#this is a reincarnation au right? maybe soulmate au too why not | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

phagechildon · 1 year ago

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Song of Our Soul - Part 4

Life’s been pretty insane again so I haven’t been able to write much I’m so sorry ;/////; I’ve been updating very slowly to Twitter whenever I get a chance, so here’s what I’ve been able to write so far! It’s a longer part to make up for the time! It’s not really edited, but I will once I upload it to AO3 eventually. I’m experimenting with different POV’s too. Hope you enjoy ❤

— Modern Wangxian reincarnation soulmate au where both hear a song in their dreams, a song so familiar yet so foreign. They catch glimpses of each other in their dreams, and hear their voices, but when they wake up, all they remember is the melody and the other’s faint emotions. Angst with a happy ending. TW: mentions of violence, child abuse, abandonment, suicidal thoughts, mentions of rape, etc. Will add more

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

----

To Lan Zhan’s relief, Mo Xuanyu didn’t disappear like he originally thought he would. After stopping that night, Mo Xuanyu was the first to text him the next day.

“Morning Lan Zhan! Say, you don’t actually go to school, do you?”

“I do.”

“What?! Lan Zhan, you’re crazy! You’ve already struck gold, why waste your time going to school??”

If this question had come from anyone else, he would’ve been annoyed. After all, it was a well known family tradition. Instead of annoyance, a warmth settled over him, one the musician didn’t understand. “Every Lan has a degree in their field, I will be no different.”

“But music is so different from law and law enforcement. Don’t people harass you at school?”

“They do not bother me.”

“ Wow 😲 I don’t know if that’s impressive or sad. How could anyone resist Hanguangjun?!🤯”

Once more, he could feel the tip of his ears turn a little pink, not sure how to process the other’s words. His music knew they were soulmates, right? So was he purposefully flirting with him, or was he looking too much into it?

“Shameless.” He wrote back, unable to come up with anything else.

Surprisingly, Mo Xuanyu never left him on read. In fact, he was adamant on being the last to respond, even if it was just: “Goodnight Lan Zhan! Please don’t text back because then I’ll have to respond and neither one of us will sleep 🤣😂”

Lan Zhan did notice something odd though. Every time he asked a more personal question, the other would either take a long time to respond (while not answering the question directly), dismiss the question completely, or find a way to smoothly turn it on him. It was as if he didn’t want him to know about his personal life.

Which made his further findings a little more disturbing.

Mo Xuanyu: Deceased at 5 Years Old. Cause of Death: Homicide. Culprit: Unknown. Suspects: None.

“Did you know older foxes like to cuddle with humans Lan Zhan?”

This wasn’t the first time something random like this has come up, and the Lan couldn’t help but wonder how and why Mo was looking up fox facts.

“I did not. I would have thought they would be too scared of humans by that age.”

“Right?? Guess when you get to that age you stop giving a shit 😁🤣”

Later on that day, he sent another strange text.

“Why do people litter in rivers?? Don’t they know it waters the wildlife? Outrageous!”

Foxes, and now rivers. He certainly seemed to love wild life.

“I have seen them myself. Littering has indeed gotten worse.”

“Oh? Do you camp or hike often Lan Zhan??”

“Sometimes. When I was younger, I attended an astronomy camp for two months. During free time, I would often go to the river and clean up the trash.”

“An astronomy camp?! 😲😲😲😲 I always wanted to go to one! Or did I? Maybe I have? I have a horrible memory, guess that’s what a head injury does 🤣”

A head injury. The first bit of personal information he’s given out freely. While Lan Zhan was a little afraid to press, he had to if he wanted answers.

“A head injury?” He asked, hoping the briefer the question was, the more comfortable Mo felt.

“It was a long time ago Hanguangjun! I was almost six at the time. I don’t remember much from before or after. But I feel like I might’ve gone to one. Wouldn’t it be funny if we went to the same one? 🤣🤪”

While Lan Zhan knew this was Mo trying to joke around again, part of him felt his body seize up. He attended the club when he was around six years old - around the same time he heard the music start to play. Would it really be possible that they bumped into each other at the astronomy camp? With Mo’s memory gone, he had no way to prove it.

Things only got weirder when he finally found the police report for Mo Xuanyu’s murder:

The report was shorter than Lan Zhan expected, especially after finding out Mo Xuanyu wasn’t the only one who died that day.

Needing groceries for the following work week, Mo Xuanyu’s mother and aunt brought him along to the local supermarket. On their way out, Mo Xuanyu bumped into the leg of a biker who was later identified as Wen Chao, one of the leaders of the Wen gang. In a fury, he kicked and threw a can of soup at the child, where his mother then shielded him with her body. He then harassed her verbally until an employee intervened. Before leaving, Wen Chao swore he’d make them pay for being incompetent.

Around ten o'clock that night, someone burst through the front door of the apartment. According to the lone survivor, Mo Xuanyu’s aunt Mo Shi, a man in all black shot Mo Xuanyu’s mother, making her bleed out and watch as they brutally beat Mo Xuanyu to death. The only reason the killer spared Mo Shi was because she feigned gratitude for “finally” getting rid of the nuisances in the family. Immediately after he left, she called the police and was put under protective custody for a few months.

While the obvious suspect was Wen Chao, police have footage of him robbing three civilians at the same time of the crime. Mo Shi claims the assailant didn’t wear any gang affiliated symbols, which the Wen gang was known to do even under supposed covert operations.

Though Lan Zhan didn’t like to make conclusions without further evidence, he found the Wen gang’s innocence hard to believe. After all, he worked with his brother and trained men in taking them down.

Having met Wen Chao on a few occasions, he knew the man well. While he was a despicable man who was easily baited and angered, a child that young bumping into him wouldn’t have set him off like that, especially if the mother didn’t say anything outlandish. What he said also raised suspicion. As it was left out, Wen Chao and Mo Xuanyu’s mother most likely had no connection before this incident, so how was her son bumping into him incompetent?

There was more to this story, that much was obvious. In fact, he was almost positive it was planned.

Before he could do further research on his mother and aunt, he saw his phone light up.

A notification from Tumblr: Suibian sent you a message.

Glancing at the time, a flicker of worry threaded through his veins, not realizing it was already one in the morning. For once though, he was glad to have lost track of time.

Opening his phone, his heart stopped in his chest.

“Maybe we shouldn’t do the collab thing after all.”

-----

“Why not?” Lan Zhan wrote back, the message illuminating Mo’s pale and dirtied face.

He hadn’t expected a response, not this late at night. Mo Xuanyu stared numbly down at the phone screen, his eyes glazing over at the words. The answer was obvious, wasn’t it? His inspiration might claim to like his version better, but what if that was it? Aside from his newest song, there was nothing special about him. Besides, everyone who ever got involved with him got hurt, so if he really cared about Lan Zhan, he should keep his distance, right?

… would that be cruel to Lan Zhan though? Despite popular belief, he wasn’t dumb, he knew they were somehow connected. How else would Lan Zhan play the other part of the soothing melody from his dreams? One that had so many notes in places where his lacked, the two versions creating a whole.

Hearing that melody outside his dreamscape had been the only thing that stopped him from stepping off that bridge that night.

”I’m here,” Hanguangjun said through the notes. ”You’re not alone, I’m here.”

The more he listened, the more those and other inaudible words warmed his soul. Tears soaked his cheeks, though he wasn’t sure when they started to flood in the first place. For the first time in his life, he didn’t feel suffocated by another’s care and love. He felt safe and truly wanted, and it was all because Hanguangjun played the missing part of their song. It made him realize that even before the trust he had in his mother shattered, he never truly felt safe with her.

“Mo Xuanyu, you know what happens to the people who cloud your judgment. If you don't want them to be punished, come home.”

When he read that text a few days late (he silenced all her calls and texts), he couldn’t help but laugh. Them hurt Lan Zhan? Impossible. How laughable. What he’d give to see his mother’s smug smile fall into one of fear after realizing who he’s been talking to.

Yet part of him still couldn’t help but worry. No one was untouchable, and that included Lan Zhan. Just the thought of someone hurting him to get to him made him want to rip his own heart out and crush it so they no longer had a reason to hurt his apparent soulmate.

The mere reality of that made Mo scoff, finding it utterly ridiculous how he felt this strongly for someone he barely even knew. Part of him wondered if he was delusional, but feelings this powerful can’t be manufactured.

Besides, someone tainted in filth and blood shouldn’t associate with someone so perfect. They needed to step off a bridge so they'd no longer be a burden on the world.

“Lan Zhan, let me ask… why should we?” He managed to type back, his silver eyes hardly focusing on what he was typing. Too sober to be responding, the back of his brain whispered. In the morning, when he looked back at these messages, he’d berate and scold himself for letting his depression speak truthfully.

“Why not?” Lan Zhan responded again, making his frown deepen. He really wasn’t making this easy. How could he convince Lan Zhan he was poison? Part of him was tempted to ghost him, maybe even block him to prevent him from finding him again. Everytime he went to do it though, his finger would hover over the block button and his anxiety would race.

Don’t do it don’t do it don’t you dare fucking do it. It literally felt like he was crushing his own soul with his bare hands every. single. time.

“We’re just not compatible. You’re well, you. You’re beautiful, you’re gorgeous. You’re exceedingly good at playing the guqin. That goes without saying. You’re really good at calligraphy, and-” his thoughts came to an abrupt stop, but not his thumb as it pressed send. Oddly enough, he had a vague sense of dejavu. How could that be when he’s never been close enough to say such things to someone? And why focus on calligraphy? Sure he's seen it before, fans like himself liked to see everything he did. But still, calligraphy?

Shaking his head, he quickly added to the last message. “I know better than to put people on pedestals, this isn't me idolizing you or anything like that. I just don’t want to ruin your reputation. Sure you like my version, and maybe others will too, but I don’t exactly have a good reputation.”

The biggest understatement of the year.

How could he warn Lan Zhan he was danger and not worth it without outright saying it?

“I do not care about trivial matters like that, and even less about what others think. I make my own judgments.”

“Lan Zhan, you barely even know me,” he wrote truly back, feeling a little aggrieved. “What if I’m actually some criminal trying to hurt or exploit you?”

“A criminal brave enough to try going up against a Lan would be worth knowing.”

Mo couldn’t help the snort that left him, his self deprecating mood lifting a bit. Yet again Lan Zhan was able to do something no one has before - pull him from his dark place and make him feel secure. Even his mother hadn’t been able to do that.

Maybe things would be different with Hanguangjun.

“What if I’m hideous?” He teasingly wrote, quickly following it up. “You should know my wardrobe mostly consists of ripped jeans and hoodies these days. Mostly black or red depending on which one is clean 😉”

After escaping, he secured a cheap black hoodie from the thrift store along with another set of jeans. There were only two outfits to his name right now.

“Appearances do not matter. Anything you wear to the performance is welcome.”

“ 😲 Anything you say?! Lan Zhan, you should really watch your words 😉”

“Shameless!!”

This time a chuckle left his lips as he curled up more into himself, cradling the phone in his hands. His body shivered as another frigid breeze swept through, making him inch slightly closer to the crackling fire. Another trip to the thrift store was needed. At this rate, he’d die from frostbite before seeing Hanguangjun in person!

It didn’t matter if he felt good enough to collab with Lan Zhan anymore, or felt like he’d endanger his inspiration. Right now, as he drifted to sleep, the only thing that mattered was finally meeting him in person. Once he did, whatever happened afterwards, he knew he'd be able to die happily.

----

“Do you ever feel nervous before a show?” Mo Xuanyu asked. It was now three days before the performance.

“No,” Lan Zhan responded, purposely leaving out that this is the only show he’s felt nervous about. After all, he’s going to properly meet his music.

“You’ve never looked shy in front of a crowd, but you also don’t talk to your fans either.”

“I do not perform for the crowd, I do it for myself,” he wrote, purposely leaving out the part where he did it in an attempt to reach out to his soulmate. With both of them avoiding the topic, Lan Zhan assumed it was safe to save the subject for later.

“You really are a weird person Lan Zhan, but in a good way!” Mo responded, quickly following it up. “At least we don’t have to worry about the fame getting to your head or any scandals. Now I have a way to sniff imposters out 😉”

“How will I know if there is an imposter of you?” A risky move, Lan Zhan knew, but it also made sense in this context. “The tickets are sold out.”

Five minutes-

10 minutes-

“You’re right. Even if someone showed up to your dressing room, how would you know it’s me?”

Five-

Ten-

Fifteen-

Thirty-.

“Lan Zhan… no one else looks at your messages, do they?”

A hard fearful lump formed in Lan Zhan’s throat, his fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on his phone. He finally had physical evidence that his music was in danger, and not just from himself. The caution towards others seeing these messages clearly showed his trust was fragile. Mo Xuanyu didn’t want to be noticed by someone.

“My brother used to help manage my account, but not anymore. I am the only one who has access. However, if you feel uncomfortable, I can give you my phone number. We will need to exchange information for the collaboration anyway.” Writing out his number, he hit send, and waited.

After asking for a description or possibly even a picture of Mo, Lan Zhan knew he’d have to wait a while. If answering simple questions took his music a while to respond, finding the courage to send what he looked like probably made his anxiety skyrocket.

Surprisingly, it was only a few hours later when he received a text from an unknown number: “Am I your only fan in your phone?” The text preview showed as another text came through - a picture text.

Opening up his phone, Lan Zhan’s eyes scrunched up with a mixture of emotions.

“Am I your only fan in your phone? How scandalous Hanguangjun! What if I was pretending to be Chenqing this whole time, or worse! What if I wasn’t human?!”

The picture below the text was one of a fox. Lan Zhan wanted to shake his head until he noticed an arm wrapped around the fox, then a chest adorning dark clothes. This was an image of someone cuddling a fox, and based off its ragged appearance, it seemed to be a wild one.

… Mo hadn’t googled fox facts the other day. He found out older foxes liked being cuddled by cuddling one himself. That was incredibly dangerous! Why would he try such a thing?!

Wait, if the fox was real, did that mean when he talked about a river full of trash, he stumbled upon one too? He knew Mo liked nature, his blog was filled with pictures of a forest. Did he perhaps live by one? This was something he’d make a mental note of.

“That is incredibly dangerous,” Lan Zhan texted back, hoping he still didn’t have the fox captive.

“I already told you they like being cuddled, and so do I. I don’t see a problem~ 🦊 ”

Worry and anger made Lan Zhan scowl, trying to balance the two emotions out before responding. Yet as his fingers pressed a few letters, Mo sent another message - a picture message.

This time, it was a selfie of the most beautiful man he had ever seen in his life. Those alluring yet mischievous silver eyes stole his gaze, finding himself lost in them. They’re sparkling and smiling, but also filled with a deep sadness he wishes he could eradicate. Framing them is long black hair tied up with -

A red ribbon. Lan Zhan grasped his heart, feeling it race in his chest. It’s the same exact ribbon from his dream, one of the only parts he remembers when he wakes up.

“Jeez, I must love hoodies cause I’m wearing one in all my selfies 🤣”

“You look fine.” More than fine, actually, he wanted to add.

“Aw, thanks Lan Zhan! ❤ I know how great I look and all, but please don’t show me to too many people, okay? I know how hard it'll be to hold back 😉 I’m just trying to stay out of family drama and would prefer no one recognize me.”

Family drama? Well, even if it was a lie, it was yet another glimpse into Mo Xuanyu’s personal life. “I promise only to show it when it comes to your safety.”

“PFFF Lan Zhan! What do you mean by that? No one I know enjoys what I do, so I’ll be fine at the performance! Don’t go showing me to all your security guards, I’ll have them swooning! 🤣”

… then why mention not showing the selfie to others? Mo Xuanyu really knew how to confuse and concern him.

His concern doesn’t go unnoticed by his brother who stops by later that night to eat dinner with him.

“Did something happen, Wangji?” Lan Xichen asked as he slowly pulled the takeout boxes out of the bag. “You look troubled.”

“So do you,” Lan Zhan admitted, becoming just as worried for his brother.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” Lan Xichen merely waved. “We finally besieged one of the Wen gang’s main hideouts. Twenty two are in custody, thirty are dead.”

“That’s good news.”

“It is. We found three shipments of illegal weapons along with logs and footage of their heists and crimes.”

They actually found logs and footage of their crimes?! That meant there was a huge possibility Wen Chao wouldn’t get away with all his crimes no matter how much money he threw around. That was definitely worth celebrating!

“Do you need assistance combing through them?”

Lan Xichen shook his head, a genuine smile peering through this time. “No, but thanks for the offer. The footage is rather disturbing.”

“I see,” Lan Zhan mumbled, seeing his phone light up with a new message from Mo. He didn’t notice the way his mood instantly lifted, but his brother did.

“Things must be going well for you too Wangji.” Lan Zhan froze up, the tip of his ears turning pink. “I haven’t seen you this happy before.”

Not knowing what to say, he nodded, though his eyebrows knitted in worry. “I am…but I am also worried.”

“About your new friend?” Seeing his little brother nod, Lan Xichen’s own eyes scrunched a bit worriedly. “Is this related to your searches in the database?”

There were no secrets kept between them, including their search histories. Out of curiosity, Lan Xichen had clicked on the search after seeing Lan Wangji reviewed the case file several times. To his surprise, he found the file classified as a cold case. “Is your friend related to the victim?”

For a moment, Lan Zhan stayed frighteningly quiet, which considering he hardly spoke, said a lot. “He’s claiming to be Mo Xuanyu.”

Shock couldn’t help but breech his face, now understanding what had his brother so perplexed. The same question that plagued Lan Zhan for so long now infected Lan Xichen: Why would someone pretend to be a dead child?

“And you looked him up to see if someone had the same name?”

“That was the first thing I did,” Lan Zhan sighed, no longer feeling hungry as he stared blankly at his food. “He is the only one that comes up.”

“I see… have you tried inquiring about it with him?”

“No,” he admitted, biting his bottom lip. “I… think he is in danger.”

Considering he was using the name of a deceased child, he must be wrapped up in something dangerous. “What makes you think that?”

Now that he was finally telling someone else, Lan Zhan felt like a nervous wreck. He was worried - he was beyond worried. After saving his soulmate from suicide, now he had to save him from something or someone who drove him to make such a decision. How could he do that when all he had were breadcrumbs of his life?

He couldn’t lose him. Dear god he couldn’t lose him. That pure unfiltered fear was unexplainable, but he didn’t need it to be explained.

Lans only loved once. That was the only explanation he needed.

Taking a deep breath, he told him about the suicide attempt, his cautious reactions and responses, and the way he skirted around personal questions. While leaving out the most important part, the one about the song in his dreams as it would make him seem insane, his brother nodded with a distressed look on his face. Something didn’t seem right even to an outsider.

“That does seem worrisome,” Lan Xichen agreed, resting his chin in his hand for a moment. “Even if he wanted to pose as the deceased Mo Xuanyu, you’d think he’d say his head injury happened when he just turned five, not almost six.”

Lan Zhan nodded, completely agreeing with him. “He needs help.”

“I agree. Mind if I lend a hand?”

Normally Lan Zhan hated getting his brother involved, especially since he had so many other responsibilities. Yet he couldn’t help but nod, his desperation too great.

Somehow, he knew they didn’t have a lot of time. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Is there anything else you know?”

“Not really. I do have a picture of him, if it will help.” Mo asked him not to show it to a lot of people and seemed okay when Lan Zhan said he’d only show it to people when it concerned his safety. This situation definitely matched up with those terms.

“The picture he didn't want others to see?” His brother asked, wanting to make sure he was okay with this.

“Yes. He said not to show many people, and I only intend to show it to you. Besides, this is to protect him.”

The moment Lan Xichen’s eyes landed on the photo, his whole face went pale. The reaction wasn’t expected, which only made Lan Zhan nearly panic. Did his brother already know something?

“Wangji… are you sure this is your friend?” He asked, zooming in to get a better look at some of his features. It didn’t calm him down in the least.

“Yes.”

“And he’s safe?”

“... Brother, why are you asking? Do you know something?”

“Is he safe?” Lan Xichen asked once again, his stern tone making his brother quiet down.

“I believe so. He has been texting me the past three days.”

“Good,” he breathed out before closing his styrofoam take out box, no longer hungry. “Before I say anything, I want to confirm something first.”

“Brother-”

“Wangji, whatever you do, make sure to keep in contact with him and find a way to convince him to meet up before the event.”

“Why?” Lan Zhan asked, unable to help the exasperation in his desperate voice.

“I dare not say, not until I confirm it. Let me know if you’re able to meet up with him.”

Meet up, meaning his brother didn’t find him a threat. So why was he so concerned about him?

“Okay,” he said, swallowing the rest of the words in his throat. He trusted his brother with his life, so no matter how hard it was, he would be patient.

----

“I know this is sudden, but are you in town?” Lan Zhan asked, pursing his bottom lip anxiously as he typed; a habit he’s never had before now. “I would like to meet up before the performance, if that is okay with you.”

As if waiting to hear from him, three dots started appearing, showing Mo Xuanyu was typing, then stopped. Anxiety and fear tightly gripped his chest in an attempt to suffocate him, unable to handle the suspense. Would this scare Mo off?

“Before?? 😳😳😲 Hanguangjun, haven’t you heard it’s bad luck to see each other before the ceremony?”

The tip of his ears burned slightly as his golden eyes read the text, immediately thinking “shameless, ridiculous!” Referencing the performance as some kind of ceremony had to be his soulmate flirting with him, right? How was he supposed to respond to that??

“I will risk it if it means being able to meet you without the eyes of others.”

“... Lan Zhan wants to get me all alone 😨😱”

… was Mo trying to imply something there?? “It gets fairly busy, and I do not want our first meeting to be rushed and interrupted by others.”

“Is this really Hanguangjun? Quick - take a picture of what you’re doing right now, no matter what it is!!”

Another picture? Looking down at his lap where two bunnies sat, his ears became a little pink again. No one knew about his affinity for rabbits. Until now, he hadn’t really cared if anyone knew or not. For some reason, the thought of Mo knowing made him feel embarrassed.

Regardless of how he felt, he raised his phone and took a picture, making sure everything was in view. Behind him his beautiful peonies could be seen, their colors so vibrant they nearly drowned Lan Zhan out.

“Holy shit - are those bunnies!?” Mo sent, the three dots immediately popping up again. “Are those peonies?!”

“Yes,” he simply responded, still not sure what this reaction meant.

Instead of words, a picture message was sent. In what must’ve been Mo Xuanyu’s hand was a little white bunny figure attached to a thin cord, resembling either a phone or wallet charm. “At least you have the real thing! I like bunnies too 😍 Do you have more??”

Lifting his gaze from his lap, Lan Zhan stared down at the seven other bunnies hopping around close by. He sent this scene to Mo as well.

“Holy shit I didn’t expect you to actually have more! Do you tend to the garden yourself?!” Just beyond the bunnies were dozens of flowers of all kinds along with fruits and vegetables at the corners of the frame.

“I do.”

“Why don’t you hire a gardener? That’s a lot of work!”

“Tending to it brings me peace.”

“So you’re a prodigy, an expert at the guqin, exceedingly smart, intoxicatingly handsome, a diligent housewife, a masterful gardener - Lan Zhan, how are you not married???”

“I have not found my fated one.”

“Aiyah even your fated one doesn’t deserve you! Anyone who manages to steal your heart will just use you!”

“I do not mind being used by my fated one.”

“You can’t just let someone take advantage of you Hanguangjun! - I take it back, you’re not allowed to marry! Who knew you’d be so irresponsible?? 😡”

A very small smile folded at the corner of Lan Zhan’s lips, once again finding Mo Xuanyu’s protectiveness cute and endearing. “If they are my fated one, I know I will be unable to do anything but love them unconditionally.”

“Just because you’re fated to be with them??”

“Because we are fated for a reason.” To outsiders, this sounded like severely flawed logic. To those who knew him, they were well aware Lan Zhan didn’t love easily. He didn’t talk to others easily either. If he truly loved someone enough to call them his fated one, then that person had to be extraordinary.

“I never took you as a romantic, now I don’t know what to do with this new information 😵 😵 ”

“Are you in town today?” Lan Zhan asked, trying to reel the conversation back to his first request. It would seem Mo had somewhat of a silver tongue.

“I am. Where would you like to meet? I don’t do well in crowded places.” For some reason, Lan Zhan had a feeling Mo actually meant he didn’t want to go somewhere he’d have a higher chance of being recognized.

“There is a small cafe I frequent. I can pick you up?”

… ten minutes passed, leaving Lan Zhan waiting with bated breath.

“Lan Zhan, you really have to stop being so chivalrous! I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little lost.”

Lost? How could he be lost when there was a GPS on his phone? Shouldn’t he have reception since they were texting each other?

“Where are you?”

“Somehow I ended up at a cemetery.”

A cemetery…? How did he end up at a cemetery?? If Lan Zhan hadn’t been the one to invite him out, he would’ve assumed this was a set up. Actually, it still seemed like a set up. It wouldn’t make sense though. Why would someone on the run set a trap for him?

Shaking the thoughts from his head, he got the name of the cemetery, informed his brother, and quickly left.

---

He was shaking. How could he not be shaking? So much had happened this morning and the only thing he wanted to do was drink and sleep. When was the last time he even had a drink? Probably the night he fled from the Wen’s den.

Considering he relied on buses and trains, it didn’t take him too long to get to Gusu. Filled to the brim with nerves at the idea that Lan Zhan would hate and discard him, the world naturally thrusted more problems on him.

Traveling all night, he accidentally fell asleep on the final bus, missing his stop for the cheap motel Wen Ning managed to find for him. The only thing that woke him was a fight breaking out on the bus, a fight between a Wen gang member and some martial artist who refused to give up his seat for him.

Naturally, with his shitty luck, he knew the gang member from the Wen gang. He was one of the ones he never wanted to see again. While he should’ve pondered what they were doing in Gusu, he instead kicked them both out of the bus while the driver quickly closed the doors, leaving the two brawling in the street.

Opting to get off at the next stop, the doors barely closed behind him when he saw two other Wen gang members walking towards him. Bolting was his first instinct, and he was glad he didn’t give in. Such an abrupt action would’ve caught their attention. With the oversized black hoodie covering his slim frame, they wouldn’t notice a thing unless they ripped the hood off his head.

Taking deep breaths, he managed to slip away without drawing their attention.

Focusing so much on escaping, he forgot to pay attention to where he was going, hence how he ended up at a large cemetery.

And now, if he was being honest, he didn’t want to leave. The main reason he nearly stepped off the bridge was so he didn’t have to deal with all this shit anymore. Yet here he was, lost in Gusu with Wens crawling all around the city. How ironic would it be if he got caught in Gusu while trying to find his way to the song in his soul - the one that convinced him to stay a little longer?

“Lan Zhan…” he mumbled, clenching his phone with shaky hands. Just saying his name helped steady his breathing. Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan Lan Zhan Lan Zhan-

The sound of a car approaching made him snap his eyes open, not even sure when he closed them nor when sat on the ground to curl into himself. While he would’ve opted to call himself pathetic, all thoughts were silenced as he watched the white car pull up. This wasn’t someone from the Wen gang, all their cars were either black or red, which meant this was either someone visiting their loved one’s grave or-

The window to the passenger seat rolled down, instantly putting Mo Xuanyu at ease.

Lan Zhan.

For a moment, all they could do was stare at each other with wide eyes, gold bearing into silver. They weren’t sure who moved first (or when Lan Zhan got out of the car), only that they met each other halfway, arms around each other in a desperate embrace.

… desperate embrace?

Mo Xuanyu quickly pulled himself away, his face bright red as he cleared his throat. “S-sorry! I guess I tripped. Your handsome good looks nearly killed me Lan Zhan!”

Lan Zhan looked stunned, needing another moment to recover. “I am glad you did not fall.”

For some reason, that made Mo burst into a fit of laughter, needing to wrap an arm around his stomach the longer it went on. “Lan Zhan-” he breathed out between cackles. “I can’t believe you came!”

Confused, the Lan titled his head ever so slightly. The sight made Mo Xuanyu’s heart race with heat, laughing even more. “I can’t - I can’t- you’re too much!!”

“How so?” He asked just as calm as before, not helping poor Mo’s condition.

Taking deep breaths, he managed to satiate the laughter with tears in his eyes, using his finger to wipe them away. With his other hand, he gave Lan Zhan’s forehead a gentle teasing flick. “Don’t trust anyone who asks you to meet them at a cemetery again! I could’ve been a creep or serial killer!”

The barest hint of a smile flashed across those stone lips, one that made Mo nearly swoon more. “I will not,” he said, simply placating him with a warm glint in those alluring eyes.

Standing in front of one another at least, Mo Xuanyu found himself nearly a head shorter than his inspiration, which made him pout a little. Growing up poor with little food severely stunted his body. Odd how he hadn’t cared about that until now.

Ironically his stomach growled, stopping his lips from moving and speaking some more. Instead he watched Lan Zhan’s eyes widen, then soften again.

“Let us get something to eat.”

The thought of real food made Mo’s mouth water, humming and nodding desperately. He can’t remember the last time he had an actual decent meal. Hopefully the cafe wasn’t too expensive, he barely had ten dollars to his name.

----

The drive wasn’t as awkward as Lan Zhan thought it would be. Granted, he also hated socializing with people, especially when they had a lot of energy. Somehow, he only felt endured and almost breathless as he watched Mo Xuanyu excitingly point at places they passed and inquired about them.

“What about that book store? Have you been there too?”

“I have.”

“It looks so homey from the outside!”

“It is my favorite one, actually. It is very quaint and quiet.”

“Oh??” Mo’s mouth formed a small ‘o’ as he pressed his face against the glass, trying to get a better look as they started to pull away due to the light turning green.

“Would you like to stop?”

As expected, Mo shook his head, a somber expression taking over his once sparkling smile. “Another time.” There was a hollowness to his voice, one that made Lan Zhan’s eyebrows knit together and grip tighten on the steering wheel. If it wasn’t for the looming danger of knowing someone was after his music, he would’ve pulled over and forced the other to indulge himself. Something he was positive Mo either didn’t allow or couldn’t.

The moment his eyes had settled on his music back in the cemetery, a silent alarm whirled in the back of his head. As charmed and speechless as he had been, he managed to take note of certain details.

He was thin. Too thin. Even the oversized hoodie couldn’t hide the growing hollowness in his cheeks. Embracing him only confirmed what his eyes observed. His waist was far too slim, his bones protruding more than what was healthy. Then, there was his smell. While his nose was buried in those tied back long black strands that smelled like cheap shampoo and conditioner, there was an undertone of a deep earthy musk.

It wasn’t bad, in fact it was a little nostalgic. He wasn’t one to reminisce on his childhood, that is until he started talking to Mo Xuanyu. The smell brought him back to the days he spent in a haze during astronomy camp. Of getting lost in the forest during a violent storm and becoming quite ill. It made him remember going back to the forest, often hiking on trails and finding a place to quietly play his music - the music that played nonstop in his soul.

With the picture of Mo cuddling the fox and talking about rivers being littered, part of him wondered if his music had been hiding out in the woods before coming here. Just the thought made him grip the steering wheel more, his knuckles turning white as he glanced over to his soulmate again, seeing him pointing at another building.

“What’s that one?”

“That is a Gusu brand clothing store.”

“Oh,” Mo said, wrinkling his nose as they passed by the glass windows, seeing expensive looking suits and dresses in the window. “Looks too expensive, they’ve squandered such a cool looking building!”

Lan Zhan shook his head, finding a little amusement in the response as he turned down a sidestreet. There wasn’t a lot of parking along this road, but seeing the lack of pedestrians, there didn’t seem to be a reason for more.

Mo Xuanyu’s eyes immediately locked onto the little cafe without it needing to be pointed out. It was a cozy looking coffee shop painted a light lilac with flowers blooming at the front door and windows. On display in the window seal were small lotus flowers that were obviously fake, but still captured their beauty as they framed the name of the small business: Lotus Cove.

Lan Zhan took off his seatbelt, unaware of the quiet maelstrom that was brewing inside of Mo.

His head ached despite being empty as he stared at the building, unable to process what he was feeling. It was unpleasant, that much he knew, yet as Mo tried to turn away, he couldn’t. There was a silence that overtook him, a silence that made a tingling white noise sensation quietly form in the back of his head and ring quietly in his ears.

Was this fear? Was this oppression? The numbness that settled into his limbs and bones made him think otherwise. There were no prominent emotions, just a tingling blank slate.

“Mo Xuanyu?” Lan Zhan quietly called, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Right, he was here to spend some time with his soulmate. It didn’t really matter what he was feeling or how this would end anyway.

“This is really cute!” He beamed, his smile not fully reaching his eyes. Not sure if he was being too obvious or not, he quickly got out of the car and scrambled onto the sidewalk. His feet froze one cement block away from the door, though he wasn’t sure why. The only thing he knew was that he didn’t want to go in alone.

His behavior must’ve been odd because Lan Zhan walked up to his side with a concerned gleam in his gorgeous gold eyes, one Mo quickly learned he hated to see.

“Who knew you’d find such a cute little cafe like this? You really can’t judge a book by its cover,” he winked, making the tips of the other’s ears turn a slight shade of pink.

Oh no- that was really cute. Mo felt a very faint blush of his own take hold and cleared his throat, opting to stare at the door to the cafe instead.

Before he could say anything shameless, Lan Zhan opened the door, gesturing for him to go inside. Instinctively he clenched his fists, a wave of nervousness washing over him. Not knowing why he felt like this made him a little irritated. He liked to face things head on, so not being able to face whatever the hell he was going through right now pissed him off.

For Hanguangjun’s sake, he entered with a smile. “Why thank you my fine gentleman!” He chuckled.

“Lan Wangji!” A female’s voice beamed in happiness, making Mo quickly find the source. Behind a dark wooden counter was a beautiful young woman with long black hair tied into two slight buns with bangs framing her comforting honey-dew eyes. She wore purple-jean overalls over a short-sleeve white shirt with small cute pins aligning the top.

She was comforting, even if the white noise became a fraction louder.

“It’s good to see you again!” She smiled, her eyes then moving to Mo. A spark of fond shock made him feel self conscious, unknowingly taking a step closer to Lan Zhan. “You brought a friend with you today?”

“Yes,” he bowed his head ever so slightly, his eyes silently glancing over at him. Knowing Lan Zhan was leaving it up to him if he wanted to introduce himself or not made his heart race in fondness. He really was perfect in every way.

“I’m Mo Xuanyu,” he said, slightly bowing his head as well.

“I’m Jiang Yanli, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she smiled, bowing her head in the same manner. “Lan Wangji’s never brought a friend before. This is cause for celebration!”

Lan Zhan wanted to refuse, knowing she liked to go overboard, but there was something in the way she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Mo that made him curious. She was married and wasn’t the type to steal glances at other men. For her to be this interested meant she saw something special in him.

“Please take a seat! Would you like your usual?”

“Yes please,” Lan Zhan said, picking up a paper menu and handing it to Mo, the action seemingly snapping his music out of whatever thoughts he was having. “Do not worry about the prices. This is my treat.”

Mo snapped his head up faster than he could blink, the look of shock and guilt making his heart ache more. “Hanguangjun-”

“I was the one who asked you to come out here. It is the least I can do.” There was far to it than that, but leaving out the rest would make this less awkward. Thankfully his soulmate easily gave in, his silver eyes scanning the menu as Lan Zhan led them to a seat away from prying eyes from the street. He didn’t dare take a risk.

“I think I’ll just take a tea,” Mo smiled, his reward being a glare from Lan Zhan.

“No, you are hungry. The food here is very good.” Reaching over, Lan Zhan flipped the menu over, forcing Mo to look at the food items. What he didn’t expect was the way his silver eyes stayed glued to something on the list, something that made his whole body stiffen.

Knowing the menu by heart, he wasn’t sure what could have caused such a reaction. Peaking at the paper, he didn’t see it altered in any way.

“Here’s your hot jasmine tea,” Yanli placed his steaming hot cup on the table along with the rest of the pot. “Would you like your usual salad too?”

“Yes,” he said without looking at her, his own eyes glued to his soulmate.

“What about you Mo Xuanyu?” Her voice seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he was in, though his body remained stiff.

“Oh, uh, watermelon iced tea please,” he mumbled, avoiding eye contact as he fidgeted with the edge of the paper menu. “And lotus root soup.”

The smile that placated her lips faltered for a moment, enough for Lan Zhan to see it. “You’re in luck, I just finished preparing some so you don’t even have to wait! I’ll be right back.”

Right, today was the anniversary, a day he never missed before. Thankfully some part of him remembered enough to bring Mo here so she wouldn’t be alone.

“Have you had lotus root soup before?” Lan Zhan asked once Yanli was out of earshot, a little curious. It wouldn’t be his first choice, especially since it wouldn’t fill Mo Xuanyu up enough. If it weren’t for the meaning behind the dish, he would’ve made Mo change his selection to something more filling.

Mo Xuanyu’s gaze became distant as he hummed to himself, thinking. “I feel like I have, a long time ago,” he admitted. “When I was very small.”

Very small. As much as Lan Zhan wanted a specification, he had a feeling he wouldn’t get one. “How much memory loss do you have?” He chose to ask instead.

The question made Mo shift uneasily, teeth piercing his bottom lip. Odd, that was something Lan Zhan started to do himself in recent days even though he didn’t know anyone with such a bad habit.

"You worry too much Lan Zhan," Mo laughed, though it felt pained and forced no matter how hard he tried to hide it with his grin. "I prefer living in the now, you know?"

No, Lan Zhan didn't know. How could he when he was he one that stopped Mo from jumping off the bridge? The present didn’t seem much better than the past. He wanted to be frank, to say it outright, but he had to be careful with what he said. Somehow he knew his soulmate was getting closer and closer to a bottomless edge. Though he’s never met Mo Xuanyu in person before, he could see how uneasy he was.

Something wasn’t right. Everything was starting to go wrong.

“You can not live a fulfilled life without confronting the demons of the past,” Lan Zhan said, watching as Mo’s fake smile faltered a bit.

“Is that a Lan philosophy?” Mo asked, lightly and playfully bumping his foot into the musician’s. He was a fidgety person, he noted. “You can only fight demons if you remember them.”

There was a smugness in his voice, one that gave life to that forced smile. Seeing the smallest hint of it made Lan Zhan’s heart a little lighter while filling with even more determination. “Are you sure you do not remember?”

Mo’s face didn’t change, though he did deflate in his seat a bit, finally realizing he couldn’t run from this.

“It’s hard to say,” Mo hesitated, opting to stare out the window as he continued to avoid eye contact, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. “I don’t remember most of my childhood. Considering how mom and I have struggled, it’s probably for the best.”

Slowly, as if pushing thoughts from his mind, Mo finally turned to him, opening his mouth when Yanli emerged from the kitchen again. Her hands were completely full, and while she did this for a living and was obviously used to it, Mo Xuanyu still jumped up and met her half way.

“Not that you aren't perfectly capable, but don’t you have employees to help you?” Mo couldn’t help but ask as he carefully stole the tea from her, winking at her confused expression. “Beautiful flowers like you deserve to rest!”

Yanli stood there staring for a moment before giggling, an odd fondness twinkling in her eyes. A fondness Lan Zhan only saw when she looked at childhood pictures.

“Such a charmer, no wonder Lan Wangji likes you,” she giggled, missing the way his ears pinked at the tips at the comment.

---

The two made their way back to the table, Mo Xuanyu instantly taking a sip of the watermelon tea. “So refreshing! The best I’ve ever had!! Did you make this yourself?”

“I did,” she beamed, setting the soup on the table in front of him. “I’m glad you like it!”

Mo smiled happily as he turned to the soup, scooting in to sit a little closer to the table when his eyes fully settled on the soup, finally seeing the inside of the bowl.

And his heart stopped.

Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.

Don’t eat it. Don’t you dare fucking do it. Every inch of his body and soul trembled, his eyes catching sight of his hands actually shaking. Thankfully they were in his lap, a place Lan Zhan couldn’t see.

“I hope you like it,” Yanli said, her smile shadowed with a weight Mo knew too well. This soup meant a lot to her. Turning it down now and wasting Lan Zhan’s money was out of the question, not to mention upsetting her. He’s only known Yanli for less than twenty minutes but if anything happened to her he would kill everyone even remotely responsible and then himself. Which was weird. Why did he feel so strongly towards someone he just met and only spoke a few words to? Lan Zhan was his soulmate, so he understood why they instantly clicked. But her? No matter how he tried to think about it, it didn’t make sense, and honestly he didn’t really care.

Ignoring the way his body and mind screamed bloody murder in an attempt to stop him, Mo picked up the spoon, making sure it had a fair amount of soup on it.

The smell. Dear god the smell. Heavenly. Sweet. Light. Powerful- overwhelming.

Vicious, merciless thorny vines wrapped tightly around his head, forcing his lips to part with an inaudible gasp.

Don’t do it - don’t you dare fucking do it!!

The instant his mouth closed, he felt sick. In fact, he felt violently ill-

’You have to be a good boy,’ he heard his mother say, the exasperated yet wickedly gleeful tone foreign to him. His ears start to ring, his head fuzzing into static.

That’s not his mother, that malicious tone doesn’t belong to her-

Stop stop you have to FUCKING STOP-!

Bile burst upwards so fast Mo hardly had time to cover his mouth in time, narrowly avoiding puking in the soup and all over the table.

”A-Xian, are you feeling okay?” Someone asked.

A female. Someone he didn’t know-

That’s a lie-

“Mo Xuanyu?” Yanli’s voice pierced through the static, her voice sounding just like the one that just spoke.

A-Xian. A-Xian… who the hell was that?

“Mo Xuanyu?” Lan Zhan’s voice dripped with worry, his reaching hand making Mo instinctively stumble to his feet, more vomit nearly making him lose his composure. The sudden movement did not help the immense pain and extreme pressure in his skull. It made it hard for him to actually see.

In a daze, both seeing and hearing static, he somehow managed to find the bathroom. His legs carried him before he even realized he found it, barely managing to stumble to the toilet before letting it all loose

Feet hit lush vibrant green grass surrounded by beautiful blooming flowers. Giggles as pure and bright as the sun made his heart lurch-

Cold. It’s so cold, and so, so dark.

He wasn’t supposed to remember - he wasn’t supposed to think about this-!!

Why did you have to fucking do it?!

----

Helpless. For the first time since he found his music’s Tumblr post, Lan Zhan felt completely helpless. Mo was hurting and Lan Zhan had no idea how to help. Should he give him space? People hated when others saw them in such a vulnerable state, yet he couldn’t find himself caring about that. Without sparing another glance to Yanli, he quickly followed after his soulmate.

Part of him was surprised Mo didn’t lock the door behind him. Then again, given his current state, he was surprised he even made it to the bathroom by himself. Upon entering, he saw Mo Xuanyu collapsed against the toilet, heaving up whatever managed to slip into his stomach. Considering how skinny he was and how he hadn’t even eaten a full spoonful of soup, there couldn’t be much for his body to expel. Yet it kept trying to do it anyway.

What did people normally do in this situation? Instinctively he learned forward, barely giving his soulmate any warning before gathering his hair into his hands, trying to prevent any more throw up from getting in it.

That’s when he saw it. The fading red and purple mark on the back of Mo’s neck. Lan Zhan wasn’t an idiot. He knew what that mark was, and he couldn’t help but feel a flare of unchecked jealousy rush through him. Was his soulmate in love with someone else? No, it didn’t seem possible, not when he tried to commit suicide.

Feeling him start to dry heave again, Lan Zhan shook those thoughts from his mind. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. He needed to be here for Mo Xuanyu. When he was sick, Lan Xichen used to rub circles into his back, so maybe it would help his soulmate?

Gently he reached forward, letting his fingers rub against his back. Immediately a choked wail left Mo’s lips, jumping up from his slumped position only to slip and hit his head against the wall. Lan Zhan reached out, wanting to steady him, but froze. Those enchanting silver eyes were blown wide with fear. Fear of him.

No, that wasn’t right. Those eyes were focused solely on his hands, not his face, which helped pinpoint the source of his fear. Knowing the physical source didn’t help much though. Mo Xuanyu was having a panic attack and Lan Zhan had no idea how to help. He barely understood his own emotions, how could he help someone through theirs?

Actually, there was something he could do; something that worked before. It would be hard with no instruments, but he could use his own voice. His voice wasn’t fine tuned like his technique on the guqin, but it was all he had. Closing his eyes, wanting to give Mo Xuanyu the privacy he needed, he hummed the song of their dreams.

The result was immediate. His fast ragged breathing slowly became calmer until he eventually started to hear the other part of their song being hummed by Mo.

Weak at first, which was to be expected. Gradually their duet picked up in strength, Mo Xuanyu’s breathing slowly regulating into normal breaths. Even then Lan Zhan made sure to keep his eyes shut, not brave enough to risk undoing the progress they’ve made.

After an unknown amount of time, Mo finally spoke. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, finally prompting Lan Zhan to open his eyes again. “And thank you.”

#wangxian #phage writes #mdzs #ive had so much going on im so sorry. my broken foot is healing enough but then dad had a heart attack brother passed out hit his head and #my mom just got diagnosed with cancer... and ive been helping a very dear friend not go insane almost everyday after work #shes basically my sister and between family members (my poor sis is a mess too) i haven't had much time to even sleep x.x let alone breath #been losing my mind but it could be worse x.x anyway hope you guys enjoy!

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majonmustard · 2 years ago

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OP you don’t understand, I’ve been thinking about this since the book came out- it hasn’t left my head for two weeks. While reading it the first time, I was almost (I doubted it) convinced that this was actually where the book was going for multiple reasons, yes his connections with the other Gods and him having to tell Will “the truth,” but also even with Persephone’s conversation with Will where she says to him, “But do you see the depths within him? Do you realize who he really is?” This line really had (maybe still has) the potential to have a lot of weight to it.

The other place my brain originally thought the story was going was thinking that maybe Will is a reincarnate. Okay here me out here- When the two of them first get to the underworld, even though it’s in his nightmare, and in hindsight it’s meant to be due to it’s similarity to Olympus, this line where Will comments on the look of the underworld fascinates me, “He had a confused feeling that he had been here before… His instincts told him this was all wrong.” You’ve been there before Will? Tie that into the fact that for the majority of the time they’re in the underworld, Will is losing his memories. We’re told this is a side effect of being the son of Apollo, but why his memories? It doesn’t make sense, unless- Will’s ~soul~ actually remembers being there and is rejecting being back in the underworld, he’s not supposed to be there again yet. I think this idea is really interesting because we’ve never really dived into the idea of rebirth in this universe, there’s the whole thing of getting into the isles of the blessed, so it’s not crazy to think some of the demigods could be on their second or third go.

But where do these two concepts tie together?? Zagreus is the God of rebirth. Let’s just say, for this hypothetical (AU, really) that Nico as a God, or Zagreus, or whatever, meets Will’s soul in the underworld, they fall in love, soulmate yada yada, they decide they want to be in love on earth, so, Will’s soul chooses rebirth and Nico is able to leave behind his divinity (I think he’d earn it back if he dies again tbh) and get reincarnated as a mortal. We have no clue or previous explanations on how rebirth works, but they end up getting split up. Through the power of cheese and soulmate shenanigans, Nico was put into the lotus hotel, bringing him to the 21st century where the two can happily be together. Yay. Zagreus really lived up to his title of the God of Rebirth and love can last through everything or whatever idk. It’s cute.

There’s probably a lot more that could go into this (love your tags about Nico’s powers being too much for him, chefs kiss) but that’s all I got in my brain right now- I just think it’s a cool thought and I need a 100k fanfic on the idea please :)

Send help, it's 3 AM and I cannot sleep because the concept of Nico being Zagreus—not the Hades character, the myth, although still from the version where he's Hades and Persephone's son rather than the version where he's a prior incarnation of Dionysus—reborn has entered my head and decided to set up shop for the foreseeable future. It actually feels incredibly fitting from what I know about the myth of Zagreus (which is admittedly not a lot) and aspects of the books like Nico's unique connections with both Dionysus and Hades in specific and the gods in general (and possibly Bob if we do some mix-and-matching of the myths, since Dionysus-Zagreus was dismembered and partially eaten by Titans on account of the Greek myths being A Time) and the whole "When the time comes you have to tell Will the truth about who you are" thing in TSatS that goes all sorts of nowhere. I don't know, obviously I don't think it's what Rick intended but I do think it could very easily fit into the canon of the books!

...Or possibly I'm just sleep deprived. Did I mention it's 3 AM?

#nico di angelo #percy jackson #this idea has been fully stuck in my brain #I can’t get it out #I’ve done so much research you have no idea #half of me wishes it happened #but the other half is glad it didn’t #depends on how they would’ve pulled it off

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robininthelabyrinth · 2 years ago

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yumeng family but modern au maybe? literally anything (your writing is impeccable! im absolutely obsessed)

Modern AU

“So, what’s with the birthmark?” Nie Huaisang asked as he pulled out the baiju. And the vodka. And the rum. And the – how many things had he managed to fit into his backpack?!

Wei Wuxian was impressed.

Jiang Cheng was too busy hiding his face in his hands to answer.

“What? What’s the matter with my question? I’ve never seen a birthmark that looks like a cord wrapped around someone’s wrist, that’s all.”

“We say it’s the string of fate,” Jiang Yanli said, reaching over and plucking the triple sec out of Nie Huaisang’s hands and examining it with a thoughtful expression that suggested that something was being put into the blender she’d brought with her. Only Jiang Yanli would bring a blender to a house party, but also, she was completely right. “You know, the one where you have a soulmate tied to you throughout reincarnations…”

“But…it’s Jiang Cheng,” Nie Huaisang said. “He’s like…forever alone.”

“I’m also aroace,” Jiang Cheng mumbled. “Not that anyone cares.”

“I think he’s bound to his dogs,” Wei Wuxian said, then shrugged when everyone gave him a look. “It’s as likely as anything else, right?”

He still hated dogs with a passion – no amount of therapy was going to change that, especially since Jiang Fengmian still didn’t see any reason for exposure therapy or indeed any type of therapy beyond the awful family therapist that he’d enlisted to try to get his wife to hate Wei Wuxian a little less, which if anything had just made things worse – but he was mature enough to appreciate how much Jiang Cheng loved them.

Okay, no, he wasn’t. But he was grateful to Grandma Yu for taking them in when Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, and Wei Wuxian had exerted themselves to smuggle them to her before Jiang Fengmian had sold them to strangers, if only because he was pretty sure that experience had been what had really bonded them together as a family.

“Fuck off,” Jiang Cheng said. “See if I raise your future kids the way I’m gonna raise jiejie’s.”

“His dream is to be a live-in babysitter,” Wei Wuxian informed Nie Huaisang, who grinned. “Pity he’s going to have to inherit the family business.”

“I can do both!”

“Why don’t you make Yanli-jiejie take on the family business and just do the babysitting?” Nie Huaisang suggested. “That’s my plan: I’m letting da-ge do everything, forever.”

“Nice try,” Jiang Yanli said, now pouring something out of the blender. It had many colors, and was possibly about to be set on fire given the presence of a lighter. “Speaking of which, you should call him and tell him to come over. He works too hard, and it’s not that far a drive from his work to here…and the presence of an ‘adult’ will probably make Teacher Lan agree to let Xichen-gege and Lan Wangji come as well.”

“That would be great,” Wei Wuxian said at once. “I’ve never seen them drink!”

“Because they don’t. They’re Lan, remember? Rule-followers to the bone?”

“The rules only say no consuming drinks on campus…”

#mdzs #wei wuxian #jiang cheng #jiang yanli #nie huaisang #my fic #my fics #alt headcanons

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bangtan-madi · 2 years ago

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All Of Our Lifetimes — Chapter Nine: The Truth Untold

Pairing — Taehyung x Reader

Tags — boyfriend!Taehyung, husband!Taehyung reincarnation au, lovers to strangers and to lovers again, established relationship, implied soulmate au

Genre — fluff, angst, crime (ish)

Word Count — 2.6k

Summary — Does love ever truly end, or does it simply take another form in a new life? The cycle is like clockwork: your lives end and you’re reborn again. You’ve lived it over and over. Each cycle, one of you loses your memories and is tragically unaware until the other finds and awakens their lover. After all these eons, all these lifetimes, is it possible to find each other again—even when neither of you awakens with your memories?

Part — 9 / 15

Warnings — discussion of violence/murder

Note — Sorry for the delays on this chapter, and for the format that it's being posted in. Unfortunately, between the hurricane and a broken computer, I won't be able to post in the exact format I usually do with all the pictures and everything. I also won't be able to link anything, update my master list, or put a breaker in this chapter unfortunately. For now, this is how it's going to go up. I do plan on going back and editing in the banners and the headers and all of that as soon as my computer is fixed. Hopefully that will be in the next couple weeks, so if this chapter looks different later this year, that's why lol. Thank you all for being so patient and so kind on the previous chapters, but I am finally back to writing again! Enjoy!!

Previous — Next

"Where are you going?"

"To find that curator."

"[Y/n], hold up—I'm coming with you."

Your stomach does somersaults as Taehyung grabs your hand and pulls you in the direction of the elevator. His stride is just as determined as yours, and you feel immense comfort with his hand in yours. As small a gesture as it is, it feels warm and helps subside the anxiety within you.

Despite the lack of film in the last few months of their lives, for whatever reason, you know exactly how your past lives' story ends. You've seen it your entire life. It ends in a bloodbath.

But you had no idea that they were being threatened for months before their deaths. You didn't realize the ins and outs of reincarnation, as [Y/n] told it. If what she said was true, then Taehyung should have gotten his memories back when he turned twenty-one in this lifetime. If you think back to your dream, you remember she'd said something along those lines.

"Come find me. In the next one: meet me there."

From his spot next to you in the elevator, Taehyung looks down at you with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Are you?" You turn and lock with his gaze. "Those were our past lives, and not only were they murdered shortly after those clips, but I now know that they were being stalked way before then. All of this, everything lines up with my dream. And god, I don't want to be skeptical or logical... I believe all of it."

"I do, too."

"You do?"

Taehyung nods, and his dark curls fall over his forehead, barely brushing over his eyes. "What I'm wondering is why didn't I get my memories back at twenty-one?"

Shaking your head, you sputter, "Maybe it's because we were murdered at the same time? From the way they were talking, that's a first. The cycle was messed up. I don't know how or why." You pause, and the elevator dings up another floor. "Do you remember anything at all? Have any memories come back?"

Taehyung bites his lower lip and turns his gaze away. "Something's there. It's like a word on the tip of your tongue. You're familiar. All of this feels...right? I don't know how to describe it."

"You said you believe it."

"I do. That film wasn't faked. Those people were us. Everything they said feels right in my heart. I just...I don't have proof to back it up."

Your hand tightens around his, fingers lacing together as you state, "Well, I know who can give us some of that."

The elevator doors open, and you pull Taehyung along as you head straight for Ms. Jwa's office. You might not know exactly where it is, but the wing of offices is just down the hall from the service elevator. She can't be far.

The middle-aged woman looks up from her computer as both of you enter without knocking. She seems surprised at the sudden entrance, but her shock dissipates quickly.

"I have to say, that was faster than I thought."

"Who were Kim Taehyung and Kim [Y/n]?" you ask, getting straight to the point.

Ms. Jwa sighs and leans back in her office chair. She gestures for you to close the door, then motions to the chairs across from her. "Have a seat." A beat of silence follows the closing of the door, and you both take your seats. "I assume you watched the film?"

"We did," Taehyung nods. "Have you?"

The curator nods. "I did."

"Then you know about reincarnation. You knew Taehyung and I might come back."

Another affirmative shake of her head. "Which is why I kept everything that belonged to you both, as you requested I do in late 1994. I was surprised, but now I see why." Her gaze shifts back and forth between you and Taehyung. "You really are mirror images of them. It's astonishing."

"You were their friend?" you inquire.

Ms. Jwa's face shifts to a small smile, but behind the expression, there's deep sadness. "I was. If you want, I can start at the beginning." When neither of you speaks up, she continues. "Taehyung and I went to the same art school in Daegu. We're both from the city and wanted to make it big in Seoul. He was kind of like the big brother I never wanted."

She flashes a grin at Taehyung. "No offense. When we moved to Seoul, we got jobs here as junior curators. I was more on the art history side, whereas Taehyung was the true artist. He always said he wanted his works to be displayed here someday." Her eyes drop to her hands, clasped in her lap. "Which is why I felt it was only right to put his memorial here and display his favorite photographs."

She shakes her head, pulling herself out of memory. "Your past selves met and fell in love very quickly. I thought it was strange. Taehyung was a...unique person. Always was, and he didn't often click with people right away. But [Y/n]? I don't believe in soulmates, but those two were the exception."

"Before they died, they were being stalked," Taehyung intervenes. "By who?"

Ms. Jwa shrugs her shoulders. "We don't know. We assume it's the same person that killed them, but there's no way to know for sure. He was practiced. He knew what he was doing. The evidence was inconclusive, and the cameras were blacked out. I have no idea how he got in after-hours, what his motive was, or how he got away."

Your breath catches in your throat at her words. Something in the back of your mind told you that he might've escaped. Your dream shows him injured, bleeding profusely, but stumbling out of sight. You'd hoped that he'd wandered off somewhere and died, and he might have—away from the Museum—but your stomach sinks regardless.

"It wasn't just stalking. Taehyung and [Y/n] received death threats for months before they died. It started with Taehyung, around the time he met [Y/n], and then she started getting them as well. Always anonymous. Even the police were baffled."

"So what you're telling us is that even after all this time, there are no answers?"

Ms. Jwa clearly sees your dismay, but can offer no condolences or closure. "I wish I had more to tell you, but that's the extent of what I know. I kept everything in that vault downstairs hoping that one day one of you would show up again and be able to tell me what happened to you. I figured Taehyung would be the one to get his memories first, based on the video footage, but when he showed up as a pop star with clearly no memory of his past, I thought..." She trails off and takes a pause before continuing. "I thought it best not to push the issue. I wasn't sure if the cycle had broken, or if he was merely trying for a different life this time. Either way, I wanted him to be happy. He looked happy to me, at least from the outside."

Taehyung heaves a deep sigh, shaking his head profusely. "How many times did I come to visit this place, and you said nothing? You must have seen me before yesterday. Why didn't you tell me anything?"

You're right." The curator's eyes drift downward as she says, "Maybe I should have said something. Perhaps that would have sped up the process. I did what I thought was right at the time. Maybe that was to quell my own guilt." She lifts her head and offers an apologetic smile to us both. "Now I can see that that was wrong. For that I apologize. All I can do now is make up for the lost time and offer you answers that I have." She gestures with a flourish of her hand to the doorway. "All of the things downstairs or yours, feel free to take any of it. But as for who killed you, or why, or what happened to them, I'm afraid no one has those answers."

You ride from your seat, take a step forward, and move closer to the curator to lower your voice. "Then tell us why were we here that night. If we knew we were being followed, I know what I would have done and it's not coming back to the one place that I knew we wouldn't be safe."

"You're correct," she says. "That is the only other thing I can tell you. You were about to leave the country that night. Like I told you, Taehyung and I were very close. He didn't have many friends, but Emelia Popescu and I were the only people he considered as such. It was fate that we all worked in the same office. Because of that, he wanted to see us one last time before you left. Both of you came here to say your final goodbyes to Emelia and I."

"And we didn't say anything that made you ask questions?" Taehyung inquires.

Ms. Jwa scoffs lightly. "I asked all the questions in the world. You wouldn't tell me anything more than the matter was urgent and leaving was necessary, and that you would send word for where you were when the coast was clear. To be honest, everything about that night terrified me even before...before the accident."

The name she mentioned moments ago brings back memories of a corpse at the base of a stone figure, crimson expanding along the tiles of the floor. "Emelia was the other girl that was killed, right?" You have no idea what the girl actually looked like; those memories have yet to resurface.

Ms. Jwa nods once. "Yes, I had left to take an urgent call after I had said goodbye. Emelia had offered to walk you both out. That was when you were attacked." She shudders, and Taehyung instinctively reaches out and places a comforting hand on her shoulder. At his touch, she steadies and flashes a watery smile. "Emelia was killed first as a distraction and lure, and then the both of you were..." Her sentence trails off, but you all know how that story ends.

That can't be it. This cannot be all that there is. All the memories, all the dreams, the flood of confusion and emotion that has wrapped you in a vice-grip the last few months -- it's all been leading to the moment of truth. Your heart was racing this morning, the thought of finally knowing what happened in 1995 sending you into an elated but terrified tizzy.

You never thought that the answers would be so close, yet slip between you fingers like the water from the Museum fountain where you and your lover were brutally masacred.

But you've seen the evidence yourself, all of your belongings, and spoken to someone who knew you both well. Every piece of truth she has is in her mind and in her vault below your feet. If the answers aren't there, where could they be?

How can that be all that there is?

You step back, leaning against the nearest bookshelf for support, gripping one of the shelves so tightly you know your knuckles are white. "There has to be something you can tell us about who he was," you murmur. "Something, anything."

Taehyung's gaze meets yours, and you can see for the first time that his desperation mirrors your own. Even if it wasn't obvious to you when you first arrived in South Korea, Kim Taehyung has been searching for his own answers just as fiercly -- if not more so -- than you. Whatever cycle you both have been in for god knows how many centuries has not been broken, but it is damaged. While he should have been the one to remember at twenty-one, there is a part of him that longs for rememrance. Something deep inside has been pushing him towards the truth and constantly reminding him that parts of his life are awry. Even if everything from the outside seems perfect, you can tell from those eyes that he needs this just as much as you.

"Did no one see his face, or a glimpse of anything?" he rephrases. "And how did he let you live when the only other three people in the building were murdered?"

The curator walks over to the bookshelf nearest you, searches the columns for a moment, and retrieves an old file. This one is a bright red color, different than the others on the shelves and easy to locate. She opens it and hands us a composite sketch notebook for that has Seoul Police Department written on the face.

"There was one witness that saw him in a dark alleyway. Not much detail was captured, but she did remember a few distinct details that she told the police. This is the composite sketch that was created based on her details. I'm not sure how much help it will be, but it's yours if you want it."

Taehyung joins your side, arm brushing yours as he God's affirmatively towards the notebook. He doesn't say a word, but his expression tells you everything: "Go ahead. I'm here. This might be the only answer we get."

In a burst of untethered courage, you open the pages to reveal the single composite sketch on the first page. It's merely charcoal on white paper, but the expression of a man you've seen in your nightmares stares back at you with a haunted hatred all over his face. Memories from the past flood back to you, not just from your deathly dream but further than that.

Decades.

Centuries.

You've known this man's face for as long as your soul has been a soul. The last lifetime, the one before that, all the way back to the very first one. The death in your dream from 1995 is only the beginning; this is a face you've seen in your very first life, the one you only started to remember when you came to Seoul.

Your hands begin to tremble, and a lump swells up in your throat. Taehyung steadies your grip, concern covering his features. He says your name, but your ears are ringing and his voice is drowned out by the panic racing through your body. The book drops from your hands, your knees buckle, and your eyes roll back into your head.

Never in any nightmare did you ever think you would the face of your first parent again, let alone with a smoking gun in his grasp and your blood on his hands.

Taglist — @just-call-me-trash-can @jaiennn @happyhrsme @butaes, @peter-pan @twoteen-yup @dreamcatcherjiah @aelinashryv @luvth @cheoriemoawa @xyahrinx @say-something-nice-missy @btseverafter7 @kris10duh

(Taglist is always open! Comment below!)

#bts #bangtan #bangtan sonyeondan #taehyung #kim taehyung #bts fic #all of our lifetimes #taehyung fluff #taehyung fic #taehyung x reader #taehyung x yn #reincarnated au #reincarnation au #soulmate au #kim taehyung x reader #aool #husband!taehyung #boyfriend!taehyung

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m-jelly · 3 years ago

Note

Soul anon is back in the houseee!! Hope is not too much of an ask, and I really hope u like 🙃🙃

So, how about a soulmate AU! where if your soulmate dies in your reality before u two meet, in a certain age, the oldest (in this case Levi) get transported to a reality where your soulmate is alive, and u have like less than a month to find the person, get to know each other, and decide if both are staying in that reality, both going back to the other's (Levi) reality or if each one is staying in their own reality.

So, when Levi is transported (maybe w his friends to spice it up) to his soulmate reality (reader is like in her middle 20s), she is the Captain to a pirate ship, one of the most feared pirates of all, just really a fierce bitch and they meet in like Tortuga or smth.

And even if they love each other, reader isn't ready to leave her reality bc of her crew and stuff, and I leave it to u what would Levi decide...

maybe a little angst??? Like sad ending where they're separated for life? Or Levi decides to stay w her, maybe like the Swab of the ship?? Or maybe they're separated and meet again waaay later????? Whatever u decide, I know I'm gonna love 💕🙃

Well...hello there soul anon. We meet again ;) I'm actually dabbling with a story similar to this for Ao3, but it's in its baby phase atm. I'm happy to do this one and I will make it a happy ending! I always do Happy Endings. Muhahaha!! Happiness for all!

Forever and always

Pairing: Levi x Reader.

Genre and tags: Reincarnation AU, romance, soulmates, time skips - pirate, world war, modern-day, happy ending, getting together, peace in the end.

Concept: After you died in the AOT world due to a thief, Levi is transported into a new body with no facial scars or fingers missing. Levi searches for you with just a month on the clock. He finds you're a strong and fierce pirate that is determined to take over the seas. When Levi wants to run away with you, you refuse and explain you're not strong enough. Levi stays with you on your ship, but a rival of yours tries to stop you. You decide to sacrifice yourself in order to save Levi. Every life you go to you keep saving Levi and try to be stronger. Eventually, you're both in the modern day and you both meet in a museum that contains lots of your past lives.

Levi launched his upper body up from the bed and gasped. He placed his hand on his chest as he shook. He welled up as he remembered your dead body. He clutched his chest and knew he needed to find you right away.

He ran downstairs to find all his friends he'd lost waiting. "The fuck? You're all here?"

Erwin smiled at Levi. "You took your time getting to this life. What brought you here?"

Levi said your name. "She died and I was sent right here. Some thief attacked her and killed her in front of me." He welled up. "I want her back."

Mike handed over a paper. "Found her already."

Levi snatched it and saw it was a wanted poster. "Tch, the fuck?"

Hange grinned. "She's a pirate. Very well known."

"I have to go see her."

Erwin stood up and smiled. "She's docked here. Careful though, she's very well known. She might not remember you."

Levi shoved the door open. "I don't give a shit!" He ran through the town and to the docks to see pirates and a large ship. He walked closer and heard a familiar voice shouting orders. He walked onto the ship and ignored the pirates shouting at him. He called your name as you walked to the wheel. "Is it you?"

You froze, then looked down. "Levi?"

He walked to the steps. "Yeah."

You ran to him with your long boots booming on the wood. You jumped off the step and into Levi's arms. "You made it!"

He held you close and spun around with you. "I've finally go you again. Come on, let's run away. We can live our life out here."

You jumped down and pushed Levi back. "We can't."

"Why not?"

You gulped hard, then looked at your men. "GET BACK TO WORK!" You wiggled your finger at Levi, then walked into your cabin. You closed the door and let out a long sigh. "I can't run away with you. I have to secure the seas. I have to command my people."

Levi frowned. "I thought you loved me. We're soulmates. We've been given another chance to be together."

"I know, I know. It's just." You sat on your bed and sighed. "I realised when I was dying in your arms that I was never strong enough. I've always been weaker than you and I could never protect you. So, I want to be strong so I can make sure you and I can live together."

He walked over to you and sat on the bed. "So, I guess I'll just have to sail with you."

You hummed a laugh and held his hand. "I guess you do. We have one month to get what needs to be done."

Levi frowned. "How do you know?"

You let out a long sigh. "When I died this being talked to me and said we'd find each other again, but when we do we have a month to decide if we want each other. If we don't want it, then we jump to other realities."

Levi kissed you and moaned in happiness. "I don't ever want that. I want you and I want to stay with you, always."

You smiled, then wrapped your arms around your lover. "I want to keep you too." You pulled back and sighed. "I guess you're part of my crew." You stood up and hummed. "You get special treatment. You get to stay in my cabin."

Levi stood up and pulled you close. "I need to remember us."

You blushed a little. "You cute man."

"I love you."

You smiled. "I love you too."

Levi and you were perfect together. He helped you as you sailed across the seas with his friends. Levi was focused on the month timeline. He kept reminding you that it was running out. He didn't want to leave you. He wanted to stay with you, always.

You were ready to say yes to Levi about staying with him, but your ship was attacked. You ran around your ship in the pouring rain as the waves crashed against your ship. You shouted orders to your crew, then grabbed and pulled at the ropes.

You tied up the rope. "Man the cannons!"

Levi grabbed your arm. "We have to leave."

You cupped his face and kissed him. "I have to stop this son of a bitch. Once he's dead, then we can live a better life together. Trust me. I have to be strong and save you."

"I don't need saving!"

You smiled softly at him. "You do." You pulled away from him and fired your gun. "I want every last one of them dead!" Your body flew back when a cannon hit your ship right by your feet. You winced in pain, then pushed your body up and ran over to Levi. "We have to leave!"

Levi held your hand and ran to your lifeboat. "I'll set it up and help you on."

You grabbed Levi's shirt and kissed him. "I love you."

He smiled. "I love you too." He flinched when something hit his face. He lightly touched his face and looked to see blood. He shouted your name and gazed at you.

You smiled sadly at him. "I hope we can meet again."

Levi's eyes widened. "No. No, no, no, no!"

Erwin cut the ropes on the lifeboat. "We have to go."

Hange held Levi back. "Let her go."

Levi gritted his teeth as they moved further from your ship. He welled up as he watched cannons rip into it, then the ship slowly sink. "I'll never let her go." He closed his eyes and felt himself slipping away to a new life.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Levi woke up as his hearing slowly registered what was going on around him. He frowned a little when he heard gunfire and bombs. He sat up and sighed. He'd been a pirate with you, then he'd had other lives. Each life together you had given your life to save Levi.

Hange ran over to Levi. "Back again, huh?"

Levi sat up and put his head in his hands. "What's happening?"

"War."

He groaned. "Our first life was a war."

Hange smiled. "There's no titans in this one, just humans killing humans."

Levi looked up and said your name. "Please, please tell me she's alive and here."

"She's alive and she's a killer sniper."

He jumped off the bed and grabbed a gun. "I need to see her!"

Hange followed Levi out of the tent. "She's a few clicks over stationed in a town. The enemy have made up a story about her. She's a ghost."

Levi smiled a little. "I'm glad she's strong. I need to go see her."

"Mike can get you close to the town, then you have to go on foot."

"Understood." Levi walked outside into the war zone and over to Mike. He sat in the vehicle and thought about you as he was transported. "Is she okay?"

Mike nodded. "Just lonely." He pulled up and smiled. "She's in the town hall in the tower. Try and keep it down with the fun things you do."

Levi rolled his eyes. "Tch, fuck off." He left Mike and walked through the empty and broken town, which brought back memories of Paradis. He let out a long sigh, then looked to the tower and saw a glint of your sniper. "You keep getting more and more incredible."

Levi made his way through the town hall and stayed quiet. He didn't know if you were hiding somewhere, or if you were in full attack mode. He knew the basics about this world as information filtered into his head, but he didn't know the life you'd been through.

You held a knife to Levi's throat. "Who do you work for?"

Levi held your arm and said your name softly. "It's me."

You let Levi go. "You made it again."

He turned around and held you tightly. "Stop this fighting. You don't need to be strong for me."

You cupped Levi's face and kissed him. "I know. I know, but there's no choice in this world. The world is at war, everyone is involved." You sighed. "What a shit world to be in. I want to be with you Levi, so badly, but this life...I've had to do terrible things. It's not like our titan life, it's so much worse."

He held you tightly. "Let me help you."

"Stay with me."

"Always."

You kissed him, then pulled him up to your tower. "The tea is better in this life." You handed him a cup. "Enjoy it, my love."

Levi smiled and sipped his tea. "I'll help you with anything."

"I appreciate it."

Levi gazed at you and felt happy and safe. He was glad he wasn't on a ship this time. He helped you as much as possible. He set up traps, as well as found food for you both. You'd take turns to be on watch. You'd hold each other and remind each other how much you loved each other.

You walked through the town checking the area around. You cried out when you were hit up the back of the head. You dropped to your knees as your wrists were tied. You were yanked up to see you had a small group of soldiers that were falling apart, which meant they were losing the war.

You kept your mouth shut as they shouted and asked you about the ghost of the town. You refused to give up Levi. You smirked at them. "Just kill me. It's only me. A woman stopped so many of your own." You smiled and closed your eyes. "See you soon, Levi."

Levi watched in horror as you were shot in the back of the head. He clenched his jaw and felt himself fading. "See you soon, beautiful."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Levi stared at a painting of you as the pirate on the wall of the museum. He smiled a little and loved this place. He'd arrived in the modern world a week ago in an apartment right next to this museum. He loved it because it was full of you from all your lives where you did amazing things. He was also all over the place as a man that was always at your side.

"They got my nose wrong." You hummed a laugh as Levi gazed at you in disbelief. "I guess they could never get it perfect." You looked over at Levi. "Did you get taller?"

Levi smiled. "Tch, you little shit."

You laughed. "You did. Is Kuchel alive?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Thank the amazing medical treatment."

"I'm glad."

He gulped hard as he felt scared to ask. "Let me guess, you a cop, fire department, ambulance, army?"

You smiled a little and shook your head. "None. I own a teashop. It's very safe."

Levi hummed a laugh. "I'm glad. You know, you've done incredible things. This museum is proof of it all. Why did you do it all?"

You walked with him to the exhibit about you being a sniper. "I did it all for you. I was killed because I was weak. So, I wanted to be strong to protect you and I kept failing all the fucking time." You smiled sadly. "I could never get strong enough. I kept losing my life to keep you alive. I kept hurting you. When I made it to this life, I realised that I was just making things worse for you." You let out a long sigh. "I'm done with running and fighting. I want a normal life, which is why I have a teashop."

He smiled softly at you. "I'm so glad you're taking things slow and safe."

You let out a long sigh. "A week in, right?"

He nodded. "A week into our month, yeah."

You walked up to Levi and kissed him. "I accept this life and our love. No more multipl lives. I want this one with you. I want to love you and make a family like we were back on Paradis." You held his hands. "That's if you want to?"

He wrapped you up in his arms tightly. "Yes. Fuck yes! I accept this life and timeline. I can't watch you die again." He cupped your face. "Forever mine."

You smiled softly. "Forever and always." You gasped when you felt a weight go from your chest and soul. "We did it."

Levi gasped. "Yeah, we did." He picked you up and made you giggle. "We should marry."

You nodded. "I'd love that. Can we go back to your place? I want to just sit and talk and kiss and hold you."

He hummed as he carried you. "Perfect. I'm ready."

#captain levi #levi #fanfic #levi ackerman #levi fanfiction #aot fanfiction #aot levi #levi x y/n #levi x you #aot x you #snk levi #levi heichou #levi x reader #levi ackerman x reader #levi ackerman x you

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ichorai · 3 years ago

Text

whittled by stars ; j.yh

requested by @sunlightwoo (8 + reincarnation au) for my milestone celebration !!

pairing ; yunho x reader (gender-neutral)

summary ; you watched him die yesterday. what was he doing following you now?

themes ; fantasy, angst, reincarnation au, soulmates au

words ; 1.2k

warnings / includes ; lots of talks of death, a metaphor involving a weapon, yunho is pretty and smells good but what's new, reader has a stick up their ass me finks, allusions to a vvv heavy past ;-; the two of them have #history

a/n ; i'm rlly happy with how this turned out !! might turn this into a whole ass series or smth </3 i love this concept and dynamic sm so thank you to gina for requesting it :( on another note, i just made a new ficrecs blog, @ichorbarnes if any of yall wanna check that out :D

masterlist.

“Leave me alone,” you hissed out angrily without turning around to face the bane of your existence. “You died yesterday. I was there. I saw you.”

“Hello to you, too.” The man一you couldn’t quite be bothered to learn his name一merely tilted his head and gazed upon you with a certain affinity you didn’t replicate. “Fate has a strange way of pushing us together, no?”

The heavens rolled into your line of sight when you cast your exasperated gaze to the bleeding sky. Setting suns meant you had to go back home. There was no time to dawdle with bumbling fools. “Don’t follow me.”

The dull thuds of his boots echoing behind you as you hurried out of the main city didn’t go unnoticed. He was following you.

“When was the last time you died?” he called out, to which you stuck out an unsavory finger without turning back. Perhaps if you ignored him, he would grow bored and walk away. The silent tactic proved to be futile, for he strode up to you with those ridiculously long legs of his until he was right in front of you, walking backwards. “I asked you a question.”

“And I’m not answering.”

It was very much satisfying to watch him ram straight into a street lamp. The pole wobbled beneath his weight. He winced as he rubbed at the back of his rattled skull, before jogging to catch up with you.

“Do you not notice anything different about me?”

The fleetest of glances towards his tall figure made you realize that he had peach-pink locks in his last life. Now, in stark juxtaposition to before, his head was streaked with crimson and ebony; the criminally attractive hue of danger. If that didn’t scream stay away from him, you didn’t know what else did.

Well, maybe the curved dagger he gripped in his hand raised a red flag as well.

“Got a makeover?” you scoffed with a faux grin before dropping it just as quickly as it formed. “I don’t give a shit about what you do.”

“That’s not what I remember you saying when we were trapped in a cave together.”

You cracked your mouth open, but promptly decided against saying anything too rash.

“Nor is it what you said… was it six lifetimes ago? Maybe seven? When we fought in a war together. You cried when I died, right? Held me in your arms and told me you loved me.”

The distant memories he brought up from so long ago had you halting in your tracks. “Those were different times.”

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. “And through all your lives, you’ve never asked for my name.”

“I don’t want to know.”

“Too bad,” he leaned close, close enough where you caught a whiff of his fresh citrus aroma and you were forced to hold your breath, terrified of breathing him in. “I’m Yunho.”

“I don’t care.”

“You should,” with a heady sigh, Yunho carried on. “You’re Y/N. I’ve known for about two lives now. Heard the guards talking about you while we were in a holding cell. Remember that?”

You did. “I don’t.”

The sun was now long gone, leaving behind only the faintest traces of light with the stars. They blinked down at you, cold and distant, calculating and vengeful. Just like you.

“Why are you so hell-bent on pushing me away? We’re fate-bound. Why not accept it?” It was evident that frustration was starting to spider through his veins, but he kept a cool visage, staring at you with what you knew as concern. You’ve seen it a million times in a hundred different lives. Yunho cared for you, but you weren’t sure you could quite say the same for yourself. Not now, at least.

Something with what he said didn’t sit right with you. So you thrusted a finger into his chest, prowling forward until you were just a hair’s breadth away from his face. Surprise was what propelled him backwards, until his back hit the brick wall of a closed store. Under the flickering light of the street lamps, you could detect aureate flecks in his irises, wide and curious. Had they always been there? A million resurrections, and you still found new things about him.

There was naught an ounce of precaution in this man, considering how he let you walk all over him. No wonder he’s died so many times.

“Let me make this clear, Yunho,” A tremor crept down his spine at the way you spat his name out with menace. “We aren’t fate-bound. What the fuck does that even mean? Soulmates? Please, don’t make me laugh. Soulmates don’t exist. And if they did, you’re the last person fate would pair me up with. Got it?”

A ghostly breeze whispered past the two of you as you glared at him, tousling his hair so it careened into his eyes. He was a beautiful man; not even a million deaths has changed that. You wondered if you’ve changed physically after so long. Sure, you used to love him in some lives, but that only happened far and few, not even mentioning the shortness of it all. Love was quick to fall from your grasp, blackened sand falling through the cracks between cupped hands. Love only brought pain, a poisoned dagger thrusted between your ribs, corrupting and merciless in manner. Love were the lies that stuck to lungs, the tears clinging to lashes, the trumpet of war you only knew to be your fading heartbeat.

You always ended up losing Yunho, and you weren’t quite keen on reliving that again.

“Crystal,” Yunho replied in a detached manner. He didn’t look too sure of himself. The bottom of his lips found its way between his teeth as he furrowed his brows and observed you. This man was whittled by pure starlight, you were so sure of it, and you had to wrench your eyes from his handsome features to stave away the strange feeling in your abdomen. “You know this won’t be the last we see of each other, right? We always end up entangled in some sort of mess together.”

You had nothing to say to his jab, refusing to admit that he was right. Yunho was one of the only constants, no matter which universe or time period you get reincarnated into, that clingy bitch. You wrinkled the bridge of your nose, shrugging a shoulder before murmuring, “Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone, then.”

Much to your resigned chagrin, the slight smile that flowered his lush lips almost had your knees buckling as you pushed yourself away from him.

This time, he didn’t follow you when you stormed away, watching your figure disappear as you rounded the corner of a rickety, lopsided building. He wasn’t worried; you were strong and knew how to take care of yourself. He’ll see you again, disregarding your baleful warning completely (in fact, seeing you all riled up sparked an old flame within his chest). And, to be frank, he was quite excited by the prospect.

#ficscafe #kdiner #destinyversenet #ateez x reader #yunho x reader #ateez soulmate #ateez soulmate au #ateez yunho x reader #jung yunho x reader #ateez fanfiction #ateez fanfic #yunho fanfiction #yunho fanfic #ateez x you #yunho x you #ateez drabbles #ateez scenarios #yunho drabbles #yunho scenarios

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bellafragolina · 2 years ago

Note

*crawls in through the 3rd story window*

To you and also the anon that gave us the idea of soulmates being linked through lifetimes, I would like you offer my undying devotion. That stuff is my jam!

And the thought that the boys remember, too - you can do so much with that! Are they the only ones who remember? Because if so, then Reader could be finally, blissfully unaware of how much their previous incarceration suffered. Hell, maybe it was even like, something the twins bargained with Arceus for, that their soulmate has a happier existence next go 'round; Arceus could have been like, "done and done, but also you two are gonna remember so you can help make your own request a reality."

Or does Reader remember, too? The extent of everyone's memories might be up for debate, but if Reader even remotely remembers their past life, they might be like a wary stray cat around them that the boys have to slowly befriend. (Childhood friends to eventual lovers, maybe?) Not nearly as bad as the last time, obviously, but more like a "hmmmm, not super comfortable around you just yet but I can't tell why" slow burn friendship kind of deal with the boys being utterly determined to win you over.

(As an aside, I thrive on platonic/familial/friendship soulmates, too, so I just imagine the twins are also continuously reincarnated together and have each other's and maybe Elesa's names on one another's non-romantic-soulmark wrists. Or. Wherever you want the marks to be.)

I read a fic once for a different fandom - and I wish I could find it again, alas! - where the cycle of reincarnation for soulmates kind of acted like Groundhog Day and kept going until everybody got their happy ending. Like, one life they missed each other and never met, the next they got separated and died, in the next one they wound up as rivals and hated one another, etc. It finally ended with them coming all the way back around to the very first life again (in modern times, because time shenanigans) and finally getting it right. I can 100% see Arceus pulling this shit with the twins and Reader.

"Y'all fucked up? Reincarnation jail for train men! Reincarnation jail for you three idiots for 100 lives!"

So picture the twins and Reader, going through a dumb number of lives, trying to get it right, and fiiiiiiiiinally getting back around to the first one, the one where Reader was a Plasma victim grunt, and everyone has a very weird sense of deja vu as they all meet for the "first time." Reader is tense and nervous, clearly expected something bad to happen, and the twins are anxious and feel like the moment has far more weight than it already should - like if they make one wrong move, they'll ruin everything.

Everyone just sort of stares at each other in tense silence for a long few minutes, until the twins slowly, carefully, reach out and take their soulmate's hands, smiling gently.

"It's nice to finally meet you."

Cut to tearful, happy first meetings leading to long roads with happy endings.

(Meanwhile, Arceus is just banging its head on a wall somewhere in exasperation. "ABOUT DAMN TIME!")

~Spark💥

{I have more soulmate au ideas, including other forms the soul bonds could take - like dream sharing, or what-you-write-on-your-skin-shows-up-on-theirs - for various different scenarios, possibly even for each of their reincarnations. But I'll save those for a different ask if anyone is interested.}

I’m interested in all of your ideas please tell me them please!!

God, the idea of the twins remembering well what happened before, and being in an almost repeat of that previous life. You’re there, as you were but maybe with a different team this time, clearly uncomfortable and nervous as you show them your soulmate marks. There’s dread on your face, but also confusion as to why, and it breaks the twins’ hearts.

They’re so gentle. They touch you like you’re something precious, and give affection as you accept it, mindful of every bruise and scar you carry, physical or not. They’re determined to do better by you, and to give you the world. Comfort and happiness, that’s they’re priorities, and they don’t care what anyone else has to say about it.

And it gives former team members hope, seeing you rise above your past and find happiness with your soulmates.

~Renee

#💥 anon #love love love love #keep it coming babe

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versadies · 3 years ago

Note

Hey!!! How are you?

Congratulations on your 1k followers

Can I request aries + Kazuha + hc scenario + fluffy...?

Today is the last day of the event, I just saw it today, at least it wasn't after the event ended ;w;

⠀

I'm thinking about having a nickname to join the anon squad... Maybe 🇧🇷 anon? Your content came to a Brazilian person! Congratulations on your content reaching someone on the other side of the world :)

in the next life (hc scenario, reincarnation au)

penpal: hi hi, i’m doing great ty 🇧🇷 anon!! i’m so happy to know that my content has reached to the other side of the world 🥺🥺 i hope you like this <<3

prompt: aries the ram, red-string soulmate au

pairing/s: kaedehara kazuha x gn!reader

sypnosis: sometimes, happy endings can only happen in another lifetime. (or, hc on how you and kazuha met during the modern era of teyvat)

includes: slight spoilers to inazuma quests (2.0), fluff/slight angsty, reincarnation au, mentions of death, modern au, rushed ending

soulmates has always been one of the things that made teyvat special.

people had all collectively agreed that meeting their soulmate is one of the most treasuring moment, no matter how strange or hilarious the first encounter is like, no one should ever forget the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

with that said, most stories are usually soulmates– specifically how one meets their fated other. historical moments are no exception to this, such as an archon's first ever encounter with their soulmate during an annual rite, a forbidden love between an immortal being and a human, a sweet story of a soldier and a healer during a certain war, and the list goes on.

but where are stories that contains soulmates who had never met one another? or had a tragic fate that gave them no opportunity to get along with their soulmate anymore?

none.

some would say they'll meet in the afterlife, where they can live on in peace as the world goes on. while some would beg to differ and think that the two soulmates are just bound to not meet.

only little would suggest reincarnation.

and you and your beloved soulmate are one of those little people.

but you honestly didn't think that you and kazuha would be the soulmates with a tragic fate.

the both of you had met thanks to the resistance. when beidou decided to introduce kazuha to kokomi, he met you along the way– the right-hand-person of kokomi and his soulmate.

the both of you had instantly clicked when you met, the wide smile the both of you had appeared when you notice each other's red string being connected.

since then, you were inseparable.

on days when your assigned unit didn't need your assistance at the moment, you usually use those times to hung out with the samurai, often talking about each other's adventures and experiences with the best you can.

it was those days when you incredibly cherished the moments, making sure to remember every second of those moments you had with him before going on battles against kujou sara and her soldiers.

unfortunately for the both of you, the memories that you oh-so cherished would be the last one you'll ever make.

"see you in the next life... kaedehara kazuha," you whispered, staring at the samurai as the both of you lie down on the cold ground with soldiers fighting around the both of you, blood gushing out from your mouth. "whether it'd be in the next life or another, may celestia let us have another chance."

you watched as kazuha smiled lightly, his hand shakily trying to reach out to yours until he intertwines it together. "till we meet again, y/n."

as the war between the resistance and the raiden shogun continued, you and kazuha let out your one last breath before passing away.

much to you and kazuha's hopes, the war against the vision hunt decree won victoriously, with the raiden shogun lifting up the decree and brought inazuma back to its usual peaceful life before the decree.

of course, the resistance alongside the traveler paid respects to you and kazuha's passing, telling you that you and kazuha can rest now that they won.

as centuries flew by, teyvat had a major change among the nations. in this particular century, archons and visions had long been forgotten, with technology around the world being more advanced than before. as for soulmates? they still exist fortunately.

then there's you, a person who found joy in traveling around the world and tell the world about it. at least, that's what people think.

to you, you simply wanted to travel around teyvat to find a person named kaedehara kazuha.

recently, you started getting dreams of a man who goes by kaedehara kazuha. some were usually romantic that it gave you butterflies, some were conversations that you sometimes would forget, and of course, the dreams that often haunt you.

most dreams of yours were always lying down beside the man– who was bleeding to death. was this a sign of him dying? what is the purpose of these dreams?

you didn't know why this was happening to you. are you slowly going insane? or were you just overreacting?

whatever it was, you knew that deep down that it has something to do with your soulmate.

you went high and low around each nation you visited, often asking certain people if they've know a man named kaedehara kazuha, only to receive no useful information that could help you.

of course, your only source that could help you find him is the red string that connects you and your soulmate, following the direction it led you with hopes of it twitching as a sign that you're near.

unfortunately, none of the nations you've visited had no signs of who you're looking for.

your last stop is inazuma, a nation that's infamous for having beautiful firework shows and tourist spots. there's not a single place that isn't worth taking pictures of.

the moment you arrived to the nation using a boat,l you came across to a woman whose name is beidou.

"i don't know a man whose name has a kaedehara, but i have a son who coincidentally has the same name as kazuha!" she exclaims with a grin. "i don't think he's the one you're looking for though, i've never seen him hung out with someone like you or anyone else who isn't gorou."

you smile lightly at the woman, trying to not look disappointed. "i see.. thank you again, miss beidou."

she quickly waved you off. "good luck in finding the man you're looking for!"

the moment you immediately checked in ritou, you started exploring around the nation with no plans of stopping, hoping to see at least one person who looks like the man in your dreams or has their red string connected to your finger.

unfortunately, every area you've visited in the land, you still haven't found the end of the string, your hopes slowly dying down as time flew by.

you decided to explore more the next day, deciding to go back to inazuma city and have dinner in one of their infamous restaurants.

as you sat down on one of the stools while waiting for kanbei to cook your meals, you let out a disappointed sigh. if you couldn't find your soulmate anywhere, where could he be?

what if kaedehara kazuha doesn't exist at all? what if he died before you could even meet him and find out what's going on with your dreams?

you let out another sigh, rubbing the back of your neck in frustration. you hoped all of this wasn't a waste of your time. you honestly don't know what to do if you won't be able to find him at all, let alone what happens after you meet him.

unnoticed by you, your red string started twitching nonstop. a man suddenly enters the place, sitting down one seat away from where you are.

"rough day, kazuha?" kanbei asked, not bothering to look away from the pot as he continues to focus on cooking your meal.

"not exactly. i found a perfect spot to write haiku." the man, kazuha, replied.

as kazuha and kanbei continued conversing, you couldn't help but find yourself slowly drifting to sleep, now feeling the exhaustion from your exploration around the nation.

before you could completely pass out on the counter, you immediately woke up from the delicious smell of your meal, looking up to see the chef being finished with your meal already. perhaps the reviews weren't lying when they said this restaurant is fast with services.

you quietly thanked the chef when he placed the meal down in front of you, feeling your mouth watering at the sight of the delicious meal before digging up, still not noticing the red string twitching nonstop due to your focus on filling your hunger.

"thank you again, kanbei." kazuha speaks up as he grabs the packaged food from the chef's hands and hands over the payment.

"always happy to serve, kazuha. see ya tomorrow." kanbei said, watching as the man walks away from the restaurant.

out of curiosity, you glance at who you assume is beidou's son, only for your eyes to widen at the sight of the same man that you've been seeing in your dreams–

along with his red string connecting to yours.

without thinking, you immediately jumped down from your stool, staring at kazuha, who already walked out from the diner without a glance of your direction. "i'll be back and continue eating my meal. apologies for my rudeness!" you exclaim before running towards kazuha's direction without letting a single word come out from kanbei, who was confused at your words.

"kazuha!" you yelled, hoping kazuha would hear your voice despite the sounds of cars and people being loud around the both of you.

you tried to call for the man again, only for you to get frustrated when he still hadn't heard a word from you. was he wearing earphones?!

you immediately look down at your string and back at kazuha, hesitating for a moment before shaking the string aggresively. please, please, please look back! please look like you're him–

you sigh in relief when he finally noticed his string shaking, causing him to stop his trakcs and look behind him to see you running towards him like your life depends on it.

his eyes widens at the sight of you running towards him, your face was all too familiar for him to remember. it can't be, you only existed in his dreams!

the both of you suddenly remember certain memories the both of you didn't even knew you had. memories of which the both of you used to be in. memories of the both of you walking around the infamous serpent head as soldiers trained with all their might for the upcoming war, memories of the both of you watching the stars and wish for the resistance to win victoriously, memories of your past life that you and kazuha had forgotten.

that was enough for kazuha to run towards you as well, his arms suddenly spreading wide open for you to clashed into, dropping his food without a care.

the moment you and kazuha finally had gotten closer, you tackled the man into a hug as tears prickled in your eyes, ignoring the questionable stares the both of you received from people passing by.

"i found you." you whispered, closing your eyes shut as you let out a sound of relief. "after so.. so many months, i finally found you."

kazuha hugs you back, pulling you closer to his body as he sighs in relief. now that there's no more wars or something to run away from, the both of you can start anew and live the life the both of you had wanted back then.

"i missed you."

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savoryscribbles · 3 years ago

Text

Love Is Not Mortal Bound

A/n: hehehehe more Genshin.

Background Knowledge: This idea is… difficult to explain… so I have no idea where I got the idea, but for some reason I thought that Rex Lapis(Zhongli) has given Cloud Retainer her knowledge to make contraptions and Mountain Shaper his umm Amber flowers? I looked back at the dialogue again, and no surprise, I was wrong. But following this idea, I had come up with this fic idea, so I’m just gonna like, shift the universe a lil bit. So like, you’ll see later, but Xiao too gets his own thanks from Rex, he just doesn’t know it.

Words: I have no clue, I’m sorry. It’s lots tho

Warnings: just a lil lot bit o’ angst, ends happily though!

Pairing: Xiao x half-adeptus!gn!reader, platonic!friends!Zhongli x reader

Tags: Sort of soulmate AU?, angst at the beginning(reader gets rejected), reincarnation(really only mentions of it but still), long convos with Zhongli lmao, he’s also kinda ooc(out of character) cause I just met him in game today, swearing, lots of interruptions cause they’re my fav dialogue to right tbh.

You and Xiao sat atop the balcony at the Wangshu Inn, as usual, but one thing made this day different. You no longer wanted to hide your feelings for the adepti, so this was the day you’d tell him. And that part went smoothly, you hardly stumbled over your words, sure you were shaking a little bit, but who wouldn’t be nervous confessing their love to a 2000+ year old adapti? What you weren’t prepared for, was his response.

“Hmm? Love? You almost make chuckle. You don’t love me, no mortal loves me.” He dryly chuckled, not even cracking a slight smile.

“Half mortal.” You mutter under your breath. You were embarrassed, forgetting how much rejection hurts.

“But do you-“

“I would only hurt you in the long run, and you would only hurt me. I don’t know if you realize this, but I’m still going to live a lot longer than you, no matter what part adepti you are. And no I do not love you” Xiao crudely cut you off.

At this point your eyes had begun to swell with tears. Maybe it was cliche, but you couldn’t think of anything else besides running, to somewhere you didn’t have to hear the harsh words of the adeptus.

Xiao’s POV:

It hurt like hell.

Worse than any sort of karmic debt he had to pay, if he could choose, he’d rather pay his dues a thousand times over.

The worst part was he knew he’d hurt you, purposefully. Which he long ago sworn himself from doing. And no matter how much he tried to justify it, the pain would not leave.

Xiao also didn’t know why exactly he felt this pain. He has gotten far to close to many people before, and every time they’d confess, he’d reject them the same way, you were no different.

Except you were, in every way possible. Of all the people he’d met in his thousands of years he’d never been more intrigued by someone. He’d never met nor heard of a ‘half-adeptus.’ Xiao also never really felt drawn to such a bubbly person, preferring the company of those who could handle the harsh angles of his personality.

Did he regret hurting you? Yes, but that pain would be temporary, saving both him and you the potentially thousands your relationship would cause.

Reader’s POV:

By sunset you were in Liyue, your tears had run dry hours ago, you didn’t feel anything short of numb, barely uttering an apology to the person you’d ran into.

“Oh! Hello y/n, how did things go with Xiao?” Zhongli asked, nearly sending you into another onslaught of tears. You had asked for his opinion on your idea earlier that day, which he almost instantly supported. You’d found it odd, seeing as he usual talked it out with you, but all he’d done is provide the best support a unnerving geo archon could.

“Not good.” You whispered, trying to push past him, which proved to be fruitless as he put his hand atop your shoulders.

“Come with me, we shall talk over tea.” You slightly nodded. You felt like shit, but you supposed talking wouldn’t make you feel worse.

As Zhongli made the tea, which you could tell was one of your favorite blends, your thoughts drifted back to earlier.

‘You don’t love me, no mortal loves me.’

You looked up, bring yourself back to the room before you, finding Zhongli already staring at you. He offered a tiny smile as you met his eyes.

“So, what happened? I can assume from your body language that things didn’t exactly go well.” He pondered, not really expecting an answer.

“Well… um. He. We, we were sitting. on the balcony like we usually did… I, waited for the conversation to lull. Then I kinda just brought it up.” You shrugged, looking anywhere but Zhongli’s eyes. You saw him nod out of the corner of your eye, so you continued.

“And then it really went down hill,” you lightly chuckled “he was really, mean about it. Sure he’s rude, he’s blunt, and he’s a huge grump, but,,, I don’t know how I thought he’d act, I don’t know why I even did it, what was I supposed to expect out of this?” You exclaimed actually laughing now, causing Zhongli to put a hand on yours.

“He’s softer when he’s with you. You simply thought he’d be nice about it, most are, depending on their maturity.” You nodded, he somehow put your feelings into a comprehensible sentence.

“At, at first I, I held on a ounce of hope, because he, he didn’t say he didn’t love me.” You offered, shrugging.

“He doesn’t though.” You muttered, looking at your half empty cup.

“Oh? What makes you say that?” He asked, which made you scoff.

“He literally said he didn’t! He didn’t even sugar coat it, in fact he probably mistook the salt for sugar.” You responded. ‘There’s no way in hell he loves me.’

“Hmm, still, Xiao is a complicated adepti, he is the most loyal, yet most hesitant. It took almost a millennia to gain his trust fully. I bet if you called for him he would come-.”

“I’m not testing that theory.” You interrupted.

“I wasn’t asking you to. Just stating a mere fact.” He responded with a slight smirk.

“It doesn’t matter anyways, if I wanted him to even consider reciprocating my feelings, it would take who knows how long. And Xiao was right, I am only half adepti, which doesn’t happen often, there’s no reliable information on how long we live.”

“So that’s what he’s worried about? Time?” Zhongli sighed, pinching his nose. “He’ll find that hardly matters” he whispered quietly, so you wouldn’t hear.

“I’m going to pay him a visit.” Zhongli decided, standing up from the table.

“What! Right now? Why?” You responded, confused. ‘I hope he’s not doing anything rash’

“Yes right now, and it’s because I have some things to tell him.” He blankly responded as he made his way to the door.

“Isn’t it a little to late though? He’s probably tired, and you could get hurt. You know the hilichurls strike at night.” You quickly suggest, jumping in front of him, trying to stop him from leaving.

“You forget adepti, especially Yaksha such as Xiao. And no need to fret, I can handle a couple(hundred) hilichurls, I’ll be fine.” He responded before lightly pushing you out of the way.

“Can you at least wait until morning so I can accompany you?” You begged, you really didn’t want the Geo Archon interfering with your love life, something told you it was one of the few skills he lacked.

“I apologize, the matter I wish to discuss is not something you should exactly know of just yet. In addiction, do you really want to see the man who tore your heart apart mere hours ago?” Zhongli cocked an eyebrow.

“You’re right, but if seeing him means stopping you from making things worse, then I really have no choice.” You replied.

“You think I’m going to make the situation worse? How so?” He questioned, a light smile adorning his face.

“Well, no offense, you just don’t seem the type to be some sort of, love guru.” You slowly answered, trying not to offend him in the process.

Zhongli genuinely laughed, “I have no intention of convince or force him to love you, I might be a god, but I’m not ruthless, especially to someone whose done so much for me.”

You sighed, there was just no way to stop him. “Fine, I’m going to make myself home here though. And if you’re gone longer than a day I’m going to go looking for you.” Zhongli nodded at your statement before rushing out the door, disappearing into thin air.

You sighed before closing the door, hoping he wouldn’t fuck up any chances you might still have with Xiao.

Xiao’s POV:

Xiao felt a presence behind him, he knew it wasn’t you, but his heart still hoped. He was surprised however to see the Geo Archon standing before him.

He fell to one knee and bowed, it was difficult to break a 2000+ old habit.

“No need to bow, I’m not much of a god as I used to be” Zhongli joked, no shocked when Xiao didn’t laugh and merely stood up.

“Is there a reason for your visit Master Zhongli?” Xiao asked, sure the archon was free to come and go, but never really showed up without a reason.

“Yes actually.” He replied, walking to the edge of the balcony. “Would you like to know a fun fact, one most don’t know?” The adepti simply nodded.

“All Seven(7) Archons have soulmates.” Zhongli bluntly stated, turning to see Xiao’s reaction. Lips turning to a smile as the Yaksha’s face twisted into surprise.

“Really? How does that work? Aren’t the Seven(7) the most powerful beings in the world?” Xiao skeptically asked.

“You’re wrong, Celestia is, it handpicks each of our soulmates, the one true person that will always get you, always be there even through the toughest of times.” Zhongli trailed off, reminiscing about his own soulmate.

“The… place, picks your soulmate? That makes no sense.” Xiao responded, still hesitant to believe him.

“Yes, it is the purest form of nature, you really think it doesn’t have a mind of its own?”(Zhongli)

“I suppose it does make sense, I’m guessing Guizhong is your soulmate?”(Xiao)

“Was. Just like gods, their soulmates too get reincarnated, but as you know Guizhong has not been in the world for thousands of years. I think it’s safe to say she’s never coming back.” Zhongli sighed softly.

“Okay that makes-“

“But I’m not here for a pity party-“

“Go ahead.” They said in unison.

“Go ahead and speak Master.Zhongli.” Xiao insisted.

“As I was saying, I didn’t come here for a pity party. Moving on, you know Cloud Retainer, and Mountain Shaper? Well, long ago, I repaid them for their help. Mountain Shaper with his Amber coated flowers, and Cloud Retainer with unlimited knowledge and space for contraptions.” Zhongli explained.

“Yes, I’m aware, what does this have to do with your visit exactly?” Xiao asked, crossing his arms.

“Well you too did not go unpaid. You were the most loyal, so I decided to give you something a little more special.” The Archon said, a smile dancing on his lips.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the most-“

“Nonsense, you are the only one of the main adepti still following the orders I gave many millennium ago.” Zhongli interrupted.

“…Okay, and this ‘gift’ of sorts, what is it?”(Xiao)

“A soulmate.” Zhongli replied instantaneously.

“What?”(Xiao)

“I gave you a soulmate.” Zhongli repeated.

“You- you didn’t give up Guizhong just to give me a soulmate did you?!” Xiao asked aggressively, there was no way in hell he was letting Zhongli get away with that, geo Archon or no.

“Goodness no. It was her last request. She did not want to live in a endless cycle of love and sadness, she felt as though a one time move was more pure. She asked me to give a soulmate to the one who deserves it the most.” Zhongli explained, with a sad smile.

“And, you think that’s me?”(Xiao)

“Most certainly.”(Zhongli)

“But, why?”(Xiao)

“Because, as someone who has experienced the utter love and peacefulness that comes with your soulmate, there is no one else who deserves that peace at mind other than you. You sacrifice your physical pain to keep this city safe, the lifestyle of a Yaksha is not a happy one. But you know that, you have excepted that, and refused to let anyone get caught up into your ‘mess’ of a lifestyle. But you, Xiao, one of the most loyal, and honestly, most kind and considerate adepti I’ve met, you deserve a happy and peaceful life.” Zhongli ranted, it was clear he had this speech prepared before hand.

“That is just not possible, it won’t matter how peaceful I feel, it will be temporary, it will disperse the next time I fight. You know this.” Xiao didn’t like this idea, the idea of someone being entangled in his mess for eternity was not an idea he was to keen about.

“I’m sure they won’t mind. I believe they find peace knowing you are okay.” Zhongli said with a knowing smile.

Xiao squinted his eyes, “The way you talk, it makes me think you already know who my soulmate is.”

“Hmm maybe, maybe not. I’m not the one who can confirm that.” Zhongli said, turning to leave, before stopping.

“How, how do I figure out who my soulmate is then?” Xiao asked frantically.

“It will hurt like hell to hurt them, even accidentally. The pain is hard to miss.” Zhongli finished his sentence, causing Xiao’s eyes to shoot open, before fading into the night sky.

‘Now, to find something to kill time.’ Zhongli thought to himself.

Readers POV:

You awoke in a bed unfamiliar to you, before registering the fact that you were still at Zhongli’s house.

‘Fuck, is he back yet?’

You quickly got up from the bed, and scanned the whole house, with zero(0) signs of Zhongli. You sighed dreadfully, knowing this would be inevitable.

‘Can’t I just, go back to sleep?’

You got dressed quickly, the possibility that Zhongli had been attacked quickened your pace.

As you ran though the city, you didn’t bother with niceties, barely stopping for most, muttering a ‘sorry super busy right now.’

Finally, at mid-day, you made it to the dreaded inn, you had stopped multiple times at hilichurl camps, checking for any remains of your friend.

You looked up at the Wangshu Inn.

‘This is gonna hurt’

Xiao’s POV:

He felt your presence near him, like a breath of fresh air. Only it was short lasted as he saw your distraught face, remembering he was the reason for your sadness.

Zhongli was right, it hurts, bad. Even at the smallest of things.

Xiao reckoned it wasn’t the best idea to greet you immediately, and waited for you on the highest balcony, where you would likely go first. He shocked himself at his own giddiness.

Both??? Like you can ‘see’ both their thoughts POV:

You walked as slowly as possible, at this point your friends safety could not overpower the insatiable sadness you felt. Climbing these stairs just made all the memories from the day prior more vivid, and it got worse as you ascended higher.

Finally, you’d made it to the last step, not wanting to look up. You weren’t sure if Xiao was there or not, but you asked your question anyways.

“Um Zhongli told me he needed to talk to you yesterday, and I told him if he wasn’t back by the time I woke up, I’d come here myself to get him, so did he make it here last night? That’s all I really need to know then I’ll get out of your hair.” You slightly laughed at the end.

‘Even after I broke their heart into pieces they still worry about being an inconvenience? Hm’ Xiao thought to himself.

“Yes he made it here perfectly safe, I even watched him leave, though I have no clue where he wondered off too.” Xiao answered in the softest tones he could muster.

“Oh okay-“

“I hope you know you’d never be an inconvenience to me.” The adepti added, not worried about cutting you off.

Only his statement made your blood boil. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Cause it sure seemed like I was one yesterday.”

“I- I wasn’t in my right mind, I didn’t know information that I do now.” Xiao flusteredly respond. Not many(aka no one ever) get to see the stone cold adepti with such emotion clearly written on his face, but that was something you paid no mind to.

“Oh yeah like what? What could possibly change your mind over fucking night?” You were borderline furious right now, hot tears rolling freely down your face. You assumed his softness was some sort of game he’s playing. One you wanted no part of.

“Quite a lot actually.” He muttered under his breath, trying not to provoke you further.

“Like what?” You sobbed, all anger dissipating from your voice, leaving behind the sadness and helplessness.

“It’s difficult to explain, and a long story. If you’re willing to listen I’ll-“

“Please do, and this better not be some joke either.” You said apprehensively.

“No. No. I wouldn’t do that to you, ever.” He responded confidently.

“Okay, so get to explaining?” You asked impatiently, jokingly tapping your foot against the wooden boards of the balcony.

“Can I do one thing first?” Xiao asked with an eyebrow raise.

“I guess, but it better be-“

Xiao’s lips fell softly against yours, something you’d been wanting for awhile, however nothing you’d imagine could outshine the real thing. His lips moved against yours hesitantly. Sure he was a 2000+ year old adepti, but he’d also never kissed anyone before. He has observed them before however, the balcony he calls home is quite a romantic hot spot.

He pulls away far to fast, not just his lips, his whole body, your own missing his warmth, it was tempting to pull him back in.

“I’m definitely more convinced this isn’t a trick now.” You said slowly, still catching your breath, Xiao was too taking low breaths.

“So if I do it again you’ll believe me when I say I’d never trick you like that?” He said with a slight eyebrow raise. Pulling your body flush with his.

“Perhaps.” You responded playfully. “But don’t forget, you still have lots of explaining to do!”

“I know, let’s just be like this for a while longer okay?”

#gensin impact #xiao x reader #genshin xiao #xiao fluff #xiao angst #rainbowwritings

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