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fatuismooches · 8 months ago

Text

cor meum, manus tuas.

synopsis: After your illness strikes again, Dottore decides to gift you a failed experi-, a new companion in order to soothe your injured heart.

includes: dottore w/ gn! reader

notes: A cute fluff fic where Dottie gives you Foxttore and the pufflings as a pet (the blue monster creature from Nahida's fairy tale.) He loves you a lot. Really just pure fluff and Foxttore getting on Dottore's nerves. Enjoy!

For as long as Il Dottore had known you, you had always been one to suggest things that he had no interest in. It was a habit of yours, and sometimes he’s not sure if you’re being genuine about it or if you simply want to rile him up, as you usually do.

One such example was back in the Akademiya when the two of you finally successfully reversed-engineered one of those machines after a painstaking amount of work. It was arduous and tiring, but immensely rewarding. Oh, he had so many ideas and things to do now, but you- you had other plans.

“So, now that we’ve got it under our control, I think we should program it to have some new tricks.” Zandik had paused at your words, as for once that was a good idea. He wondered what the limit of such a killing machine could possibly be.

“Go on.”

“Alright, imagine this, it’s about to swoop in and land the finishing blow, but instead, a whole bunch of confetti pops out and-”

“No.”

“You can’t even pick up a sword properly. You know nothing about fighting like I do! Just hear me out, it’ll be a great distraction because they’d never be expecting that, and boom, that’s where the real attack comes in.”

“No.” (Later on, he found out that you’d programmed the thing to have a single flower shoot out, just for him. He swiftly removed it after you were done laughing.)

Or when you had begged and pleaded with him to let you teach him how to cook, just once. It was no secret you were always the one on cooking duty during the Akademiya, for he had a severe lack of skill for it. Furthermore, Zandik had no interest in it, not having the time or patience for something just meant as sustenance. You, however, were insistent on at least teaching him the basics, for it was no way for a student to live (according to you.)

The slicing and dicing went well enough, but the moment you turned your back for a few moments, he had somehow set the smoke detector off, and the Akademiya’s dorm director gave you two a good scolding. You learned your lesson after this particular incident, but from your giggles, he knew you didn’t feel an ounce of regret.

Your antics were truly something he wouldn’t get used to. And now, over four hundred years later, your teasing nature had remained the same, only that it became more verbal as you didn’t have the strength to pull off your elaborate plans anymore.

Which is why lately you had been clinging to him with pleading eyes and a jutted lip, vehemently asking for a pet despite his numerous rejections, going so far as to try and recruit other segments (who, unfortunately for you, did not join your cause.)

“Please honey, my darling, my beloved, my-”

“My answer is not going to change, [Name]. I will not tolerate anything running around and causing a mess.”

“Aww, but come on. I know you love cats. I know you secretly pet them when no one’s looking. I know that-”

“That’s enough from you. Now, will you sit or should I strap you down instead?”

That line of conversation persisted for a while until you mostly gave up, only throwing the idea in from time to time with a hmph. But now, he was uncharacteristically wondering if there could be a solution to this problem.

Lately, you had been confined to your bed and room, too physically weak to move around much. He and the segments had done their best, as they always do, to take care of you, but one did not need to be a genius to know that you were feeling down. Not only because of the aches your body gave you, but also because you were lonely for most of the day, seeing as his other selves were usually too busy to spend an adequate amount of time with you. Once again, despite his lack of care for the emotions and feelings of others, he could see straight through your feigned expressions of nonchalance.

Dottore hated it when you pretended around him.

He could raise the topic but it would probably make matters worse. Instead, it was much more logical to work toward a solution for the issue - the solution being a companion to keep a smile on your face, and your mind at ease. Now, an actual pet probably would be a hassle to maintain in the lab, knowing the kind of activities that were… well, unsafe to say the least, so he put that possible solution to the side for now.

Initially, he sought to create something mechanical, having seen the mechanical animals from Fontaine. Of course, his creation would be far superior, and it would be quite helpful with your condition and all. But upon further thinking, knowing your tastes… you’d probably prefer something softer, considering how much you liked to cuddle him and your plushies.

It was a conundrum the scholar found himself in, making his darling lover happy was not something that could be so easily scientifically concocted like the rest of the conclusions he reached. It required much more than simply following the lines of reason. Perhaps that’s why Dottore often struggled with it.

Yet he did not have the luxury of time to continue pondering, for he did not want to leave you by yourself for much longer. And so he continued to sit at his desk, his hands automatically filling out paperwork while his mind was focused elsewhere, still thinking about what he could possibly gift you. Something warm and cuddly with the ability to communicate with you to some extent…

That was when he remembered something he created long, long ago.

The memories of that creation came back to him rather quickly once he remembered. Dottore remembered every experiment he’d done, but some were just not very special or successful and lingered very little in his mind. This was one of those unnoteworthy results. It was no secret that he was known to… play around with the concept of life, ignoring the rules that guarded it so strictly… and it was this idea that led to the birth of a creature, one that certainly did not belong to this world.

It was a monstrous, furry black thing that hid its true self with some kind of suit, its lone eye bright and red. It hadn’t been the first time his experiments led him to the unknown, but this… was just something he didn’t care about at all. After a few tests on the creature, he lost interest rather quickly. It was the farthest thing away from the life Dottore wanted to toy with. In fact, he had planned to dispose of the thing, but the creature seemed to understand his words more than he anticipated. It quickly scurried away, creating chaos and knocking down almost everything it could, skillfully making its escape.

Dottore had contemplated searching for his odd creation but decided that it wasn’t worth the time or energy. Judging from the distaste it held for him, it probably wouldn’t come around anyway. So, it could exist in the far depths of the lab for all he cared. It wasn’t like this was the first time he threw things into the back and forgot about them. Now, he was rather pleased that he didn’t get rid of his experiment. He had known you for long enough that he was sure you’d find such a thing cute, for some reason. It checked the fluffy and easily holdable boxes too. His only question was whether it could be alive after all these years… well, it was certainly worth a shot, seeing as his solutions were limited.

The answer to Dottore’s question was a yes. It had unfortunately taken much longer than he’d liked to search the dusty rooms (although admittedly, he had gotten a bit distracted with reviewing the old things he dumped) but at long last, he had found the round creature peacefully dozing without a care in… some kind of bed it had crafted with a bunch of papers and black fur. It looked perfectly content… in all honesty, Dottore was a bit interested in what it had been up to all this time. Maybe it held more scientific value than he thought…

Regardless, in one swift motion, Dottore grabbed the creature by the scruff of its neck and it immediately awoke, attempting to scramble away. Once its single eye laid on the man who so rudely interrupted its sleep, it blinked, before multiplying its strength to escape, even trying to scratch him, but to no avail. The Harbinger’s grip was far too strong, of course. Meanwhile, Dottore had already lost a bit of patience from the creature’s incessant movements.

“Stop that,” he demanded sharply, and the critter instantly went still as its eye continued to stare at him completely widened. Dottore smiled, which felt rather eerie and frightening to the oversized creature.

“What, did you think I came all the way here to finish the job? Oh no, if I wanted to, I would have done so already a long time ago. Instead, I have another use for you. Something that will benefit both of us. I’m sure you’ll agree,” he hummed as he turned to leave the room. But as he took a single step, he found himself stepping on something soft. Curiously lifting his foot, he looked down to see a small, black, round ball of fluff staring at him with a red eye identical to the creature he held in his hand. And then another came into view.

… And another. Soon at least over a dozen had popped out of the shadows, all watching at him with anticipating eyes. He had forgotten these balls of black fur were also a byproduct of creating the creature. Now quite a few had surrounded his feet and were hopping up and down, attempting to climb his pants, which he quickly shook off with a scowl. Well, it looked like these things were going to follow him regardless of what he said…

“If you all are going to follow me, be prepared to make yourself useful,” he sighed in exasperation before finally leaving, stepping on a few more in the process. (The usefulness in question, was making sure you’d be left with a smile.) Based on the odd squeaking noises the smaller creatures made, they seemed to be on board with the idea.

—

When your husband suddenly presented you with a gift contained in a rather large box, you were a bit surprised. Not because you were receiving a gift, but because of the size of it. Normally, he would give you small trinkets and such, things he’d thought you’d like (that had no real purpose to him, retrieved solely for you. Yes, he was very cute unintentionally. You had a little shelf for his stuff.) But you had no clue what he could have possibly gotten for you that warranted the need for such a big container…

You had long discarded your book in favor of new entertainment (you were reading the same sentences over and over anyway), your hands gliding over the rough material. Dottore was looking at you expectantly, having barely said anything besides shoving the thing on your bed, with a simple “for you.” You couldn’t help but chuckle, your chest getting a bit lighter from the previously stuffy atmosphere dissipating.

“Are you going to explain yourself or leave me guessing as to what I’ve done to receive such a thing?”

“You have been lonely and tired, and I seek to alleviate your pain. Yet there are certain things I cannot always do, which is why I found a solution,” he stated simply, pushing the box closer to you as if it was no big deal. Your eyes widened as your jaw hung, speechless, before you sent a small, teasing smile to your husband.

“I… well, who knew you could be such a considerate man? Keep that up and you’ll make me blush.” You couldn’t help but heat up a bit from his concern, although he didn’t say it outright. And you didn’t really have it in you to deny his words too, he was right after all, you have been lonely and tired from being cooped up in your room all day.

“Still, I want a hint! Ah, it’s too heavy for me to even lift up…” You couldn’t guess what could be in here. “Could it be the latest new novels from Inazuma?”

“No, but those are on the way. It’s something more-” At that moment, the box slightly shifted and you blinked in surprise.

“Oh, oh! Are these new models of Beta’s miniature Ruin Machines? Did he finally make the Ruin Sentinels series?” In truth, initially, the segment wasn’t interested in creating such pointless machines, but after you oh so innocently challenged him to make them movable and fit in the palm of your hand, he took the bait and presented them to you smugly. Needless to say, you very much liked your little collection of action figures, and you were hoping he had finally made ones that could fly.

“No, it’s-” Once again, he was interrupted by even more dramatic shuffling, thumping echoing loudly from inside the box which made you scoot back a bit.

“Dottore, you sure whatever’s in here isn’t going to attack me…?” Your voice was more lighthearted than worried, but now you were squinting at him a bit suspiciously. Dottore’s expression remained unaffected, but inside he was the slightest bit annoyed. He had told those damn things not to move around. Thankfully, a sharp slap to the cover of the box caused the movements to cease, and he only smiled at you once again.

“As I was saying, it’s something you have been asking about for a long time.” He watched as your face turned thoughtful, fingers drumming when suddenly it became very obvious as to what it was.

“Is it… is it what I think it is?” He found your expression rather amusing as he witnessed your eyes becoming sparkly with joy.

“Go ahead,” Dottore motioned and you wasted no time pulling the cover off the box, your eyes meeting a furry, blue creature whose lone eye gazed up at you curiously. You blinked at it, and it blinked back at you, but you had no time to say anything before some other unknown creatures began pouring out the box and spilling onto your bed, some crawling on your lap. This was certainly not the average pet you had expected… but you were not complaining. These things were the cutest - not to mention the little strand of hair on the top.

“Dottore,” you giggled at the fluff tickling your skin, “what exactly are these- oh!” Your words were interrupted when the larger creature suddenly jumped out of the box and launched itself into you, pawing your chest. You reciprocated the attention in delight, giving it numerous head pats and taking a closer look at it. Most of its soft fur seemed to be blue, although its head was black, and its beak was harder than the rest of its body. Regardless, it was completely adorable, and it seemed to like you very much.

“It is something I created in my lab during one of my experiments. I figured it would be something you’d enjoy.” You lit up, and the scholar couldn’t help but appreciate how you seemed to glow.

“You made these little guys for me? Oh, I always knew you could be such a romantic! I have my husband, my son, and now a cute pet. Isn’t it nice to see our family grow, Zandik?” He remained silent at your hastily made conclusion, deciding that the little white lie wouldn’t hurt, especially not when you looked this happy. After all, he imagined your response to him keeping this creature in the backrooms of his laboratory for ages wouldn’t be very well received, considering how attached you were to it already. Thankfully, you didn’t notice the glare the creature sent him either.

“Do they have names yet?” Dottore thought back to the string of numbers and letters attached to this experiment and opted not to disclose that, shaking his head. You hummed, trying to think of what name to bestow upon your new pets until you quickly came up with something good.

“Foxttore,” you stated firmly.

“Foxttore?” He repeated a few seconds after you, rather unimpressed.

“Yes! Because he looks like a fox, and he also kind of looks like you!” You playfully squished the creature’s cheeks.

“I bear no resemblance to that creature,” he frowned, immediately refuting your statement.

“Don’t look like that,” you teased. “It’s a compliment. You’re both cuties that are the same shade of blue,” you leaned in to kiss him gently, a simple way to silence him despite his vexation. “Now as for these little ones…” you thought once more as the black puff balls clung to your arm, Dottorelings… no, that’s too long… how about pufflings? Yes, that will do nicely!” Seemingly understanding your words, the pufflings began jumping up and down in glee. You then moved closer to the man and enveloped him in a hug.

“Thank you for this, Zandik. I am very happy,” you whispered quietly as you snuggled into his neck. It was the truth - you really were happy to have some company constantly around. Your husband returned the hug and you loved how his strong arms felt around you.

“Of course. But if they happen to cause you any… trouble,” he sent a look to the thing now called “Foxttore”, “be sure to tell me.”

“Aww, don’t say that. Foxttore is a good boy! Right?” You smiled brightly at your new pet, who was kneading the blanket, watching the two of you. The contrast between its creator’s less-than-pleasant face and your wide grin was stark and rather easy to choose from. It then hopped up and practically wedged itself in between the two of you, looking up to you with a pleading eye, desperate for attention. You squealed with delight and pressed the creature to your cheek, nuzzling against it.

When Dottore noticed the cheeky look his creation sent him, he wondered if this was actually a good idea.

—

Foxttore and the pufflings were the best and cutest companions you could ever ask for.

The pufflings were always scattered about your room, resting in different locations. You honestly had no clue how many there were, nor could you tell them apart, but you swore they squeezed through the bottom of your door somehow because sometimes they’d return with random items. They seemed pretty starved for attention… they even liked it when you squished them like a stress ball.

Foxttore was equally as cuddly, but also rather intelligent. He would fetch you items so you didn’t need to get up, and he could even turn a doorknob… you were fascinated. One of your favorite things to do was give him a note for him to deliver to a segment, and he would actually deliver it. (Said note usually contained you begging a segment to visit you, otherwise you’d die without their attention.)

After a lot of cuddling and rubbing, you found out that Foxttore was just a severely oversized puffling with four legs instead. That blue fur of his wasn’t even his, just a suit he wore. It was quite funny to see him without it on. It seemed rather shy without its fox fur, but with enough kisses, hugs, and reassurance, it had no problem lounging around without it.

You read them stories, showed them everything your room had to offer, placed some of Beta’s cute pink bows on them, bathed with them - you were starting to look forward to the day much more now that you could wake up to them.

—

While Dottore knew that you would get attached to the little monstrosities he gifted you, perhaps he didn’t anticipate it to reach this degree. Even after you had gotten well enough to stroll around the lab again, the blasted things were attached to your hip the whole time.

Visiting the segments? They would come up to you, caressing and teasing you with their deliciously infuriating small touches and kisses, and then all of a sudden a small crash would sound throughout the room, the culprit being Foxttore.

Visiting him? He’d have you on his lap, about to pin you to his desk, when he noticed the pufflings watching him from all corners of the room. It was maddening trying to chase them away, but then you’d get pouty about how the creatures didn’t like to be alone. (The only segment that the creature seemed to like was Zandy, although it had taken a while - a bit of scolding from you, and many offerings of food from the child to Foxttore had done the trick.)

As much as Dottore was glad your mood had improved greatly, admittedly, it would please him if he could just chuck his creations out into the Snezhnayan snow, just to finally get some alone time with you. But you loved them too much, so he resolved to resort to other means… eventually.

Over time, your pets gradually began to not hog your attention the whole time, but you were very insistent on helping Dottore and them become friends. It wasn’t very easy, however, they seemed to have some tension between them. You weren’t really sure why, but you still loved having them together.

—

“Dottore! Oh Dottore, you have to watch this,” you puffed out your chest proudly as Foxttore trotted behind you. Your husband looked at you questioningly before you spread your arms out, directing them toward the creature.

“I taught Foxttore tricks! Watch this! Foxttore, sit!” Your pet obediently sat down, his tail wagging (although you had no clue how that worked since it was just a suit…)

“Foxttore, spin around!”

“Foxttore, roll over!”

“Now high-five me!” Dottore watched in amusement as the blue creature followed your commands with ease. Perhaps it really was smarter than he thought. Regardless, all he cared about was that you were occupied with something, rather than being by yourself.

“Okay, now fetch Dottore’s secret stash of sweets!” At that, Foxttore began making its way over to one of the numerous bookshelves in Dottore’s office before the Harbinger quickly realized what you said, and stopped the creature in its tracks.

“I knew there were too many pieces missing,” he stared at you humorlessly, while you sweated nervously.

“W-What? You said I was allowed to take some!”

“I said you, not this… thing,” the man then picked up Foxttore by its strands of blue hair, which the creature fought at, and dropped it in your arms like it was some pest. “I’m moving it.”

“Please don’t! I won’t do it again!”

—

The continued pampering of Foxttore had, unfortunately for your lovers, become a norm to see around the lab. He was a spoiled lil shit, in other words, who could do no wrong in your eyes… which is why every new thing you did had little to no effect on them anymore besides an eye twitch of annoyance and a promise to bully the creature later. The current situation was one such time. Dottore had come into your room only to see many abnormally small clothes scattered on your bed, with you in the center of it all.

“Oh Dottie, you’re just in time! Look at what I got!” You then held up Foxttore in all his glory, his new hoodie substantially thinner with different patterns, a great big smile on your face.

… It was only you who had the privilege of using his time like this.

“Now before you ask how I got these, I had them custom-made! See, I wanted to sew the clothes myself, but my hands have been too shaky lately and then you’d get all grumpy if I hurt myself with the needle, so I just asked Columbina to find someone for me and she did! She’s a great friend!” You continued to ramble on.

“See, the poor thing gets too hot sometimes, especially when he starts running on our walks,” you said sadly, while he wondered how exactly you walked this monstrosity, “that’s why I got him different clothes! And they’re stylish too! Look, he’s even got pajamas! Don’t you think it’s cute?” You looked at him, your eyes sparkling and glittering with light that dazzled him.

In all honesty, Dottore didn’t really care about the little abomination of a creature. In fact, he probably leaned more into disdain for it. But what he did care about was you, and what made you happy, what put a smile on your face since he hated for it to be missing.

“I believe your definition of cute is rather unusual.”

“Huh? How could you not think Foxttore is the cutest thing ever? Oh… I see your game. You think I’m the cutest thing ever, don’t you?” You boldly teased him which didn’t phase him, only making a confident smirk grow on his face.

“I suppose that would be accurate, yes. Nothing else comes to mind that could be compared to your beauty,” he said smoothly, plucking the creature from your hands and dropping it elsewhere, which it clearly disliked, but he was more interested in your reaction. Your mouth slightly ajar, heat creeping up your face with a flustered expression, breathing speeding up a bit.

“A-As long as you’re aware,” you mumbled shyly, turning your face away, although your slight smile was apparent.

Needless to say, Zandik was always aware of his beloved.

—

You always loved it when you were able to leave the lab. Sometimes they were frequent outings, sometimes they were very rare. It all depended on how well you had been feeling lately. Today, you had finally been able to go out for a short walk with Dottore after so long. The cold air and snow had you shivering, but feeling the wind hit your cheeks was worth it. (And being able to cling to your husband was a definite plus in your books.) But you were still happy to come back home.

… Especially when you were greeted by your little friend.

As soon as you walked through the door, you noticed that Foxttore was impatiently waiting by the entrance. The moment he saw you, he sped toward you at light speed and pawed at your legs for pets, hopping up and down. You couldn’t help but laugh as you bent down to give him some attention which he happily reciprocated, but then he pulled away and started wildly running around the two of you.

“Aww, Foxttore is having zoomies!”

“… Pardon?”

“He’s having zoomies!” You smiled at your husband before crouching down, and your pet immediately ran into your arms and settled himself there as you picked him up. “Aww, you must have missed us so much, didn’t you?” You cooed as you rubbed his tummy, while Dottore merely stared at you blankly. The man then noticed the creature’s eye had narrowed into a half circle directed toward him as if to mock him.

If there was a point system between the two of them as to who was able to steal your attention more, Dottore would sorely be losing.

—

It was one of the few nights where you were able to spend a night like most couples do at the end of the day - resting in the same bed with your lover. You weren’t even sure how you managed to do it this time. You thought it was probably due to your persistence but also that he was genuinely tired. (Well, he had been genuinely tired for ages now, but you were able to get him on a weak day, perhaps.)

You had always loved it when Dottore held you, even if it was slack or just one arm, you always felt safe. Protected. Warm. Happy. The feelings only amplified when both his arms caged you into his chest, which was the perfect place for you to snuggle. (Still, he’d never admit to being the little spoon from when he was a student.)

“Hey, Zandik?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for everything you’ve done lately, by the way.”

“Of course,” his answer was as simple as could be. He stroked your hair languidly, always one to brush off your thank yous.

“I mean it,” you wiggled out of his grip to look him in the eye, lip jutting out slightly.

“I already know you do. You do not need to keep saying it every time.” You pouted at his response. How else were you supposed to show your appreciation? You then grabbed his arm, which was surprisingly pliable, and placed his hand over your heart.

“Then let me know if you need anything from me. Anything at all. I have to pay you back eventually, you know.” Dottore looked as if he was enjoying himself.

“What do you propose? I’ll listen to your suggestions.”

“Well… I have kisses and cuddles as my expertise. I can cook and bake for you sometimes too… oh, but I can also try doing some of your paperwork! …What? You’re not impressed? I guess I can try to do some more… unsavory tasks as well. The Fatui agents listen to what I have to say quite easily,” you continued to chatter as Dottore’s fingers made their way from your cheek to your neck and then your collarbone, making you stammer at the sensation. “Hey, you’re not even taking me seriously, are you?” Your husband only chuckled at your furrowed eyebrows and grumbling.

If anything, he would want you to repay him by letting him see the faces you’ll make once you’re finally free of your illness.

“Anyway…” you squeezed his hand with yours that still rested on your chest, “You probably know this already, with that ever-calculating mind of yours, but you hold my heart in your hands. I’ll always be here with you.” It was a funny thing to think about, giving your heart to someone like him, in both a physical and intangible sense. Trusting him with your frail body, trusting him with your love, knowing he could squeeze it to a pulp if he wanted to. But he wouldn’t.

He would treat your heart with the utmost care and precaution, not daring to risk even the slightest harm to it.

Dottore stared at you for a few moments while you held his gaze, resolute on making your point known. Wordlessly, he began to move closer to your soft lips, intent on making his response to your statement physical. He was so close, his nose brushing against yours, and your warm breath on his. He was about to finally satiate his desire when-

Something was scratching at the door. Loudly, too. The sudden noise made you jump back and turn your gaze to the door. The Harbinger had a bad feeling about this.

“Did you hear that?”

“No.”

“You’re just lying now!” With a huff, you pushed the blankets off, much to his displeasure, and made your way to the door, opening it. There was Foxttore, making strange noises that he tried his best to mask as cries.

The bliss Dottore felt a few moments ago had turned to immense annoyance immediately.

“Oh, you poor baby! Did you have a nightmare or something?” You exclaimed before quickly scooping Foxttore into your arms and bringing him onto the bed. “It’s okay, you’re with us now…” You softly murmured, stroking it gently as you let it settle on your chest. Where Dottore’s hands should be right now, cupping your soft skin instead of that damned creature.

Dottore swore he was going to throw that thing out once you were asleep.

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #dottore x reader #il dottore x reader #genshin il dottore #genshin dottore x reader #genshin dottore #dottore #dottore fluff #il dottore #fatui x reader #fatui harbingers x reader #zandik x reader #genshin dotttore #dottore genshin #genshin impact x you #fragile reader <3 #divider by cafekitsune

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victoria-daydreams · 1 month ago

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In Her Place, I Stand

AN: I haven’t had the chance to watch Nosferatu yet, but the general consensus I’ve gotten from readings fics and looking at gifs is that Friedrich Harding, he be in those GUTS! We get a tease of Friedrich in this chapter, but this chapter is mainly focused on Dorothea adjusting to her new life. I was going to wait to post this until I fully completed the story, but I already finished part two and I'm currently working on part three, I'm just too excited to wait to wait so sue me lol.

Trigger Warnings: racism

Word Count: 3.2k

Part I: Echoes of Her Shadow

The morning room was silent, save for the steady, metronome-like ticking of the grandfather clock and the delicate scratch of a fountain pen gliding across parchment.

Please sister, I must implore you to ask this of Father, for me. Ask him, what I have done to have drawn his ire? His displeasure. For I must have made an unknown transgression against him, for him to agree to this marriage—this punishment. I know given who I am, my options for a suitable husband would have always been limited, and I have made my peace with that. But this match defies all reason. Father is no fool, yet he must have been aware of the unsavory rumors surrounding my husband. The disgraceful state he was allegedly found in within his wife's mausoleum before being nursed back to health. Father was so desperate to see me married that he bound me to someone...

Oh Liese, I fear the whispers about my husband may hold truth after all. I fear, he does prefer the company of the dead over the living. I will never be good enough for him, for I am not her. I am not his—

"Frau Harding,"

The pen's movement faltered just for a second. Sitting at the mahogany desk, was indeed the new lady of the house, the new Frau Harding. Dorothea Harding née Larenz. Frau Harding. The title was only a formality, nothing more. Its rightful owner, the woman who it truly belonged to for all time, was Anna Harding. Friedrich Harding's dearly beloved first wife, mother of his two cherished daughters and a third child that would've been equally cherished as well. Not some African-German girl of mixed blood. Never.

"Yes, Sofie," Dorothea answered tiredly, the nib of her fountain pen resuming its movements though slower than before.

"I have your morning coffee, gnädige Frau," Sofie informed.

Dorothea only hummed, never looking up from her letter to her sister, afraid she would forget all the words flowing from her mind. From behind her, Dorothea could hear Sofie moving around to the sofa where she takes her tea at.

Please visit soon dear sister, I am bound to go mad here. I'm sure of it. Sincerely, Dottie.

Capping her fountain pen, Dorothea neatly folded her finished letter and slid it within an envelope, sealing it with red wax. She rose from her chair, moving toward the cushioned sofas for her coffee as her eyes swept over the room. Painted in pale yellows and blue, the room was large, airy with high ceilings and beautiful wooden floors. Lit well by the large windows looking over the gardens.

"The morning room is where Frau Harding always answered her mail and staffed out daily orders,"

There was no malice behind Sofie's words as she helped Dorothea settle into her new home, but they haunted her regardless. An ever constant reminder she was not only using another woman's name, she was living in this woman's house; using spaces which were only meant for her. Dorothea felt constricted. This house, her name, it clung to her like an ill fitting gown, and she was doomed to where it for the rest of her days. She was an imposter.

She was an intruder.

Tucking the skirt of her dress beneath her, Dorothea lowered herself onto the sofa with poised grace and Sofie handed her the coffee cup and saucer.

"Shall I see to this letter being sent off to the post, gnädige Frau?" Sofie asked, gesturing to the envelope on the desk.

"Yes. And with haste, please," Dorothea said, before pursing her lips to lightly blow on the hot liquid.

"Of course, gnädige Frau,"

Sipping daintily, Dorothea watched over the rim of the cup as Sofie picked up the letter and shuffled out the room. She had barely put her cup and saucer back on the tea table in front of her when she suddenly felt a familiar weight across the top of her thighs. Artemis, Dorothea's black and white shorthair cat had jumped onto her lap, curling into herself with a purr. Dorothea's heart melted. Outside of Sofie, Artemis was the only living creature in the house that offered her companionship. Constantly, she was made to feel like a stranger in her new household by the serving staff. Their temperament toward her ranged from cold to neutral, but never warm. Her third day in the house was singed permanently into her mind, she happened to be walking by the parlor room where she overheard two middle aged servants talking quietly amongst themselves about her.

"Her cat, I believe it's a mixed breed," one voice, reedy and sharp, chirped. Dorothea recognized it as Agnes, a senior housemaid.

Dorothea's brow furrowed. She did have a cat, a gift from her sister for her birthday the year before.

"How fitting, it matches its owner," another voice, older and wearier, chimed in.

Dorothea's breath hitched as she pressed a trembling hand to her chest, desperately trying to calm the frantic pounding of her heart. The casual cruelty of the words struck her with the force of a physical blow, leaving her reeling. That was Gertrude, another senior housemaid, her tone laced with a venom Dorothea had never directly encountered, yet somehow always anticipated.

"Does Herr Harding expect us to burn her linen every morning and replace it with clean ones?" Agnes giggled.

A pause, then a snort, "I hope not, this house will be out of linen by the end of the week," Gertude answered, her cackle was low and guttural.

Dorothea stood motionless, paralyzed, as the world seemed to tilt on its axis. She wanted to burst into the parlor, to demand an explanation, to assert her rightful place as mistress of the house. But a crippling wave of insecurity washed over her. What would that accomplish? Would it change their minds? Would it make her feel less like an unwelcome interloper? Instead, she silently retreated, her steps slow and measured as she withdrew from the scene.

She locked herself in her room for the rest of the day and refused to come out after overhearing the conversation, not even leaving to join her newlywed husband for dinner. Worse, the house seemed to reject her very presence, the walls whispering malevolently as she moved throughout its halls. The lifeless eyes of the family portraits that hung there watched her with a cruel, unblinking gaze. These were the kin of the man she had just married, people who would surely recoil in absolute horror at the sight of the woman now in their midst. A woman whose warm, brown skin had been bequeathed to her by another, a mother she had never known.

"The portraits, the servants, society. They see my mother's blood as a taint, a stain on the pristine white linen of their precious German lineage," she thought bitterly.

The happily purring cat in her lap pulled Dorothea from her thoughts, a soft grin tugging at the corners of her mouth as she continued stroking Artemis.

"My sweet girl," she murmured, and the cat nestled itself deeper into her lap in response. "You're the only reason I'm still sane four months into this farce of a marriage," Dorothea remarked, spitting the last word out like a curse.

With a quiet sigh, she leaned back against the cushioned backrest of the sofa still gently running her fingers through Artemis' fur. Dorothea recalled her first real interaction with her husband shortly after their excessively private, small wedding. It involved Artemis.

"Where are you girl?" Dorothea whispered to herself.

She had spent the last twenty minutes searching for her dear pet, but she was nowhere to be found in the new, vast manor Dorothea now called home. But the Harding manor was not a home, no home would feel this lonely. Turning down another hallway, she felt her feet falter in their stride as she instantly recognized what wing of the house she was in. Friedrich's daughter's rooms. Dorothea did not wish to linger in the hallway, just thinking about how the two young lives were snuffed out tragically by disease made her want to turn heel and run with her skirt in hand. Until, she spotted what looked like the shadow of a cat pacing back and forth from underneath the crack of one the girl’s doors. Dorothea's head tilted to the side.

"It's not possible," she whispered, feeling a shiver course down her spine.

The hallway seemed to become quieter than it had been mere seconds ago, deafeningly so. The silence was bordering on eerie, making Dorothea to feel nervous in her own home. Steeling herself with a shuddering breath, she took a step forward and the creak of the wooden floorboards sounded amplified in the silent hallway causing her to briefly tense up before relaxing. Each step toward the door was careful, but it mattered not. The creak of the floorboards beneath her feet seem to groan in protest at her presence there. Reaching the door, Dorothea wrapped her fingers the doorknob, but never moving to open it. Her mind flashed back to a conversation her and Sofie had while being given a tour of the house.

"May I speak plainly, gnädige Frau?" Sofie asked, her voice hushed as they stood at the entryway of the hall.

"You may," Dorothea said, matching her tone.

"It would be wise to not venture into this section of the house, Frau Harding," she warned, holding her stare. "Less so, going inside the girls' room," she stressed.

"Agreed," Dorothea concurred, gazing at the shut doors ahead of her. "Has anyone been inside since deaths?" she questioned.

"No, none of the servants. Not even Herr Harding himself, for obvious reasons," she answered, looking at the doors herself. "Their rooms are just as they were when the girls passed," she mentioned, a haunted expression crossing over her features.

"It'll only be for a second," Dorothea muttered, reassuring herself.

Looking over her shoulder, she opened the door and the squeak of the hinges pierced the air. Her chest grew tight at the interior of the room. The room was filled with a suffocating stillness; dolls, books, and dresses are arranged as if their owner might return at any moment. She could envision it now, Friedrich's daughters playing with their dolls or rambunctiously running around their rooms and through the house with shrieking laughter not unlike how Liese and her did in their own home. She could almost hear it, the pattering sound of small feet against these wooden floors and she was struck by a feeling of nostalgia, of returning back in time to when she was young. When she was loved, and knew nothing of being alone.

Then, the illusion was shattered as Artemis came scampering from around the corner of the wooden bed frame, brushing herself up against Dorothea's leg. Beaming down at the cat, Dorothea instantly bent down to scoop Artemis up in her arms.

"There you are!" she commented happily, relief written all over her face. "How in god's name did you manage to get in here?" she wondered, her brows furrowing while shaking her head.

When suddenly, a pair of polished, black shoes came into her line of sight. For a second, Dorothea's heart stopped beating altogether, sinking into the bottom of her stomach. The silence in the room seemed to deepen. The air thickening, the temperature colder. With widened eyes, she lifted her head to see Friedrich towering above her, his body rigid, jaw clenched. His eyes, dark and full of an icy fury barely restrained, locked onto hers. He doesn’t speak a word, but his silence spoke for him. Dorothea clutched Artemis tighter, suddenly feeling incredibly vulnerable.

"What, are you doing in here?" Friedrich asked, his voice tight and sharp.

Dorothea's heart thudded wildly in her chest as she rose from her crouching position.

"It-It was an accident," she explained, her voice small. "I swear, Friedrich," she said earnestly.

Even in this moment when tensions were at a boiling point, the use of his name sounded foreign to her ears, foreign on her tongue. Friedrich took a glacial step towards her, a quickly darkening glower on his face and she instinctively took a step back.

Friedrich's nostrils flared, "I am to believe that this pet somehow made its way in here, of all places, by itself?" he snarled, his eyes narrowing.

"I-I don't know how she got in here Friedrich, please," Dorothea pleaded, as he took another step forward.

She felt tears threatening to build up in the corner of her eyes, but she resisted the urge. Artemis sensing Dorothea's fear and the palpable anger emanating from Friedrich, grew agitated in her owner's arms as its ears flattened down against her skull and her back arching slightly.

Friedrich pointed his finger in her face, "Take your pet," he spat, closing in. "And get out of—"

He was unable to finish his sentence as Artemis loudly hissed at him, teeth bared and tail whipping about. Her husband was taken aback by the barely one year-old cat's reaction, while Dorothea shushed her in effort to calm her. Wordlessly, she rushed past him, softly stroking the bristled fur along Artemis' back. Dorothea didn't know who she was trying to soothe more, the cat or herself.

Pausing at the end of the hall, Dorothea spun around for one last look at her husband. Any lingering resentment she might have harbored toward Friedrich instantly dissipated. From this distance, Dorothea noticed a drastic shift in Friedrich's physical demeanor, which had bordered on frightening mere moments ago. Now, his entire frame seemed to deflate, shoulders hunched and head bowed. After all, this was a man still wracked with grief over the untimely death of his entire family. Standing in a room he had no desire to occupy. And for that, Dorothea would never hold his reaction to her involuntary trespassing against him.

His back was turned to her, but Dorothea saw how his shoulders trembled before his anguished sobs pierced the air. The heartbreaking sound reverberated through her, shaking her to the core in a way she never could have imagined. The raw grief in his weeping caused the fine hairs on her arm to stand on end, a horrible and visceral reaction.

"Forgive me, Friedrich," she apologized quietly, knowing he could not hear her, too lost in the depths of his grief. "Though we are strangers, know this, I would never knowingly inflict such sorrow upon you," Dorothea whispered, her words laced with compassion, hung heavy in the air.

Dorothea cast one last, lingering glance before departing the hall, abandoning Friedrich to the solitude of his anguish. Alas, he was always alone.

After the encounter with Friedrich, it was relayed to Dorothea by Sofie, who's been acting as her eyes and ears over the servants, that the culprit behind Artemis being trapped in the bedroom was none other than Gertrude, the woman who called her a mixed breed. She made sure to make her dismissal public. The day she did it, she drew herself up, straightening her shoulders and forcing a composure she didn't feel. Dorothea forced a smile, a tight, unnatural expression as she entered into the servants hall, to once again thank the staff for being so welcoming to her. Most of the staff's expression ranged from being neutral to a smile which never reached their eyes. Then, there was Gertrude, she was bolder and met Dorothea's gaze with thinly veiled contempt.

"Good morning, everyone. I just wanted to reiterate my gratitude for your hospitality, since my arrival. It certainly hasn't gone unnoticed,"

Dorothea's gaze swept over the room, pausing deliberately on Gertrude. The smile on her face becomes less forced, and more pointed.

"Gertrude, would you be so kind as to step forward?" Dorothea requested. She hesitated, but slowly obeyed, her expression defiant. "Gertrude, you're dismissed. Please have your belongings packed and off the premises within the hour," she informed simply.

A collective gasp rose from the gathered servants. Gertrude's face paled, the contempt replaced with panic.

"Dismissed?" the older woman echoed incredulously. "On what grounds? "I've served this household for years—"

"On the grounds that your services are no longer required," Dorothea cut in, her voice deceptively gentle. "Your service has clearly not extended to respecting the lady of the house," she reminded, her smile now genuine, though edged with steel.

"Frau Harding, with all due respect—"

"There is little due Gertrude, and even less respect due in return," Dorothea commented coolly, her stare unflinching.

Gertrude, momentarily stunned, sputtered indignantly, "Y-You can't do this! Herr Harding would never allow it!" she insisted. "A mixed breed like you, throwing your weight aro—"

Dorothea took a deliberate step closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper, causing Gertrude to shrink back.

"I am lady of this house, I have done this," Dorothea stressed, voice ringing with authority. " And my word is law within these walls. I'll indulge you only once," she warned, her smile now devoid of warmth or humor. "Sofie will oversee your departure," she informed, suddenly turning her attention to the younger servant.

Sofie stood a little straighter, "Yes, Frau Harding," she said, with a nod.

"Consider this a final act of mercy," Dorothea suggested, looking back to Gertrude. "Were I to detail your transgression to Herr Harding, you would find it impossible to gain employment anywhere, if he had anything to say about it," she threatened, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "A quiet dismissal allows you to retain some semblance of dignity," she finished, holding the older woman's gaze for a moment longer, letting the weight of her words sink in.

She stared back at Dorothea, a mixture of fury and fear in her eyes, but she knew had been outmaneuvered. Sweeping her eyes across the room, meeting the stare of each servant in turn. The neutral or cold expressions were now replaced with a degree of wariness and, perhaps, a grudging respect.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a household to manage,"

Turning sharply, Dorothea exited the servants' hall, leaving a stunned and silenced room behind her.

Though Dorothea spoke softly, she sent a message she was no passive figure. As the lady of the house, she wielded genuine authority, which Friedrich seemed to be begrudgingly accepting; he had not overridden her dismissal of the senior house maid. Or, his grief may have simply left him too distracted to concern himself with the household's affairs.

"Frau Harding," Sofie called, reappearing in the door frame of the morning room.

A familiar, dull ache throbbed in Dorothea's chest, a constant companion since the day she had arrived.

"What is it, Sofie?" she asked, lifting her eyes from Artemis.

"Georg is ready to discuss the meals for today's lunch and dinner. At your convenience, gnädige Frau," she reported.

"Of course, inform Georg I will meet with him shortly," she said, with a sigh.

"Very well, Frau Harding,"

With a curt nod, Dorothea smiled at Sofie. A small, bitter one nearing a grimace as a knot settled in her stomach and quiet resignation seeped into her soul.

For Dorothea was not truly Frau Harding, despite the name she was forced to bear.

Part II: The Gilded Cage of Mourning

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