much it hurts the three men who hold you close and dear to their hearts.
General Jing Yuan places his hand on your shoulder. “Wherever you choose to stay— be it the Xianzhou Luofu or the Astral Express, you are always welcome to the Xianzhou Luofu,” says General Jing Yuan.
You smile at the white-haired General. “Thank you, General Jing Yuan,” you whisper.
You stop in front of the Aureate Elixir Furnace, staring at the large crucible with curiosity. You hear whispers around you. You look at the people standing around you, wondering if any of them said anything. But none of them were speaking. They’re surveying the area, not saying a word. 
“How strange,” you rub the back of your neck before crossing your arms over your chest.
You close your eyes and focus on the voice in the back of your head. The voices don’t belong to you, but the voices sound very angry and sad. The voices are gradually getting louder and louder. You squeeze your eyes shut and duck your head low, your hair falling over your face. 
The voice whispers, “We shall reunite one day, [Y/N]. You cannot escape your fate.”
Fate? What’s your fate? Are you in danger by any chance? Could the voices be connected to your past, or does the voice belong to something or someone seeking possible revenge on you?
“Are you alright, [Y/N]?” Blade puts his hands on your shoulders, startling you.
You look up at Blade like a deer caught in headlights. You gulp and smile at him nervously, trying to act normal. 
“Yeah! I’m alright! I’m trying to recall my past life, that’s all,” you lie.
Blade and Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae look at you worriedly as you turn to Yanqing, who approaches you with a worried look. Great, more people to worry about you. Yanqing stands beside you and stares at Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae and Blade cautiously before turning to you.
Yanqing holds his arm out for you to take. “Are you hungry? If so, I know a few places on the Xianzhou Luofu that have amazing food,” Yanqing says, giving you a closed-eyed smile.
You smile at Yanqing and loop your arms around his arm. “I am feeling a bit famished,” you murmur.
Yanqing hums thoughtfully, tapping on his chin as he pulls you away from Blade and Dan Heng Imbibitor Lunae. While Yanqing is listing out the food on the menu of the restaurant he passively mentioned, the group behind you follows closely. 
Luocha looks at General Jing Yuan from the corner of his eyes. “You saw that, right?” Luocha mutters.
General Jing Yuan hums, nodding. “Indeed, I did.”
While your past life will be a mystery to you, the voices in your head seem to not want you to live your new life in peace. Whether the voices in your head are from the voices of those in your past life or are trying to warn you, there’s a strange feeling deep down in your gut, and you can’t put your fingers on it. Whatever it is, it will have to wait.
Note: I know a Vidyadhara has many features, but I like the draconic features. Therefore the reader has draconic features. Oh, and the color of the reader's horns... I couldn't come up with a color, so I chose a random color. If you're not a huge fan of the color I chose, change it to whatever color you desire. It's 5 AM, and I need to sleep, so I hope you guys like this story-ish. I won't be posting any fics for this upcoming week, so keep that in mind. Anyway, to my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @ashwasherelol, @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @reversearrowhead, @pinksaiyans, @aurelia-xyt, @lilliansstuff, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @kodzuvk, @for3very0urs, @a-cosmicdawn, @g3n0dtt, @theblades, @wntrsblvd, @raaawwwr, @immahuman, @irisxiel, @siaracarroll, @crazydreamcat, @sen-nes, @sagekun, @orichalcumthief, @dyingsweetmackerel, @rosiesareblue, @ichikanu, @undecidingfate, @asoulsreverie, @angelmican, @misdollface, @4-34-am, @sxftiebee, @hispasian-otaku, @the-dumber-scaramouche, @vox34, @tsukkikeisimp, @inapileofbooke
Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 8 months
Text
Anything for the Star 2
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: After being sandwiched between Gepard and Sampo's chest due to March claiming you wanted to be sandwiched between the two men from Jarilo-VI, you fainted. You soon regained consciousness and now have to deal with the aftermath and you're also on the hunt for March around the Astral Express.
Note: I think a few people on Tumblr and AO3 wanted to see another part of this fic. Therefore since I am posting mini-fics for this week, I have decided to make a part two! Yes, this is a crack-ish fic, and mini-fics do not have a huge impact on the overall HSR isekai world :> It's almost 6 AM, and I did not sleep at all. Anyway! I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: None that I know of
Word Count: 3.6k
Read Part 1 of Anything for the Star [HERE]!
Your ears are ringing.
“[Y/N]!”
The voices shouting out to you are muffled— almost like you’re underwater.
“Gumdrop, wake up!”
You feel like you’re floating through space. The darkness around you welcomes you with open arms while you drift into the abyss. Unaware of what is going on outside of your unconscious state. What happened?  How did you end up in the void? You hear voices around you, but you’re alone in the darkness, floating through the void. Speaking of the void, not even Nanook is present with you. 
“Everyone, move out of the way. Give them space.”
The voices continue to get louder and louder as the darkness around you soon fades around you. The ringing in your ears ceases, and you jolt in someone’s arms, eyelids flying open, gasping for air as if someone was holding you underwater for who knows how long. Faces peer down at you, gazing at you with worry.
You blink at them, still groggy from what happened. Seriously, what did happen? You’re cradled in Nanook’s arms, your head resting on the Aeon of Destruction’s arms. You groan and rub your eyes with the heel of your hand. Your mind is still foggy, and you’re not sure how long you’ve been knocked out.
You clear your throat. “What happened?” You croak, eyes darting around to look at every person, searching for answers.
Nanook sighs. “You fainted forty minutes ago and were unresponsive,” replies Nanook, resting his cheek on your head. 
Unresponsive? That’s odd. What could be the sole factor behind your fainting and being unresponsive for forty minutes? You sit up in Nanook’s arms, rubbing your eyes again. The men are crowding around you, making sure you’re okay and not going to faint for the second time. They’re still wearing maid costumes— oh. Right. Memories from before you fainting start rushing back to you at full speed.
“You had a nosebleed, but luckily, Luocha was able to stop the bleeding,” Mr. Yang says, sitting across from you on your bed.
You nod, looking away from the older man. You can’t take him seriously when he’s wearing cat ears headbands while wearing a maid costume. The refined Mr. Yang, the strongest, the wise and intelligent Mr. Yang… wearing a cat ears headband and maid costume. What a time to be alive to witness such a sight. 
Dan Heng crosses his arms over his chest, his eyebrows furrowing with worry. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Dan Heng asks softly, sitting on the other side of your bed.
Dan Heng is also wearing a maid costume. You’re not sure who did his makeup— most likely March— but he looks cute! The exaggerated blush on his cheeks and the bridge of his nose was adorable. If he was actually blushing, it would be hard to notice. Unless the blush creeps up to the tips of his ears. 
You nod, smiling at Dan Heng sleepily. “Of course, I’m okay! I probably didn’t get enough sleep last night, and it’s probably the reason why I fainted,” you lie.
You wish that was the case. Being sandwiched between Gepard and Sampo’s beefy pecks is something you would love to experience again! However, you sure as hell do not want to experience it in front of other people— other people who you’re also attracted to. On another note, Sampo gives the best hugs, and so does Gepard. You snap out of your thoughts when Gepard presses a cold, wet paper napkin on your cupid’s bow. You blink and look at Gepard quizzically. Gepard pulls his hands away from your face and steps back, clearing his throat softly.
“You still had a bloodstain above your lips,” Gepard mutters softly, cheeks bright red.
You smile at Gepard, well, attempt to smile at him. The smile ends up being a grimace rather than a smile. You gesture to the men’s costume, trying to find the right words to say without looking stupid. You’re not sure how March was able to get the maid costumes in her hands so fast, but you’re thankful for it, and you sort of wish March didn’t conduct this experiment. 
You swallow the lump in your throat. “Are you guys not going to change out of those maid costumes?” You ask shyly.
“Oh? You want us to change out of it already?” Luka asks, his eyes widening with shock as he turns to look at the other men.
Your eyebrows furrow with confusion. What does Luka mean by that exactly? You search around the room for March, only to realize she’s not in the room, nor is Himeko. In fact, you’re alone in your room with the ten men. You press your lips into a thin line, making a mental note to pull March by her ears when you see her again.
Blade narrows his eyes at you, tilting his head to the side. “Why do you look confused? Did you forget about how you informed March that you wanted to see us wear the maid costume until it’s nine-thirty sharp?” Blade asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
You sigh and run your hands through your hair. “Blade, you know how terrible my memory is, right? I forget the simplest things,” you say, leaning back against Nanook.
Nanook’s arms snake around your waist, pulling you close. As much as you don’t mind cuddling with Nanook, you don’t think you can cuddle with Nanook in front of the other men. Especially when they’re all wearing maid costumes. Plus, you have a bone to pick with March because her experiment seems to be something else other than wanting to see if the men will comply with your wishes.
You tap on your thighs. “Does anyone know where March is, by any chance? I want to talk to her about something,” you say.
Jing Yuan searches around your room, rubbing the back of his neck. Your eyes automatically zero in on Jing Yuan’s biceps when he rubs the back of his neck. The way his biceps bulges with little movement, the way the sleeve of the maid costume raises, the way the ruffles of the skirt move when he shifts in his spot. Dear, Aeons. You look away and pretend to search for the pink-haired menace. 
“Huh. I didn’t even notice her leave the room after you fainted,” Jing Yuan says, laughing to himself.
You nod slowly. It’s either you remain in your room with ten people in maid costumes or leave your room and hunt down March and give her a piece of your mind. While you are thankful for her theory and sudden announcement, you sure as hell don’t appreciate her not telling you what she has in mind for these experiments. You want at least a warning or a heads-up before she throws you into the lion's den. You slowly remove yourself from Nanook’s warm, welcoming arms and get off your bed. You straighten your clothes and turn to the rest of the audience in your room. 
“I am going to search for March. You guys can tag along if you want. However, I can’t promise I’ll be civil when I see her,” you say, walking out of your room.
The men stare after you and watch you leave. They weren’t sure what you meant when you said you can’t promise to be civil when you see March. Nanook is the first one to follow you not long after you step out of your room. Soon, the other men start following Nanook, wondering what you’re going to do when you find March. 
Long story short, you tried searching for March around the Astral Express, but she was nowhere to be found. You went into her room, and her bedroom was empty. You tried talking to Pom-Pom and Himeko about March’s whereabouts. Unfortunately for you, the redheaded woman and the conductor of the Astral Express did not see March at all. 
“Are you sure she’s not in her room? The Astral Express is traversing through space, and there’s no way March could sneak to the Xianzhou Luofu, Jarilo-VI, and the Herta Space Station without anyone noticing,” Himeko says, crossing one leg over the other while stirring her coffee. 
You sigh, running your hands through your hair. “Well, thanks for letting me know. I was hoping to find March and pull her ears when I saw her. But I guess that will be saved for next time,” you grumble, turning around and walking off.
Himeko looks at the men and presses her lips into a thin line. The men have yet to change out of their maid costumes, and Himeko can’t help but find it amusing. After receiving a text message from March with a couple of attachments, Himeko wanted to tease them for doing whatever you said. Even if you didn’t directly tell them what to do. Yes, March texted Himeko multiple pictures of you encountering the ten men in maid costumes. The photos are taken discretely and sent to Himeko.
The first picture is your initial reaction to the men walking out of your bathroom in maid costumes. The second image is of you touching Luka’s biceps— your reaction was hilarious. March made it your contact picture, but she’s not going to let you know about it until way later if you end up seeing it and want to know the context of the icon. The third picture is you getting sandwiched between Gepard and Sampo’s chests— you looked like you were about to pass out. And finally, the last image March took and sent to Himeko was you fainting with a stream of blood coming from your nose.
After taking that last picture of you, March made a run for it because she knows that once you’re conscious, you’re going to be going after her ass, and that is what you’re doing. Well, you were going after her ass because you couldn’t find the pink-headed girl, and the Astral Express is still traversing through the stars. You’re going to have to wait for March to reappear because you sure as hell do not want to search around the Astral Express for the umpteenth time.
You end up forgetting about your hunt for March because now you find yourself sitting in the Parlor Car of the Astral Express, trying to convince the men to change back into their clothes. As much as you love to see the men wearing maid costumes and cat ears headbands, you don’t know how much longer you can deal with it. Maybe getting a picture of them in the maid costumes doesn’t sound so bad if you were brave enough to ask for pictures.
“You know,” March pops up from out of nowhere, resting her arm on the cushion of the couch, “if you want to take a picture with your admirers in maid costumes, why not just ask them? I’m sure they’ll be okay with it as long as the person asking for photos is their precious star,” March coos, pinching your cheek.
You wince and smack her hand away from your face. “Why don’t you do it for me instead? I’m too shy to ask,” you mumble.
March smirks and rolls over the couch, and nods. “If that’s what you want, then I shall ask on your behalf then!” March fixes her clothes before strutting over to the group of men standing in the center of the Parlor Car, quietly conversing with one another. 
March taps on Mr. Yang’s shoulders and begins talking to the older man. Mr. Yang looks confused while the other men around him burst out laughing, except for Blade. They all look at you from where they’re standing, and seeing the look on their faces, you’re starting to regret telling March to ask them for you. 
Before you know it, the men walk in your direction, with March trailing after them from a safe distance. March is most likely to make a run for it in case you faint again. March gestures for you to stand up, making you assume you are going to take a picture with the men. However, when Blade steps forward, you look at him with confusion.
“Your request is ridiculous. However, I will not deny you of your request since you asked so nicely,” Blade says, crossing his arms over his chest.
Your eyebrows knit together as you stare at him quizzically. “Huh? How is my request ridiculous? What did March tell you exactly?” You ask, leaning over in your spot to look at March.
March looks away, swaying side to side while whistling. You poke the inside of your cheek with your tongue and glare at March from afar before looking at the men, who are quietly snickering. Really, what is March up to, and why are the men giggling like children? A picture request shouldn’t be making them giggle like this. Unless March said something else about the pictures?
Blade takes a deep breath and closes his eyes before looking you in the eyes. “Uwu,” Blade deadpans.
Your brain short circuits. What did Blade just say? You slowly look at March, who’s covering up her laughter with her hands. The men around you and Blade burst out laughing, doubling over one another while howling with laughter. That wasn’t your request, but you’re not complaining. Seeing and hearing Blade say ‘uwu’ with the most serious expression will forever be engraved in your memory. 
“Why do you look confused? Is this not your request?” Luocha asks, stifling his laughter behind his hand.
You press your lips into a thin line. It’s not what you requested, but since it’s comical and also cute, you’ll let March off the hook for this. Just this one time, of course. You have yet to forgive her for the stunt she pulled in your bedroom. She could at least let you be aware of what she’s up to, you know? Especially if it involves you.
You clear your throat. “Yes, but I did not expect Blade to follow through with it,” you say, scratching the back of your head.
March snickers. “Yeah, me neither,” March mutters under her breath. “Anyway! Gentlemen, please gather around for the picture [Y/N] has been anticipating!” March claps her hands and gestures for the men to stand in a line.
The men get in a line, making sure the tallest are in the back row while the shortest is in the front. They made sure to leave a space in the front for you to stand. You reluctantly hand March your phone and walk to the group as Luka and Sampo gesture for you to come forward. You stand between Dan Heng and Caelus, mentally preparing yourself for the picture. March holds your phone up but pauses, staring at you intently. You stare at March, worried about what she’s up to after seeing a sly smirk appearing on her face. A sense of dread falls over you as March sighs dramatically and props her hands on her hips.
“This picture would look cuter if [Y/N] matched with the rest of you,” March sighs, feigning sadness. 
You stare at the pink-haired girl owlishly. You? Matching with the rest of the men behind you? You shake your head at March, giving her a look. March continues to sigh and plops on the couch dramatically, draping her arm over her eyes. March actually didn’t get you a maid costume— that would go over her budget, and she wants to see how the others react if she suggested you wear a maid costume with cat ears to match with the men.
“It would be cute if you matched the others! Plus, I bought you a maid costume too! You wouldn’t want it to go to waste, now, do you?” March asks, peeking from her arms and batting her eyelashes at you.
You narrow your eyes at March as she continues to give you puppy dog eyes. If March wants to test her theory out, you might as well put it to the test yourself. So, you put on a mask and try not to cringe.
You turn to the others, pouting and batting your eyelashes at them while giving them the puppy dog eyes yourself. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with wearing a maid costume. The costumes look cute, but I don’t think it’ll look good on me,” you sigh, rubbing your arm and looking away dramatically.
Oh, ew. You feel a small part of yourself die a little on the inside. The act your pull reminds you of those pick-me’s you see on the internet. Dear, Aeons. You have the urge to skin yourself alive after pulling that stunt. You refrain from showing visible disgust and continue to uphold the act.
Mr. Yang hums, nodding. “If you’re not comfortable with wearing it, you don’t have to. We don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, nor do we want you to feel like you have to wear a maid costume,” says Mr. Yang.
“Yeah! Even though we know you’ll look cute in a maid costume, we don’t want you to feel pressured. Dress however you want,” Luka says, ruffling your hair.
The others murmur in agreement, nodding their heads. You turn to March and stick your tongue out at March. March huffs and crosses her arms over her chest, getting off the couch while muttering under her breath. You smile with satisfaction and get in your spot for the pictures you were promised. 
You fix your hair and make sure you look decent— since you did faint not long ago and had a nosebleed before fainting. March sighs and holds your phone up, waiting for everyone to get situated before taking multiple pictures of you with the men in maid costumes. After a few minutes of taking pictures with the men in maid costumes, March finally hands you your phone back.
You pull March to the side. “Did you really tell them that I wanted them to wear the maid costumes until it’s nine-thirty?” you ask.
March giggles and nods. “I know it’s a very specific time, but I had to say something! I can’t space out, or else they’ll know what I’m up to!” March says, shrugging her shoulders. “Besides, this experiment went swimmingly.”
March wasn’t wrong about that. The experiment for her theory turned out how she expected it to go. As curious as you are regarding how far this experiment could go, you don’t have the heart or the energy to test it out. The eventful day was draining, and all you want to do right now is to take a nap. 
“I think we should cut the experiment short. I want to take a nap,” you say, tucking your phone into your pocket and stretching your arms in the air with a yawn. 
March stares at you. “Why do you take so many naps?” March questions, propping her hands on her hips.
You shrug. “Don’t ask me. I don’t have the answer to your question— aside from my awful sleep schedule,” you reply. “Now, before I go to bed, I will test out one last thing.”
You yawn and plop on the couch, sprawling across the red couch in the Parlor Car with a groan. The others look at you curiously, wondering what you’re doing and why you’re sprawled out on the couch.
“Gumdrop! What are you doing, sweet thang?” Sampo asks, sitting at the edge of the couch.
You mumble and rub your eyes. “I’m exhausted, and I want to take a nap, but I don’t think I can make it to my room,” you mumble, closing your eyes and curling into a ball.
“If you want, I can carry you to your bedroom,” Caelus offers, holding his hand in the air.
You sigh. “But I also want someone to cuddle with me while I nap. Or at least get me a plushie to hug,” you say, cracking one eye open.
Jing Yuan strokes his chin, tilting his head to the side. “I’m not sure if I can cuddle with you in a dress. The fabric is scratchy, and I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable cuddling with someone wearing scratchy fabric,” Jing Yuan says, rubbing the fabric of the skirt with his thumb and index finger.
March deadpans, smacking her forehead with an infuriated sigh. These men seem to be stalling, but it’s sort of understandable because of the murderous look Nanook is giving to each man who offers to carry you to your room and cuddle with you as you’re napping.
“Do you want to sleep on the couch then? I can get your pillow and blanket for you,” Dan Heng offers.
You shake your head. “Thank you, Dan Heng, but no thank you. I don’t like sleeping in places like the Parlor Car. I’m more comfortable sleeping in my bedroom,” you reply.
“I’ll carry you to your room,” Gepard offers, walking toward you, only for the Aeon of Destruction to block his path.
Nanook shakes his head. “No. I will be the one to carry them to their room and cuddle with them while they sleep,” Nanook says.
March throws her hands in the air with frustration and sighs. March knows Nanook is attached to you, but seeing Nanook preventing the other men from getting their chances of becoming close to you is driving March insane. Aside from Nanook being a cockblock, March finds it amusing (but also adorable) how these men are willing to do things you ask them to do. Even if you weren’t the one requesting certain tasks to be fulfilled. 
Note: So, Blade saying uwu is "inspired" by this video my dear friend and moderator sent to me on Discord. It was a video of Blade's voice actor saying uwu in Blade's voice, and I had to include it in this part because I forgot to do that for the first part 😭 I have this one idea in mind for this upcoming week's update, but I'm not sure how I will execute it. I'm just hoping it turns out fine, but at the same time, I'm not sure if it'll turn out how I wanted it to. To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @ashwasherelol, @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @reversearrowhead, @pinksaiyans, @ixchelhernandez4, @kukiiyo, @n8mareee, @aurelia-xyt, @lilliansstuff, @ssunset0, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @rnnmg, @kodzuvk, @aponia-yue, @for3very0urs, @a-cosmicdawn, @g3n0dtt, @theblades, @wntrsblvd, @raaawwwr, @immahuman, @irisxiel, @siaracarroll, @crazydreamcat, @sen-nes, @sagekun, @orichalcumthief, @dyingsweetmackerel, @rosiesareblue, @sociallyakwardpanda, @ichikanu, @undecidingfate, @dearest-yeosang, @phngix, @c00kie-cat, @asoulsreverie, @angelmican, @rururinn, @Osiritheous, @misdollface, @4-34-am, @nightmarebeaxst, @sxftiebee, @hispasian-otaku, @cloise, @the-dumber-scaramouche, @shizunxie, @inapileofbooke, @thedarkwinterrose, @soobinsgirlfriend
Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
524 notes · View notes
genshinluvr · 10 months
Text
Yanqing's Babysitting Service
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: Your traveling companions have matters to deal with at the Xianzhou Luofu. General Jing Yuan assigns Yanqing, his retainer, to be your babysitter for the day! You and Yanqing were supposed to search for puzzles to complete on the Xianzhou Luofu while the others are occupied, but instead, you two go to Boulder Town.
Note: This is a mini-fic that I have written during my finals week! Finals are done, and I am free from schoolwork! I have a couple of people on AO3 wanting smut for the HSR fanfic, but I'm not sure when I'm going to be making it. I do have smut in mind, but I'm not sure when I'll make it. Even if I do make it, I'm not sure who's going to be the first one to start it off 🤔 I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).
Warnings: Reader gets knocked out cold close toward the end of the fic.
Word Count: 4.5k
Part 2 of Yanqing's Babysitting Service is [HERE]. (Can be read as a standalone fic)
You’re at the Xianzhou Luofu with your traveling companions— March, Caelus, Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, Gepard, and Sampo. Jing Yuan has invited you all to the Xianzhou Luofu because there’s an emergency, and he needs some assistance. The grand doors of the Seat of Divine Foresight open, and you all step into the massive office. Despite this not being the first time you’ve been in the General’s office, you can’t help but be in awe. 
As you all walk farther into the office of the General of the Xianzhou Luofu, you see Jing Yuan playing chess with a young blond male. Jing Yuan and the blond boy looks up from the chessboard. Jing Yuan smiles widely, gets up from his seat, and strides toward your group.
“Welcome! I’m glad that you all have arrived to the Xianzhou Luofu safely! How were your travels?” asks Jing Yuan, stopping before your group.
Mr. Yang gives Jing Yuan a small smile. “General Jing Yuan, it’s good to see you again. The journey to the Xianzhou Luofu was smooth, but there were some minor obstacles,” replies Mr. Yang, adjusting his glasses. 
March props her hands on her hips. “So, General! What is it that you need us to do?” March asks, gazing at Jing Yuan curiously.
Jing Yuan’s eyes land on you, and his eyes widen slightly, his mouth agape. You blink at the man as he approaches you before turning to the others. You can’t help but have an inkling feeling that Jing Yuan didn’t expect you to be accompanying the group. 
Dan Heng raises his eyebrows at the general. “Is there a problem, General Jing Yuan?” Dan Heng asks.
Jing Yuan doesn’t respond to Dan Heng’s question. Instead, he turns back to you and places both of his hands on your shoulders. Jing Yuan opens his mouth but then shuts it, unsure of what to say. Jing Yuan looks around, searching for something or someone. 
Caelus whispers to Sampo, “Why is General Jing Yuan acting like that? Usually, he gets excited when he sees [Y/N]. But now he looks shocked and conflicted.”
Sampo shrugs his shoulders. “He did mention that there’s been an issue with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, right? If so, maybe that’s what he’s worried about,” Sampo mutters to Caelus, not taking his eyes off the white-haired General. 
Gepard takes a step closer to the two whispering men. Gepard notices the way General Jing Yuan looks at you. He looks surprised, yes, but he also looks worried. Earlier this morning, the General sent a message to the Astral Express, asking for their assistance in dealing with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus: Internal Alchemist and Shape Shifter. The numbers have been increasing, and it was a little bit overwhelming. 
While Jing Yuan is a very skilled fighter and can take down an army of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, he has other priorities to deal with on the Xianzhou Luofu, and having some assistance isn’t a crime. It seems like the General forgot about your presence on the Trailblazing team. You don’t blame Jing Yuan for forgetting about your placement with your traveling companions. They do the fighting, and you do the sitting on the sidelines because you don’t wield any weapons, you don’t have a combat type, nor do you have a path like them.
Gepard turns to the two men. “I think I know the issue,” Gepard states, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Oh? What could the issue be, Captain of the Silvermane Guards?” asks Luocha as he and Blade walk up to the three whispering men.
Caelus, Gepard, and Sampo stare at the two men, not saying anything. The corner of Blade’s lips curves up when the three men glare at him. Blade chuckles and shakes his head, looking over where you and Jing Yuan are standing. 
Blade looks over at the three men, tilting his head to the side. “So, Landau, what do you think the issue is? You implied that you know the issue,” says Blade, crossing his arms over his chest.
The tension between the men was interrupted by Jing Yuan calling over the small blond male, who remains seated in front of the chessboard. The blond male looks at the General and gets up from his spot before jogging toward you and Jing Yuan. Jing Yuan smiles at the blond male and pats his shoulders.
“Yanqing, meet [Y/N]! [Y/N], meet Yanqing, my retainer,” Jing Yuan introduces you to the young blond boy.
Yanqing’s eyes light up, and he grins from ear to ear. “Oh! So you’re [Y/N]! General Jing Yuan has talked about you nonstop! It’s great to finally meet the, and I quote from General Jing Yuan, lovely and breathtaking [Y/N],” says Yanqing. 
Jing Yuan looks at Yanqing with wide eyes, his pale cheeks turning almost as dark as his pants. Well, not that dark, but the blush on Jing Yuan’s cheek is noticeable. You feel heat rush to your cheeks after Yanqing’s cheeky comment and look at the General shyly. The man smiles at you shyly, rubbing the back of his neck. 
March snickers behind her hands. “It looks like General Jing Yuan gushes about [Y/N] to his retainer! How cute!” March giggles.
When you and March make eye contact from across the room, March gives you a teasing smile and wiggles her eyebrows at you suggestively. You glare at March and look away, your face feeling really hot under March’s teasing gaze and the other men’s intense stares from behind Jing Yuan and Yanqing’s backs. 
Ignoring the looks people were giving you, you look at Yanqing and smile at the young boy. “It’s nice to meet you too, Yanqing! I’ve heard great things about you,” you say.
Yanqing blushes and smiles at you shyly, clasping his hands behind his back before turning to look at the white-haired general. Jing Yuan stares at Yanqing, then at you as realization starts to set in. Clearing his throat, the tall general points at Yanqing, then at you.
“Yanqing, for today, I am appointing you to watch over [Y/N] as I, Luocha, Blade, and [Y/N]’s traveling companions deal with the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus situation,” says Jing Yuan.
The young boy looks at Jing Yuan with confusion and then at you, not saying a word. You blink at Jing Yuan and point at Jing Yuan’s blond retainer. Was Jing Yuan appointing Yanqing to be your babysitter for the day while he, Blade, Luocha, your Belobog and Trailblazing companions are dealing with something dangerous?
March presses her lips into a thin line. “You know, [Y/N] can just return to the Astral Express! I don’t think [Y/N] would be a good sparring partner for someone as skilled and talented as Yanqing. No offense, [Y/N],” March gives you a polite smile.
Yanqing hums and taps his finger on his bicep, looking between you and Jing Yuan. Yanqing wasn’t sure why Jing Yuan appointed him to watch over you while they were away. He has things to do, and as the prodigy, he doesn’t have time to babysit someone Jing Yuan fawns over when they’re not around. 
Before Yanqing could protest, you said, “Jing Yuan, you don’t need to assign a babysitter for me. I can handle myself, and while I’m not from your universe, I can find something to keep myself occupied while you’re all out handling things.” 
Blade huffs with amusement, raising an eyebrow at you. “And how will you do that, little starlight? Do you plan on hanging out in the General’s office while we’re all gone?” Blade asks, raising his eyebrows at you.
You hum, tapping your foot on the ground. You can do that, but you don’t think the people that work for Jing Yuan would appreciate an outsider being in the General’s office. Especially when the office might contain top-secret information. Looking at the large seat in Jing Yuan’s office, you can make that into a bed and nap. While you’re at it, maybe Nanook wouldn’t mind keeping you company until someone wakes you up from your slumber!
Mr. Yang frowns at the expression on your face, nudging Caelus. “You recalled the Hexanexus puzzles you told me about recently?” Mr. Yang asks.
The silver-haired man blinks at Mr. Yang before pulling his phone out, nodding in response. Your phone chimes, and you pull your phone out from your pocket to see that Caelus forwarded a message from the Hex Club regarding the puzzle he solved not long ago. While Caelus replied to the message sent by the club, he didn’t respond to their previous message. 
You raise your eyebrow, looking at Caelus and Mr. Yang. “You two want me to solve the Hexanexus puzzles to keep me occupied?” You ask, tucking your phone back into your pocket.
Caelus shrugs his shoulders, putting his phone away. “If you want to! We’re not going to force you to do something you don’t want to do. We think solving puzzles would be fun compared to doing nothing while Yanqing watches over you,” Caelus replies. 
You don’t mind solving the Hexanexus puzzles around the Xianzhou Luofu! The issue is, well, the puzzles are all over the Xianzhou Luofu, meaning you’ll be all over the place searching for and completing the puzzles. You can run into any monsters at any moment. 
Maybe that’s where Yanqing comes in, but him fighting the monsters alone while you’re cowering in the corner doesn’t seem fair for the blond boy. Yes, he’s skilled and a prodigy, but it’s not fair for him to fight the battles alone. Oh, and how are you going to find these puzzles? You know there are other puzzles besides the Hexanexus puzzles around the Xianzhou Luofu. Like the navigation compass puzzle! You’ve seen them around the Xianzhou Luofu and have always been curious if you can solve them in person compared to doing it on your computer screen.
You shrug your shoulders. “I don’t mind solving puzzles while you’re all away. But what do I do with the prize that’s given to me after I solve them?” You ask.
“We’ll figure that out later. For now, let’s part ways. Once we’re done dealing with the issues around the Xianzhou Luofu, one of us will text you to inform you about it,” says Dan Heng.
You nod and follow Yanqing when he gestures for you to follow him. Before you can exit Jing Yuan’s office, Mr. Yang grabs hold of your biceps. You stop in your tracks and turn to look at the older man quizzically. Mr. Yang sighs and gives you a small smile, placing his hand on your shoulders.
“Be safe, alright? If anything happens, please let us know immediately,” says Mr. Yang, staring into your eyes.
You feel your face turn hot the longer Mr. Yang stares into your eyes. You smile at Mr. Yang and nod, placing your hand over his and giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. It’s nice to know that they care about you and your safety. You’ve been in their universe for a short time, and for them to think about you makes you feel warm and fuzzy. 
“I promise I’ll let you all know if anything bad happens. I hope nothing bad happens, but I have Yanqing with me the entire time! He’ll be the one to protect me if none of you are able to make it in time,” you reply, turning to look at the blond boy.
Yanqing nods. Yanqing suddenly looks serious, as if it’s his job to watch over you— as if he’s assigned to be your bodyguard. Well, it’s sort of his temporary job to be your babysitter while the others are out somewhere on the Xianzhou Luofu. Mr. Yang sighs and lets go of your shoulders, giving you one last smile before you bid the others goodbye while walking out of Jing Yuan’s office. 
March exhales loudly, shaking her head. “Just when I thought it was bad enough for an Aeon to be in love with [Y/N], it gets worst! Eight more people developing a crush on my best friend? Oh, I need to tell Himeko about this! This is juicy!” March says, pulling her phone out.
“March, we don’t have time for gossip! You can do that later!” Sampo says cooly, flicking his bangs away from his face.
March grumbles and puts her phone away before walking over to where Jing Yuan stands. Jing Yuan starts going over the plan, instructing what each person is going to do when they arrive at their destination. Meanwhile, you’re at Cloudford with Yanqing, searching for the Hexanexus puzzle to solve.
Yanqing is alert and is making sure you two don’t run into any potential dangers. So far, things are going smoothly, and you two haven’t run into any dangers yet! While it’s fun to explore around the Xianzhou Luofu, it’s not fun searching for the puzzle when it’s not marked anywhere on the map for you. 
“How does Caelus even find the Hexanexus puzzles? Is it marked on the map for him, or what?” You grumble, pulling your phone out.
Yanqing shrugs his shoulders, peeking at your phone. “Maybe he finished all of the Hexanexus puzzles and didn’t recall completing them all?” Yanqing replies in a questioning tone. 
You sigh in defeat before putting your phone away. “Maybe. Then what do we do now? I can’t return to the Seat of Divine Foresight since it’s probably locked. I don’t think Jing Yuan would appreciate me being in there.”
You and Yanqing stand there in silence. You don’t know how to initiate a conversation with Yanqing. All you know is that he’s Jing Yuan’s retainer and currently your babysitter. Of course, he’ll be watching over you until Jing Yuan, Luocha, Blade, and your Belobog and Astral Express traveling companions are done with the things they’re dealing with at the moment.
Are you allowed to leave the Xianzhou Luofu? Jing Yuan didn’t say anything about you not being allowed to leave the Xianzhou Luofu, did he? I mean, maybe he did, and that went flying over your head. 
There aren’t any puzzles for you to solve on the Xianzhou Luofu. Even if there were, you don’t think you would want to go scavenger hunting for those puzzles. That being said, you want to visit the Boulder Town Super League. If you can’t watch your friends fight the Mara-Struck, then you might as well watch some people duke it out. The only problem was how you were going to get to Boulder Town and if Yanqing was willing to go with you since he was watching over you.
You turn to look at the young blond boy. “Hey, Yanqing. What do you think about fight clubs?” You ask, tilting your head to the side while giving Yanqing an innocent smile.
Yanqing looks at you curiously, tapping his index finger on his chin. “A fight club? I’ve never heard of it! Care to tell me what it’s about?” Yanqing asks.
You smile at Yanqing and begin walking toward where the Astral Express is located. Surely the others wouldn’t mind you and Yanqing going to Boulder Town until they’re done with their business, right? Besides, it’s not like you and Yanqing are going to be participating in anything while at the Boulder Town Super League! At least, that’s what you’re hoping. You know Yanqing is skilled in combat, but you don’t think that Jing Yuan would appreciate his retainer fighting robots in Boulder Town on Jarilo-VI.
And that is how you and Yanqing end up in Boulder Town, watching people fight robots to the side while eating snacks. You weren’t sure if Yanqing had anything to eat prior to being assigned as your babysitter for the day, so you think it’d be best to get some snacks for Yanqing to eat before returning to the Xianzhou Luofu.
Yanqing stares at the redhead entering the ring, squinting his eyes. “Do you think someone like him can handle fighting robots?” Yanqing asks, nudging you.
You take a bite from your snack and look at the person Yanqing is pointing at. You hum, tilting your head to the side, shrugging your shoulders. The redhead is shirtless, and he has a prosthetic arm. His hair is pulled back into a half-ponytail. You don’t know who this man is, but you’re looking forward to watching him duel robots and migrants. 
You shrug in response. “I don’t know! He looks pretty capable of taking down a couple of robots. Why? Do you doubt his skills, Mister Prodigy?” You tease, nudging Yanqing back.
Yanqing narrows his eyes and turns to look at you, wiping the corner of his lips. “Let’s make a bet! If you win, I owe you information about the things General Jing Yuan, that foreign trader, and the Stellaron Hunter says about you when you’re not around!” Yanqing says, holding his hand out for you to shake.
Oh? Now that has piqued your interest. What could those three talk about? You purse your lips, tempted to shake Yanqing’s hands to make a bet with the young lieutenant of the Xianzhou Luofu. Before you bring your hand up to shake the blond’s hands, you look at Yanqing suspiciously.
“And what if you win?” You ask, squinting your eyes with your hand hovering in front of his.
Yanqing hums and tilts his head to the side. “If I win, you tell me who you like out of the ones from the group,” says Yanqing, smiling at you innocently.
Now it’s your turn to tilt your head to the side as you blink at Yanqing. What does he mean by that exactly? You like everyone in the group! Granted, some of them are intimidating (Blade), but you do like everyone in the group. Unless he was implying about who you have a crush on. If that’s the case, you weren’t sure if you have romantic feelings for any of the men. 
You shrug your shoulders. Oh well, what can go wrong? “Uh, sure. It’s a deal,” you reply, grabbing Yanqing’s hand and shaking them.
You and Yanqing turn to the ring, watching the redhead prepare his match with the automaton grizzly. It towers over the redhead, ready to charge forward. The redhead summons his weapon, grinning from ear to ear as he prepares to make the first move. The automaton grizzly summons two automaton spiders, both on the verge of exploding.
You scoot back, tugging on Yanqing’s sleeves. “Let’s back up just in case,” you murmur.
Yanqing looks at you with confusion before mimicking you. The battle begins, and everything is going really well for the redhead! He managed to defeat both the automaton spiders, causing them to explode beside the automaton grizzly. The fight was coming to an end when all of a sudden, the automaton grizzly stomped on the ground, causing the redhead to lose balance, sending his prosthetic arm to come off and flying in your direction. Needless to say, you have a slow reaction time because your world suddenly goes back when the metal prosthetic arm smacks your face.
When you open your eyes, you’re in the void with Nanook towering over you. Instead of Nanook covering the sun and sky, your head is lying on Nanook’s lap. Nanook sighs in relief when your eyes flutter open. You look around, confused about how you ended up in the abyss with Nanook.
You sit up, only for Nanook to push you back to lie down. You didn’t protest or fight against it. You rest your head on Nanook’s lap, gazing up at the Aeon with bleary eyes. Nanook gives you a small smile and combs his fingers through your hair.
“What happened?” You mutter.
Nanook sigh. “You got hit in the face, and it knocked you out. Now here you are, with me. Safe in my arms where no one and nothing can harm a single hair on your head,” Nanook replies, smiling at you.
You reach for Nanook’s hands, lacing your fingers together. Nanook lets out a shaky sigh, bringing your laced hands up to his lips, and presses a gentle kiss on your knuckles. So that’s what happened. You were knocked out unconscious. 
You weren’t sure how long you’ll remain unconscious, but you like being in the void with Nanook. It’s nice and quiet here— away from the dangers lurking in every corner. You have Nanook with you, and Nanook can protect you from harm. 
“How much longer do I have to wait to see you in person, Nanook?” You whisper, shutting your eyes.
Nanook hums, combing his fingers through your hair. “Sooner than you think, little one. I won’t keep you waiting any longer, I promise,” Nanook whispers, pressing another kiss on your forehead.
Before you can ask any more questions, the void around you slowly becomes dark. Nanook sighs in defeat, kissing your knuckles one last time. You involuntarily jerk when you feel someone tap your cheek while saying your name repeatedly. You groan, attempting to swat the hand away from your face. Your face hurts, but more importantly, your forehead hurts a lot. It feels like someone chucked a metal bat in your face. Oh, wait, that kind of happened, aside from the metal bat part. 
“Hey, hey, hey! It’s okay! Take it easy now,” says an unfamiliar voice.
You crack your eyes open. Your vision is blurry, and there are multiple people peering down at you, watching you regain your consciousness. You blink rapidly, rubbing your eyes with the heel of your hand. You have no idea how long you’ve been knocked out, but that was probably the best yet worst nap you have ever gotten.
The redhead with the metal prosthetic arm sighs in relief, smiling at you. “I’m so glad you’re okay! I didn’t mean to knock you out with my arm. To be honest, I didn’t expect my prosthetic to fly off and hit you in the face,” says the redhead. 
“Just be glad it didn’t give [Y/N] a concussion, Luka,” a gentle voice interjects.
You look up to see Natasha walk up to where you’re lying. She smiles at you and stands at the edge of the bed. Now that you’re awake, you realize you’re at the infirmary in Boulder Town. Yanqing is sitting beside you, pressing an ice pack on your forehead. Yanqing looks like he saw a ghost— the poor boy is pale and has tears pooling in his eyes. You’re tempted to ask Yanqing what is wrong, but before you can ask Yanqing, Yanqing looks away while still pressing the ice pack against your forehead. 
Natasha does a quick check-up on you while Yanqing and the redhead remain by your side. For your headache, Natasha prescribes you pain medication to take. She instructs you to take it every eight hours, but only if you’re having a headache. Natasha dismisses you, Yanqing, and the redhead.
The three of you step out of the infirmary, not saying a word. Yanqing sticks to your side, Yanqing’s arm looping around yours as he helps you down the stairs. You sit on the last step of the stairs, holding the ice pack on the bruise and a forming bump on your forehead. You turn to look at Yanqing.
“Did he win?” You ask.
Yanqing looks at you incredulously, his mouth agape. “You were knocked out cold by his flying prosthetic arm, and you’re wondering if he won the fight?!” Yanqing screeches.
The redhead chuckles, sitting beside you. “The fight stopped after my arm hit you in the face. I didn’t win or lose, but I was winning,” replies the redhead. “I’m Luka, by the way.”
You tried to smile at Luka, only for it to be a grimace. “Nice to meet you, Luka! I’m [Y/N], and the blond boy beside me is Yanqing! He’s my babysitter,” you reply.
Luka looks at you and Yanqing curiously but doesn’t question it. Your meeting with Luka was brief since your phone was blowing up with text messages and phone calls from your Astral Express and Belobog traveling companions. Blade, Luocha, and Jing Yuan even sent you a series of text messages and phone calls, asking where you and Yanqing have disappeared off to.
Before you and Yanqing could return to the Xianzhou Luofu, you and Luka traded phone numbers. Luka said he was going to find a way to make it up to you when you two cross paths later. Yanqing wasn’t fond of Luka, and you weren’t sure if it was because of Luka’s prosthetic arm flying off and knocking you out or if it was because of something else.
Either way, when you and Yanqing returned to the Xianzhou Luofu, the others were waiting for your and Yanqing’s return. Everyone’s eyes automatically lock on you when you step into the Seat of Divine Foresight. Yanqing didn’t get in trouble, thankfully. However, you did get an earful from the others for wandering off and dragging Yanqing with you. 
“I guess that’s the end of Yanqing’s babysitting service,” you grumble, letting Luocha replace the now-melted ice pack with a new one. “Now I’ll never know what Jing Yuan, Blade, and Luocha said about me,” you lament.
Loucha pauses and looks at you with a blank stare. “Pardon me?” Luocha asks, raising his eyebrows at you.
You blink at the long, blond-haired man. “I don’t know what I’m saying. Ignore that. I did get hit in the face with a metal arm not long ago,” you grumble.
Luocha shrugs before continuing where he had left off while the others go through your phone. You took many pictures while you were with Yanqing, and the men (and March) were glad that you had a great time! That is until your phone chimes and a notification pops up on your screen.
“One attachment from Luka?” Gepard mutters, raising an eyebrow.
March props her hands on her hips. “Who is this Luka person?” March asks.
Dan Heng hums. “One way to find out…” Dan Heng trails off.
Gepard clicks on the notification, sending them to a text messaging app. The attachment shows up, and it was a shirtless, mirror picture of the redhead you met at Boulder Town. Sampo’s eyes widen, his eyes zooming in on the text below.
“I hope this makes up for what happened today. I hope I can make it up to you in person x”
Oh, you have some explaining to do.
Mr. Yang slowly turns to where you’re sitting, crossing his arms over his chest while looking like a stern father, ready to scold his child. “[Y/N]. Care to explain this?” Mr. Yang asks, holding up your phone to your face.
Your eyes widen, and you look away, rubbing the back of your neck. “I don’t think you should be interrogating someone that got smacked in the face with a metal arm right now. I’ll explain everything later,” you reply. “And I’m going to smack Luka for sending a shirtless mirror selfie out of nowhere.”
While there’s nothing romantic going on between you and each of the men, they can’t help but feel something form in the pit of their gut. Yeah, Yanqing’s babysitting service is definitely not going to happen again. At least, not without the other person keeping an eye on you and Yanqing.
Note: It's about to be 6 AM, and I have not slept at all. Once I post this fic on AO3, I am going straight to sleep. It's a good thing it's summer for me now because my sleep schedule is officially fucked. My first mini-fic for HSR omg :o anyway, I am going to start working on a taglist form for my HSR series, and hopefully, I can start tagging people in posts soon. To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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genshinluvr · 9 months
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Masterlist 2
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
🔞 = Contains Smut, suggestive themes
❗ = Contains triggering content
🫧 = Self-indulgent (will make a separate masterlist for it soon)
🧋 = Author's favorites
🌸 = Requests
✨ = Mini-fics
🧧 = AUs
[All contents listed/linked down below are also posted on my AO3]
Imagines/One-Shots:
• [ Coming Soon ]
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Series:
- GENSHIN IMPACT -
Not What You'd Expect [Various Genshin Men x Isekai'd!Reader] (One-shot series):
Summary of Not What You'd Expect [Various Genshin Men x Isekai'd!Reader]: Who knew that getting Isekai'd into Genshin Impact would get you into many situations that you've never thought you'd get yourself into! Whether the situation is life-threatening or just one of those soft and fluffy moments, you don't think you'd want to leave the game any time soon! And it seems like they don't want you to leave any time soon either! So, you might as well enjoy your stay while you're at it!
• Weaseling in (Various Genshin Men x Isekai'd!Reader, Neuvillette x Isekai'd!Reader x Wriothesley) [Published on July 23, 2023] ✨
Summary of "Weaseling in": The men left to grab some food while you stay back and wait for them to return. When they return, they see that you're not alone. The two strangers from Fontaine are chatting you up— only they recognize the two strangers with familiar faces from the last time you got lost in Fontaine.
• Sick Days 2 (Various Genshin Men x Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on July 30, 2023] ✨
Summary of "Sick Days 2": The men are sick, and it's your duty to nurse them back to their healthy selves. Yes, the men are sick— all twenty-seven of them are ill, and you're the only one who's taking care of them. Some of them made it easier for you, but others made it complicated for you. It's a good thing you don't have emetophobia.
• Where I Truly Belong (Various Genshin Men x Villain!Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on August 6, 2023] ❗
Summary of "Where I Truly Belong": Your arrival at Teyvat was sudden and you thought you'd be welcome with open arms and new friendship. However, you were terribly wrong. You were ignored, threatened, and chased out of the regions in Teyvat. One day, on the heart island outside of Liyue, a portal opens and an opportunity is given to you. An opportunity where you have power and control over fate. Perhaps this is where you truly belong.
• Mr. Sweet Talker (Various Genshin Men x Isekai'd!Reader, Lyney x Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on August 20, 2023] ✨
Summary of "Mr. Sweet Talker": Aether and Paimon managed to snag free tickets to the magic show in Fontaine! It's all thanks to a certain famous Fontianian magician. Who knew he could be such a sweet talker?
• Happily Ever After? (Various Princes!Genshin Men x Royal!Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on August 27, 2023] 🧧
Summary of "Happily Ever After?": There was a small kingdom on Teyvat where a king and queen kept their child locked in a tower for over two decades— the public and other kingdoms do not know what this royal Highness looks like, nor do they know much of this person. However, twenty-seven princes set off to free their royal Highness from their high-rise prison. Maybe you will finally get your happily ever after by finally getting your freedom.
• Burning Desire 4 [Al Haitham's Route] (Various Genshin Men x Iskeai'd!Reader, Al Haitham x Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on September 3, 2023] 🔞
Summary of "Burning Desire 4 [Al Haitham's Route]": Awaken from your slumber due to the burning pit in your stomach, you decide to take a shower early morning, hoping it will cool you off. After your shower, you leave your bedroom to see a shirtless Al Haitham reading a book at your desk. You weren't sure why Al Haitham is in your bedroom, but he has his reasons for visiting you.
• Watch the World Burn (Various Genshin Men x Villain!Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on September 17, 2023] ❗
Summary of "Watch the World Burn": [This is part 2 of Where I Truly Belong] Those who have wronged you, chased you out of the region, and ostracized you will all go down with Teyvat. You will watch the world burn as bodies around you fall to the ground one by one.
• Where's the Update? (Genshin Filler Chapter) [April 1, 2024]
Summary of "Where's The Update?": You and the men go and visit the person who writes the script for every project you all do.
• [ Coming Soon ]
- HONKAI STAR RAIL -
Brightest Star in the Universe [Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader] (One-shot series):
Summary of "Brightest Star in the Universe [Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader]": You were thrust into the world of Honkai Star Rail without warning and any recollection of your memory. Blade and Kafka refer to you as the fallen star. You don't know what it means, and you think it sounds ridiculous. After meeting the men from the Honkai Star Rail universe, these men can't help but feel drawn to you. As if there's this invisible line that's pulling them closer to you. Just when you thought your stay in the Honkai Star Rail universe couldn't get any weirder, the universe keeps proving you wrong.
• Anything for the Star (Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on July 22, 2023/July 23, 2023] ✨
Summary of "Anything for the Star": March has a theory that the men would do anything for their precious shining star. However, you thought it was ridiculous. Due to you being skeptical about March's theory, March decides to put it to the test because those men would do anything for the star, right?
• Final Moments (Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on July 30, 2023] ✨, ❗
Summary of "Final Moments": You're somewhere alone, bleeding, and on the verge of death. Everyone is scrambling to reach out to you, but you're not picking up your phone, and no one knows where you are. Not even Nanook knows your whereabouts. You didn't think you could die in a universe you didn't belong to, but you were wrong. At least you were able to hear their voices in your final moments, right?
• Seeing Stars (Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader, Nanook x Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on August 6, 2023] 🔞
Summary of "Seeing Stars": Your and Nanook's intimate moment was interrupted by your Astral Express traveling companions. Caelus spots a hickey on your neck, you make a poor excuse regarding that hickey, and all of a sudden, you find Nanook balls deep inside you. Needless to say, Nanook is called the Aeon of Destruction for a reason. And that reason isn't because of destroying the universe, but because he's going to be destroying your insides.
• Anything for the Star 2 (Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on August 20, 2023] ✨
Summary of "Anything for the Star 2": After being sandwiched between Gepard and Sampo's chest due to March claiming you wanted to be sandwiched between the two men from Jarilo-VI, you fainted. You soon regained consciousness and now have to deal with the aftermath, and you're also on the hunt for March around the Astral Express.
• Trouble in Paradise (Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on August 27, 2023]
Summary of "Trouble in Paradise": Nanook has always communicated with you through your dreams because both you and Nanook are connected with each other. But now that Nanook has taken a human form, there's no need to communicate through your dreams! You were certain that it was just Nanook who could communicate with you through your dreams until Phantylia showed up.
• To be Reborn (Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Vidyadhara!Isekai'd!Reader) 🧧 [Published on September 3, 2023]
Summary of "To be Reborn": Waking up in Scalegorge Waterscape, you have no recollection of your past life. You are reborn— you are a Vidyadhara— hatched from an egg. A young blond boy awaits your rebirth, the same boy who volunteers to be your protector. Your past life remains a mystery. Your relationship with three particular men remains a mystery as they gaze at you longingly from a distance. Sometimes, it's a curse to be reborn.
• Well, Shit. (Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Toddler!Isekai'd!Reader) [Published on September 17, 2023]
Summary of "Well, Shit.": Well, Shit. This isn't supposed to happen. How did this even happen in the first place? Yanqing was tasked to watch over you while General Jing Yuan and your traveling companions were out on a mission. Who knew it would end up with you turning into a toddler?
• Where Are the Updates? (HSR Filler Chapter) [Published on April 1, 2024]
Summary of "Where Are the Updates?": The person who writes the script for your and the men's future project is visiting the Astral Express. Everyone is wondering what is their future role in the projects (and Sampo is being Sampo)
• [ Coming Soon ]
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Asks w/ Mini-fics:
• [ Coming Soon ]
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genshinluvr · 9 months
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Double Whammy
Pairings: Various Honkai Star Rail Men x Isekai'd!Reader
Summary: You wake up one day feeling unwell. You discover you have started your period, and not only are you menstruating, but you also have a fever. You're sick, you're menstruating, and you have awful cramps. It's a double whammy you didn't think you would have to deal with in the men's universe, but alas, Lady Luck is not on your side.
Note: This is for my AFAB people who get sick when their periods start! I'm not that person, but I know a few people who get really sick when they're on their periods, and it's awful. So, this is the fic for my girlies and female-bodied people who have to deal with something as awful as getting sick while menstruating. This week is my vacation, and therefore this week and next week, I will be posting mini-fics instead of the typical lengthy fics.
Warnings: Mentions of blood and vomiting
Word Count: 8.4k
The first thing you notice when you wake up is the temperature of your body. You’re burning up, and you’re sweating. Not only are you burning up, but you have this massive headache, and you feel like you got hit by a train at full speed. You groan, tossing around in bed, kicking the blanket off your body. Nanook, who was sleeping beside you, stirs and cracks his eyes open, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles.
“Little one? Are you alright?” Nanook asks, turning on his side to look at you.
You didn’t reply. Only you roll off the bed and to the ground, groaning in pain. You’re not sure if you’re groaning because of the pain from falling to the ground or if it’s because of this familiar cramp in your lower abdomen. Nanook is immediately at your side, helping you stand up. You clutch onto your lower abdomen, groaning softly.
You go limp in Nanook’s arms, closing your eyes and leaning against his body. Nanook nearly flinches when your bare skin touches his. Nanook helps you lay on your bed and presses his hand against your forehead, frowning.
“Nanook,” you whimper, tugging on his shirt. “Everything hurts.”
Nanook runs his hands through his hair. “You’re burning up, Starlight. Are you feeling unwell?” Nanook murmurs.
You groan and sniffle, covering your eyes with your arm. Nanook jogs to the bathroom to turn on the faucet and soak the small face towel in cold water. Your lower abdomen feels like they’re being squeezed and twisted into knots. You don’t feel too good. You felt fine the day before, and you’re sure you didn’t do anything to get yourself sick. So, why are you feeling this way out of nowhere?
Nanook returns to the room with a damp towel in his hands. He brushes the strands of hair away from your face and places the damp cloth over your burning forehead. You sigh in relief, your body visibly relaxing. Nanook looks around your room, his eyes landing on the small fan in the corner. Nanook leaves your side to turn on the fan, hoping it’ll make the room cool enough to prevent you from overheating.
The small fan chimes and begins to slowly rotate, blowing cool air into your room. Your throat feels strange when you swallow your saliva. It feels dry, scratchy, and almost swollen. You force yourself to sit up and stare at the Aeon, who turns around to see you sitting. The Aeon stares at you with worry while you stare off into space, your eyes glazed over.
You shudder, feeling something gush out from you and onto your underwear. Your eyes widen, and you rush to the bathroom, the damp face towel plopping on the ground. Poor Nanook stands there, feeling lost and unsure of what to do. Nanook walks to where the towel fell and picks the towel off the floor. A faint color on the bed catches his attention. 
You’re sitting on the toilet, staring at your bloodstained underwear with an exasperated sigh. For some reason, it didn’t occur to you that you can have periods in another universe. You tear the toilet paper into a temporary pad, place it over the blood stain, and flush the toilet. 
You pull your pants up and walk out of the bathroom (technically, you waddled out of the bathroom) and see Nanook standing next to the bed, looking at something. You stand beside Nanook and look down to see the white bedsheets stained with blood. You groan internally and cover your face with your hands.
You cursed, rubbing your temples. "Great, now I have another thing to worry about," you grumble.
"You should rest. I'll handle it," Nanook murmurs, stripping the mattress of the bedsheets. 
You grab Nanook's hands and shake your head. "No, it's alright. I'll handle it since I made the mess," you sigh. 
Nanook reluctantly hands the bedsheets to you. You walk out of the room and toss your bedsheets into the washer before searching for extra bedsheets. After a few minutes of searching for a spare bedsheet, you finally find light blue bedsheets that you can temporarily use. You return to your room to see Nanook emerge from the bathroom with another damp towel in his hands.
You didn't question Nanook and continued to put the new sheets on your bed and reorganize the blanket and pillows with the help of Nanook. You collapse onto your bed and close your eyes. Nanook places the cold towel over your burning forehead and presses a kiss on the side of your head.
"Nanook," You whisper, cracking your eyes open to look at Nanook, whose towering over you. Nanook hums, burying his face into your neck, rubbing your bicep with his thumb. "Can you maybe stop by March's room or Himeko's room and ask them if they have pads or tampons by any chance? I don't want to bleed out on the sheets again."
Nanook pauses and slowly gets off your bed. Nanook certainly did not want to leave your room and stop by March's and Himeko's bedroom to ask for pads and tampons, but because he sees the pain on your face, Nanook complies. Nanook slides your door open and walks a few doors down the hallway, lightly tapping on the door. Nanook hears faint grumbling and footsteps approaching the door. The door slides open to reveal March with a bedhead. Oh, right. Nanook forgot it was in the middle of the night.
March glares at Nanook, rubbing her eyes. "What do you need, Nanook?" March grumbles.
Nanook clears his throat. "Do you have any spare pads or tampons for [Y/N] to use? Their menstrual cycle has begun," says Nanook. 
March's eyes widen, and she nods. She rushes off before returning with two boxes of pads and tampons in her hands. One box contains pads, and the other box contains tampons. She hands the boxes to Nanook. Nanook sighs in relief and gives March a grateful smile before rushing back to your (and his shared) bedroom. Nanook enters the room and sees that you have already passed out asleep on the bed. Nanook chuckles, placing the boxes of pads and tampons on the nightstand and walking over to the bed.
Nanook nudges you. "Starlight, wake up," Nanook whispers.
You groan softly and open your eyes. Nanook smiles and caresses your face. "Why aren't you sleeping, Nana?" you mumble, reaching up and wrapping your burning arms around his neck.
"I returned with the pads and tampons from your pink-haired friend," Nanook says, kissing your burning cheek. 
You grumble, take the cold towel off your forehead, and hand it to Nanook. You roll off your bed, walk to your dresser, pull out clean shorts and underwear, and grab the boxes before retreating to the bathroom. You made sure to wipe and wash the blood off the lower half of your body. And by the lower half of your body, you mean your butt and the inside of your thighs.
After washing yourself and sticking the pads on your clean underwear, you pull your underwear and pants up, sighing in relief. At least you're protected for the next few hours until you wake up. You feel like you got hit by a train. You flush the toilet and toss your bloodstained shorts and underwear into the laundry basket before leaving the bathroom.
You collapse on the bed beside Nanook and close your eyes. Nanook places the semi-damp cloth over your forehead. You sigh in relief. As much as you want to snuggle up against Nanook under the blankets, you can't get yourself to do it. You're really hot, and even if the fan is running and blowing cool air around the room, your body can't handle any more heat. 
"Night, Nanook," you whisper.
You're not sure what happened first. You weren't sure if your period started first, which led to you getting a fever, or if it was the other way around. Either way, waking up in the middle of the night with a fever and staining your bed with blood was something you wish you didn't wake up to, but alas, fate was not on your side this time.
Hours later, you're shaken awake. The voices around you are muffled as you try to move your arm, but they feel heavy, like lead. You turn your head to the side and cough, groaning when pain shoots up your throat. You slowly open your eyes to see Nanook peering down at you with worry. Nanook sighs in relief and helps you sit up. You lean against Nanook and blink at the four faces with bleary eyes.
Dan Heng sighs. "It looks worse than we thought," Dan Heng grumbles.
"Is that normal? March, you're a girl. Is it normal for female-bodied people to have periods this bad that it makes them sick?" Caelus asks, poking the pink-haired girl beside him.
March shakes her head. "It all depends from person to person, Caelus. People experience periods differently," March replies.
You rub your eyes and wipe the sweat from your neck. You feel unbelievably sweaty and sticky. It's so discomforting, and you're tempted to tell your traveling companions to bury you in snow like how Sampo did it to himself when he was hiding from the Silvermane Guards. You sniffle, only to realize your nose is clogged, but they're also runny. 
Mr. Yang walks through the door with a bottle of water and medication in his hands. "Here, take these every eight hours." Mr, Yang hands you the medication.
Nanook helps you sit up, opens the medicine bottle, and hands you two pills. You toss two pills into your mouth, uncap the water bottle, and chug the water, washing the medication down. You drink the entire water bottle and place it on the nightstand, sniffling. Nanook cradles you in his arms and lays you on the bed. 
"I feel like I got hit by a train," you rasp, clearing your throat.
March chuckles. "No offense, but you look like you got hit by a train, too," March interjects.
Nanook ignores March's comment and brushes your hair from your face. You're sweating so much that your hair is sticking to your skin. You want to go back to sleep, but you can't because of the unbearable heat in your room, and you're incredibly hot. It's not too late to ask the others to bury you in the snow on Jarilo-VI, is it?
"Can you guys do me a favor?" You rasp.
Caelus and Dan Heng sit at the edge of your bed, nodding. You look at March and Mr. Yang. The two nod their heads in response, waiting for you to tell them what the favor was. You swallow the lump in your throat, wincing when you feel phlegm at the back of your throat. Nanook grabs your hands, squeezing gently.
You clear your throat for the umpteenth time. "Can you guys bury me in the snow on Jarilo-VI? I'm burning up, and I desperately need something to cool me down," you mumble.
"Absolutely not," Mr. Yang replies instantly, shaking his head.
Dan Heng sighs, closing his eyes. "Burying you in snow will give you hypothermia. It won't do you any good," Dan Heng deadpans.
You frown at Dan Heng and Mr. Yang's response to your request. It's not like you wanted them to literally bury you in the snow. At least waist down should do it, but not your entire body! Kind of. Would showering be a better option since you won’t be giving yourself hypothermia?
"Okay, if I can't bury myself in the snow to lower my body temperature, then can I take a cold shower to lower my body temperature? I feel sticky and disgusting," you plead. 
Caelus purses his lips and props his hands on his hips. "I don't see why not. But again, I don't think taking a shower while you're sick is a good idea. Maybe a bath should do,"
You hum and close your eyes. Your eyelids feel so heavy, and you can't do anything about it. Nanook sighs and lays beside you, propping himself up with his arms while watching you closely. He reaches forward and presses the back of his hands against your cheeks. Your fever has gotten worse overnight after you cleaned up and put on pads. 
This was the first time you have gotten sick since arriving in their universe. It's hard seeing you suffer, and they can't do much about it aside from calling for help and assistance from others on the Xianzhou Luofu and Jarilo-VI. Mr. Yang gets up and excuses himself before walking out of your bedroom to make a phone call. 
Gosh, you feel so sweaty and sticky. You just want to take a shower and change into clothes that aren't soaked in sweat. Even if your clothes aren't soaked in sweat, it sure feels like it. It'll be a quick shower. One shower won't hurt, right? You slowly roll out of bed and grab a change of clothes and clean underwear. You waddle to the bathroom but stop abruptly. You visibly shudder when you feel your uterine lining shed and spill out of your insides and onto the pad. You squeeze your eyes shut and continue walking to the bathroom, ignoring the questioning look Nanook, Caelus, and Dan Heng shoot in your direction.
March sighs, shaking her head. "Don't ask [Y/N] about it," March says,
Caelus raises his eyebrows at March. "Oh? And you know what [Y/N] dealt with just a second ago?"
She turns to look at Caelus and Dan Heng, nodding. Just thinking about it makes March shudder. It's not a pleasant feeling, no matter the size of the uterine lining shedding. In the bathroom, you stare at the bloody pad with horror. You can't tell if it's a blood clot, a uterine lining, or a miscarriage. You shudder again, rolling the used pad up into the wrapping before tossing it into the trash can. 
You made sure to shower at a warm temperature instead of freezing or boiling hot water. You stand in the shower, watching the blood get washed down the drain. Another wave of painful cramps kicks in, nearly knocking you off your feet. You hug your abdomen, squeezing your eyes shut. You quickly rinse the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair, scrub your body down with apple blossom body wash, and wash the inside of your thighs and groin with unscented soap.
Your legs start to feel like gelatin. You sit on the ground and hug your knees to your chest, letting the water rain down on you as you contemplate why this is happening all of a sudden and if the fever was caused by your period. You rest your head against the tile walls, closing your eyes and sighing. You blindly turn the shower off before peeking your hand from the curtains, searching for the towel to wrap yourself in. 
Now that you finished showering, you have a small time window to dry your body before blood starts gushing from your groin. You're not in the mood to clean the blood off the ground, and you certainly do not want to deal with any more bloodstains. You quickly dry your body and put your underwear on, making sure the pad is secured in place so it wouldn't slide around. You put your clothes on, wrap the towel around your head, and exit the bathroom.
"Gumdrop! I heard what happened and rushed to the Astral Express as fast as I could!" Sampo cries out, barreling toward you and tackling you into a hug.
You grunt and squeeze your eyes shut when you feel blood gush onto the pad. You wince and open one eye to look at the indigo-haired man with a strained smile, patting his back. Sampo releases you and holds you at a distance, both hands on your shoulders, while looking at you closely. 
Sampo squints. "You look a little bit different today, Gumdrop," Sampo says, cupping your face with both hands. "Wow, Mr. Yang wasn't kidding when he said you're burning up."
Mr. Yang sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose with annoyance. "Sampo, please don't overwhelm them. They're not feeling well. Let them dry their hair and let them rest after."
You weren't exactly in the mood to dry your hair. You prefer to let your hair air dry, but knowing Mr. Yang, Jing Yuan, Luocha, Blade, Nanook, and Dan Heng, they would disapprove of that. You have an inkling feeling that Mr. Yang will tell you that not drying your hair will cause headaches and is the possibility of why you're sick. Everyone on the Astral Express knows you don't dry your hair with a hairdryer and that you prefer to let it dry on its own. 
You reluctantly take the towel off your head before returning to the bathroom to dry your hair with medium heat while trying not to fall asleep while standing up. A knock at the door pulls you out of your daze. You turn to see Blade standing there, leaning against the door frame, gazing at you with scrutiny. You blink at him, letting the warm air caress your face. Blade sighs, walks into the bathroom, takes the hairdryer from your hands, and begins combing his fingers through your hair wordlessly. You close your eyes and let Blade comb his fingers through your semi-damp hair. 
"I don't think it's a good idea to take a shower while having a fever," Blade murmurs, making sure to dry the areas that are still cold and damp.
You purse your lips. "I was sweating a lot, Blade. I didn't want to lay in bed all day in sweaty clothes," you reply.
Blade scrunches his nose up with disgust. "I wouldn't come anywhere near you if you were wearing clothes soaked in sweat," Blade mutters, poking your back lightly.
"Ha! As if Nanook would let you get anywhere near me in the first place! Speaking of Nanook, where is he?" You murmur, turning to search for the Aeon of Destruction.
Blade smacks his lips with annoyance and turns your head to face the mirror so he can continue to dry your hair.
While drying your hair, Blade accidentally knocks the barrel of the hair dryer against your forehead. You groan and cover the area with your hand while Blade rushes to turn the hair dryer off. Blade grabs your face and makes you take your hand away from the area where he accidentally hit your head with the barrel. 
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hit you," Blade murmurs, pressing a kiss on the throbbing spot.
You pout and let Blade soothe the aching spot with a kiss while lightly rubbing it with his index and middle finger. Dan Heng pops up at the entrance of the bathroom, narrowing his eyes at Blade. Blade ignores Dan Heng's presence and continues to massage the spot.
Dan Heng crosses his arms over his chest, stepping into the bathroom. "What happened, and why is [Y/N]'s face pinching with pain?" Dan Heng raises his eyebrows at you and Blade. The stair and eyebrow-raising are mainly directed toward Blade, who continues to ignore Dan Heng's presence and questions.
"It's nothing! Don't worry about it!" You squeak, waving Dan Heng off while Blade continues to massage the area where he accidentally hit you.
After massaging your head for a few minutes, Blade grabs your brush and starts brushing your hair. You look in the mirror to see Dan Heng at the doorway with Sampo standing there, pouting at you like a lost puppy. You clear your throat, rubbing your throat. Blade puts the brush down on the counter and pats your head. You quietly thanked Blade before leaving your bathroom with Sampo trotting after you.
"[Y/N], are you sure you're okay?" Gepard asks.
You slowly kneel on your bed before plopping face down. Dear Aeons, you're so tired. Your cramps are killing you, and your uterine lining is shedding, and plopping onto the once-white pad is making you feel so gross and out of it. Well, gross isn't the right word to describe it. Just feeling it oozes onto the pad makes you shudder and get goosebumps.
Your voice is muffled against your pillow, "Yeah, I should be okay, Gepard. It's something I've been dealing with for years now."
You flip over on your back and close your eyes, fanning yourself with your hands. The fan blowing cool air into your bedroom isn't working, and your body continues to feel overheated. You huff, sitting up and rubbing your face with annoyance. Everyone is wearing their daily clothes while you're wearing the thinnest clothing you have and the shortest clothing you own. None of them was heating up, and you're over here about to break into a sweat again despite taking a shower not long ago. 
"Is burying me in the snow on Jarilo-VI still out of the options?" You ask, frowning at March, Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang.
March snorts. "Of course it is! You're going to get yourself even more sick than you already are! Now, lay back and enjoy being pampered by these lovesick fools," March says, gesturing over to the men behind her.
The men behind March all rub their necks while looking around your room, avoiding your gaze. On the other hand, Nanook did not look too pleased with March's comment and the reaction from the nine men. You plop back on your bed and close your eyes, a wave of dizziness hitting you hard. You groan and squeeze your eyes as tightly as you can. Your stomach starts to churn, making you freeze with fear and worry. You slowly open your eyes and stare into space.
Luocha gazes at you, worried. "Are you alright? You don't look too good," Luocha says, taking a step toward your bed.
"I think you forgot they're sick, Luocha. For someone who's great at healing those around him, you're not the brightest today, are you?" Luka teases, earning a glare and an elbow to the rib from the man with long blond hair, 
You suddenly leave your bed in a hurry, running to the bathroom and slamming the door behind you before anyone can follow you. You lock the door, open the toilet lid, and vomit into the toilet. You vomited and vomited until there was nothing left inside. You flush the toilet and crawl to the sink to brush your teeth to rid of the aftertaste. After brushing your teeth, you step out of the bathroom and wipe the bead of sweat from your forehead.
"Oh, sweetheart, this is worse than we thought," Jing Yuan whispers.
Your knees buckle underneath you, sending you tumbling to the ground. Jing Yuan grabs you before your head can touch the ground, and he cradles you in his arms. You grip his shirt, eyebrows pinching together with discomfort. Jing Yuan sighs and carries you over to your bed. Nanook steps forward and takes you out of Jing Yuan's arms, making the General of the Xianzhou Luofu huff with annoyance. 
"From now on, until you feel one hundred percent better, you're not permitted to leave your bed," Luocha instructs, standing at the foot of your bed with his arms over his chest. "As restricting as that sounds, this is for the sake of your health."
Luka clears his throat. "But they are allowed to leave their bed to go to the bathroom?" Luka asks.
You grip Nanook's shirt and pull him down to lie beside you. Nanook chuckles and scoots you over on your bed before getting comfortable beside you. Sampop huffs loudly, narrowing his eyes at Nanook as the Aeon of Destruction wraps his arms around your waist and plants a kiss on your burning cheeks. 
"I'm sure they're allowed to leave their bed for basic things," Gepard sighs, shaking his head.
You bury your face into Nanook's chest and close your eyes, the sound of Nanook's steady heartbeat lulling you to sleep. After you have fallen asleep, Jing Yuan starts assigning each person duties around the Astral Express. From getting you food to getting you medicine to adjusting the temperature on the Astral Express to fit your needs and to making sure you're comfortable. 
Everyone is well aware that your sudden sickness is caused by your menstrual cycle, and they wish they could do something to ease your pain (aside from giving you pain medications for your cramps). But they can do only so much, and not even Luocha can ease your pain. Luocha sits at the edge of the bed, and Nanook tenses up, glaring at the blond man that dares to be close to you. Luocha sighs and rolls his eyes, holding his hands up.
Jing Yuan smiles at Nanook, trying not to show his annoyance. "Nanook, I understand you worry about [Y/N] and are protective of them, but you need to let Luocha check [Y/N]'s condition," says Jing Yuan.
Nanook bites the inside of his lips before nodding hesitantly, sitting up, and adjusting you in his arms. You mumble in your sleep, burrowing your face into Nanook's chest and wrapping your arms and legs around him like a koala. March giggles and turns to look at the others, but her smile fades away when she sees how tense everyone in the room is. March clears her throat and slowly steps out of your room. If anything, she would rather not be caught in the crossfire. Poor unconscious you, lying in the middle of the tension between ten men who has deep feelings for you.
Luka crosses his arms over his chest. "I want [Y/N] to cuddle with me. Are we allowed to do that?" Luka asks, looking around.
Gepard raises his eyebrows at Luka. "What do you mean? Can you clarify that?" asks Gepard, propping his hands on his hips.
Before Luka can reply, a soft sneeze can be heard from your, Luocha, and Nanook’s direction. You sneezed into your arms, making sure not to sneeze on Nanook’s chest. You peek and look at everyone sleepily.
“Excuse me,” you whisper before burying your face into Nanook’s chest to continue your sleep.
Nanook caresses your head as you snuggle into his arms. Nanook chuckles and runs his fingers through your hair, ignoring the stares you and Nanook receive from the others in the room. Even in your sleep, your cramps continue to squeeze and twist your uterine muscle. While it's the muscle contracting, it feels like you're being put through the wringer. You whimper in your sleep and roll on your side away from Nanook.
"Did they take the pain medication?" Jing Yuan asks, turning to look at Mr. Yang.
Mr. Yang sighs, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Yes, they took their medication before you arrived at the Astral Express. Because they vomited, the medication did not absorb into their body properly," replies Mr. Yang.
You open your eyes and sit on your bed, sniffling and staring into space. Nanook props himself up on your bed and stares at you, wondering why you're awake all of a sudden. You frown and close your eyes before falling over face-first on the bed. Nanook shoots up and pulls you into his arms, glaring at any person that dares to come close. Caelus turns to look at Jing Yuan, propping his hands on his hips.
"If we're assigning duties, can Nanook be involved too? I don't think cuddling [Y/N] should be one of the duties as it does exclude others from joining in on the cuddle session," Caelus says.
Sampo raises his hands. "What if cuddling helps [Y/N]? I know it's hard to believe, but I think cuddling is the best thing to do while sick and menstruating," Sampo interjects.
You wrap your arms around Nanook, staring at the nine men and March with bleary eyes. You want to sleep the cramps away, but you're in so much pain that it's keeping you awake. At least you're not feeling nauseous anymore. Even if you were feeling nauseous, what's there to throw up when you vomited everything up already? Quite Frankly, you're not opposed to cuddling with every person. However, you're more worried about getting each person sick just by being around them and being in the same room as them.
Oh, and Nanook wouldn't like to see you cuddle with someone that isn't him. You look at Nanook, who's gazing at you worriedly. You reach up and pat his cheek before running your hands through his hair. Nanook smiles, grabs your hand, and kisses your knuckle. 
"As amazing as that sounds, I don't think someone would be too pleased about sharing their little shooting star with any of you buffoons," March comments, propping her hands on her hips and leaning on one leg. 
Everyone looks over at Nanook, who quickly looks up and glares at them briefly before looking down at you. You stare at Nanook quizzically. Nanook shakes his head before leaning down to kiss your head. Nanook scrunched his face and wiped his lips after feeling his lips make contact with your sweaty forehead. You gasp softly and look at Nanook with your mouth agape. You pout and roll from Nanook's arms.
"Starlight, I was teasing you," Nanook chuckles.
You sit at the edge of the bed and close your eyes, shaking your head stubbornly. Nanook sighs in defeat, pushing himself up from the bed, and crawls toward you. You refuse to look at Nanook as he sits behind you and wraps his arms around your waist, pulling you onto his lap and resting his chin on your head. You crack one eye open and look at the others, shaking your head.
You sigh dramatically. "I'm willing to cuddle with someone new! Someone who doesn't mind kissing my sweaty forehead because I have a fever!" You announce, looking at Nanook.
Luka steps forward, clearing his throat. "I volunteer as tribute! After all, I don't mind cuddling with you while you're sick. You can see it as me making it up to you after the incident," says Luka, nodding his head.
Nanook raises his eyebrows at Luka, crossing his arms over his chest. Luka looks away from Nanook, rubbing his prosthetic arm. Nanook stares at the prosthetic arm before connecting two and two together. The Aeon of Destruction wants to lash out and give Luka a piece of his mind. Still, since the incident happened a while ago, and you're sick and menstruating, Nanook decides to let it roll off his shoulders. 
You shrug your shoulders and gesture for Luka to approach. Nanook exhales deeply through his nostrils, trying his best not to show his annoyance with watching other men cuddle with you. Luka perks up and struts over to you happily while ignoring the murderous glares given to him as he walks by the other men.
You get off Nanook's lap, crawl back onto the bed, and lie down while waiting for Luka to lay beside you. Nanook and Luka have a stare-down, none of them moving from their spot. You adjust, fluff the pillow underneath your head, and peek over your shoulders to see Nanook and Luka glaring at one another.
"This is getting awkward," Gepard whispers, refusing to take his eyes off the scene before him and the others.
Jing Yuan steps forward, smiling at Luka and Nanook stiffly. "Gentlemen, let's not let [Y/N] wait any longer, shall we? They need to get plenty of rest, and the longer we keep them waiting, the more fatigue they will be," says Jing Yuan.
Nanook clenches his jaws as he gets off your bed, stepping to the side to let Luka crawl onto your bed. The man plops in front of you, smiling at you as he holds his arms out. You scoot into his arms and bury your face into his neck. Luka's face turns almost as dark as his hair, wrapping his arms around you and kissing the top of your head. You sigh with contentment, letting your body relax in Luka's arms. Luka smells like detergent, shampoo, and cologne. You can't help but feel comforted by the smell. 
Luocha chuckles. "Well, after your cuddling session with [Y/N] is over, I will be conducting a check-up on [Y/N] to make sure they're okay. It's better to be safe than sorry," says Luocha.
Luka nods and watches everyone leave your room to do what they were tasked with. Once every person left your room, Nanook remained. Nanook stands where the fan is blowing. His arms crossed over his chest while he stared at you and Luka with scrutiny. Luka likes cuddling with you. This is the first time he's been able to get this close to you without Nanook charging at him like an angry bull.
You crack your eyes open to look at Luka, watching the man before you stare at the Aeon of Destruction with wary. You wrap your arms around his waist and stare at the distracted man. Luka notices the way Nanook tenses up when he sees you wrap your arms around Luka's waist. Your bodies are touching, faces so close that Nanook swears that if Luka were to turn his head to look at you, your noses would be touching.
Your body is so hot that Luka swears it can melt his prosthetic arm. Okay, maybe he was exaggerating about your body temperature, but your body is pretty hot, and he can feel the heat through his clothes. You search for the tissue box, feeling the snot beginning to roll down your nostrils. You poke Luka's chest and point at the box of tissues on your nightstand. Without getting off the bed, Luka leans over and reaches for the tissue box. 
You smile at Luka and grab the tissue from the tissue box he handed to you. You struggle to sit up, prompting Luka to help you. You lean against the man and wipe your nose, head tucked into the crook of Luka's neck. You sniffle and yawn, squeezing the tissue in your hands and closing your eyes,
"You're really warm," you murmur.
Luka kisses your forehead, ignoring the bristling Nanook from a distance. "And you're hot," Luka replies.
Nanook's head snapped toward Luka's direction, his gold eyes turning crimson red with anger and jealousy. You pout and press the back of your head to your forehead, not feeling a difference in temperature. Luka chuckles and kisses your cheek while brushing the hairs from your face. 
"Hey, hey, hey! We're back! Luka, it's time for you to swap out with the next person," Sampo says, entering the room with plushies in his arms while Gepard has a thin throw blanket draped over his arms.
Luka sighs in defeat and reluctantly leaves your side, passing a fuming Nanook on his way toward the door. You turn to look at Sampo and Gepard as the two approach your bed and sit on the edge of your bed on each side. You're too tired to question why you're going to be sandwiched between Gepard and Sampo, but you're not complaining. Sampo hands you a plushie, and you hug the plush to your chest, plopping on the bed and closing your eyes.
When Gepard lays on your bed, something catches his attention—the flower he bought for you at the Eversummer Florist in Belobog. The beautiful flower is sitting near your desk, full of life. Gepard smiles and rolls on his side, propping himself up on his right arm and running his hands through your hair.
"You still have the flower," Gepard murmurs, rubbing the apples of your cheeks with his thumb.
You clear your throat, nodding. "Of course, I still have the flower. It's beautiful, and I've been making sure to take care of it well," you reply, clearing your throat.
The two men sandwich you between them. You're debating who you're going to snuggle up against aside from the plushie you're cradling. Noticing your inner turmoil, Sampo turns you to face him, having you throw one leg over his waist while your head is resting on his bicep. Gepard then spoons you from behind, wrapping his arms around your waist and closing his eyes.
The murderous glare Nanook is giving Sampop and Gepard would have sent them running for the hills. Still, since everyone is allowed to snuggle with you (because you said so and you wanted a new cuddling partner that won't recoil with disgust after kissing your sweaty forehead), Sampo and Gepard decide to enjoy this moment while it lasts. A few seconds later, Nanook decides to leave your bedroom, anger, and jealousy bubbling in his chest.
Gepard and Sampo look at one another over your head, tiny smirks appearing on their faces. It wasn't that Sampo and Gepard are joyful that Nanook is angry and storms out of your bedroom. They're just glad that they didn't have to deal with the Aeon of Destruction's wrath. Yet. Sampo rubs your arms when you shiver, burrowing your face into his neck. Sampo kisses your forehead and closes his eyes. You soon drift to sleep in between Sampo and Gepard. The last thing you felt before you drifted to sleep was Gepard kissing your flushed cheeks, murmuring a soft goodnight (even though it's not nighttime).
The first thing you notice when you wake up is that Sampo and Gepard are no longer by your side. You pout and groan softly, sniffling and hugging the plushie to your chest with an iron grip. Something (or someone) beneath you shifts. You blink and look around sleepily, slowly looking up to see Mr. Yang gazing at you intently. You blink at the older man and rub your eyes. How in the world did you end up on top of Mr. Yang?
"You're a heavy sleeper. Did you know that?" Dan Heng asks.
The more awake you become, the more you're aware that Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and Caelus are sitting up. You're the only one that's lying down on top of Mr. Yang. You look around your room to see Nanook standing where he was prior to leaving your room when Sampo and Gepard were sandwiching you, frowning at the three men. How long have Dan Heng, Caelus, and Mr. Yang been in your bedroom? 
You clear your throat. "How long have I been asleep?"
"I would say almost two hours now. After we told Sampo and Gepard their time was up, you dragged us to your bed and had Mr. Yang become your body pillow," Caelus replies, giving you a teasing smile. 
You blink at Caelus. You didn't recall being awake when Sampo and Gepard's time was up. Your face heats up, imagining your sick, sleepy self grabbing Mr. Yang by his wrist and pulling him toward your bed so he can be your body pillow as you snuggle with the plushie Sampo gifted you. You look at Nanook for confirmation. The Aeon of Destruction has a deep frown, nodding stiffly when you give him a questioning look. You bury your face into the plushie, continuing to lie on Mr. Yang. He's very comfortable to lay on and makes a perfect body pillow to snuggle up against or to lay on.
"I hope you didn't mind me laying on top of you while I slept. I don't remember waking up," you murmur, peeking at the brown-haired man from your plushie.
Mr. Yang smiles, brushing your hair behind your ear. "I don't mind it. As long as you're comfortable, that's all that matters to me," Mr. Yang murmurs, kissing the top of your head.
Dan Heng hums with amusement. "Who knew Mr. Yang is very affectionate," Dan Heng comments nonchalantly.
Mr. Yang ignores Dan Heng's comment, stroking your hair while you stretch your limbs and yawn. You continue to lay on Mr. Yang's chest but eventually migrate to Caelus, lying on the silver-haired man's chest while he plays with your fingers. Dan Heng, Mr. Yang, and Caelus murmur to each other while you stare into space, not realizing you're staring at the pouting Nanook. You blink and wave at Nanook, who huffs and crosses his arms over his chest. 
Caelus's chest rumbles beneath you. You pout and look up at Caelus, who gazes at you with amusement. "I don't think he's happy with me at the moment," you mumble, continuing to lie on Caelus' chest.
"Don't take it the hard way, Starlight. You know how possessive the Aeon of Destruction can get when it comes to you," Luocha interjects, leaning against the doorway with Blade and Jing Yuan standing beside him.
You roll over to face the entrance of your room and wave at the three men. You yawn, hug the plushie to your chest, and cough into your elbows. You still feel like the Astral Express ran over you. Your head hurts so much, and you feel like you have the urge to vomit again, even though you still haven't eaten anything. You sniffle and slowly sit up, crawling over to Dan Heng. Dan Heng opens his arms, and you plop onto his chest, resting your head in the crook of his neck.
Luocha walks to you with medication in his hands. "I can't heal you from your menstrual cycle, but I do have medication that should ease the cramps and body aches," Luocha says, sitting at the edge of the bed and opening the medicine bottle. 
Luocha takes two large pills from the bottle and hands them to you. You stare at the pills and look at Luocha. The blond man nods, gesturing for you to take the medicine while grabbing a cup of water from your nightstand. You nearly did a double take, wondering where the cup of water came from. You continue to stare at the large pill tablets in your hands, unsure of wanting to take them.
Jing Yuan raises his eyebrows at you. "Are you going to take your medication? If you don't take them, it won't ease the cramps and body aches," Jing Yuan comments, crossing his arms over his chest. 
You shake your head, handing the pills back to Luocha, hugging the plush tight to your chest and burying your face into Dan Heng's chest. There's no way in hell you can swallow pills that are almost as long as Nanook's fingers (he has pretty hands and long fingers). Blade snorts, entering the room with Jing Yuan following behind. Nanook narrows his eyes at Blade, watching the red-eyed man stand at the foot of your bed.
"Isn't it obvious? [Y/N] is scared of taking pills. They're afraid they'll choke on it," Blade comments, huffing with amusement. 
You glare at Blade, snatch the pills from Luocha's hands, and hold them up for everyone to see. There's no guarantee you won't choke on the pills and suffocate. It's going to happen, and no amount of water you can down get those two large pills down your throat and into your stomach. 
"I know what else [Y/N] can choke on," Sampo comments cheekily, smirking from the doorway.
Gepard's eyes widen, and his cheeks turn bright red. "Did you really have to say that, Sampo?! Now is not the right time to make a dirty joke," Gepard hisses, nudging the indigo-haired man with a glare. 
Luka laughs, standing between the blond man and the indigo-haired man and propping his arms on their shoulders. "I think Sampo is referring to good," he holds up a bag of food to show everyone, "you, on the other hand, need to get your head out of the gutter."
Your eyes light up at the sight of food in Luka's hands. Finally! Something to fill your stomach before you're forced to take medication that's the length of Nanook's fingers. Luka puts the bag of food in front of you, and you open it to see comfort food, a small bowl of fried rice with a bottle of whale-tide water. 
"I think you should take your medication first before eating. If you're worried about choking on the pills, I suggest you take the medication then eat after, or else you'll throw up again," Blade says.
You pucker your lips. "Can I skip the medicine?" You ask, batting your eyelashes at the men. 
The men give you a look of disapproval. You frown and sigh, staring at the pills in your hand, not wanting to take them. While you hate taking medication, that's huge, you're also a people pleaser, and you love it when people praise you, unfortunately. You sniffle dramatically and take the cup from Luocha's hand before tossing the two abnormally large pills into your mouth and down the water like your life depended on it. It sort of does because if you don't drink enough water to wash the medicine down, it'll get stuck in your throat, and you'll choke and probably die.
You squeeze your eyes shut when the two large pills slide down your throat. Your worst fear comes true when the pills get lodged at the back of your throat. You chug the water faster, drinking as fast as you can to wash the pills down. After what felt like an eternity, the two pills dislodged from your throat, and you successfully swallowed the huge pills. You slam the cup of water on the nightstand and wipe your lips, panting.
"Man, I drank so much water. I'm not hungry anymore," you sigh, slumping against Dan Heng's chest. "Save it for later."
You return the food to the men and lay between Mr. Yang and Dan Heng on the bed. Dan Heng strokes your hair before getting up from the bed. Mr. Yang and Caelus soon follow after patting your head and kissing your head. You stare at them as the other three get on your bed. 
"Are you sure you don't want to eat? You'll feel nauseous if you don't eat anything," Blade mutters, kneeling on the edge of your bed before lying beside you. 
You open your mouth to reply, but the cramps kick in, making you freeze and tense up. You let out a low, strained groan and shake your head instead of giving a verbal response. Blade sighs, pulling you up toward his chest. You want to fight back and move from him, but you're too tired to be stubborn. Jing Yuan and Luocha sit beside Blade while you're being cradled. 
Jing Yuan looks at Luocha. "Did you ever figure out what started first?' Jing Yuan asks.
Luocha sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Unfortunately, I did not. [Y/N] woke up, and they weren't feeling well. Their menstrual cycle has begun, and they also have a fever."
You sniffle and turn to look at Nanook, who continues to pout from the other side of the room. You gesture for him to come over, but the Aeon remains where he stands. You pout and sit up, staring at the Aeon. Nanook continues to stand where he's at, staring at you and the three men on your bed.
You sniffle and wipe your nose with the back of your hand. "Nanook is mad at me," you state.
"I don't think Nanook is mad at you. He's upset that he's not the only one that can cuddle you," Blade retorts, turning to look at the pouting Aeon of Destruction with a smirk.
Luocha and Jing Yuan chuckle. 
"Before we let you and Nanook cuddle in peace, let us have some time with you," Luocha says.
The two men (Jing Yuan and Luocha) end up sandwiching you between them. You were lying on Blade, but you wanted to give the other two men a chance to cuddle with you. Plus, you're also still mad (not really) at Blade for teasing you. How dare he make a comment about not wanting to come close to you while you're wearing clothes soaked in sweat? That's a valid reason, but you're sick, you're menstruating, and you're sweating because of your fever. 
You nearly drift off to sleep when Luocha, Jing Yuan, and Blade get off your bed. You lift your head to see the three men getting ready to leave your room. Of course, the men aren't going to leave without kissing your head and wishing you well. Wanting to piss Nanook even more, Blade leans down and makes sure to kiss your cheek close to your lips. Blade pulls away with a smirk and walks off with his head held high.
Once the three men left you and Nanook alone, Naook huffs and walks to your bed and flops beside you dramatically. Nanook hardly gives you any time to speak when he wraps his arms around you and pulls you to his chest. You squeak and watch helplessly as Nanook rips the plushie from your grasp and tosses it to the ground on the other side of the room.
"Nanook! That wasn't nice!" You scold.
The Aeon of Destruction pouts and rests his chin on your head, tightening his arms around your waist. You poke his cheek to grab his attention. Nanook looks down at you, continuing to pout. 
You mumble, "I thought you didn't want to cuddle or kiss me because I was sweaty."
Nanook sighs and runs his hands through his hair. "I never said that, little one. I was merely teasing you," Nanook mutters. "I learned my lesson not to make you upset. I don't like seeing you cuddle with someone that isn't me."
You giggle and bury your face into his chest, wrapping your arms around his waist. "I'm not upset, Nana. You're so cute when you're jealous and pouting," you coo, poking his cheek.
Nanook grabs your hand and kisses your knuckle. "I wasn't pouting. Now, get some rest. When you wake up, make sure to eat."
"Oh! So you are jealous!" You laugh victoriously.
Nanook grabs you by the back of your neck and lightly shoves your face into his chest, playfully rolling his eyes. A faint hue of red dusts his cheeks. "Little one, sleep."
You huff like a petulant child. "Fine."
The last thing you feel before falling asleep is Nanook combing his fingers through your hair while pressing light kisses on your head. While it’s a shame to have little to no time with each man, you hope you’ll be able to spend time with them individually without a pouting Nanook glaring at you and your male companions from across the room.
Note: I am posting this fic first ahead of the Genshin fic because I need more time to type it out. Therefore the HSR fic is the first fic posted! I'm not sure how it'll turn out when I post on AO3 due to the DDOS attack, and I'm worried it won't show up for people. My vacation is coming up in a few days, and I won't be able to write the typical long fics. This week and next week will be mainly mini-fics instead of the fics that are close to 10k words. I haven't written a fic that's 10 words in so long omg. For those who want to be tagged in the HSR fics, here is the [HSR Taglist]. I will be writing the first smut for HSR very soon! Vote for who you want to be the first, and from there on, anyone can be next (the poll is mainly to see who's going to be the first one to get smut in the series). You can vote at the [HSR Smut Poll] before I close the poll soon. The previous week's discord link has now expired, so for those who want to pop into my discord and lurk or chat with other server members, here is a new (and temporary) server link to [Zhongli's Abode]. Please make sure to read the server rules closely before deciding whether you want to remain in the server or not. To my new and/or returning readers, please keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!
Taglist for the HSR one-shot series: @ashwasherelol, @mompt2, @elegantnightblaze, @lunavixia, @jadedist, @pinksaiyans, @n8mareee, @aurelia-xyt, @ssunset0, @starrry-angel, @kaoyamamegami, @kodzuvk, @for3very0urs, @a-cosmicdawn, @g3n0dtt, @theblades, @wntrsblvd, @raaawwwr, @immahuman, @irisxiel, @siaracarroll, @crazydreamcat, @sagekun, @orichalcumthief, (Accounts that I was unable to tag are not tagged in this fic. Remember to check your settings if you're allowing people to mention you/tag you in posts or not)
Read more of my works on my Masterlist | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^
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