Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Since the move to their new home, Augustus [L/N] or Auggie, the eleven-year-old wanted a pet. Not just any pet, not a dog or bird, he wanted a cat. He loved cats, the eleven-year-old did, he had a stuffed cat as a baby until it was ripped to shreds by his mother. [M/N] had told him that their apartment was too small for a cat, it was a one-bedroom at the time with [M/N] sleeping on the pullout couch most of the time.

Now [M/N] had earned enough to get a house in the countryside, the closest neighbor wasn't for another mile. It was a lot cheaper than what he was paying for their apartment back in the city, and a lot bigger too. Lots of space and they could actually paint on the walls.

Thinking they had the room now, Auggie begged for a cat of his own. Someone to stay at home with him at night when [M/N] had work in the city or at night. Something fluffy to cuddle at night or play games in the morning. 

"We can only get a cat but when the time is right." His uncle had said, as he cleans the kitchen. He was organizing the kitchen, putting the dishes away, the cups, and whatever else that was marked kitchen in the brown boxes. 

Now, he was pouting since that morning, Uncle [M/N] meant that as a no. So pouting was the last solution left today, on picture day no less. Oh, he could hear his uncle scolding him and threatening to call one of their relatives on him. No, he didn't want to listen to his grandma's nagging again. 

"Thank you, Ms.Ollie." Auggie said as he got off the bus, the bus driver didn't reply and simply grunts before driving forwards. Auggie watched the yellow bus drive off as he turns and walked down the sidewalk. The stop wasn't far from his house but hated how busy the street got during the day. 

"Man, I want a cat.." Auggie grumbles as he dug in his shorts pocket for his keys, he takes the keychain out, as the three keys on it jingle. One for the home, one to the garage, and one for the shed. 

He fumbled with the keys, looking for the right one as he turns, walking on the pathway before walking up the stairs. "Here it issss--ah!"

The child trips forwards, yelping as his knees were skinned and several hisses were heard. Auggie moved his gaze to the thing that tripped him, and saw a large brown box.

"What the fuck-" Auggie cussed before opening the flaps and gasped in awe, 18 eyes stared back, or 17 1/2 since one cat's eye was shut. The cats backed up against the box's wall, one holding a baby kitten by its nape. Their eyes narrowed and slits-shaped pupils staring back at him. 

"Oh...cats~ and a baby kitten~" Auggie cooed as a smile comes to his lips, his [E/C] eyes staring at the felines with such awe and love, it made yellowish-brown cat in there tilts its head. Slowly, it began moving forwards, ignoring the hisses and meows of the other cats. The cat leans up as Auggie cooed and gently pet the cat's head, his fur was very soft. 

Auggie smiled as the cat purrs, his tail flickering a bit behind him and a cat content expression on his face as he was pet. "Mhm! Now with you guys here, I'm sure Uncle would let me keep you guys..or at least one." The cats seemed to share a look but Auggie didn't notice, he placed the box down as he used his key to unlock door. His Itachi Uchiha keychain swinging a bit as opened the door, jingling a bit. Auggie takes the box once more as he entered the home, placing them down on the carpet, and gently tipped the box over a bit and the cats climbed out. 

Though the blond-brown kitty he was petting scampers beside him, pressed to his side.

Auggie smiled as he placed his book bag down and picked the cat up. His eyes stared at the many roaming kitties 

One black-brown cat with golden-like eyes was sitting on the carpet by the box. His eyes seemed bright and wide, looking around as a black and teal-ish cat was beside him. He looked on guard and seemingly tense, but stayed near the black-brown cat. His tail swaying beside him, very tense and Auggie knew not to go near him now. There was also an orange tom cat, pawing at the tense one's tail, and mews when the tense one swipes at him. He had light blue eyes, thought a bit dull for Auggie's taste.  Still very pretty.

Auggie glanced down when he felt something pressed close to him, and saw an oddly dark-colored cat. Someone must've used these cats for dye jobs or something, he knew from the heart and in history that there weren't any blue cats. "Who dyes their cats blue? Were you guys experimented on?" The blue cat looked up and meows before rubbing himself against Auggie's leg for attention. His eye was closed shut as the other was blue, a pretty blue.  Auggie placed down the one in his arms before petting the blue cat, it purrs under Auggie's touch and he giggles. Though heard the sound of one of them climbing on the couch.

[M/N] didn't remove the plastic of the seats yet and a red cat sat on the arm rest. His stare was out the window as his tail sways calmly from behind him. It reminded Auggie of those fancy cats that rich people had since the red cat was very fluffy. His red fur, dyed or not, was a mixture of light red and dark reds. Auggie found him pretty. Then his head snapped in the direction of the kitchen, hearing something fall. He hurried in and saw one of the cats were trying to get into the wine cabinet, and one of the empty boxes were on the floor. 

The cat trying to get into it looked like the tense kitty, though had longish hair with teal tints in the fur and a teal tent on its' tail. He struggles to open the cabinet door but meows when he saw he was caught. Auggie smiled and placed him down on the floor, and the cat plops on his back, showing his belly. "Hehe, so cute~" Auggie cooed as the cat paws at the air. A playful one he was.

There was a mew from under the tipped over box and Auggie pulled it up to see the lightish tan cat with a blond-tan kitten in it's mouth. The kitten struggled and the cat placed it down, and the kitten ran around, looking at anything and pawing at random things in the kitchen with the cat watching it. "Oh, is that your baby?" Auggie asked, bending down a bit as the tanish cat tilts it's head before shaking it. 

"Wow! It's almost like you can understand me."

The cat didn't answer but simply licked his paw as his tail flickers beside him calmly and the kitten returns to play with his tail happily. Auggie smiled as he stands up, he should change before he gets cat hair on his clothes. 

"AUGUSTUS [L/N]! PLEASE TELL ME WHY THERE ARE SIX CATS IN MY LIVING ROOM?!"

"IT'S ACTUALLY NINE CATS, BUT ONE'S A KITTEN!"

"AUGUSTUS!"

Chapter Text

[M/N] stared down at the dozen of eyes, they all watched him too. Like they were silently judging him for his unkempt uniform. It wasn't his fault the kid at table 3 decided to throw its fucking applesauce at him and berries. How could Auggie even bring home this many cats? How could even carry or make them all follow him?

"Augustus, please tell me this is a prank and didn't somehow adopt these cats." [M/N] said as his guilty-looking nephew came out from the kitchen, holding another cat with teal highlights? So experimented cats? Weird.

"No, I uh, found them." Auggie said as he hugged the cat in his arms tighter, and [M/N] swore that he saw the highlights get brighter. "I couldn't let them freeze outside." 

"It's literally summer, and they would've been fine." [M/N] said as he placed his jacket on the hook before undoing the knot that held the apron on him. He looked over the stains, all covering the front and staining his name tag as well. "Ugh, I wish I could cancel today's reading-GGSSS-" [M/N] gasped as he felt weight go down and saw one of the cats playing at the hem of his apron and tugged down. It was an orange tom cat and meows when it was caught. The cat returned his tare and kept pulling it down even more, digging his nails into it. 

"HEY! NO!" 

[M/N] yanked it up and the cat falls on his butt, hissing before swiping at the apron once more but [M/N] quickly takes it up and holding it close to his chest. "Auggie!"

"Sorry!" The middle school student quickly placed the teal highlighted cat and plucks the orange tomcat into his arms. It struggles for a moment before meowing and lays limply in Auggie's arms. His tail flickering but made no move to leave. "But [M/N], can we keep them? What if they go back to their abusive owner who wants to turn them pink!? OR WORST?!"

[M/N] sighs as he heard his nephew, watching him swing the cat a bit in his arms, muttering the worst things that could happen to the cats. A ding came from his pocket and pulled his phone out, a small alarm saying that the client would be there in a few minutes. "I don't have time, take them upstairs and play with them in your room. A client is coming for reading and I don't need something-something cats to roam around them." 

Auggie pouts but nods, he placed the cats inside the box and began walking upstairs. Unaware that two were missing from the brown box. Auggie struggled with the box but made it up the stairs without any trouble. [M/N] heard the door shut and Auggie muffled talking, probably talking to the cats.

[M/N] sighs as he looked at his uniform shirt before moving walked away and into a different side of the house. An extra room that would be considered a mudroom, had a way out to the backyard but also access to the front yard. Though the one to the backyard was locked and covered by a dark curtain, closing the light out along with the dark curtains out the windows. [M/N] turns the light on and placed a thin scarf over the top of the lamp, causing a purple tint in the room. 

He moved around, grasping some lavender candle and light it up, watching the flame eat the line. He hummed as he looked at the fake crystal ball, cleaning it with a wet wipe. He didn't use it, it was more for decoration purposes. Usually, if he called, they would answer. It took most of [M/N]'s energy if he has to forcibly call the client's loved one.

He looked at the many things he would use but chosen a deck of tarot cards if they wanted their present, past or future to be read to them. Or maybe questions about a job or relationships, though he would have to pay extra for it.

[M/N] looked at the mirror, a small vintaged one, and looked over himself. Yes, his apron and the white uniform shirt he was wearing were ruined but he pulled them off quickly and placed them in the hamper for later. The black T-shirt was still clean and no lint or anything was on it. He smooths it down a bit and brushed his [Dark/Light] [H/C] locks back a bit and made sure no remains of food was on his face. He looked clean, perfect, and professional.

KNOCK

KNOCK

KNOCK

There were three loud knocks and [M/N] sighs, looking in the mirror, "Wow them today and maybe you can earn enough to eat something." His [E/C] eyes flickered behind him, thinking he saw something darting behind one of the black leather chairs in the room but saw nothing but a purple knitted blanket. With a shrug, he moved to the door and unlocked it, opening it and saw the clients. A woman around her early 40s, faked dyed blonde hair and dark hazel eyes, wearing the most cleavage-revealing black dress with black heels. Next to her was a son, around his late teens, who wore nothing but black and looked bored and had the same eye color as his mother but brown curls. Then behind him was a tiny girl, around 10 maybe, who wore a purple dress, black flats, and brown hair tied back, her main focus was the switch in her hands. 

"Welcome to my-"

"Can we come in, please? We don't have all day." The mother said, interrupting as [M/N] wanted to pull his hair. She sounded nicer on the phone, [M/N] moved back and gestured them to enter. The mother walked in with her head held up high and her heels clicking against the dark wooden floor. She stared around and [M/N] can tell the judgment in her eyes as she finally sat down in one of the black chairs. Her son follows after and sits down too, his hands in his lap. He didn't say anything but looked to the ground. He seemed to be the most mourning out of the two. His sister walked in, the sound of super Mario coming out of the game, she sits beside her mother and didn't look up once.

"So, you're here to call your late husband?" [M/N] asked as he sat down after shutting the door. The mother nods and looked at him. "Alright, his name?"

"Markus Fliburt." She said as [M/N] takes a deep breath, readying himself but stops when she interrupts. "How long would this take?"

"Usually a few minutes, unless you have detailed questions or he has some for you." [M/N] takes a deep breath once more feeling the connection, quickly nipping at it, and began pulling Markus Filburt's spirit before exhaling. He glanced around before seeing an older man, much older than his wife. The man was a bit chubby but wore a nice suit, and had greying black hair. 

"Are you Markus Filburt?" [M/N] asked the man.

"Yes, let me guess, she's nagging you to summon me?"

"You guess it, now, you're husband is here-"

"Good, Markus, you old bastard, I know you've been sleeping with my sister Petunia. It isn't fair that you gave her more money than me, and your kids." The woman snapped and [M/N] rolled his eyes, knowing this was the sole reason she summons the dead man. Though, his eyes snapped to the small decorative table when he saw movement and saw the cat. One of the cats, the orange and rude Tomcat. It sat on the table, pawing at the purple and green plant that sat there, and his eyes narrowed at it. YOU BETTER NOT! I WILL MAKE A NEW CARPET!

"Ask him why, why did he give her more money." The woman suddenly demanded and [M/N] moved his gaze to the woman and then turns to the chubby man.

"She sent her 17-year-old sister to a conversion camp, that horrid place. Just because she's gay doesn't mean she's sick. It's more of..I'm sorry for living with Rose." Markus answered.

"Because you sent your sister to a conversion camp and felt that she needed it more than you." [M/N] kept it simple but saw the woman's face flushed in annoyance and embarrassment. She fiddled with her sleeve and glared at [M/N]. " Hey, I'm repeating what he's saying."

"Well, then ask him what about me and Sofia? I get that Markus Jr got a huge lump some but it isn't fair!" Rose snapped and [M/N]'s [E/C] eyes flickered to the ghost.

"Sofia isn't my kid, tell her to go find the real daddy and leave my son alone. He got most of my riches because he is my son, blood-related. He's 18 now and a grown man to do what he wants and he can literally do anything he wanted." Markus answered simply before looking down and smiled, "Why hello there." Markus cooed a bit, the cat standing under him, not phased at the ghost but merely stared at him. His tail flickers beside him and watched Markus. [M/N] merely glares at the black and teal highlighted cat, shaking his head a bit as he looked to Rose.

"He said find the real father of Sofia and leave Markus Jr alone, he's an adult now and he can do whatever he wants." [M/N] said as the woman looked so close to throwing something. He watched her eyes move to the decorative crystal ball, and he snapped her fingers to get her attention. " You throw it and I swear to everything, I will hurt you." The woman bristled a bit with a scowl. 

"Fuck, wasted fucking 300-"

"I want to ask a question." The son perked up and the woman shuts her mouth, glaring at the son as he ignored it, "I want to know if he accepts me...for who I am.."

[M/N] turns to the father and saw the grim and sad smile, his dark eyes crinkle a bit as he stared at his son with the most loving expression he had. His hand goes to touch Markus Jr's head but the transparent hand went through. "Of course, I rather have a gay son than no son at all."

"Yeah, he loves you so much." [M/N] said before feeling his eyes bulge a bit as he saw the orange cat pawing at the mother's dress, dragging his claws down as his heart pounds against his chest."I am so sorry! That's my nephew's cat-" The woman laughs as she plucks the cat up and cuddles it into her chest, the poor animal hissing and meowing in distress. [M/N] watched, sighing as he leans back into the chair as the black and teal cat jumps into his lap. The cat didn't make any movement and pawed at the cards, but [M/N] placed them at his side with an annoyed sigh.

"It's fine! I just adore cats!" The mother said as she snuggled the cat in her chest, "I would so love this cat for my collection!~"

"Ma, you have too many cats." The little girl speaks up as Markus rolled his eyes a bit at his stepmother it seemed. 

"So? I like cats! How much?" She asked as she bats her eyes at [M/N] and eyeing the cat in his lap too. " For both of them."

Yes! I'M SURE AUGGIE WOULDN't NOTICE THEM GONE!

[M/N] smiled a bit before opening his mouth but stops as he noticed the begging stare in the orange cat's eyes, its eyes were large and ears down, it seemed to be pouting? Whatever it was, it was working. [M/N] looked away but moved his gaze to the one in his lap, and narrowed. The cat's eyes narrowed back and it's tail flickers beside it, like a warning but something just pulled in [M/N]'s chest. 

He once had a pet, but she died so very long ago.

"No, sorry, as I said, my nephew loves these cats and they're his." [M/N] said as he lifts the black and teal one, ignoring the nails clawing at his arms. They're gonna cost me a fortune. 

"Oh, shame, but we finished, tell that disgusting man to leave so we can move on." She said as she placed the orange tomcat down and the poor thing hurried away and behind [M/N]'s chair. Markus senior shakes his head a bit and looked at the man. "I actually have a few things to get off my chest," Markus said as he adjusted his transparent tie.

[M/N] listened to everything, almost not wanting to say it in front of the little girl but looked to the mother. "Markus Senior wishes luck to the next guy you'll rip off, and maybe try to sleep with the next guy that looks even close to the husband you supposedly loved. Also, actually, learn  fucking skill, literally ripping off old guys is getting so old." [M/N] repeated most of what Markus Senior was saying and flushed a bit as listened to more, though the ghost seemed very happy that [M/N] was repeating this.

"And...And....respectfully try not to suck at a blowjob." 

[M/N] felt pain from his cheek and knew he deserved it but Markus was gone once the woman left with her kids. The door slamming behind them and [M/N] sighs. He rubbed his cheek before standing up and pluck the cats up and ignored the biting he received. 

As expected, the cats were back and Auggie was currently playing with the only kitten in the group. It was yarn but the cats seemed to watch them and Auggie perked up to see the missing two.

"Uncl-"

"You can keep them but I swear to gods, if they come into my readings again, I'll make cat soup." [M/N] gave in easily and Auggie smiles happily as the cats seemed to perk up a bit. 

"I get to name some too." [M/N] added as he placed the two cats down, they scramble to the small group. 

"YAY! Why the change of heart?" Auggie asked, tilting his head a bit. [M/N] hummed a bit as he checked the time on his phone. "Uncle?"

"...Noting really, you'll still be crying about it until I buy you one.." Auggie whines as he tugged on the string before the kitten could actually catch it.

Chapter Text

[M/N] sat down on the couch, pushing one of the boxes to the floor and the cats watched him, minus the tiny kitten who was still playing with the string. 

"Alright, I guess since the group of...cats are staying, I can't call them all cats or such." [M/N] said as he leans against the couch with a sigh and props his chin with his hand, [E/C] eyes watched tiny kitten than to Auggie. " I'll name some and you can, though I want to name this little fluffy one." The black fluffy cat with some brownish-golden details at the end of its fur tilts his head a bit once it met [M/N] gaze. The one beside it didn't look unimpressed.

"Oh? Mr.Fluffy cat number two?" Auggie said as he barely looked up from the kitten. He dubbed the red kitty and the brown-black kitty Mr.Fluffy.

"The brown one, yes," [M/N] said as he stared at the cat and it stared back before licking its paw without care. " Hades."

"Uncle! That's the name from Mythology." Auggie whines as he stops playing with the kitten, it pounces on the string and tried tugging it out of Auggie's hand but mostly paws at it. "Call him something nice!"

"Hades is nice, don't forget I can rename you hades if I wanted." [M/N] said as Auggie pouts a bit and looked for the pretty fluffy cat. He saw the red cat sitting on the coffee table, seeming annoyed from the dark blue cat that meows below it, getting on his back legs to jump but the Red fluffy cat hissed. That didn't bother the blue cat, but didn't get up beside him. "Like this!" Auggie stood up and carefully walked over, grasping the red cat, and it stiffens within the young boy's grasp.

"Like this one! His name is uh....uh..." Auggie seemed to struggle and then smiles, " Dr.Pepper!" [M/N] raised an eyebrow at that cat's new name and saw the blue one grins a bit, or tried to? Whatever the case is, that cat sure looked delighted with the name.

"Okay, then the orange tomcat is Ares, because it annoys the hell out of me." [M/N] said as the orange cat seemed to perk up and pressed itself against [M/N]'s leg, purring but pressed its paw on his pants leg, the nails grasping the fabric. " I should've sold you.." [M/N] grumbled as he grasped the cat by its nape and scoots him back. It meow's as Auggie giggled, rubbing his cheek against fluffy red cat's.

"Hm, the god or War, that..kinda fits him." Auggie said as he moved, trying to grasp the black and teal cat with golden eyes but it moved forwards quickly. Not giving Auggie a chance to grab him, and he pouts. "Hey!"

"That can be Hermes." [M/N] named the cat as Hermes hissed at the adult but stops when Hades shot a look at him. How odd, perhaps it's his father or something..before the dye job..

"No fair! You got to name him!" Auggie pouts as he placed the Dr.Pepper down who hurried, going back onto the coffee table and tail wrapped around it's legs a bit. Auggie quickly plucked the blue cat and it lazily leans against the boy. " His name is Storm! Because he's blue and...and..." His eyes looked around before stopping to the dull yellow cat that was laying down and relaxing beside the other yellow cat. " He's Sunflower!" Auggie said as he pointed to the dull cat.

"Cute, the kitten is Hecate." [M/N] said as he saw the kitten stop playing and perked up, it meows and moved to the other yellow cat, getting on him and he lets it. " It's a girl right?"

"Yup! Under her is Thor, because...he has blond fur." Auggie wanted simply names like any cat should but didn't disagree with his Uncle's names for them. 

"There's another, but where is-"

BAKCK

Auggie and [M/N] flinched at the sound of a piano playing, badly and he stood up with the cats. He moved to the tiny playroom and saw the teal-black cat with teal eyes on the old piano. He moved forwards and grasped the cat, lifting it up and it seemed to purr at the attention. Auggie closed the keys and [M/n] tsked his and placed the cat down, though it kept rubbing himself against [M/N]'s legs. 

"You're Apollo and annoying."

"Heheh!" Auggie giggled and covered his mouth a bit, " The god of music, it makes sense." Apollo purred loudly when he heard what it meant and nuzzled his cheek against [M/N]'s leg. Though the giggling stopped when Auggie's stomach growls and he rubbed his stomach. 

"It's dinner time, huh?" [M/N] muttered to himself as he thought about what they had in the kitchen. Most of the utensils and such were unpacked and plugged in. Though they didn't have too much food to make anything grand, the cat food he could get tomorrow after work. "How about some rice with fried shrimp?"

"Yes!" Auggie said with a giant smile.

"You go play with the cats or find something to watch on tv, I'll start dinner." [M/N] said as he walked into the kitchen, and turn the stove on. The blue flames coming up and he placed a small pot over it and added oil into it, not to mention putting the burner on low before checking the fridge. He had taken some shrimp out the day before to defrost and placed it onto the counter then the eggs. He kept setting up the area and didn't notice the small kitten had entered the kitchen with his back turned to her.

Once [M/N] had the rice cooker starting, he felt a tug at his pants and glanced down. His [E/C] eyes stared down at her as Hecate was climbing up his pants leg, meowing for attention. "Miss Lady, where do you think you're going to? I am terribly busy at the moment."

"Meoooow~" She lets out as [M/N] gently plucks her off and sits her back down on the floor as he cracked an egg into the bowl he had out. Three were in as he felt the climbing once more and sighs to himself, sooner or later Auggie would come to get her.

"Enough." [M/N] said sternly as he placed her down, string the egg to make it yellow, and added some pepper to the mixture before pouring some Panko onto another plate and glanced at the oil slowly boiling as he began rolling the shrimp into the egg mixture. Once the mixture was on the tiny shellfish, he placed it in the panko, rolling it before slowly placing the shrimp into the oil. It sizzled as he kept doing it, again and again, he ignored the tiny claws climbing up his leg. 

"You're a clingy little lady huh?" The kitten meow's before looking to the counter, she wiggles her little tail and leaps from his pants to the counter. She slides a bit but stopped herself from falling into the sink. She sits down and watched [M/N], tail wiggling beside her, and tried to play with it but the tail moves away from her. [M/N] watched the kitten from the corner of his eye, making sure she didn't fall into the sink or worst.

"I used to have a puppy ya know?" [M/N] said, feeling a tad crazy talking to a cat, much less a kitten. "Her name was Lady, she was mixed...pretty much with everything...but I loved her so much." He said as he flips the shrimp on the other side, he placed the thongs down. He pulled the bowls out and placed them on the counter, as the kitten kept messing with her tail. 

He didn't notice one of the blond cats had entered the room, watching and listening to [M/n]'s every word. Though, he was there for Klee, not seeing her leave the front room.

"She was a pretty puppy, so fluffy and the sweetest blue eyes." [M/N] said as the rice cooker chimes, meaning the cooking was done. He moved, grasping the spoon beside it, and scooped a generous amount into the bowls. He bends down and grasped one of the large plates from the box and sits it beside the two bowls. He placed a lot of rice on it, making sure to spread it around a bit so each cat could enjoy it. He grasped the fried shrimp, placing it in the bowls, some for him and Auggie. He moved onto the large plate, placing it down on it as well as [M/N] calls behind him.

"Auggie! Set the table, you can drink whatever you want." [M/N] said as he gently grasped the kitten and placed her down. She meows unhappily as she followed after [M/N], "Come Hecate, it's time to eat." he only received the tiny meows back.

Auggie rushed past him as [M/N] placed the plate down for the cats to feast on, he watched them gather to the plate. Some meow or stayed quiet as they ate the food, the kitten moving to Storm's side and began eating, making a mess of her fur. 

"Alright Uncle! It's done!" Auggie called as [M/N] walked back to the dining room that was practically the larger part of the kitchen. 

He sat down to enjoy the nice dinner and opened the soda Auggie sat out for him as the cats ate, gathering among themselves. 

"What did you gather Klee?" Kaeya asked, licking his lips to get the rice off his lips. The tiny Kitten perked up, and placed the half-eaten Shirmp down and tilts her head. "Klee...did he say anything at all..like plans?"

"Oh! Oh! he was just talking about having a dog before though..Klee feels this isn't his work..he doesn't look magical." Klee said, biting down on the shrimp once more as Kaeya shakes his head.

"You did your best." Childe praised the girl and her tail wiggles a bit at the praise. "Mr.Zhongli, eat some more, you're so skinny," Childe said as he looked at the fluffy cat and Zhongli shakes his head, slowly eating the rice, refusing to even touch any shrimp. 

"No."

Chapter Text

Aether's tail swishes around beside him as he laid on the couch, his eyes locked onto the tv as Auggie did his homework and watched the television. He was sure that Uncle said not to, but here he was. His eyes locked onto the cat laying in Auggie's lap, Mr.Zhongli, and the cone that wrapped around his neck.

He almost died three times in the past two days they've been there. If it weren't for Xiao and Auggie, he would've been dead.

---

It was sometime after dinner, Uncle had cleaned their large dish and Auggie watched the Television. Most of the cats roaming around or laying beside the boy, Albedo had Klee settled down and sleeping on his back as he watched the television in wonder and his light blue eyes following each new person on the screen.

Aether was in Auggie's lap, enjoying the attention that the boy was giving him but noticed Zhongli was trying to sit up on the couch. His movements a bit sloppy until he was on the top of the couch and looking out the window or tried to. The blinds were covering his vision and Zhongli pawed at the string. It made the blinds shutter a bit, revealing a bit of outside and Zhongli began pulling it towards him once more, he used both hands as he pulled them back and the blinds began revealing more and more. He was so close-

How did it get around his neck that fast?

"Ah! Exuvia!"
"Sensei!"

Xiao was yanking the string off, trying to help the older man before he could hang himself or worst. Childe was attempting to tug on Sensei's tail, trying to pull him out but soon Zhongli's body was lifted, and sat down on the floor. [M/N] had come to check on Auggie but saw the three cats playing with the blinds. "Why are you guys playing with the blinds? What's the point if one of you were about to die from it?"

Zhongli takes deep breaths as he settles next to Aether and brushing his hair back a bit with his tongue, the usual cat thing. "Thank you sir..." Zhongli breaths out but obviously, [M/N] didn't catch a word as he fixed the blinds. He did noticed the look that the cats gave him, especially the fluffy cat he named Hades. "Werid cats..." [M/N] mutteres as he closed the front door and locked it, two clicks of the two different locks before checking the time.

"Auggie, Bedtime."

"Awwww! Come on Uncle, a little more-"

"No, because you have school in the morning." [M/N] said as he closed the blinds after making sure the windows were locked and closed. Auggie sighs as he placed his homework into his bag before placing it on the hook behind the door. "Goodnight guys." Auggie said but lifted up Dr.Pepper, also known as Diluc into his arms.

"Let go of me." Diluc said but came out as a tiny meow which Auggie cooed at before walking upstairs with [M/N] turning the light off behind him.

"I was so close to seeing Celestia again.." Zhongli said as he licked his paw, trying to push down any wild fur rising up. Childe sat down next to Zhongli snickering a bit, " It is not funny Childe."

"It is, I mean, you're like super old and being caught like that just made my day." He let out raspy chuckles and laughs from his spot though he usually would've been toss aside by a usually angry Yaksha.

"Where's Xiao?" Aether asked but nobody answered.

---

The next day, [M/N] was trying to cook lunch after coming home from work, an hour early but still was ready to reheat some chicken nuggets for himself and his nephew once he returned from school. The pasta for the macaroni was still cooking on the stove, but the main focus was making sure Hermes did not try to open the empty wine bottles. He had been obsessed with them but [M/N] was there to capture the cat.

"MEOWWW." Hermes yowls in despair as he was lifted off the counter once more, and [M/N] grumbled as he sits the cat down on his feet. Hermes stared at him before plopping on his back and offered his tummy for a belly rub and to be spoiled but [M/N] moved to the stove. He stirs the macaroni and Hermes paws at his pants.

"Wine, please, listen to me, I'm not a cat." Hermes said but came out as another strangled meow.

"Barbatos, please, just be quiet," Zhongli said as he sat by the doorway, watching the miserable feline beg for wine. " If I can stand not having any tea, then you can stand not having a lick of wine." Barbatos or Venti whines and moved back to laying on his stomach, his tail coiling up beside his body as his ears hang low. "Stop moping about."

"Stop acting high and mighty monotonous Morax." Venti spits back.

"Why you-" Oh how he wished to summon his meteorite and strike the damn drunk but at the moment his claws would work. Venti speeds off with Zhongli following after him, both rushing around and even through [M/N]'s legs. He was too busy to stop them, he opened the oven and placed the pan with the chicken nuggets inside before wincing as Hermes crashed against his leg.

"Hey! Enough!" [M/N] snapped as plucked the cat up and closed the oven door, unaware of the panicked archon inside the oven.

Zhongli moved around, and tried to look for an exit in the weird contraption, he pawed at the glass before hissing as his paws touched the heat of the glass. He licked at his paws before leaning up and yowls when he felt his back and hair burn. He looked up to see glowing orange fire and gasped, yowling in horror before hearing the creak of the oven door. He was quickly grabbed out and settled into the sink as cold water hit him. He hissed but Zhongli felt the calm and soothing hand on him.

"Why did you jump in the oven? You could've died...fuck..now I probably have to take you to the vet..then I have to see Parker...fuck my life.." [M/N] grumbled before feeling some purring under his hand. He stopped and saw Hades snuggling under his hand, despite the pain he could be in, he was showing his appreciating nature.

Even though [M/N] accidentally put him in there in the first place.

———

[M/N] did not have a free day, no paid time off even though he worked at the fucking diner for the last five years. So, he gave up his day off on Monday for Hades who sat on the sliver examining table as Peter looked over him. The blonde was looking over the burns on Hades and the fluffy cat patiently sat there. Not even flinching when he gotten the first round of shots.

" Man, some weird cat. I've never seen one voluntarily jump into the oven." Peter said, giving [M/N] a look and the medium rolled his eyes.

" oh give it up, the cat just though of it a nice place to sleep and I saw him trying to get out when I came back. He was lucky that I even came back to check on the macaroni or else, we would've had cat nuggets too for dinner." [M/N] said as he crossed his arms over his chest and scowls, he didn't want to stay here more that he wanted but glad Peter had an opening for Hades. Probably for Peter to shit-talk him.

" Whatever the Case, he burned his paws so he would need little cooling booties, he would need the jell on his feet for the few days but the jell tends to make cats itch so he would need to wear a cone."

" A cone?" [M/N] repeats with a raised eyebrow.

" Cone?" Zhongli echos But come out as a small meow and a simple flutter of his ears being pulled back in distaste. How humiliating! He was, is an archon who lived many years, fighting in wars and killing enemies. He did not need this clone! " Don't touch m-" Zhongli hissed as the veterinarian came close, and he backs up but the man moved so fast and snapped the cone around his neck and all he saw was purple. " How humiliating..." He could hear Childe's loud laugh already. Zhongli was lucky that Hu Tao didn't end up here as well.

" Now that's taken cared of, you can pay at the front or we can talk about-" Peter started as [M/N] stuffed Hades into the cat cage, and ignored the annoyed hiss as he walked out the door. " How mature [L/N]-" Peter snapped from behind his ex.

" At least I'm mature enough to not go after 20 year old twinks." The tired medium snapped as he walked to the front and sits Hades cage down on the floor as he opened his wallet. He was too busy to watch Hades step out, his cone bumping gained the metal door as he slipped out the cage. 

How humiliating... Zhongli thought as he tried to navigate around with the dumb thing around him, his paws didn't hurt anymore, nothing but his ego.

"Excuse me." Zhongli said but came out as the usual meow as he bumps into something but stops moving as he heard growling, he lifted his head and went still as he met the dark eyes of the large dog. He heard [M/N] still talking behind him and the owner of the beast didn't seem to hear their animal, and soon Zhongli rushes back, making zig-zag turns to leave the beast in the dust. He hurried into the carrier and the cone almost taking his head off but the beast barks. It's head thrusting itself into the carrier's entrance but quickly Zhongli felt lifted up and on the counter.

"Sit." [M/N] commanded cooly and the beast growls at him and [M/N] stood his ground. "Sit, pinche idiota." The large, chihuahua whines as it noticed that [M/N] wasn't gonna back down. It waddles away back to his owner. "Stupid dog."

Zhongli breaths out as [M/N] locked the door of the carrier.

One thing for sure was that Zhongli couldn't wait to transform back and offer [M/N] a drink of tea or show some gratitude to him for saving him more than once.

---

"Auggie, no tv while doing your homework." [M/N] said as he opened the front door, bags of groceries in his hand. "I have a reading-"

"I know, I know, with some old lady wanting to talk to her daughter or something," Auggie said as he bit at the end of the pencil and staring down at the workbook page, distress clear on his face. 

"Somebody's snappy today." [M/N] commented as he walked by, the bags crinkling as he placed some down on the floor. Cat food, cat toys, cat litterboxes since there was so many and some collars, one for the tiny kitten with a bell on it. "I'll start making dinne-" He glanced at the time and sighs. "Or order something and have it delivered here."

[M/N] walked towards the kitchen with a sigh as Auggie didn't reply to him after placing the things down. He placed the last of the bags on the counter before putting what little things he bought from the store. Once the last thing was put away in the fridge and [M/N] closed the door, he turns but stopped to see Hades and Hermes sitting there.

"He probably had a bad day at school or that cute crush of his rejected him..." He said as he bends down a bit and looked over the two. Hermes stared at him as Hades meows back, as his tail swishes beside him patiently. "Hehe, I'm so desperate for some company that I'm talking to cats..." He moved and gently pets Hermes' head and he hissed, pulling his ears back and [M/N] rolled his eyes before gently petting Hade's head.

A man wearing odd clothes stood over a dying woman's body as he stared down at her. Such despair he felt, so much sadness and longing but he knew the woman was gone. The man reached over to touch her face, perhaps to wipe the dry blood on her lips but the moment his darken fingers with molten gold flowing on them, made the woman's body disappear into thin air, leaving nothing but dust in her place. The next thing [M/N] felt was his pain, the dispair and the roar of mourning and pain coming from his lips.

"Uncle!"

[M/N] opened his eyes to see the cats and Hecate on his chest, Auggie above him holding Hades now from his grasp. The cat looked shaken like [M/N], but Auggie sighs in relief. " Uncle, I think a spirit is nearby, they must've drained you once they got ahold of your soul!" Auggie said as he placed down the cat. 

"...Yeah...they must've accidentally pulled me in their dreams.." [M/N] said as he forced a laugh. It had to be a demon...nobody, human soul, or ghost has shown me this..only demons can force a vision of their life or trap me there...what does it have to do with Hades?

Chapter Text

[M/N] watched Hades lazily lay on the couch with Hermes not far beside him and Hecate playing below them with Storm beside her. They both played with the toy mouse and Hecate seemed delighted with the squeal of the plastic thing inside it. Ever since he caught a vision from a demon when petting Hades. It's been recognized that Demons could attach themselves to objects like dolls, toys, humans, even food if brought home. That's what they did, attach themselves and drain the energy out of that person, easily manipulate them into doing things like killing or hurting others.

Though, since the weird experience from petting the cat, [M/n] had refused to touch him. He even had Auggie take the cone off of him when it was time.

So far, the only cat that kept him company now was Hermes. The cat hated him, [M/n] was sure of it but now they were on neutral terms in the house. Besides, [M/N] knew the cat slept with him and left early the next morning. He knew because he caught Hermes leave his room the other day as he was woken up.

He found it cute and kept him happy since he lost his job.

Yup, his boss was convinced that he was on drugs. That demonic vision had weakened his mind and unfortunately caused him to feel terribly Ill yesterday and collapse into a heap when a ghost tried to ask for his help. He just wanted to talk to his young daughter one more time, but the energy that the ghost put out overwhelmed him, and [M/N] crashed out.

All over the middle of the floor, spilling and breaking glass over the floor.

This leads to the conclusion of [M/N] being on drugs, and the home being fired without question.

Asshole

This meant [M/N] was out of the job as a waiter and now relying on his medium gifts. Not that Auggie needs to know, he couldn't worry the young boy about his job loss.

"Porn, Porn, Porn-" [M/N] said to himself as he goes through his email for job offers. One sex video and somehow you're painted as a whore, not that he thought Parker would put the video up. Another reason why he dumped him, a better reason than cheating. He sighs and placed the laptop onto the table and pinched his nose, fucking asshole, son of a bitch, asshole lic-

"Meow."

[M/N] felt a new weight on his lap and glanced down to see Apollo on his lap. He moved around, his nails lightly grasping the fabric of his pants before plopping himself down on his lap. [M/N] raised an eyebrow at the cat, gently scratching under the oddly dyed teal cat's chin. "Whoever own-"

The battlefield was large and the body counts larger, though the sun was finally out and the birds were singing as people were rejoiceful at the sun hitting their faces. Though, when they noticed a fallen young man, they began to mourn. [M/N] looked at the dying young man in a redhead's arms, seemingly whispering to that small little toy on his shoulder before his dark eyes dulled. The toy seems to shake and whines coming from it, such an odd-

"You shouldn't be here."

[M/N] gasped and turns to the voice of the young man, he was smaller than him with two long braids but short hair. He stared at [M/N] worriedly as [M/N] stared back.

"Looking into somebody's past is a very rude thing to do."

[M/N] couldn't even talk and jolts back with another gasp, Apollo yowls as [M/N] pushed him off his lap. He takes deep breaths as he stared at the cat, it gives a tilt of his head and another meow before attempting to jump back up but the red cat, Dr.Pepper snatched him by his nape quickly.

[M/N] blinked his eyes and rubbed them, "I don't know what the hell was that, but your owner..must've been doing something evil or something...so many demonic visions..." He had faced them throughout childhood and as a teenager, mostly from the teachers from school and his family but these just took him to another century, before cars and phones it seemed. Like a fairytale-

PING

"What now, fuck!"

[M/N] looked to his computer screen and saw a new email was sent to him. He knew the person who had sent it to him, one of his old friends or fanboys? He kept sending him places that may have been haunted and they were expensive, or well, people paid a lot for him to come cleanse the household. Or events come to as a goofy thing, [M/N] sighs before clicking it. There was a reason why he stopped, since Augustus was born and needed him. Now, he could leave him with a babysitter, probably Ms.Heather, the elderly woman who lived a bit far from there but loved children.

" Hey Buddy, I know you stopped talking about visiting or cleaning households but this seems real. Just last week, a woman has gotten into an accident and several others claimed to have seen none of this, even though they did see her fall off the roof. Some said it looked real like she was pushed as others said she did it for attention. Though I have reviewed the footage, it's in the link below, and I say it looks like she was pushed.

There was a link and [M/N] pressed it. He settled the laptop on his lap and the screen loads up with the spinning logo and soon there was a video. Pressing play, it shows a woman around her late thirties with dark blond hair and wearing overalls, paint on her clothes, and seemed to be looking down. Everyone in the background seemed to be telling her not to jump and that she has a  life worth living for. She seemed to be shaking, either from holding in sobs or something and then her body goes forwards. Her arms moved to protect her face last minute as she falls before the video cuts out [M/N] paused and rewinds to the push.

Her shoulders jerk forwards and her chest goes forwards as well like she was pushed by her upper back. The fear in her eyes caught his attention, the surprise and fear mixed together. She looked so surprised and the push seems very sudden. Not that she leaped or even moved her feet closer to the edge, the sudden push caught his attention.

[M/N] moved back to the email and reads the rest of the email.

"So if you want to come to check it out, the hotel is called the Rosewood Hotel and Spa. The address is below this, along with their number. Just give them your name and I'm sure they'll be delighted to see you, they would love a real-life medium and promised to pay handsomely."

[M/N]'s [E/C] eyes glanced and saw it was a couple of hours away, maybe a six-hour drive, seven even. His eyes glanced to the time labeled on his computer and saw that Auggie wouldn't be home for another hour.

He moved and grasped his phone, and lift the laptop on the couch as he walked out the front door. [M/N] began typing the number from the screen and soon a cheery voice answered, just this one last gig, just to pay off the rent and gas bill, just this job. Just enough for us to live on..

"I don't want to stay with Ms.Heather, she smells like a birdcage and we both know she doesn't own a bird!" Augustus whines as [M/N] lifts the pot up to scoop and pour the soup he made into the bowls. He ignored Apollo pawing at his feet as he walked to the table.

"And you'll be staying with said birdcage woman until I come back from helping out a friend." [M/N] said as he placed the bowls down and grabbed the spoons, sitting in front of Augustus and looked over his steaming food. He dips the spoon in and lifts the spoon to his lips.

"That's a lie, you don't have any friends." [M/N] sips the soup in abruptly from his nephew's words and coughs a bit, patting his chest. 

"Augustus!"

"It's true! So where are you going?" The boy literally insulted his uncle and asking where he was going. "Is it another hunt? It's been so long since we've been on a hun-"

"No, I am going on a hunt, and probably scare off the fake attraction if any. You are gonna stay here and watch the cats with Ms.Heather." [M/N] corrected as he dipped his spoon into the bowl for another serving.

"Uncle-"

"No, my decision is final-" Storm hops onto the table and curled his tail around himself. [M/N] glared at the cat before dipping his spoon back to grab one of the potatoes, " Off the table." The cat merely flutters his tail and it curls around him, even picking up his paw to lick the top of it. 

"Uncle! It's no fair, I want to come! You never take me out anymore." Augustus whines as he scoops more soup into his mouth and chews on one of the potatoes, enjoying the taste but the only thing ruining it is the thought of staying here. 

"I'll take you out to the mall next week, this job is just for me." [M/N] said as he finished his dinner and walked back to the kitchen and clean the bowl. " She'll be here in the morning, when your done eating please clean your bowl."

"But-But-"

[M/N] walked out as Augustus pouts a bit, looking at his soup dejectedly, and ignored the cats pawing at his feet. He looked into the bowl before feeling Storm's head against his, gently tapping it against his own. He looked to the cat and Storm purred a bit, gently pawing at his cheek, "I can see ghosts too, and feel them too, I can be useful but he never takes me out anymore.." Augustus sighs as he gently scratched under Storms' chin. The ghost hunting had stopped some time ago when they lived in the tiny apartment. He was working with one of the ghost hunters in the van when he heard his Uncle scream so loudly. It made the van ring loudly and everyone had dragged his Uncle out.

He had never seen his Uncle cry or sob that loudly, that had scared Augustus but he didn't know why they stopped. It was their thing.

"Wait...why am I sulking?" Storm lets out a meow in confusion as Auggie stopped the scratching and brightens up, it almost reminded him of Klee below. " I can go..though in an alternate fashion."

Kaeya watched as Auggie gotten up with his bowl to clean and hurrying away. "What an odd situation..."

"Kaeya, what did he say?"  Aether asked as he leans up a bit onto the chair and looked to the Captain. 

"He's...gonna do something stupid, I believe...since he's the reason we're here in the first place, I think it's wise to follow after him." Kaeya said as he steps off the table and landed gracefully onto the floor. 

Chapter Text

The sun was barely seen that morning, the clouds were covering it until 12 pm where it shot up and decided to greet the world with its annoying rays. The drive wasn't even that bad until the shiny bastard decided to show itself. Now, it felt hot as hell inside the car, cooking him and the gas. He was three miles away now, so he pulled up to the first gas station he saw. [M/N] looked at the time as he pulled the keys out of the ignition before walking inside the station. [M/N] grabbed snacks and some water, along with an energy drink for the rest of the drive. He had left Auggie with the old woman, and his nerves were on edge since he left. Not that he minds about Ms.Heather, she took care of Auggie for years, it's just Auggie liked to do what he wanted since he was a toddler.

That worried him.

He placed the bag inside the car passenger seat before opening the gas cork before putting the nozzle inside. He leans back after pressing the regular and hearing gas enter the car, his eyes wandered around before opening his phone. [M/N] opened the email that his supporter sent him, ignoring the fawning parts, and headed down to the business portion. Mostly the history part, the relevant parts at least. 

The Rosewood Hotel and Spa was not called nor owned by the same people since the 50s. The original owners were immigrants from Mexico, the land was won in a game of cards by the original owner who was too drunk to realize what he had done. The Cortez family had moved from poverty to the rich land of the Rosewood area, the area yet to be finally named, though before it was called the Rosewood Hotel and Spa, it was named the Rosa Hotel, named after the owner's daughter, Rosita Cortez.
  From the beginning it was a hard adjustment on the family, moving and losing some farm animals on the way but as they settled at last the Hotel began to grow along with its popularity of with the locals. Especially with the Wood family a few miles away. They had a small girl that was the same age as Rosita, they played together four to five times a week, and went to the same church as well. They were the best of friends unti-

[M/N] looked up when the gas dings, he was finished. He pulled the nozzle out and settled back into the gas station before closing and locking the cork, once that was done, he entered his car and started it. [M/N] opened the bag and began grasping for the water but felt nothing, looking inside he saw the water was gone. "What the hell, did I even.." [M/N] looked to the floor but the water wasn't there either and sighs. "Fine, I'll just drink the energy drink." He grumbled to himself as he grasped the cold can and opened it, sighing happily as he sipped it. It burns a bit as it went down, nothing usual with it. 

[M/N] plug his phone into the cord, and turned it up a bit, "Lucii, please read the remaining highlighted words." Lucii was the latest phone on the market, or it was two years ago and before it was recalled for sending deleted texts. A lot of married people didn't like it, so lots of phones were taken off the market.

"Until Rosita died, she had fallen from a tree on the property. Liza Wood, her friend had said they were playing on the trees and Rosita had fallen off as she was trying to get down. She died on sight and the only witness to any of it was Liza. The Cortez family had to sell their home and new hotel to the wood family so they could bury their daughter properly. Once she was buried, they moved to a new home in Michigan for a new life. In honor of the youngest daughter, the wood family had renamed the home, Rosewood Hotel, and Spa, and since then the Hotel has been run by the Wood family. It was gonna be given to Melody Wood, the eldest daughter until her death a few weeks ago. Now it's her parents and little sister." Lucii reads off and the map came up, [M/N] moved in the direction of the dot leading him.

"Wow, that's rough." [M/N] screams as voice chimes and grasped the rest of his energy drink and throws it behind it. Suddenly there were poofs and white smoke everywhere, He gives another scream as he moved the car to the side and parked once his field of vision cleared. He scrambles for the floor and grabbed the screwdriver from it, clenching it as he unrolled the window once he found the switch. 

Instead of a kidnapper or worst, there were four men, a little girl, and Auggie being squished with the little girl. 

"Klee can't move..." She complains as she tried to move out of her spot between a man with long black hair and another man with blue hair. 

"Hi...uncle.."Auggie smiles as he held the can of his Uncle's drink, "There's some still left in the can.."

"Augustus [L/N]." [M/N] hissed at the young boy and he giggled nervously for a moment.

"...Do you want the rest of it?"

---

[M/N] sighs to himself as he pulled up to the hotel and rolled the windows up, and pulled the keys out of the ignition. He rolled his shoulders a bit before stuffing his phone and wallet into his pocket. He made another pitstop before coming here, [M/N] looked into the rear-view window and fixed his hair a bit. "Rules, no one is gonna is involved with this investigation, I hold myself with so much respect and professionalism that you all should have." [M/N] glanced at them all as he said that and then little Klee poking her fingers together confused, the fluffy ears on her head wiggling a bit.

"What does Profess-Professionalism mean?" She asked cutely and [M/N] wanted to pinch her cheeks right there. She had no right being adorable.

"It means the expected skill of an expert or professional." [M/N] said as he adjusted his shirt collar so it wasn't poking at his skin.

"Oh, so we get to watch them read their auras or talk to dead ones?" Kaeya asked, his ears twitching a bit with the coy smile on his lips. 

"Here to investigate a hateful or harmful ghost that unalive a woman last week." [M/N] said as he opened his door. "and since I'm too far from home, I couldn't take you back so, if you fuck this up, I'll fuck your face up." [M/N] said simply as he exited the car. 

This was such a wonderful day, turn shitty.

Chapter Text

Most of the guy's hair was good to hide their new feline ears that never seemed to leave as soon as they turned. Klee and the Bard named Venti, who was stuck in the trunk of [M/N]’s when he was dosed with an energy drink, their little hats hid the ears well. [M/N] pressed on the doorbell and it pings, for a moment it was quiet until thunder struck  loudly and Little Klee’s ears perked up and almost knocked her hat off. Albedo quickly grasped it and placed it down on her head just as the door open.

“Hello?” A man in his mid-forties answered the door, he looked sleepy and drained through the coffee stains on his collar tell a different story. “Oh, you must be the ghost..reader?”

“Medium, but whatever makes you comfortable is perfectly fine.”

“And the crew? I thought Nicky said you worked alone with your son..”

“My nephew actually but..it’s been a long time so I decided to upgrade with more people..if that’s okay.” [M/N] gives a small meek smile to the man. The man chews at his lower lip before shrugging and walking back into the home. 

“Come in! Just wipe your feet on the mat.” He said as [M/N] pushed the door open and entered, Klee following and Auggie in tow, the little girl holding his hand as Kaeya closed the door behind them. [M/N] walked behind Mr.Wood into the living room area, this part not open to guests obviously. It looked like they stopped updating it, the 90s wallpaper still clinging to the walls and the new paint job had stopped. There was a fake, maybe, rugged bearskin on the floor with a real Chester wood coffee table in the middle. There were nature paintings that looked done by hand and even the fireplace looked old but seemed to be running fine with the fire going on in the room. There was a huge arch window to the family entrance of the home, dark green curtains parting to the sudden rainstorm coming on. There were old nick nacks around, on the shelves, and for old 90s sake, a large grandfather clock behind one of the soft black couches. 

They must’ve stopped cleaning out things when Melody died.

“Sit, sit.” Mr.Wood said as he sat in a separate seat. [M/N] sat down and almost sank into the couch and bounced a bit as Zhongli sat beside him. Their knees hitting together, and Venti sits down as well beside him as Kaeya sits on another place on the leathery couch with Childe standing and eyeing the fake pictures on the wall then to the old fluffy Dream catcher. Albedo stood as well but his main focus of his own attention was on Mr.Wood. “I’m..very...new to all of this..I’ve never asked for help like this before..and Nicky said you were very popular with this sorta thing.”

“Yeah, I used to do a lot of this as a kid and stopped most recently.” [M/N] said as Auggie watched them and Klee looking at the fake animal on the floor, it looked so alive and reminded her of Razor back home.

“Stopping five years ago isn't exactly recent.” Mr.Wood said as thunder struck and [M/N] merely smiled back just as a little girl walked in, holding a toy doll in her hands. She stopped as she noticed the guest and [M/N] smiled politely. She hides her face a bit with her doll before looking at each stranger before stopping on a little girl and boy, then to the blonde standing beside them. Kids!

“D-Do you guys want to play with me?” She asked shyly as Klee brightened up at the idea of playing with a new friend. Auggie didn’t want to, but if he could sense something in the home, maybe Uncle would take him out again.

“Okay! Klee usually plays with Dodoco though.” Klee said as the little girl grins. 

“That’s a silly name! But tell me more about Dodoco!” Klee smiles as the little girl begins leading away with Auggie behind them and Klee dragging Aether out the room with her strong grip. The blonde was helpless and walked with them as well.

“Sorry, Karley hasn’t been out since Melody’s..passing. We’re all adjusting but still, we just..miss her alot.” Mr.Wood said as [M/N] shook his head, it was fine.

“It’s okay, maybe Klee and Karley would make friends, besides..it’s good for children to have fun with others once in a while.” 

“Not always.” Josie Wood said, her dull brown hair pulled up and tired blue eyes staring at [M/N]. She looked so tired and drained, anyone would after burying their child. “Would you like a drink? Wine?” she asked, as [M/N] shakes his head as Kaeya and Venti perked up.

“Yes please.” Both said as [M/N] glared at the two. Though Josie walked out and came back with two small glasses, both looked expensive and decorated beautifully. She handed them the glasses and both men looked disappointed.

“There’s nothing in it.” Kaeya said as he looked at the woman though she walked out the room. 

“Josie..has been...empty for these last few days, always giving me a glass and saying it’s water but there’s nothing in it. She’ll forget she’s cooking dinner and leave the oven on or be outside gardening and sleeping in the bushes.” Mr.Wood said as he rubbed his temple as [M/N] nodded as he listened. “All I’m asking is if she asks something or does something, just indulge her.”

“Of cour-”

“I don’t think that’s wise.” Albedo speaks up and all their eyes move to the blond man. Though [M/N] was just glaring at him, not wanting him to bother the mourning man. “If you’re enabling her, then her mental health would still decrease and soon you’ll be enabling all her actions.”

“You’re one to talk, you let Klee experiment and test new bombs even though Jean told you not to.” Kaeya points out as Mr.Wood’s eyebrow furrowed a bit in confusion. 

“I’m sorry, bombs?” Mr.Wood repeats as [M/N] glared at the blond male before smiling a bit. 

“Sorry, my friend, was talking about a violent Video Game, which is very inappropriate.” [M/N] said with grit teeth. Albedo shrugs and doesn't look very apologetic at all about his comment before looking over the little details that the home had. Such an odd look, odder than the homes in Teyvet.

“Oh, okay.” 

“Finally, I-”

“Albedo is right, having her doing things very incomplete is a bad sign of mourning. I suggest taking her out of the home for a while with your daughter, perhaps a vacation or just a few days out for a breather.” [M/N]’s head snapped to the black haired man, ignoring the snickering from Venti. Zhongli smiles politely at [M/N] then to Mr.Wood.

“...I should’ve left you where I found you..” 

---

Aether watched outside the window as the kids played behind him, all of them playing with these plastic dolls with blond hair and blue eyes. They were playing with a large castle home, but purple and something that reminded him of Albedo’s flower. It moved the same way too. Aether glanced at the kids to check on them, all seem content with playing, even Auggie. The Traveler looked back outside and stopped, his golden eyes widened a bit as he saw a little girl or boy, standing in the rain and watched him back. They stared at Aether for a long while before turning their back towards the blond and walked back into the forest. 

Aether blinked back as thunder struck, booming loudly and the lights flickered for a moment before remaining on. He looked back to check on the kids but saw they were gone, their toys still there by the castle but otherwise, nothing.

“Auggie?” Aether said as he looked around the playroom but no one. He gulps back his nerves before walking out the playroom. He opened one of the doors and saw a bedroom, next was a bathroom, another bedroom, another one and another bathroom. They were gone.

“Klee?” He tried before turning his head to the last door on the level, he gulped and walked towards it. Aether pushed the door open and saw a little girl's bedroom, not Karley’s, her’s had a lot of toys and was clean.

While this room looked barren and dusty. The toys inside the room were covered in dust and spiderwebs. Dust littered the bedside tables, the small desk and lovely vanity against the wall. Dull and peeling pink wallpaper coming off the walls and a few dust bunnies surrounded the bed.

“I wonder who’s room…” Aether moved his gaze to the window and saw it pointed towards the garden that was being fed rainwater. Aether pulled back and walked to the vanity, and saw the mirror was broken and cracked. It looked like a fist had hit it by the size of the broken area, Fist size.

“Do you want to play?” Aether went stiff, almost summoning his sword when a whisper passed him. Nothing came when he tried and felt a hand grasp his arm, their fingers digging into his arms. His golden eyes staring at the blurry and cracked figure beside him. “ I promise not to cheat this time.”

“Aether!”

The blond breaths shakly, as [M/N] placed his hands on Aether’s shoulders. Aether felt himself being dragged back and the door closed behind him as he took deep breaths. He felt a hand rub his shoulders and his head lifted up, leaning against [M/N]’s hands as the medium looked over him.

No scratches, bruises, anything too serious..

“Whose room was that?” Auggie asked as he watched [M/N] look over Aether. Him, Klee, Auggie went downstairs when Karley said her mom actually finished making brownies the other day. All three had chocolate remains on their lips and cheeks.

“My great-aunt, Lisa Wood.” Mr.Wood said as [M/N] noted that mentally and pressed his palm on the door to feel something. Something did scare Aether, it tried to attach itself onto Aether but failed as soon as [M/N] was close enough.

Aether was lucky that [M/N] was close enough.

Chapter Text

[M/N] groans softly as smelled the cooked eggs. He fluttered his eyes open and blinked a few times to the blank ceiling before sitting up. The covers roll off and looked to the kitchen that came with the room, along with the door of the other room.

"Good morning, Comrade."

"Morning Uncle!"

[M/N] groans as he heard his nephew and Childe greet him, he looked to them, and Auggie eating already with Klee stuffing her face. Her feet swinging back and forth as she ate and Auggie in the same boat. The Woods had provided them two already finished hotel rooms on the other side of the house and they all set up their rooms. Behind the connecting door was Kaeya, Albedo, Klee, and Aether while the rest was in his. 

"Someone seems grumpy." A voice purred to his side and [E/C] eyes snapped to his side and saw Venti. He had a cheeky grin and winks as [M/N] sighs. "Oh, not enjoying the view-" Venti squeals as a pillow slaps him and [M/N] got off the bed. He walked to the bathroom and prepared himself as Auggie finished his plate.

He stood up and began washing it along with everything else they used. Augustus had woken up early that morning and hungry. So he attempted to use the things in the kitchen but soon realized that he didn't know how to properly cook any eggs. By the time, four cracked eggs were laying in a bowl, he was only staring. August looked at the new oven and goes to flick it on.

"What are you doing buddy?"

Auggie squeals as he saw one of the new strangers, originally the cute tomcat was a man called Ajax, then Tartaglia and Childe. That's what has been called and Auggie didn't know which was his real name. The boy stared wide eye at the redhead and Childe stared back.

"Do you need help cooking buddy? It's kinda too early but if you're hungry, then I'm sure I can make some Prize Catch." 

"What's Prize Catch?"
"Okay, what about Bamboo shoot soup?"
"I don't know what it is, but it's morning, way too early for soup."
"Dang, uh..Paw-puppy Hashbrowns?"
"We don't have any potatoes.."

Childe rubbed his nape awkwardly, it seemed even the food was different from what they usually ate at home. "Maybe you can help me cook the eggs then?"

Which leads Auggie, with the help of Childe, to have eggs and toast. Klee has woken up, then Mr.Zhongli, Venti who sat beside his Uncle's sleeping body and toy with the alarm clock. Zhongli had started tea with the help of Auggie and Auggie even started the coffee maker for his Uncle.

"So, what are we going to do today?" Auggie asked as [M/N] gotten out of the bathroom, changed, and brushing his hair. "Mhm, what do you mean?" [M/N] asked as he opened the cabinet door and takes a mug out from it. He grasped the coffee pot's handle and poured the hot liquid into the mug. [M/N] placed it back into the holder and the leftover milk, pouring it into the cup with some sugar. Most of the food was complimentary, maybe just for him.

They needed more soon.

"I mean, are we gonna alert them of our presence? Or start putting out crosses or?-"

"You are gonna stay here." [M/N] said as he takes a long sip of his coffee and licked his lips.

"Bwah-? No way! I want to go help-"

"You can help, by staying here. I don't need to watch after you as you get into trouble and leaving Aether in a room alone." Auggie pouts as he wiped his mouth, Klee still enjoying her eggs and Childe looked to [M/N].

"Come on now, I'm sure he didn't mean it," Childe said as he cleans his plate. He liked the plain idea of breakfast but missed the usual Liyue food he ate. "How about it comrade, why not let him go out and enjoy playing with the girls?"

"No. He's safe in here." [M/N] had blessed the hotel rooms before falling asleep. Nothing demonic could get in, nor can they get out. "Besides, I don't need Aether's soul being snatched up."

"Demonic being?" Zhongli repeated. Auggie perked up, beaming as he answered, "Poltergeist, Demon, Ghost, hunter."

"I've heard of these demonic beings, but never a hunter," Zhongli said as he sipped his tea and placed the cup down quietly. "Only ruins hunters, but they are not ghostly beings."

"Uncle created this other type years ago as a kid! Hunter is-"

"A being of pure malice that takes over, control, or manipulates others into work. With this, they don't need permission, unlike demons." [M/N] said as he moved his hand to the sink and washed out his mug before moving to the door and pulled his jacket on. He grasped the knob and twisted it, he moved his eyes to the people inside. 

"I have a job to do, this will be a holy fuck ton of money for rent, clothes, food, and such. Especially with me working for like, nine people. I don't need you guys to come out and ruin it, no, I don't need that. Unless you all want to sleep in the streets." [M/n] said as he twisted the knob once more and pulled the door open, it creaks as it opens. 

"Stay here, or else don't expect to come home with me." [M/N] closed the door behind him as the mood went glum.

"Is he always like that?" Venti asked as he sits at the edge of the bed and fixing his hat. 

"No, Uncle...has anxiety over financial issues." Auggie sighs as he props his head up with his hand. "He's always been like that since I was a kid. He's been taking care of me for so long, so he has to worry about money."

"Why doesn't he work for the fatui then if he's so worried about it?" Childe asked, not releasing they didn't even have anything like Teyvet. Auggie tilts his head a bit and narrowed his eyes on Childe.

"Did..you just called my Uncle stupid?"

Mr.Wood and Mrs.Wood were outside cleaning the garden and any leftover trash from the storm and Karley had asked [M/N] if she was allowed to play with Auggie. He allowed it, something to keep his nephew busy for a while. 

The Medium closed the door of the bedroom and scans the dirty room. A lot of connection in here, from what he couldn't tell directly but, the thing would hate it if he touched anything, or move it. It liked this room, he could tell. [M/N] used the bread crumb method to bring the thing up and get him.

Using his aura, piece by piece to bring it up to the room and "feast" on his energy.

"10, 9, 8, 7" [M/N] began counting backward as he laid his jacket on the dusty bed and laid on it. The bed squeaks loudly and he shifted himself on the bed, laying his back on the bed and head hitting the pillow. He relaxed his body, his tension gone as his mind went blank. "6, 5, 4," [M/N] stared at the popcorn ceiling as he closed his eyes, hand clenched around the rosary. The only thing he could hear was his heartbeat. "3, 2, 1" 

[M/N]'s eyes snapped opened and noticed how dark the room was from his side, but the tiny candle somehow giving the room light. The room itself was the same, but without the dust and webs from years of neglect. It looked like a room of a very spoiled little girl again. [M/N] peeked outside but nothing was there, no trees or Mr.Wood with his wife. He returned his gaze to the door and opened it, and fog covers the room. It looked like the home, but the obvious fog flooded everywhere and bits and pieces of handprints, tiny handprints, covered the walls.

Even some on the ceiling.

[M/N] grabbed the candle off the desk and began walking downstairs, each step creaking and groaning in protest as he walked down. His [E/C] eyes searching for any movement when he noticed a trail. Faint, but deep black, poltergeist. 

It warped into loops and little circles like it was dancing and goes out further, to the outside. Dark into darkness, nothing but the candle. 

[M/N] walked out of the door entryway and began walking forwards, hoping to catch more of the black trail. He moved his gaze around before closing his eyes, trying to pick it up before starting up on the trail. It shifted further and as [M/N] walked closer, until the black trail stops at nothing. He moved his hand out and then the candle went out.

"Ready or not, here I come~"

[M/N] spins around and noticed the surroundings had changed, he was in the forest and deep within it. The candle was gone and there was no dark trail, none. He gulped a bit before shaking his head and stretched his shoulders a bit. He began walking forwards, with no idea where he was going but it seemed the right way.

The branches crunched under his shoes, moving forwards. There were no animals around, no birds chirping and the sun hidden from sight. It looked like early morning, around 2 or 3.

"This isn't giving me anything, the forest, the fog, nothing-" A giggle stops him and he turns towards it to see a pink blur running away. "fuck-"

[M/N] began running after it, knowing it had to be a trap but if he were to trap it instead, then he would see what else he could do. Just the usual poltergeist, [M/N] jumps over a log, stumbling a bit as he hurried after it. Though stops at a large oak tree, it was huge with branches the size of a-

Well almost as big as him.

"Hello?" [M/N] tried as he peeked behind the trunk and saw nothing. He turned around and gasped as something crunched and wrapped around his neck. [M/N] claws at it, as oxygen was denied.

"Little Liar, Little Liar, how far you come~"

The same voice said as it came closer, the trees vanishing but the one using its branches to strangle him. "S-Stop-" [M/N] wheezed.

"How pretty your blood will be on my hands, how pretty it will be on the wall~"

The mist gathered and stood in front of [M/N], and raised its hand up to touch [M/N]'s face but suddenly light shine, and the figure hissed and letting out an animalistic howl as light covered the area.

---

Augustus empties the whole holy water into his Uncle's mouth and Aether closed it. Watching the man anxiously as his golden eyes glanced at the angry red mark around [M/N]'s neck like he was being choked by something thin.

"Are you sure this will-"

"Yeah, don't worry, it usually takes a minute or so for him to wake up from a breadcrumb walk." Auggie assured Aether as he corks the empty pint of holy water from his Uncle's bag. He knew something was going bad the second he senses something dark nearby in the hotel. Auggie smiled a bit as [M/N]'s fingers twitched and exhales. "Yup, a good sign."

"Do you always do this?" Kaeya asked as [M/N] fingers twitched a bit.

"No, but when I saw the line around his neck, I knew it caught him. it's like, if you die in your dreams, you'll die in real life-" [M/n] shoots up and gasped, coughing as Aether scrambled off the bed and Auggie looked to Kaeya with a shrug. "It happens."

"Calm down, Uncle," Kaeya said as he walked in, sitting on the bed, beside [M/N] with a small smile. "You look like you've seen a ghost." He glared at the eyepatch-wearing man with annoyance. 

"It's a poltergeist for one, for two I said I didn't want you guys coming to bother me and third-"

"We came because you said Auggie couldn't come, and he didn't." Aether speaks up and fixed his hair a bit as he met [M/N]'s glare, " He came with two people, not alone. So he's not in trouble."

"Why are you covering over him?" [M/N] breaths as he sits up and placed his feet on the carpet, he still felt a bit heavy from the encounter and lungs still wanting air, breathing in and out.

"Because he just saved your life and you're turning into a jerk." Kaeya answered and ignored the shove from [M/N]'s hand. "I get it, you want to protect him from this life with ghost and such-"

"He's too young, he shouldn't be out of the blessed room. Would you let Klee out if something dangerous was out here?" [M/N] asked Kaeya and turned to look at him. 

"No."

"Exac-"

"Not alone, I don't exactly care about all of this, but since you're our esteemed host until we go back home, I say..this would be an exciting learning experience if you let us, and your nephew does this with you." Kaeya said as he pushed some hair behind [M/N]'s ear with a cheeky smirk, "You are the master."

"Don't touch me so casually." [M/N] said as he looked to his nephew who was toying with the stuff on the vanity. Kaeya was right, that thing almost killed him, and [M/N] was so far out of the game. Besides, Auggie would be doing this alone, at least prepare him again. He sucked on his teeth a bit before saying, " I'll let you help, but you follow by my lead, one slip up and you're locked in the room."

"Mhm, I love a man takin' charge." Kaeya cooed.

Chapter Text

" Not that I'm worried about our safety but are you sure it's wise to be out here, especially after what you said happened?" Aether asked as he looked over the freshly planted roses, they reminded him of Noelle, and how they were pinned to her uniform. She would love them.

" Scared are we Honorary Knight?" Kaeya asked, looking over the gardening tools, and toyed with a small shovel.

" No."

" You can defend Mondstadt from a dragon, fight the abyss but get the creeps from a single ghost?" Kaeya kept teasing the blonde as Auggie's eyes seemed to brighten up and looked to Aether. " Oh, does the young man seem interested in the tales of our knight?"

" Yeah! You fought a dragon Mr.Aether? Was it big and strong like they say in stories? Like did it fly super fast or swim?!" Auggie asked as aether chuckled a bit at the boy's new excitement and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

" Auggie, back to work." [M/N] said and the boy poured a bit.

" I'll tell you some stories tonight for a bedtime story." Aether said with a smile as Auggie shared it before looking over the trees. His hand gliding over the hard exterior, trying to sense something, anything really. He felt nothing, nothing like his uncle was feeling earlier. " Uncle, I'm not feeling anything, are you sure it was around here?"

" I'm positive, though to be fair, I'm kind of hesitant to even open up the line again." [M/N] gotten fucking strangled by the poltergeist, and knew this motherfucker was gonna be a bitch to get rid of. " Though, I'm sure it's hunting the home and forest beside it. They could've died here and their blood stained the land in its blood, keeping it here."

" So we blow up the land?" Aether said, eyebrow raising a bit.

" What? No! We have to bless it and chase it out, sending it back to the depths of hell." Auggie said, bug eyed that aether would suggest it.

" Oh." Aether blinks.

" So, you did this for a living?" Kaeya said as he throws the shovel to the ground, his eye focusing on [M/N]. He had heard about people in Liyue being able to see ghost, in fact a clan had specialized in exorcism. Though, this was entirely new to him still. " Sending ghost to hell and enjoying the workings of it in money?"

" Yeah, pretty much, saving people, getting money and paying rent. Like life, just 10 times harder, since ghosts like to fight back and possess people." [M/N] said, as he stands up and dusted the dirt off his pants, looking over the area. He felt nothing. " We should get back, and see if we can do any-"

" Research!" Auggie cheered and [M/N] smiles and ruffled Auggie's hair. " Yup, besides, it's almost lunch time. I'm sure Klee would love to learn more things and see things here. Like a Disney movie or two." Auggie smiled as they made their way back there only to open the door to chaos.

Klee was crying as her new toy was broken, a Barbie doll that Karley seemed to have lend her before leaving. Venti trying to fix the toy, by trying to out the parts back together as Zhongli was scowling at the tiny male while also trying to attach the legs back as childe was trying to calm her. Everything that could've went wrong, did. Albedo rubbing her back but clearly annoyed with everything going on.

" Bwah! You killed Klee's new toy!" Klee cried and rubbed her eyes with her tiny fist. Albedo shushing her, and trying to stop her from crying, and venti finally gotten the head back on but the arms fallen off.

" No! I just had it!" Venti gasped as she looked over the plastic arms. He didn't mean to break it, he just wanted to see this new toy and one thing leads to it's head being yanked off.

" You dumb drunkard, this was her toy." Zhongli hissed as he thrust the plastic leg into the toy body and it comes off once he lets go. "You need to replace it."

" You all need to calm the fuck down." [M/N] snapped, as his patience ran thin and entered the room, without care and lifted Klee up to stop her crying. Klee held on and moved her face into his shoulder as Auggie shuts the door behind him and watched. His uncle kept rocking Klee, humming something but did this until Klee's crying was reduced to sniffles and whimpers.

"I didn't mean to break it, I swear it." Venti muttered as Auggie saw the toy, sighing to himself. He could tell Klee didn't have a lot of toys like these, he already guessed they weren't from her. Telling from their clothes, how they talked, and their very odd hair coloring, Kaeya. Auggie bends down and collected the Barbie's parts and began sticking them in easily, first the arms, then the legs, and finally the head. "Oh, it would make sense for the head to go there." Venti sighs as he sits upon the messy bed.

" So what have you three collected today comrade?" Tartaglia asked as he watched [M/N] calm the little girl and sit her on the bed. Her face turning gleeful as Auggie hands her the fixed toy. She held it close and albedo sighs to himself, as he mentally thank Auggie for fixing it for her, working with that toy's material was so bothersome.

" That the ghost is an asshole, it literally used a branch to try and strangle me." [M/N] said as he rubbed his throat and Tartaglia clicked his tongue, seeing the red line. "if only you let us out there to help-"

" I don't need outside help." Tartaglia pursed his lips a bit as he was called an outsider, wanting to dare their to call him that in a fight but there were two children here. " It's a family thing, he didn't mean to sound rude." Auggie said as his uncle opened his suitcase and unzipped it for his laptop. " it's like Winchester rules, the family business kind of thing."

" Winchester?" Zhongli repeated, he had never heard of Winchester.

" Uh, Dean and Sam Winchester, tv-show, like Dean had an angle boyfriend at the end, but not really-"

"And besides, it's slightly safer for you guys to stay out of it than get in it." [M/N] said as he began typing the Hotel's name in the search bar as Auggie quickly set the game he packed and unplugged the tv and soon the system began coming on with a whirl. Klee watched with wide eyes as the tv shines, and then a simple click. The game started, and Auggie hands the controller to her. "What's this?" Klee asked, toying with the stick on it, and Auggie grins. He also noticing the others watching them curiously.

" You dance to the music."  Auggie said, as he switched to easy. He stands up as Klee does, she began swinging her arms a bit like she was dancing though Auggie shakes his head. " No, no! I meant when I picked a song, you copy the same moves on the tv to earn points." There was nobody leaving downstairs and easy for them to have fun.

" Oh! Okay! Klee knows how to do it now." She said as the game started, Auggie hummed to the song as he takes a few steps back for the room as the song began. He began doing the moves, repeating the move on the screen as Klee was abit sloppy. Though she catches up quickly once she figured it out.

The two quickly at neck and neck with the game, Zhongli clapping as they danced with the controllers and Childe moving his shoulders a bit with the music. Kaeya smiled merely at the two as venti moved on to [M/N], leaning over his shoulder and read the article the other was on.

"Whatcha doing?"

"Looking up more information on the house, since the Woods are out." [M/N] replied as he typed up more about the family that once lived there. Pictures load up on the screen, he stared at the tiny family. The mother, little rosita, and the father. The picture looked old and he began scrolling down, looking at the articles.

LOCAL GIRL DIES IN FOREST

THE WOODS UNDER FIRE: WHO KILLED HER?

MEXICAN GIRL DIES IN THE FOREST, HOW AND WHY?

MEET YOUR LOCAL SINGLES NEARBY

[M/N] ignored the last one and clicked on the last link and it sends him to another tab. He ignored the giggling children behind him, laughing and the slight vibration of them moving.

He felt venti, lean over more until their cheeks pressed against each other, [M/N] glanced to his left to see the male still there and grins when he caught the mortal's eyes. " Hello~"

"why don't you go play with the kids? You seem like to enjoy kids." [M/N] said as venti pouts a bit, and stared at the picture of a tiny child, she looked happy and comfortable in the picture. He didn't understand much of what the words said beside it but then there was a small gravestone. "She was buried in the forest."

" Why?"

" Most likely the parents poured most of their money on the hotel, so they couldn't send her body back to Mexico with her full family or couldn't afford a plot in the cemetery." [M/N] explained and went to the bottom, maybe a phone number to learn more about the death or something, but then it was Rosita's parents' time of death. They died early, and both buried in a cemetery in Chicago. Nothing else.

" Maybe I can go to the library, it's up a few miles-"

" There's a number right there." Venti pointed out, poking at the screen as Klee's happy laughter echoes the hotel room as Just Dance plays.

" A phone number, but the likelihood someone that is alive is very unlikely, Ms.Susan Stewart would be around her 70's." [M/N] said, glancing to his left as Venti kept his cheek beside his, "Can you move back, or do I have to shove you off?"

"Eheh." Venti giggled and pressed closer, and [M/N] was closed to shoving him off when Auggie came out from the corner, taking a deep breath. [M/N] turned his head and saw his nephew, placing the laptop down and covering the screen. 

"Do you want to play Uncle? They updated a few songs~" Auggie said as he had the controller, [M/N] shrugs a bit, a game would be nice. He gently nudged Venti off and [M/N] smiled a bit, "One dance, somebody has to do research."

[M/N] walked into the other room only to see Childe with the other controller, toying with the joystick and grins at the sight of [M/N].

"Hey, this look pretty fun, though I have to warn you, you're going down," Childe said as he adjusted the hold on the red controller. 

"Pft, as if I'm losing to a ginger." [M/N] playfully mocked and looked at the song that his leader controller locked onto. He smiled to himself as he selected the song and stood beside Childe. The song began starting up, and soon the lady appeared.

[M/N] moved with ease, making sure not to hit his dancing partner, though Childe was sloppy, unprepared and almost whacked [M/N] in the face a few times. Though, once he looked at [M/N]'s figure, he was moving with ease as well. Slowly, their movements matched it other and both were gaining points for each golden move or perfects they did. 

Childe' glanced to the other for a moment, before smirking. He was so close to winning now, and he moved close to pull [M/N]'s waist. He yelped as he was touched, and [M/N] swung his arm up and smacked Childe in his face with the controller. He groans as he rubbed his chin as [M/N] paused the game. 

"Why did you grab me? I was in the zone!"

"Maybe he shouldn't have been touchy feely~"

"I agree, you deserved it."

"Can Klee play again?"

Chapter Text

Warnings: Religion and Racism mention along with murder

1805

1806

There

[M/N] pulled the car up onto the driveway of Susan Stewart's home, it looked like a tiny cottage with a large privacy fence around her home. Though, he saw some chickens wandering about, and almost hit one but stopped the car. [M/N] looked out the window and the chicken clucks as it hurried away, he sighs and pulled back to look at himself in the mirror while slapping Zhongli's hand away from the A/C knob. "Stop."

"I'm merely enjoying this ride, the car that Augustus had called it." Zhongli said as he fixed his glove with a hum.

"Leave him alone, knowing him, he would rather like the cold air." Zhongli shoots a glare back at Kaeya who smiled. [M/N] rolled his eyes before opening the door, and gotten out, stuffing the keys into his pocket. He looked at the home and the chickens that clucked as they walked away, and [M/N] looked at the name written down on the piece of paper.

"Why are we here again?" Zhongli asked, gently shutting the door behind him.

"I was here to get some more information on the Woods family, without asking them. She was a criminal journalist back then and did major reports that are sealed up or over 50 bucks online." [M/N] said as he walked forwards, and up the stairs as thunder boomed loudly causing the chickens to cluck louder, rushing off under the stairs for shelter. [M/N] knocked on the door and then the sound of the tv, then a cock of a gun was heard. [M/N] backed up, holding his hands up as he noticed the old woman with a gun.

"Fucking Phill, I said, I am not ready to spirtually-"

"Susan Stewart?" [M/N] yelped as he kept his hands up to show no harm as Kaeya and Zhongli watched, and their hands twitched since they would summon their weapons when a gun appeared.

"Yes? Who is it?" [M/N] noted the slightly dulled brown eyes and sighs. "I'm [M/N] [L/N], and I'm investigating the Woods hotel and spa, or-" The old woman placed down her gun and crackles.

"I know who you are boy, I used to watch you on the TV when I was bored, but to hear you visiting the old Rosie Hotel? Man, I've been waiting for the day-" Susan poked her head back into the home, "Harold! They're not Christians," There was a soon of another gun un-cocking and an elderly old man walking out into the living room, can in hand as he sits down on the plastic-covered couch. [M/N] opened the door a bit as Susan walked back, "Come on in! Mind the kitties."

[M/N] held the door open for Zhongli and Kaeya to enter, and the kittens that were pawing at balls of yarn were now pawing at Zhongli's shoes with tiny mewls and Kaeya even picked one up. He cooed at the black kitten and his own cat ears appeared on his head, not as hidden with his dark blue hair.

It seemed Kaeya, Aether and Klee still had their cat ears, the rest were gone.

"So, what's you got so far?" Susan asked as she sits down in the comfortable tan lazy boy chair. The room smelled like flowers and sage, an old and odd mixture along with pictures of her accomplishments over the years, articles, and then her degree from the local university. Some of her and Harold's wedding and at least one picture with a baby in it. "Did ya meet little Rosita?"

"Maybe? I'm too sure, I was actually here to ask about your experience over there since you knew first hand." [M/N] said as Susan blinks before humming, rubbing her chin in thought, "Or maybe some unlocked issues of your notes? Or reports-"

"I know what you need, but if you want the whole version, then I suggest you sit down. The three of you." She added, looking over Kaeya and Zhongli. The three looked for a seat and Zhongli ended up sitting in the last chair available and Kaeya sitting on the floor, petting the kitten he had on hand. [M/N] stood but then Zhongli pets his lap, giving the male a look, "What? If you think your weight could harm me, then please, I can sit on yours." Zhongli said as [M/N] felt his face burn a bit from embarrassment and glanced to the older woman and man.

"Boy, nothing deters me, if you're gay then good, just sit down." Susan said before turning to her husband. "Harold!"

"What?" Harold's raspy voice snapped, " I'm right here you cranky bitch."

"Eat a cock, go get my case for the Rosita Hotel." Susan flicked her wrist as Harold stands up, a bit wobbly, and walked out the room as Susan fixed her snow-white hair, smiling grimly. "Now, you listen good, the Woods family had been a very influential family back in the day, and a very racist one at that. There had been some hate crimes back then, done by so many members of that family, but since they had been rich at the time before the Hotel, they also had friends in so-called high places in law. So whatever they did, it was buried and burned, forgotten. Not to mention the ongoing incest within the family."

"Really?" [M/N] wasn't surprised about the hate crimes, but the incest drawled his attention. "How-"

"Their grandmother, the leader of the Woods, Edna Woods married her first cousin, Nathan Carpenter-Woods. They married in the summer of July and birthed a seemingly healthy baby girl and then boy, three years later." Harold came back and placed a brown box on the tiny coffee table, he sits back down with a groan. "Thanks, sweetie-"

"Eat my dick."

"After you eat mine." [M/N] snorts and covered it, Zhongli a bit bewildered at their talk and Kaeya keeping any amusement as a smirk crawled onto his lips.

"Anyway, before this cocksucker interrupted, They were like the Mafia but not really. Anything Edna didn't like, she got rid of. Her focus at the time was the Rosita Hotel." Susan opened the top of the brown box and blows the dust off the files.

"I was young at the time, 18 and this was my first crime job, the murder of Rosita Cortez. Her parents speak poor English but worked very hard, the Hotel back then was very beautiful, very clean." She opened the tan folder and notes were placed neatly within it and plucked the first few papers. She hands the folder off to [M/N], he looks into the pictures of the family and the large tree, the one deep within the forest.

The one that was choking him in that walk.

"Edna's grandson had lost their home and was working for Cortez's family, him, his wife, and his young daughter. Him, Elvis Woods was good at the business and his wife was a wonderful baker, helping in the kitchen." Susan said, as [M/N] looked at a different picture and saw a new article of the "Busy working Hotel, and new friends" a picture of Beatrice Cortez and Linda Woods cooking with little Rosita and Liza playing on the floor with dolls.

"My Professor at the time, my mentor, Detective Marrow had talked to Edna at first about the murder. Liza is the first witness and rope burns on her hands, and even cuffing her. Of course, she was released five hours later and at home, the evidence is gone and not even a charge but we did have her statement."

"What did she say?" Kaeya asked, interested in this little horror story.

"She said, Rosita was a bad friend, and she didn't like the way she played with my rabbits." [M/N] reads off from the paper.

"She had lots of them, and when we asked why she killed Rosita, she said that Rosita killed her bunny and so she killed her for it. " Susan sighs as [M/N] flips another picture and saw death time stamp.

"Liza died a few weeks later?" [M/N] said, as the ghost in mind had to be the little girl. She murdered her little friend for hurting an animal, she would so be the one possessing the house and hotel, going far into killing the oldest daughter for a reason.

"Yep, though this time, Linda pressed charges and bared witness to the murder." Susan flipped the notes, ad thunder boomed outside, echoing a bit. "Edna killed Liza, she used the garden shovel and bashed the poor girl's brains out."

"Oh, my-" Zhongli whispered, his arms that were around [M/N]'s waist tighten a bit. His own hands weren't clean from murder, but someone's family member doing this was just horrid.

"What happened to Edna?" [M/N] asked as he reads over the girl's funeral card.

"She was charged and was supposed to be taken into prison but the dumb bitch hanged herself, on the exact tree that Rosita was found hanging on." Susan sighs as she looked at them and smiled, "After that, The Cortez's moved and sold their home and Hotel to the Woods family. That's what Edna wanted, but soon family members began dying after that. Like dropping like flies, younger and younger, probably from cousins fucking cousins. What's left is Martin Woods, Josie Woods, Karley Woods."

"You heard of Melody's death?"

"Hm, it was on the news." Susan moved more paperwork in the box and plucked out a dirty pink book with doodles on it. She opened it and hands it to [M/N] and he takes it. "What's that?" Kaeya asked, tilting his head a bit.

"The last journal entry from Liza Woods, I had translated it from her poor writing skills but it's a confession."

"Of her misdeeds?" Kaeya asked as he placed the kittens down.

"Of Edna's misdeeds, Edna spilled that she tricked Liza that Rosita killed the rabbit, it was Edna and how Edna was gonna talk to the Cortez's about selling the hotel to her son. Liza was rightfully pissed because back then, we didn't diagnose children with Psychology. Unless they did something wrong, but unknowingly to the public, Liza was a diagnosed Psychopath." Susan said as she clicked her tongue, shaking her head a bit. " She killed farm animals before they moved to the hotel, cut girls ponytails, and scared little boys. A psychologist would've had a field day with her."

" Why didn't they take her to the intuition?" [M/N] asked.

" Woods don't belong in intuitions, and besides, her parents were expecting another baby. So they had too many things on their hands." She said and placed the last folder out. " Those are all psychology notes on her, all telling her parents and grandma that she deserved to be in the crazy house. This was all before the accident."

"Damn." [M/N] whispered a bit and shakes his head.

"Edna got rid of her before Liza could tell the truth." Susan sighs as [M/N] looked over in the box and opened the other smaller box and saw rope from the evidence of the scene. He plucked it carefully, his fingers touching it as he felt himself go limp in Zhongli's lap.

[M/N] watched as two little girls played outside by the tree, both of them giggling and kept playing patty cake, Liza dressed in a baby blue dress and Rosita wearing a lovely green gown with white lace at the bottom. They kept giggling and playing petty cake until Liza stopped it, and suddenly dropped it. Liza stands up, dusting the leaves of her dress before walking to the tree. 

"Rosie? Do you see that?" She asked innocently as she looked up into the tree. Rosita smiled and stands up, looking up to see a kite in the tree branch.

"It's...uh...a...mhm..Kite?" Rosita said, thinking over the word.

"Yup! since you're a good climber, why don't you go up to get it?"

"Oh shit." [M/N] said as Rosita shrugs, kicking her black flats off before slowly climbing up the tree. Unaware that the blond girl was climbing up behind her, grasping the rope and looked to Rosita, shimming down the branch for the kite. Liza quickly crawling behind her with the rope lose a bit, to grab her neck.

"Mr.Ghostie?"

[M/N] blinked opened his eyes, looking at what was touching his face. He looked into Kaeya's pretty periwinkle eyes and noticed the odd shape pupil. It reminded him of a star, like the old Peter Pan saying, "The Second Star to the right, and then we fly straight till morning," That old quote. The eye was beautiful, truly.

"Mr.Ghostie, are you okay, or are you already falling for me?" Kaeya asked, his visible eye crinkling a bit with amusement, and [M/N] flushed, pushing back and away from Kaeya's face. Kaeya kept the grin on his face and removed his hand from [M/N]'s forehead. It seemed that he had some part of his cryo vision, always being naturally cold.

"As if." [M/N] huffed as he noticed the lack of Zhongli, Susan and Harold. "Where's?"

"Here's some soothing tea, all they had were green." Zhongli said, as he came into the living room wearing one of Susan's aprons since Harold had spilled water on him. "Oh, you're awake, good. You passed out in my lap and we all panicked-"

"I'm not losing another one! Ha!" Harold pushed past Zhongli and dumped a pot of cold water on [M/N] and a bit on Kaeya's leg. Susan groans and Harold watched as [M/N] spat up some water that was in his mouth. "See, he's alive."

"I know that Harold, everyone knew." Susan muttered. 

"I'm a hero."

"I know dear."

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

Karley hummed to herself as she brushed her doll's brown hair, and fixing her plastic blue shoes. Pretty cute on her as well, she fixed her dress that she got from the toy chest. She was going to see if Auggie or Klee could play with her again, she was bringing two dolls. Her favorite one and the other one with one blue and brown eye. 

She stands up and looked over them before placing extra doll clothes in her play purse. Maybe she would get to know the new people too, especially the blonde one, Aether. He doesn't talk much.

"Honey?"

"Yes, mama?" Karley answered, not looking up from her spot as her mother entered the playroom. Karley looked up and didn't turn around just as she saw the knife in her mother's hands. She went stiff in fear and horror washed over. "Mama-"

"Fucking die."

Chapter Text

Karley screams as her mother came forwards and the knife lifted up to stab her but another body staggers after her and throws its weight against her. They smash into one of the Barbie dollhouses, she quickly kicks Auggie off and Josie scrambles for the knife on the floor, as Auggie got up. He grabbed Karley's hand, yanking her forwards out the door, and dropped her doll. They both hurried down the stairs as they hear a loud screech of anger come from Josie.

Auggie needed to take Karley to the blessed hotel room until his Uncle comes back and finally get her out of the house. Auggie heard pounding steps behind them and turns just to see Josie launching at them with the knife raised. He shoved Karley down then himself, crying out as the knife scratches him, not penetrating his skin. He was lucky, as they both crumbled to the ground floor and pain shooting up his leg but ignored it. Karley quickly stands up as Auggie yanked her forward, sniffing as they were out the door. Josie gathering herself, and pulling the knife straight out of her hand. She ignored the pain, and the blood bubbling out of the wound and grasped the handle of the knife. 

"Come on, we need to go to the hotel room, it would ward her off and burn whatever is in her," Auggie said as he hurried, speed walking since the pain was now burning a bit as he moved on his leg. He kept moving towards the direction of the hotel, and they both move around the corner, Karley holding his hand and rubbing her eyes with her free one as Auggie used his other hand to undo the cross of his neck. They weren't religious, they had it to ward off the unwanted.

Though they crash to the ground when another figure appeared in front of them. 

"Klee?!" Auggie shouted, and the blonde girl looked up and winced. 

"Sorry! Klee wanted to come to play to and-Oh! You drop your toy!" Klee said as she noticed the fallen shiny thing with a cross on it, as Barbara had on her uniform or Jean's earrings. She grasped it and held it up just as she noticed a figure behind them, and then the blood dripping down her hands. Klee stared at her wide-eyed as she raised the knife and focused, just like Jean had told her when her first Vision appeared, and discovered how easy it was to use with a catalyst. She grasped it tightly and aimed, hoping it worked.

" BOOM!"

A flash of faint red and a tiny explosion made the kid's ears ring, and drawled attention from inside. The door opened and Childe was the first to leave, seeing a tiny carter and three kids all laying on the floor. Then to Josie, as she scrambled to get up but the sudden explosion made him stutter and adjust before grasping the knife. She turns her focus to the children and Childe jumps down, landing in front of them.

"You three stay back, I may not have my bow or my staff, but I can hold her back against a stupid knife," Childe said as he noticed her hand, the large cut in between the fingers and down to her palm, before narrowing his eyes once more. He fixed his gloves before hearing a loud horn, he moved and grasped the three kids, holding them close as he moved out of the way. Josie turns her head to the sound and a van slammed into her. It did stop but she kept rolling on the floor, the knife left on the floor as she groans. 

"Oh, Honey, I hit another hooker."

"Harold! You hit a woman, doe-does she look like a hooker to you?"

"Not a pretty one, not as pretty as you."

"Harold."

As the two fought in the front seat, Childe felt something on his hand and looked to see blood slowly painting his hand. He pulled back, but Karley kept hugging herself against him with whimpers but she wasn't the one bleeding. Auggie looked over to the woman as Childe saw blood coming from the back of his shirt. "Little buddy, you okay?" Childe asked as he placed Auggie down on his feet but the boy winced. "You really hurt yourself." 

"Auggie, what happened?" [M/N] pulled the van door opened as he noticed the blood coming down his back and bends down to look, his hands lifting him out of Childe's grasp, it was a rather thin line bleeding and some bruises. He noticed the woman laying on the floor away from them, not moving but saw her chest moving. "Come on, let's get you clean up." [M/N] began walking upstairs as Kaeya was next to come out. 

"Klee, what-"

"Big Brother Kaeya! I did it, I still have my Vision, but with this cross necklace thingy!" Klee said as she held it up, though the bottom of the cross was burnt and a bit hot to the touch. "But Klee doesn't know why that lady was trying to cut Auggie and Karley." she said as she was lifted up too, as Zhongli gets out.

"If her vision works then maybe-" He began trying to summon a simple shield or a pillar but nothing comes up or phases around him, though his hands did glow for a moment. "Nothing, perhaps her strength with her vision is just powerful." Zhongli sighs, he knew of Qiqi who passed a vision from the Cryo Archon and was a wonderful healer at a young age. "Come Tartagila, pick the child up, and take her to the room."

"Yes Sensei-" Childe began to agree before grasping the knife that almost stabbed Zhongli's back, his hand cut a bit as he grabbed the sharp part.  Josie glared at him but met soulless black eyes and nothing in them. He grins and yanked the knife back, and it goes feet away.

"My, don't our eyes match, girlie~"

---

Albedo was pressing the alcholo towel against the wound as Venti kept Auggie distracted by the jokes he was making. Auggie winced as Albedo adjusted the towel as Venti smiled, "What do you call a pig thief?" Venti asked, tilting his head a bit. Auggie didn't answer but looked to him with a frown. "The Ham-burglar." He didn't laugh but his lips twitched a bit, that was something. 

"Where can you find a chick with no legs? Exactly where you left it." Auggie snorts, a little giggle came out but whimpered as Albedo added pressure and [M/N] came out the bathroom with a makeshift pad from the complementary woman section under the sink, and Albedo placed it against the wound. He placed the two sticky flaps of the thingy and it stuck against the wound. 

"I know it looks icky but until I get to the store or it stops bleeding, but the cut didn't look deep, right?" [M/N] said, glancing to the blonde who used the towel to clean his hands from the blood. 

"Correct, but I still think he should be on bedrest until we get home. I don't want to irrtate the wound any further." Albedo said as he stands, just as Aether came in with Klee. He had one of Auggie's shirts and Auggie lifted his arms up, wincing as Aether pulled down the shirt. 

"Is Auggie okay?" Klee asked, still holding the cross in her hands, the boy smiled. 

"I'm okay Klee, without your magic, or whatever, Karley and I would be goners." Auggie assured the little girl. One more swipe and [M/N] would be the one trying to move him to the otherside. 

"Magic?" Albedo repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Klee's vision! When the lady came out with the knife, Klee had to think fast and accidentally set up a bomb with the necklace, not that Klee meant to but she was trying to hurt them! Auggie and Karley are my friends!" Klee explained as she shows Albedo the necklace and the slightly burnt metal bottom of the cross. He takes it and examines it before shaking his head, they had a connection someway to their world, small but there. Maybe it was easier for her since she's a catylst user, or because she was a child still learning about her vision.

He could try the burst forth outside but not now.

"Here, for the leg." Kaeya said as he finished putting ice into the pillow case, Auggie sits against the pillow on the bed and his pants leg rolled up to his knee as Kaeya slowly placed the pillow case against the swollen ankle, it was twisted luckily and some brusies. They were lucky it wasn't that serious. Auggie sighs as it hits his foot and the coolness was making the swollen ankle go down. 

"Thank you Mr.Kaeya." Auggie thanked.

"No problem, you were amazing back there buddy, I never met any kid as brave as you." Kaeya said as he sat on the edge. "You too Klee, both of you did an amazing job." Kaeya praised. 

"Klee was a good girl today." She said with a beaming smile, Jean would be proud.

"A very good girl." [M/N] ruffled her blonde hair and sighs, as the door opens and Harold carried the brown box. The car didn't want to start and the rental would be coming in another day or so, enough time to drive the poltergist out of the Hotel. 

"Here ya go, for you and the kids, buy yourself a nice pizza while you're at it, the red haired fellow was already paid for the hooker I hit." Harold said as he tips his hat to them, "Better go before the bitch starts bitchin'." He said as [M/N] looked at the money and saw the $100 dollars in his hand. "Harold-" 

[M/N] heard a car reverse and drive out as he sighs to himself, a nice but weird old man.

"Can we get pizza?" Auggie asked the second he settled up.

"Yes! With extra cheese?" Klee asked.

"...and pepperoni?" Karley finally asked as she hugged the pillow close to her, and Aether rubbed her back.

"Fine, dinner and a movie." [M/N] gives in, the money would get them a large pizza here anyway. The door opens and Childe came in with Zhongli, some blood remained on his face and Zhongli had no mark on him but did fix his hair.

"Did you get hurt?" [M/N] asked the ginger man, but he merely grins at him which cause an uneasy shiver go down his spine. 

"I had a blast, the nasty girlie bit me though but she's locked up in the house again. Kinda punched her in the face but worth it." He explained, and wiped the blood off his lip, "She hits hard for a tiny little thing-" He stops talking as he felt a soft towel wiping her blood off around his face. Childe watched [M/N] lean up a bit, not by much, to wipe the blood away from his face. His soulless blue eyes watching him, and leans down some. "Hmm, [M/N], you're acting particularly wifey here. Cleaning her husband's face after working all day or on a hard task."

"Don't be silly, if anyone the wife, it would be you." He said as Auggie pressed play on the first kid movie that was on, the beauty and the beast. Hopefully to down out his Uncle's flirting.

"Why is that?~" Childe asked as he puckered his lip a bit as [M/N] wiped it with the towel. His [E/C] eyes focused on the spot before pulling back, but also tugged the ginger's scarf down which cause him to choke. He thought it was an attack but stopped, arms going limp as [M/N] pressed a short but sweet kiss to his cheek now that it was clean.

"Because I don't bottom and I'm grateful that you took the kids up when you did." [M/N] said before throwing the towel in his face and moved back, pulling his phone out to call pizza for them to enjoy. He moved into the kitchen area as the Disney movie started, the kids gathered up on the bed and Aether being drawn to the movie.

Childe pulled the towel off and felt over his cheek, it prickled a bit but in a good way. It almost reminded him of home at that moment. The coldness of his land nipping at his skin, and his fingers going numb from it, though the kiss also made him warm, hot even. Not in a sexual manner but in a way that made him feel giddy like a ten year old with his first crush.

"My, what a cute sight to see, the usual brash and lone wolf Harbinger, blushing." Kaeya said, as he looked to the Harbinger with a smirk that had no amusement or charming feel to it. "Better watch it."

"Why, is the charming calvary Captain staking claim on what I like?" Childe answered, the edge in the voice a warning to him. 

"Not yet, but a man can dream what those lips do in the bedroom." Kaeya answered and Childe's eyes narrowed at him. 

"You littl-"

"Enough." Zhongli stops them as he glared at the two, "You two can take it outside or be quiet it about it. The kids do not need this nor does our host. Sir Kaeya, sit and shut your mouth, egging him on for a fight is the wrong way to go about it." Kaeya clicked his tongue but said nothing more after that. "You Tartaglia, calm down as well, you're setting a bad example to the children. We do not need anymore bloodshed in front of them." Childe said nothing but walked to the bathroom to actually clean off and maybe bath.

Ohh, maybe he could use some clothes that [M/N] had for himself. It would be a tight fit but he could run it in the Captains face for sure.

"It will be here in a hour maybe." [M/N] said as he sighs, sitting down at an empty chair as most were watching the movie. He leans against it, kicking his shoes off as he opened the box Harold brought up. Just more crime notes to go over and to draw her out, even photos of Susan's first time here.

"Your people have...weird things here." Venti said as he sits in the chair opposite of the medium. "Playing movies with odd plots and weird drawings on the tv."

"Well yeah, that's a Disney movie, they have odd drawings. They're called cartoons or animation." He told him as he flipped into the place he stopped at before passing out.

"Why is that?" Venti asked as he props his elbow on the table and held his chin with a cheeky glint in his teal eyes. 

"Why is what?"

"Why the animation, we use actors back home, this...animation looks hard to do."

"It is, but it's entertainment for children, they like the flashy colors and beautifully drawn scenes. Like any other good play or book, you'll stay if it's getting good, no?" [M/N] said as he looked to Venti, "Or would you rather listen to a musical instead?"

"Musical by all means. It's..in my nature to enjoy it." Venti replied, as a cheeky smile came to his lips. "And you?"

"I like all media, though reading and writing just seemed...fun to me, I use to write when I was younger, little fantasy books, some romance and mystery..as if my life isn't a whole main character vibe in mystery." He chuckled before shaking his head, childish memories for him, all broken by a someone a long time ago. 

"What stopped you?" Venti asked, tilting his head. "If you don't mind me asking."

"My mother." [M/N] answered before looking back at the book of photos.

"And where is she?"

[M/N] doesn't answer and Venti respected that, too much questions and must've had a lot of pain behind it.

Chapter Text

My mother was not a kind woman, she was too cheap to abort us and had too much pride to get rid of them at some rundown adoption agency.

She ended up having them at some little city in the middle of nowhere, [M/N] came out first, crying and wailing as they slapped his ass. Another few minutes later his twin sister came out, wailing and screaming her head off.

They both weighed the same and [M/N] was just a few inches longer than his sister. Though, his mother refused to hold him, and instead snuggle up with his sister, skin-to-skin contact, as [M/N] was left in his plastic bed, looking at everything around with watery eyes.

The nurses didn't care, didn't bother to pry enough to scold his mother on her behavior. They weren't paid enough for it.

I was a formula baby and Tempest was always a breastfeeding moron.

She named us after our great something, Tempest and [M/N]. She refused to name us after our father and kept the name [L/N]. They couldn't disagree with it as they could either.

Though, she thought the two were normal. She had hoped that the curse was not given to them, she hoped for them to have a normal life, that she was not cursed with two more of the fucking medium bloodline.

She hoped and prayed, as usual, no one answered.

It started when [M/N] would wake up with a cry, startling his sister Tempest to cry as well. Their mother would blink herself to get up and go see them, she flickered the lights up and see a man standing beside their bed, and she yelled. " Go away!" And the man did, not before shooting the mother an evil eye, the babies were crying and she reached for tempest, cuddling her and shushing her. [M/N] laid in the bed, moving his arms up for her to pick him up too but their mother left the room with his sister as he cried himself to sleep as an infant.

The favorite of the two was obvious.

As they Began growing up, slowly noticing their gifts growing and how they affected everyone around them. It worried kids out, scared adults, and frightened the elders. Their mother on the other hand was scheming and had planned out how to make easy money, especially when they moved to houses or apartments. She had connections to Hollywood, her aunt worked for one of the producers on a dating show.

The Ghost Freaks show new episodes on Friday nights.

Stared the two freaks, [M/N] [L/N] and Tempest [L/N].

 [M/N] had worn a suit with a tie that had weird eyes on it and white gloves, at a young age had eyeliner that made his eyes "Sparkle". Tempest also was dressed up, black and golden sparkly dress and hair was done up in curls, pretty pink lipstick on, and the pretty black kitten heels she wore. The pretty girl basically of the show, they had an annoying theme song and they did a little dance for it too. [M/N] could do it, but hated it with every fiber of his being. 

They had phone calls for readings or to see what they feel from the person, they also did tarot pulls over the phone as well. On a good day, they had a celebrity to read from. So far, they had seen Will Smith, Tyra Banks, Gwen Stefani, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and even Robin Williams before he passed. 

[M/N] worked to the bone to keep the light on him, or make someone genuinely laugh and or giving a clever remark. If he did, he would get extras for dinner.

Mother always said I got fat easily, unlike Tempest.

[M/N] was fed chicken soup, bread with butter and for every breakfast, it was toast and jam with a cup of milk. It was to watch his figure as his mother said, if he was really hungry and she felt good about the day, she gave him kettle corn and water. If not, a smack to the face that was covered up with makeup. 

His diet was different than Tempest, oh, she had everything from fast foods, to a large break to a small dinner. She always had the guest's attention, and purposely took it off [M/N] for the fun of it.

They were on the air since [M/N] was eight till he was thirteen years old. No more money and not a lot of people watched anymore. That's what the tv station said as they replaced their slot time with an extra hour of charmed. 

[M/N] was happy to have a life outside of Tv and to finally go to school. He could have friends and do soccer! Something for himself.

But his mother took it the worst, Tempest did too but gotten over it quickly once their mother had another plan. She took them out of Hollywood and moved them to the middle of nowhere in Ohio, a large home with two rooms and the basement, which she put [M/N]. It was big and had a heater and A/C so no complaints. Though she hosted tarot readings and appointments, which overworked him, it was school and work. While Tempest was a natural at it, she never had nosebleeds, headaches, nightmares, or such like [M/N]. All that he handled by himself, and the more they brought in, the more their mother wasted money on beer, new clothes, or daily boyfriends that she had to shower money on. She always used it all on herself, Tempest had her share as [M/N] had around five a month.

Their mother's money was [M/N]'s.

I wish I had more balls back then, but then she would force me into the closet and pray to "God". The bitch doesn't even believe in him or her.

[M/N] was sixteen when the money came up dry, and their mother was pulling and losing jobs left to right. [M/N] was so close to graduating early, and so close to leaving the hell house, so close. He had a boyfriend, or fuck buddy, who could score him a room for a while and a job at the local strip club. He was so close to leaving.

When the murders around their county were showing up, [M/N] and Tempest was on high alert from it. They heard the screams and cries of the thirty-two murders, the youngest was only ten years old. They didn't cross them over, but their leftover soul particles were still there. On the land of the living, though there were no accounts or witnesses from the murders either. It brought [M/N] down and made Tempest very depressed, so very upset.

That was until their fifteen birthday came, Tempest was out drinking with her friends at some bar with a fake ID as [M/N] came home. It was night time and he opened the door to their home to see their mother straddling a man, empty beer bottles covered the floor and she was hacking at his neck with a saw.

Apparently, his mother was the murder and had the perfect opportunity to get two.

It was a blur to [M/N] that night, though he called police crying and sobbing that his mother was trying to kill him and the police came by with [M/N] sitting on the steps. He had blood on his Petsmart blue shirt and khakis. He was shaking as Police and an ambulance were there, as two bodies were recovered. 

His mother was the devil, and [M/N] had killed the demon-like he was taught from her. 

He did end up living with his fuck buddy for a while and left after he turned sixteen. He did get another job outside of stripping and it was a waiter while living in a run-down apartment. [M/N] was living his life until tempest came into his apartment a day after New Year's eve. 

After saving himself from their mother's wrath, Tempest left to live her life with her girlfriends.

They never kept contact and this was before Facebook was really a thing, she did have a myspace for a while. Though she never updated, [M/N] figured she was still off partying and fucking whoever was hot enough. 

[M/N] woke up from a nap, getting ready to start a shift at the local Diner nearby and his twin sister was there in his living room. She didn't look good, pale and hair oily, she looked so sick or depressed. She was holding a bundle in her arms, an old baby bag hanging on her shoulder. "Fuck, tempest is that a fucking baby-?"

"Yeah, it came out of my vagina screaming like a little bitch." She sniffed as the baby moved its arms within the blanket. She looked down, glaring at it with such hate and disgust, [M/N] could see their mother's features on it. "I need to get rid of it."

"Well you had nine months to do that, and the nearest fire house is nearby-"

"No, I didn't know I had the fucker in me, I literally had no bump or cravings or shit." She said as she walked closer, pulling the blanket down to see the baby. It was pink and eyes closed, though [M/N] saw the blue rubber duckies and booties it had. "It's a boy and.."

"And what..?" [M/N] started as she looked up, wanting to shiver as he saw the coldness and hatred in her [E/C] eyes. "Tempest, what are you doing here."

"I need money, I'll sell him to you for eight hundred."

I didn't need a baby, not a newborn baby, no way. I was barely..I was barely an adult and taking care of a bay was such a big deal. 

"I'm pretty sure this is illegal." [M/N] said as she throws the bag down, and adoption rights was signed and just needed his approval. "Tempest-"

"If you don't give me the money, I will fucking kill him." She threatens as [M/N] felt his heart go to the bottom of his stomach. "I will shake him or throw him off the fucking bridge. Don't fucking test me."

"Okay, Okay!" [M/N] said as he moved to his wallet on the table and pulled out all the money he had, there goes his food and gas money. He hands it and she practically pushed the baby in his arms. He whines but doesn't open his eyes, [M/N] looked down to him as Tempest counts the money.

"What's his name-"

"Didn't name the fucker, bye." She said as she left and [M/N] heard the door slam. It caused the baby to sniff and cry, [M/N] panicked and began rocking the child, shushing him a bit. The baby opened his eyes and [M/N] knew why.

Babies born had blue eyes at first until they clear up later as they grow up.

Their babies in the [L/N] came out with [E/C] eyes instantly, a genetic thing and born with the curse. 

I never wanted Augustus, no, I was fine by myself. Though I'm happy that I did, maybe I panicked when my sister said she was going to kill him but I would never think it was a mistake. He's mine, but I never did learn where my sister went. She never came back and if she did, I already have the papers to show that Augustus is mine by law.

Chapter Text

Josie finally got the door opened, apparently that asshole who fought her blocked the door with a shovel and chair. She grasped the knife from the floor as she pushed the door, hissing as she moved forwards on the gravel, her feet pinching from the rocks but she ignored it as she saw movement from the corner of her eye. They widen happily and grins, "Karl-" Karley moved from sight and into the forest, her skirt flowing behind her as she hurried after her.

She grins as she kept running after her daughter, ignoring the pain that went down to her feet and blood trickling down her heels as she hurried after her daughter. She leaped over the fallen log as she saw Karley hurry towards the largest tree in the path, she was so close but stumbled when something tugged her foot back. Josie lands on her face as she falls forwards, the knife cutting her hand as she dropped it. Karley stops running and stands at the tree, not turning towards her mother.

"Sweetie, can you stop fucking running?!" Josie scolded with a nasty glare as she stands up, ignoring the pain in her feet but stops as fire lit up around her. She tried to move out of it but her body pulled back. She growls and tried once more but her foot couldn't leave out the circle. "What the fuck-"

"Good job Auggie." [M/N] praised as he walked out from one of the trees. He walked towards Karley and pulled the wig off and Auggie grins at his uncle. He fixed his dark hair and the fire burns brighter as [M/N] dumped more holy water, blessed by him in it. [M/N] gives another smile to her as she screams and tried to lunge at him but he merely scoots back from her. "Not today Edna."

Josie's movements stopped and she lifts her head up to glare at him, but not brown eyes staring at him but dark green ones. "How did you know? I was sure to come up more like Lisa." She asked as she gripped the knife harder. "You little runt."

"This little runt outsmarted you." [M/N] replied as he moved to help Auggie take the pink shirt off and skirt, revealing his tank top and shorts. He was such a fast runner, more so than Karley at least. "Now, Edna, I have to go send you to hell now." [M/N] began clapping his hands as he began rehearsing the prayer in his head. 

"Hail father full of grace, may the Lord be with you-" [M/N] began as something just pulled him back, slamming him against the tree and pain shoots up. He looked up to see who had done it and yelped, falling to his knees to avoid the shove almost breaking his skull and such. [M/N] rolled over as the shovel moved to stab the area he was at. His gaze moved to Martin Woods, having the heavy glaze look over him. "Mr.Woods-"

"You think I can stop at just one body boy? I've been here manifesting and eating away at the land! Powerful enough to use two bodies at once." Edna said from Josie's mouth, as the flames were going out slowly and [M/N] rolled away from the man who kept stabbing the ground to get [M/N] once and for all. Auggie saw the flames go down and grabbed the holy water from the bag, pouring some onto the flame but it was too late. The flame went out and Edna grabbed the knife, yanking Auggie to her. He struggled as she pressed the blade against his throat and Martin finally was tired of the whole game of stabbing the ground. He yanked [M/N] up bu his shirt and slammed him against the wooden tree.

"Enough! I'm really sick and tired of you damn medium freaks ruining what I have here." Edna spoke as she kept pressing the blade against Auggie's neck, causing the tiny boy to whimper a bit and she grins. "Lots of practice between years, especially with killing the unclean."

"Little Rosie, Lisa, and Melody." [M/N] hissed as he glared at the other, his nerves on fire and anxiety shooting up as he watched Auggie struggle with the knife against his neck. "Stop it."

"Or what? Kill me after I killed your little bastard." Edna mocked as she tilts her head a bit with a smirk on her face. "My, so young to have a son-"

"He's my nephew, and for the second point-let him go!" [M/N] struggled in Martin's hold and kicked at his shins but nothing happened, not even a flinch. "You're crazy!"

"No, Josie cheating on my great-great whatever and having that disgusting Melody. Karley isn't better with her Harlot mother, but still pretty disgusting." Edna went on and waves the knife around as her arm wrapped around Auggie's neck to hold him in place. He kept moving as she walked forwards, swinging the knife without care. 

"Don-"

"What? Doing the world a favor by doing this-"

"I wasn't talking to you, a little to the left." [M/N] spoken up and a metal pole stabbed into the ground beside Edna, scaring her as she turns but Auggie used the back of his head and slammed back against her chin and mouth. She screams and lets him go, Auggie falls to his knees as she rubbed the area and spits the blood out onto the floor. Auggie hurried and hides behind Zhongli, holding onto his coattails as he walked forwards. She turns and glared at him, then the next one that came out and the next one. They walked forwards and she backs up before hearing a thump behind her.

"Are you okay?" Aether asked as he looked over [M/N], he nods and [M/N] reached into his pocket as they surrounded Edna. She panicked and looked around for an exit but the redhead grins sadistically towards her.

"Hey now girlie, don't even think about leaving. Zhongli can aim but so can I, and I intend to kill." He speaks as he looked to her, Edna gulps before moving the knife and pressed it against her throat. 

"Don't come any closer or I will end this woman's life!" She snapped as she kept pressing the knife against her throat and they stopped advancing. She moved backward and began moving her arm but [M/N] moved to her and pressed the cross against her head. Steam began coming off from that side and she screams loudly, dropping the knife as she falls to her knees. The Cross burning her as [M/N] began speaking.

"Let go of her Edna! You are on the land of the living, your misdeeds are finished, let her go."

"No, No!" Edna began chanting but the cross was burning her face, leaving a mark as [M/N] commanded.

"In the name of the Church! In the father, in the son! In the Holy Ghost, I condemn you back to hell." She wails, her fingers digging into the ground, breaking a few of her nails as another wail came from her lips, and [M/N] quickly grabbed the bottle from the ground, unclasping the top, and dumped the rest of the holy water into her mouth. She gargles before crying out, pain coming all around her, and bruises that were around her legs or arms began leaving. Josie cries, turning her head, and began throwing up. 

The puke was nothing but black and pieces of blood but it goes down and soon, it began moving towards the huge tree. It sinks into the roots and Josie stopped screaming, stopped her crying, she just stopped.

She laid on the ground and [M/N] pants, shaking his head a bit. "Albedo, did you get it?"

"Yeah, sorry for taking our time." He said, moving and grabbed the gasoline and offered it to him. 

"Good."

---

It took five days for Josie and Martin to recuperate in the hospital, in that time [M/N] and everyone played babysitter for little Karley and the two others. They weren't in a hurry to go home really but [M/N] did get an earful from Auggie's teacher when they learned the reason why the young man wasn't in school.

The house was taken care of as well and [M/N] was having the time of his life as he introduced everyone to the very modern things. Usually the new things and all of them getting addicted to games, especially Albedo and Venti.

The two had a fight over the controller which [M/N] soothed it out but smacking their hands away.

"..I'm sorry for all the trouble you went through," Josie said as she sits on the couch with a painful sigh.

"You were possessed, you and your husband." [M/N] said with a small smile, as everyone packed their things into the car. It was towed to the hotel and was working, semi-good as new, and the kids were saying their goodbyes. "If you do have any more questions or such, then feel free to contact this number and give them my name. They'll help however they can." [M/N] hands her a number of the local church that studies Demonologist. No charge and always somewhat helpful.

"Thank you, I...I wish we could call about Melody, before her death but..thank you." Martin said as he smiled, tired eyes staring at him. "I can feel the house a lot less heavy."

"No problem, it...was fun." [M/N] smiled as Karley came to hug her mother and they give a loving hug. He smiled once more before shutting the door behind him and entered the car, sitting in the driver's seat. 

"Finally, I thought you were gonna take forever," Childe said as he leans over and looked over the dashboard. "We're gonna go home now?"

"Yeah, but speaking of, where are you all from?" He asked as the car started with a purr and began pulling down the paved road and onto the road home.

"Teyvet, a land very different from yours," Venti answered as he looked at [M/N] from the passenger seat as his eyes drifted back to the trees as they drove back. Everything looked so fast when they were in the car. "We don't have cars, nor Tvs or even video games, which is my turn for it but Albedo keeps taking it."

"Tell that to someone that cares," Albedo answered from behind him with a shrug as Klee giggled a bit from his lap.

"What he means, everything you have we don't," Zhongli said as he cleared his throat. " Especially with the lack of visions here. Klee using her's was just...a surprise but since she is a catalyst user her power could come from one of the things here, channeling it into it as well. "We also have different creatures here, the lands have Hilichurls, Fatui agents-"

"and treasure hoarders, they were always so annoying," Childe added with a smile. "Though, how we got here, we don't understand."

"Yeah, I mean, I was talking with Jean and Lisa when they both just stopped, dead in their tracks and refused to move a muscle along with the fly nearby and the birds just outside the window." Kaeya said, stroking his chin in thought.

"I can recall the same thing as well. I was speaking to Sucrose as Klee came in but then she stopped, and the chemical on the table were still. Everything was just quiet until the light came." Albedo said as he added his own experience to this.

"I was with Aether and Master Diluc when that happened as well." Venti said, as Amber had stopped moving along with the Hilichurls that were attacking them. 

"I was enjoying a walk with Zhongli and his little friends, when Hu Tao stopped moving in her skipping. Then woke up in the box along with everyone else." Childe said as [M/N] hummed, he didn't know how they got there but maybe if they stuffed them in a box they could go back?

"Well..I say you earned your places in my home. It's..small but homey, you all can stay in my home." [M/N] said with a tiny sigh as Auggie grins happily and smiled more when Childe ruffled his hair a bit with a fond smile.

"Yay~"

---

[M/N] walked up the stairs, carrying his bag and opened the door but stopped as a man was sitting on the couch and reading a book, his red ears poked from his head as [M/N] stopped for a moment.

"Dr.Pepper?"

"Diluc actually, since you're not that surprised then I can assume that the others had turned back when liquid was splashed on you." Diluc said as he closed the book he was trying to read. His eyes scan over [M/N] and narrowed at the other men that came inside the house. 

"I'm sorry for anything that the Bard or miserable Captain had done to you."

"How mean! We were perfectly good-" Venti hissed as Xiao walked in with an annoyed grunt and Zhongli smiled a bit at his Yaksha. "Xiao-"

"That old woman is a pain, dumping coffee on us thinking we would enjoy it." He hissed as his ears flatten but eased up as Aether walked in with a smile on his face. "Aether-"

"Wow! You're so short!" Auggie exclaimed and Xiao's ears went down with a sigh as [M/N] shakes his head before walking down the hallway as Childe began to antagonized Xiao. He hummed to himself as he used the key on the key ring to open the door.

Like the Warens, they had a room too, it spread out along what he brought back, what couldn't be burned or a spirit was trapped in. He slowly moved along the things he had collected over the years and pulled out the long wooden root and placed it in the corner by itself. He whispered a prayer before [M/N] moved back. 

"I guess..I'm back in business..for a while at least."

He hears a crash and Auggie saying something about Xiao shouldn't be throwing things at anyone.

[M/N] sighs before shaking his head, walking out the room, locking it, and hangs his bag on the hook. 

Home, Sweet, Home.

[M/N] walked back to the mess as he ignored the moving truck driving past their home towards the empty one a few minutes away from their own. 

Chapter Text

[M/N] wondered how the Duggar family survived with their kids, especially now since he spent around 300 dollars on Amazon, just for the moment. Mostly on clothes for them and a pretty cute stuffed bunny plushie for Klee. Though, the Duggar family had their own problems, [M/N] also spent another 100 at Goodwill for some nicely used furniture, sheets and comforters, and an old bed that [M/N] had in the attic. He was only lucky that he already paid the rent for that month and the next bill wasn't until another two weeks.

Since there were barely any rooms on the first floor, his room, Auggie's, and the blessed room, the attic was the next option. Since there were stairs that lead up to the floor, the problem was cleaning it. Since [M/N] had boxes, dust, and such all around that floor.

That morning, after ordering all the necessities at the moment, he brushed his teeth, drank some coffee, and changed into clothes that he wouldn't mind getting dirty. [M/N] put on an old t-shirt from Parker, some sweat pants, and slippers before pulling on an old apron. If anything fell on him, then it would hit the old apron with a bunny on it, then the bunny headband to keep his [H/C] hair away from his face, and a mask since he didn't want to choke on the dust-up there.

He began turning the lights on and using the broom to take down any spiderwebs and dust bunnies from their hiding spots before moving on, sweeping the room of its dust. Anything that seems like garbage was in the trash already. They didn't have a lot of stuff anyway when they left, just old decore that [M/N] hadn't put up yet and some older pictures of them as a child. Also, some decore from the old tv show he had as a child, some things that could be worth a lot now.

[M/N] placed the broom against the wall as he pushed boxes against the walls, trying to make the room seem larger. He knew there were things he didn't want to unpack just yet-

"Oh, there you are!"

[M/N] yelped as he jumped back a bit as he heard another voice, to think he would be okay with hearing voices that appeared from behind him. He bumped a few boxes behind him and one fell down, the things falling out and spilling all over the floor. Aether gasped as he walked forwards to pick the things up with Diluc coming behind him as well, his eyes looked around the attic. His hands touched some of the moving boxes and said, "Thank you for letting us stay here...any other sane person would've kicked us out."

"No problem...I just wished Venti would stop drinking my wine...I barely drink.." [M/N] had found Venti drinking one of his wine bottles last night and it was empty with the giggling man.

"Ugh, don't get me started, he drinks a week load of wine in my Tavern back home." Diluc huffed to himself as [M/N] bends down to pick up the stuff. "Really? Hehe, such a tiny man drinking all that wine..I wonder how he hasn't killed over yet."

"He's...a special case." Diluc said as Aether blows dust off the book, sneezing to himself as some hit his nose. "What's that?"

"It's Auggie's baby book, I had it made when he was young." [M/N] said as he looked over his neat writing on the pink and purple book, it smelled old and old baby powder. He smiled to himself before opening the first page he saw the first page, Auggie was a few weeks old and playing with his feet a bit in the little onesie and tugging on his booties. [M/N] smiled to himself as he smoothed out the page before turning it to the next one.

Auggie's first shots and [M/N] was holding him as the nurse gave him his shots, Auggie crying and squirming in [M/N]'s arms as [M/N] looked away from the scene. Back then, his heart would pull at any cry that Auggie made for those shots. "He was getting his shorts and I couldn't bear to hear him cry." He told them as he flipped to another page to show Auggie, a few months old but with swimmers on as he played in the kid's pool at the old apartment he and [M/N] had. He looked happy as he splashed the water. "We were at the pool at the old apartment and he loved the water, little swimmers, and underwater glasses..."

"He looks...very happy in the water..." Diluc said as he bends down a tad to see the picture. He could remember Kaeya and him one time, playing in the water by the Estate.

"He was so cute as a chubby baby." Aether admitted as he looked over it before flipping the page. He flinched a bit as he felt a paper cut into his finger and looked at it, it wasn't bad and it was going into [M/N]'s mouth-

Wait...what..

[M/N] pressed it against his lips for a moment so any dirt wouldn't touch it and pulled a small bandaid from the apron pocket, wrapping it around Aether's finger. "Be careful."

"I-I...I will." Aether managed out before the page was turned and Diluc ignored the whole scenario and saw Auggie and [M/N] taking a picture, he was a happy baby as he watched the cake be placed in front of him. The next picture was the cake smeared on Auggie's face and [M/N] glaring at the camera a bit, probably from the mess but Auggie looked happy at least. Diluc smiled to himself before flipping to the next page, sighing as he saw a cute one. It was Auggie dressed in clothes, and ready for the school behind them. [M/N] looked close to tears in the picture as Auggie looked so close to running into the school with the other kids.

" I was such a crybaby back then." [M/N] said as he noticed the page diluc was on, smiling fondly at the picture. " I didn't want him to go but he had to." He placed his hand down on the page as he felt the memories shot through him like they happened yesterday.

"Unwle! Let me go!!!" Auggie whines, pushing against [M/N]'s arms as the young adult walked towards the door without pushing kids by accident or in other parent's way as they hurried their sobbing toddler inside. 

"I will..I will! I just...not ready to let you leave..." [M/N] admitted as he held Auggie close and gently placed him down, kneeling a bit as he fixed Auggie's Thomas the Train's T-shirt and made sure his shoes were tied correctly. He looked perfect, [M/N] just wanted to buy more time with his beloved nephew. This would be the first time being away from him, and [M/N] was not ready for it yet.

"But- I want to see everyone! I want to see other boys and girls! Being with Unwle is boring now." Auggie said as he pouts when [M/N] pouts back, but he was right. Besides, Parker was in the car waiting for him too, he gets very impatient and this would be one of his moments.

"Okay! Okay...but remember if someone hurts you, punch them in the face and tell the teacher later. I won't be made...and I love you, Augustus..." [M/N] said as he ruffled Auggie's dark hair and the boy grins, hugging [M/N]'s arm. 

"I lwve you too! Bye-Bye!" Auggie shouted as he darted inside the building as kids were entering, some still crying and [M/N] sniffed to himself as he slowly walked away from the glass windows and towards the car where an annoyed Parker sat.

"What did you just do?"

[M/N] looked up a bit as he saw a hand on his shoulder and Diluc looking at him with confusion and he laughs, "Sorry..you probably saw my memory. It tends to happen when I look at photos..."

"What next, reading minds?" Diluc asked as [M/N] laughs, snorting a bit as he was told that, and shakes his head. "But...you seem to have a nice relationship with Auggie."

"Thanks...he's actually my only family.." [M/N] said as he gives a shrug and a smile to the redhead man as he closed the baby book before he could accidentally be pulled into another memory. "So..I love him very much." Diluc nods, he understood about having one more family member, his is downstairs and probably drinking with Venti. He stands and offered [M/N] a hand. He takes it and stands up, [M/N] lets go and gives a smile.

"Where did Aether go-"

"He left downstairs when he heard the door open and Klee riping open something called the Amazon." Diluc answered as [M/N] pushed the box with the baby book against the wall and closed it. 

"Good, it's time to decorate your guy's room anyway."

Chapter Text

[M/N] had roommates before Auggie was born, and began living by himself then with Parker then back to by himself. He knew the up and downs of having them, how little they consider you or how they take things without a thank you or a kiss my ass or such. Hell, even a rude comment would mean [M/N] was thought of. Living with eight men and another child was a whole other thing, especially with how much they fought over the simplest things. Especially between Xiao and Tartaglia then the two apparently older men, Zhongli and Venti over wine, and finally the worst were Kaeya and Diluc.

It even puts Xiao and Tartaglia's fights to shame, they would constantly argue over the very simplest things. One time Kaeya was doing dishes and Diluc bumped into him by accident but Kaeya splashed the dirty water with the plate purposely getting Diluc dirty with the water. Next thing, they were both arguing loudly until [M/N] told them to shut the hell up. The next day Diluc was helping Auggie take out the garbage and Kaeya "accidentally" dumped some trash on Diluc's shoes. Kaeya didn't even seem apologetic, and Diluc threw the whole garbage bag at Kaeya.

That wasn't the worst of it, the first worst of it was when they all settled down in the living room and Tarzan was on the tv screen. They ordered pizza and settled down, Klee in [M/N]'s lap and Auggie at his side as Xiao sat on the other. He had been awfully clingy but still spiteful towards [M/N], something about mortals or such. Kaeya sat on the floor, eating the kettle corn that took [M/N] an hour to pop with a pot. Diluc took the seat on the loveseat, enjoying a book instead of actively watching the movie.

It was in the middle with Jane being featured when Kaeya began throwing pieces of popcorn at Diluc, it seemed not to bother him until one landed directly on the page.

"Kaeya, stop being a child," Diluc said, flicking the popcorn out of his page but two more takes its place. "Kaeya, stop it or else."

"Oh boy.." Aether muttered as he watched the two as Kaeya smirks.

"Or what Master Diluc? Are you going to kick me out of the house that isn't yours?" Kaeya retorts, almost in a taunting manner to his brother as [M/N] inhales sharply, as his annoyance grows.

"Mr.Kaeya! Be quiet, Jane is learning about Tarzan." Zhongli said from his spot, beside Diluc. The older man watching the screen but Kaeya huffed, he glanced at the screen before flicking the next popcorn at the redhead's book. He clicked his tongue as Diluc barely gave a reaction but flicked the popcorn out. It bounces off Kaeya's head just as Diluc with his closed book slammed it down on Kaeya's head.

"Ah! So violent Master Diluc-"

"Another thing, word, movement or such, You two are going to timeout." [M/N] snapped, shaking his head at the two.

The last straw was actually two days later, early that morning so everyone was asleep. Or what [M/N] hoped, he was in his room sleeping on the bed until the stinging pungent smell of burnt food was coming in through the cracked door. He coughs, rubbing his eyes as he began opening his door. He could see smoke as he began walking out, heading towards the kitchen. There was muffled talking than a slam causing [M/N] to hurry into the kitchen, his eyes wide in comical horror as he saw the mess. He certainly cleaned the kitchen last night after dinner, and he had a fridge full of food for the week.

The oven was brimming with some smoke and food?? Food was falling out of the entrance of it as brunt eggs and macaroni? was coming out darker and drinks were spilled all over the floor. Kaeya wore [M/N]'s apron and Diluc wore Auggie's one which was basically a tiny skirt than an apron to his size.

"You're such a moron, I said I would take care of breakfast but you always seemed to mess it up." Diluc snapped as he began washing pots and pans but Kaeya was currently taking the trash out, much-burnt food spilling out of it.

"Aren't I a dream? Always messing something up that bothers you or the general area of you?" Kaeya asked sarcastically with an eye-roll.

"You father-"

"WHAT THE EVER-LIVING FUCK HAPPEN TO MY KITCHEN?!"

After an hour of yelling, waking Auggie up, and getting the two men dressed. [M/N] went to the close and opened market there. Once the leashes were on the two men, [M/N] walked inside with Auggie pushing the cart with [M/N] reading the list he made before they left. The two men, adult, and grown men were on two baby leashes he had for Auggie. Kaeya was amused mostly from the situation as Diluc thought about taking the leash off and running away but knew Kaeya would find him or better yet the moraless bard.

"Come on Master Diluc, pull those lips up into a beautiful smile~"

"Come near me and I'll make sure there's more than enough food in the car."

[M/N] rolled his eyes as he kept walking and shakes his head at their behavior with a sigh. He looked over it, pulling on the leashes with a frown. "Can you please stop pulling on the leash?" Diluc asked with a sigh, taking larger steps to [M/N]. " I apologize for this morning but this is simply too much, especially in public."

"I like the leash, makes me feel loved." Kaeya pipes up with a smile and Diluc rolled his eyes, of course, Kaeya would like this.

"I'll unleash you two once you both stop fucking up with my stuff at home. Literally, Zhongli had to physically remove one of you out of the room after you interrupted Tarzan." [M/N] said with a roll of his eyes. His eyes snapped to Auggie trying to put some sugar-coated honey chomps into the cart. "Auggie." He warns and the boy pouts.

"Come on Uncle! Everyone is eating it."

"If everyone ate poison, would you still do it?"

"Maybe. If money is included." Auggie grumbled before putting the cereal back. Kaeya laughs and slapped his brother's side.

"Oh how it reminds me when you pout, especially with Master Crepus said no more sweets at the table." He snorts and Diluc shoved the other off, moving a few inches to the left and away from the other's grasp. He scans over the many things on the shelves, reading the labels and shakes his head a bit. The prices were weird? but this seemed so easier, much easier for growing and scavenging back home.

"Something on your mind Diluc?" [M/N] asked with a tilt of his head and eyebrow raised. Kaeya kept looking at things, feeling himself being stopped when the leash stopped a few feet away. He tried reaching for an interesting can but stops, sighing. [M/N] knew it was Kaeya's curious nature and sighs, he placed the leash in Auggie's hand and the list. "Go wild." He said as [M/N] watched Kaeya take off with Auggie being pulled behind him. [M/N] could faintly hear Auggie telling Kaeya to slow down but obviously ignored.

"Sorry for his behavior, he acts more like a child since his responsibilities back home are on pause." Diluc said as [M/N] unhooked the leash, Diluc rubbed his wrist as [M/N] stuffed the baby leash into his pocket. "Thank you."

"So you and your brother, not on good terms?" He asked as Diluc rolled his eyes a bit.

"He's not my brother." Diluc snipped as he looked over the cans of food.

"Okay, step-brother?"

"Not even, adopted because my father felt bad." [M/N] chuckled at the bitter tone in Diluc's words as he began pushing the cart and placed some more popcorn boxes into the cart.

"Hm, I don't love my sister, I fully hope she had died somewhere." [M/N] said as he looked to Diluc and smiled, "Share that with Kaeya?"

"Of course not!" Diluc replied and shakes his head, "Is this sister Auggie's mother?"

"Nah, someone that pushed him out of her cooter." [M/N] corrected as he turns to the next aisle with Diluc closely. "Yeah, she is but she signed her rights over so he's mine."

"Oh, I see." Diluc said as he watched the other put down the peanut butter into the cart. "I never knew."

"I never shared. It's no one's business but what's with you and Kaeya? Something to do with your daddy?" [M/N] asked as Diluc shakes his head a bit, it would be a bit of a long story and Kaeya with Auggie would come back soon. He looked at the direction the two went off at as he sighs to himself, "It started.."

Kaeya was very curious about the things they had in this world, he often wondered if this was the feeling that Aether and his lost sister felt as they traveled from world to world. Everything looked so new and so clean, stuff he hadn't heard of before or seen, "What's this?" Kaeya asked as he lifted the blue box and Auggie nearly slapped his hand, getting the box out of his hands quickly.

"That's pads. You can't eat them." Auggie said as he placed the blue plastic package back on the shelf.

"What are they for then? Like for cleaning?" Kaeya asked as he found it amused that Auggie was blushing. His face turning redder by the second as he tilts his head a bit, "Huh, what is it Little Auggie?"

"I'm only eleven-man, don't make me say it," Auggie whines as he moved the other way down the aisle with Kaeya chuckling behind him. Auggie looked at the list and grabbed the pain pills, making sure it was the one on the paper.

"So cute, if I got the image right, it's for girls on their monthly."Kaeya said as Auggie flushed still, he didn't know much and didn't want to know any of it at his age. "As a growing boy, you'll have to know these things if you want to help your lover in the future-"

"I'm not into girls..." Auggie said as he huffed as he walked around and Kaeya hummed with a tilt of his head. "I don't like anyone...and I certainly..for sure..I.." Kaeya sighs but pets Auggie's shoulder.

"Calm down, I was merely teasing, you'll like someone one day. Whoever they are." Auggie didn't reply as he grabbed the cereal off the shelf. He held it since his Uncle had the cart, as Kaeya plucked a weird-looking bag off, Spicy and Hot chips.

"That's gonna make you go to the bathroom a lot," Auggie said innocently with a sigh. He tilts his head a bit before smiling, "what's with you and Mr.Diluc?"

"What do you mean?" Kaeya said as he still had the bag of chips. " We're a couple of buddies."

" No way, you're always antagonizing Mr.Diluc, and then he does it right back like when we were watching the movie. And then the kitchen and maybe more incidents in the future." Auggie said as he pouts as Kaeya ruffled his hair.  "I'm not some kid you can distract.."

"I know. Smart like your Uncle, but..we've been always this difficult.." Kaeya remembers the time he ran through the vineyard with Diluc ahead of him, they were supposed to pick some grapes for Master Crepus and the maids but began to play tag. They had blue and purple stains on their clothes for days. "Anywhere and anyplace."

"Uncle is gonna kick you out if you two don't stop it. I like everyone there...but Mr.Diluc isn't loud like Tartagila or Klee...he's nice." Auggie said as he looked to the side, a bit flustered when Kaeya grins down at him. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"What about me Auggie? Don't you like me too?" Kaeya asked as Auggie nods before picking up a bag of chips for home. 

"You're nice too..but annoying especially when you flirt with Uncle. He's way too good for you." Auggie said as Kaeya placed a hand on his chest, offended by the kid's words.

"Then there's not another way, I have to flirt harder with your Uncle." Kaeya said as he began walking and the leash tightens on Auggie's hand, having to walk after him. "What? No! Uncle is too good for you."

"We'll see."

---

"So...he was a spy for a dead country? How does that work?" [M/N] asked after learning the whole story between the two, he thought the two banged or something but it seemed even more complicated than that. "Does your leader-"

"No. She never asked and I never told anyone but Aether..he found out by himself." [M/N] nods his head as he closed the glass door of the fridge after putting two jugs of milk into the cart. "Ah, okay, and now me. Though Zhongli and Venti are your guy's gods?"

"In a way, but no, they're called Archons that swore to watch and protect us. They can live for many years with their gnosis which was stolen from Venti and sold off by Zhongli." Diluc said as he looked over the colorful words on the walls. Mostly of sales. 

"Ah, but...are you still mad? at Kaeya?" Diluc stopped and looked to [M/N] who looks back, eyebrow raised as Diluc clicks his tongue.

"Not anymore...but he still annoys me with all his childish antics." Diluc adjusted his glove as [M/N] sighs softly as he pushed the cart. "I'll stop my actions, I wholeheartedly apologize for my actions and for Kaeya's..." He grumbled a bit.

"Why dear brother, how modest of you to apologize for my actions," Kaeya said as he throws the leash at them, and Auggie struggled with the things in his arms before dumping them into the cart. Diluc had caught the leash and rolled his eyes. "But..I suppose I can apologize for my actions as well.." Kaeya said as he moved, pushing past his brother and takes [M/N]'s hand in his, kissing the top of it. "If you'll have me-ek!" Diluc shoved Kaeya's cheek, and the man huffed. 

"Morons." [M/N] rolled his eyes before pushing the cart with Auggie at his side, and a tiny smile lingering on his lips. Auggie rolled his eyes too before moving beside his Uncle, holding his arm as well.

They got to the cashier and placed the things on the belt, it moved forwards as the cashier scans. [M/N] made sure the two didn't do anything dumb until he heard clicking, he looked around and saw nothing. There was a loud click to the side and saw it was a baby playing with their mother's pen. 

"You okay?" Diluc asked as he watched the strange black thing take the food towards the shopkeeper. 

"Yeah, Yeah...just the clicking." [M/n] waved it off, maybe a wondering spirit trying to find help was draining him or something. He looked over to the price as the cashier finished, popping her gum as the numbers rang up. "$210." She said as [M/N] could feel his wallet crying as he slides down the card and pressed the pin in. There goes his junk food money and Halloween money. 

Not worth it at all.

Surprisingly the drive home was calm this time around, and once he hit home, Auggie and Kaeya carried the most in. Kaeya entertaining Auggie's questions, mostly of random things, and the eyepatch.

"It came from my grandfather, who was a pirate, pretty cool right?" Kaeya said as [M/N] heard something in the living room. He peered over and saw Klee shaking a box, it was rather large but shaking it and smiled. None of the adults were watching her apparently, "Klee what are you doing?" She stops and placed the box down.

"Klee found the box after you guys left! It has your name on it and I got curious.." She said with a sheepish smile and [M/N] raised an eyebrow at her. He didn't remember what he bought apparently but it didn't look like something from Amazon.

"Well stop shakin-"

The box moved forwards, falling to the floor and hisses came from it as [M/N] stared at it. 

More fucking cats?

Chapter Text

[M/N] stares from his porch as the moving truck drives past, down farther on the street before turning into the hidden driveway. He watched as the phone kept pinging until it picks up, he shifted himself and turned away from the hidden driveway as he heard a loud but annoyed voice answer. "Papa Hut, how can we help you?" They said as [M/N] began ordering as he ignored the whimpering from behind the door and as ringing hit his ears. It made his hands shake a bit but pushed it down to something trying to get his attention.

Everyone was starving and nobody wanted to cook anything, it was Monday after all. Auggie had returned a few hours ago, thankfully taking the attention off him and the small corgi Thoma, that Aether named, finally could play fetch with him. Klee tried to get Razor to stop but the poor man-dog was just humping away at his leg all day.

They were apparently from the same world too, but when [M/N] dumped soda on them, none had changed but the shivering naked cat. Even after a nice bath, they didn't change yet.

Luckily, they had some odd traits and things on him, which helped the naming process.

---

[M/N] opened the box and already a ball of fur hit him straight into the chest, he quickly grasped it as he fell back onto the wooden floor. He looked up but stopped as he saw a cute pair of green eyes staring at him as well as a little tail wagging. A corgie, but the odd horn-shaped headband it wore, made [M/N] looked at it with some type of suspicion. "..Cute..." He muttered as he began petting at the dog's head and gently rubbing his cheeks, it leans into it and gives a tiny bark.

"Wah! More kitties!" Auggie said as he dropped a bag on the floor looking inside of the box but saw another puppy and four more kittens, all scrambling to get out of the box. He reached in and grasped the completely hairless cat with light baby blue eyes. "So cute~"

"Wait, that cat looks familiar," Aether said as he came down the stairs, spotting a white cat in the box, it had a tiny tail and a red part of hair. He moved closer to the box, picking the cat up who stared at him with a tiny tail wiggle. "Kazuha?"

"Woof! Arf!" The dog in [M/N]'s hands barked as he gets off [M/N]'s chest and instantly yapping up at Aether. 

"Thoma! You're here too!" Aether gasps, letting Kazuha climb to his shoulder and nuzzling his cheek against Aethers. He lifts Thoma up, the corgi barks, and his tail wiggles as well. Auggie kept holding the naked cat with pretty blue eyes and humming as the two animals nuzzled Aether.

"Wait..that cat..." Xiao said as he noticed the eyes, they were baby blue and had slits. Like a familiar exorcist that came and asked if any wandering spirits had troubled Verr Goldet. "That boy from that special clan.."

"Chongyun." Aether pipes up as the cat in Auggie arms perked up.

"No! He should be called Baldy." Klee protested, the cat was bald, it made sense to her.

"Klee, his name is already Chongyun-"

"No! he should be called baldy," Auggie said as the cat's ears dropped along with its tail. Poor Chongyun, damnit.

"Fine, he can be called Baldy until he's back to being a human." [M/N] sighs as the two cheer, he shakes his head before feeling some movement on his leg, he glanced down to see another puppy, humming his leg and he felt flushed. "No! Stop, bad doggy!" He pulled back and the poor thing whines, he looked like a mutt, a hairy dog mixed with a pit bull breed. 

CRASH

[M/N] heard and looked to see a cat with fluffy fur, slamming itself into the glass window and tipped over some shoes in the process. "That has to be Bennett," Kaeya said, watching the whole show from his place on the threshold.  "The one humping himself on your leg is Razor, though..seemingly abusing his power as a pup," Kaeya said as Razor whines as he tried to get onto the couch but falls off, he was still too tiny to get up there.

"And this one seems to be the young Xingqiu." Zhongli points out to the dark grey-ish kitten trying to take the book off the bookshelf and it stops when it was caught, its tail lightly wagging behind him.

"Friends..I'm guessing?" [M/N] said as he stands up, brushing the dog hair off his chest as his teeth grit in annoyance. Just who the fuck is sending him these people? Bad enough with everyone else.

"Yep."

---

Since then, even after dumping stuff on them, they had cats and two puppies. They didn't need a lot of attention, or trouble of taking care of them. They were all pretty lax and calm, minus Bennett. Bennett kept slamming into closed windows, closed doors, and closed glass doors which gave [M/N] a heart attack every ten seconds of the door being hit. Bennett got most of [M/N]'s attention, always in his arms or by his side, Bennett seemed almost relaxed at his side, unless Razor started to play with him or one of the kids.

[M/N] had known they would be a lot to care for until they were ready to handle themselves but, when he did give Bennett or Xingqiu extra attention, or Thoma, Xiao became increasingly passive-aggressive around him. Watching them from behind the walls, peeking in a bit or ignoring him and the cats, pouting on the end of the couch. Zhongli and Aether had tried to ask him what was wrong, but they got nothing but spat about mortals being insensitive and ugly. Which caused Childe to laugh and mock the tiny man and Xiao's reactions were violent. Thankfully, everyone pulled them away.

It was odd, it happened when [M/N] was holding one of the new animals or talking to any of them that wasn't Xiao.

"Have a nice day." The pizza employee hangs the phone up and [M/N] clicks it off as he saw another moving truck leave and down the hidden driveway. He watched before sighing as he heard Razor's whining. 

"When you turn, we're having a talk." [M/N] huffed as he takes Razor and the dog whines and licked the human's cheek. "Not cute." He walked in and sees Xiao sitting in his spot, close to the window. 

"You're holding him?"

"Yeah, he's a dog, small for a pit bull but he's still a dog."

"Disgusting." Xiao rolled his eyes as [M/N] felt his lips twitched, he sits Razor down on the loveseat and moved, pushing himself against Xiao, and before he could escape from the spot, [M/N] throws his arm around Xiao's shoulder. "Let go of me filt-"

"Are you in love with me or something Xiao? You're getting quite jealous of my behavior around the others, including animals." [M/N] asked as Xiao grumbled as he tried to remove the arm but he didn't have his adepti strength and [M/N]'s scent was oddly pleasing, soothing even. 

"No, I don't plan on loving anyone." Xiao hissed as he pushed [M/N]'s face away and [M/n] didn't react. 

"Too bad, you're kinda cute." Xiao's cheeks flushed at the compliment and grumbled more under his breath. "But seriously, you act like you're in love with me or something, some type of creepy yandere type."

"Stop talking to me like that, I don't know what a yandere is or being creepy, you just-" Xiao makes a grumbling noise, like he was struggling and looked away. "You make my Karmic..feel..good.."

"Is that true?" Zhongli asked as he witnesses the flustering of his adepti, and stared at [M/N] in wonder and amazement like he just slew the dragon type. "Xiao? Does [M/N] keep the Karmic Debt at bay?"

"Yes...out of all the miserable humans it's him." Xiao said, looking into his Masters's eyes, and Zhongli nods in understanding. 

"I see..then I will stop my p-"

"Wait, wait, wait, what the hell are you talking about?" [M/N] said as he pulled back from Xiao. Karma Debt? How much did he owe or what was that? He didn't know what Xiao had.

"Ah, that's right, you see, Xiao used to-" Zhongli sits down as Kazuha jumps onto his lap, the man pets him as he began to tell the tale of the Archon war and the story of the Yaksha's, how they served him apparently and their deaths. [M/N] listened and took in everything that was being told, about their little history. The many deaths, Guizhong, the lands, the archons but stopped when he was told about the debt that held down Xiao. "..then this happened, a land that is so different from our own..in many bad and good ways."

"...so I'm helping with the debt? Like..it makes you feel?" [M/N] glanced at Xiao who looked to him then away.

"That makes me feel free."

"Oh.."

"That means we shall marry once we all return to Liyue."

"Oh Ok-Wait!"

"It's only natural, Xiao has someone to relieve his debt to as he keeps his own sheltered desire to protect Liyue Habor." Zhongli agreed, despite the taste, the bitter taste from saying it. He didn't love [M/N], but feels smitten with his ways as a mortal. 

"I'm...not ready for marriage. You can sleep in my bed here or something but you can't decide to marry me off to yourself." [M/N] said as Xiao's face falls a bit before resuming in disinterest and look away. "Oh great, I hurt your feelings."

"No you didn't, you merely annoy me."

"EH? You say that to me? The reliever of your stress." [M/N] tugged at Xiao's cheek and the man growls but doesn't do anything as Zhongli smiles at the sight as the bitter feeling takes hold of a bitter desire. 

He lived years before Xiao, lost his love decades ago, Zhongli could take him away from the lone adept here. [M/N]'s ways were so strange yet comforting like Hu Tao, not annoying like the young director. Comforting, smart, and caring like Guizhong. But male, not that he minds, if he wished, Zhongli change into a female if [M/N] wanted children. 

"Stop touching my cheek-"

"I thought you like my touch~"

Zhongli perked up to the voices as Xiao tried to escaped [M/N] 's grasped and chuckles quietly to himself. Maybe not now, but he knew that Xiao hasn't won [M/N]'s favor at all, along with the others in this home.

Chapter Text

Auggie woke up to [M/N] shaking him gently and knew that the dreaded Wedsnday came, math test day and P.E, not only at school with assholes but assholes who smell like everything on the bus. He brushes his teeth, washed his face, and changed into nothing special before grabbing his bookbag. He smelled toast and scrambled eggs, coffee too but Uncle would get upset that Auggie drunk all of it again. Auggie ate and listened to the yawning that came from Uncle, clearly too early for him as well. 

Auggie wanted to homeschool but no.

"Here ya go." [M/N] placed the bagged lunch on the table, yawning a bit as Auggie finished his food and cleared his orange juice cup. He licked his lips before yawning a bit, "Alright, have a good day, and don't fight others, kids."

"I'll try, and make sure Xiao doesn't try to kiss you." [M/N] grumbled as Auggie laughs to himself before walking to the door, the bus would be there at any minute. Auggie opened the door and moved back with a slight gasp, flinching a bit. "What?"

A woman around her late thirties, brown hair pulled back into a ponytail and her matching eyes hidden with wired thin glasses. Her pale lips pulled into a smile, making the pink gloss shine a bit. So bright that early in the morning. "Hi, there!"

"Hello?"

"Hiiiii, I was wondering who was our neighbors and here you are, a sweet little fella." She cooed and Auggie looked visibly uncomfortable. "Sorry, I'm Diana, you're new neighbor. I have a plate of muffins-" The door opens once more and [M/N] stood there with a yawn escaping his lips. 

"Auggie, you're gonna miss the bus." He began until he noticed the lady there, he stops and his hand on his hip. "Who are you?"

"Hi! I'm Diana, your new neighbor a few minutes away. I just wanted to say a polite hello to our new neighbors. I also made extra muffins for you and your son." She said, her voice very polite and nice. It made [M/N] uncomfortable, and Auggie hurried out the way and speedwalks to the bus stop, seeing it come up. [M/N] scowls as his nephew abandoned him. "Anyway, my husband is the new local pastor at the nearby church-"

"Listen, you must be a nice woman but I'm really tight on my schedule and-" Another figure appeared behind [M/N] and looked over with a raised eyebrow. 

"[M/N] what's going on? Did Auggie not get on the bus?" Zhongli asked as he noticed the woman and her plate of muffins. 

"Oh dear me, I thought it was two people living here." Diana gasped, as she placed a hand against her chest. "I am so sorry."

"No, it's fine...it's usually me and Auggie but some friends decided to stop by once in a while." She nods at [M/N]'s words, seemingly buying the whole story. 

"Why don't you come in? Have some tea with us?" Zhongli offered, ignoring the other's tired glare at him. Diana smiles, and [M/N] felt a tingle down his spine from her smile. It didn't feel so good but pushed it down, as he moved back and the woman entered with the muffins. They did smell good. 

---

"How interesting this God is, one day I would like to meet him in person along with his son, Jesus?"

"Hahahah! Don't we all?"

[M/N] was leaning on his elbow as he listened to them chat about the church, after listening to them talk about the weather, teas, and some sort of banana recipe? He didn't listen to much, since he was still very tired but then the dish of the muffin was pushed to him. The other Diana finished herself since it was only meant for Auggie and himself, he let her. 

"Here you go, take a bite, it would surely wake you up." Diana said as [M/N] merely blinked a few times before slowly taking it up, a bit warm since it was baked this morning.  "It's nothing but banana." She joked as [M/N] takes the dessert before bitting down on the warm bread, chewing slowly before feeling it go down. It's sweet, nothing amazing.

"Thank you."

She smiles as she takes the now empty plate before standing. "No problem, anyway, I would love to see you both at the church sometime!" She gives another smile, leaving and Zhongli shuts the door with a hum.

"This Jesus sounds interesting but reminds me of the priestess in Inazuma, Lady Kokomi. Especially of him walking on water but I do not know if she could try to turn water in wine." Zhongli said as he rubbed his chin and [M/N] laughs loudly.

"Zhongli, that's a fictional tale, we don't know if he walked on water or even turn water into wine. Over the years, the words were lost in translation, and the Christian church decided to play dictionary and stuff their beliefs into a signal book. The real scripture is in Hebrew, and Jesus isn't even the guy's real name nor God." [M/N] yawns as he looked at Zhongli. "I think they're both overrated regardless." 

"Why is that?"

"Why follow what everyone believes in? Does the cross annoy people? Yeah, it annoys me but it is also my last line of defense against a demon or worst. It pisses them off and I also like playing with it." [M/N] yawns once more as he finished the muffin and dusted the crumbles off. 

"Not to fond of the Gods?" Zhongli asked as he watched the other stand up to stretch. Zhongli wasn't an actual god, but an Archon, something very close but still far apart.

"Christian god? No, other gods like Hades and Artemis? I think they swell." [M/N] rubbed his eyes a bit with another yawn. "Why? Think I wouldn't like you or Venti?"

"Nothing like that, more of, curious why to dislike any god." Zhongli answered as he takes the cup from the table to wash. "I suppose people have many reasons to dislike them, some can be cruel or lazy." He didn't have the right to talk about it since he faked his own death. 

"I prayed and prayed for many years for someone to help me, Jesus, God, the archangels, and no one came to help me. No one but myself, even if it resulted in death." [M/N] shrugs a bit as licked his lips, he didn't have an appointment until 3 so another few hours of sleep wouldn't hurt him. "Besides, I fear humans more than gods and monsters. They are the real bastards here." with that [M/N] walked upstairs as Zhongli kept that in mind.

Humans and Mortals alike, do have freedom and will do whatever they want they would get without fear of God. [M/N] had known this for a while but still, this just wanted Zhongli to poke more about this subject. 

[M/N] rubbed his forehead as he walked back to his room and stops as he saw a box on the pillow of his bed. His lips formed a scowl as he walked towards it, and picked it up. Something rocked inside and he hoped it wasn't another friend of theirs. He was to the max already, but then again it could be a box for a book he ordered a few months ago. There was a stack of them in the corner, all closed and kept fresh with their smell.

"Baldy, did you bring this?" He asked the naked cat sleeping under the blanket for warmth but the cat didn't flinch, eyes closed as well. [M/N] rolled his eyes before taking the edge of the tape, pulling it off slowly. Once it was gone, he opened the flaps and looked around. So much packing peanuts and bubble wrap. Soon he saw it, the odd-looking thing.

"Auggie what the fuck did you buy?"

[M/N] muttered as he looked over the doll or puppet? He looked over it, handcrafted it seemed with a large hat. It had strings on its hands and feet, along with the top of the heat. It looked like he wore a Japanese sort of clothes but [M/N] saw the name on the back. 

"Kunikuzushi?"

[M/N] hummed as he placed the small box into the garbage and sits the cute doll on the bookshelf before rubbing his temple as pain shot by it. Another headache it seems-

"Xingqiu! Don't eat that!"

"Stop yelling."

[M/N] sighs as he heard two of the others woke up, he stands and left the room to see what had happened. The door closed as the doll's limbs twitched and dark purple eyes shine for a moment, moving in the direction of the door then the height of the jump he could make.

Chapter Text

Appointments and times, all marked up in [M/N]'s phone and calendar. He needed the extra money for the extra pair of guests that was not his nephew or himself. Not to mention the extra money for a possible doctor appointment, [M/N]'s head was hurting lately like a migraine and a powerful kick to the dick mixed together in his temple.

"The noises, the noises stopped." The mother of three whispered, she rubbed her arms a bit as [MN] tried to sense anything in the room. Nothing was coming up at all, not even a tingle but yet he could feel something.

"He loves to tickle my toes every time I go to bed, mom thought I was lying until she saw a hanging body in the kitchen. It left the second mom left the kitchen," The youngest said as she toyed with her mother's skirt fabric. "It looked like an old lady."

"Interesting. Did the body move when it was suspended in the air?" Albedo asked as [M/N] glared tiredly at the other. He had insisted that he had to come, and check out the scene with [M/N]. Before he could tell the blonde no, Albedo made his way into the car and took the passenger seat. [M/N] was pissed but yanked Aether along, this blonde squeaks as he was taken and moved out the front door. 

"Good luck comrade!" Childe said as Auggie closed the door. 

"Yes! It looked like a fish trying to kick itself back into the water."The youngest said as she pointed directly over the table. [M/N] looked to see anything but there was nothing there, no sense, no leftovers, just empty air. He looked around and winced as felt pounding come the side of his head, he tugged at his hair with a shaky sigh.

"Are you alright, [M/N]?" Aether asked softly, moving to touch [M/N]'s back. He rubbed it and [M/N] hissed at the contact, snarling a bit. "Don't touch me, I-I need air." He said as [M/N] stumbled forwards, and opened the door. He closed it behind him and takes deep breaths, as the pain contained and his eyes blurred. 

"Fuck-"

[M/N] couldn't stop himself as he began falling forwards and his face hitting the sidewalk, groaning and his eyes closed. He went limp, and the muffled sounds filled his ears as his eyes closed. 

---

There were screams everywhere, and they echoed as [M/N]'s eyes snapped opened and looked around frantically. He didn't know where he was, didn't know who was screaming, he didn't know where it was coming from. He kept moving through the long hallway, barefooted and bleeding from somewhere, [M/N] didn't feel the pain but maybe that was the adrenaline kicking in as he rushed. The hallways were dimly lit and the screams came from the doors, they all looked rusty and hard to open, [M/N] didn't even want to open them.

He was too scared to see what was behind them. [M/N] turns another corner, his body smashing against the wall a bit as he turns, he keeps going forwards as he heard the loud pull of a switch go down. He ignored it despite the incoming darkness chasing behind him. 

Uncle?

Uncle?

[M/n] skids to a stop as he heard the whispering of his nephew, he stops and turns his gaze at the door, the only white door there in the disgusting filth. His fingers tingled a bit and his body shake as he moved forwards towards the door. 

Uncle? Uncle, who are these people? 

[M/N] handshakes as he pressed against the door and opened it, light shines through and he closed his eyes. He waited before opening his eyes, [M/N] wiped his eyes as he saw the room he entered. It made his stomach turned and looked around, at the devices, it reminded him of a psych ward in the 70s, when they did surgery on the crazies or if a woman had "unhealthy" feelings for another woman. 

[M/N] saw movement below, and began moving down, every move he made didn't bother the doctors as they worked on someone he couldn't see. They hid the body and [M/N] kept moving down the cold stares. 

"He's losing blood, Doctor." A female nurse said, her white uniform coated in blood and her hands holding a pair of pliers. [M/N] flinched at the sight as he saw some blood spilling over onto the concrete floor, another grabbed the second pair of pliers and clamped it down on whatever was bleeding.

[M/N] licked his lips a bit before moving his gaze to the small table of supplies, each covered in blood and some needles as well. "I thought we aren't saving him, he resisted so much."

"The Lord said to keep him alive, if this is successful then our work would be better, if not, then we are forced otherwise to eradicate him and burn his body, a waste of material." A Doctor said as [M/N] moved his eyes over them, but something caught his eyes. His eyes widen a bit as he saw a strange sign, marking on the white wall. There was an alter under it, black candles and white ones that sort of balanced the power, some flower petals, and then a picture of him and Auggie. [M/N]'s stomach dropped as there was a smaller marking over their faces, and moved back quickly.

That symbol looked so familiar and so much fear made his stomach turns, his eyes shifted to the movement beside him, and [M/N] screams.

There laying on the surgery table was himself, opened up, a tube in his mouth as his chest and below was opened. They were touching his insides, playing with everything, and cutting up every single thing. 

[M/N] screams, and screams louder as they opened his eye, a surgical knife a few inches away from the knife.

The screaming he heard early ago was his, no wonder it sounded familiar. He shuts his eyes as the knife went down lower and curled up in the middle of the operation room, hoping it was some bad dream.

---

"Uncle?"

[M/n]'s eyes snapped opened and sits up quickly, gasping a bit as saw Auggie sitting at the foot of his bed. He felt so sweaty from all of that, that nightmare, that disgusting place. "Do you need Mr.Albedo? Or tea?"

"What happened?" [M/n] asked, flinching as Xinqiu leaps onto the bed, making his way to him with a purr. He slowly pets the cat as Auggie stands, Baldy taking his spot and watched him. 

"Aether said you fainted and they brought you home..you were out most of yesterday and today." He said as he stands, fixing his shirt. "I'll go tell the others and have Mr.Zhongli bring you tea." 

[M/N] nods as he watched his nephew leave, looking at the time on the clock. It was 8 pm and whatever took him out, that headache or whatever was gone. Like the pain never happened in the first place, he sighs to himself and moved his legs off the bed. "Damn.."

"About time, I was afraid you were dead."

"Haha, no-"

"I wasn't done talking peasant, or ghost whisper." [M/N] stops moving as he looked to who was talking, it was nobody in the home, his eyes widen at the doll sitting on the stack of books. Both Xingqiu and Baldy hissed, their hair going up along with their tails as they saw who it is. 

"Stop with the looks of admiration, it's getting annoying-pft!" [M/N] throws the pillow at the doll, it crashes down with the books as both cats get off. Xingqiu being the fastest, had the doll in his mouth by the cloth. The doll scrambles in the hold, trying to kick the cat, but couldn't.

"Let go of my you disgusting beast!"

Chapter Text

"Let me go you filthy beast! I will behead you!"

"Shut up, the garbage can is in the kitchen for a reason."

"Try me you pathetic fool!"

[M/N] had Kunikuzushi by the strings as he walked downstairs, he could hear hush whispering and the tiny feet that belonged to Baldy and Xingqiu behind him as he went down the stairs. Once he hits the final step, he gasped as Auggie throws himself into his stomach, he groans a bit but ruffled the dark hair. " I swear I thought you died!" Auggie said, looking up then to the puppet that his uncle held, he was pouting it seemed. " What's that?"

" A toy-"

" HAHAHAHAHAH! HOLY SHIT, IS THAT YOU BALLADEER?" Childe laughs loudly as he saw his tiny work partner in the hands of the ghost seer. "Balladeer" heard the other and kicked his legs, and swings at [M/N]'s fingers to let him go. " Hahahahahahaha!" He laughs harder and [M/N] rolled his eyes at both childish behavior, and lifts Kunikuzushi higher.

" Is that a new toy?" Klee asked, seeing the doll now, and smiles. " can I have him?" She gives the best puppy eyes she could manage but [M/N] sighs. " Klee-"

" I'm not a dumb toy! Keep your grubby hands away from me," Kunikuzushi hissed as the girl's eyes sparkled in delight, and he blinked a bit, confused, " What-"

" Albedo! It talks, he's the perfect friend for Dodoco!" She squeals in delight as Aether held an annoy look on his face, staring at the doll. " Aether?" [M/N] noticed the look on his face and the blonde perked up a bit, " Huh? Oh, I was thinking we should burn the doll." Aether said as Kaeya whistled, nudging the Honorary Knight with a cheeky smirk. " Ohoho~ the Honorary Knight with a dark side, what do you suppose we do? We can't keep them, like this, nor keep the Harbinger like this as well."

" Well I would hope if I did turn them, everyone would be friends but Kunikuzushi doesn't seem like a good person judging Aether's expression." [M/N] hummed, as Kunikuzushi laughs within [M/n]'s grasp, "Of course not, he's pissed that I may have helped in the murder of his pathetic friend." Aether stands but Zhongli quickly placed his hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Kinda cold, for a doll-like yourself." [M/N] said as he lifts Kunikuzushi up, "Well seeing that everyone hates him, then I can jsut-" he opens his mouth, wide enough as everyone leans forwards shocked. Kunikuzushi kicks at the air, trying to get out of his grasp as [M/n] slowly lowers him. "W-What are you doing? You foolish beast! You disgusting beast!"

"Eating you, I mean, obviously if we out you in the oven or something, you'll get out easy, like Tom and Jerry style." [M/N] answers as he kept lowering the doll, he wasn't gonna eat him but something made him think Kunikuzushi was up to something or he knew something. 

"I wouldn't suggest eating him, he might make you bleed within." Albedo said as Klee watched in awe at [M/n]. 

"I second that, eating him would be foolish for your health," Diluc said but made no move to stop him, one less person to worry.

"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Auggie chanted with a smile. Aether watched, arms crossed, but wanted to say it as well.

"Y-You're crazy!" Kunikuzushi hissed as [M/N] shrugs, as he cared.

"I ate things worst, a lot worst, then you." [M/N] said as he lowered him in and Kunikuzushi gasped as he saw how close he was. He glared to the other Harbinger with anger, "D-Do something! Stop him!"

"Balladeer, chum, comrade, sweetie, I don't care." Childe said as he shrugs, "One last person to worry about." Kunikuzushi hissed loudly, kicking his legs a bit.

"I-I...I know how you all came! I was sent by the same bitch!" [M/N] stops and looked up at the doll man, head tilt a bit.

"as much as I like watching one of the Harbingers, I think we should hear him out," Venti said, as [M/N] pulled him away and still had him by the strings. "Besides, when [M/N] gives kisses, I rather not have splinters." 

"I ain't kissing no one." [M/n] rolled his eyes a bit. 

"Whatever, I...there were messages of people disappearing, people stopping and being frozen...the person they were with is gone...like they weren't there, to begin with...of course your Majesty was curious and saw some officers of the Fatui disappear," Kunikuzushi said as he crossed his arms as he glared at the dogs below him. "I was caught by her web, she fights for dumb bitch."

"Who? La Signora?" Zhongli asked, stroking his chin a bit in thought. For power like this, could be very dangerous. 

"No, the Abyss Princess." Kunikuzushi hissed with a roll of his eyes.

"Lumine..how could she? If we came here, then...other Fatui personal are here." Aether said as the doll looked away. "What..am I not right?"

"She..did not send the officers here...she sent them to the Abyss...turning them into...Hilichurls...there are reports of that...however...she is sending people to this land." Kunikuzushi sighs, he shakes his head a bit. No need to get attach or emotional, it happened, it's over. "Whatever, turn me back just like you did to these morons."

"Wait, now that we know about who sent us, I don't think fixing him would be a good idea," Diluc said as he pushed off the chair arm and looked over the Harbinger with a glare, he would put them at risk, not to mention two of them, full-sized would be bad enough.

"You can't just decide that!" Kunikuzushi hissed, as Childe hummed to himself. "You wouldn't!"

"No, just thinking how much power I would have over you, just toying you around Scaramouche." He said as [M/N] rolled his eyes a bit at the two. He placed Kunikuzushi into his pocket, [M/N] looked to them with an unbothered look.

"Well then, since I'm the only one who pays the rent and was born here, I'm gonna fix them all."

"That isn't wise," Xiao speaks up, as he looked to [M/n] then at the puppet poking up from the breast pocket. "Having two more dangers of the world would surely bring more chaos."

"Either way, they need to change back anyway. I got rid of dog food, giving them away to the shelter so feeding them leftovers isn't ideal." [M/N] said as he grasped his wallet and keys off the small table. "I-"

"Are selfish for the personal gain, mortals always worrying about the mora investment. Pathetic." Xiao looked away and met his Master's gaze, seeing the disappointment in those amber eyes. 

"Well, then maybe I should've let you rot in the streets." [M/N] rolled his eyes a bit before moving out the door. He sighs to himself as he takes the car, sighing softly as his fingers gripped the wheel as he moved towards the nearest gas station, parking in the spots. He could feel Kunikuzushi shift in his pocket as he turns the car off. "What are you doing?"

"My hat slipped off, and your coat is very hot."

"That's the purpose, anyway, why does Aether hate you more?" He asked with a hum, as Kunikuzushi didn't care much for it. "I may have killed his friend, not my fault he was chasing a meaningful dream of having a vision." Kunikuzushi shrugs as [M/N] hummed, no wonder. 

The door rings as he entered the station, the man behind the counter didn't look up either. [M/N] moved over the aisles of junk food, some car essentials, and condoms aisle, to the drinks in the back. "What are all these bags? They looked like the sweets of Inazuma." Kunikuzushi asked as he peers out the pocket to see the bags. So many with pictures, [M/N] opened the door and grasped the Redbull can to switch them all. 

"Those are chips, some spicy, some sweet or both." [M/N] answered as he moved over for the puppet to have a better look at them. The door closed with a light tap, but slowly began fogging up, then another door, and another but he was too occupied with the chips. He lifts one up and looked over it, "Do you like any kind?"

"I don't eat...the feeling is weird but..I do taste things..like flavor." The purple-haired male said as his eyes narrowed upon the bag, "But I don't enjoy salt and vinger, something sweeter perhaps, it could win you my favor."

"Sweets?" [M/N] said as he looked for the more sweet popcorn type of thing before stopping, he hears a thump behind him and turns. [M/N] looked to see what had fallen and grip the chips a bit, maybe another headache? Something bad? "Kuni, you heard that?"

"Don't call me that...but yes."

[M/N] turns his gaze around the foggy doors but stops when another thump hits and looked at the door in front of him. Two handprints, small and obviously children. [M/N] glanced at the cashier but saw he was busy counting money, [M/N] walked up to the door of the two handprints. [M/N] looked to them, and then to the handle, his fingers shook a bit as he moved his hand to grasp the door. He didn't know if anyone died here or a lost child soul found him, trying to communicate.

Before he could open the door, there was another thump. [E/C] eyes snapped to the front of the door and more hands began appearing over the two-child ones, all children leaving their handprints. Thousands of them it had to be, over and over, like they were trying to push the door open.

"What do you want from me? Do you need help?" [M/N] asked as his eyes locked onto the many palm prints on the foggy door. "What-"

Fog from within the door erased the prints as [M/N] takes a step back, just in case something decided to jump out and he could leave. "Who are you talking to?" Kunikuzushi tried to peer to whatever.

The doors were thick with fog and soon the little screeching of fingers rubbing against wet glass was heard. [M/N] watch with wide eyes, and his heart almost stopped as they spelled out their warning or threat. 

A U G U S T U S  W I L L D I E

I F  T H E  G O D E A T E R S  A R R I V E

H O L Y  A R E  T H E Y, T H E Y  W O U L D  N O T  D I E

[M/N] didn't breath as he looked at the name, Godeaters seemed so familiar but he couldn't remember when he saw that name. Maybe from a book, so close to Death eaters, but this was far from Harry Potter.

"[M/N]?"

"Kid, hurry up, I have to piss." 

[M/N] inhales sharply as the words left and the doors weren't foggy anymore. He takes a deep breath and coughs as he walked back to the counter, paying for the drink, and entered the car. He grips the wheel tightly and his fingers shake a bit, Auggie, something or someone would kill him or something.

He had this vision years ago, different but still the same purpose.

Something was after Augustus.

Chapter Text

[M/N] hated Auggie's School, the teachers were snooty and fake as their tans in the summer. Most of the PTA were stay-at-home mothers, who nitpicked at everything [M/N] did for Auggie or his class every year. Not to mention the blunt homophobia they had on him, they always tried to set him up with their college-age nieces, their single parent daughters, or single teachers.

Yeah no, maybe a DILF? No? Whatever.

Either way, they annoyed him, but he was forced to cooperate with them, and this year his name was drawn to be a chaperone for a field trip, this year? A festival, the Renaissance one.

Something to do with their History or something, but since there wasn't any willing Teacher Assistance, he had to find his own help. Like that wouldn't bring danger to the kids.

[M/N] only picked the most mature, and least likely to fight someone over something so stupid.

"Auggie, don't let go of my hand." [M/N] said, he made sure he dressed Auggie in their group color, something Cathy suggested during the last meeting with the PTA. Likely not to let creepy guys or gals steal the kids. Auggie groans, wanting to let go of his Uncle's hand but stops when [M/N] did. "I'm not a baby."

"Then don't act like it." [M/N] replied as Auggie rolled his eyes, watching everyone walk ahead. Most of his friends were indifferent ones or people who ask for homework help at least. [M/N] pulled out the list of his children for the purple group.

AUGUSTUS PEACHES [L/N]

LANA-JANE LOPEZ

ISSAC WAYNE

"Lana-Jane," there was a tug at [M/N]'s shirt, and he looked down to see a little girl with bright brown eyes and curly hair tied into a bun, she wore a purple dressed and black tights. "Oh, hi."

"Hi, Mr.Auggie's dad." She said, her voice tiny but seemed very polite.

"He isn't my dad." Auggie rolled his eyes and yelped as [M/N] smacked the back of his head. "Hey!"

"Be nice, or I'll send you home with Zhongli."

"But I want to stay for the merriment of the mortals as well, and take pictures with this Kamera," Zhongli said as he walked up, holding up one of the cheap cameras that [M/N] bought from the dollar store. It took all morning to show him how to use it,  since it was different apparently. Zhongli also changed for the weather, better than those old fashion clothes at least, he wore black slacks and a black shirt with a larger dark brown flannel over it. His shoes were converse that belonged to [M/N]. He seemed the most mature out of them, or at least second to mature.

"He just meant it as a punishment Zhongli, he isn't sending us home." Aether said as he came up with the tickets in hand for them all, Ms.Marsha seemed to enjoy Aether for some reason. Maybe because he looked polite or something. He also changed, instead of his usual clothes, Aether wore something that Childe picked out actually. A cream color shirt underneath the light pink sweater, the sweater had two kittens hanging off the breast area and he wore jeans with some cute shoes. He actually looked pretty cute.

Not that [M/N] would admit it.

"This reminds me of Mondstadt, it really does, also this kid was wearing purple so I believe he's with us." Thoma, [M/N] found out his name and found him as a man with golden retriever traits, said as he held up a young boy. He had dark red hair and pale skin, with annoying green eyes to match. Thoma didn't wear the same clothes, he did put a bit of a fight for the change but [M/N] threatened him with his hand and look, so now he wore a black shirt and red hoodie that was unzipped to show his necklace. He wore dark pants that he was burrowing from Kaeya and boots that [M/N] had, not his but Peter's. Like he would ask for them back anyway.

"Thoma, put him down."

"Yeah, Thomas."

"My name is Thoma kid, not Thomas." Thoma placed the redhead down on his feet and the kid crossed his arms and glared at the ground. Seemed that [M/N] was taking care of the kids that nobody wanted together in a group. "Whatever, I was so close to leaving on the bus."

"You know you're just gonna get in trouble." Lana-Jane said as she looked at him and Issac scowls, even more, huffing. 

"Say cheese," Zhongli said as he snapped the picture but saw no flash, he blinks before seeing the cap on the lens. "Oh darn."

"Stupid grampa." Issac huffed as [M/N] rolled his eyes as he leads them behind the next group and hands the tickets over. He checked the areas of large groups of people moving around, everything was busy it seemed. "Okay, where-"

"Ms. Nichole said we needed at least eight animals for our book." Lana-Jane said as she held up a yellow folder and [M/N] made a noise of disgust, "and when we get back, we have to tell a story about which one was our favorite. "

"Ugh, busy work-"

"How fun! It's good for you kids to learn about animals, though wouldn't it better to actually interact with them?" He asked as he scratched his head a bit as he saw the large glass areas with animals inside. "Isn't this like abuse?"

"Usually, but sometimes the animals are too dumb to fight and survive on their own." [M/N] answered as he glanced around for a less large group. He gently grasped Auggie's hand a bit, as he began walking in a random direction. 

"What kind of animals are here?" Aether asked as he saw the other kids moving around, dragging their parents around. "Like foxes? or rabbits?"

"Something like that."

"Geovisps?" Zhongli tried as Auggie laughs as they entered an area. 

"I don't know what that is, but it sounds way better than this."

[M/N] stopped at the lion exhibit, looking at the lions all sleeping and some even bathing their cubs under the son. Zhongli watched in awe as he takes the clasp off the camera and takes a picture of it. He takes multiplies as the kids wrote down in their folders, but Issac. He just watched the lions boredly.

"Kid-"

[M/N] stops as he sensed something and looked behind them, pretending to check the information board behind them. His eyes moved around for any out-of-normal types but saw nothing that rang any bells. Everything seemed fine to him at least, Auggie wasn't feeling anything either. He would bring attention to [M/N].

"Mr.[M/N]?"

"Hm?"

"Can we go to the next one? It's the leopard exhibit."

"Leopard? Like another cat?"

"Mhm."

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10: 00 AM

[M/N] watched the hippos as they swam around, the tiny babies moving around their mother as the people around him awed at them. He watched them as the kids wrote them down in their folders and Zhongli taking pictures of them, Thoma was at all of them, pressing close to the glass window like the children around them.

"It says they give birth in the water," Aether said as he reads off the info board and Thoma winced a bit. "Wouldn't that help? Or would that be worst?"

"I would think it's the middle, the hospital is a scam anyway." [M/N] said as he watched one of the babies dived down into the water and playing with its brother or sister. "Though, if there's pain medication then I'm in it."

"It does seem easier, I use to lay empty eggs until my Draconic form matured," Zhongli said as he stops clicking the button on the camera. 

"You were not a dragon." Issac said as he glanced to Zhongli, "Unless it's some furry stuff."

"I was not a furry, I was a dragon, for many years."

[M/N] rolled his eyes before feeling a tingle and looked to the left, his eyes searching for anything but saw nothing but a tired mother and her crying kids. Probably hungry, or wants something stupid.

12: 15 PM

[M/N] placed the tray down with the kid's food, Aether doing the same thing as well. They both placed the food down in front of the kids first, pizza and soda minus Lana-Jane who gotten juice for herself.

The adults got something different, there were four places to eat. From Kangaroo Pizza, Panda Barrel, Spider Feast, and Kola pies. Most of the things were open but had a lot of people in the lines, and the kids wanted pizza the most.

"I don't understand why the eggrolls are spider-shaped," Zhongli said as he held one up, one leg missing from his nibble on it. 

"I think it's for aesthetic purposes since it's called spider feast,"  Thoma said as he stirred the soba that was given to him when he ordered. It wasn't that bad, but he could probably make it better. "We can switch if you're not enjoying the food." Zhongli shakes his head before taking another nibble on the fried egg roll.

[M/N] hummed as he began to eat, enjoying the food, nice and juicy. He stirs the soba he ordered as well. His spine tingles and his fingers grasp the chopsticks tightly and Aether perked up a bit, his eyes glanced around but saw nothing odd. "[M/N]? Are you okay?" His hand rubbed [M/N]'s back, as the medium leans back against his hand with a soft sigh. 

"Yeah, probably some animal ghost, I don't have enough eyesight to actually see them. It's because I'm human, but dogs, cats, birds, whatever animal else, they can see them easily."

"That's why I want a cat so they could see them and chase them out the house!" Auggie said as he wipes his mouth with a napkin. "And they are still too much work."

"Uncle!"

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1: 4 5 PM

"We need one more animal to fill out before the bus leaves at 2: 3 0." Lana-Jane said as he looked over the pictures that she drew and wrote about. They had the lions, the hippos, the monkeys, then the elephant, and some snakes that they wrote in detail about, especially when Thoma almost fainted at the sight of the cobra. "We should go see the penguins!" She said, opening to the last paper.

"No way! We should see the wolf!"Auggie said as he looked over to the wolf exhibit, "I want to take some pictures for Razor." Razor had been the wolf guy, that loved humping his Uncle's leg, and talked weird too.

"Those ideas are gay." Issac rolled his eyes, as Aether looked at him and tried to scold him. He ignored the words as Issac pointed backward to him. "Let's go see the turtle before we're taken back, there are no people there and then we can head to the petting zoo."

"Do you not know how many diseases they have?" Auggie asked eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, but...petting a sheep sounds nice.." Lana-Jane fiddles with her jacket. 

"Still not as gay as your guy's ideas." Issac repeats and both children began arguing over the animals and [M/N] rubbed his temple at their voices and the looks they were given. 

"Hey now, each of your ideas is fine, nothing is wrong to see a particular animal before we depart home," Thoma said, trying to calm them down. "Perhaps we could take a kid to see their animal and then meet back up at the petting Zoo?" Thoma didn't know his way a lot but knew the signs towards the petting Zoo. "I'll take Zhongli with me and Lana-Jane." Thoma said as the girl beams.

"I'll take Issac." Aether said as the boy huffed as Auggie held his uncle's hand. "Then I'll go see the wolf with him."

They left towards the end of the artic area, humming to himself as he walked. Auggie swings their hands a bit as he moved towards the glass habitat, "Ohh, there he is, Razor wanted to know if there was."

"Not usually, but around here we take in injured ones," he said as he thought over it a bit, [M/N] looked at the other. "Maybe we can take pictures." He said as they entered the exhibit after some people left. It was just the two of them, [M/N] looked at the wolf that sat on the rock. He pulled his phone out and began taking pictures of the wolf. It didn't pay much mind to him as Auggie was writing about the wolf information on the wall. He hummed to himself as [M/N] finished and looked over to the photos in the gallery, but stopped as the last one had an image. It looked like a figure behind him-

WITH A KNIFE!

[M/N] turns and eyes widen as the man aimed the knife at Auggie. [M/N] dropped his phone and grasp the man's wrist with both hands, Auggie turns as he sees the man that was trying to assault and possibly kill them. [M/N] eyes widen as it came closer to his face, he could see himself in the blade and his arms were slowly pulling back.

"Auggie! G-Go get help or police or something!" 

Auggie shakes in his place, his folder falling to the floor and a bit of a stain in front of his pants. "Augustus!"

Auggie takes a deep breath as he moved away, hurrying out of the area, and what a time that nobody was around. He kept running towards one of the exhibits that Aether, Zhongli, and Thoma went to. But everything was so disoriented and so dizzy.

[M/N] breaths heavily, his heart beating harshly against his rib cage as he felt the tip lightly graze his shoulder. His eyes filled up with tears as he was pushed forward, his lower back hitting the glass and he heard the howls from within the glass habitat. [M/N] looked to the man's face, and saw nothing but the dark eyes behind the Bugs Bunny mask. His hands shake and he could feel some skin break from the tip of the knife, and he winced before taking the chance. [M/N] moved his leg and kicked the man in between the legs, and he swore he heard something clack. 

The man groans as he held his crotch, the knife in his grasp before gripping it. [M/N] tried to move around, but tripped on the folder that Auggie had. He goes down, his knees hitting the floor and the man calms himself, he used the knife to try and plunge it down, bit missed, and cuts [M/N]'s hand. Blood comes down as [M/N] hissed to himself in pain.

"He's over there!"

[M/N] heard the voice and the several footsteps, he looked over and saw them enter. 

"[M/N]!"

Aether goes down on his knees and looked over his hand as the rest came in with security. 

"Where is he?"

[M/N] takes a deep breath as he looked over his hand, his eyes wondered to the spot that the man once fell down. He looked over his hand, as it shakes from all of the action that had happened.

Chapter Text

Mona had been working overtime, day and night, she had to find the missing people. Being the student of her teacher, she drabbled with the arts like theses. Astrology was one thing, but with darker arts? It had to have taken half of her life to figure out this spell to look into the eyes of someone.

It had to be a full moon, not to mention seeking hair strains of some of the missing. Any evidence was gone from any Fatui officer was gone and then the teapot had disappeared along with the Traveler, and unfortunately, Paimon had nothing that belonged to the traveler. The poor thing hadn't left Jean's quarter. She blamed herself for not warning the Travler, or anyone.

They didn't find enough but decided to use the pillow that Diluc uses. There was small hairs but it was enough with Kaeya's eyepatch. It was supposed to be clean, it had enough sweat for it to work.

"How is it?" Jean asked, watching the pot in front of them glow purple and odd noises coming from it.

"It's not ready, direct moonlight needs to hit it," Mona said as she dropped some lizard tails inside along with some pearls from Inazuma from the worried heiress who lost her friend, possibly where everyone else went. The pot turns into a soft pink color as Mona draws from her vision, stirring the liquid together with soft hums, the window blows open, and then the moonlight hits. It hits the liquid and swirls into black color, and Jean coughs a bit as smoke poured out of it.

"Let me see your hand." Albedo said as Jean perks up a bit as she peered over to see Albedo sitting on a couch, and trying to fix the bleeding hand of an unknown man. "So, the assailant wasn't found? Not even on those devices in the corners of spaces?" 

"Albedo..how?"

"Easy, with the astrology and human aspects of hair and sweat..I could open a small view of where the unknown officials of their essence...I can see where they are..." Mona said as she saw the annoyed look on Jean's face. Jean shakes her head as she looked down, and saw the male who winced in pain, looking like someone cut him. "Hm...how odd...a [Star Sign]..how wonderful..especially with-"

"Is their location near? We could send some Knights to their location."

"Klee with the bandaid!"

Jean practically shoved herself over to see Klee hurrying over with her bandaids, she watched Albedo take them calmly as he placed them around the new guy's hand. "Thank you Klee."

"Oh...Oh my..how...odd." Mona said as she tried locating them but the map that came up wasn't there at all, their signatures weren't in Teyvet. "Grand Master, they...are passed the stars."

"In Celestia?" Jean asked, looking to the woman who shakes her head. "Passed the plain of Celestia and to a world..unknown."

"Ugh, my eye."

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Kaeya rubs his eye a bit, it was stinging a bit as he looked to Albedo fixing [M/N]'s hand. The cut wasn't that deep but it was bleeding a lot. "I thought the Zoo trip would be harmless...a shame that a fight took place without me there.." Childe said as he motion to [M/N]'s hand, Albedo tisked a bit.

"Fighting would surely bring attention to you, bad attention." Albedo disagreed as Zhongli nods to himself. "I would have to agree, with your appetite of blood lust and fighting, surely you would bring the local authorities to the Zoo. Not to mention the animals will go crazy for the blood and madness."

"Still, how weird that someone tried attacking you when you were by yourself," Kaeya said, he stroked his chin in thought. The stinging and throb had stopped but it annoyed him, "But-"

"He wasn't trying to stab me." [M/N] said, pressing his good hand against his temple and rubbing against it a bit. "He was trying to stab Auggie, but I got in the middle. The dude...was heavy and wore a mask, I couldn't see his eyes...but Auggie had to get away. Kicked him in the junk and he ran away."

"Hm, even for someone like yourself...you did a good job on protecting your son," Xingqiu said as he looked to [M/N] with a smile. "Your reflexes are impeccable."

 "My Nephew...but..before the field trip and I went to get the energy drink...I..got a message..or a warning..or..something..about upcoming events." [M/N] sighs as Diluc came into the living room with a hot cup of hot chocolate, and offered it to [M/N]. He takes a sip and licked the cream off his lower lip. "There were children...I could assume because their hands were tiny. They fogged the glass doors...and then..they began pounding on it, each pound was a handprint..then something about Auggie..dying or worst." [M/N] shakes the feeling of dread before sipping the drink again. 

"How serious are these visions or views from..dead people?" Childe asked, leaning forwards a bit with his hands clasped together. "Have you had these before?"

"They come and go since my childhood." [M/N] said, nodding his head a bit in empty thought. He remembered everything, how some messages were detailed and some did come true, but never for him. "I never took much seriously, until I turned 17..when my High School Teacher was murdered...but I had a vision of it two weeks before it. I didn't even bother to know what happened. It just scared me, so bad...that I was able to see these messages...until a few years ago before I stopped doing request."

"What happened?" Xiao asked this time, he and [M/N] were almost the same. 

"..I..hm.." [M/N] could remember it, they were on a request for an old retirement home, a man was close to passing away but kept speaking nonsense and Latin to Spanish, to greek to Latin once more. "..before Auggie had more power over his sight...I took him with me to learn..we never had a case of this before..so we took..not to mention it cost a lot..I wanted to see how bad he was..mentally before I could ask the church for a priest. Though...when he started snarling and growling like some beast...after I touched him..visions of something evil..then.." [M/N] takes a deep breath, "It or he..showed me Auggie's death."

"Oh my...how..interesting."

"Albedo." Diluc hissed.

"No, to have a view of death before it happened. Truly, beyond your eyes...you could see and predict deaths almost accurately."

"I don't know if I'm being insulted or complimented." [M/N] said as he stands, and placed his cup down in the sink with a sigh. "I...and lately my head has been hurting..Halloween is close too..the veil between the dead and living will pull up for ghost to visit their loved ones..and demons to feast among the living."

"Halloween?" Kaeya tries, it sounded festive but it also sounded like something he could get behind with.

"Halloween...do you guys not? Now, what Halloween is?" [M/N] asked as most stared at him and Childe shrugs his shoulders. "Goddamnit, you guys would want to know what sex is~"

"Are you volunteering to show us?" Childe asked as he wiggled his eyebrows as Diluc smacked the back of his head. "Ow~ I'm sure [M/N] would show you too prude~" Diluc glared down at him heatly and huffed. 

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SORRY FOR THE SHORT CHAPTER BUT I AM PLANNING MORE ABOUT THE NEXT FEW! CHOOSE A COLOR!

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VOTING STOPPED ON WED

Chapter Text

[Warning Sex and Kinks]

After the Zoo, the headaches had been getting worst and nightmares, oh those were just as bad. Everytime he shut his eyes, he could see the knife coming at him and the visions of the man or the man's other work. All of them were just as horrifying than the first, especially the screaming in them. His screaming to be exact, how it echoed in pain, and it wakes him up.

Not to mention to teach others, how to function in their world. He taught Diluc, Zhongli and Aether how to drive, which upset the others since the more "boring" ones were allowed to drive, and Thoma could be he was a horrible drive. He wasn't bad at everything else, including talking on the phone. He was more natural like that, [M/N] felt bad that he let thoma do work but the visions were taking a toll.

Like now, he sighs as he takes the pain pills, sighing to himself as he sits at the corner of his bed. He thought the war, shower would fix him up better, but he left early so he could calm his pounding head. [M/N] rubbed his temple as he kept his gaze to the ground, fingers pressed against his temple as he rubbed. He could feel the movement below, possibly one or a few of them entertaining the kids or Klee running around with her new Wonder Woman doll, she fallen in love with the woman when Auggie put the movie on.

" How's your head?"

[M/N] looked from his hand to the door, seeing Tartaglia there and holding a cup of tea or something hot. He merely gives a weak smile and sigh, " Hurts, feels like-"

"Hilichurls banging your head?"

" Whatever that is, probably."

The redhead chuckled, before moving closer to the male as his eyes reached up the other's ankles and to his legs under the dark red robe. He swallows back his arousal before sitting beside the other, his blue eyes watched as [M/N] takes the cup from him and sipped it quietly, smiling to himself. [M/N] kept drinking the dark tea before feeling the lustful eyes of the redhead on him, his [E/C] eyes looked back at the other as he gives a tiny laugh. " I never knew a pervert like yourself would find interest in me."

Tartaglia's eyes snapped up from the others legs and met his mischievous gaze, he opened his mouth but nothing came out and closed it. [M/N] stands up, placing the cup on the dresser, his eyes moved to gaze at Tartaglia or Ajax as the kids had called him. He is a good looking guy, his body sculpted and so many scars along his pale body that told so many stories. He takes a chance, and [M/N] pulled the tie off his robe and it opens, he didn't have much of a body unlike Ajax but had some older marks from abuse.

The robe falls as Ajax looked up, his eyes wide a bit as his cheeks flushed a tad as they roam around on [M/N]'s body. "...you're kinda hot."

" Sounds kinda dumb coming from you." He teased before smiling at the other a bit, [M/N] liked the stare. It made his stomach grow warm or was that his chest? It felt nice, nothing he felt with Parker. His eyes drifted over Ajax with a little bit of himself hitting his lower lip, it had been so long since he slept with someone like him. " Ajax...your cock is getting hard."

" So is yours..." Ajax said as he saw how [M/N]'s cock was slowly getting hard and his lips were licked a bit, and his heart was beating against his chest. His eyes glanced at it and once [M/N] was close enough, Ajax pulled his shirt off and shivered at the cold. His eyes flickered to the passive look on [M/N]'s face. "...I don't know what to do."

"A virgin?"

"Don't take me lightly, I can-"

"No, I don't mind, you're too handsome and it caught me off guard for a moment." [M/N] assured as he looked at Ajax, he was pretty tall, and [M/N] didn't feel like teaching him everything. "Hm, I can show you what I know." [M/N] said as he looked over to his bed, his drawer should be filled with condoms so no problem. "Lay back."

Ajax flushed a bit but did so, his back hitting against the yellow covers as [M/N] hummed in approval before gently tugging down his sweats and boxers. His cock jumped once it was out, and [M/N] kept his movements slow and simple for Ajax. He didn't want to scare him at all, this would be his first time for anything. [M/N]'s hand grasped the base of the cock, humming as he stroked it and it began hardening even more to a full erection in his grip. Ajax moans from under his grasp, hissing in pleasure as his head was grazed by the thumb of the other.

"Fuck, [M/N], please."

"No."

"N-No? Wait-"

Ajax gives a raspy moan as he cums in [M/N]'s hand, and [M/N] kept stroking the head of the cock with a coy grin. "You're cruel, a change.."

"I'm just giving what you want, baby boy."

Ajax's cock twitched under [M/N]'s grasp from the name and the seer grins at the redhead, Ajax refused to turn away as his cheeks flushed as [M/N] removed his hand. Ajax's eyes widen a bit as [M/N] licked his fingers of the cum that clung to his fingers. "Sweet, like you. God, your face is as red as Diluc's hair."

"Don't talk about other men..when we're like this," Ajax whispered, looking at the man above him. "I want your attention on me."

[M/N] clicked his tongue, as his hand slapped against his ass causing Ajax to moan. "Stop, you came here to get fucked and nothing else? Isn't that correct?" Ajax nods meekly as he opens his legs more for the entrance. [M/N] ignored it as he walked towards his bedside table and opened the drawer, grasping the pink plastic condom, brand new. He takes it and opened it as he opened Ajax's legs up for an easier way. [M/N] grasped his own cock, gently rubbing the condom over it. He looked down at the redhead before feeling his thighs, how they shake a bit under his hand.

"Ajax..Calm down." [M/N] said as he rubbed the other's thighs, and Ajax flushed a bit but he stilled trembled under his hand. He usually didn't fear pain but he had heard if he wasn't "wet" enough that he could ripe or worst. "I'll lube you up first, I wasn't gonna dive head first." He assured as the Harbinger just nods his head. [M/N] gives a smile to him, as he licked at his two fingers for the first pentration and pulled back, he looked over the pink entrance before pressing the finger in.

Instead of pain, Ajax felt pleasure with a mixture of pain go down his spine. He takes deep breaths and exhales lightly, as he lays against the sheets, as he watched and felt [M/N] added the second finger. It felt weird, and the pain was barely there, but it still Ajax give a whine as the finger withdrew. He felt something bigger prodding against his ass and he opened his legs to welcome it. Ajax watched [M/N] and felt those hands on his hips, and gives a loud moan as [M n] slides in. So warm...fuck...he's filling me whole. Fuckkkkkk

[M/N] takes a deep breath as he bottoms out, and looked down at the red haired male, his eyes gleaming with some tears and his pale cheeks were red. He takes heavy breaths and [M/N] found the odd expression lovely, adorable, it was beautiful. " If it hurts-"

" I don't care...just make me feel something." Ajax whispered, as [M/N] shrugs. He wasn't used to rough sex, but if that's what Tartaglia wanted then, he grasped his red hair and gives a tug. Ajax arched his back with a loud moan, as he moved  more as [M/N] began thrusting his hips forwards after pulling back. [M/N] watched Ajax's expression as he moved his hips, in and out. It was tight but His muscles relaxed after a while, and [M/N] felt Tartaglia's legs wrapped around his waist, his ankles locked together so he could stay so close. " You're so good, so good, thank you, fuck, Daddy." He moans as [M/N] raised an eyebrow.

Huh, daddy issues? Daddy kink? Never would've expected it, kinda thought Kaeya and Diluc had daddy issues.

He watched how the redhead's eyes fluttered and more tears feeling his blue eyes with each thrust he gave in him. It was a total erotic expression, and it was hot especially  with the soft moans he gave. [M/N] leans over and Ajax adjusted to the slightly new position and gasped as [M/N] sucked on his nipple, his hands let go of the pillows and tugged at [M/N]'s hair, giving soft tugs with each new moan. He grinds back into the thrust with some louder moans as he heard their skin slapping together. " Ohhhh, ohhhhh, fuck." Ajax moans as he grinds into the thrust.

[M/N] skillfully sucked, and kept his thrusting into him. His eyes closed as he toyed with the pink nipple in his mouth, sucking and gently nibbling on the perky tip. He pulled back, to the now red nipple before switching to the other one, sucking and nibbling on it like the first as Ajax gives moans and soft whines, his eyes blinked back the slight tears to notice the gaze from the door, and felt his cock twitched. Someone was watching them, him and [M/N] fucking.

"Ohhhhhhh~ right there daddy~"

Something in Ajax was touched and it made him see white for a second, he grinds into it as the thrusting began to go harder and into that spot. " Fuck, fuck, harder, tug my hair-" [M/N]'s hand grasped the red locks and pulled, causing Ajax to squeak a bit and drool from his lips. It felt good, but it was coming.

" You're so beautiful Tartaglia."

Ajax scowls as he yanked up [M/N]'s face up, cupping his cheeks, his eyes a bit glazed and moans escaping his lips. "C-Call me Ajax. My name is Ajax." Ajax had whispered as he yelped, as [M/N] lifted his hips up a bit for deeper movement. His eyes closed as [M/N] takes deep breaths as he moved, his hands yanked Ajax's red hair back. He moans loudly, as [M/N] kissed up his neck, not seeing the glaring eyes that watched them from the door.

Chapter Text

The sex wasn't that reliving, after all, it was fun but the headaches came back a few hours later. it didn't matter especially with Halloween around the corner and the day of the dead, the veil between the two worlds would be light for spirits to cross over. Not to mention demons or worst that come crawling out like the desperate beings they are. [M/N] had appointments the next day, all filled after those holidays. Now, he was dressing the kids up in their unique costumes.

"I..never had a thought this...unique before." Xingqiu said as he watched the kids get dressed in their costumes, their customs a bit weird than the ones back home. Children asked for candy, without the need for costumes or makeup. "What are you again Miss Klee?"

"A zombie!" She said as [M/N] tied the black and golden eyepatch around her eye. She had a red pirate outfit that matched the one of Captain Hook and even had a fake hook. "Zombie Captain Hook! Klee's on the lookout for Peter Pan! Arg!" She nearly scratches Xinqiu, who looked nervous.

"and you? Auggie?" Razor asked as he noticed the young boy coming down with some strange bookbag and clothes. "...trash man?"

"No! I'm a ghostbuster," Auggie said as he flipped the switch on the machine, it only worked on clothes like a vacuum but candy. Eight dollars at the amazon store, and so worth it. "Anyway, since it's your guy's first-ever Halloween! we are gonna head to the rich people area, I heard they hand out two full-size candy bars."

"Candy...bars?" Razor repeated as he rubbed his chin in thought as more people came down. Most in costume, minus Diluc, Xiao, Chongyun, and [M/N]. [M/N] at least had normal clothes, as the rest were to give out candy. They had chosen to stay home and keep guard, as they put it.

"Yeah, like Auggie explained!" Bennett, dressed in his matching outfit, was cheaper, "We walk up to houses and knock on the door when they open it with a bucket of candy, we say, "Trick or Treat." He said as he held up his pillowcase, "Right?"

"Yeah! It's not always candy bars though, I wish." Auggie said as he fixed his Ghostbuster boot, he had made this outfit, and even had the GhostBuster logo on it, he sewed it there himself. "Can we go now??" He asked as Klee nods in agreement.

"Yes, can we go now~" Kaeya cooed as he came down, dressed in a sultry cat outfit, tight around him and showing off his tone muscles and a bit of a boob window in the outfit? His arm wrapped around [M/N]'s neck as he gives a smile. "Or are you gonna keep the world away from us~" [M/N] gives an annoyed grunt as he moved back.

"Hands to yourself Captain, not in front of the kids." Albedo said as he nudged off the hand as Xiao grunts in agreement, he had been quiet and cradling himself on the couch. He looked pissed, livid but kept it in. "And the angry guardian," He huffed and glared at the wall.

Kaeya shrugs as the door opens, the two Archons waited by the door as well, dressed as Nuns, surprisingly. Something about how they reminded them of the Sisters of the Church in Venti's land, and Venti had somehow got the taller male to dress up.

"The car is ready to go, filled up with the gas," Zhongli said, three out of the four of them knew how to drive illegally without a license. Only because Auggie won a bet with [M/N], and [M/N] had the choice on how to teach, Zhongli being one of them. [M/N] had some bumps on the back of the bumper from Diluc, but otherwise, all of them seemed okay drivers. Thoma was a bit slow but pretty much a good driver.

"Alright, let's go."

It was a squeezed fit in the car and after 15 minutes, they arrived at the nice neighborhood. It was a larger one with even fancy houses, a lot of different decorations hanging up on each house. Not to mention the many kids running around, laughing and giggling as they had bags of candy.

"You kids stay together!" [M/N] called as he watched Klee and Auggie run, "Don't worry, we'll watch them up ahead." Bennett said, giving a thumbs up and keeping a firm hold on Razor's hand. The poor man wanted candy too but maybe beg some off Klee and Auggie. They were apparently too old for Trick or Treating but still dressed up for fun. "You should relax, you've had a hard week with headaches."

[M/N] sighs as he watched the two hurry after the kids and cross his arms before feeling an arm link around his waist. His eyes narrow as he felt Kaeya pull him close, and smirked down on him. "Off."

"Don't be like that honey~you like this Kae-kitty." Kaeya purred as he gives a wink, "Have fun, Mondstadt never has this, enjoy~"

"I wish I can, but I don't want to overdo much today." [M/N] said as he gently pushed some of his hair behind his ear. His eyes moved around the kids, he couldn't dress up on his Halloweens when he was a child. His mother had tv specials for him and his sister, his Childhood ruined because of her and that fucking show. He wanted to be Bugs Bunny, but no, just a suit and tie for the damn show.

"Mhm, still, there are bushes over there-" Kaeya stops talking as something hits the back of his head. The fake ears fall onto the floor and he grumbled as he bends to pick them down, he saw the smug smirk on that damn Anemo Archon's face. "Cockblock."

"Mhm! [M/N], take a picture with me!~" Venti cooed as he tugged on [M/N]'s arm, and leans up with the most innocent and pouty look. He hoped it would be enough and then another cough caught their attention. Zhongli standing there with a blush, and trying to act just as innocent.

"...it would be nice for some memories...of us.." [M/N] sighs as he brought out the phone, he moved and pointed it up like a selfie as he reached down and pulled Venti up as he does with the kids. Venti flushed pink as he leans more against [M/N], he held up a peace sign and Zhongli smiles calmly as he leans in for the picture. His eyes staring up as [M/N] pressed the button of his phone, and it takes photos.

S H U S H S H U S H

T H E Y A R E H E R E

H U N T I N G

[M/N]'s temple begins to ring and he placed Venti down before he could drop the slim male. venti held onto his arm and looked to him as Zhongli bends down in a worrying way. Kaeya checks up too, as [M/N] felt the pain in his temple. It hurts and it burns, he stands and nearly knocks them away. " Wait! You're in pain." Venti said but he shakes his head.

" They're here! They're here and looking for Auggie."

" trick or treat!"

They held their bags out for the candy, and the man hands over the pumpkin shape Reese cup. He smiles as the two walked back to Bennett and Razor. " Man, you guys are getting a lot of candy, I'm kinda jealous you two can celebrate." He was more than happy to see them earn it, and his bad luck wasn't even effecting the score of candy. That just made him happy.

" Treats smell...good."
" Mhm! I'm sure Klee and I can split up the candy- woah!"

Auggie felt lots of pushing and shoving, he tried to move towards them but every step forwards was a few steps backwards. People shoved and pushed him back from the group, and he swore that he could hear them call his name but they sounded so far away. Soon the crowd of kids stopped and Auggie looked around for them, his eyes narrowed as he tried searching for the girl with the undead Captain Hook costume, Little Red or the Big Bad Wolf. There were lingering kids around going to houses, but none of them were Klee.

His heart beating harshly against his chest, as he began walking the way he was pushed from. It was dark and the lights on houses weren't bright enough to show where he was going. His [E/C] eyes glanced around for any sign of them, but he couldn't even sense their aura either. He gulped as he held his bag tight, holding it close to him as he walked.

" Klee? Razor? Bennett?"

He kept calling, as he kept moving but he began to see little to no trick or treaters near him. Even the Halloween decorations weren't shown anymore, his eyes watered but held in the scared tears. He was a big boy! Not some scared baby.

" Uncle?"

Auggie kept moving and stops as something cracks behind him, he turns around but then something hits his face. He felt over it and pulled his hand back to see red over his hands, he blinks a few seconds before feeling more red rain pelt him. He takes a deep breath before running away, hoping he could see someone in the darkness. He could hear his heartbeat against his ribcage, as more creaks of sticks being stepped on were loud behind him. Auggie dropped his candy bag, feeling himself go faster without the extra weight of those sweets. He could always buy some more after Halloween!

If I survive this...

Auggie sniffed as rushed and the sound of sticks breaking was gone but he kept running until he hits someone with force. "Ah!"

"Kid-"

"Augustus!"

[M/N] saw his nephew with a stranger, he nearly trips on himself as Auggie cries once he sees his Uncle. [M/N] grabbed him and lifts him up as Auggie cries into his shoulder, and hugged his neck a bit tightly but ignored it. He shushed him, as his eyes wander to the man who had Auggie. 

"Sorry! I heard someone running and thought some pervert had chased after him." The guy said as he offered a smile, he wore a spiderman outfit and a smile looked nice. "Hugo."

"...[M/N]."

"WAH! AUGGIE I'M SO SORRY!"

Klee grasped [M/N]'s leg, sobbing into the pants leg, then Bennett who sobbed into his shoulder blades since [M/N] was taller than the unlucky man. Razor holding a candy bag that was not his and chewing on something, completely obvious to everything but saw that Auggie was there.

Chapter Text

[M/N] was homeschooled as a child, and he turned out...pretty okay.

He was never on drugs or smoked but he does have paranoia and anxiety, not to mention depression at times. 

So, the second he had made appointments for Homeschool, he pulled Augustus out from School. Nobody really batted an eye at this behavior and seemed happy that Auggie was leaving the school. They wouldn't need to deal with [M/N] or his nephew anymore. Early in the morning, Auggie does his work for the day, some studying and homework. It was set to his own time and Klee often sat beside him and listen to the podcast teachings or videos.

Albedo, Zhongli, and Xingqiu help with his homework or questions about math and science. Klee added as well when it's chemistry, it was pretty close to alchemy. 

Auggie had the best and stayed home, doing his own things and eating the lunches [M/N] made. 

The only one that hated this was Auggie. He hated sitting at the computer for hours, listening to old people talk about subjects or doing notes. He missed sitting in the classroom and listening to other kids talk about their cool weekends or dinners. Auggie missed the smell of clean bathrooms and getting better answers than other classmates, the groans when he got the answer right. He missed Charle, the smartest and prettiest creature to come into his class. 

"Uncle, when can I go back to school?"

"When you're 18...and after I die."

[M/N] answered as he washed the dishes as Auggie pouts, Albedo sitting beside him as he tried to help the young child. Math class was just over and Auggie was already having trouble with a few problems on the paper. [M/N] sighs to himself as Auggie pouts and leans on the table a bit, he didn't mind Albedo doing most of the work for him. He seemed to enjoy it a bit, "Uncle, please...I actually started to miss School....and other things."

"No, you're here under my watchful eyes and doing homework. Besides, don't you love pizza for lunch and making your own time with classes?" He asked as Auggie grumbled a bit, shaking his head a bit and rolling his eyes a bit. 

"Yeah, but still! It's not the same as actual School! I want to go back and talk to my friends!"

"What friends?"

"[M/N]!" Ajax's voice scolds a bit and [M/N] turns to glare at him as Auggie rushed past them and upstairs. He hears the door slam close and [M/N] takes a deep breath, he knew for a fact that Auggie didn't have friends. He had classmates and that was basically it, though it did sound harsh. [M/N] throws the rag into the sink and moved away, as he left out the backyard. He slammed the door behind him and covered his mouth. He kept a hard push against his lips as he screams into his hands. 

It was kinda muffled but if someone had a window, they could hear it.

[M/N] moved and sat down on the porch, his legs hanging off the edge a bit. He sniffed as he felt some tears roll down his cheek, he couldn't help but feel like a failure. A failure of a parent, an Uncle, as someone who was supposed to care for Auggie. His eyes closed for a moment as he wiped his eyes a bit with his sleeve. [M/N] would need to figure out how to apologize and finally explain everything. Or should he be quiet about it.

"..Hey." Childe said as he saw the poor sap, he didn't agree with his words but knew the stress of upholding a certain view so someone much younger than them, someone that loves them more. "...I'm sorry for all the problems you have, I disagree with how you said it..but I understand the pressure you're under."

"..I'm a piece of shit, I know Auggie doesn't have friends because their parents hate me or because he freaks them out because their great-grandmama is telling them some stuff but..I had no right..I was frustrated and with everything going on..I couldn't..and I blurt it out..I didn't mean any of it but I'm the hugest piece of shit here." [M/N] sighs as he leans against the wooden post and sighs to himself.

"...then I'm an even bigger piece of shit." Childe sits beside [M/N]. He gently nudged him with his shoulder with a smile. "..I lied to my siblings...for years since I became my Archons Harbinger," Childe said as he looked to [M/N]. His heart twisted a bit in pity, for him, compared to the two of them, [M/N] was an angel. He had a moment of weakness while Childe was just the weakness in his own job. "...I missed them a lot ya know?.. I kinda want to bring them here..see this world and milk the area for their glories..see these cars..these video games and animals..or lack of."

"...It's not that special here..lots of..responsibilities..lots of asshole people and ghost... you're not cursed with my eyes." [M/N] whispered as he rubbed underneath his eye, and sniffed a bit before closing his eyes for a moment. [M/N] felt a hand at the small of his back, and leans against Childe for a moment. Ajax was pretty nice...and warm for a weird guy...

"..I like your eyes, they are pretty especially with the little grey specks in them..your eye color is there but if you look closer-" [M/N] felt his chin be lifted up and meets Ajax's dark blue eyes, they were actually kinda pretty. He looked at the other, smiling lightly as Ajax rubbed [M/N]'s cheeks. He gives a smile as their eyes meet. Childe nuzzled his nose against the other's as [M/N]'s cheeks felt hot under Ajax's cold hands. "I think they're perfect..grey specks in [E/C] eyes."

"...I kill for a living..and tell my siblings that I'm the best Toymaker and seller around..but if anything..you're an angel compared to me." Childe said as he smiles a bit, "You should apologize and make sure you let Auggie know how much you love him."

"Ahem."

[M/N] yanked himself back and looked to the door where Xiao stood, his arms crossed as he looked down at the two. "Auggie left."

"He..what?"

[M/N] moved inside as Childe hurried along and Xiao slammed the door behind them. "Out of the way? Shouldn't you be sucking your master's cock?"

"Excuse me?"

Chapter Text

Auggie had no sense of direction, really. All he knew was that he was past his neighborhood and into town, it only took ten minutes to leave into town since there were storm clouds coming up. His eyes moved around the people and opened business. His hands are stuffed into his pockets as he goes to sit down on the bench. He watched the people gathering up with friends and talking happily, large families leaving stores with bags. He wished he had that, he loved his Uncle a lot and wouldn't change it but he often wondered.

What was his mom like? His dad? Did he have any siblings that his Uncle didn't know of? The only thing Auggie knew was his mother's name Tempest but he looked her up on the computer, nothing much on her.

"Hey, aren't you Auggie? [M/N]'s nephew?" A voice asked and Auggie turns his head to see a woman standing there with a few shopping bags and a soft smile. "Why are you doing out here? Waiting for your Uncle?"

"Kinda, you're that new neighbor, right?" Auggie asked as the woman smiles lightly. "Dana?"

"Diana, close. Mind if I sit beside you? My feet are killing me." Auggie moves a bit and she takes a seat, rubbing her ankle in her shot heel flats. "So, are you guys shopping for Christmas?" She asked as Auggie shakes his head a bit, "Did you meet up with friends and you're Uncle is coming here?"

"Not exactly," Auggie admitted as he toyed with the string in his pocket, his eyes moved to her sweet gaze. "We had an argument and I left the house, but he knows where I'm at."

"Oh dear, you remind me of my Hugo." She sighs as she fixed her flats. Diana looked to him with a smile, "So rebellious, so...headstrong."

"He sounds rough."

"He isn't! This was before I met my husband, he helped Hugo and me talk and come together as a family then we had my daughter." Diana explained as she saw kids rush by giggling with each other. "My husband, Edward, he's a pastor and without him, Hugo might end up dead or worst, thanks to him and God."

Oh, she's one of those ladies, uh, should I just bolt or?

"Uh, that's nice, listen, Uncle might be driving around looking for me and-"

"Do you know the story about the worshiper that eats eyes?" Diana suddenly said as she kept his gaze, something twisting in Auggie's gut as her eyes looked almost completely black instead of brown. Auggie gulped a bit as she smiles, seeing how scared he was of her, the fear was coming off him in waves. "One time God had commanded his followers, to search of those with beautiful eyes, eyes that can see through the veil and lead them on to their next resting place. There was a ton of those, and they were said that they were the curse of Lilith," She said as she waved at people that passed by, probably some church people. "She cursed them, the people who prayed to her, but I could assume others called it a blessing. This curse went down the line, usually mothers to their children, but this was a sin in God's eyes. He one day called upon one follower, for him to gather his family and hunt these people-"

"I-I should really get going," Auggie said, as he felt fear rise up, he didn't want to know this story, and he didn't want to know any more crazy things she was going to say. He felt a hand grab his shoulder and rain began falling. Diana opened her umbrella as she kept her hand on his shoulder, he could feel the nails digging into his shoulder and he winced. "Uh, Mrs.-"

"Hush." She hissed as her gaze moved to the dark sky as Auggie watched the sweet smile turn dark, almost twisted. "Hunt these people with this curse, and to take their eyes, how they went against him and these principles, the family gathered most of them as others moved away or escaped out of the land. God said to burn these eyes, to pure them but one man, Heath, disagreed. He had helped carry out, and to throw these eyes away? No, Heath failed to listen and ate the eyes. The curse had contaminated the eyes of Lilith and he gained their visions of the dead and dying. God cast him away, him, his family, even the cow. But he noticed, as the years passed by, Heath noticed how young he was compared to his wife, his children. He knew he caused this taboo, but he did something no one had ever done."

"...Please let me go."

"He found immortality and began claiming himself as a God, taking the mental as the God of eyes. He began collecting people, wooing them in." She hummed as she loosen her grip. "He takes the kids, children, everyone to join and eat the eyes of people like you, like your Uncle. They began growing into the lovely religion of the eye eater god." A car comes in down the road and Auggie sees it, his feet touching the ground as he jumps up. Diana merely smiles as she saw this, "Don't be afraid, you're more than welcome to join."

"Fuck no!" Auggie takes off, slipping a bit as he headed towards the car but saw it wasn't his Uncle or the others. He didn't dare to look back as he ducks into a shop, and breaths heavily as he looked out the window of the door. He didn't see her behind him or at the last spot, she sat at. She was just gone.

"Hello? Oh, Auggie?"

Auggie turns to see the man he met the other day, Hugo? He was behind the counter and wearing an apron. He noticed the modern decore around him, lots of wood and plants, "Where...I.."

"You're in Sweet Lady Jane's Bakery. Are you okay?" He asked, Hugo, looked at the boy and glanced at the window. "Is your Uncle coming here?" He asked softly as Auggie shakes his head a bit. He shakes his head again to get rid of the rain as he walked to the counter, "Do you want to call him?"

"Mhm!" Auggie sniffed as he rubbed his eyes a bit, he was so scared and upset about the situation. 

---

[M/N] nearly bursts into the bakery with Diluc and Aether following behind, both just as distraught as their host. [M/N] sees Auggie munching on a cupcake with a baby duck on it, and he hurried towards him. "Uncle!" He sniffed as he rushed into [M/N]'s arms and he held him up, hugging him and taking deep breaths. 

"How much for the cupcake?" Aether asked as Hugo came back from the back. 

"Free, He was hungry and I got him a cupcake." He said as Hugo smiles to himself as [M/N] looked at him. [M/N] had an unusually happy smile, relief on his features. "Diluc, here." [M/N], the redhead takes  Auggie without a problem and rubs his back as [M/N] headed over. "Hey, I...thank you. You've been helping us lately and I'm grateful for it." He told the other with a smile. "I swear, I can make it up to you."

"I well..there is something I had been wanting to ask you, but it's totally cool if you say no."

Aether watched, his eyes glanced at the two as he noticed how visibly nervous Hugo was as something twisted in his gut. He isn't...

"I want to ask you out on a date, I know it's at the wrong time and such, but-"

"No, No, it's fine." He assured as he glanced at Auggie seemingly asking Diluc something. 

"I love to."

Aether swore he felt something twinge in his chest. 

Chapter Text

"Wow! It's so big here!"

Bennett gasped as he saw how huge the store was, there were so many people, so many things on sale, and the food! It was larger than Blanche's store for sure, or any place he had ever been. "Bread and vegetables? Holy cow, look at those fresh apples." He was just at all as [M/N] pushed the cart into the store and away from the other people entering. Klee was in awe too, she saw the many fruits on sale and the people moving around, she kicked her legs from her seat in the cart.

"What's this place called again?" Albedo asked as he watched people move around them to the isles for things. They moved towards the areas with orange signs saying SALE, and then to different areas when something caught their eyes. "It has a lot of..people." Someone nearly rams into him as they walked past.

"Now, Now, Albedo, you're just used to the confines of Dragonspine with your notes," Kaeya said as he kept behind [M/N]. His gaze moved to the male as he counts the money he earned from the latest reading, something about some rich smuck and his poor widowed wife. "You could stay in the car."

"If Xiao couldn't then Albedo wasn't either." [M/N] said as he glanced to the sulking adepti, he wore his teal hoodie with, UILF, and some jeans. He said he wanted to come but had been silent for the whole ride there, which was usual but odd. "Come on, let's get some food and head back before they catch my house on fire."

They moved through the produce section and gathered what they need before moving on to the frozen things. Bennett was amazed at the cool insides of the freezers along with Albedo, both touching the glass before Bennett laughs as he moved his finger down on the glass. It drew a line down, he continued until many drawings were filling up the glass.

"Is this it?" Kaeya asked as he held up the red box, black letters of APPLE PIE written on the box.
"Yeah, grab two of them," [M/N] asked as he placed some frozen corn into the cart before hearing a subtle crack and turns to see a small crack coming from the door that Bennett and Albedo were investigating. Bennett stops and he goes still with wide eyes and [M/N] pulled the males away and hurried off with Kaeya hurrying.

Hopefully, no one saw them do that.

They headed to the dairy aisle and saw the prices on the yogurt. Most of the flavor ones, as Xiao was sent to fetch the milk. "Ooh! Pick that one with the bunny! The bunny!" Klee said as she pointed to the one, a kid one, not on sale but he picked it up before sitting it into the cart. "Thank you! I saw Auggie eating one of them and he gave me one, they tasted so good!"

"I used to eat them when my mom was gone, Auggie loves them." [M/N] said as he adds another just in case if the kids got too hungry. "I used to eat them all the time when I was grounded, I was starved so those went down easily."

"...You're mother was quite..the woman," Albedo admitted as he placed the eggs into the basket carefully after seeing them. "Where is she now?"

"In her grave. Why?"

"Albedo, dear, don't you have any other questions for our lovely host, or are you just badgering because you're bored?" Kaeya asked as he hoped the blonde would take the hint to shut up.

" I'm sorry."

[M/N] ignored it before moving to the other side of the area as Xiao came with the milk, though he had another bag and he looked to it, Marshmallows. " do you want some-"
" Yes." Xiao looked sure too, he looked at the bag of the fluff food, in his hand it felt nice and he could smell the sugar. It looked so good and his stomach grumbles a bit from the thought of just taking one bite. It wasn't his usual Almond Tofu but it was something. " if that's okay.." he added meekly.

" Of course." The seer assured as Xiao nods and placed the bag in.

" Alright, Ow.." [M/N] began pushing the cart and stops when a sudden prick of pain hit his temple, he rubbed over the area quickly and tried to think of what they needed next but the pain was still there. He felt a hand on his back and looked to see who was touching him only to feel a hard chest, his eyes widen a bit before feeling Kaeya pull him closer.

[M/N]'s cheeks felt warm to the touch, very flushed as he felt how close they were. How Kaeya's heartbeat was even and sounded nice against his ear, it didn't stop the pain but he ignored it for once as he listened to Kaeya's heartbeat. His skin felt so smooth around his chest, having the blue-eyed male wear the lowcut shirt Parker once wore and left. 

"My, so forward." Kaeya said, watching how [M/N] was pressed against his chest, he rubbed his back with a hum as he looked down at him. He looked so cute, so very vulnerable under his gaze and touch. The headaches started to worry him, they've been nothing but trouble since they started and caused him so much pain. He could hear him moving around in his bed, then the shifting and the tv turning on in [M/N]'s room. The poor thing was just working hard to give them a good life, a very nice man. "How do you feel now?" 

"..good..so warm."

Kaeya smiles as he watched [M/N] seem comfortable on his chest, so content and maybe even tried. The poor thing must've been touched starved for a while. He kept rubbing his back and ignored the curious glances and Xiao's annoyed glare as he kept providing the comfort that the man needed.

"Klee wants a hug next!" Klee said as Kaeya chuckles, and [M/N] sighs as he heard them, they vibrated in the Captain's chest and he wanted to sleep then and there against him but they had to return to shopping.

---

Auggie checked to make sure the bathroom door was locked and checked under to see any feet behind the door. The Mario Party game would distract them for a few minutes, maybe even an hour before they noticed he wasn't in the room anymore. Since the whole running into town, got him on house arrest if he was outside then two to three people were watching him.

He opened the phone and pressed the numbers for the password before quickly clicking the green button and began pressing the button, double-checking the numbers. He hits call and waited, he sits on the closed toilet and hears the rings of it.

"Auggie, buddy, are you in there?" Childe asked, knocking on the door and the boy flinches a bit. 

"I'm good, just potty troubles!" Auggie lies as he hears someone picks up on the other end of the phone.

"Oh? Okay, well, when you leave, I'll get some fruits for you." Childe said, and Auggie sighs as he heard the footsteps of the ginger leave. 

"Hello?"

"What's the password? What's my underwear color?"

"What? I don't know, why would I know?!"

"Too late, I'm gonna load up my sniper and find you-"

"I didn't even."

"Gimme that! Harold, go watch the cats. Hello?"

"Susan? You helped my Uncle and ran over Karley's mother?"

"Oh? You must be Augustus, how can I help you?"

"Uh, I was wondering if well...if you know a cult, you did do work for the police and I was kinda hoping.."

"Cults? I know a thing or two, they were popular back in the day like Manson and Applewhite."

"I was actually wondering if you heard of a different one, one that might possibly be off those records."

"Maybe? I would need to go digging in my files or call some people, is this for a school project?"

"Sorta?"

"Okay, not an answer but, lay it on me."

"The Eye eater God cult."

"Auggie..where did you learn about that cult?"

"Our neighbor-"

"You and your Uncle are in terrible danger and you should avoid them at all cost, this is..oh my..I don't know how they even found you."

Chapter Text

[M/N] had noticed Aether stared outside like he was just waiting for someone or something to show up. He didn't understand it, maybe he missed going outside. He had seen him become glum, even a bit annoyed when people were fighting but he pushed it down for that peacemaker mode. It bothered him, but he knew the feeling.

He asked around and learned about Aether's mission back on their home. His sister, a twin, and that made [M/N]'s heart hurt a bit. When he was younger, [M/N] had missed his sister, as toddlers and kids they were nice together. The perfect set that older people said, most ghosts complimented until she began turning more into their mother. Chongyun also mentioned it was close to Aether's birthday, and [M/N] guessed it was close not to mention another birthday.

His.

[M/N] didn't enjoy his birthdays and for the longest time, Auggie assumed his Uncle never knew his birthday. He didn't have fond memories of his birthday, lots of favoritism and heartache but since it was Aether's birthday as well then might as well celebrate it together. 

"Hey Aether..." [M/N] said as he pulled the door open from the back, seeing Aether sitting down on the stairs and he stood behind him with a calm posture. "...you okay?"

"Mhm, just a bit depressed, or something?"

"Because you miss lumine or because it's another birthday without her?" 

"..did someone tell you?"

"I kinda figured it out but I did ask around..Venti loves to talk once I give him enough wine." [M/N] said as he dug into his pockets, shivering a bit as the wind hit them. The weather began turning colder as the seasons began changing. "...We share the same birthday...my sister, me, and you."

"..I faintly remembered you had a sister...not a twin sister," Aether admitted as he looked to the other with a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes but not an angry or sour one. "Is that Auggie's mother?"

"Biologically yes, but she was never his mother and I will and can never be his father. I feel..selfish is away, ya know? If I were to magically became his father..the poor dude probably didn't even know Tempest was with the baby." [M/N] admitted with a sigh as he sits beside Aether, their knees touching. 

"But you love him like a son?" Aether asked as he leans his head on [M/N]'s shoulder. 

"I love Auggie more than anything in my life." [M/N] admitted as he watched the leaves fall from the tree. "I never wanted children, I was happy with my single life with my boyfriend at the time..but when I held him..I fell in love with him. I began raising him..despite having little to no money..and began doing reads for money...I dedicated my life to my work and Auggie."

"It sounds nice...like you found your missing piece of life." [M/N] chuckled as he rubbed his friend's back and hummed. "Do you regret it?"

"What?"

"keeping him, you didn't have an obligation to keep him but you did."

"And you don't need to look for your sister that isn't ready to be found and go home."

"What-" Aether jerks up a bit, as he saw how serious [M/N] was. 

"Venti told me and we don't have obligations to do anything..you with finding your found sister and me keeping Auggie..but we did and currently doing." [M/N] said with a hum as Aether nods his head, and sniffed a bit. He missed his sister so much, but she wasn't ready to come home. She wanted Aether to chase her and he will do it, willingly or not." Though...even if it takes up our stress and time..we do it because we love them."

"You're right." Aether sniffed, "I miss her so much, but I don't know how long I can do this..."

"Nobody asked you, but..let's celebrate all the things we have done..inside together.." [M/N] stands up and rubbed his friend's back before offering Aether his hand. Aether takes it and rubbed his eyes a bit, holding [M/N]'s hand as they began moving towards the door and opened it. There were the quickly hung blue and white streamers and some balloons that Auggie with Diluc had gotten. 

There was a cake with candles, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AETHER & [M/N]

"Happy Birthday!" The others shouted as Razor blows the party maker with Klee and Venti. 

Aether laughs and wiped the tears away, and [M/N] shuts the door behind them. He loved how warm his chest was, but chose to ignore it as it was Aether's time too. 

Chapter Text

"I'll be back within a few minutes, I just want to explore this place forever," Xingqiu said with a happy sigh. [M/N] had taken them to the library so Auggie could do the research on a Home School project he needed for some credits because the state demanded it. The library was a huge one, three stories high and lots of books, computers and even a cafe at the bottom. "Come on Yun, let's go see this level," Xingqiu said, dragging his best friend who grumbled as he walked. 

Auggie smiles before making sure they were in a different area, and he clicked the computer on and began typing his library number up and smiles again as it opens. He glanced where the two left and began typing in a different name than about the topic he chose from the paper that the state sent his Uncle. 

The Cult of Eyes

Auggie pulled up a different tab and began opening his junk email and saw Susan's address that she shared with Harold. 

SUSANANDHAROLD:@gmail.com 

He clicked on it before scanning over the documents she had sent with the email, most of it was the conclusion of the cults and how big it was back in the 60s, 70s, and late 80s before going quiet after their leader at the time, Melissa Lovecross was killed by police. There wasn't a photo of that shot but there were others of bodies, and bodies covered by white sheets on some farmhouse land. Auggie cringed before closing his eyes and moving down at the different document. He clicked it and began reading a different one, it was in dark letters but helped him a bit. 

THE EYE-EATING CULT

BY SUSAN B. STEWART

The leader, Melissa Lovecross, had been killed by police on April 15 at 2:15 AM. It had been a shoot out and many casualties had happened on the cult side, five officers were killed on sight along with them. Though the police were unable to predict the cult's next move and it was to get rid of all 12,000 remembers of this cult. One the Lovecross land was 55,000 unnamed bodies in the main part of the house that was rotting away in the basement of Melissa Lovecross. One body had been identified as Noel Lovecross, Melissa's husband in the mess. The rest were among the ages of three to eighty-five years old, and remains had been found behind the farmhouse.

It is unknown how many all together had been killed and slaughtered, but there had been writings among Melissa's room, on the walls, and in journals that were covered with dried blood.

Auggie scrolls down to see open journals with dried blood on the edges and some ink coming down a few pages. He looked over the slightly blurred images before looking back at the writing.

The house of horrors had their closets, kitchens, the pantry even filled to the brim of glass bottles with eyes in them. They looked new as well, and the behavior of this was unknown until one officer, found the large statue in another room of a demonic god, or man that had many eyes in his mouth along with some in his grasp. 

Heath: the Eye-eating God of Babylon  

I had searched for the information for this God, make-believe, insane creation, everything. Though there were lost images and words bout this man, almost everything I had done was gone or he did not exist yet. So far, in conformation from several libraries, priests, and such within that group, things we know is that Heath was alive during the time of Jesus, and was commanded by God to slaughter people for their eyes. Because these eyes were his creations and dipped in Sin by the devil. Actually, they were a blessing by the Archangel Gabriel on his command, to lead the souls to heaven in a much propper method but Heath followed orders. Along with the curse, some said that Heath was still alive today because of it. 

Auggie leans back and rubbed his eyes, blinking a few times, and sighs as he leans into the seat. Everything he just read was just weird, not to mention the trouble with his eyes and his Uncles. They were blessed by Gabriel? The Archangel Gabriel?

"Hey, Auggie, can you scroll down?" Auggie does before freezing and turns to meet [E/C] eyes with soft baby blue ones with a narrow slit. "Auggie?"

"I'm so sorry! I swear, I was just looking at it since Susan sent it and I couldn't help it! It scared me about what Diana and-"

"It's fine, it's only natural to question your eyes, especially special ones like yours." Chongyun said as he watched the pictures, "I'm from a long line of exorcists, all talented in their abilities but.."

"Poor yun can't seem to catch one just yet." Xingqiu finished as he placed down the stacks of books that he wanted to read back at their home.  He had a new book open and sits in the seat beside Auggie and closed it as he saw the writing quickly. "Hm, though the idea of something eating your adorable eyes would be a problem, folktale or not."

"Don't rub it in Xingqiu." Chongyun huffed before crossing his arms, rubbing his chin in thought. The thought of someone coming after [M/N] and Auggie would be a big problem, they were growing to be their friends, and having them being taken away and killed because of their gift was just barbaric. "Though while we're here, perhaps we should find more information on Heath. This essay looks old, so maybe new writings had come up?"

"That sounds like a good idea, maybe the history section or one of the librarians here?" Auggie suggested as he saved all the paperwork and click the red X on top. "Though, could you two say I'm in the bathroom if my uncle comes up here?"

"Of course."

----

So tomorrow night at 7 pm? Pick you up at your place?

Totally fine, how should I dress?

You be you ;D

Alright, see you, can't wait

Me either have a nice day 💗

---

This is an early Christmas gift to all, I will be taking a bit of a break from this book so I could outline and enjoy the holidays. Have a good Holiday, a safe Christmas, and a safe New Year!

REMINDER:

If you have fanart, go ahead and tag me, pm me, and such. I would love to see your art or anything really!

Chapter Text

[M/N] had been to mini-golf when he was 19, on one of his many dates with Parker. He had to pay for most of it though and in the end, they kissed. Parker's breath smelled like garlic and wet pasta. When he had the time, he took Auggie out to the mini-golf course before it had shut down. Apparently, a Kid took a dive off Mermaid's Island, killed him once his body hit the ground. [M/N] hadn't checked on the place since then, until Hugo pulled into the area.

That accident was years ago, and the place had a new look. Instead of dried-up paint, cracking walls, and some hobo sleeping outside, it was replaced with neon lights and a much newer hobo was sleeping outside. 

PIRATE PLUNDER

"It's been years since I have seen this place, last time some kid decided to swan dive over." [M/N] said as he walked inside the mini-golf area, it seemed to update again, "I heard it was a bet to see if the Mermaid Mountain water was real." That what was he heard.

"Yeah, so they had to change it up a bit, actually get some newer fire alarms, and even fixed fences to prevent things like that," Hugo said as he pays for the admission, and followed the others that we're picking out different color golf balls and their putter. Hugo grabbed a yellow one with a matching neon yellow ball as [M/N] grabbed neon [F/C] ball and a black putter since some snotty kid grabbed the matching color putter before him.

"You look cute when you pout." Hugo teased, seeing the look on [M/N]'s face when another kid took the matching putter to his neon ball. "Where to first?" He asked, walking to the large map on the wall. He could hear faint sounds of an arcade added, the fresh smell of pizza, and other sounds of an air gun of some kind being used. 

"What about Mermaid Island? It doesn't look crowded." [M/N] said, pointing it out as the line looked slim and easy. "Chances of me seeing a ghost would be totally low, besides, it was outside anyway."

"Yeah, makes sense." They entered the line and watched the teenagers around play, the holes looked easy especially the one with the ship, though the last one looked like a pain in the ass. 

"So why here?" [M/N] asked, he was kept in the dark for the date. He was surprised about it, he thought Hugo would've taken him out to eat or maybe a movie. Nothing like this, but he wasn't complaining. 

"It opened a few weeks and I wanted to go, but never had enough friends to come with," Hugo explained and chuckles a bit as he rubbed his nap nervously. "Sorry, I...I don't mean to sound like a total loser but...when you said yeah to the date then I couldn't help but think of here." [M/N] smiles, moving a foot into the line like others, he held the putter close to him.

"No, it's fine! It's been..a long while since I enjoyed something like this." [M/N] said as Hugo smiles, and [M/N]'s heart soars a bit as he noticed a tiny gap between his teeth and smiles, looking at the moving lights and moving mermaid that looked a bit too much of Ariel from The Little Mermaid, but with purple hair and a red shell bra.

"Really? I could assume you were tired of all this...kiddy stuff." Hugo gestures to the kid's group around one hole and a few parents taking their own turns with their kids. 

"Auggie doesn't actually like this type of stuff, he likes video games, coloring in between the lines, and sometimes a Disney movie once or twice at the theater...but stuff like this isn't his sort. He gets frustrated easily and gets bored." [M/N] explained as they finally entered, the first hole was directly into a whale and poop the ball out at the end. 

"I didn't actually come to things like this, honestly! My parents thought this would somehow turn me gay," Hugo said, shrugging as [M/N] turns to look at him. "But it didn't, I was just born gay, to begin with."

"I knew I was gay when I met Johnny Depp, Will Smith, and Mr. Robert Downey Jr." [M/N] answered with a chuckle as Hugo gives a gasp and eyes wide. "They were on the show with guests, and had to calm myself down several times when I met them, I was 13 and they were all so hot."

"No way! I can't believe you met them, who in your opinion was the best?" Hugo asked as he gently tapped the ball and it goes over the fake grass and towards the seashell, as it opens, it went through easily as the clam closed up. 

"Johnny Depp, he was such a nice man, I loved most of his works back then too. I swear I have the glove he signed somewhere away at the house." [M/N] said, it used to be a matching set but his mom took one to sell online, 500$ that was for her car payment. He looked at his ball and hit it, it goes into the shell too, both of them move behind the shell and picked up. They moved to a different one, and another, to the last one.

"I never had apple pie," Hugo said, as they made it to the last hole of the course. They talked about many things, from Auggie to politics from that was TV shows to favorite colors to foods they never tried. "Mom hated apples, or apple-related things, she said it can kill you."

"Maybe one of these days I could bake you one." [M/N] said, smiling as he hit it but the ball jumps off the ship side, rolling back to them. He grumbled, trying it again and it jumps against the fake wooden ship, rolling slowly to his feet. "Stupid ball."

"Here, you're putting a lot of drive into the hit," Hugo said, getting behind [M/N]. He moved his arms around him, and [M/N] felt frozen a bit as he felt Hugo move his arms. [M/N] knew how to do it but he was not complaining. He smiles to himself as he let Hugo "show" him. The ball began rolling and entered the hole, going through before hitting home. "There."

"Thanks." [M/N] said as he pulled back, smiling at the other. Hugo shares it, he pushed some brown hair away from his eyes and behind his ears. His sweet hazel eyes met his [E/C] ones, it made his heartbeat stop for a moment before he shakes it off. "One day, I promise to make you one, if you're not allergic."

"No way, I work with apples all the time! I swear it's...just I never eat what I bake at the shop." Hugo explains with a smile.

"Good, because it's gonna be good, and made with the sweetest apples I can fine." [M/N] said, gently poking him with the putter end. They moved to collect their balls from the hole, they moved away back to the station. Once their putter and ball were put away to be cleaned, they left the mini-golf area. They share a smile, moving to leave before noticing the little shooting game. 

"Dude, look at that." [M/N] said, eyeing the may squish toys, before rolling his eyes at the ghost one. 

"You want that one?" Hugo asked, pointing to the ghost one. 

"Not really." Yes, a lot, only because Xiao steals mine.

"I can see it, one round," Hugo said as the attendant pulled one of the air guns off the hook, offering it. Hugo takes it and began shooting the moving targets. [M/N] watched, bitting his lower lip a bit as Hugo hits some but misses the ones that were needed to win. Once the music with the game was over, [M/N] laughs to himself as Hugo was handed one novelty toy. A little fish toy, soft to the touch but obviously too small. "Man, I am not good at this game." Hugo laughs.

"I'll try."

"You sure? I mean, I can try again." Hugo offered as [M/N] shakes his head. He pulled out the money, handing it over.

The game started, the music going on as [M/N] held the gun in the right position for him. He takes a deep breath, exhaling as he shoots. He kept moving along the targets carefully, hitting the center as the music enters his ears. 

"Winner!" The game said it rings a bell as [M/N] hands over the air gun. The attendant pulled one of the squishes out, the ghost one.

"Thanks.."

"That was amazing! How could you shoot that awesome? Like a total badass!" Hugo asked, at awe of the way he did. 

"Well, mom didn't just stop at darts...but with guns too. I needed something to wow the contestants other than throwing darts at my sister." [M/N] said, remembering the lessons and shivering as he looked at the ghost squish. It was white and had a little tail, the best thing was the face. 

the forever :D on it.

"It was awesome, [M/N], you're just a Jack-of-all-trades, huh?" Hugo said as he wrapped their arms together, smiling as [M/N] felt his cheeks flush a bit. He nods to himself smiling, "I guess I am.."

The drive home was nice, relaxing, and quiet. The lights were out once they parked, and Hugo walked [M/N] to his door. "So..."

"I had a good time..it's been too long since someone took me out." [M/N] said, as he held the squish close and looked at Hugo. Should I kiss him? What if he finds that weird? Would he hit me? I could always kiss on the second date, is there a second date?

" Me too," Hugo said as he smiles, he leans against the wall of the home a bit. "I know the next few weeks are gonna be busy for me, with Christmas coming up. There is gonna be a whole lot of orders for me."

"Yeah, I almost forgot about Christmas, Auggie and I...never had a lot of people to celebrate with." [M/N] admitted, toying with the ghost tail of the toy. 

"I know the feeling, but...maybe around New Year, if you're interested...we could go out again if you want," Hugo said, his cheeks flushed a bright pink, and [M/N] smiles a bit more nodding. 

"I would like that..."

Hugo and [M/N] share a smile, chuckling a bit at how awkward they were being. Their eyes met for a second, and then began leaning closer to each other, for a little kiss but the door opens. [M/N] moved back to see the annoying golden eyes of Aether.

"Aether?"

"Are you coming in? We paused the movie so you two can have a moment, but I actually want to see what the Dogs were gonna do to the dog catcher."

Chapter Text

Tree shopping [Decemember 20]

"What about this one? It looks sturdy."

"But there's a white one! Look! Look! Klee thinks it would do better inside the home."

"But it's 30 dollars over and it doesn't even smell good," Auggie argues as he saw the fake tree that was dolled up with purple and blue ornaments and an angel on top of it. "It smells like plastic."

"Hey, hey, no fighting." [M/N] said as he pulled Klee's hand in his and towards the real trees. He shivered outside as they went, and looked at the many trees in the lot with many different prices on them. [M/N] shivered again with a sigh and felt Klee let go and look around with Auggie behind her. Both talked about each tree that caught her attention. [M/N] watched them, as Aether was beside him but on [M/n]'s phone. He was choosing Christmas gifts, as [M/N] watched the two.

"Here." [M/N] felt something wrapped around his shoulders and looked at the large black jacket around him. He had gotten it from the thrift store for Diluc since he was a bit broader with his strong shoulders yet thin waist. "Hey, wait, you'll be cold." [M/N] said as he tried to pull it off himself.

"I'm fine, I can stand the cold," Diluc assured as he watched the children finally stop at the tree, both seemed to be talking about it. "I told you to bring another coat anyway." 

"I know, but I was stopping Xingqiu from feeding Chongyun some jalapeno poppers." [M/N] said as he shrugs but pulled his arms through the black sleeves of the large coat and snuggled into the soft fur of the jacket. It wasn't that bad of a deal either, 3.99 plus tax.

"I understand the gift-giving, but why a tree? Wouldn't it be dangerous to have one especially with lights on?" Diluc asked as he moved towards the kids. Christmas was odd but got that gift-giving was the whole point rather than spending time with family. "Usually, it snows around this time in Mondstadt and a lot of more drunks at the tavern. It was a bit slow as well for work since the grapes are frozen over."

"It's just aesthetically pleasing for me and Auggie, I worked a lot around this time and gotten Auggie the gifts he wanted but also making him feel happy." [M/N] said as he looked over the tree that the kids picked out. Nothing too big, and still healthy it seemed, "You two watch them, I'll go get one of the workers."

Aether looked up from the phone and noticed the tree, very green and taller than him. "What did you get him for Christmas?" Aether asked, glancing at Diluc. 

"Some cooking books." Diluc said as Aether hummed, "and you?"

"Nothing special, just something to make him happy."

"How odd for you to say that, is it something that's age-appropriate?" Diluc asked eyebrow raised as Aether flushed and glared at him a bit, "Aether."

"It's nothing like that, I'm not telling you what it is because it's supposed to be a secret." Aether clutched the phone closely and rolled his eyes a bit as [M/N] returned. He wanted the perfect gift, and this seemed it would do nicely. 

Decorating outside the house [Decemember 21]

Albedo placed down the last box of Christmas decorations onto the snowy ground, he watched Klee and Kazuha fixed the plastic Santa, his arm gets stuck with every move of his arm. Albedo had quickly adapted with tools here, instead of using Alchemy. [M/N] sets the ladder up, it clicks against the rooftop and is hooked together for steadiness. "Here," [M/N] said as he grabbed the end of the lights, "I'll go up and you guys make sure I don't fall." 

"Wait, if you wish, I can go," Kazuha said as he stands by the ladder and held it. "I don't want you to hurt yourself, it would make us upset."

"I'll be fine, just make sure you hold the ladder." [M/N] said as he began climbing up, pulling the lights behind him and on the roof, slowly hooking them before slowly scrambling on the roof. The slight snow made it hard but he soon got the lights around. Once he made it back to the front, he pulled the extension. "Turn it on!"

"Klee has it!"

Soon the lights came on and [M/N] hummed, seeing the multicolor lights turn on and off. [M/N] slowly went down before feeling the click and his heats drop, the ladder went down as [M/N] let's go. He would be fine, or at least that he hoped since there was little snow there. 

"Easy there," Kazuha chuckles as he caught [M/N] easily in his arms and the [E/C] eyed male grasped him tightly as Kazuha smiles at him, ignoring Albedo's narrowed stare. "I knew this ladder was a bit offputting."

"Hahah, don't make fun of me because I'm very vulnerable in your arms." [M/N] rolled his eyes but didn't leave Kazuha's arms, they actually felt nice. 

"Easy there, I hold no malice to you, the wind simply told me to come to help you," Kazuha said as he slowly sits [M/N] on his feet. 

"Oh, so you're a hippie?"

"What?"

"[M/N]! [M/N]! Help me put the raindeer out!" Klee called, toying with one of the deers near the boxes.

"Reindeer Klee!" [M/N] corrected as he stands, fixing his jacket as he heads to her as Kazuha smiles. He picks the ladder up, waving at Albedo who finally turns his stare on the Santa, ignoring the awful pull in his gut.

Playing Board Games [ December 22]

"Give me my 200 dollars, or I will raise the fucking rent."

"Mister Childe, speaking in a manner so cruel."

"Xingqiu..."

[M/N] leans on the dining table with the others, the rest had gone to bed once 12 AM had hit and others had quit the game when it got too intense for them. He toyed with the dog figure in his space, as Childe stared down at bluenette as the other gave the same vibe back at him. 

"It's not fair, you landed at my stupid road and you won't pay me. It's part of the rules." Childe hissed, he looked so pissed and ready to strike Xingqiu. 

"Yes, but you are in jail, and if I wasn't a good man, I would pay a criminal." Xingqiu grins smugly as Childe clenched his jaw tightly. 

"Now children, we can simply stop playing if you can't play correctly." Kaeya said as he held up his little red house between his fingers, "Besides, perhaps the lad couldn't pay for his dues."

"Why Sir Kaeya, perhaps you should nurse your wine before Venti comes to snatch it," Xingqiu advises as Chongyun sighs. He looked at his own money, 2 dollars to his name at this moment but worth it when he bought most of a boardwalk and a train.

"I wish that we can play a nice game.." Chongyun sighs as he toyed with the thumbnail. 

"Wanna go watch Frozen and let them figure this stuff out?" [M/N] asked as he stands as Chongyun stands up as well. That movie would surely calm him down and probably put a pause on this game.

Wasn't like he was gonna win anyway.

Wrapping Presents up [ December 23]

"Like this?" [M/N] turns to see Zhongli messily wrap up a present for Thoma, an apron but the box was just messy with tape, "It just seemed...messy compared to yours." [M/N] glanced down at the box in his lap to see his work. It was perfect, as perfect as it can be, not bad as Zhongli's at least.

"What happened to it?" Aether asked, his own perfectly wrapped presents in his hands and placed under the tree. "It looks like you forgot to put the ends down and just taped up the mistake."

"Oh, we were supposed to tuck the edges? Oh.." Zhongli said as he looked at the messy masterpiece. He wasn't keen on wrapping things, back home they had a fancy bag and stuffed whatever it is in there before slowly tying it back up. 

"It's fine, I'm sure Childe would like it." [M/N] said as Zhongli's shoulders slumped a bit.

"It's for Thoma.."

"Oh, okay then, here." [M/N] grabbed the next present, for Klee. Some better shoes, for her to have fun in. [M/N] shifted closer to him and began showing Zhongli how to wrap a present without another more mess like that. Xiao leans over his shoulder a bit, having been stuck with helping to wrap presents as well. 

"Then we open these...on Christmas?" Xiao asked as he finished his last present and placed it under the tree, just as bad as Zhongli's, a lot of tapes and not a lot of paper. "Mortals amusement never cease to annoy me."

"Well, you had fun yesterday when we were playing Clue." [M/N] pointed out as he placed a bow on his last present he wrapped and placed it beside Aethers. 

"Only because I enjoy being right, especially with Lady Peacock murdering Mustard in the library with a candleholder," Xiao replied, rolling his eyes as he stands up and crossed his arms. He enjoyed the game, only because it made him happy to see the Fatui man fail at the game twice. 

"See you had fun," Aether teased as he stands with a yawn, and stretched his arms. "We should head to bed."

"I agree." Zhongli said as he stands with [M/N], "Xiao?"

"I have one more to give."

Once they headed upstairs, Xiao pulled out the gift from under the couch cushion and began wrapping it up quickly before turning the light off. He walked upstairs, entered [M/N]'s bedroom, and lay on his side of the bed. [M/N]'s back towards him as he stared at the ceiling, the pain he felt in his bones and mind settles as he closed his eyes to sleep. 

He shifted closer before gently hugging [M/N] from behind hind, nuzzling against him before finally, sleep came over him.

[M/N] felt the arms and hummed, nuzzling against his pillow, waiting for Xiao to sleep.

Christmas Morning [December 24]

"Oh wow, it's a nice book, the Hunger games?" 

"Klee wants to try her new boots on! Please?"

"Oh, a new wine, much appreciated~"

Once the kids woke up, everyone followed especially with Auggie's and Klee's screaming that it was snowing outside. Slowly the presents were handed out as Zhongli and Aether began making coffee for everyone or tea, and the gifts were being opened left to right.

"Oh~ a tiny guitar, something to finally sing my bards on to entertain out host~"

"Thank you for the tea set, it's very lovely."

"I don't know what this game is but look at the weapons in it!"

"Love...sweater...smells nice."

"Cool! Some...colored wax?"

"This...bear looks very...squishy."

"It's a stuffed animal Chongyun."

[M/N] sits down as everyone opens their presents and enjoys the looks on their faces especially as Razor smells one of Bennett's crayons before making a face, "Not food."

"Oh..a scarf, thank you."

"....an empty book."

"That's the cover page Thoma."

"Oh!"

[M/N] chuckles a bit as he didn't notice Auggie sneak outside with Klee to get the little special gift that was hidden in their shed. [M/N] leans into the chair as Kazuha opens his, and smiles at the new kimono-style robe that [M/N] ordered for him, it looked nice in all the reds and cream colors. 

"Here."

[M/N] perked up as he saw the messy present wrapped in tape and paper. He looked to see Xiao and how flushed he was, all the way to the tips of his pointy ears. [M/N] takes it and opened it slowly, and smiles to see a pocket mirror. "Thanks."

"I...didn't know what to get you and..it seemed like something you would enjoy."

"Thank Xiao."

"Here take mine!"

"Open mine."

"Wait! Mine next."

[M/n] was a bit flustered from the gifted, it had been years since someone gave him a gift. Something that wasn't hand-made by Auggie, but he smiles. [M/N] takes Zhongli's presence next before the door slammed open and he jerks up a bit. 

"Merry Christmas!"

There stood in the doorway were Auggie and Klee, both smiling brightly as[M/N] dropped his coffee cup as there stood beside them were a baby cow and yet another dog. All of them were covered in snow which caused [M/N] to grow annoyed.

"What in the hell-"

"They were messing around in the shed the other day! A baby cow and puppy!"

"AUGUSTUS PEACHES [L/N]!"

Chapter Text

"So this...cow is a man...called Itto?" [M/N] asked for the fifty-something time, he rubbed his forehead a bit as he watched said cow eat some carrots and watch the tv with the kids. They were petting him and even brushed him with toy doll brushes that were hot pink with Barbie's name on it. Gorou was sleeping in [M/N]'s lap, the little Shiba was so tired and cold from staying in the shed. 

"Yes, he's...nice. Very pushy, and very confident...and kinda..."

"Dumb?" [M/N] finished Aether's sentence as he gently scratched behind Gorou's ear and the pup began kicking his leg a bit from the moment of pleasure. "Well..I'll have to buy some more things before I can turn them back if you don't mind."

"That's fine, besides...it was a surprise after all." Aether agreed as he sipped some hot chocolate with a sigh and wiped his lower lip. Once again, [M/N] had taken this just as fine, even more. 

"It is not fine, the damn cow is going to stink up the place and probably chew through the wires," Scaramouche said, complaining about the two newcomers already. "They can live in the shed." He wasn't sharing his room with anyone else, this house was becoming too cramped for his liking.

"It's way too cold for them, it's snowing too." [M/N] said as he placed Gorou down and ignored the puppy whine that came from him. 

"So? They survived as long as they did with the rugrats, why not send them all out to sleep in the shed?" [M/N] rolled his eyes as he stands up, moving towards the freezer to get some meat out to cook for later. He glanced at the meat, frozen vegetables, and such. They were slowly running out of food and he didn't have much on hand, whatever he had after buying things went into his savings account for Auggie.

"Uncle!" Auggie called from the living room, [M/N] walked into the living room when called. Auggie held up his phone and said, "There's an emergency reading for you."

Christmas Day and already getting calls about readings, how lucky he was. [M/N] takes it and placed it against his ear before sitting down on the couch, ignoring the lightly grinding of Itto's horns against his leg for his attention. 

"Uh, Hi...I'm Florence Wick and...I saw your newspaper ad a few days ago..and we need help..bottom line..we run a BNB and we knew our house was old with some dirty laundry...if you know what I mean." The woman on the phone whispered, [M/N] frowns a bit as he sees Childe and Scaramouche fucking around with his tablet, mostly Childe taunting the smaller with it and Scaramouche cursing up a storm because of it. "It attacked my daughter, gave her a concussion, we're desperate...so much."

"I can be there in the morning-"

"Fucking hand it over!"

"Nyah~"

CRACK

"This is a big house...lots of space," Childe commented as they stood at the door of this house, Auggie holding his hand as the boy nods in agreement with a smile. They wore sweaters and Auggie was the most bundled up out of the four. Him, Childe, [M/N] and Scaramouche.

"Can't I just freeze in the car?" Scaramouche asked, tapping his foot against the wooden porch with a scowl. He was annoyed to be up this early and annoyed to even leave the nice warm home for this shitty winter. Though it beats Aether glaring at him most of the time he entered the room. It didn't scare him, nothing did, but it was annoying to feel on him.

"Enough, you break my tablet, and you can help me by doing this with me." [M/N] hissed as he pressed the blue button of the doorbell, it dings and soon a voice came up.

"It's open." A woman's voice, Florence said from the tiny speaker above it. 

[M/N] opened the door and kicks off the snow that was attached to his shoes before noticing the home. Nothing strange, or tingles of danger that would alarm him at any moment. He kept moving until he saw the living room, and smiles politely. 

"I'm [M/N] [L/N], this is my Nephew who has the same capable abilities as myself," [M/N] smiles to the woman who pets back her red hair and offers her hand to him, they shake and [M/N] pulled his hand back. "This behind me with the scowl is Scaramouche and-"

"His husband." Childe introduces and [M/N] glared at him as Scaramouche kicked his knee a bit with his boot. "Ajax."

"It's lovely to meet you, I know it must be a pain coming out here but..whatever..hurt my daughter," Florence said as she sits down, the orange leather crinkles as she sits. "I...I have another daughter younger and I didn't want anything to happen to her."

"I understand, can you show me the room that she was attacked in?" Florence nods as she stands up, fixing her skirt before walking them down a hallway. The house was quite large with many modern decore and furnishings. Too many Live, Love, and Laugh stickers for his taste but it looked very lovely.

This home..is like one of those special homes that rich people have in magazines or on those cooking shows on the Cooking Network. It would take a fortune to even get something like this..I would be fifty before I can own something like this...

"Here it is."

"Huh-"

[M/N] looked up to the room, the door open but instead of seeing what the others could see, he saw a room filled to the brim with cobwebs, so many black webs tangling up in the room like a nest in the forest. Like it was a trap, and his eyes looked around for the source. This looked handmade, by actual people than some sort of demon or poltergeist. 

"Uncle are you seeing this-"

"Yeah, I am."

"So many webs...but-"

Once Auggie began talking the webs lifted and soon humming came out from the room. [M/N] felt a tingle down his spine because of it, it sounded so familiar and it sounded something that would lull him to sleep. He gulped his nerves as he walked inside slowly and the door slammed shut. He jerked back and tried opening it but it didn't budge either way.

"[M/N]! Are you okay?"

"Uncle!?"

Ajax's and Auggie's voices were loud on the other side and [M/N] tried opening the door again, pushing his weight to try and open it.

"Hey, it took too much time for you to just go up and leave."

[M/N] stops, turning around to see a young girl, maybe around Auggie's age. She had short brown hair, soft green eyes, and wore a very vintage-looking dress. She looked around the early fifties, when she died, but obvious by the gunshot wound in her forehead.

"Are you..?"

"Rina, Rina Upton, but right now, I am the closest ghost in the area that hasn't left." She said, as [M/N] blinked back his shock for a moment of her bluntness. "I have a message for you, then after that, I can leave."

"Oh, Uh,"

"You see these spider webs 'ere?" Rina asked as she gestures to the webs that are sprawled across the ceiling in a manner that made [M/N]'s stomach do butterflies. "This is markings of cult leader evidence, the last few couples that used this house as a BNB left them, wreck up the place, and make it smell."

"Cults? Here?"

"Are ya stupid? Yes, and they annoy the holy heck outta me." Rita said as she crossed her arms and huffed, "I don't have a lot of time, my message is getting out of here, because of your eyes, and that kid's eyes, they are coming 'ere."

"How did you even know how to find me? I mean.."

"Shut yer trap, I know because someone dude sent me from the other side, anyway, they are after you and this..has to be the last warning...the more the webs the more the people...get the hell out of dodge..change yer name and take your nephew too.." Rita said as she looked out the window. It seemed darker with fog covering the outside until sunlight moved and shines into the room. It was blinding and [M/N] opened his eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Fucker looks crossed-eyed."

"Scara!"

[M/N] noticed he had been sitting in the spot that Rita had been, [M/N] noticed the webs were gone and Auggie was gently tugging at his pants leg. "Uncle?"

"...We need to talk a lot at home."

"I'm hungry."

"After we eat somewhere.."

After another scan and gazing around the house, they left. Rita was completely gone from the house and they stopped at a diner.

"This place has a lot of things here," Ajax said as he scans the pink menu up and down, he wasn't too hungry but everything looked good, even the pictures. "And what are you having dear?" He grins teasingly at [M/N] who rolled his [E/C] eyes. 

"I'm not married to you, and just a burger with fries." [M/N] wasn't too hungry, he was too busy crunching the numbers for the move they would make. He could put down half and work another job to fill Auggie's college fund back up. He didn't want to use too much money, he didn't care if he had to rent. 

"I want the grilled cheese with onion rings!" Auggie said as he placed the menu down, smiling, "and a milkshake?"

"Sure, whatever. Scara, what are you getting?" [M/N] asked as he glanced at the man to his left. Scaramouche didn't look up, his violet eyes scanning down the menu quickly as he made another face, "Honey, he doesn't eat~"

"..the chicken soup and some tea..I need something warm to keep the cold away."

"Heh, usually you don't eat because it's something mortally stupid." Ajax mocked a bit as Scaramouche rolled his eyes at the other. 

"I'm human...as of now...my limbs aren't stiff and my fingers tingle when I dip them in warm water," Scaramouche said as he looked at his fingers, he wanted this at the very beginning before meeting the Fatui. He wanted to be real, to mock Ei for losing him. But now, he felt odd, real especially with the working organs all humans have. 

"So...no longer a Pinocchio doll then?" [M/N] leans against him with a smile as he chuckled when the smaller glared at him, "You feel everything? Right, Kuni?" [M/N] asked as he leans against him.

"Off, now," Scaramouche grumbled before noticing Childe's eyes narrowing upon them. He grins before leaning against [M/N], enjoying the look of malice coming across those blue eyes. 

"How can I help you guys today?" A waiter asks, as [M/N] orders for them, and the man walked away from them. 

"So you were in that room for a long time Uncle.." Auggie began, it had scared him when the door closed on his Uncle and nothing but silence as Florence got another key.

"It was nothing, simply a lost soul.." He said as he placed down the menu as Auggie bit his lower lip a bit. 

He heard everything, they were talking a bit loud and caught everything that they said. Auggie knew it was the cause of the cult and the spiderwebs they left behind.

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

Voting Time

Lilac
Crimson
Garnet
Stone
Mauve
Oatmeal

Chapter Text

"This house is too small, Itto would take up ten times the space."

"Luckily for us, there are smaller people in the house, including you and the kids."

Scaramouch rolled his eyes as they left the dingy car, it made his stomach do circles and feel twisting and pulling every time it moved. It was much better than walking and running everywhere in their world, or hitching rides on boats to move around. [M/N] parked behind a mini-van and stepped out, seeing a family walk out with a piece of paper. They seemed to be in deep conversation, as Scaramouche and [M/N] walked past them. 

"Please sign the papers, and have some coffee," The Real Estate woman said, busy with another couple as [M/N] wrote down their names on the paper. He didn't bother with the coffee as he looked around the home. He had planned to look around by himself and report back home to everyone else but Scaramouche began stirring up trouble with Childe, the ginger man mocking Scara until his heel was digging at his ankle.

"Why do we have to move anyway? Has the house finally gotten stuffy for you because of us or because you actually enjoy our company?" Scaramouche asked as they walked around the empty home. It smelled like fresh lemons and nicely cut grass. It made him want to sneeze or open a window. 

"Both, I enjoy most of your company but Auggie is a growing boy too so he needs lots of room." [M/N] said as he touched over the clean black counter to make sure it was clean. He admired the lovely kitchen but it looked smaller than his back home. It was brand new and shines a bit from being built in. "Besides, this house has larger bedrooms, and a basement so you all don't need to suffocate in the attic."

"I like it but Tartaglia always tries to do odd things to me as I sleep, like writing on my face or flirting with the little Mondstadt Captain, or worst them gossiping about you," Scaramouche said as he looked out the window, seeing their car but the ugly bushes in front. How unsightly.

"Flirting about me? About what?" [M/N] asked as he closed the cabinet door, not a lot of room, probably a kitchen for a family that doesn't cook a lot.

"What you would be in bed, or Tartaglia taunting the Captain about how good you felt," [M/N] shakes his head as they left and looked into the bedrooms and bathrooms. Four and one and a -half bathrooms, the last room they checked was the basement. It was double the size of the attic and the half bathroom was just at the back, [M/N] poked his head in to see a toilet, sink, and a shower. Something nice for them and pulled back. 

"What do you think?" 

"I think it's...cheap," Scaramouche said as he crossed his arms with a shrug. "Like..someone should live here but has a..party lifestyle, not really a family home."

"It's not cheap, trust me, but yeah, this is the first house for us to visit anyway." [M/N] agreed, it was a nice home and pretty clear in the basement but it wasn't fitting into his ideal home.

"If we're done here, we should leave," Scaramouche said, huffing as he hears laughter from above from the Real Estate woman and her clients. 

"Yeah, we have another home anyway to visit. It's a bit far but a lot closer to the shopping district around here."

They arrived and the man at the house actually was showing another family around the house. [M/N] wrote their names down clearly and Scaramouche noticed that he had a new Surname, [L/N].

"Why am I [L/N] Scaramouche?" He asked as he walked, arms crossed as he noticed the little hallway before entering into the living room. This living room was small, the fake living room decore was barely fitting in but this house had an upstairs. "Scaramouche would do me just fine on paper."

"Oh please, the second they see two single guys they assumed we're just going to trash the house, or worst, married guys would probably do better in their perspective." [M/N] said as he looked over towards the kitchen. He could see the dark purple cabinets and grey countertop, there was a window on the side of the house, and he peeked over and hummed. "It looks very spacious."

"I like the cabinets, I could imagine it...more things for Thoma to put things around and hide snacks from itto and Klee." [M/N] heard Scaramouche and looked, the cabinets were nice and there was a newer model of a wall stove like it was in the 60s. He opened it and [M/N] smiles a bit before closing it. "The kitchen is quite suitable..for us and the children."

"Ah, a gay couple, lucky for you two the Neighborhood is very LGBTQ+ friendly, and there are schools around here with good reviews." The Realtor guy said, Mark, brown hair and matching brown eyes. He wore a nice purple shirt with a collared shirt as well, a black tie and he had a nice large smile. "The shopping district is a bit of a drive but very nice parks around here, family-friendly."

"Oh, really?" [M/N] said as he looked over to the man, "well I and my husband are just looking around, we have a large family."

"I understand, and thankfully this house has two bathrooms, a very spacious backyard, and a large furnished attic above." Mark said, as [M/N] hummed, that sounded good, "It could turn into a master bedroom, or maybe a guest room or even a game room."

"We just said that we have a large family, why would we need a game room?" Scaramouche asked a bit snarky as [M/N] saw Mark frowns a bit before resuming the smile. [M/N] moved beside Scaramouche and his arm moved around the man's thin waist and Scaramouche scowls even more at the touch. He wasn't used to it and glanced to [M/N].

"Sorry, My Husband is a bit picky, he loves the kids so much and wants the perfect family home for us." [M/N] apologized with a smile, as Mark nods his head. 

"I am not picky." Scaramouche hissed into [M/N]'s ear and twitched as [M/n] pinched his waist a bit. Damn the new skin.

"Oh no, I understand, usually one of the parents is picky with houses." Mark said as he smiles, gesturing them to follow after him, "I'll show you the bedrooms."

[M/N] walked as Scaramouche walked behind him, pulling his shirt a bit down, as they saw the four bedrooms. The first two were a bit small, but possibly a bedroom for Klee and Auggie to share, and the other for two, probably had to draw sticks as the last two were medium. One led to the backyard, which was large and a large tree. 

"Up here in the attic and as I said, it could be used in many different ways," Mark said as they climbed the stairs and the door opens to reveal the large attic, everything was covered and there were large grey walls and a nice little bay window that was pointed to the backyard. He looked as Mark speaks up again, "There is central cooling and heating up here, and the paint is new along with the floor." 

"All of this within our budget?" Scaramouche asked, arms crossed and eyebrow arched as [M/N] was just amazed at this attic, it was just so amazing and so much room. 

"I didn't say that, they want 55k on this, a bit pricy but all worth it for the neighborhood." Mark said as he perked up to hear people below, "I'll let you two talk, if you want to put another offer and possible loan, then let me know."

Once Mark was gone, [M/N] sighs as he looked around, the house was nice, a bit too roomy with the minimal things he owned, but it broke the bank, and couldn't spend all of that. "What do you think?"

"What do I think?" Scaramouche repeated as he shrugs, "I think it's a nice home, it could fit all of us but it seemed it will be over budget, but maybe worth it."

"It is, I never lived in a nice house like this." [M/N] agreed as he steps away from the window with a sigh, "But I can't put in another offer."

"Why not, I thought your money was enough?" 

"It's for Auggie's College fund, I've been saving since he was five," [M/N] said, he only dipped in when something bad happens or if it was a special occasion. 

"College? Like school, doesn't he already do that?" Scaramouche asked.

"It's school after that school to further his education, I want him to live a life better than what I can offer." [M/N] said, he wanted to go to college when he was younger, he wanted to work with Police, he wanted to be like those cool people on the tv that find serial killers or such. But then, Life hit him and he wanted Auggie to have a better life. 

"You seem to be working well for yourself, supporting a child way before us."

"Yeah, but I struggle, besides, I rather have him give up the thought of talking to the dead, it hurt your head, your mental health." 

"Then why continue?"

"I had bills to pay and more mouths to feed."

Scaramouche closed his lips as they both left, as Mark showed another family the home. They drive for more than an hour, the many houses becoming like the way back home, lots of space in between and lots of lands. There were trees, bushes, and flowers. "You're willing to move all the way out here?"

"Yeah, the house is just below my budget, it's not that bad." [M/N] said as he turns down a lonely road and soon pulled up on a bit of a hill, then a two-story house, trees surrounding it along with a brush. It needed a trim but was still cleaned up, [M/N] slowly parked next to the familiar Van.

"Hold on, that-"

"Susan! He's here!" Harold called, [M/N] noticed the older man calling from the porch, and Scaramouche groans a bit, the two old people.

"Be nice," [M/N] sighed, "I'll get you something when we get back home."

"How nice?" Scaramouche asked arms crossed as he leans into the dark seat. He found the two too loud, and the woman vulgar for no reason. She reminded him of the Crimson Witch before her death, cocky and too confident with vulgar words escaping her lips. 

"Nice enough to get through it."

"Pft," Scaramouche huffed as they left the car and shut the door behind them. They walked up as Susan finally opened the door, the fresh smell of cleaning supplies coming out from the door. 

"Hey! Hey, I didn't know you were seeing a young woman."Harold said with a cheeky smile as Susan rolled her eyes.

"She's a He, put your glasses on," Susan sighs as she fixed her hair a bit and gestures for them to enter, "Sorry about him, he got new glasses and still runs the stop sign or hits the stop sign."

"No, I didn't! The Sign was in my way!"

"The sign was over the curve," Susan sighs as she rubbed her hands together, "Anyway, it's nice to see you brought one friend, this house was built around 1940 or 1974, either way, it's old and nice. There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms with a full basement, and a fenceless backyard."

"The price?"

"Since it's the home of a serial killer around the 80s, they had placed it down as 254k, then over the years it went down, now it's barely 29k, and just below your price." Susan explained, "not to mention my friend died here a few months ago, the price went down a lot."

"She moved on, I can't sense her anywhere." [M/N] said, arms crossed over his chest with a smile, "It looked well lived in." The home felt nice, the vibe was warm, comfy, and ready to be moved in it seemed. They entered the living room and [M/N] smiles at the lovely old-fashioned view.

"I know, but come look at the kitchen," Susan gestures them to follow after her and the two enter behind her, [M/N]'s eyes widen a bit.

"I don't like the green wall." Scaramouche admitted, touching against the tiles, and noticed how clean it was. 

"But the oven was in the wall, and the fridge is across from it, the window behind the fridge would be a bit odd but who needs this much sun?" [M/N] said as he opened the large cabinets, all cleaned out but so much space. They could also get rid of the old dining room table, maybe eBay or something, the island could help with dining issues since the newer mouths appeared.

"Mhm! I mean, since you would have money left, you could upgrade," Susan offered the idea as Scaramouche looked over the wood, feeling it under his hand. Since he was human, the new feelings under his hands were odd and weird as did the texture of food in his mouth, but he did enjoy it.

"I like it, I mean, maybe some more comfy chairs, and some paintings but I might take up cooking again since I have the room for it." [M/N] admitted as he closed the pantry doors. 

"Over here you fifty pigs, come see the living room!" Harold's voice called out to them as they walked across the kitchen into the dining room. 

The room was a different color and lovely french doors that lead outside and a window adjacent to the doors. The table there was a bit dusty but the fake plants made it very homey, warm, as Harold was toying with one of the wind bottles, "Lana was a big one on wine, it killed the bitch."

"Harold.."

"Fine, the alcoholic bitch."

[M/N] didn't mind the cursing as he looked over the little wine holder and dresser, it looked to match the accent feel, like a nice comfy home that Lana had before she passed away. "It's beautiful," he admitted.

"She had certain tastes, she loved the old things."

"The bedrooms?" Scaramouche said as he ignored the little flutter in his heart as he saw [M/N]s expression, so much love for the details, and enchanted by these little things.

"Two are just down the hallway, two above and two extra rooms downstairs," Susan said as she rubbed her hands together as she turned the thermostat was going up a bit.

They checked into the bathroom upstairs, large and the bedrooms. They were very decent and the closets were nice. They headed downstairs and saw the two extra rooms, they visit one that seemed to be an old office before going to the second room across from it, and gasped lightly as he saw the bedroom. 

"This was Lana's room, she was just fashionable."

"She rarely slept in here, she traveled a lot for work, but she always bought things she doesn't need." 

[M/N] looked around, the pink was lovely, better than his yellow aesthetic room. [M/N] moved towards the bed and it was soft under his hand with a sigh, it was so soft to the touch. He moved and sat on it, his legs pressure was gone. He looked around as Susan talked but it was mute to him, he moved to lay down and sighs. This room reminded him a lot of his sisters growing up, he had worn down things as his sister had the right of the box stuff.

"Are you.."

"He's buying it," Scaramouche said as he watched the older woman smirk as she left the bedroom before seeing [M/N] hugging the pillow a bit, and watching. "You really are pathetic?"

"Mhm, and you'll be moving with this pathetic man." [M/N] replied, as he nuzzled against the pillow with a sigh, "a nice new home for us...to protect us.."

"You're an odd man, very vulnerable," Scaramouche said as he sit beside [M/N]'s legs, his eyes moved over his figure and gently leans a bit, "You're too selfless."

"I never got to be vulnerable, I never got a chance to be vulnerable...or things I wanted...this room was the room I wanted as a kid..."

"A pink room?"

"A room with a bed with covers and smelled clean."

Scaramouche frowns before looking at the wall, the patterns, back on their land he didn't need sleep, closing his eyes just relaxed him, he never needed beds or mats or even having to use toiletries as well. But knew that Inazuma had horrible parents, horrible children that lived in horrible situations. He knew of an abused child when he saw it

Chapter Text

"Itto stop trying to take Auggie and Klee to another booth!"

"Thoma, please stay close!"

"Kaeya stop grabbing my wais- Xiao! Don't kick him!"

"For the love of God, Aether stop tripping Scara!"

[M/N] got the AD for the New Years' festival around their local park, at first he didn't want to go because there was too much noise and knew it was too much for them. Soon the kids found out, with Childe and Itto were begging, he allowed it and they had a long walk there.

"Look at that! There are so many cakes in the display, and those mini ones next to it!" Gorou gasped, holding onto Aether's arm a bit, his tail wags from under his pants, and felt himself drooling a bit. "There's one with cheese in it!"

"OH! Yeah! Look some games, it looks like you have to use the bow and shoot it, then win a prize!" Itto said, watching some adults completely fail at the game, grinning to himself as he knew he could definitely win it, despite never using a bow before. 

"Ha, bet I could win more than you could." Childe taunts at the larger male and also has a falling at shooting an arrow perfectly, as long as it lands he supposed.

"Oh, look at the little show they are having," Zhongli commented as he saw some performers play with fire, and seemed that Thoma was interested as well.

"If you guys want, you can go do whatever, I'll just be walking around before setting us for the fireworks." [M/N] sighs, as he looked at the group. They were all dressed for this, the weather was a bit cold and windy, but they were dressed in the warmest way possible. 

"Yeah! Come on kids!" 

[M/N] watched the kids rush off with itto and Childe, Kazuha tagging along as well with them. 

"Coming Diluc?" Kaeya asked eyebrow raised as he looked to the little bar booth, the smells of different wines and such made his mouth water. "Come on! Let's go~" Venti tugged on the bluenette arm to walk. 

"Only to make sure the both of you aren't fools." Diluc sighs, as he walked with them towards the little bar area.

"Come on Yun! I see some books here!" Xingqiu said as he pulled Chongyun with him, hurrying towards the book booth as Bennett and Razor follows as well. 

Zhongli was already watching the play, as Thoma sat down to watch with them. Gorou and Aether parted towards the cake booth with Scaramouche behind them, not even interested but seeming to catch his attention at least. 

"You're not leaving me?" [M/N] asked, looking to Xiao who shrugs a bit, and looked around at the booths. Truthfully, it made him nervous with everything going on, and the kids screaming in the delight of the games they had or the loud music, something about CPR. 

"It seems so, I have nothing else to do," Xiao said, as he walked beside him, as they looked around and slowly left the music. Xiao watched couples at booths, some with prizes and others for food. [M/N] watched before feeling his stomach grumble at the sight of some cotton candy, so many colors, and gently leads Xiao there. 

"Can I get two cotton candy?"

"Sure!"

[M/N] watched the woman pick two random colors, pink and green, and he paid for them. [M/N] takes it and opened it up, Xiao looked over at the candy, very light and soft to the touch. He sniffed it a bit and licked his lips. It smells sweeter than Almond tofu and is probably safe to consume. 

"Just take a bite, it's not gonna bite you back." [M/N] teased as Xiao huffed, before slowly licking it. It was wet at the place where he licked and his eyes glowed a bit, it was just so good. Soon Xiao began eating the candy slowly, bite by bite as they walked away. More booths and some rides, nothing too big or major but there were small rides.

"You ever been on one of these?" [M/N] asked, stopping to see some of the rides, the spinning cats, and a small version of the rollercoaster that squeaks a bit as it came around. 

"Liyue Harbor does not have things like this...especially the spinning cats," Xiao admitted as he watched new kids load onto the long machine and see it move fast around in a circle. "The Lantern Rite has different...games."

"Do you want to go on one?" [M/N] asked, eyebrow raised.

"Just for the experience, what else until the others can come here."

[M/N] smiles as he placed his bag down on the hanger as the ride stops, the people got off, and [M/N] gotten inside the large blue kitten with Xiao. The operator closed the tiny door as [M/N] smiles a bit, Xiao looked a bit nervous as the ride starts up. Slowly the kitten began spinning slowly, as [M/N] noticed Xiao looked so anxious and scooted closer until their knees were touching. 

"Xiao?"

"It's nothing! The ride is making my stomach..feel odd."

"Sure, we could relax after this, maybe go see some art booths."

"Whatever."

Xiao did like the ride, but it made his stomach hurt for a bit before they got off. [M/N] pulled the bag up again and they began walking away from the ride area and more to the booths that were set up along the sides of the path.

"Why are you celebrating again?"Xiao asked, as he finished his dessert and throw away the paper thing that held it together. 

"Because it's the new year, it's the changing from 2021 to 2022, some people get happy and excited." [M/N] said, as he stopped to see some little designed cups and little plates under them. Zhongli would love it, and he looked over them with a smile. 

"I see...how many people do you plan to sleep with this year then?" [M/N] flushed a bit as Xiao asked that and laughs it off, "I'm serious."

"Why..Hugo if he wants to, but if it happens then it happens."

"So...if I ask you to sleep with me then you will?" Xiao questioned as he folds his arms across his chest with an eyebrow raised.  

"What, Xiao-"

"If you're not gonna buy anything then, move along." The older woman from behind the table snapped, not wanting to see the two fight. 

Xiao huffed as he walked to another booth, a scowl on his lips as [M/N] walked behind him. 

"Why do you want to sleep with me?" [M/N] asked as he walked beside Xiao, arms crossed a bit as well as Xiao kept looking at the things that the mortals found amusing. "Do you find me attractive?"

"You're already going out with Hugo, my needs aren't important," Xiao said, as he stops as his eyes glanced to the shirts that hung up along the walls. "My needs are never important to anyone, they are foolish and childish needs." He is one of the Adepti, the last of the Yaksha's, and golden bird. He didn't need someone who was seeing another man.

"..Xiao...you're needs are important, especially to me, to Zhongli, to Aether.." [M/N] said as he placed his hand on the shorter male's shoulder with a smile. "...besides...Hugo hasn't talked to me in weeks..since before Christmas..one date doesn't sway me in any way."

"So you're not seeing Hugo?" Xiao asked, his ears twitched a bit as he looked to [M/N], the simple touch was relieving the pain of his debt by a lot.

"Mhm, if he asks for a date then I would make him beg but otherwise, no way." [M/N] said, as he looked to see a thoughtful expression was coming across his face. "So...you find me attractive.."

"I said you were the only one that calms me, and it was just pure luck that you came with an attractive face," Xiao admitted as he continues to walk forwards as [M/N] nearly squawks and sputters a bit. 

"So if I was ugly, you wouldn't like me." [M/N] huffed, swiping at Xiao playfully as Xiao smirks a bit. 

"Maybe," Xiao huffed before stopping to see another ride and his eyes marveled as it went around and very gentle it seemed.

"You want to try the Ferris wheel?" [M/N] asked, as he nudged him, as Xiao nods his head. [M/N] smiles, checking the time before moving to the ride. The wait wasn't long before they sat down in an orange seat and the ride began going up slowly, Xiao watched people pass as they made their way to the top and the ride stops. [M/N] looked over the rails before smiling as he saw the kids play games with Itto and Childe behind them. He could spot Scaramouche and Aether arguing as Gorou was buying boxes of cakes. [M/n] could even see Diluc trying to pull kaeya and venti away from the bar booth with no hope. "I hope you guys are having fun, even if this is way weird-"

[M/N] blinked as he felt Xiao awkwardly place his lips against his, it was like kissing his first boyfriend especially with how inexperienced Xiao was. His eyes slowly kissed as he gently cupped Xiao's cheeks, and rubbed his thumb over his cheekbones. 

"Woah~ Uncle is getting some~" Auggie teased as [M/N] pulled back and noticed that they were down on the ground. [M/N] flushed a bit, and rubbed his cheeks, "Is Xiao gonna be my new uncle~"

"Enough, did you guys have fun?" [M/N] asked as he clears his throat as he got off the ride. Klee and Auggie giggle a bit, as they held their bags to toys, Xiao got off and noticed the glare that the Fatui man gave him. 

"Yeah! Yeah! Klee got a lot of toys for her room back home~" Klee giggles as she held the bag as they walked out of the way of the other people to get on the ride. 

"I hope so, I think we should go find a spot for the firework show?" [M/N] suggested as the group slowly came together with their separate gifts and such, they began walking to the open space as [M/N] pulled out the large blanket from his bag. He unwrapped it and laid it on the ground as other families began putting their things down too. 

[M/N] fixed the blanket before sitting down, and soon the others did, a bit squished and cramped with the things they others got. 

"It's starting."

"15!"

"14!"

"13!"

People around them began counting and the others began as well to join in, mostly Itto, Kaeya, Childe, and the kids. [M/N] pulled the leftover blanket into the bag, holding it closer to his chest as other kids began lighting sprinklers for fun. 

"12!"

"11!"

"10!"

[M/N] looked to where the fireworks would be shot from and watched as people moved around to their places quickly to cause no disturbance. The screams of people on the rides close but are overshadowed by the people counting down. 

"What's your New Years' resolution Uncle?" Auggie asked, looking at him as people still counted down. [M/N] smiles, thinking for a moment, the grip around the bag slacked a bit as [M/N] smiles.

"I was thinking of something practical." [M/N] said, smiling a bit as he looked to the sky.

"6!"

"5!"

"4!"

"3!"

[M/N] did think over it, glancing from the corner of his eye to everyone around him as the kids jump and fidget in their seats as others waited. 

"2!"

"1!"

Fireworks go off and many colors brighten the dark sky, many blues, greens, golds, reds, pinks, and oranges. [M/N] smiles as he watched them, as he thought over it. "May-" [M/N] felt the pain coming from his chest, sharp and soon feeling something going down his chest. It was getting difficult to breathe, difficult to keep still as more fireworks went off.

"[M/N]?" Diluc asked, noticing how still [M/N] went after the fireworks came up and lit the sky.

"Uncle?"

[M/N] slowly turns to him, as his shoulders shake a bit and pupils were blown a bit before letting the bag fall and blood pours down his chest to stain his clothes and blanket.

IwanttoliveIwanttoliveIwanttoliveIwanttoliveIwanttolive-

"Please...don't..let me die.." [M/N]'s whispered as blood finally spat from his lips and felt everything go slow as he falls to his side.

Chapter Text

Wake up

Wake up

Wake up

Wake up

"He's losing a lot of blood, Doctor we have to hurry and open him up, before he becomes a mess all over the floor."

"Alright! Alright, enough, no more people!"

"I'm his HUSBAND! I have the right to know what is going to happen!"

"Mr.[L/N]! Calm down!"

Wake up

Wake up

My muscles...my muscles hurt..they feel like they are on fire...

There's no light..no voices of the people who loved me..nothing...

Is this why ghosts stay here? why did they never leave because they were scared?

"Uncle! Wait!"

"Auggie, calm down!"

"I-I-I don't have any family! He's my only family!"

Auggie? Auggie?

[M/N] sits up, and gasped, holding his chest but noticing the room he was in. The room was dark, nothing but the white clothes that he wore. [M/N] sits up and felt over his chest, but noticed the gun wound was gone with the blood. He stands up and rubbed his chin before looking ahead, nothing but darkness.

"Hello? Augustus?" [M/N] called out, cupping his hands his voice echoed a bit and he began walking ahead. There wasn't exactly a place to go and he went forwards to see what lies at the end of the darkroom.

"We're losing him! He's flat-lining!"

There was a large boom behind him, [M/N] looked to see the darkroom lighting up, white slowly coming up behind him and making the floor disappear. [M/N] didn't like the way it was coming, and began running towards the darkness, nearly slipping as he landed in murky waters that seemed to appear. It was up to his knees as he ran, it was getting harder and harder, but he knew he had to keep going.

"I can't let the light touch me! Fuck! Fuck!"

[M/N] kept moving forwards, nearly falling a few times in the murky water before feeling his face hit against something, a wall. He pressed his hands against the wall as his heartbeats harshly against the light was coming closer to him. [M/N] pounds on the dark wall, as his eyes widen as the light was coming closer as the water was falling down with the floor. [M/N] looked against it as the floor falls, and desperately was kicking to keep himself afloat as well.

"Clear!"

"Clear!"

"Clear!"

[M/N] looked to the light coming and soon moved into the water, diving as he noticed how deep it was as he swam down further and moved away from the light shining above them. His eyes narrowed as he saw the watery floor and moved, floating there as he saw the light stop. It didn't advance forwards and stays there as if it was confusing. Soon, he kept swimming forwards, as nothing really caught his sight below.

"His vitals are stable."

"Good, Good, we need to get the bullets out quickly and close him up. Then off to--"

[M/N] then noticed something ahead of him, his eyes narrowed at it and slowly hover towards it and noticed that it was a mirror and he was looking directly at himself. His fingers touched over the smooth surface, it was himself. Healed and yet looked so happy, so happy.

Is this me...I've always looked so happy? Or was this when they got here?

"When will they wake him up?"

"I don't know Auggie, I know your Uncle will be up soon."

"The Doctor did say he lost a lot of blood from the shots, and he was almost...died on the table."

"Hush Zhongli, perhaps we should get some food?"

"That's a good idea, Childe, come along Augustus."

"'kay Kaeya."

[M/N] looked at the mirror again, and his other half was smiling and their hands touched. But then the light came on, and [M/N] felt himself being yanked above, he looked to see the white light hovering over the dark water and began pulling him. There was the sound of some noise going up, the beeping, it was erratic as his mirror self looked panicked.

"CODE BLUE! CODE BLUE!"

"He's lining!"

[M/N] kept struggling and bubbles came out of his mouth, he finally knew it was, his soul was being sucked up into the air, to make it to the other side. He can hear the doctors giving orders as surges go into his chest, as the mirror image looked to be reaching out to him.

"Clear!"

"Clear!"

"I have to stay alive! I have my home to get to! I finally have my own bed where I can sleep all the time! It's clean and big! I have Augustus to watch over! He needs me! He's the only family I have!" [M/N] gasped, and ignored the water entering as another surge hit him and then he grasped the image's hand.

"He's stabling."

"Good, he's good to move then."

"Yes, Doctor."

[M/N] looked at the image as it began fading with a bright smile on his face, as [M/N] looked to where the image was. "I need to live...for my friends." He whispered as he entered and the glass broke.

His eyes are blurred for a moment, everything was hard to adjust especially with the lights above him. They hurt his eyes and he tried to turn it away, but something clank to his side, and his eyes moved to see handcuffs holding him back, not the ones that were connected to the bed but metal ones. His heart leaped out of his chest and soon his eyes adjusted to the room. He was in a lab, one of those they had in mental asylums, and to perform surgeries that made people act empty a lobotomy.

"Welcome, Welcome to the world of the living Mr.[L/N? How are you feeling, ne?"

"Mhm!"

[M/N] noticed he was gagged with fabric and tried twisting his wrist around to escape the handcuffs as his heartbeat against his ribs but then the pain came from his chest. His chest was still healing and warm, the stitches were uncomfortable as well.

"Can't talk huh? Well, I'll just explain it to you." Dr.Sutcliffe sits down, he was an older man, and [M/N] could barely make out his name from the tag. He was a silver fox kind, but there was nothing but pure hatred and anger behind his grey eyes, "We've been lucky that we came across you, especially with your age and how beautiful your eyes look." His cold hand caresses his cheek with a smile and coo a bit. 

[M/N] tried to pull away but noticed the other empty table across from him, with tools beside it. 

"Ne? see the other table? We're setting up for another one, you know him, you've been raising him since birth, after all, his eyes would be so juicy~" [M/N] stared at the other before screaming, as he thrashed around in the bed, trying to hurt the doctor or try to escape. 

"Hehe, pretty strong Ne?" Dr.Sutcliffe laughs, "it makes your eyes juicer, so many emotions behind them."

"MHMF!"

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

"What do you mean he was let go? I'm his freaking husband! He shouldn't even be up! How bad do you nurses have to be to let a man who got shot in the chest leave?!" Scaramouche barked at the nurses around their area. The only reason he was here at all was that he claimed to be [M/N]'s husband.

"Scaramouche calm down," Childe said as he placed a hand down on his colleague's shoulder to soothe him.

"How can I? We have two crying children, Auggie stopped but his eyes are red as hell, the nurses just announced that [M/N] was released back out there to the people!" 

"Waah!" Klee cries, rubbing her eyes from the news that [M/N] was gone, he was kidnapped! It had to be that, and now they were homeless and alone now.

"Hush, Hush, everything is gonna be alright." Kaeya tried to soothe the little girl, Albedo was at home to take care of the moving into the new house. He had the girl in his arms, rubbing her back as Diluc was talking to the security guards to try and get information about the situation. Klee wasn't sobbing but she was still sniffling and hugging his neck tightly. "Auggie, if I hand you some dollars can you get us some soda?" Kaeya asked as he reached into his pocket for some money but turns to see Auggie wasn't there.

"Auggie? Where did you go?" Kaeya exclaimed, glancing around but noticed a certain Archon was missing as well. 

"Zhongli?"

Chapter Text

"Auggie?"

"Zhongli?" 

Zhongli stood in the doorway of [M/N]'s room, it was cleaned up and everything was put away nicely and looked like no one had been in here. "..His stuff is gone too," Zhongli whispered as he closed the door, and Auggie had been staring at the wall intently. Zhongli moved before wincing as he rubbed his temple, he was hearing some sort of ring, like something that was calling him. He ignored it as he placed his hand down on the child's shoulder. "Auggie what do you see?"

"Spiderwebs..like Uncle said back at that house he visited.." Auggie could see the black webs all over the wall and leading out the door, they were everywhere in the room ceiling. He held Zhongli's hand and began moving, Zhongli jerks a bit as he follows after Auggie out the door. They passed the others still arguing with the Nurses, Zhongli follows as Auggie stops as Nurses walked past them talking. His eyes moved to another room, they were stuffed around in there. 

"Auggie, I don't understand, what do the webs have to do with [M/N]?" He asked as Zhongli kept following after the boy. He understood that he and [M/N] shared the same eyes, but he wish he could see what they saw. 

Auggie saw the webs go into closed doors, STAFF ONLY written in red on them. There was a keycard on the door too and noticed the closet, "Webs, Uncle said, that they were around the room the other day. He told me that they led him to the room."

"Is it wise to follow them then, surely there is death in the Hospital as well," Zhongli said, as Auggie opens the door to the janitor's closet. "I think it's the only way, Uncle is too sick to move on his own, so this is our best shot."

+++

[M/N] can hear music, the piano was playing a song that he didn't recognize and scared him. He kept moving his arms on the bed, early ago his wrist and arm were bleeding. It stung a bit, and they didn't do anything to clean his arms either. He stopped the second the music stopped, he felt his eyes water a bit as he hears the footsteps come closer. 

"Heheh, finally, you're going to make a mess." Dr.Sutcliff said as he lowers [M/N]'s bed a bit, as he grasped a needle from the silver tray. He made sure the needle had the regular dose before injecting it into [M/N]'s neck. "Now, Now, don't cry, you'll make your eyes bitter." Dr.Sutcliff cooed, moving to grab the metal eye springs. [M/N] felt himself become drowsy and tired, as the metal legs snapped together on the bed. He could see the metal springs coming closer. 

Be a good boy for me Auggie...please be a good boy..

+++

"Keep your head down, I'm sure they'll think you're a real nurse," Auggie said, as he was covered with a sheet, after several flights of stairs and getting a nurse outfit from one of the open lockers. They took an empty bed and covered Auggie up, just as he sensed the webs. He peeked up when Zhongli let him and goes still when the sheet went back on. 

"I see, where too now, there is an elevator ahead of us," Zhongli asked as Auggie peeks up and saw the webs enter the opened doors and some web in the lower level. "Go in and pressed the second to last button." Zhongli did, as the doors closed, Auggie sat up with a sigh. "..What are we going to do once we get down?" Zhongli asked as Auggie thought about it. It was one kid and some grown-up, there could be a ton of cult jerks around.

"How well could you fight? Like fist fighting?" He asked as he fiddled with the edge of the blanket. Auggie looked to Zhongli and felt a bit of a tug on his chest, Zhongli looked at the blinking numbers as he stabled himself. He felt the machine stop as the doors opened to a dark hallway, there was some music ahead and a chill went down Auggie's spine.

"Hide, and stay under." 

Zhongli pushed the bed as Auggie hides under the sheet, Zhongli stared ahead at the closed doors where the light was covered. He pushed the doors open with the bed and winced as the bright light hit his pupils. He blinked as he looked around the large room, there was so much metal and music played in the speakers. 

"[M/N]?" Zhongli whispered as he saw the male on the table in front of them. He moved down as Auggie hops off the bed as well, moving to see metal pinchers opening [M/N]'s dazed eyes, he looked like he was asleep. Auggie undid one cuff as Zhongli handled the other. Both carefully removed the eye holders and Zhongli gathers up [M/N] onto the bed that Auggie had been on. 

The music stops and the lights came on, they blind them even more and the doors slammed shut the door closed. Auggie hugged [M/N]'s arm as Zhongli sees the people coming out, cloaked in black in compression to the white room. "Stand back." Zhongli barks as they came closer and soon another one came up.

"Now, Now Zhongli, you weren't like this when I brought the cake,"  Diana said as she came up, she looked happy, pleased as she nods to her the others, Auggie screams as someone drags him away, holding his arms as Zhongli flowers, grip on the bedside, the metal squeaking under his grip. "You even brought Auggie and we do love them young."

"Let him go, let us go, and we would not have a problem," Zhongli demanded, keeping his voice low and the command made some people laugh at him. "Now."

"Sir Zhongli?" Dr.Sutclif said as he came out, mint green surgery clothes on and mask down on his chin. "We could not allow that, it's been a few months since we had eyes like them, without the tip, surely we would've starved." Zhongli pulled the bed behind him, and Auggie kept moving around, kicking and scrambling. 

"Uncle! Zhongli!" Auggie cried out as he bite down on the person who held him, and they dropped him as Zhongli noticed the people behind him and yanked [M/N] from their grasp. He held the unconscious man and Auggie hugged him from behind, gripping his fake medical staff. Zhongli noticed them coming closer and closer, usually, he had his weapon to summon but without it, he was outnumbered. 

Zhongli noticed the bent metal bar he made and gulped lightly before moving towards it, and yanked it off the bed. He held the metal bar, gripping it as he looked around. "It had been years if I must be honest..." Zhongli began as he used one arm to hold [M/N] and the other clutching the metal part. Zhongli moved against the wall, flipping the bed over and kicking it a bit to push the people in robes. 

"Auggie...would you like to make a contract with me?" Zhongli asked, looking to the child with his soft golden gaze as Auggie looked back. "Huh?" "A contract, a verbal form between us, I'll do a thing and you'll return the gesture."

"...what is it?"

"I will protect you, and you will not dare to look at the mess I'll commit here," Zhongli said as he noticed some in the very back had weapons, saws, some knives, and even clamps. He felt something surge in his hand and ignored it. Auggie looked as his legs shook and [M/N] whimpered in Zhongli's hold but no other movements. 

"Yes, I will."

Zhongli moved them, sitting [M/N] on the floor as Auggie cradles his uncle's head in his lap as Zhongli pulled back. He turns and the dragon adepti, noticed the glow on his own weapon, it beams gold and his geo symbol comes across it, and the metal bedpost began growing, longer and shaping itself into his weapon. 

Vortex Vanquisher

"How did he get that??"

Some whispered as Diana groaned, "Just fucking kill him and get them!" 

Zhongli noticed his arms and hands darken, and then gold lava goes down his arms, the symbol of his power and his archonship, he grips his Polearm and held it tightly, spinning it around his wrist before gripping it. "Come on then, I will show no mercy."

He advanced forwards and the first head hit the floor, blood spilling. 

+++

"So you weren't watching him? How could lose a kid?" Childe began chiding the Captain as Auggie and Zhongli were missing. "They were in your eyesight." Kaeya rolled his eyes at the other, and glared a bit, "Maybe we shouldn't have left them in the care of someone with one good eye."

"I was comforting Klee, but at least you can see life in my eyes, unlike that dead eye fish look you have," Kaeya snapped as Childe got in his face with a sneer, "Come at me ginger."

"You-!"

"Enough!" Scaramouch moved and shoved Childe away before they could cause a scene in front of the nurses or worst. "We are not doing this, usually I would enjoy seeing you bleed from your mouth...but with two people, who had been attacked are gone and possibly being killed."

"He's right," Diluc sighs as he clicked [M/N]'s phone off, the police wouldn't do anything until 24 hours had passed, they were just as worst as the Knights. "Klee.."

He noticed the little girl talking to an elderly woman with greying hair and something attached to her. "Klee!"

The girl perked up when called, waving as the older woman pulled the thing with her and back into her room. She walked up to Diluc while trying to open a lemon candy drop that the lady gave her, "What were you doing?"

"Klee was asking the old lady some questions, about [M/N] and Auggie." She answered as she finally opened the plastic and drops the yellow candy in her mouth, "And she said she saw them walk away, and through those doors at the end of the hallway, after the people took [M/N] away for surgery?"

"But he already had surgery," Diluc whispered as he looked to the doors, he stands and gestures the others to do so, he noticed the doors were a bit opened as well. Diluc opened the doors, peeking in, and saw no one then pushing the doors open. Soon, someone rushed in a direction, "Hey! Wait!"

"Who was that?" Childe muttered as he sees them turn and Diluc moved forwards where they went. "This has to be a trap."

"But it's the only thing we have," Scaramouch said as he walked along, as Diluc noticed the elevator doors were opened and a bloody fingerprint at the bottom button. They share a gaze and Kaeya held Klee's hand as Diluc pressed the button, he grasped the bar that was on the wall as the doors closed and went down. The lights flickered a bit as it went down, before opening up on a dark floor. Klee held Kaeya's hand tightly as she heard grunting and screams of terror. 

"There!"

The figure was rushing towards the doors and Diluc went after him with Childe following after him. The doors fling open and then there was fresh blood sprayed across their faces, Childe was indifferent as Diluc hurried to wipe it off his face. He shakes his head a few times as he saw the dead bodies sprawled around the floor, some heads around as did some other body parts.

"Zhongli?"

The man stops, shoving back the man that he was fighting with, swiftly moving his polearm under and the man cries out, has no legs, and falls down. "Finally, [M/N] and Auggie are there behind the bed, take them, I feel they had drugged him-" Zhongli dodged a swipe with a knife and used his polearm, stabbing through the other's head. He yanked it out and ignored the blood painting his stolen nurse uniform. 

"Zhongli, you look good in blood," Childe flirted a bit as Zhongli rolled his eyes as he heard the sound of something loud. He looked before moving forwards, using the base of his weapon against the machine that made a horrible noise. 

"You have no right for doing this! His eyes belong to us!" The Doctor screamed as Zhongli was going down a bit, still pressing hard as Diluc helped gather [M/N], Auggie closing his eyes and holding Diluc's arm. Childe moved to help the redhead, as Zhongli was on his knee, holding his polearm up. "Zhongli?"

"I have it, you must take them up!" Zhongli insisted as he sees the metal of the fake polearm slowly break and the image of his polearm was fading. He looked to the doctor before the man's eyes widen, flinching back. He choked a bit as blood came from his lips, spilling on the floor as the polearm finally faded back to the metal pole, and his marking was gone. 

"Hugo?"

Zhongli whispered as he stands, ignoring the fallen bodies of the cult, of these men and women who dared do this. "How..were you?"

"My eyes are right...here," Hugo said as he snatched a necklace off a fallen body, Diana. He looked over them, they were in a little glass bottle and smiles bitterly, they were murky and dark. "Funny how my mother was all..every child was deserves a family...but yet the second she knew about my eyes..she murdered me." Hugo throws the glass into one of the cauldrons that had a fire in them. He hear pops of his eyes and looked at his hands that began to fade, "..I really did like [M/N]."

"...I'm sorry for your death." Zhongli whispered as he flicked off the blood from his hands.

"I'm sorry for trying to seduce [M/N] for his help.." Hugo smiles as he moved to Diluc, looking over [M/N]. He moved down kissing his forehead, and smiles again, "He made me happy believe it or not..hope you could explain?"

"Of course, may you rest in peace." Zhongli bows his head a bit as Hugo smiles, a bit tearful before looking to the door, "There's some clothes to change in.." Hugo fades and Zhongli hummed as he takes a deep breath.

"..Zhongli...when you have time, would you like to-"

"No."

"No fair~"

+++

ARC 2 FINISH

Chapter Text

"Is this all?" Their was annoyance in the tone, and the man grumbled as he placed the pale folder onto the dashboard. Photos and photos, pictures of bills, and houses in the folder. 

"Yes, and he was just recently discharged again from an accident, everything should be up to date. "The man gruffer as he eyed the passenger, the light tapping's of rain falling from the sky and onto the car he parked in the lone street. "Now the payment."

"I know."

The grins as he moved the seatbelt away, and began unzipping his pants, but before he could even have the chance to even pull his pants down a sharp pain hit.

again

again

again

and again

"But I guess my card declined, sorry." The passenger moved the knife across his throat as blood splattered down his own throat. The man heaved and tried to opened the door but it was locked, and black dots appeared in his vision. He watches the hard work he did be collected and the sound of the door opening. 

The woman collected the papers under her arm and turned the car on neutral and reverse, leaving the man to die as she began walking. Her umbrella opens to cover herself as she lets the knife be cleaned by the rain, her heels clapping against the as she ignored the sound of the car going backwards to the busy road. 

Chapter Text

December 28, 1960

Susan watched the priest light the candles, she held the camera in her hands as she glanced at the child below nervously. The boy in question is Jackie Owens, 10 years old and fingers covered in blood from almost scratching his own leg off. He had been odd since his trip from Romenia, seeing visions, speaking in tongues, whispering under his breath as well. Then he began clawing his ankle, trying to take it off one night. Finally, his parents called the church and sent her, along with some priests.

He looked so skinny under his dark covers and the ropes held him in place, "..it won't hurt him right?" Susan asked as she held the camera closer, her hands shaking a bit as this was her third paranormal experience. 

"Of course not, Susan, it's for our protection than his own safety." the father said, as he blows the match off and the other priest came out as well. He cracked his knuckles a bit, and smirked a bit, "Let's get this done, I have a long day ahead."

Both fathers grasped their rosaries and Susan takes another picture of it, but then heard cracking. She stops moving and glancing behind her, as the sound of cracking was increasing, and ignored the fathers praying over the non-responsive boy. She turns to the side and her eyes widen seeing the windows beside them cracking slowly, webs of slowly shattering glass begin taking over, and then it breaks.

The glass spays everywhere and the adults went down, mostly for the father on the right of the bed as a large shard of glass pierced his skull. Susan covered her head and heard the laughing, it was loud and demonic and made her shiver in fear. She covered her head and moved, standing up to see Jackie laughing, it was loud and noticed his skin was peeling off along with his eyes turning yellow. The demon is in total control, especially when it turns to look at her.

"March 28! March 28!"

"What?"

"MARCHMARCHMARCHMARCH28282828!"

It laughs as the bed shakes and the rope slowly breaks with each move, she goes to put her upper body on the child and he began laughing louder, "DEATH!DEATH!DEATH!"

"Susan!" The remaining father began, he was leaning against the wall as the wind howls, he was holding his neck as crimson blood was pouring down his neck. "There's a box! There's a b-box under my bag, it was n-need just in case, open it and call its name!"

"Box? What the hell with the box?!" Susan exclaimed as the lights on the candles were flickering as Susan glanced at the box under the father's things, she bit her lower lip before hurrying to the box. He pulled at the ropes as Susan held the box, "Jackie?"

"N-No! Not the boy's name, his names!" The father speaks, as Jackie's head turns towards him, eyes blazing, the flames go out. "marchitamiento-" The father stops talking as something flies towards him, the candle holder and stabs through the father's head. His head rolls over dead and his body limps as the demon laughs happily at the spill of blood. 

Susan held the box, hand holding the bottom and another holding it on top of it, she grips the top a bit as the wind blows around and messing her black hair, "marchitamiento!"

"marchitamiento!"

"marchitamiento! marchitamientooooo!" Susan screams as she felt the bed go up a few inches and she nearly falls when something came out of Jackie's mouth, moths and black blood flowing through his lips. "marchitamiento! GET IN THE BOX!" There was another cry as a mist comes out of Jackie's mouth, it floats in the air as moths gathers around before entering the box. Susan closed it and held it, just as something goes knocking into her head from the shelf and she goes down with the closed box. It settles just as the door opened.

+++

Susan moans as she opened her eyes, eyes squinting as she saw the white ceiling and the bright lights around her. She felt something on her chest, glanced to see the closed box, and sits up slowly. She could see herself hooked up to an IV and her eyes moved around the room with curiosity. 

"Oh! You're awake!" A male, around her age and with soft blue eyes, walked inside. He wore a male nurse outfit and held a clipboard, "You were brought in after the failed church thing, you were very dehydrated and wouldn't let go of the box."

"..Oh..and Jackie?" She asked as Susan fixed her hair, placing the box on her lap. 

"He's fine, just checked out not too long ago, couldn't say the same thing about the two fathers." He clicked his tongue, "Lucky for you we got to you, two stitches on the corner of your crown."

"Mhm, well...I suppose a thank you should be in order...Mister..?"

"Harold, Harold Stewart." He offer his hand, and Susan takes it and felt flushed as he kissed the top of it with a smile. She smiles back, and looked at him, "and you Ms.Indiana jones?" 

"Susan Caswell." 

+++

"Then you two got married and had babies?" Klee asked, eyes wide as Susan had told them a story before [M/N] was picked up. 

"Hm, oh Harold, and I couldn't have kids, I was infertile, maybe because it was genetics or because my mom tried to kill me with dish soap. We actually adopted two kids, a baby boy from New York and a little girl from Michigan, we have grandbabies and kitties too." Susan giggled as she stands up, her back cracking a bit as she stretched. "It would've ruined my figure."

"Where are they now?" Auggie asked as he leans against the couch with a raised eyebrow, still amazed at the story. 

"My son, Blaine is up near the city working as a lawyer, mostly pricey divorce cases." She hummed, watching Harold attempting to beat Xiao in Tic-Tac-Toe, "my daughter Ana is in Chicago, for a vet job."

"Wow...what happened to the box-" Klee began just as she saw a car pulled up and laughs, jumping off the couch and moving to the front door with Auggie in tow. 

"Dang it! I regret teaching you how to play." Harold grumbled as he lost another game to Xiao who rolled his eyes a bit.

"You're too predictable." He replied as he gets off, and watched as his master parked and Kaeya helped [M/N] out of the car, he had a crutch on as the kids tried to help. Susan watched as she pulled her bag up, placing it down on the table. She looked down at the worn box, a cross painted on it to keep the demon at bay.

She had this box under her and Harold's bed since they were married, and kept close to it when March 28 hit, and she'd been waiting for years to hand it off. Epically in her old age, and knew [M/n] would keep it safe. 

Chapter Text

"Diluc, I have to insiti....I am fine, I just need the crutch.."

"I don't want to visit the hospital ever again, especially with how careless they were with you," Diluc said as he helped [M/N] into his new bed. He looked at him, tucking the seer in, and pulled back. He had been the second one to help [M/N] once he came home, the second would have been Aether then the kids when they try. "Can I get you anything?" Diluc asked, fixing his shirt a bit as he stands up.

"No, why don't you go relax? I'm a big boy..I can do things." [M/N] said as Dikuc frowns a bit before [M/N] sighs at his odd dejected look. "...fine then..please get me a soda from the fridge? Albedo and the kids came back from the store not too long ago."

Diluc leaves without a word as [M/N] smile before noticing the box on his side table and a note on it. He shifted over and takes the note, and opened it to the messy writing of Susan.

Hey, Honey, keep this box in the spooky room you have across from your room, Auggie and Harold put them in there after we removed my friend's...plants. Love, Susan
PS, do not open, Demon inside.

[M/N] glanced to the box and felt the aura before sighing, he moved off the bed and used his crutch. With the shirt on his small chair, he grabbed the box and limped towards the door, and opened the holder room. He looked around and noticed how well everything was before placing the box slowly by the wall. It was right next to the haunted clown painting and the haunted Scream mask.

He shuts the door and back into his only to see Diluc standing there, arms crossed and annoyance on his face, "Your doctor said you need to be off your feet for the next couple weeks until your side is healed." he chided and [M/N] huffed before moving back to his spot on the bed. He ignored the dull pain in his side and lays back while carefully putting his legs back up. "You're going to get worst."

"Diluc, I'm an adult, I am more than capable of taking care of myself." [M/N] said as he noticed how tense Diluc looked and bows his head a bit. "...do...do you feel upset with something? Guilty? You guys didn't know, and Zhongli took care of them."

"I feel a bit useless.." Diluc began as he fiddled with his long sleeves, mostly the button. "How you got caught and gotten hurt for it, I wish I could've done something more..I..I feel bad. You needed help and we weren't there.." Diluc looked to [M/N] and then away, his cheeks flushed from embarrassment. He hated speaking about his feelings, especially guilt, and putting blame on himself.

"...Diluc, you didn't know what was going on, Zhongli and Auggie were a little team...I'm just glad I'm here now to watch Auggie grow up into a wonderful young man." [M/N] said as he moved the pillow off beside him and into his lap. He pats the spot beside him and smiles a bit as Diluc flushed a bit from the movement, "Come on..sit with me."

[M/N] smiles at him and Diluc does, sitting beside him as [M/N] hummed a bit, "you like taking the blame, don't you? You act like some masochist."

" I, do not act like a masochist along with taking on the blame, I just felt bad that I couldn't assist you or anything," Diluc said as he looked at the wall art to pretend it was interested in it. " I did feel bad."

" Mhm, I see, but you know what? I like you along with the others, you blaming yourself for something that nobody thought could happen is silly." He told the redhead, [M/N] smiles a bit before rubbing Diluc's back with a hum. " You don't have to blame yourself."

" Still...I wasn't there to help." Diluc muttered, as [M/N] smiled before pulling Diluc closer. The redhead flinched and leans into [M/n], his head on [M/N]'s shoulder as [M/N] gently moved his fingers through Diluc's locks, gently moving and weaving through the firey colored hair to soothe Diluc. "...thank you."

"I know an emotionally repressed man when I see it, but instead of blaming me for my faults, which it was for not...well picking the hospital I suppose or born with eyes like mine..but I can feel that you're very under-appreciated." [M/N] said as he kept brushing his fingers through, humming to himself. Diluc felt his cheeks turn a bit pink and he leans into the other, it felt nice, this was nice when Adeline did it for him when his hair was tangled up from playing outside. How Kaeya tried to brush his unruly locks before Knight training and managed to get the brush stuck in it as well. 

[M/N] smiles again, keeping his fingers through Diluc's hair, feeling him relax under his touch. He kept doing this before noticing how lax the other was, he glanced at Diluc's face and his cheeks flushed a bit as he saw the male had fallen asleep. Diluc was sleeping peacefully and [M/N] smiles a bit. He leans against him, wincing a bit as he adjusted himself a bit. He feels his own eyes closed, holding Diluc's hand.

+++

[M/N]'s eyes opened as he noticed the tavern-like establishment, lots of wood and renaissance vibes. There were no customers and noticed the two people here or well three since he noticed a younger woman watching from the corner with some concern, especially for the child that seem confused. 

"Now Diluc, I want you to create me a drink to try, let your mind run free, and maybe one day we can sell your drink." The man said, he had bright red hair like Diluc and dark blue eyes. He looked like a noble-looking man, rich and probably very well known. The boy was Diluc, and [M/N] sat down in a stool close by, mentally cursing that he entered Diluc's memory without his permission.

"Oh..uh..what do you want me to make?" Diluc asked as the man's attention was changed to a new person who called his name. Diluc fiddled with the glass cup before slowly pouring an orange-colored drink into a sliver mixing cup, one from the bars. It smelled like juice, and he finished just as Crepus, the man, turns around and looked down at Diluc's creation.

"You've added nothing.." Crepus said, eyeing the cup as Diluc nodded slowly, still confused and not totally understanding why his father seemed displeased. The little boy watched his father drink the cup and smacked his lips causing [M/N] to narrow his eyes. "It's..just plain juice. "

"is that not what you wanted..Papa?" Diluc asked, but Crepus merely placed the cup down and [M/N] puffed a bit, causing the boy to flinch a bit. [M/N] saw his red eyes blink to him, and he mentally cooed at how cute Diluc looked. He smiles a bit and [M/N] hummed a bit, "A drink please."

"But...I'm no good at this..I don't want to make you disappointed." Diluc said as he fiddled with the empty glass, cleaning it. 

"I don't care, make me the same juice you made your dad, but this time, maybe a bit more sugar?" 

"Okay..."

[M/N] watched how carefully Diluc poured the juice into the silver cup, and he leans on his elbows as he watched him. Child Diluc was such a cutie, round face and ruby hair pinned up into a ponytail with his own bartending outfit. Though, he could understand why he had self-worth issues, especially when Crepus had died, leaving turmoil in the young redhead, especially now.

+++

"Mister Diluc, Zhongli finished-"

"Bennett quiet, look."

Razor stops the blonde, watching Diluc and [M/N] sleep against each other, he watched as Bennett smiles a bit before watching Razor move forwards with his slightly dirty shoes. He panicked internally as he watched Razor move onto the bed without a care. His friend moved laying on the bed, messily and his legs hang off as he nuzzled into [M/N]'s lap. He wasn't a small teen anymore, Razor was taller than most of the others now. Coming to this world defined his features, even Bennett caught himself looking at him too. 

"Razor! Come back." Bennett hissed with clenched teeth as Diluc stirs a bit but doesn't wake up as Razor kept nuzzling into [M/N]'s lap.

"Razor like."

"Not your person to like Razor!"

"Razor fight, [M/N] and Auggie become typical."

"I thought you didn't like people!"

"[M/N] perfect for lupical pups."

Chapter Text

CRUNCH
CRUNCH
CRUNCH
CRUNCH

What's that noise? It sounds so familiar, like something cutting something. It's making my tummy hurt.

SPACK SPACK SPACK

Now it sounds like something wet, something hitting the wall like paint being splashed against the wall or something. It sounds so familiar and makes my stomach squirm a bit, I feel like throwing up.

WAKEUP
WAKEUP
WAKEUP
WAKEUP

+++

[M/N] sits up from his bed and grasped the sheet to cover him as his eyes blinked a few times to adjust to the light but he glared at the clock beside him to see it was barely five in the morning. He groans and is laid back, his side throbs a bit but ignored it before slowly sitting up to get breakfast ready at least or clean. He stands up slowly before stretching his arms, his side hasn't really hurt in a while since the accident, probably due to Diluc's mother-hening. [M/N] walked upstairs to the first level and yawned, flicking the living room light on then moving to the coffee pot to make some coffee.

The last few days he had nightmares, always waking him up around four or five in the morning. He moved into the kitchen and his eyes squint a bit from the light but ignored it, he spots Zhongli, Thoma, and Albedo in the kitchen just sitting around with coffee cups in hand. 

"Oh, Good Morning, [M/N]." Thoma greets, beaming. He had been up an hour ago to get things together, to ease his mind lately, mostly about thinking about home and the commission. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Yes, please," [M/N] said as Thoma turns around to get another cup from the cabinet before moving along to get the cup ready. "Why are you guys up?"

"Force of habit." Thoma answered as he pours the coffee into the cup carefully.

"I don't sleep much, I simply entertain Klee with sleep." Albedo answers as he fiddled with the pencil in hand, looking to draw about their home. Mostly trying to remember the flowers back home.

"I have always been a early person, and I came here when I smelled coffee." Zhongli answers as he takes a little sip of his coffee. His amber eyes peered at to [M/N] and noticed the slight tired look on his face, "Why are you up? is your side still hurting?"

"No, not really, just had a weird dream and then I got thirsty and hungry." [M/N] explains as he thanked Thoma once he gotten his drink. He smiles a bit and takes a sip, "I have some planning to do anyway."

"Oh? What's the occasion?" Zhongli asked, eyebrow raised as [M/N] smiles, causing something to attack his heart a bit, or at least felt like an attack. He clears his throat and waited for [M/N] to explain.

"It's Augustus's birthday soon, he will be turning twelve soon in a few days." He said as he looked to the cup with a hum, "and I want him to have the best birthday. And I get to finally tell him about his college money." [M/N] told Auggie had a college fund, but not how much. "and what he wants to do when he grows up, I decide...this...Profession isn't for him."

"Wouldn't he feel..upset for not doing what you two do? You two do a very good job." Albedo asked, placing his pencil down for a moment. 

"I know, we are very good at what we do, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if he get caught up in this mess." [M/N] said as Albedo frowns a bit, and nods in understand it but no doubt the boy would be upset about it. "Besides, Auggie is smart enough to be a doctor, a lawyer, hell even being an animator would be good enough for me." 

"Animator?" Thoma asked as he finished washing the cups.

"Oh, something like Disney movies or even video games." [M/N] said as Thoma hummed and nods. 

"Still, when you tell him, come in with it slowly, don't pressure into it since he is young and think it might be unfair to him." Zhongli advised with a smile as [M/N] nods in agreement, "What are you planning to buy him?"

"I have no clue yet, maybe a bike or something, he always liked small gifts but he's getting older so buying him something large would suit him well." [M/N] explains with a smile, he didn't get gifts as a child or teenager, so he didn't know what most kids wanted for big birthdays like turning twelve. "But if he wants something then I'll buy for him."

"That's thoughtful, I could always ask Klee if Auggie wants something and told her." Albedo offered as he went back to his writing.

"How wonderful, it's been years since I've been to a party, last one would be Ayato's latest birthday. It was so dull though." he chuckles behind his hand as the door opened, [M/N] looked to see Kazuha coming inside but something made him shiver a bit, a little tingle as Kazuha shuts the door behind him.

"Morning, Kazuha." 

"Morning, it's going to be a lovely day, for there is a surprise coming soon." Kazuha said as he moved to sit down and smiles a bit. "And it would be a big one as well."

"Do you always talk in poems and lower case?" [M/N] asked playfully as he finished his coffee.

"Sometimes, but the wind does not lie when it speaks."

++++

Auggie rubbed the drool from his lips and glanced a the clock on his shelf. He glanced to Klee across from him, she was still sleeping and hugging one of her plushies then to Razor and Bennett whom shared a bed, especially with Razor sleeping at the end of the bed as Bennett was nearly falling off the bed. It was still early, too early but he felt something wake him up. It wasn't like a dream that woken him, it was actually dreamless until he felt the push on waking up.

He moved to get off the bed but felt something touch his hand, Auggie looked to it and gasped a bit. He covered his mouth as Razor shift a bit, but not waking up. He looked to the little toy like thing, feeling his finger across the yellow light. His eyes memorized over the thing in his hand, how it glowed in his hand.

Auggie noticed Bennett shifted in the bed, nearly kicking Razor in the face before turning over. He would be waking up soon, Auggie slowly placed the toy under his pillow to play with it on another day, but he swore he saw it somewhere before. He ignored the familiarly as he leaves the room to use the restroom and shower.

It had a pretty shape too.

+++

Tempest hums as she typed into the latest reports of her brother, the report on the Rosita house, or hotel as it puts. The newspaper was old, but he's address wasn't on it causing her to curse to herself. She sipped the lukewarm coffee beside her, and licked her lips, tasting the pink gloss off her lips. She ignored it before reading it quickly before spotting names at the end of one paragraph.

Tempest quickly typed the names into the search engine and hummed to herself as reports came up from the woman. Susan Stewart, late reporter who retired, lived around fifty miles from where Tempest was with her husband Harold. She grins to herself before cleaning the data off, just in case and throws her cup into the trash. Tempest typed the address into the phone for directions, leaving the college library.

She was just in time for her little bastards birthday too, this was getting easier and easier for her.

Chapter Text

Razor had brought in a rabbit in the home, the thing was running all over the place and Gorou with the assistance of Thoma and Auggie had caught it within an hour. This was the fifth rabbit that morning and even Auggie was feeling tired because of it, and the boy loved animals to death.

[M/N] didn't know what was wrong with him, even Aether had explained to [M/N] about how Razor lived back in his home. A guy living with animals, wolves, and just vibing with life basically all alone. [M/n] understood but also understands that Razor was giving him these little gifts, like a wolf bringing home his little wife an animal for dinner.

"Razor, buddy you're like..almost in [M/N]'s lap."

".."

"Razor, scoot back." 

"..no, Razor likes being here."

Venti rolled his eyes and slumped into his seat, watching Razor nearly place himself into [M/N]'s lap, he was leaning against him so much he was practically in it. They were watching some tv show but Venti noticed how close Razor had gotten and it bothered him a lot if he had to be honest. 

"Razor.." [M/N] sighs as he glanced to the other who seemed to perk up a bit and smiles even catching [M/N]'s heart a bit before coughing into his fist a bit. "I don't think Venti is being mean, but you are very close to hopping into my lap." He admitted as Razor glanced to him with a smile, and held his hand out. "What?"

"Hold."

"Uh, sure." [M/N] moved his hand into Razor's and the other grasped it, interlocking their fingers a bit and Razor sat back into his spot on the couch and never letting go of [M/N]'s hand. [M/N] resumed watching tv as Venti glared at Razor a bit but bit down at his manipulative thought and tone. Zhongli on the other hand was not amused but pushed the irritation down for it.

"Razor, come on, Auggie said he needed help with some outside homework, something about pinecones and such?" Bennett reminded him and Razor puffed, he looked at [M/N] who raised an eyebrow before kissing his cheek. [M/N] felt his cheeks warm a bit but pushed down as the slivered-haired male left outside with Bennett and Auggie.

"I didn't think that wolf-man had any romantic emotions." Kaeya mused and causing [M/N] to flinch since he didn't see the other. He was leaning on the wall and Kaeya hummed a bit, "He isn't exactly a man of the week, but maybe you want someone more mature."

"Like you?" [M/N] replied, eyebrow raised.

"Don't mind that I do," He slides beside [M/N] with a cheeky grin, and [M/N] rolled his eyes a bit before hearing someone knock at the door. "I'll get it," Zhongli said as he stands up from the couch before entering the hallway to the door. Zhongli comes back with a few packages and sits them down in the closet with the others. They had been buying presents for Auggie's birthday, and there were around eight of them in there. 

"How many presents are you buying? Isn't this enough?" Zhongli asked curiously, he knew most children in Liyue was happy with just one and most children of Mondstadt were happy with simple flowers or gathered around with family and friends. 

"Heh, I tend to spoil Auggie around his birthday, he's a good boy, he really is." [M/N] said as he looked at his phone, that was all the packages and now he had to go buy the party decore, something Disney related. "Oh, a new email from Susan."

"Aren't you going to read it?" Kaeya asked, looking over and seeing it pop up, [M/N] clicked on it and it was a document she sent and the subject line said, "Do not read until March 28."

"So, not reading it." Kaeya hummed and leans his head against [M/N]'s neck and the other ignored him as he did this. Used to it by Auggie when he sneaked peaked at things, and there was something at the window. Kaeya looked to see Razor there, growling a bit from behind the glass. Kaeya could see Razor's breath from how hard he was breathing from behind the window.

Interesting reaction, I wonder...

Kaeya grasped [M/N]'s cheek and kissed his [S/C] cheeks, gently rubbing his thumb over the soft skin. [M/N] blinked his eyes a bit as the door opened, nearly knocking the screen in and Razor was shoving off Kaeya from [M/N].

"No kissy! Mine! No kissy but Razor."

"Razor! calm down!"

+++

Tempest watched the car pull into the driveway, it parked and the target walked inside by themselves. The spouse was gone, to bing, if she remembered correctly, it would take all night and she had all night to play around. Tempest had been across the street for a few hours, only leaving for some food and a bathroom break before coming back. 

Bingo would be done at ten tonight, and then the body would be discovered later on. Tempest kept a schedule and wrote down reminders of what was happening with the couple who knew where Augustus was. She watched the curtains and soon the lights came on, and the moon was barely out, she opened her door and closed it softly.

Tempest adjusted the strap of her bag and moved down, picking up the key that was under the mat. She adjusted the gloves once she pressed the key in, and turns the doorknob only to hear music playing, Tempest hums to herself with the music, as she entered the home and closed the door.

+++

[M/N] was washing the laundry, the kids had gone to bed and Razor was in his room after fighting with Kaeya, though he ignored how they were both squabbling about [M/N] being kissed on.

He felt a shiver go down his spine

He hummed as he moved around, before feeling a whisper in his ear, "take care of him~"

Chapter Text

WARNING: USED OF THE F-SLUR

[M/N] didn't like funerals, for one it was working and second, it was just boring. He had his mother cremated and threw his mother's ashes into a McDonald's garbage can, and all funerals as a kid were paid for by rich clients and celebrities. He wanted to be cremated as well, and have Auggie make his ashes into paint and make a nice painting of him or something cool with the paint.

Now, he was at another one, and as cliche, as it seemed, the rain kept on pouring on them. It wasn't thundering yet, but he felt tingles go up to his spine a bit as he watched the casket lower into the ground with pretty lilies laid upon the top of it.

Susan had a thing for lilies, Harold had said in his speech about his wife.

Their children, the son, and daughter came here with their respective families, all crying about their mother and grandmother who passed from a diabetic episode. [M/N] didn't know she was diabetic either, it was just a shock all around for him, and their family, no one seemed to know about her illness.

"May her soul rest in peace." The priest said, doing the sign of the cross as Harold watched the oak casket go down. He held onto a very old photo of her, she looked happy and vibrant in the picture, smiling while looking at the camera. The second thunder boomed behind them, umbrellas went up and soon people began walking away from the scene. Their sobs quiet and sniffles quieting, but [M/N] and Harold still remain there.

[M/N] watched Harold, rubbing his arms a bit from the rain and chilly wind, "Harold?"

"...I had only one love, and that was Olive Oil from Popeye, she was so tall and pretty, a bit of an airhead too," Harold said as he held the picture closer, wiping away any fallen drops of rain that hit the glass. "I knew I wanted a pretty wife like her, so nice, odd, and taller than me. But then I met Susan, she wasn't like Olive, she was mature, sassy and smarter than me. She was in fact taller than me with and without heels..." Harold said.

"She was amazing, I saw her work before. She was brilliant." [M/N] said as he rubbed his hands together with a sigh. It was just getting chilly now, and he would most likely be sick later on today. 

"...She wasn't diabetic."

"What?"

"Susan wasn't a diabetic, but the coroner said she died from a diabetic epsoide. My wife was healthy as the Queen of England." Harold shrugs a bit with a sigh, "Or at least willing to outlive her."

"What do you think happened to her?" [M/N] asked softly, he didn't know if this was a denial of the mourning process, it had happened to most widows and widowers. 

"Something killed her, my woman had to be taken from behind...there was a bump on her head like someone came up from behind, whacked her, and drugged her. How else would an extra amount of insulin be in her system..." Harold said as he looked at the picture. His eyes shine with tears threatening to fall but kept them in, "My lovely darling.."

"I'm sorry.." [M/N] whispered but Harold sounded so sure of himself and Harold shakes his head a bit before fixing his tie. [M/N] could hear one of their kids calling Harold and he turns around.

"I'll be with her soon, I just know it," Harold said, giving a smile before walking towards the limo as [M/N] looked to Susan's grave and thunder boomed again. Something about it, just made him feel unsettled, especially with Harold's theory. He was a nurse after all.

+++

[M/N] parked the car, the rain stopped, and sighs as he looked at the time. It was barely four now and hoped everyone was in the mood for some warm pizza. He takes a deep breath and picked up the two large pizzas and shut the door behind him. He opened the door and placed the two boxes down before hearing laughing in the living room. [M/N] placed his wet coat on the hanger and walked to them, "Guys, I got pizza, it's a bit cold but some pieces could be warm too." He called as he entered but stopped.

Tempest was sitting there and close to Auggie, she looked happy and the feeling of dread caused [M/N] to grit his teeth. 

"How was the funeral?" Kazuha asked, noticing [M/N] first before feeling the dread and anger coming off the man. "[M/N]?"

"[M/N]?" Albedo began and [M/N] takes a deep breath before closing his eyes, then opening. Tempest was showing them the stupid fucking baby book that [M/N] hated. Tempest had written over his face with a black marker, and ruined most of the pictures [M/N] was in.

"Tempest..why are you here? In my home?" [M/N] forced out, trying to be polite but the coldness and sharpness in his tone were heard.

"Uncle!" Auggie grins as he placed the book in his mother's lap. Oh, how happy he was, how he dreamed of meeting her, Auggie had always assumed she was dead or wasn't ready. Now she was here to celebrate his birthday with her. "Mommy came here to celebrate my birthday with me. Isn't that great?"

"I can see."

[M/N] saw Tempest smile, she looked better, relaxed but that still made him on edge. She looked like their mother, especially with her shallow eyes. 

"Auggie, why don't you go show your mother the pictures of your Zoo trip?" [M/N] asked, as Auggie's eyes brighten up and moved towards the direction of his room. [M/N] smiles before it falls, glaring at his sister with a scowl on his lips. She smiles still, and her arms crossed.

"Why are you here? You've been gone all for his life, and then you returned now? How do you think he would feel when you leave again?" [M/N] said, arms crossed as she looked at him, the others in the room watched silently.

"Well, no, I don't since..I want Auggie to come with me. I..feel like I could be a mother now..especially since he's older." She said as she glanced around, "Besides, you think your Poly could take care of him better than me? Augustus needs his mother."

"You are not his mother, I am his parent, you wanted to kill him. I literally had to buy him from you, or you would've thrown him off the bridge." [M/N] argues harshly as anger flashes in him, from the build-up of sadness and anger. Her facial expression changed and she snapped.

"Go ahead and dry out all of our laundries, especially in front of your faggot boyfriends." Tempest snapped as she stands up, knocking the book down and fixing her skirt. She moved and grasped [M/N]'s collar, she yanked it and [M/N] watched her. "He needs me, your fucking job is over."

"Get your hand off of him, now." Childe's chilled voice said, as his hand grasped Tempest's wrist and yanked it off. She winced and looked at him, and he chuckled, "You're causing a stir lady, especially when we found out about what you tried to do to a baby."

"It was my baby to kill anyway, besides, I didn't do it! You've all been here with murder anyway." Tempest hissed as Childe raised an eyebrow, he was a murderer, and pretty sure many of them had taken lives during battle. Suddenly there was a glimmer in her eyes, as she frowns, "[M/N] murdered our mother, and yet you all treat him so nice! Don't you see, I'm the victim, my poor Augustus..being raised to be like him."

"Shut up-"

"What?"

[M/n] turns to see Auggie holding some pictures and the look on his face was heartbreaking and [M/N] felt his own heart crumble.

"Auggie..I.."

+++

The box was vibrating in the room, it glows a  dark red and moved around in its space. It sensed a sinister aura nearby to let it feed. It moved around before knocking itself to the ground and the lock broke. The demon inside is more than happy and waits, once everyone sleeps before it feasts.

Chapter Text

I hate drinking, it dulls my senses so much...but I deserved it...I'm such a piece of shit...

I deserve to die...fuck man...

+++

"You killed grandma?" Auggie's eyes turn misty a bit as he dropped the pictures that were scattered around on the floor. "I..You said she passed away."

"I...it was self-defense." [M/N] said, assured, it had to be either him or her and he picked himself as she came towards him with the saw. The scene still lived till this day, and he hated remembering it all the damn time, it just messed with his mind of the way she looked to him. "She was doing something illegal and she was coming towards me with the saw."

"She was our mother, you could've helped her but you chose the more violent way out," Tempest said, hugging herself as her back turns to Auggie as a smile came to her face. "She loved you."

"She did not love me, Tempest, she saw me as a weak little boy...how I see myself." [M/N] said as he glared at her, she was toying with him and Auggie, pulling the strings again and to out [M/N] like this. "She tried to murder me, our mother murdered around 52 people and most of them were fucking children."

"It doesn't matter, she was our mother," Tempest said as she looked at Auggie, his [E/C] eyes filling with tears and she bends down to open her arms. "Auggie, come on, I'll take you out-"

[M/N] intervenes, moving in front of Auggie and puffing his chest out a bit to look down at her warningly. "You touch him, come near him,-" Auggie tugs at the back of [M/N]'s shirt to let him to his mother but he ignored it. "I don't know what sick game you're playing, but you need to fucking leave and never come back to my fucking home." Tempest bit back a grin but sniffed fakely but appeared real. 

"Fine, I'll just come back another day when you're not around."

"Tempest, I swear! You come back and I'll send you the same way!"

"[M/N]!" Albedo snapped, as the children were present, even though Klee was merely drawing at the table. She and Auggie even flinched from how loud he was, the blonde clears his throat and pointed to the stairs, "Why don't you go upstairs and calm down, I'm not a lawyer even for this world but threatening to kill someone would be a bad offense on you." [M/N] bit his lip as annoyance creep up, he was right but he did need to calm down. He pulled Auggie up and Klee picked up her drawing supplies and began heading upstairs with the two, Auggie watching his mother before his face disappears from behind the wall.

"I'm so sorry for bringing this up in your home..I just wanted to see Augustus.."

"Can you fucking not? We already know the deal between you, your mother, and [M/N]. You two were shitty people."Scaramouche started, arms crossed over his chest as he leans against his seat. "Pretty okay acting though, could be better."

"Mhm, I wouldn't call it good really, it was...actually decent but Itto could've done a way better job," Thoma commented, having watched Itto take over plays before when they even mentioned Oni in the title. His acting was just more lively. 

"Really? Shucks, thanks Thoma, I'll remember that when the Arataki gang performs!" Itto said happily. 

"Guys, not now," Aether sighs as he watched the woman who seems annoyed from the attention taken off her. [M/N] and she really looked like, minus the more feminine features on Tempest, but the same features on their faces as well. "Why are you really back? I know you didn't grow a heart over eleven years to come back for him."

"I just feel..like messing with [M/N], after all, sisters tend to do that, no?"

"It doesn't matter, we know what you tried to do to Auggie as a baby, barely a few hours old." Chongyun interrupts from his side of the couch, "A truly disgusting act would match someone like you."

"Pft," Tempest giggled a bit, finding how cute her brother's little harem was, so protective and still so naive. "I wanted to, but I needed some money to pay off some credit cards and a pair of new shoes. [M/N] isn't innocent either, I was never wrong about him killing our mother, the fucker gutted her like a fish. I think around twenty-something stab wounds to her gut and chest, if it weren't for the body she was taking apart...[M/N] would've been in jail."

"So she was a murderer too? How in any world, would that be fair?" Diluc asked eyebrow raised as Tempest hummed. 

"It's fair when nobody wanted him around. Come now, he sucks ass, [M/N] is just a pawn in everyone's life, if he wasn't, why was he desperate enough to let all these men around him and Auggie? [M/N] is a desperate whimp who wants mommy's love and never got it, it's hilarious that he tries to find love in any man that is willing to give it to him." Tempest laughs as she checked the time. "And besides, He uses Auggie a crutch for now killing himself by now, and it's high time that Auggie sees how his uncle really is...a little bitch." She hummed with a smile before moving on. 

She slams the door closed and some pictures had fallen off the walls thanks to it. 

+++

"I don't understand why I can't see my mom! She was here, and so nice to me and everything!" 

"Because your mother is snake and loves to pretend she's fine but she's just as crazy as my mother."

"You're just jealous that I have one!"

"One what?"

"Mom! that's why you kept her away from me! You hated her and wanted to make her feel bad!"

"Augustus Peaches [L/N]! I do not, how dare-"

"Dare me?! You murdered your own mother, my grandma, who knows, maybe I could have a better life with my mom and her. So I don't have to follow your expectations and rules as you do, so I won't be a freak for having a gay uncle and yet no second uncle! You ruined my life because you took me away from my mom!"

[M/N]'s heart stops and suppressed the tears that were threatening to come out. It's been years since he cried, maybe when he was struggling with how to raise Auggie by himself after Parker left him, and he takes a deep breath to calm him down as Klee stopped coloring and watched the two. "I understand that you are upset but your mother is bad news, you just don't know her like I do..."

"Because you took me away," Auggie argues back as he noticed the glossy look [M/N] had on his face. "Uncle.."

"I need to go, you're ground until..." {M/N] struggles to think as he felt a headache coming and shakes it away, or was he just shaking himself. He couldn't tell as he flinched, thunder boomed outside and the tiny taps of rain fell. "I'll be downstairs, and you're grounded until you're eighteen." He sniffed as he wiped the tears falling down, "Happy birthday, Augustus." He said, walking out and slamming the door behind him.

The toy fell from under Auggie's pillow and rolled a bit away before Klee noticed it. She gasped a bit as she jumped off her bed and held it up, "Auggie! You got a vision!"

"A what?"

+++

[M/N] didn't return to the kitchen and living room, picking up one of the nicest wines from his bedroom and opening it up. He takes a large sip from it and locked the door behind him, sliding down it and onto his ass. He looked over the label, seeing the diamonds over the label, something expensive he had in his cellar for years, a birthday present from Parker, maybe. He takes another deep swig of it, rubbing away at his tears. [M/N] looked around, at the haunted things that were around and laughs to himself. "Thankfully you all don't have any kids, I mean..raising the boy for so many years..and I get this? Fuck, Tempest must've had this plan for years."

There was no reply but the thunder boomed and rumbled a bit.

"Tempest [L/N], I honestly thought she died." [M/N] admitted, he didn't have contact with her but honestly hoped that was the case. He gripped the bottle a bit, taking another drink and his vision blurs for a moment before gritting his teeth. He throws the bottle in his state and it breaks against the wall. The rest falls down but he had also dropped something, he grumbled and stands up to go fix it. He nearly trips before grasping the box Susan gave him and placing it down.

"I fucking hate her, she...ruined everything." [M/N] grits as he noticed the box rumble on the table before the broken lock finally gives away and it opens. Smoke came out and [M/N] fell on his ass, gasping at the sound of bats' squeals were filling the air. "Fuck, the cross!" [M/N] crawls to the door and nearly touches the cross that hung there as the smoke pulled him.

Before he could scream smoke entered his mouth as thunder boomed when a dark laugh escapes the box. [M/N]'s eyes closed, as everything went dark, despite the door opening.

___________________________________

Sorry for the late update, since March 28th is Auggie's birthday, my wifi went out thanks to my neighbors.

Chapter Text

[M/N] gasped as his alarm came up and clutched the blanket in his hands, blinking a few times before feeling something cold against him and glanced to see Kaeya snuggled up against him. He wasn't even surprised and he moved his fingers through Kaeya's long hair and hummed softly before sitting up. He rubbed his neck from the little discomfort of sleeping like that with him, not to mention his eyes hurt from the blaring light. 

"Morning beautiful~ are we making a habit of you drinking to your heart's content and throwing it at the wall?" Kaeya asked, watching [M/N] sit up and rub his eyes. He smiles before sitting up as well and leaning against him. "Auggie already opened his presents not to mention the little extra one that surprised all of us."

"What was it? Some sort of shitty gift Tempest brought together?" [M/N] asked as he checked the time and sighs a bit. It was Saturday anyway so nothing would be coming up until Monday.

"No, a vision actually, like the ones all of us have." Kaeya said as he moved behind [M/N] and gently moved his fingers through [M/N]'s hair with a hum, "He was blessed with a Geo one."

"Geo? Like a rock?"

"Exactly, but with practice, he would make his own skill, especially with how young he is," Kaeya said as he finished messing with his hair and watched him. He had found [M/N], especially the loud snores in that room. He locked it up but knew it was important, "So..drinking behind closed doors?"

"Sorry, I tend to drink when Auggie or the kids aren't around." He told the other, as he sits up but felt dizzy and falls back onto the bed with a groan. [M/N] didn't feel hungover but it did bother him that he felt like throwing up his guts. "Ugh."

"And the mother murder thing?" Kaeya pries a bit as [M/N] stops moving for a moment and he sighs, "You don't need to answer it now-"

"I can explain it right now if you want, but let's see if everyone else is up." [M/N] said, looking to Kaeya and sighing a bit, "Only if you want to think I'm trash." [M/N] stands up, using the bedside table, and one of the legs snapped, he flinched back in surprise as the clock falls over.

"It could've been old." Kaeya offered as he stands up, moved to [M/N]'s side, and helped him up. Both moved into the kitchen and Itto noticed them, pulling away from the stove after fixing up some eggs for the kids, he was quite proud of it too. There were barely any egg shells in the eggs too.

"Hiya, I took charge in the kitchen today, and made some eggs with some pepper to make it spicy and some salt for some salty-ness?" He said before grinning, "I can make some more if you want some."

"Just some coffee Itto." [M/n] requested and the Oni pouts a bit, "and toast...you remember how to use it right?"

"Yes! Let me get it right up." Itto turns but stops, "Butter after the toast right?"

"Yes."

Itto goes to work as [M/N] smiles a bit before leaning into his wooden chair with a sigh, as coffee began to brew. Kaeya sits beside [M/n] and rubbed his cooled hands-on [M/N]'s forearm, it felt nice since [M/N] felt hot, like he had a fever.

"You're staring." Kaeya mused as Albedo came in, notebook opened and sitting beside [M/N].

"I'm just wondering, how does a vision work? I mean..what thing did you get again?" [M/N] asked with an eyebrow.

"He was granted with Geo, like mine," Albedo answered for Kaeya, and even showed it from his pocket. It was golden with the geo symbol in the middle of it. "Or common language, a way of earthbending? like in Avatar, but more normalcy of using it with weapons."

"So...my Nephew will learn how to fight?" [M/N] asked as Itto placed down the coffee and toast, a bit burnt with a layer of butter on it. Itto sits down nearly knocking into the table and [M/N] could hear the subtle ripe of the apron he wore. It did look nice on itto, especially against his pecks and arms. "Nah! No way, most kids usually play with their visions or even do kid things with them. Granted, I don't know many kids but that kid in the living room, Klee? Kat?" Itto said as [M/N] sipped the coffee, ignoring the burn on his tongue.

"With practice, he could use one, but I think he would end up as a catalyst user like Klee." Albedo said as he raised an eyebrow, "and It's Klee."

"Klee! Odd name." Itto admitted, as [M/N] rolled his eyes a bit before standing up only to start coughing and holding his fist close to his lips. Something felt stuck in his throat but he kept coughing and hoping it would leave not to mention it burned quite a bit as well. Albedo pats his back a bit, as [M/N] felt like spitting up something. Kaeya raised an eyebrow before noticing the open salt container.

"Oh, you put salt in his coffee Arataki." Kaeya pointed out as Itto turns to see the open salt container and it was true. The Oni slapped his forehead and groaned, "Damnit, I thought it was sugar."

"It says salt on the cover." Kaeya pointed out with a frown as [M/N] clears his throat with a scowl, and Kaeya swore he saw his pupils dilate enough to cover his eyes sclera.

"Next time watch what you put in my fucking drink,"[M/N] hissed a bit before pulling back and began walking to the bathroom to spit up the coffee. [M/N] shuts the door behind him and began the cold water in the sink, taking some in his palm and pouring it into his mouth, swishing it around before spitting it out.

"Ugh, that was salty as hell." He looked up and yelled, bumping against the wall as he saw someone staring back at him. It was a black figure with red eyes, staring at him but it leaves the second there was a knock at the door. "Yeah?"

"[M/N]? You okay?" Aether asked, as [M/N] glanced at the mirror and takes a deep breath.

"Peachy, very peachy." [M/N] said as he wiped his eyes with the bottom of his palm. 

"Uh, you sure?" Aether asked as he watched the door as [M/N] wiped his eyes and opened the door, before noticing Aether looked tired but extremely worried. "Where're your pants?"

"Oh, Scara didn't have any clean so I just stuck to my boxers and-" BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, He looks just as good as my ex-wife. He has big hips and big thighs.

"I know but still-" [M/N] stops, as he heard a raspy voice say in the back of his head. He frowns, internally panicking as Aether tugged at his sleeve a bit. "Aether?"

"Are you okay? Lately, everything has been..crappy but I..I want to make sure you're fine...especially when Kaeya found you out in that weird room." [M/N] listened as he looked at Aether and frowns. [M/N] wasn't used to being asked if he was okay, he usually accepted what he felt, especially if it made him feel bad.

"Yeah, I'm good..but..you want to go mess my bed up?"

Aether stares, and [M/N] stares back. 

That was something that [M/N] did not meant.

Chapter Text

[TW: Sex]

This feels pretty good, it's been a while, not to mention almost being murdered, being stabbed, almost losing my eye. This feels like a treat, something I hadn't deserved in a while.

"Mhm! Mhm! Mo~ore!" Aether moans into [M/N]'s ear, his pale hands trying to grab onto [M/N]'s forearm with each bounce he made on his host's cock. Loud and high-pitch moans left his red-ish lips, grinding down on the cock as he bounced which increased pleasure. His eyes blurred with tears of pleasure escaping as the tip pressed against that little point in him, "Ah~Ah~" He mews loudly as he moved down, yelping and whimpering when [M/N]'s hand gripped his own cock. "W~Wait h-haven't cum~"

[M/N] had his face buried into Aether's neck, peeking up as he heard the whimpering mess talk to him, he glanced to the mirror in front of them and his cock twitched at the sight. Aether, the little calm, snappy and quiet thing was sweating, bouncing on his cock and swallowing it whole with each move he made. The way he did was very erotic, and he grasped Aether's thick hips closer, lifting his leg onto the bed a bit to be even deeper into the blonde who squeals loudly from the new position. 

Aether throws his head back, and one hand grasping at [H/C] strains with a gentle pull as the cock reached deeper within him. He mewls, feeling the pressure coming up, and whimpers, "Wait~ gonna~" he moans as white cum splatters onto  Aether's chest and [M/N]'s fist. Aether takes deep breaths, panting before crying out as the thrusts continued, eyes blurred once more but saw himself in the mirror. His braided blond hair was undone and falling around his shoulders, cum was freshly spilled on his chest and chin, and his thighs had hand prints along the outer and inner thighs. "J~just came~" He whimpered loudly and gasped for air, as [M/N] lifted his other leg on the bed.

[M/N] didn't give in to his whimpers but something made him want to see everything, see more of Aether becoming more debauched, whore-ish. His other hand left Aether's hip and drifted upwards, his fingers found the perky pink nubs of his peck and twisted a bit, rolling his thumb against the perky nub. Aether whimpers, crying out a bit as [M/N] pinched it. 

He sounds so good, so...submissive...his little moans and his pale skin with my handprint...so fucking good~

[M/N] felt his own end coming soon, but continued his rough thrust into Aether who cries out a bit with each thrust into him. He was still sensitive after cumming after all, though the blond thought he heard a thump somewhere.

+++

"Itto! Get away from the door this instance!"Diluc snapped as he saw the Oni and Thoma listening together, "I expected more from the both of you."

"I-I was trying to pull him away!" Thoma replied, a bit meek but he was trying to get him away from the door. The sounds were getting loud and couldn't help but feel a bit horny when he heard the two, not that he meant to but it was just...it had been a while.

"I'm sorry! When I heard the noises about an epic battle between the two then I can't help but listen!" Itto said as he crossed his arms with a pout, it sounded intense too. 

"Pft, you virgins! Stop hogging the door, I wanna hear!" Venti said as he pushed his way and pressed his ear against [M/n]'s bedroom door and listened to the two going at it and sipped his wine. "Finally~ now that Aether got a piece, it's my turn."

"You degenerate." Diluc hissed before flushing brightly as he heard Aether's broken voice and thank the Archons that Albedo took the kids for a walk with Gorou and Zhongli.

"Cum in me~ Cum in me~" Aether basically howls and then more loud moans with skin slapping together. Itto itched his head before hearing Aether cry out like that and flushed, he turned just as red as his horns. He most defiantly knew what fucking was, Granny Oni gave him the talk very young but he never...had the chance to try.

"Just figured it out dumbass?" Venti grins as Itto flushed darker.

"I THOUGHT THEY WERE FIGHTING!"

"SHUT UP!"

Chapter Text

[M/N] couldn't sleep, every time he could something jolts him up and he was somewhere else in the house and doing something completely different. He had been meaning to go make an appointment for the place, but he's been busy with keeping his sister away and working on appointments for readings.

The places were getting more weird and awkward.

One moment he could be washing dishes then a second later he would be up in the garden with his face down on the flowers. Another time he could be brushing his teeth and then waking up to himself taking a bath. The most recent one was him starting the car and waking back up while almost in the middle of the road.

That one scared him.

"You haven't been sleeping," Chongyun said as he woke up for something cold, one of those cold ice cream bars that [M/N] bought him. Chongyun walked towards [M/N] who was sitting alone in the dark, appointment book open with some warm tea steaming.

"Of course not, I have too many things on my mind." [M/N] said as he rubbed his temple as he wrote down the date of the next appointment. "I have to chase off my whore of a sister, make sure Auggie is passing his online classes and not causing chaos with his rock vision-"

"Geo Vision," Chongyun corrected.

"Whatever, and make sure everyone in this house is happy and bouncy with joy." [M/N] sighs as the pressing against his head began to feel warm almost like his head was going to explode and his grey matter was going to splatter everywhere. [M/N] rubbed his head as he sipped his tea, gulping it down and the bitter-sweetness goes down smoothly. He sighs and Chongyun moved, taking a seat across from him. "It's late."

"Then why are you up?" Chongyun countered, he was used to getting up early especially if he needed a cool down or when Xingqiu stayed the night he would be up very early to finish a book he had barely started the day before. 

"Like I said-"

"Is it because you move around in your sleep? Like the other day?" He asked with a frown as [M/N] sighs to himself. "Everyone knows that you were driving while asleep."

"I see, kinda hope no one would know."

"And I sense some sort of aura coming out of you, filling your mind up with their power," Chongyun said as he looked to [M/N] who stared back with a raised eyebrow, "I can't use these practices from my clan but I can at least bless you-" Chongyun moved his hand and before he could press his fingers against his temple, [M/N] grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Chongyun stared at him, eyebrows raised as he sensed the annoyed aura that radiated. 

"[M/n].."

"Do not touch me, I can break your arm and shove it down your fucking throat." [M/N] hissed as he pulled back and closed the laptop harshly. He stands and began walking away, and [M/N]'s pupils were blown a bit, almost covering the whites of his eyes. Chongyun watched him leave and then to the sigil he had thrown against [M/N]'s shoulder. It fades and Chongyun winced as the door slammed shut.

[M/N] didn't know where he was going but he began walking down the road, it was slightly dark outside and the sun was barely coming back up. It was cold too, but not unbearable.

"Ugh, I hate it when people touch me." He grumbled as he walked with his arms crossed to his chest.

"Why do they insist of touching me-" [M/N] stops talking as he heard the crunch of leaves, turning around a bit to see nothing. He looked around with a defensive stance, not wanting to be found dead by some random animal. He takes a deep breath and moves but then another crunch but this time up ahead. He looked to see a car on the road, driving in the other lane. [M/N] sighs out before the car switches and began heading towards him causing him to curse and became still.

FUCKING MOVE

+++

The car was heading towards the intended target, both of them mere inches from each other but the target moved to the right and the car hits the tree. It beeps once it crashed, loud and dull sound of the horn along with the groans from within the car. The two men opened the door, one getting out with another painful groan and the other rolling onto the grassy floor. The first one peeked to see if they hit the target but didn't find him as he disappeared.

"She's gonna get pissed when we tell her that there's nobody." The man said as the second man never answers causing the first to groan. He moved to the other side but stops, seeing his partner wasn't there. "Eric?"

Eric wasn't there but then a thud down on the car, the man panicked and saw his neck twisted all the way around. The man looked around the trees but saw nothing, and his hands reached for his gun but felt nothing. He gulped as he glanced into the car to see if he had a gun, but then he saw the dark glowing eyes in the mirror. 

"Fuck-"

+++

[M/N] groans as he felt something dripping on his nose and blinked his eyes open before pressing his fingers on it. He pulled his hand back and his eyes widen to see blood coated on the tips of his fingers, he stands up a bit too quickly and held the metal bar. His eyes adjusted and saw he was in a restroom and dry blood dots on the tile floor.

[M/N] pushed off the metal bar and gripped the sink, his eyes stared at the blood that was coming down his forehead and wiped some off that was going to hit his eyes. He blinked a few times, rubbing his fingers under the water he started. "What happened...all I remember was just...just walking and..."

"They tried to kill you, and I saved you." A voice mummers into his ear and he looked up to meet himself but glowing red eyes are in place of his [E/C] ones. "I must admit, this sister of yours is getting pretty crafty."

"Why..why.." [M/N] began, though he didn't even know why she was doing this either-or why a demon was inhabiting his body. He gripped the sink a bit as his stomach churns a bit, as the red eyes stared at him. 

"For the firstborn, of course, she promised a baby for her own little fame and fortune, as in the end, Hell claims a newborn or at least the firstborn soul." The demon said as its eyes narrowed and [M/N] felt like he was panicking. He washed the blood dripping down his head and used paper towels to clean any remains. "Augustus was it?"

"No, she, she would but not Auggie." [M/N] said, his voice wavering a bit as he kept scrubbing the blood off from underneath his fingernails.

"I find it amusing, making you do all the dirty work of raising a baby into a teen then coming back and killing him-"

"Stop, please."

"It was like that with God, right? Sending Jesus down to be raised and killed-"

"He's a child..."

"A little lamb raised for the slaughter-"

"SHUT UP!"

[M/N] punches the mirror and ignored the sharp pain of the shards entering his skin as the mirror cracks and breaks. The demon howls with laughter and soon his annoyed look was in the mirror now. [M/N] looked at his bloody palm as his heart stops beating harshly, and now he knew why she was here after all this time. It all made sense, his sister was something then if she sold her son for money and a nice career. Tempest was here to take Auggie and kill him because of some stupid deal.

Chapter Text

I am a whore, I really am

[M/N] thought as he stared at his ceiling and ignored the light thumps of Gorou's tail against him. He tried to pull out of Chongyun's tight grasp against his arm meanwhile Diluc's body was leaning on the left side of [M/N]. It was the very first time he had a threesome with someone with an actual tail. He slowly moved and moved off the bed, Gorou clings to his pillow and Diluc didn't even stir a bit. [M/N]'s legs felt like jelly as he stands up, stretching his sore limbs and then up to his feet. [M/N] moved towards the bathroom to clean himself up and look at the bite mark that Gorou gave him on his shoulder. 

You enjoyed it~

"I've been having sex for the last five days, I am tired and my ass is tired. Do you think Diluc's cock was hard to squeeze in there? Heh, Itto really dived into me." [M/N] growls as he stared at the mirror and began washing his hands and chest with a wet towel. He wiped his chest, legs, and neck and hissed when it touched the marked-up skin. "He had fucking bumps along his dick, I almost backed out until you made me go through with it."

You weren't complaining~ Your brain went to mush and you've been so fucking pent up.

" Geeze, thank you for advancing my sex life." [M/N] said sarcastically and began grabbing some alcohol wipes and wiping around the bite mark. He was sore and everything hurt really bad, it also made him feel sexually dry as well. He placed down a white bandage over the mark and moved up but stops as a pair of arms wrapped around his waist.

You're making them jealous as well, lots of them have been pent up for years

"Kaeya."

"Mhm, kitten," Kaeya replied as he leans his chin onto [M/N]'s shoulder, he smiles though it was a bit forced. "You've slept with most of the men here but me."

"Not true, I haven't slept with Albedo nor Xiao. Mostly because Xiao hisses at me." [M/N] said as he looked at the mirror, catching Kaeya's unique eye. He looked like he's been up for an hour or two, and [M/N] looked at him. "But then again, I am very particular-"

"Choosy won't make you happy." Kaeya hummed as he moved his fingers over [M/N]'s [S/C] chest and hummed. [M/N] could smell the minty scent from the toothpaste and Kaeya nibbled along his neck. 

"Neither will you keeping your yellow eye hidden?" [M/N] said but the demon actually commented it to him. Kaeya's arms tighten and moved to the other, [M/N] was face to face with Kaeya. He could see the annoyance and anger in his eye. "Hit a nerve?"

"How did you know? It's kind of shameful for peeking." Kaeya hummed as he saw the pupils shift a bit into a little slit but then back to a normal pupil. "And looks like you've corrupted the exorcist before the demon executor." Kaeya hummed, his fingers through [H/C] hair before giving it a yank back. "But I should dump that fancy water you carry around."[M/N] eyed him before sighing.

"I was hoping to not do this." [M/N] said as he licked his lips and yanked Kaeya's hand away. He pushed Kaeya into the shower and his back hits the wall. [M/N] enters it, slamming the door behind them. It shakes a bit and [M/N] turned the shower, it was warm and [M/N] stared at Kaeya. "We're gonna do this or not?"

"...Fine, then you tell me about the demon. It's only fair." Kaeya said as he pulled his shirt off, and throws it into the corner with his bottoms. "Though it's sudden and-"

"Then enjoy it since I'm tired, my ass hurts, and my dick." [M/N] said as he moved to his knee,s ignoring the ache as his hand grasped Kaeya's cock, gripping it and moving his hand up and down. He moved up against the tip, his thumb rubbing over the slit of his cock. He could feel it move in his grasp and move his mouth. He sucked on the tip, ignoring the soreness from his throat. Fuck itto with his dick, admit.

"Mhm, you've been practicing for a while with the others," Kaeya said, lacing his hands into [H/C] hair, giving a few tugs as Kaeya felt his cock being taken deeper in [M/N]'s mouth. His mouth was warm and his throat so tight, that he almost felt his own legs turn to jelly a bit. "It almost makes me jealous." [M/N] asked as he pulled away from Kaeya's cock with a light POP  and licked his lips. He moved his hands over Kaeya's cock, giving a few strokes and grins. Kaeya swore he saw red melt into those [E/C] eyes of his.

"Good."

[M/N] stands up, pulling Kaeya into a kiss. Usually, the Knight didn't kiss men who had his own dick in their mouth but he kissed back, yanking [M/N] up by his hips and pressing [M/N] against the wall for a better grasp on him. [M/N] rolled his hips against Kaeya's cock and bit Kaeya's lower lip as the tall male pressed in. Usually, he cringed away but the burn felt kind of good, he ignored it as Kaeya began moving his hips.

+++

Once Kaeya had his fill, [M/N] did a shower and clean himself up before leaving the bathroom. He managed to avoid everyone as he moved to his car. He didn't plan to leave anywhere, he just wanted some alone time and to focus on everything that's been going on. [M/N] closed the door behind him and sighed, gripping the steering wheel a bit, and leans his head back with a loud sigh. He's really playing a dangerous game with everyone, especially with the Demon's sexual appetite. [M/N] felt pressure against his eyes and wiped those frustrated tears away and looked at the mirror. His eyes were a bit red from the shower and he was so tired of everything that has been happening. He didn't know what to feel anymore, he was confused.

You were pent up-

"And? I feel like a whore...a complete whore." 

Were you? Or were you just tired of them or anyone remotely hot looking at you and just you?

"I don't deserve it..I don't deserve anything good coming towards me."

Don't say that

"It's true, I'm a freak with stupid fucking eyes that see dead people. If I wasn't, then I wouldn't be of any use to anyone...I would've been married to Peter." [M/N] said, as it felt strange to think about him. It's been so long since any good thought came to his Ex.

He didn't deserve your time, and puh-lease, he would've left you in the dust

"Still, I don't want to be their little fuck buddy, I want to be with someone, a man who loves me and raising Auggie."

Still, you enjoyed the attention, you felt seen after...how many years?

"...since the day I was born." [M/N] felt strange talking to the demon that lived in his body, but he did feel comforting. Maybe it was a bit toxic but he was used to it, that was the comfort food that his childhood provided and the warm hug he received after a bad cold. He was born into toxicity and that was his home. [M/N] rubbed his eyes again before pulling his phone out to check the time when a reminder came up, and his thumb hovers over the notification. 

12:45 pm
Reminder: Look at Susan's last email

[M/N] stared at it before swiping it away, his thumb working through the apps on his phone before typing in the email he vaguely remembered through these weakest moments in his life. He stared at her email address before clicking it, the link loads and moved to a document. [M/N] blinked his eyes a bit as the black letters appeared slowly on the 4-page document.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkj36B1YuDU

Dear [M/N], I am dead if I sent you this 4-page paper, if not then Herold stop going through my shit if it's you. I am a very old woman, born to two alcoholic and abusive parents, and pursued things that could've killed me at the time. I've lived through poverty, through gas prices going up, and when the movies were barely two dollars but in all my life one being has scared me. That being was the Grim Reaper. I wasn't always scared of the Reaper, honestly, I thought he was fascinating as a kid since..well..he was dead! He touched you then BAM! Dead, but now that I'm closer to death I'm scared to even think about dying.

I was young back then, I believed nothing but him could hurt me. I was ready to face it, and I had nothing to live for at the time either. Well, my job because I needed the money for my home, my car, and my stomach. I wasn't married yet either, and I promised myself I wouldn't rely on a man because let's face it, men during the time were shitty as hell. Not to mention I never had a good example of one, but I promised to never depend on one. Honestly, I expected to be alone when I turned fifty-something. I was okay alone, I never had a problem, any siblings, or parents died from drunk driving. Nobody would remember me, Susan. That was okay with me at the time, until I got hurt from a paranormal experience at my job, and met Harold. 

I've never met a man so stupid in my life, very, very stupid. If I had to be honest, I think Harold snuck his way into the Hospital and got himself a doctor uniform with some matching tag. Either way, this man wasn't bright when we began seeing each other as friends. Harold was a bit absentminded, obvious, and dense. The more times I visited the Hospital the more he began to annoy me, but the more I became enamored with him. I began to see through his stupidity and his more beautiful traits of himself. He was kind, careful, clean, and very gentle with his patients. He treated me as if I was fragile like I was made of glass and he was holding me in his warm hands. It annoyed me, but it also made me so warm and so full. Something I never felt for the longest time, like he was just there for me and me only. No crying patients, no whimpering newborns, or complaining grandparents. He was just there for me and nobody else. One thing led to another and I knew I was in love with him two months later. A year later, I was married to him and became Mrs.Susan Stewart.

Then it happened, the dream of me dying in a horrible way. I was murdered, I could suspect the demon in the black box, marchitamiento showed me it to haunt me or fuck with my mind. But the dream always came, on March 28. I now know this was Augustus's birthday, and every day I was scared. I was scared of dying as I get older, not because I wanted to live forever but because I know I would lose the love of my life. I never feared the Reaper as I did now, back then I had nothing and no one to lose. Now, as I age, I get upset at the thought of leaving Harold alone. He's the only man I've ever been with. Everything I did, and ever did from adopting our babies to buying a lovely home, I did with him. He is and will forever be my soulmate. 

Just check on him, for me? Please?

I don't have enough time, but I've searched your family name and came a bit of information on Tempest. She's lived a lavish lifestyle and did very questionable things with the money that suddenly appeared. 

[M/N] wiped his eyes as he saw the third page and there was a timeline that Susan had created of Tempest's life. He wiped his eyes and moved to the fourth page. 

I have to go now, but it seems my time is coming to an end. I hope to see Harold here soon, but not you or Auggie. I'll kill you if I do, best of wishes and a good long life to you.

-Susan Stewart

[M/N] looked over his phone and his heart hurt, his chest hurts. Everything hurt, as he rubbed away the fallen tears that were shed when he read the heartfelt letter from her. She didn't show much emotion but he had an understanding.

Emotions made you weak in front of others who think you're pathetic.

But apparently, Harold didn't think of that when he met Susan. 

[M/N] yelped as he hears the window being knocked on and looked over to see Auggie with a curious expression looking at him. "Yeah?" [M/N] asked, voice cracking a bit.

"Can we get McDonald's?" He asked as [M/N] sighs a bit, rubbing his temple. 

"Fine, get in the car."

"WOO! Itto he says yeah!"

"ALRIGHT!"

Chapter Text

"I didn't think I would be feeding eight people, especially with you eating four of them at the same time." [M/N] said as he looked at Itto's messy face, some special sauce dripping from his lips along with cheese clinging to his lips. "How could you eat so much of them?" Itto stops in mid-chew and swallows. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand as his lips formed a grin.

"Pft- you kidding? These are nothing like Granny Oni's dishes at home, I mean Lavender Melon is better when cooked with a bit of sugar or salt. I prefer the sweet ones though, especially when Kuki makes them. Mhm! When you two visit, I'll ask her to make you some." Itto grins as he takes a long and loud sip of his soda, sighing as it went down.

"If I go, Itto I have a life here-"[M/N] said as he gestures to Auggie who was bitting the heads of the chicken nuggets and dipping them in honey mustard. "and a bratty kid to take care of."

"Huh, well..then you can just move with us. Besides, we all know there isn't much here, and Teyvat is suppppppper haunted, I mean I'm not scared of anything that moves in the dark but there are people who would love to talk to their loved ones and enjoy the company one last time." Itto said he could name at least two people who wanted to talk to their loved ones if it was possible. 

"It would be nice maybe for a vacation and look around at your world, it would be really nice." [M/N] admitted as Auggie swallowed before chugging down the soda causing him to sigh a bit, "But I have bills, taxes, and a lot of stuff so I wouldn't have the luxury."

Don't be dumb, think about all the guys you can fuck

"Shut up."

"Uncle?" [M/n] glanced to Auggie, he was fiddling with his soda cup along with the avoiding [E/C] eyes. "I.."

"Come on Auggie, you got this little man, I mean we've been talking about it for days now." Itto encouraged and gives [M/N] a large grin, "Since the weird sister thing, I talked it over with everyone else and Auggie, we know you had been having problems with sleep and sleepwalking. So I've been practicing with Klee and Auggie, how to apologize properly like a small gentleman." 

"Oh, wow, that's...very mature from both of you." [M/N] said as he glanced at the two. 

"Of course, how could I not help my soon-to-be nephew-in-law?" Itto asked with a laugh and grin as [M/n] sputters and stared at the Oni with slightly wide eyes, "Pft? Do you think Oni's mate is for fun? No way baby, we are mates for LIFEEEEE." Itto laughs, loud and he was very confident in his words.

"Ew." Auggie made a noise in disagreement, "Uncle should marry Ajax or Albedo, they can actually cook and be well off." Itto stops laughing and pouts, "It's true!"

"W-Well I can protect your Uncle, me being the powerful and confident littler of the Arataki gang." Itto sputters as the apology was on hold. 

"Ajax is something called a Harbinger, someone powerful, and Albedo is from the Knights...they seem better jobs than some gang," Auggie argued as [M/n] chuckled a bit as he finished off his fries. 

"Anyway! Auggie, go ahead..." itto stops as he heard [M/N] chuckle and watched the smaller [L/N] fiddle with the wrapper now and Auggie takes a deep breath.

"Uncle...I know what I said...and I'm sorry about it...I never met or know much about my mom.." Auggie fiddled with his sleeve, "and ...it was mean of me to talk to you like that...and I'm sorry."

"....you know..if you asked more about your mom...I would've told you the good things about here that I knew." [M/N] said as he sits up a bit and reached, gently rubbing Auggie's back with hums. "I knew she was very athletic..she was a cheerleader..she had great detail and...she was a good debater." His sister was a lot of things, good and bad. Tempest was a horrible person but she was a good student too, a good team player, and won their public school's place in regionals in their freshmen year and senior year. "She is...a very smart woman.."

"...Why do you hate her?" Auggie asked, looking up to his Uncle with a curious gleam. "...Did she hurt you?"

"..Both of them did, my mother and your mother.." [M/N] said before shaking his head, Auggie wasn't old enough to know everything just yet. "But I'm not going to talk about it in a McDonald's booth."

"Dawww, I wanted to hear this angsty backstory." Itto whines as he crumbled the burger wrapper with a burp. "It was getting good too."

"itto." [M/N] hissed, he wanted to kick his knee but who knows if the Oni could get hurt at all. 

"Okay! Sheesh."

"Will you tell me one day Uncle?" Auggie asked, not wanting to pry it out of his Uncle here in public but he could tell there was a deep hatred for his Mother in his [E/C] eyes. He wondered if it had something to do with him and if it was something that was legal at all.

"One day, until then...I would like that you respect my wishes that she doesn't come into the house at all." [M/N] said as Auggie nodded, his dark hair moving with his head. If only you knew...how much you mean to me...how much she hates you...

"I will Uncle, I promise."

+++

The Window opens and the figure moves in, carefully and made sure not to push anything by accident. She lingers for a moment when she heard steps and nearly got back out but they passed and she began walking around in [M/N]'s room. She looked for things and then she noticed something poking out from the drawer. She opened it slowly and looked around the drawer before finding the DVD taped on the bottom of the drawer. 

She yanked it and closed the drawer slowly, looking it over with a smile. Poor [M/N], always keeping silly things to himself, living in the past as always. 

Tempest hears steps again and moved towards the window, moving out just as the door opened. 

"[M/N]?" Thoma said as entered the bedroom, seeing the window open and the breeze entering the room. He placed the laundry basket down and moved, shutting the window before locking it. "I wonder where he went...and Itto." Thoma sighs as he closed the curtain and goes to put away [M/N]'s clothes.

Chapter Text

"Are we there yettttttt?"

"No."

"Are we there yettttttttt?"

"No-"

"Are-"

"Itto, ask me that again one more time and I will drop you off." [M/N] snapped as he pulled into the parking lot of the Beach. He sees Zhongli pull up beside them, carefully but still hitting the curb a bit. [M/N] parks and turns the car off, he moved out and stretched his limbs a bit before opening the door. Klee and Auggie raced out happily, Klee's bucket jingling a bit as she moved out and the toys moved around in it. After them, Razor and Bennett hoped out then Itto with Diluc not so far behind.

"Next time I want to get in the front," Diluc muttered as he looked at Itto and the kids hyping each other up for the water. "Besides Xiao could fit better in the back."

"No." Xiao said as he left the car's passenger seat and grabbed the towel. "if you have problems you can switch with Gorou."

Diluc rolled his eyes before [M/N] opened the trunk, taking the cooler and large blanket to lay in on the sand. Gorou pops out a bit and groans as he crawls out and stretched his arms above his head. "You feeling okay?"

"Yeah, perfectly fine," Gorou said assuringly before taking more towels and a bag. The car beside them opens and Zhongli closed it behind him. Childe left the car and stretched, showing off his muscles as Kaeya leaves the other car with Thoma, Aether, and Xingqiu while Chongyun was spraying a lot of sunblock on him. The trunk opens and Kazuha with Scaramouche came out of the trunk. Scaramouche grumbles as he flings the blanket off him and into Childe's arms. Albedo coming out the car with his own bag it's the sketchbook and his pencils in it.

"Next time I want to sit in the front." He stated and glanced to [M/N], "In your car."

" In your dreams, I was there first." Xiao huffed as he rolled his eyes a bit before moving towards the beach like everyone else. Once the majority grabbed something they left towards the sand. The kids were already trying to placed the beach blanket down with the help of Bennett and Razor. [M/N] opened the beach umbrella and sits the things down while pulling out the sunblock from his bag, " Klee, Auggie? Come here and get some sunblock." He called to the two ans they came bouncing up. [M/N] sprays the sunblock on them and rubbed it into their skin, "Can we go build sand castles?" Klee asked as she giggled when the lotion was rubbed into her chin.

" I wanted to go in the water! We can make sandcastles later!" Auggie said as he crossed his arms as Klee made a face and shakes her head, " We should go in the water!"

" No! Klee wants to make sandcastles!"

"Hey, why don't we do separate things?" [M/N] interrupted before they could really fight, " Auggie can go swimming with the others who are getting in the water. Klee can play in the sand right next to me and go in the water when she's done."

" Okay!" Klee moved to the sand a bit away from the blanket and Auggie was already heading full speed to the water where Itto was trying to dunk Childe under. Some were at the line between water and sand, dipping their toes in.

[M/N] rubbed his sunblock in and watched everyone enjoy their time, and [M/N] sat under the umbrella. His eyes stared at Auggie making sure Itto wasn't being too mean to him before feeling a shift beside him and glanced to see Diluc taking a seat beside him. " Not going to join them in the water?" He asked as he sees Kaeya enter the water and splash Thoma who laughs it seemed.

" I don't really enjoy the heat." Diluc said, he rubbed his skin with the sunblock for a few minutes before fixing his hair up into a ponytail. [M/N] glanced to him then towards the water though his eyes did catch how pale Diluc actually was not to mention the old scars from what he could assume from battle with the creatures they told him about. Though [M/N] had thought he was very muscular as well, six pack and everything.

Hah, you do want to fuck him~

" I already did." [M/N] muttered, feeling a bit flush. He had touched and seen Diluc's body, he couldn't help but admire it.

" Has the demon been craving more pleasure lately?" A voice asked and [M/N] jumped a bit and turns his head to see albedo on the other side of him and drawing already. He also noticed he was glancing up to Klee who seemed to pull Razor and Bennett into helping her build. But [M/N] can see that Razor was digging more aggressively in the sand.

" Not lately, sense I took Itto and Auggie out to eat he's been more docile." [M/N] said as he watched albedo draw and he smiles. " What are you drawing? Klee?"

" Yes, it's been forever sense I updated my drawings of her." Albedo said and glanced up, his blue eyed meeting [M/N]'s [E/C] eyes, " I could always draw you too if you wished."

" I would bad on the paper, I'm not exactly up to beauty standards." [M/N] chuckled, without the demon, [M/N] thought he wouldn't have a chance with them. He knew he wasn't as handsome as the celebrities but he was healthy, he had a bit of a gut, some moles in unsavory places, his hair could be thicker and in better conditioned and his front teeth or a bit crooked.

" I think you look handsome, very lovely and caring to the kids too." Albedo said as [M/N] smiles at the complements and he looked to the water. He kept smiling especially now that it seemed Itto and Auggie had convinced Kaeya and Childe to play chicken with him and the boy. He sees them laughing and Childe totally not losing on purpose.

Auggie laughs holding Itto's horns as they both share a loud laugh and it made [M/N]'s heart warming it. He was so happy in this moment and he slowly pulled his phone out and snaps the moment. 

"Are you still worried?" Diluc asked and [M/N] glanced to him, the red head tilts his head to meet his eyes, "If Tempest tries to take him, or worst?"

"I'm scared, worried...but she has nothing and never supported us. She just left off the face of the Earth after that for most of his life." Diluc nods as he watched his brother entertain Auggie and Itto. 

They kept playing in the water for another hour after Razor joined in the water for fun. They seem content with playing before they all gather to the blanket and [M/N] passed around food and a container for Xiao. He had bought he premade Almond tofu, once everyone began to eat the demon was humming in his head. [M/N] bit down on the sandwich and chews as Aether was telling Auggie and Klee a story about one of his many adventures. 

[M/N] noticed he ran out of soda and gotten another one to enjoy, drinking it happily as the demon cooed.

You are scared of Tempest, especially when she finally collects payment.

"What is it exactly? Why Auggie."

He's young, good soul and all Tempest could offer.

"You weren't around until the 60s I think, why were you here beforehand?" [M/N] mummers under his breath as he looked to the next sandwich that he packed and opened it to eat. He takes a bite and then washes it down with a sip from his soda before swallowing. 

Oh, I was here for your mother because her mother sold her soul to me. You guys are popular when it's time to pay the piper, literally would run away and sell your child's soul then pay it in full.

[M/N] choked a bit and coughs harshly, patting against his chest, and then yelped when a hard slap to his back nearly sent him tumbling onto the blanket. 

"Sorry there! I saw you choking on something and had to help," Ajax grins, and [M/N] shakes his head a bit as he sits better and he wasn't choking anymore. "What did the demon say?"

"Excu-" [M/N] was going to lie as he usually did, how many lies had he told them by now?

"Chongyun could not keep his mouth shut for the life of him, especially after that night of pleasure." Xingqiu grins as he wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked to [M/N], "My lige, we know all about the demon."

"...I'm not surprised at all." [M/N] admitted as that earn a few chuckles. He looked to his nephew but noticed he wasn't at the blanket nor Klee. He could see them dipping their feet into the water and Auggie holding her hand so they wouldn't be dragged away into the water.

"So what did the Demon say?" Bennett asked as he wiped away some tomato juice clinging to his lower lip from the fresh tomato in the sandwiches. 

"..My sister didn't come here to be a mother but to collect Auggie for a collection...for a deal, she made for what I could assume...was because of the money she earned. In payment, Auggie would switch places with her and this has been going on forever." [M/N] said as he fiddled with his can a bit and sighs, "...it's been going on since my Grandmother was alive, I mean I guess that's why my mom was fucked up."

"Hmm, I could see it," Scaramouche said as Zhongli nods his head.

"I suppose she needed something to trade it with equal value and Auggie's soul was the right betting piece." Zhongli sighs as he watched the kids kick at the water with laughter coming from them. He watches and smiles, though it falls at the thought of losing Auggie. He and the others adored and obviously his Uncle as well, so just imagining losing him would cause them all pain.

"Pft, we don't have to worry about it." Itto started with a grin and a thumbs-up, "We can protect him from 'er! Besides we could offer a deal, between me and the demon, I am an Oni after all."

"We don't want to fight of course." Thoma said with an uneasy smile, "Maybe we could...hopefully, lighten the load the demon has."

"Or offer something else, like your sister." Scaramouche said with a shrug as others hiss his name, "She doesn't deserve it if he offers Auggie."

"I'm in for that." [M/N] shrugs, Scaramouche was right after all.

"Uncle! Look a crab!" [M/N] turns and shrieks seeing the tail on it.

"THAT'S NOT A CRAB IT'S A STRING RAY!!"

+++

[M/N] kept looking at the road in front of them as he drove home, most of the people were asleep and Childe had decided to drive home in the other car. He glanced at the rearview window every ten minutes and made sure they were still behind them, the sun going down an hour ago causing the sky to go inky blue. [M/N] switched the turn signal on and Childe did as well before going down towards their road but slowly as he noticed the flash of blue and red. His heart slowly went down to his stomach as he soon arrived there at his home with around ten or nine cops around his home.

"What the fuck-" [M/N] began only for the door to open and he was yanked out, his face pressed against the window of the car causing everyone to stir at the movement and the slam. [M/N] panicked and everything seemed to go fuzzy as the officer checked him for weapons. He could hear another tell him his rights as his [E/C] eyes stared ahead and saw his sister on his steps. He could see the police consoling her and whispering sweet things.

Their eyes meet and everything went silent.

He could see from under her tissue a smirk and the way her eyes lost the light in them.

"GET THE FUCK OFF HIM!" Scaramouche demanded, the sleep gone and replaced with fury.

"Sir! He's under arrest." An officer a lot taller and mean-looking said as he cuffed [M/N]. 

"For what? He's been with us all day." Aether said, rubbing his eye as they began walking [M/N] to the cruiser. 

"For the murder of Uma [L/N] and the possible murder of Susan Stuart."

Chapter Text

"He's gonna touch my paint," Parker grumbled as Auggie crawls around on their apartment floor of the Sunset Apartments in the small unit 6A. They sat on the black leather couch that had seen better days before the baby liked ripping at the leather and gumming on the seats. Five hundred dollars down the drain for sure, but they don't really care about it. Auggie kept crawling and giggling as he came closer to his toy box which was overfilled with toys that were losing their color.

[M/N] sighs as he watched his nephew crawl around and shakes his head, "He isn't, and I told you to put them in the closet." He scolded as Parker rolled his eyes a bit.

"And I told you to clean it but you never fucking do." Parker huffed as [M/N] glared at him and stands up from the couch. Auggie was too busy sitting up and squeals as he throws the plastic rings in the air and it falls beside him.

"Don't cuss in front of him." He snapped before [M/N] glanced at his nephew who was still playing with the keys. He looked to parker and noticed his hands inching towards the purple pack of cigs. "Outside."

"You didn't mind the smell until that fucker-"

"Parker, if you so help me-"

"AGH!" Parker stands up and stomps toward the door and slammed it behind him. Auggie had watched and was confused but resumed playing with his toys as [M/N] sighs. He moved to the kitchen to cook dinner whenever Parker would come back from smoking or cheating with the lady two levels above him in unit 2C. [M/N] checked the already cooked pasta and dumped it into the cool pot then back to the oven to cook the tomato sauce as he mentally made a list of what to buy next time with their limited income.

He was deep in thought when he didn't hear blubbering and squealing behind him as he stirs the sauce.

Auggie babbled loudly and waited for his caretaker to turn around, when he didn't he Squeals loudly for his attention. He pouts and the baby moved to hold onto the wall and slowly moved his foot forwards. He wasn't steady at all, and he kept taking soon steps towards the adult. His hands outreached towards him, squealing loudly.

[M/N] turns around and gasped seeing his nephew moving towards him, his eyes tearing up as he bends down and caught him. " Such a good boy! My smart Auggie." He cooed ad he perked his cheek and Auggie squeals and clapped his hands. " My good boy, my Auggie."

+++
[E/C] eyes opened from the memory and stares at the dull grey ceiling. "Ugh...why would that come up?"

Because Auggie is your son after all and tempest is threatening to ruin your life forever because of it.

" Thanks for the reminder," he mummer as he hears chatter outside the bar door and sits up, he rubbed his eyes a bit with a sigh. He sits up and rubbed his eyes a bit, his bathing suit sagging against his legs and his eyes blinked a bit, " I wonder what's going on."

" Your husband calling me." A man's voice said and [M/N] turns to see a man in a suit, he recognized him quickly.

" Sylvester?" He mummer as the man grins.

" It's me, your husband called my dad who called me." Sylvester said with a grin, " It's a...pleasure seeing you again, but" the bar door opened with a click, and [M/N] slowly approached, " I'll be taking over you case." He had a nice smile, a really nice one.

" What's going on so far?" He asked nervously as the police hands him his stuff, phone, and wallet.

" So far I had made sure Scaramouche had emergency custody over Auggie since there is proof that Tempest never had contact with Auggie until a few weeks ago. Parker had made sure to hand over everything, and even when he denied adopting Auggie with you." Sylvester said as they walked out and towards a sliver car. " I'll drive you home, but now you're out on bail and I highly suggest not having contact with Tempest until we figure this out." He suggested as he started the car.

It smelled like Carmel and marshmallows, they began driving towards [M/N]'s home.

"Did...did you really think I killed you, mom?" He asked.

"No, mom a diabetic episode and if she didn't," his knuckles tighten on the wheel, " I'll make sure I'll catch whoever did it." [M/N] had a whole idea of who it was. He says nothing and soon his house comes up and they parked. "Court hearings are on Monday."

"What's today?" [M/N] asked softly, he didn't pay attention to the date while in there.

"Thursday, it took a lot of convincing to let you out." Slyvester smiles as [M/N] gives one back before shutting the door. The car moves off and he turns towards the house only to groan as a few bodies slammed into him and his arms wrapped around them. He hugged them close before kissing their heads, "Missed you so much."

"We missed you so much!" Auggie whimpers as Klee nods as she hugged him.

"So much! You were gone forever!" Klee exclaimed as she pulled back and smiles. [M/N] smiles before hugging them before seeing his friends move out of the house, all of them looked relieved to see him as well.

Huh, since when had I been referring to them as friends?

"You look so skinny, I made some food for lunch," Thoma said as he came out and towards him, worry on his face as [M/N] smiles.

"Yikes! What did they do to ya?! You're still in your bathing suit too! Pfft, such shitty hospitality!" Itto huffed as he moved, hugging [M/N] first and careful not to squish the kids [M/N] held. Itto smelled nice, better than the rancid smell that plagued the cell he was in. He pulled back and another hug from Xiao. He hugged back a bit before putting the kids down, rubbing Xiao's back. 

"Missed you," Xiao whispered a bit as [M/N] looked at him and then looked at the others. 

"Can I take a shower? I need it."

"Not after this, pisspot," Scaramouche growls as he comes out from the group and yanked [M/N] down. He kissed him and bite down on [M/N]'s lip, causing the taller to flush a bit from it. "That's for making me run around like some fucking moron, thankfully I called that demented fool's son," Scaramouche said as he wiped his lips a bit.

"You didn't have to kiss him." Albedo sighed as [M/n] wiped away the saliva that lingered against his lips. 

Not bad, but I wish his suck game was better.

[M/N] sighs before fixing himself and smiles, he leaves inside and into the shower.

+++

[M/N] smiles as he came around the corner to the smell of food, he had taken a shower and washed with his nice body wash. [M/N] felt relaxed as he watched Thoma and Aether cooking the dinner with the kids making lemonade for them to enjoy. Even Kaeya and Diluc were quietly arguing about how to set the table as Razor and Bennett watched with curious expressions. Everyone else was waiting for the food as [M/N] moved towards the table and sits down.

"I didn't know what to make so we went shopping and got some things you put in the oven if that's alright?" Thoma said as he carefully placed the large dishes down, some of everything. Macaroni and cheese, then some fried dumplings, some salad, and many other things.

"It's fine, everything looks delicious." [M/N] said as everyone sits down around the table the kids brings the pitcher of lemonade. [M/N] smiles as he gets some, it was just the right amount of sweetness.

Klee brought up some pictures about [M/N] she drew then Itto with playing board games with everyone and winning but people denied it. [M/N] laughed and looked at them, smiling as he enjoyed the energy that they all gave off. His limbs were even relaxed a bit, they were aching a lot earlier.

"Hey-" [M/N] began but his jaw was slacked a bit, too relaxed.

"Uncle...don't feel good.." Auggie whines a bit as he leans his head on the table. He groaned and others looked asleep or woozy. [M/N] tried to move his legs but nothing, and then he felt something crawling on his shoulder and turns to see a hand. His eyes blurred as he looked up to see his sister smiling. 

"I was hoping the water would work." She beams as nobody got up, the drugged water supply working its time. He tried shrugging her hand off and she sighs.

"[M/N], [M/N], [M/N]," She tuts a bit as she knocked over a few dishes and unzipped her bag. Soon a thin piece of plastic rolls out onto the table. Mostly it was around [M/N], and [M/N] tried to move his limbs but had no hope. "I hope you don't bleed a lot, shame that the kids would see this." She grins as she dumped out tools, many knives, a hammer, and saws. 

Chapter Text

[M/N] had enough strength to hold his head, eyes blurry as he watched his sister lay out the knives. There were all short or thin ones with sharp edges, others with slightly longer edges but knew all of them would be hurting him tonight. [M/N] watched Tempest hum as she pulled her gloves on, from his spot he could see Klee and Auggie fast asleep on their dinners. He could see their shoulders move a bit as they sleep, the others were fighting to get up or even jerk their limbs. 

"You know, I didn't think you would ever get married or have a lot of guys under one roof. I wonder if you fuck them a lot." She hummed as she moved around the chairs, the ones up glared at her or attempted to sneer. [M/N] watched her and groaned a bit as he tried to move his joints, his arms, or his lips. Anything to even get a reaction, Tempest moved before stopping at Scaramouche, she yanked his hand up to see their mother's ring on his finger. She tried taking it off but the dull golden jewel was clinging to his finger. 

"Mhm, my, he is so not your type." She laughs dropping his arm causing the man to groan and mumbled something.

She hummed as she came closer, [M/N]'s fingers twitched and she tuts, "Now, now, we can't have that." Tempest said as she yanked his arms up onto the table. She shoved the chair in and she poked her brother's cheek, "You always did move around too much, maybe this would help you?" She grins, [M/N] watched her and eye twitching then his finger. "This would help in the future with your nerves." 

Tempest used the knife close to her and slammed it into [M/N]'s palm causing him to cry out, lips wobbly. [M/N] takes deep breaths, mouth open as Tempest yanked the knife out from his hand. He wheezed as he tried to ignore the pain in his hand, fingers twitching and curling as blood pooled over from both sides. It dirties the plastic cover.

Calm down, Calm down

[M/N] thinks over and over as his arms shake a bit, "Mhm, maybe I did fuck you up more, oh well, lesson learned." tempest hummed as she cleans the knife off as [M/N] felt like his hand was on fire or nails had dug into his skin. [M/N] takes deep breaths as Tempest moved to grab another knife, it was a bit dull and she pressed the tip against his upper cheek. It was almost pressing against the waterline of his bottom eye, it dug in a bit down and blood runs down his cheek while a weak hiss escape his lips.

"I always admired you, watching a kid on a shitty waiter's paycheck and a cheating lowlife boyfriend," She hummed as she pulled the knife back and fiddled with it, looking at her fingernails. "But then again any sane person would've given the kid off at the local orphanage, some nice gated community house with some random couple that most definitely go to church on Sundays or hell down the toilet." [M/N] groans as she placed the knife down near him. "But I'm grateful after I murder you and catch this fucking house on fire, I can sell Auggie to my demon."

[M/N]'s fingers twisted but curled up into a fist, as Xiao exhales sharply.

His head was on the table, eyes staring down at Tempest, and kept trying to move everything and anything that allowed him. "You're not going to touch him," He growls as Tempest giggles and lifted his chin up. Her red fingernails dug into his skin and he refused to let out a noise, "And who is gonna stop me? You? The blue-haired whore? The ginger who has extreme anger issues or this small blonde?" She hummed as Auggie groaned and she dropped Xiao's head, his head making a large impact. She looked at him, she sighs a bit, "But then again, he did make me pee in my bed, and now when I sneeze I pee a bit in my panties." She said as she grabbed another knife, a different one than the one she used to stab her brother's hand.

Fuck, she's going after Auggie, fuck, fuck, fuck-

Then move your lips, say something

"You know, I always thought you were jealous of me." [M/N] said, licking his dry lips as she stopped walking towards Auggie. She snapped her head towards him and [E/C] eyes blazing and a scoff escaped her lips while her hands were on her hips. "I mean come on, you know how mom was, when she wasn't up your ass she was in her boyfriends."

"Okay and? I would be jealous of them not-"

"But when she came home, she made a beeline straight to me to nitpick at me or even slap me around a bit." He chuckled as her eyes narrowed almost into slits as she stared at him. "Dear old Tempest didn't even have mommy's love either, at least she gave me attention."

"Shut up you little street whore!" She hissed pointing the knife at him and he laughs loudly. [M/N] sees her advancing and she yanked his hair back, making his head hit the chair back as she moved the knife towards his throat to cut but before it even made a mark, [M/N] yanked a knife off the table. He stabs it into her thigh, stabbing it deeply and she howls like a demon.

Heh, pun

Don't make puns fucker, run!

[M/N] shoves her as he leaves the table, wobbling out of the kitchen, nearly knocking into the table. Tempest was gripping her leg and yanked her purse down, her hand yanked out the revolver. She pulled the trigger and a loud bang, though it hits the vase beside [M/N]'s. [M/N] kept moving and wobbly as Tempest left the knife in her leg, she had the gun and another knife in her hand. He kept moving around and even throw a few things at her as she shoots them. [M/N] trips on the carpet, and noticed the stairs. [M/N] takes deep breaths as he began going up the stairs, blood dripping as he walked up.

Tempest comes around and looked for him, [M/N] was gone in sight. The door was still locked and flinched as thunder boomed outside. She noticed the rain finally but then noticed red spots going up the stairs. She giggles as she began taking slow steps up the stairs, she checked how many rounds were left in her pistol and kept going up. "Ya know, some part of me wanted to kill him at birth. Though...I did need his soul anyway."

She saw the blood drops leading to the door, she grins as she moved, "But the sooner I kill him, it would only be distant-" She yanked open the door and aimed her gun but there was nothing. She huffed before screaming as [M/N] runs at her full force from one of the bedrooms. She tries to shoot but then it goes off into the roof. Their ears ring as they tumbled down the stairs, grunting and groaning as they went down. [M/N] could hear a snap and breathing was getting hard, he lands on his chest with a wheeze. Tempest whimpered as she rubbed her chin, pain flaring up from her wrist. 

[M/N] wheezed as he crawls from her, getting down a few steps towards the knife that had been thrown by the fireplace. He kept crawling and Tempest growls, standing up shakingly before wobbling towards the knife. She takes it right before [M/N]'s fingertips could touch it, [M/N] wheezed out, "No."

"Fuck you!" Tempest screams as she kicked his side causing him to cry out. [M/N] wheezed again as she held the knife. "You always had to ruin something, mom, me, and Auggie!" She said kicking him again before gripping the knife. She wanted to slice him up in ribbons, lots of ribbons. "You ruin everything you touch!" 

[M/N] wheezed loudly when she kicked him, and blood spills from his lips. Something must've broken again, he watched her as she goes on about him being a bastard. He knows, lord he knows that he's a bastard, he's stupid and he's someone that doesn't deserve to live. Not as a man, not as Auggie's Uncle, not as anyone's boyfriend.

He deserved to die.

Just not today.

Do it.

"Tempest..." He said and she stops, glaring, he whispers something and her eyes rolled. She bends down a bit, "Don't fucking mutter-"

He spits his blood into her face and she shrieks again, wiping her face and with one movement. He swipes her off her feet and she landed back, [M/N] climbs onto her and straddles her hips as he grabbed her knife. She claws at his face but [M/N] ignores how her red nails dug into his [S/C] skin as he began stabbing. He ignored her screams of pain, the way her hands desperately claws at him to stop.

15 stab wounds

[M/N] could hear his heartbeat beat harshly in his chest, or was that hers? Her heart, that's right, the bitch has a heart. [M/N] kept stabbing as her legs kick a bit but the way her eyes turned pleading and looked into his.

28 stab wounds

"Please no-"

[M/N] ignored her as blood splashed against him, and held the knife then another boom from outside. She was still breathing, [M/N] licked his lips before plunging the knife into her chest, into her heart. Her body twitched as her eyes soon turn dazed and then hazy, pupils growing big and movements stopped.

She died, by the hand of [M/N].

"[M/N]?"

"Fuck....just...fuck..."

"[M/N]...your lips..."

[M/N] turns his head a bit to see his friends gathering around the living room as he looked at the tired and wheezed, they saw the mess they did. How they were, and all the blood splattered on his body.

"....I'm sorry." [M/N] said but then saw flashing lights outside, blue and red. "But we need to leave."

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chose an animal;

Rabbit

Falcon

Sheep

snail

firefly

turtle

Ladybug

Chapter Text

How many fucking times am I going to die? How will I live knowing I was leaving Auggie to the shitty foster care system?

[M/N] thought as he leaned more onto Kaeya's back, he can hear the police officers behind him yelling at them to stop as they ran through the forest, his technical backyard. [M/N] kept holding onto the Captain and sees Auggie cleaning Thoma as they ran, Klee was a bit ahead on Albedo's back. He couldn't run, so Kaeya carried him, [M/N] was sure he punctured a lung or something. Maybe even shattered a rib down the stairs, fuck, all he knew was that it was getting harder to breathe. His eyes staring ahead of the watery path, where they were going he had no clue.

In Itto's bag was Bennett, his bad luck made him slip and fall many times. The poor guy, [M/N] felt Kaeya's grip slips a bit and clung harder. Though as they got deeper into the forest, the officers lost their sight of them. Everyone was tired and their clothes were clinging to their skin and others breathing hard.

"I don't know what to do, there are so many paths and the officers are coming fast," Albedo said, as Childe looked behind them, he can't see the light but they wouldn't give up.

"We could split up, one group on the left and the other on the right." He said but Zhongli shakes his head. "No, that would be worst, especially if one group is caught."

"Razor chase?" Razor offered but Aether shakes his head, "That wouldn't be good, they would shoot you."

[M/N] stared at them, listing to the ideas, and bit his lower lip as he saw the kids shiver. Auggie and Klee clung to the warm bodies, and he closed his eyes a bit. "Kaeya let me down." He said as Kaeya looked over his shoulder to [M/N] who stares back. "Please."

Kaeya sits down [M/N], his hand pressed against his side as he said, "I...I need to be let go of....I can't continue." [M/N] said, he had always been running for so long, doing what he needed and moving on. But he couldn't bring these people down, not the men who stayed by his side, especially with no connections but sex and lust connecting to them all. He couldn't bring them all down on a failing ship. 

I have to let them go, let them leave without my mistakes.

"No, no, what'dya doing? You can't let the cops take you." Itto said as he stops [M/N] who tried pulling away but he sniffed and a soft sob left his lips. "Hey, don't cry," Itto whispered as [M/N] shakes his head a bit.

"I-I can't let you all be taken, into jail or foster care...because of my fucked up family..I deserve this...my pain gave me no excuse to murder he-" [M/N] yelped as he felt a slap against his cheek and held it, looking to who did it and it was Xiao. He looked pissed, and Aether tried pulling the Yaksha back but he refused to move.

"You saved us, you had to do what you needed. You were going to die, you did what you needed to do." Xiao said as he moved his hands and cupped [M/N]'s hand in his, "You were close to dying..so many times..and I refuse to let you go back...to all of that...you matter to me." Xiao said as he stared up at [M/N].

"You matter to me too, literally you saved our asses so many times, and it's a lot of guts to face off with family like that." Itto said pointing to himself, "Since I'm a big bad guy who likes kicking other bad guy asses. You matter a lot to me, and soon my Gang."

"...You had treated us with more hospitality than most people had shown to random people, let alone men." Diluc said nodding his head a bit, his red curls clung to his face as the rain soaked them, "You...are a wonderful man, you matter the most to us."

"You're the best...Uncle...father that a child could have...you didn't do a thing...you fought for not only you...but for us....you're...free...you're free now." Auggie said before sneezing and rubbing his nose. The poor thing would have a cold after this mess, but his statement made sense, [M/N] was free now, he could do anything he wanted without worried. He didn't need to worry about it, he didn't need to be worried that Tempest would creep up behind him and literally stab him in the back. He was safe and free, with no more burdens.

[M/N] smiles before feeling the rain stop, [M/N] blinks his eyes for a moment and saw that the rain stopped only because it was flowing in midair. It stays still and others watched with amazement before the rain droplets swirl and soon gather a few feet in front of them. They gather in an odd circle shape, they gathered and swirl around, the dark water turning purple then a dark indigo color with a symbol that matched Childe's vision.

It then popped and instead of water swirling around in the middle it was a mist, the water still holding it open. 

It was a portal home.

"Thank goodness, I thought I would have to knock a few heads with the kids present."Childe breathed as he saw the portal open then to Auggie and [M/N], "You guys should come with us."

"What?"

"You two should join us, I promise the world we live in is so much better, confusing but better then this shit hole." [M/N] looked at the portal and then to Auggie who waits for the confirmation. 

"We can protect you better there, give you two a better life." Zhongli said with a smile, "show you the world."

"Maybe even help you two get used to weapons, train, and stuff! The Arataki Gang would love to meet you, and I want to introduce you two to Granny Oni." Itto grins.

"It isn't so bad, confusing, but it's nice to have a real-life home there." Aether said as he hears barking from behind them, "No more burden."

[M/N] bit his lip, but then the portal flows a bit and something shoots out and instantly he moved his hands to cover his face but he caught something cold. He looked at the thing and saw a vision, an Anemo vision that he could recall. It gleams a bit and a bit wet but [M/N] knew this had to be a sign, he wasn't that stupid. 

"Let's go."

Without another glance behind him as the officers grew closer, they entered through the portal, and once the last vision user entered the portal closed, and the water falls to the floor. [M/N] and Auggie abandon their land for the one that [M/N]'s suitors came from.

+++

Tempest stares blankly at the ceiling, her breathing hard and labored as her fingers wet and numb. She was dying, she was surprised she didn't pass around the 20 something stabbed into her. She heard the police she dialed within the span of her drugging and fucking her brother up, but they didn't come inside and possibly chased after [M/N], that fucking coward. Tempest kept staring at the ceiling as black dots danced around her vision but then movement caused her gaze to flicker towards it. 

The demon and his cold expression, the one that's been after her grandmother than mother for years. He was finally getting paid and she wished, it would be painless. 

"I'm so fucking hungry...at least a [L/N], the shitty one is dying."

Tempest agrees mentally.

Her eyes flickered to his claws that went through her, no pain but then there was a pull. Then she saw it, her black soul hanging onto the claw of this demon, she was glad it didn't hurt but didn't mean she was scared. Her chest heaved a bit as the demon pulled it up to let her see her cursed black soul.

"This is for you [M/N]," The demon grins as he takes a bite of the soul causing pain to spring from her spine as he ate her life away. Tempest couldn't even fight back, as the moth demon ate her essences away just as the police break into the door. They couldn't see him and Tempest dies, cold and in pain. "Ugh, felt like I gain pounds." The demon muttered as he leaves the scene.

Where ever you went, good luck kid

+++

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Falcon had won and that lead to being anemo vision
Also, this is the next arc and it would be the final one, where I will have different endings but don't worry I have other books on this APP, Quotev, and AO3

Chapter Text

[M/N] hummed a bit as he felt kisses pressed against his shoulder and giggled at the affection, slowly his [E/C] opened and blinked a bit to see Itto. [M/N] smiles a bit as he lays on his back and Itto grins to show off his large fangs. [M/N] moved his fingers through Itto's hair and grinned, "Good morning-"

There was a loud noise in the house, something crashing and [M/N] huffed a bit. Of course, the kids were up and probably making a mess out there. "You dummy, go take care of your kids." Itto whines and buries his head into [M/N]'s neck and [M/N] smacked the back of his head. "Arataki Itto, get up."

"Arataki [M/N], no," Itto mutters into his husband's neck and then there was another crash outside their bedroom and crying. [M/N] sighs as he moved off the mat and stands up, he pulled a robe on his body to hide his underwear and ties it. He left the bedroom as Itto groaned and rolled around on the bed, lazy butt. [M/N] began walking toward the living room and sees Auggie trying to stop the Oni toddlers from smashing a jar filled with pickled lavender melons. [M/N[ frowns a bit as he moved and picked up Aki. He giggles and tugs on [M/N]'s hair that he grew out a bit when he moved to Inazuma. Most men here had the same style too, so it was nice and natural to the aesthetic.

"Papa hungry," Aki demanded as he stared up to [M/N] who giggles seeing matching [E/C] eyes staring up at him. "Want purple bananas but Ackie said no." They both couldn't say Auggie just yet, but with some more practice, it would be better with time. Auggie pouts a bit as he held his cousin, a little bright-eyed girl with the same Oni traits as her father and brother. Minori watched and then made grabby hands to [M/N] who plucks his daughter up from his nephew.

"I'm sorry if they woke you up." [M/N] said as Auggie laughs with a shake of his head.

"It's fine, I was getting ready to leave, Ms. Guji Miko needed some extra help and sent a letter to him to arrive." [M/N] hummed as he listened, Auggie picked being a shrine Maiden or Shrine official because of his eyes. Something like counseling he supposed for grieving people and what better use of his special use was to work at the Shrine? He seemed to enjoy it there and even made some friends. "How long will you be out?"

"A few hours give or take," Auggie answered as he slides his shoes on and slides the front door open as Aki and Minori were both tugging at [M/N]'s hair. "I'll be home before dinner though." Auggie smiles as he clipped his vision onto his pants and leaves, shutting the door behind him. 

[M/N] smiles before yelping as Aki giggles at the yank he made on his parent's hair. "Hungry."

"Okay, okay my little demons." [M/N] chuckled a bit as he sits them down and noticed his husband has yet to come out and help. "But first, why not go wake Otousan first? He needs to eat as well."

"Aye! Come on Minori." Aki grins, the two hurrying off towards the bedroom. [M/N] shakes his head as he moved to the kitchen and began slowly cooking, he was just going to make some Udon noodles and some rice for them. [M/N] could hear laughter and loud giggling from his bedroom as he cooked the food for them before their day could officially start. He didn't have many plans for today, maybe go by the market after sending in the book Yae Miko for publishing. Apparently, people liked the hardcore smut he writes.

"Morning babe, thank you for the fuel." Itto grins as he kissed [M/N]'s nape and hands rubbing his husband's hips. [M/N] smiles a bit and kissed his cheek before picking up bowls as [M/N] served them. The kids are already at their places at the table, each watching their parents with excited expressions.

[M/N] didn't think he would end up like a man Itto, the dating didn't take long either. [M/N] had found his time with Itto most joyful when he entered their world. It was hard to get used to but with itto and the Arataki gang teaching him, and adjusted thanks to Kuki, he found it so promising. Then meeting Granny Oni was a blessing, she was a kind older woman who helped [M/N] adjust better to their lifestyle. When picking Itto, there were a few disappointed suitors but they accepted. How could they not? Force [M/N] to love them? Well, Childe did think over it once or twice but saw how happy he was with the nitwit. Sometimes they visit, Aether does when he can with Paimon, even if she annoyed [M/N] sometimes.

Now a few years later, a newly built home and two kids along with Auggie. He had a perfect life it seemed even if sometimes they made him want to yank his hair out.

"KA-SAN MINORI TOOK SOME RICE!" Aki screeched and [M/N] noticed before chuckling as he serves his son more as Itto chuffed, "They take after you." He grins, some rice clinging to his lips. [M/N] rolled his eyes as wiped Itto's lips with a napkin and chuckled, "No way, they take after you, always hungry and the red horns." [M/n] hummed.

"Nu-huh!" Itto said, some rice flying out his mouth as [M/N] shakes his head a bit.

Nothing changes with them, not that he minded, it was stable.

Stability was sexy.

+++

"Hm, how odd, I've never heard of a purple Oni." Yae Miko hummed as she closed the book, her eyes staring at the human seer, ears flickering a bit and [M/N] knew she loved it. He could always tell from her subtle movements, it was actually easy when showing her his projects. She would always edit them to her pleasure, mostly adding more romantic things or fiddling with the plot but never anything drastic. That much he could appreciate from her, but she always teased him with questions. "It's a bit new and people would enjoy the new idea, though people like Itto would think of it as an insult."

"Itto is actually the one who came up with the idea believe it or not." [M/N] said as he blows on his tea, he takes a small sip and hummed as the warm water went down. "He said it would be some good representation on Oni kind if others sort of relate to the purple oni."

"How oddly kind of him, thoughtful even," Miko said with a shrug before looking at the candle, it flickers and she hummed. "If you excuse me, I have other matters to attend and You'll be paid by the end of the week."

"It was an honor to talk to you." [M/N] smiles as he stands and bows, he leaves the eatery before walking down the stairs. His kimono closed as a nice simple breeze passed him. The locals greeted him as he walked by and [M/N] waved back as he kept walking down. He kept moving before sporting a little area for a play and saw Heizou's face plastered all around it. He even saw a small group of people waiting for whatever show they were going to have as well. [M/N] was curious now, more than ever because he spotted Paimon and Aether in the crowd.

"Aether!"

"Huh? Oh [M/N]! You're here to watch Heizou's anti-fraud play?" Paimon asked as she floats closer and Aether gives a smile. 

"It's been a while," Aether said with a grin. [M/N] smiles a bit as he looked to the stage, "You should come to visit Mondstadt more."

"How? You always move around from places. I would miss you." He teased with a smile. [M/N] watched the little play as Heizou narrates it from the sidelines until Itto gets confused around the middle.

"Babe, am I getting Scammed? Traveler?" Itto asked, as [M/N] sighs. Seems the Oni didn't read some sort of script as usual. 

"Yes, you are." Aether answers simply with a deadpan expression.

"Damnit!"

+++

"Thank you for taking the kids Granny Oni," [M/N] smiles at the older woman who grins softly at him. The twins holding her hands and their bags on their backs, they loved going to their granny's home for sleepovers so they could help her with her garden in the morning. "I'm sure the kids will be on their best behavior." 

"Oh don't worry, I'm sure they will." Granny Oni smiles as the two kids yawn, "I'll see you in the morning deary."

"Goodnight my loves." [M/N] smiles as he closed the door as they walked away. [M/N] smiled as he moved toward the bedroom Itto had a Naku weed in his mouth, and he put his body in a position that reminded him of those cheesy romantic movies he used to watch as a kid. "What's this?" [M/N] asked, smiling shyly at his husband who wiggled his eyebrows up at him. [M/N] moved down and rested on his knees. 

Itto spits out the weed and grins, "It been a while since we got together, alone without my little buddy and the kids." His fingers, faded black nailed fingers fiddled with [M/N]'s robe belt, he fiddled with the knot a bit. "And we've been hard at work lately, workin'." Itto was a part-time adventure thanks to Aether helping yet again. He slacked off sometimes but still made good work.

"Oh? So you want a reward?" [M/N] hummed as his cock harden a bit, he could feel himself get hard as Itto grins, showing off his fangs. [M/N] sits on his ass and undo the knot of his robe. It opens and Itto chuckled as he saw his husband's cock. [M/N] throws the robe away as Itto sits up, and the blanket covering him falls down. [M/N]'s eyes stared at his nude body, the red tattoos, and finally his cock. 

"Mhm, I do baby," Itto grins and licked his lips.

"Top or bottom?"

"Top, I want to take care of ya."

[M/N] chuckled as he leans over and kissed Itto, his hand gently pressed his hand against Itto's chest. He felt over his peck, the muscle, and how soft his skin was. [M/N] groans as Itto moved his hand against his ass cheek, giving a squeeze of the flesh. Itto's mouth open and the human took a chance to control the kiss. Itto kept rolling his tongue with his husband's before pulling back and licking his red lips. "Fuck babe, still so skillful with your tongue."

"Mhm, thanks, honey." [M/N] grins before yelping as Itto shifted them, Itto on his back and [M/N] straddling him. [M/N] adjusted himself before flushing as he felt Itto's cock pressing against his ass. His cheeks flushed darker as he grinds against it a bit, [M/N]'s hands pressed against Itto's chest. "It really has been a while."

"Mmhm, forever," Itto grins as his hand's grip his husband's hips, gently gripping them with his nails. "We've both been workin' hard to earn the bag." [M/N] chuckled because he remember Auggie teaching him that.

[M/N] adjusted himself as he pressed the tip of the cock into him and hissed as it stretched him wide. Once it was in, he adjusted himself before taking breaths as he moved, going up and down slowly before gaining rhythm and speed, not to mention Itto helping him go up and down on the barbed cock. He groans and moans loudly as it hit his sweet spot and squeals as Itto flips them, [M/N]'s eyes blurry with pleasurable tears as he felt Itto take control. [M/N] fingernails scrap along the Oni's shoulders as Itto pressed his husband's knees closer to his chest as he fucked him. 

"Mhm, fuck," Itto groans as he hammered into the other, [M/N] groaning as their hips smacked together, "Fucking suckin' me in, like a good little wife."

"No-Not-" [M/N] fingers tugged at Itto's hair, words going slurred as the spot in him was hit. He wasn't the wife, he was his husband but the thought of being called Itto's wife made his insides clench at the idea a bit and Itto growls a bit. 

"My little fuckin' wife, giving me children and a home," Itto blurted out as he fucked his husband faster and kept going to hear more of the squeaks and mewls of his husband, "Glad I snatched ya before another man could. Thought I would lose you to someone as rich as Anki or that wine guy. Fuck, bet they're jealous they don't kid from ya or this warm hole."

[M/N] flushed as he remembered all the times Itto somehow took his attention from the other suitors. It was just acts of affection or telling everyone and their mama that [M/N] would be Itto's husband. Then it was spending more time together, meeting the Arataki Gang and Granny Oni, and before [M/N] knew it, Itto proposes to him a few months later. They lived with Granny Oni for a while as both of them worked for a home, then the matter of children came.

Yae Miko is a very smart woman and knows things people don't, and so [M/N] carried the kids with her blessing. She found it amusing for the occurrence.

"Itto~" [M/N] moans at a particular rough thrust into him and Itto kept pressing against that area. 

"I love you~ my sugarbun~" Itto grins as [M/N] flushed before moaning loudly as they moved their hips, cumming a few minutes later and [M/N] grunts as Itto flops onto him. 

"Get off...and clean me."

"Mhm~"

"Itto?"

[M/N] sighs as Itto falls asleep on him again after sex and would be pinned under him for the rest of the night. [M/N] moved his fingers the Oni's hair and smiled, despite the stuff they couldn't afford yet or much for that matter, he was happy. He had the family that he made with him, married to a wonderful and sweet guy. [M/N] would not change it for the world either, this was his home, and glad he was brought there with Auggie.

++++

Hello! Sleepy Hollow has ended but this is the first of the many endings, I am doing the guys who would have kids first and then the alternatives next. Maybe even a special ending~

Anyway, if you guy's don't like MPREG/KIDS go ahead and skip a few chapters of the endings.

Chapter Text

Edith Ragnvindr = 15 - no vision 

Helma Ragnvindr = 13- Hydro

Lydia Ragnvindr = 10 - Dendro

Finn Ragnvindr = 5 - Pyro

[M/N] = 43

Diluc = 41

Auggie= 26

Kaeya = 40

Chouji= 25

Jean= 42

[M/N] looked over himself in the vanity mirror, pushing his hair back from his face and tied it up with a black ribbon. He hummed at his appearance before pulling his vision overhead. It was in a tie he usually wore with his outfit and his anemo vision at the center. He wasn't used to suits most of the time but it's what the rich people wore, what Kaeya dumbed it down to. After fifteen years, he got used to the slightly itchy fabric that clung to his body. Once his hair was fixed in the mirror, [M/N] left his bedroom and down the stairs. He could see servants moving around and talking to each other as they prepare for the party that late afternoon. It was his anniversary, after all, one of the significant special occasions.

Even Auggie was coming to the party with his own husband, Chouji. They were living in Inazuma so Chouji could work his little mining business.

"Good morning, Father," A voice said from the table and [M/N] looks up and smiles seeing his eldest daughter drinking some juice and enjoying a book. She was introverted like Diluc and had his looks but [M/N]'s soft [E/C] eyes. "How was your morning?"

"Good and well, but shouldn't you be asleep? It is still early morning after all." [M/N] asked as she smiles a bit. 

"I wanted to help but most of the servants told me to stay put," Edith explains as she closed her book. "And Papa had been panicking all this morning, he wanted everything to be perfect." [M/N] sighs, he knew his lover would be out of control like this not to mention Diluc was a perfectionist. "Where is he now?"

"He's outside checking on the fields and making sure everyone is doing their part, he seemed really stressed." She said as she stands up to put her book back on the shelf. [M/N] smiles as he leaves and watched Lydia and Finn with buckets of grapes. Lydia took more of [M/N] but with Diluc's skin color. She had short [H/C] hair and soft [E/C] eyes while wearing the clothes that she wore to work. Diluc almost had a heart attack when Lydia began working for the Knights which was hilarious to Kaeya. Her green vision jingled on her belt as she carried the large bucket of ripped grapes up the pathway. Besides her was their son, the only son in the household.

Finn took off all Diluc's looks and a few long strains of [H/C] hair that were pulled back into a ponytail. He had to be the second youngest in Mondstadt to earn a vision this early, five, and with a glowing Pyro vision like his mother.

"Good morning Father," Lydia grins a bit as she and Finn stop beside the stone wall of the manor. She placed the heavy bucket down and Finn drops him, luckily none fell out of it. Finn moved and throws himself into [M/N] while laughing. [M/N] caught him and throws Finn in the air for a moment before catching him, "Mornin' Papa." Finn smiles, showing the little gap in his teeth. 

"Morning, have you two seen your mother?" [M/N] asked as Lydia nods and pointed toward the end of the Dawn Winery, near the water. "Oh, fighting with the slimes again?"

"Yup, I guess a few more appeared last night and you know how mom is." Lydia sighs as she glanced at the decore that was being hung up. "I know Uncle Auggie and Uncle Chouji are coming here soon with Uncle Kaeya, so you better round him up soon." [M/N] nods as he placed Finn down who grins. 

"I'll go get your mother, you two help around." [M/N] said as Finn flees away as Lydia sighs, leaving the grapes to make sure Finn doesn't catch anything on fire again like last year.

[M/N] smiles as he began walking down the pathway, his boots clicking against the stone path, and sees a red glare ahead. [M/N] smiles as he kept walking before watching Diluc slashing through the slimes, they were mostly Cryo ones and Diluc handled them with complete ease. Once they had died from Diluc's attacks, the redhead leans on his claymore with soft breaths escaping his lips. "You okay handsome?"

"Heh, always finding me," Diluc said as he smiles, unsummoning his weapon behind him. Diluc was a bit sweaty and [M/N] hummed as he walked closer before summoning a gentle breeze with his vision. Diluc sighs as the cool air hit his face and pushed some sweaty strains away from his face. "Thanks."

"No problem, but you did know they were coming from the Springvale direction." [M/N] said as Diluc nodded as he fiddled with his gloves, he sighs a bit, "Are you nervous?"

"No, of course not, but I'm...just fearful about my gift to you," Diluc said as he looked at his husband of fifteen years and smiles a bit, though his whole body seemed tense. "I'm sure you're annoyed by my....actions."

"No, I think it's cute when you kill those little slimes and their mama." [M/N] teased before kissing his husband's cheek with a smile. He gently moved his fingers through Diluc's red curls and hummed, "Though the party will be starting soon, I can hear Finn trying to start up the fireworks again."

"That boy and his fireworks." Diluc sighs as he leans into his husband, "Alright, let's get going."

They make it to the home but saw a carriage that was loaded up with bags, he could spot Auggie helping Chouji out of the carriage. Once they made it to the manor, Auggie give [M/N] and Diluc a hug then Chouji. 

"Hey Uncle, Diluc, I hope we're not late." Auggie grins as he glanced at his husband, "But Mister Workaholic didn't want to part from his shiny stones and rocks."

"It's what keeps the cabinets full and your taste in fancy foods manageable." Chouji huffed playfully. Auggie laughs as he leans against him with a smile, Diluc chuckled a bit before it stops as a certain Captain came up. He didn't look like he aged at all but there are a few grey ends on his ponytail along with slightly darker blues to his uniform. He had a gift under his arms as he walked up with a charming smirk.

"Evening Brothers, happy to be celebrating a wedding anniversary for the two of you-" Kaeya stops talking as he is pulled into a hug by [M/N] and then Diluc, though stiff as usual. Diluc takes the presents and then the door slams open, "Uncle KAEYA!" Finn squeals as he hugs Kaeya's leg and the Captain chuckled before picking up Finn. He chuckled as Finn fiddled with Kaeya's hair a bit with a smile.

"Hello, Uncle Kaeya." The girls greeted and Kaeya smiles, they all take after [M/N] and Diluc when he was younger and full of life.

"Now that everyone is here, a picture may be in order." Adelinde said as she held up a Kamera with a smile. Her hair greying a bit and wrinkles around her eyes after years. "Come in close." Everyone moved in close as the sun was slowly coming down. It made the background of the picture pretty, and how everyone was squeezed in together. "Say..." Adelinde locked eyes with Diluc who smiles a bit. "Diluc's Pregnant again." 

"Diluc's Pregnant- WHAT?"

Apparently, the Ragnvindrs were going to have another baby, and it happened a few months back. Six kids in their early forties, not the way [M/N] wanted to spend his fifties but he was happy regardless.

+++

"Are you sure you're not mad?" Diluc asked as [M/N] changed his shirt to pull his pajamas on. Diluc sat at their shared vanity to brush his dry hair, to take out the knots that were in it. "It's okay if you're mad."

"I'm not mad," [M/N] said as he throws the dirty button up into the hamper. "I'm just surprised."

"But not mad?" Diluc repeated, that he didn't expect to be pregnant since he thought the fertility fruit was flushed from his system after Finn. Then he was getting a bit chubby and wanted to eat some frozen apple juice with honey and pepper. 

"Diluc, no." [M/N] said as he walked towards Diluc and gently rubbed his shoulders. "It's our kid so I'm okay with it, a lot more diapers and sleepless nights but I'm happy." Another them, he did want a big family one day once he settled down. "Why...do you not want?"

"I do...it's just...I'm two months in...and...I kind of want...to...do...some...intercourse." Diluc said as he drops his hair that curled around his shoulders.

"Hehe, married for so long and still so polite about sex." [M/N] chuckled as he kissed his husband's head before lifting him up, gently placing him on the bed. Diluc laid back and his redhead curls around him like a halo of curls, with no grey hair in sight. He looked beautiful but when has he ever not? [M/N]'s fingers gently tugged the knot of the robe off to see Diluc was not wearing boxers or pajamas as he claimed before [M/N] entered the bedroom. "You expected me to comply?"

"Yes, you are a deviant darling." Diluc chuckled as [M/N] rolled his eyes, Diluc's fingers threaded through [M/N]'s hair when he felt soft kisses down his neck and then to his chest. "Easy on my chest-mhmm." Diluc began but whines as [M/N] sucked on his nipple, moaning softly as he bit down. "Not too hard~" Diluc whines softly.

His husband doesn't answer as he switched to the other nipple to tease in his mouth, Diluc gently grinds his hard cock against [M/N]'s leg, wanting more foreplay. "You're so needy." [M/N] said as he licked at the tip of the nipple before kissing down and stroking his husband's cock. He really was so sensitive, maybe from the pregnancy. [M/N] kept stroking his husband's cock as Diluc takes soft breaths and let out breathy moans from the gentle grip. Unaware that [M/N] was preparing his entrance with lube, made from slime. Diluc winced for a moment before moaning loudly when [M/N] sucked the tip of his cock. It brought him over the edge quickly, and [M/N] licked his lips off the cum that was spurted out.

"You still okay for more?" [M/N] asked softly.

Diluc nods, flushed and panting.

[M/N] kept moving his fingers to stretch his beloved out, watching him carefully so he didn't stress him or their future child out even more. Soon he withdrew his fingers and [M/N] tugged his own boxers off, and pulled Diluc's legs closer. "If it hurts just let me know and I'll stop-" Diluc whacks him with his heel a bit.

"Don't, give yourself to me at once," Diluc demanded as his cheeks turned redder from the declaration. "I'm going to get big again and unable to have sex for a while, so hurry upPPPPPP~" Diluc groans loudly as [M/N]'s cock enters him and throws his head back a bit. It filled in all the place and felt so good with the burn that came with it. [M/N] breaths in a bit as he felt how Diluc squeezed around him, his hands gripped Diluc's wide hips before moving. Diluc wasn't tensed but he was just squeezing hard on him, but he kept moving just to hear Diluc's loud moans.

" Faster Daddy, Faster," Diluc groans as he tugged at [M/N]'s [H/C] hair, gripping it tightly causing the other to wince

 Looked like Diluc was in one of those moods, " Faster I said!" Diluc hissed giving a kick to [M/N]'s side but yelped as [M/N] slapped his ass. 

" I thought you wanted rough." [M/N] taunted as he thrusted his hips more, Diluc's cheeks flushed bright red and whines, trying to hide his face away. [M/N] chuckled and kissed against his husband's neck, sucking on the pale skin a bit ad he kept moving his hips. Diluc moans softly as his husband moved and the knot in his stomach was slowly tensing, building up slowly. Diluc felt the kissing go down and throws his head back when [M/N] sucked on them again.

" Cumming, cumming," Diluc sobs when [M/N] bites down on his nipple, his hips thrusted to meet [M/N]'s thrust and he cums. He cried out a bit as [M/N] kept moving, his cum spills in between them. 

[M/N] felt his own knot tense as he cums, holding Diluc closely before pulling out. His cum spills out and he cleans it with one of his dirty shirts. Watching Diluc closely as he heaved and pants a bit, " You okay?"

"Peachy," Diluc smiles, " I love you."

" I love you more."

Soon there was harsh pounding on their wall including muffled, " THIS IS WHY I MOVED OUT!"

[M/N] smiles a bit before seeing Diluc groaning into his hand from this, and chuckled. He was happy, especially in this life. He got with the richest man in Mondstadt and his brother-in-law is a literal captain. He was happy, he deserved this  life. Much better then being alone in his forties.

Chapter Text

Shinju = 13
Mai = 6

"That is all, thank you for your time, Thoma." Ayato dismissed his retainer and walked passed him, gently ruffling Thoma's children's hair. He liked kids, and would be needing one in the near future for the clan, but also found them annoying sometimes too. They weren't, not to mention very good helpers around the estate. Ayato leaves his friend as Thoma smiles a bit, he turns towards his children who were pouting.

"What's with the long faces my chiisana ai ?" Thoma asked as he watched Shinju fix her blonde hair from the hair ruffling, her sweet green eyes stared up at him. "Shinju?"

"It's nothing Mama, but when is Papa coming home?" Shinju asked as she pouts, her pale cheeks puffed a bit as she looked at her father. It's been two days since they saw their papa at home with them, to relax and have dinner. She was mad about that and mad that Ayato-sama sent him away for work.

"He is supposed to come home later today, Papa has a very important job for Ayato-sama," Thoma said, sighing as he rubbed his nape. 

"But it's been so lonnnnggg!" Mai sighs loudly, she fiddled with her cleaning apron that Ayaka-san bought her. "...I miss Papa a lot."

"I know." Thoma smiles softly as he lifted Mai up, she had his blonde hair too but [M/N]'s lovely [E/C] eyes. "But Papa has to do this for work...but I'm sure he wants to come home as much as we do." Mai sighs and nuzzled into his mama's neck, sighing as Thoma rubbed her back. 

"Why don't we go see what Lady Ayaka is doing and then back to work?" Thoma offered as the girls nod their heads. They always get treats from Lady Ayaka anyway or tea, a nice little break between working and cleaning was just as nice for the two younger children. They didn't work as hard as Thoma, but they did work where it was needed like mopping or picking weeds.

"Okay," Shinju said as she held her mother's hand as they began walking in the direction of the main house tea room.

Thoma smiles as he walked with them, though they were right. It was unfair that his husband was out in possible danger to work under Ayato. Usually, Thoma wouldn't bat an eye since his husband was great at this, doing undercover work and helping where he could. Now that they had two daughters, it was just nerve-wracking.

++++

Ritou 

"Are you sure that this is the place?" A Fontaine man asked his friend, he had been a native of Inazuma before deflecting and working among the other smugglers. He was happy to be home but still tense from the commission possibly finding out he was back. As a young man, he had sold out the Kamisato commissioner's secrets to his enemies before leaving, it had been many years since then. "I've never heard of this place, especially in Ritou."

"You haven't been to Inazuma in a while Riki," Riki's friend laughs softly as he nudged his friend's side. "Just sit and relax, the ladies are going to come out soon."

"Whatever you say, Tamaki," Riki said as they began sitting down and poured alcohol into their glasses before sitting the bottle down. Soon music plays, it was soft and sweet at first as the pannel door opens and women dressed in fine kimonos and makeup came through it. The women giggled as they came out, fans out, and two began dancing as the others were beside the men, making small talk or complements to them. "These are the lovely Geishas of Inazuma, they came around last year."

"They are...very pretty," Tamaki admitted as he flushed when the women came over, their eyes fluttering and speaking softly with their bright red and pink lips. "They do this for a living?" Tamaki asked as the music got louder and another woman came out, not dressed the same as the ones beside him. She was playing the shamisen and kept her gaze down to focus on the music rather than the men.

"Yup, paid and get all the benefits too since they make a lot of money," Riki said as soon as the music shifted and he grins at his friend, finally the grand finally. "But the top Geisha makes the most and very beautiful."

"Oh, beautiful?" Tamaki repeated, eyebrow raised as the music changed. He glanced at the woman playing the instrument than the other women covering the candles with color paper that would change the hue of the room. Tamaki shifted a bit as he watched the doors that slowly slide open and his throat went dry as a very beautiful woman dressed in the finest kimonos with lovely shades of reds, pinks, and whites. She had her hair pulled up in a formal ponytail with a large red ribbon holding her [H/C] strains back while hiding the bottom of her face with a white fan.

She smiles it seemed, her eyes fluttering as she walked towards them before closing her fan to reveal her dark red lips, "Good evening My Lords." She greets happily, as she hummed along with the music. 

"Hello." The men greeted as they focus their attention on her only, while the other women merely watched. 

"You both came here to our unique establishment, surely you know what we provide, correct?" She hummed as Riki nodded as the woman began undoing her kimono. Tamaki's mouth suddenly went dry a bit as she watched her delinquent fingers undo the first knot of her kimono belt. He licked his lips as her gaze landed on him and the women moved around, slowly they glanced at each other.

"You want this?" The Beautiful woman asked.

"I want this...I want this badly." Tamaki whispered, memorized on the woman who giggled a bit. Riki glanced at his friend, he bites his lower lip as the women took their places respectfully.

"Good, because Kamisato Ayato does too." The beautiful woman's voice turned deep as [M/N] undoes the last of his belt showing his clothes and the clan's symbol on his shorts. Tamaki cursed and was about to get up to run away when a knife was pressed against his throat. He moved his arms above his head to surrender to the one behind him.

"Kimi, don't kill him." The head Geisha said as he closed the robes around him as the women stand up and began cleaning up a bit. "Riki, tell Lord Kamisato that you're good to go, that's the rest of your debt."

"Of course, t-thank you [M/N]." Riki said as he left the scene quickly as Tamaki cursed him out but stops when the knife was pressed closer. 

"Kimi," [M/N] warns as he turns his attention to the geisha who was playing the string instrument. "Heizou, stop it already, you're free to go."

"This was more fun than I anticipated, really." The Detective laughs as he wiped the makeup off and pulled out the handcuffs for Tamaki, he had been wanted for years since he left so it was his job to take him in.  "Man Alive, the paperwork will be hell though."

"Part of the fun I suppose," [M/N] chuckled a bit as he checked the time as many officers of the commission come up to get the reports and testimony. "If you excuse me, it's dinner time and I need to read my girls-" There's a groan and [M/N] knew it was his time to leave especially seeing Kimi grinning happily.

"Man Alive Kimi..stop cutting the captured men from operations.."

"Can't help it, he was asking for it~"

+++

After a refreshing bath and reading the girls to sleep from a book that Auggie had sent from Liyue, [M/N] was relaxing outside as the crickets purred their song. Tonight was a hard one especially when Riki wanted to back out many times and Heizou was always being the menace that he is. [M/N] blows on his tea a bit, inhaling the soft scent before sipping it, by tomorrow Ayato would have him run around doing things with Thoma.

"Need company?" Thoma asked from behind and [M/N] glanced at him with a smile.  Thoma takes it as a good sign and slowly sits down beside his lover, kissing his cheek before nuzzling him. He smelled like pine and mint, it was an odd combination of the two but he loved it. "How was work? Ayato-sama said you did fantastic as usual."

"It was good, it was almost pitiful," [M/N] said as he gently moved his fingers through Thoma's blonde locks with a hum. "He fell into it just as we planned."

"That's good, one last thing for Ayato-sama to worry about." Thoma hummed as his hand gently caressed and rubbed against his husband's chest. "You do know what today is right?"

"Mhm, Ayato-sama is supposed to give the other clans an answer about the heir problem correct?" [M/N] replied, other clans had been hounding Ayato for days about a possible marriage between another clan and himself as Ayaka had wed outside of the elite clans and households.

"And I gave you my blessing for it." Thoma smiles.

"Yes, I know because I gave you mine." [M/N] chuckled as he drinks the rest of his tea before hearing the door slide open behind them. He looked to see Ayato smiling at him while wearing a robe that barely covered his legs and hair down to show how long it grew. "Are you ready?"

"I am and alerted the other servants that you two will be resting after tonight."

Thoma stands up and helped [M/N] up, both walking into the room, it wasn't Ayato or theirs. It was the room farther from the girl's room. A lovely mat on the floor along with lovely covers on it and the sweet smell of vanilla from the candles. Thoma smiles at his husband and kissed him softly on [M/N]'s lips, gently dragging his tongue over the lower lip before pulling away.

"Now Thoma, don't be greedy." Ayato said as he moved towards the blonde and hugged him close before kissing him as well. Thoma flushed red a bit as [M/N] chuckled to see how flushed his lover is. He always flushed bright red at more intimate gestures. They kissed as Ayato tugged off the robe and Thoma did it right back to the head of the household. 

Ayato didn't want a political marriage, and instead took control of the situation. With the leftover fertility fruit, he ate it and made an agreement with the two. One spawn from [M/N] and they both could have a month's vacation to wherever they wanted. It all would be on Ayato's expenses. 

The two kissed before Ayato switched to kissing [M/N], they shifted to sitting down on the bed and Ayato leaning on [M/N] to kiss. Thoma watched, aroused before licking his lips and began licking the tip of his husband's cock. He felt [M/N] tense a bit from his grasp on his leg a bit and rubbed his thumb against the [S/C] leg. [M/N] liked the attention either way and pulled back from Ayato, kissing the heir's neck a bit. Ayato flushed a bit, enjoying the attention before pulling at [M/n]'s hair a bit.

"Mhm?" 

"Can you bite down a bit...I'm not some maiden." Ayato said. He was actually a virgin, he had just gotten busy and felt his needs weren't going to be met regardless so sex was off the table until now.

"Mhm!" [M/N] hummed before opening his mouth and biting down on his boss's neck causing Ayato's thighs to shake a bit especially when [M/N] did it harder. There was a slight pain to it but Ayato felt good, a nice sting good.

Thoma hummed as he kept bobbing his head as he sucked, taking more of [M/N]'s cock in his mouth. He pulled away, licking his lips from the saliva that fell. "I think it's time...do you need prep?" Thoma asked Ayato who thinks about it before shaking his head. 

"I'm good."

"You sure...we can get some lube.." [M/N] said softly but Ayato rolled his eyes a bit at the mere suggestion.

"It can't be that hard, surely there is more fun without it." Ayato insisted. The married couple shared a glance before moving and Thoma flushed as he moved to his spot. He would be sitting on his husband's face as Ayato received [M/N]'s cock. Thoma slowly kneels and hovers over [M/N]'s face before yelping when [M/N] tugged him closer.

"Your weight doesn't scare me baby." [M/N] assured as he gently rubbed his lover's thighs and a bit of a squeeze to Thoma's ass. 

Ayato ignored the flirting before eyeing the cock, it was a bit odd looking that his. But it wasn't bad! Besides, it made two wonderful children with Thoma's genes. Ayato moved, gently pressing his palms against [M/N]'s stomach before moving down on the cock. He winced a bit at the slight burn and stretch, he continues while taking deep breaths as the cock entered. Lots of slight bumps making him moan a bit before the cock was fully in him. Ayato looked down and flushed a bit to see how it fit him.

"You okay M'lord?"

Thoma asked, flushed and looking messy as [M/n] had been teasing him with his tongue. His legs shake a bit as he gets comfortable from the positions they were in, not wanting to suffocate his husband.

"I'm fine thoma..." Ayato assures his retainer with a strain smile, he focused on himself for a moment before pressing against [M/N]'s navel and raised his hips slowly, groaning softly as he moved. It was a bit odd start, but he kept repeating the action over and over again. Soon his lower half grown with the slight pain and began bouncing faster with soft sighs and moans of pleasure as Thoma was gently rocking his hips against his husband's mouth, feeling comfortable about it.

[M/N] kept moving his tongue into his husband faster as one hand steady Thoma, the other stroking Thoma's neglected cock, causing Thoma to moan and throwing his head back. Ayato found the sight erotic as he thrusted his hips down and moans loudly as something hit him, hips rocking faster as his time to climax was closer. 

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck." Ayato repeated with soft moans escaping his lips as he rocked his hips with each downwards thrust onto the cock as the [M/N] groans into Thoma a bit before gripping his husband's thighs harshly as he cums into Ayato. The heir gasping and felt filled up as he cums over his stomach. Thoma groaning at the movement and a few more strokes later he cums. Slowly, he takes a few deep breaths before rolling off his husband's face. 

"We should do this often." [M/N] teased with a breathy laugh as he rubbed his lips a bit, as Thoma flushed. Ayato resting on the other side of the mat, he looked like he was close to passing out from the movement and pleasure.

"Maybe if you're a good boy." Thoma teased as he kissed his husband's cheek and snuggles into his side with a sigh. He was thankful for the day off tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Klaus = 7
Yori = 7
Riku = 10 months

"You little-"

Scaramouche feels the slime toy that Childe brought the twins, shivering at the cold substance as the twins laugh as they run away from the scene. Scaramouche silently cursed his husband for their unruly behavior, that's all [M/N], not his genetics. The twins both had his looks down to the dull purple eyes but their father's personality traits it seemed, even Riku had soft [H/C] hair with a few strains of dark purple in the mix. They dared to show [M/N]'s traits and not his, it sadden him a bit but also showed less of her.

"You two! When I get my hands on you-" Scaramouche shivers as he feels more of the substance under his foot. He shivers before moving away from the twin's toys and then felt movement on his back. He glanced behind him to see Riku opening his eyes, revealing a matching set of lovely lavender color eyes. He giggled and sucked on his fist, gnawing at the hand. "Well...at least you're calm."

"I'm home!"

"Tou-san!" The twins screams as they ran around their mother and moved to [M/N] who chuckled, lifting them up as the twins began explaining their day, both voices mixed around with separate stories about it. "And then mommy step in slime-" Yori giggled as Klaus nods his head happily. "And then you came home!"

"You little monsters...should've thrown you into the lake." Scaramouche rolled his eyes as he walked to his husband, yanking his shirt down and pressing a kiss to his cheek. [M/N] giggles as the kids stuck their tongues at their mother, "Should've skipped the two to Riku."

"Now, Now, you were happy when you had them." [M/N] teased as he sits the twins down who left the kitchen to play with their toys [M/N] lifts Riku off his lover's back and held the tiny baby. He ignored the wet hands from the drool, "How was your day?"

"Pft, chasing after two little demons who let their mom step in slime. Otherwise...pretty peachy I guess.." [M/N] smiles as Scara hangs up the baby holder and stretched his back, "But I'm glad tonight they are your nephew's responsibility."

"Auggie, Bennett, and Razor will handle them fine...I think." Scaramouche visibly relaxed at the idea of the kids being someone else problem. 

"We can go out and do something right? Like try out my vision?" Scaramouche asked hopefully as [M/N] smiles. Scaramouche didn't get it until after he came to Teyvat, something about the Fatui and being a God. [M/N] nearly got stabbed but Scaramouche broke away from his mother finally then earned the Dender blessing to obtain a vision of Anemo like him.

"Of course, but you have to stop blowing Hilichurl camps up. It's messy." [M/N] laughs as there was a knock at the door. He opened it and in came the three, Auggie hugged his uncle and then Scaramouche. 

"Auntie~"

"You're on your last leg, knock it off." Scaramouche hissed as Auggie laughed as he picks up Riku who babbles a bit and tugged at Auggie's growing hair.

"You guys sure you can handle them?" [M/N] asked as he leans against the doorway as he slides his boots on and tighten them. 

"Of course, they are the perfec-" Bennett stops talking as one of the twins is knocked into his stomach with a loud laugh. "Fine."

"See, in good hands." Scaramouche said as he slipped his shoes on and pulled his hat over his head. "Be good and don't burn my house down."

Once the door was shut, Scaramouche dragged his husband's hand away towards the direction of the forest to test his vision for a while. [M/N] sits on a rock as his husband began testing out his vision again, watching slices of anemo come from Scaramouche who grins as the slices break down trees and rocks. [M/n] watched with a content smile and chuckled as his husband's eyes lit up as he began floating thanks to the vision that glowed. "If you get stuck, I'm not helping you down."

"I am not getting stuck!" Scaramouche snapped before slowly floating down and his hat came back. "I'm a bit rusty since I had the kids...it's been a while."

"And You're still beautiful as ever when you do it." [M/N] smiles as Scaramouche scoffed as he felt warm over his cheeks. "You say the stupidest shit."

[M/N] smiles before standing and holding his lover's hand, walking towards Mondstadt to grab some dinner. Some people were out and moving around, and kids playing as Cats were content over the feline bar. It was a peaceful night indeed.

"One Sweet madame and honey ham." [M/N] orders as Scaramouch moves to an empty table. H watched his husband make small talk to the woman behind the counter, eyes staring at his form. He was lucky, finally, after his betrayal, he had someone to love him again. Scaramouche had his child again and three tiny ones. His mother no longer was the puppet master of his life as [M/N] granted him a new one with an adorable nephew to follow after.

Not to mention claiming that humans heart away from the other broken lovers it was worth the sabotaging of the others. 

Not that he would tell his beloved, Scaramouche had to keep some secrets to his grave.

"You thinking hard, last time you had that look.." [M/N] says as he walked close to the plates of their food.

"We had three little ones, I know." Scaramouche smiles a bit.

"And three is enough." [M/N] kissed his husband's head and placed the plates down then sat.

"For now."

Chapter Text

Caihong = 15; Electro vision

"Good Job Caihong! You're going to be amazing!"
"Way to go Caihong!"
"Wooh! Caihong you better not forget us!"

Many adults cheered with Caihong's friends when the girl appeared in the backyard of her home. There were balloons, streamers, and the delicious smell of food on the table made by Chef Mao and her Pyro user daughter. It was a lovely sight along with the presents on another table from her friends and family. "Thank you, all of you." The girl said politely as she came down with a smile. "I will miss you all when I leave."

She got her acceptance letter to the Akademiya in Sumeru which was practically a walk there from Liyue Harbor. She wasn't too sure what she wanted to study but wanted to continue her studies outside of Liyue. [M/N] was more than proud of his daughter as she thanked everyone and made her way toward her friends easily. She was a copy of Zhongli from his pale skin and brown hair to her little nose and fingers. 

Though she gain something from [M/N] and it was very important.

"Oh! Is that a prize catch?" Caihong asked happily with delight.

Caihong loved Seafood unlike her mother's distaste for it.

"Yeah, we brought it for you because we heard you were going to school!" Paimon's high-voice cuts threw. 

They were chatting as people were enjoying the party for the first daughter of Morax. She was half-adepti like Yanfei and Ganyu, so her lifeline would last for centuries when [M/n] would be dead along with Auggie as old men. [M/N] watched Caihong eat happily as Shenhe finally came by and landed beside the girl. Everyone was there and [M/N] hummed as he felt a kiss against his head.

"Zhongli, you should mingle with the others, I know I would bore you." [M/N] teased his husband as the Dragon chuckled and kissed [M/N] 's knuckle with an affectionate purr. "Or would I sleep during one of your long stories?"

"Now, Now, don't act so sly." Zhongli chuckled once more as he watched his daughter talk to her friends and family. Auggie pulls his little cousin in for a hug as he shows her the sword he acquired her for her safe traveling. "I am very happy she is continuing her studies but I would miss her, she grew up too fast for my liking." 

"She is half adepti from you, that is your problem." [M/N] chuckled as the wind blew a bit and sighs at the nice feeling going across his body, " The house is going to be quiet soon enough, no more tea kettles whistling at the first sight of the morning nor the sound of her running around."

"Well I did say you-"

" I am not going to do that."

"But I'm serious-"

"Zhongli-"

"Baba? Who are you talking to?" Caihong asked innocently as she watched her Baba talk to the open air beside him. The others watched and knew who he was talking to and the annoyance of their Archon and friend. "Are you having an episode?" 

"Oh? No, honey just talking about...my thoughts in the open." [M/N] quickly assure her as he walked closer to his daughter with a smile, "Just remembering if I left the stove off or not." That didn't cease the worry Caihong, throughout her childhood her Baba talked to the open air as if someone was there, someone she could not see despite having her own [E/C] eyes. In someway it mad [M/N] happy that she didn't bare the sight but sad she could not see her own mother. 

Her mother refused to move on yet.

"I could always leave in another few days if you want baba, School isn't too far from here." She said softly as she placed her bowl down and gently pulled her father in for a hug. She even had Zhongli's height, it made [M/N] feel small compared to her. 

"No, No, I don't want you to miss school because of me. I need you to enjoy your life outside of this home. Without me bothering you.." [M/N] said softly with a smile as Caihong sighed a bit as she pulled back.

"You aren't! But if you insist..."

"Caihong! Look we have a present for you!" Hu Tao said happily as Caihong moved away as Zhongli appeared back to [M/n]'s side. He watched her with a gentle smile that [M/N] could see.

"You can move on, I won't be upset in anyway." Zhongli whispered as Caihong cooed over the new little plant, some sort of fungi that Hu Tao had sneaked through.

"I know..it's in my right but I don't want the trouble of dating again...it was already hard losing you." Erosion had taken Zhongli a few months after Caihong's birth, his mind and body just dusting away into nothing. [M/N] had loved this man and couldn't bare to move on especially in front of him. "Besides my time is coming soon enough, lately I have been feeling weaker."

"Don't talk like that, you must still live for our Caihong." Zhongli protested gently as he rubbed [M/n]'s back, the human smiled at the touch as Caihong giggled at the little Fungi that moved around her.

"I know, I know, but you can't stop human longevity my sweet."

"I know...but she would be alone."

"Not forever...she'll have her friends and my Auggie." [M/N] said as he gently rubbed his hand over Zhongli's. "...besides she would meet a fine man or woman."

Zhongli sighs but knew [M/N] was slowly turning old, his [H/C] locks turning grey slowly as more wrinkles appeared on his sweet face, "I know..but still..you have more life to live."

"Such a romantic." [M/N] chuckled before hearing Aether call everyone for a picture. They scoot a chair in the middle as people move and squeeze together for the Kamera. [M/n] sits in the chair and Caihong on his left as the countdown began. Zhongli moved to his right and hand on [M/N]'s shoulder as the flash went on.

Slowly the Kamera printed the picture out and Aether collects it with a smile. His eyes are drawn towards [M/N] and they widen to see a fainted outline of a familiar figure causing the Traveler to smile a bit.

[M/N] did say Ghost could show themselves in pictures, and appear as faint outlines or images. Seemed the Geo lord was also saying goodbye to his beloved spawn.

Chapter Text

Dai Lu = 17 ; Geo
Lanfen = 15 ; Hydro
Huizhong = 13 ; Electro
Qui = 11; Anemo
Muyang = 7 months

"Mommy and Daddy are fighting," Qui says suddenly as Dai Lu places down the steaming plates. It was lunchtime now, so the Old man smiled and made them some food before switching with a younger chef at the Inn. "They've been fighting for a while.." Lanfen sighs a bit as she poured them all some tea to enjoy. Muyang was in the bedroom sleeping away so it was just them. 

"I know but Mama needs to apologize to dad," Lanfen said as she caught the conversation that started it all. "He should've been blunt with what she wanted in the first place before having us."

"I don't see the problem, we're here so that's all that matters," Huizhong grumbled as he dumps a dumpling into his mouth and chewed loudly as Lanfen ticked at him for being rude. "Who cares? Mom and dad are fighting so they aren't here to chastise us."

"Still, show some manners." Lanfen sighed as she glanced at her older brother, his eyes closed as he was in thought. " I hope it stops soon."

"Why are they fighting again? Because Mama left during a date?" Huizhong asked as Lanfen glanced at the tiny Adeptus. 

"Worst, apparently something to do with the older Yaksha's that lived a long time ago." Dai Lu speaks up with a sigh. 

"Isn't mama training us to be them when he passes or?" Lanfen asked, they heard stories about them throughout their childhood, how they lived in Liyue Harbor before dying.

"Yes and no, it's mostly about how mama used papa to make them, or well..us." Dai Lu caught most of it. "Mama would never...try to force us into their legacy...but papa had no clue until last night.."

"And he didn't take it well." Lanfen sighs a bit as she watched [M/N], their father move around the Inn. He worked here as a caretaker, helping Verr Goldet take orders or help them check into their room. He was at the desk again as he talked to guests and smiled charmingly at them despite the dark eyebags around his eyes. 

"Should we interfere?" Huizhong asked.

"Best not, let them figure it out." Lanfen sighs a bit as she leans on her hand, watching the incoming people from their spots. "Mama is angry that papa is, let them fester before actually talking it out."

"They've been festering for a while," Qui said with a sigh as the kids felt their mother arrive home but in his little room. Despite having lived here for decades upon decades, Xiao didn't really have a space of his own. After [M/N] was married to him, they owned a room in a more secluded area of the inn, especially when they had kids. [M/N] felt the presence of his husband and ignored it until lunchtime.

[M/N] entered the kitchen and began cooking up a meal for Xiao, always demanding the only dish he could eat. Almond tofu, and began going down towards the area of the tree where his bedroom was. He knocked on the door to alert the other's presence before moving to open it, he sees Xiao sitting on their bed and looking at something in his lap. "I brought you lunch."

Xiao says nothing, he was still looking through a book.

"Well, then, I'll be off-"

"Do you really think I married you to make the Yakasha's again?" Xiao finally speaks up from the bed and doesn't look at [M/N]. "Or even think I didn't love you?"

"Well..a bit. But I know you love me, you wouldn't have five kids with me if you didn't." He sighs a bit with a smile, [M/N] stared at the other's back before slowly walking towards him. He sits down beside him, [M/N] noticed the slight dampness on the book, their little family picture book.

"Oh Xiao.."
"I would have never thought of it, I am hard on the kids only because I want them to protect themselves from anything in or outside of Liyue. I know I can be headstrong or a bit rough on the kids but I swear on my lord, I would never try to use our kids like that-" Xiao babbles a bit as he looked to his husband, redness under his eye and a bit blotchy face. It had been years since Xiao cried like that, teary-eyed and blotchy. It was out of the normal for him and [M/N] knew he took it too far.

"I'm the one who should be sorry, I was pissed at you and when Zhongli talked about your first family...and how they resemble our children..I was worried..I was used for some type of breeding." [M/N] said as he set the plate down and pulled Xiao, at first he resisted but nuzzled in after a minute. [M/N] rubbed his back while whispering soft words, "I love you and I'm sorry my thoughts came out."

"It's fine...any normal human would assume." Xiao said as he kissed [M/N]'s hand, "
Another thing I'm not used to."

"Still, how should I apologize?" Xiao thinks over it before humming, his hands moving over [M/N]'s chest and then drifting upwards. Xiao's hand gently grazes [M/N]'s cheek before moving up, the Adeptus kissed him softly and moved back.

"Oh no, we just had Muyang not too long ago." [M/N] said, he knew Xiao's movements and what he wanted. "Aren't you getting sick of carrying them?"

"No, and besides, Muyang needs a sibling." Xiao said, shrugging a bit, "It's only fair that you reward me greatly after this heartbreak."

"Bloody fuck, you're into this, getting pregnant...fucking breeding kink."

"Yes, now get undressed."

For the moment, it was better than them fighting over some intrusive thoughts and wrong intents.

Chapter Text

Kokoro = 13; Hydro
Kokoro = 13; Hydro

[L/N] household had a home in Inazuma, close to the resistance base and shrine. [M/N] worked with the shipment section of the shrine, to gather up shipments or take orders to the mainland as Gorou continued as general. They had one child and spoiled her as much as they could, Kokoro was just a shy and introverted child. She had Gorou's lovely teal eyes and pale skin but [M/N]'s [H/C] hair with a pair of dog ears and tail curling around her. She was a lot shyer than Auggie or most kids on the island. Kokoro was always alone, with her millions of plushies that [M/N] ordered from toy makers or presents that his friends send.

She would gather them up outside of their home with a small table and chairs. [M/N] would watch her play pretend by herself, talking to her toys and offering them tea or Dango that she stole from her mother. Kokoro would always seem happy, just by herself and her toys. He had thought she would grow out of it when her vision appeared one day but no real change has happened.

"Would you like some more Momo?"
"Yes please!"
And you Tohru?"
"Yes!"

Kokoro was playing with her friends, Momo and Tohru decided to come by again, and as usual, wore pretty old clothes. She always offer to share hers but they didn't want them, not at all. Though they always talk to her like she was a person, unlike the other kids that pick on her. They always picked on her for her tail and her looks, and say she was some mutt. She never told mommy or papa, she didn't want them to get angry at the kids or even involve her highness.

"You look deep in thought," Momo said, tilting her head a bit. Some ash fell from her locks and Kokoro waved it off a bit as she sighs.

"Nothing, just thinking about what the other kids said."
"Oh?"
"They said I have flees..but I don't! I always clean my ears and my tail with nice soap and papa brushes my tail when mama can't."

Both of the other girls shake their heads with a frown, kids were so mean for no reason. Kokoro nibbled on a cookie when the two little girls looked up, startled, and made movements to leave but [M/N] shakes his head a bit with a smile. He had a cloth bag in hand with delicious Dango treats for Kokoro but seeing her have tea with the girls that were long dead made sense. "I have a treat."

"Papa!" Kokoro squeals as she saw her father and moved off the chair, moving her hands up for a lift. Despite her being 13, she was still as light as a feather, probably Gorou's genetics. "You have to come my friends!"

"I see them." [M/N] smiles a bit, the two girls glanced at each other before disappearing as [M/N] chuckled a bit, "Seems they're a bit shy."

"You can see them too papa? But I thought only I can see them." She says with a pout, "Since when?"

"I met them today..but I could see ghosts since I was small like you," [M/N] told her as she went wide eye a bit from it. "But now, we should go inside to eat and I'll tell you all about it over dinner when Mama comes home."

"Okay..." Kokoro whispered as she watched her friends come back and nudged her head into {M/N]'s shoulder.

++++

"I can't believe we didn't notice her having ghost friends, we spend at least a couple hours with her a day and they never pop out," Gorou said as brushed his tail with a nice steel comb to get rid of anything hiding within his fur, "I couldn't believe it, our Kokoro having your eyes."

"Well...it makes sense since she doesn't have any friends besides the girls." [M/N] pointed out as he slides the door close after tucking in their daughter. "I had some cool friends and they were ghosts, but mine ran away after I helped them."

"Still...she's going to be a lonely kid." Gorou sighs as he finished and his tail lays on the bed a bit, "Maybe we should help her find friends, it's a bit non-traditional but-"

"Hey, hey, calm down," [M/N] said as he moved down on the bed and rubbed Gorou's shoulders to relax and ease him, "She won't, she'll grow out of it and make friends somehow...though..." [M/N] moved his fingers under the sleeping shirt Gorou wore, his fingers tracing shapes into his soft skin, "We could add another."

"[M/N], I don't think adding another one would help." Gorou scolded, "...but I do like the vacation.."

"We have the funds now, the room and even Kokoro would have a sibling that might have the same ability as hers." [M/N] chuckled as the general wags his tail a bit, he moved behind him and slowly kissed around his husband's neck, gently nibbling against his skin a bit before biting down on the pale skin. Gorou didn't push him away as his tail wagged more, and pants softly at the biting. "Maybe a litter~"

"Don't say stuff like that, it's going to make me disappointed when it isn't," Gorou whines a bit as he watched his husband undress and takes off his shirt, Gorou had no hesitance as he slips off his harness and pants, throwing it in the corner as [M/N] does the same. They'll clean it up later or maybe in the morning, Gorou tugged his husband's pants off. [M/N] watched his husband lick his lips and chuckled, "I can handle yours."

"Are you sure?" Gorou asked meekly as [M/N] cooed a bit, seeing his husband shy and timid during this was cute. It almost reminded him of their wedding night so many years ago, "I can do it too."

"I know, but I want to take care of my husband~" He chuckled as Gorou whines a bit before [M/N] gently pushed him back on the bed and the general's tail curled away as [M/N] licked his lips. He gently held up Gorou's legs, holding them by the under knee, as he peered down to see his semi-stiffen cock and his pink entrance. [M/N] chuckled a bit as Gorou groans as he covered his face.

"D-Don't stare at it!"

"Okay."

[M/N] grins to himself as he leans down and licks around the ring of muscle before grazing the puckered hole. Gorou stiffens as he felt it, "Don't~"

"You like it." [M/N] chuckles as he felt the tail brush against his face as he caught Gorou in his lie, he knew his husband was sensitive to this type of licking. He dipped his tongue through the pink pucker, rolling his tongue against the walls before pulling away. He caught his husband whining as he replaced his tongue with his fingers, [M/N] pressed them in, and moved. He watched how his husband shudders from the movement, he rolled his fingers around in the general.

"You're so carefree-" Gorou mewls softly as he felt those fingers graze against his prostrate, his legs shaking a bit and head dipping back. He took deep breaths as he felt the fingers, how they stretched him so well with a light burn. He hated to admit it but it's been months since he and [M/N] took time to fuck. Archons above, he missed it so much. "More...please~" The general begs a bit as [M/N] chuckled seeing his beloved twitch under him.

"Such a good boy." [M/N] praised as Gorou's tail thumps lightly on the bed, he slowly pulls his fingers out and watched the pucker twitch from the loss of digits. "On your knees, be a good boy General." He cooed and Gorou whimpered lightly before rolling over. He was on his knees, ass up and tail out of the way. Gorou breathed heavily as he felt his husband pull his waist closer and shivers violently when he felt the tip of the cock graze his hole.

"Don't make me beg-ahhhh." He moans sharply as he felt the push of the cock in him and his knees nearly buckle in, [M/N] held his hips as the light burn of the stretch happen and Gorou felt like putty. Gorou arches his back a bit before gasping loudly as [M/N] grasps his tail and his own cock twitches. His husband always had a way to toy with him and Gorou was soaking it all up.

"You okay?" [M/N] whispers softly and Gorou's ear twitches.

"I am now."

[M/N] doesn't reply as he pulled back from the General's ass and trusted back in sharply, as Gorou mewls and claws at the comforter on the bed. The audible plats of [M/N] thrusting into him, [M/N]'s thighs slapping against Gorou's ass. The General held on but the mewls and soft cries spilled out of his lips as [M/N] moved. Such a lovely sound that [M/N] missed, drinking it up as he thrusts harder, grasping his tail harshly and Gorou's back arched more.

"There, right there," Gorou moans out, his hips moving back against the thrusts with soft mewls escaping his pale pink lips. [M/N] chuckled as he leans over and sucked on the General's neck with muffle chuckles as he kept thrusting, his own canines bitting and nipping against Gorou's neck. The smaller male gasps lightly as he felt the pattern shift and Gorou shakes a bit, "Keep it in, breed me, breed me, breed me," He babbles loudly as [M/N] chuckles more before shifting.

He pressed Gorou's head down on the sheets and the hybrid let out noises between a grunt and moan, he shivers as he felt his husband's hand yanking his tail up along with his ass. His chest is down and moans with each loud smack of their skin. Gorou's eyes were nearly close and mewls kept coming as his own cock dripping with cum. [M/n] sped up and Gorou nearly howls, bitting into the comforter as [M/N] finally cums. It warms him and his ass squeezed down on the cock, milking very drop that spilled into him.

Archons above it felt so good.

[M/N] pants a bit as he pulled out and laid on the bed, he watched the General lick his lips with pants escaping his lips. He looked blissfully fucked out with cum running down his milky thighs.

"You okay dear?" [M/N] asked as he wiped the sweat off his neck Gorou looked up with hazy teal eyes.

"Mhm." Gorou groans as he laid down, "Good."

"Good, my good boy." [M/N] cooed as he gently itch behind Gorou's ear and the General didn't even move but let out soft noises, "Still ready to go?"

"Giv...Give me a moment."

Chapter Text

Anastasia = 18 ; Pyro
llya = 16
Nadia= 14
Arina = 10
Sabine = 8 months
Misha = 8 months

Nadia hummed as she fiddled with the basket, she fixed the food that went into it along with the drink casters to hold the juice and lemonade to enjoy. The closed pots of her papa's prized catch along with other snacks in the basket with two bottles of milk for the twins. Once she checked the items, she closed them before moving to call Arina down to help. "Arina, did you find the blanket?"

"Yeah, it was on the dresser," Arina said with a smile as she came down. She placed the blanket down on the couch and smiles a bit, "Did you pack the twin's food?" Arina asked with a tilt of her head. Her braids swung around as she moved with each step with a smile. She heard babbling and looked into the playpen to see Misha and Sabine up. Both of them babble and giggle as they get up and squeal seeing their older sister.

They looked more like their mama, [H/C] hair and cute shiny [E/C] eyes. Little freckles dotted their pale skin from their father along with cute smiles too.

The door opens and llya with Anastasia entered, she was covered in dirt and hung her claymore on the wall. She let llya sit down with his own mora bag to count later, "I'm gonna shower really quick, just get the twins ready. I'm sure Papa is at the site already." She said and Nadia smiles a bit as her older sister headed upstairs. She hummed as she did get Misha ready first since he was the fussiest when wearing the baby holder. Once he was strapped in on llya, who pocket his mora and stood up.

Anastasia came down with newer clothes and dirty red hair pinned up in a bun, "Are we ready?" She asked as Arina helped her place Sabine on her back with the baby holder.

"Yup!" Nadia smiles as the siblings leave their home, Mondstadt weather was always the best during this time. A lot of sun and crystal flies came out after the snow fell, and they made their way to the meeting spot. "What are you going to talk to mom about?" It's been a while since they talked to him due to work and school along with Uncle Auggie's wedding.

"Probably my adventures and how pretty Lady Ayaka is." Anastasia said with a grin.

"Isn't Lady Ayaka like...old as hell?" llya asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Do not call my future wife that!" The oldest hissed, "She aged like fine wine!"

"Ew,"  Nadia rolled her eyes as Misha was fussy and soon they spot the site. They could see the many flowers blooming and the grass is taken care of. Looked like Venti actually cleaned up this time around, or maybe Aether dropped in for a visit. Nadia soon rolled out the blanket on the grass and quickly helped put the two smallest siblings on it to lie down. Misha finally stopped his fussy noises and looked around and Sabine did the same. They sit down with the basket open for the food and drinks too, they tried not to step on the flowers that had bloomed around the area.

"Looks like dad isn't here yet, maybe work is piling up."

"He's old too, one eye missing and smells like an old man." Arina reasons with a roll of her dull baby blue eyes. 

"Baabahaha!" Misha squeals as Arina chuckled a bit.

"Hush now, I married him for a reason." A new voice added and the siblings perked up, all but Misha. He kept babbling as [M/N] sits down on the blanket edge with a smile on his lips, "It's been a while my sweets. How has life been?" He asked as llya smiled seeing his mom in front of him.

"I've been putting hours working with GrandMaster Jean, finally put in work to her sleep schedule." llya said.

"I've traveled to Inazuma for a few commissions, the next stop would be Fontaine and maybe stop by grandma and grandpa's home." Anastasia added.

"I'm learning a lot with alchemy from master albedo and master sucrose. Klee has been helping me with the more explosive things." Nadia grins a bit as she spoke.

"So far Lord Diluc has been teaching me how to work with a Claymore and taught me some farming stuff," Arina said as Sabine rolled a bit and finally laid on her tummy then her head up to look at [M/N]. "And teach Sabine and Misha to roll on their tummies! Misha needs help but I think he almost has it."

"My loves~" [M/N] cooed to the tiny ones and reached his hand out, gently rubbing their tiny hands. Sabine gurgles a bit before trying to hold his finger but her tiny hand goes through. [M/N] heart breaks a bit as Sabine looked upset, her tiny [E/C] eyes tearing up a bit, "It's okay, it's okay." He whispered as fiddled with the little strains of her hair and she giggles at the feeling.

"...Dad does miss you a lot...I don't understand why he isn't here...but he doesn't stay at home a lot. His work and traveling...but he's good too." llya said as he pushed his glasses back with a soft smile. 

"Ajax hasn't been well since I've died...but your father does care for you all..he mourns with fighting." [M/N] said as he pulled his hands back and watched the kids eat and drink, "I've had a lot of visitors today, first Venti then Aether with Paimon and Lumine..then Kazuha came by and left as Kuni came and gone. Not to mention Auggie stopped by a bit and left me some lovely Callie Lillies." Much more came for a visit and it warmed his heart that people still came to visit.

"Is he here?" [M/N] perked up to see his husband coming, a lovely bouquet of glaze Lillies in his arms. His sweet face matured a lot along with his body, with more scars, a few burn marks, and his poor left eye. Fighting as usual and traveling for work to support the family [M/N] left behind.

It wasn't his fault, just the Fatui finding out where he lived. It was quick too, and besides the children were in the way, and [M/N] moved to protect them. The twins were only 5 months old, poor things might not even remember it, but that would've made it all worth it.

"He is." Nadia said as Childe placed the flowers around the gravestone. He hummed as he brushed away bits of grass clinging to the smooth stone, his gloved fingers touching the words written on it.

Here Lies [M/N] [L/N]

"Hello Darling, sorry for being late, I was waiting for these flowers that Aether brought with him for me." Ajax said as he sits down with the kids, he rubbed his side a bit with a meek smile on his lips. "I missed you."

"Mom said what's wrong with your side." llya repeated as he served his father some of the prized catch.

"Nothing. Fatui bastard kicked me hard in my side," Ajax lies quickly and with ease.

The evening was filled with talking and [M/N] enjoying his children until the sun had set. Everyone ate their fill, and talked with their mother and husband before it was time to go. Ajax watched the kids walk off towards home and looked to [M/N], actually looking at him and [M/N] frozen in spot. "Ajax...what about the kids...?"

"I talked to Auggie about it and my funds are transferred to them all equally. Everyone knows about what is happening...and I could hope for the best." Ajax said as he rubbed his good eye as he rubbed the spot where the poison had entered him, some poison that was incurable, pain medication and healing couldn't help him now. He had been dealing with it for weeks until this moment, his eye blurred a bit, and actually saw [M/N]. "There you are...there's my man."

"You're a fool for not telling them." [M/N] said as Ajax chuckled as he laid back on the blanket, humming as his eye blurred for a moment. "...You said they'll be cared for?"

"Yes, don't worry about it...they'll be fine...they are our kids...half of me...and half of you."

"Half-abyssal monster and half freak." [M/N] teased weakly as he watched his husband die slowly. 

"A beautiful man and a sweet gentleman." Ajax grins a bit as soon as his eye shuts, and he passes. [M/N] watched as he gently push Ajax's hair back, humming as he felt movement beside him. [M/N] turns his head and felt a kiss against his lips. [M/N] kissed back with a smile, tugging Ajax closer before pulling away. Instead of the rough-ish looks staring back, it was the young man he met years ago in his car. Not as a cat but as the soldier he met, though his eyes seem brighter now.

"Hey.."

"Hey, you back." Ajax smiles as he goes in for another kiss and [M/N] happily gave it.

Chapter Text

"You do know...you'll have to get up soon."
"We don't have to, we can stay in a little longer."
"No, we can't. We spent all that time looking for a suit that covers you."
"Don't start up with that, and I allowed it to cover me."
"Not to mention you're the man of honor."

[M/N] chuckles as he said this, moving off the bed and yawned a bit. He moved towards the closet to get dressed in the suit he had bought for Diluc's wedding. He felt over the fabric before slowly undoing it to slide it onto his body. First, the white shirt then buttoning it up, the dark vest over it then sliding the pants up with a belt. It fit well on his body, he heard movement behind him and turns his head to see Kaeya lazily sitting up off the bed, sighing as he rubbed his neck.

"If you feel uncomfortable...I'm sure Diluc would understand." [M/N] said as he looked at the other, he pulled the tie around his neck and tied it off before plucking the black feather with Neku weed into the pocket. He brushed his hair while looking into the mirror, he could watch Kaeya stand and stretch, his muscles and movement made him pop out a bit. His muscles and his scars ran over his body, his navy-colored hair curling and messy like bedhead. [M/N] pretends not to watch as Kaeya chuckles as he wrapped his arms around his waist and kisses [M/N]'s ear with a chuckle. "I saw you watching~"

"No proof, but get your ass dressed." [M/N] denied and redirected the other as Kaeya chuckled before pulling away to get dressed. Once the bathroom door shuts, h breathed out finally and stretched his arms above his head. "Never gonna get caught slacking again.."

"I heard that!~"

++++

The Winery was decorated with many different flowers from Mondstadt and Inazuma with some people coming in. Some important, some friends, and some out-of-region who came to enjoy the wedding. All the servants too inside and out were dressed up for the wedding ceremony and reception as well. [M/N] held Kaeya's arm as they entered the doors and greeted them happily, especially Kaeya. "[M/N] and Kaeya, it's wonderful to see you two arrived. Auggie has arrived with Bennett and Razor." Ezler greets them happily as they got in to see the white and teal decorations spread across the entrance and then to the back doors where some changes were made.

The large arch had chairs around and decorated with flowers and butterflies fluttering around on the arch. It was a lovely sight to see as Kaeya kissed his cheek, the knight walking away back inside to help diluc on his final day as a bachelor. The king getting crowned with a queen? King? By his side.

" [M/N]! How's it going?" A voice piped up and he turns to see Aether walking in, this time wearing a semi formal outfit that fitted him well, Paimon floating off to the table of appetizers before the whole ordeal. " I just got back from Inazuma, I helped bring over some traditional wear from Thoma's family home."

" I've been good! I was just admiring the flowers and such." He told Aether fondly as he felt over a Sakura blossom that fell from a basket that hung in the tree. " They're perfect for the occasion."

" They were really hard to pick, Ajax made it a hundred times harder espically when he's picky with the ones he wanted to bring back." After [M/N] picked Kaeya to be his lover, Aether gotten together with Childe, even with his affiliation with the Harbingers. Aether head tilts as he stared at the other as [M/N] caresses the pink petal between his thumb and finger, his eyes examine him before smiling. " Have you thought about popping the question?"

" So soon?"

" You've been here for 6 years already." Awther points out as [M/N] gawks at him a bit before puffing his cheeks out in offense.

" Okay, when are you and Ajax getting married?"
" Soon." Aether smirks as he pulled his glove off to show the wedding band on his finger as [M/N] grumbled as he stared at it. " Engagement ring, and where's yours?"

" You little shit..I've thought about it and bought the rings but I don't know when....when he's comfortable," [M/N] admitted as he rubbed his nape and felt suddenly flushed from the question. " I'm sure he'll say yes but then what if he doesn't? What if he thinks I'm moving too fast or wants to tide down Mondstadt's sexiest captain alive? Or worst?" [M/N] sighs as he leans on the tree as he lets the petal flow around then falls to the floor.

"What if he says yes?" Aether counters with a smile pulling on his lips, "I had the same thoughts with Ajax, though he proposed first, the worst thing imaginable is that he cuts off your head as some trophy-"

" oh really!? I didn't know."

" Or he says no and breaks up with you." Aether finished as the bells chimed a bit, that meant the wedding will start. Both of them smile before moving to the chairs they were assigned, as the wedding began with Thoma at the front. He gives a friendly smile to [M/N] as the music started and Diluc came out. Unlike the Inazuma robes Thoma wore, Diluc went with a white suit that had flowers pouring around his waist with their vines as a belt. Diluc even had his hair up and meets Thoma, as Sister Barbara came up with the holy book. [M/N] watched as he felt a shift beside him and glanced to see Venti appearing and he winks back.

Barbara speaks about holy matrimony between Diluc and Thoma as [M/N] felt his ears ringing a bit. He ignored it and rubbed them to stop but did it discretely as he enjoyed watching until he saw a figure shifted to his right. It was odd and turns he had to be met with dark red locks pulled up in a ponytail with a slight beard matching the top. He was muscular and lean, wearing an older version of Diluc's clothes with dark blue eyes. "Lord Crepus.." 

[M/N] recalled from the painting in the house on the second floor, Crepus with little Kaeya and Diluc. Adelinde told him all about the first master of the house who passed from an incident years ago. "Oh? You must be the man loving on my boys..or well...Kaeya." Crepus says, voice deep and kind but also tired. "I haven't been able to move on...since my death..I couldn't leave the house when Diluc left to pursue a life...I watched my boys fight and Kaeya getting his vision...how much they adored you and how much they taunted each other for fun. Now Diluc is getting married..."

"Are you going to move on?" [M/N] whispered and earn him a few shushes behind him and [M/N] stuck his tongue out behind him before looking at Crepus. The older man chuckled a bit and shook his head. "You'll only make yourself feel bad."

"I know...but I want to stick around still...watch them grow...maybe a little grandchild." He chuckled as it was quieter, Barbara talking to them and anyone has something to say to why they shouldn't be married. No one made a move as Barbara smiles.

"Thoma, do you take Diluc Ragvindr to have and to hold, through sickness and in health?" Thoma smiles charmingly and says, "I do" as Barbara continues the same questions to Diluc who smiles and even looked teary-eyed. "I do."

"Don't tell him I'm watching, he'll get paranoid that I'm everywhere." Crepus said as Barbara smiles happily, "You may kiss the groom." Crepus's figure disappears as Diluc moved forwards, pulling Thoma down and kissing him, people clapping and cheering in the chairs as [M/N] chuckled as he watched.

The party began soon after with music and Venti playing in front happily as [M/N] collected two drinks for him and Kaeya. People were having fun and people interacting as Diluc never left Thoma's side as they greeted people to talk. [M/N] smiles as he walked around until he saw Kaeya but further from the party and near the tree by the lake. [M/N] smiles a bit before moving down, careful to not trip in little dirt holes from passed rabbits that came and gone. [M/N] easily slides up to Kaeya, handing him a drink, "Not in a party mood."

"Not this moment, I just wanted some peace and quiet with the man I love," Kaeya replies as a sly smile pulled on his lips. He glanced at the water, before sliding down to the rock there and patting the seats beside him. [M/N] sits and sipped the bubbly alcohol with a hum, it was sweet rather than bitter or strong. Kaeya drinks too, making a face but [M/N] smiles behind the rim of his glass. "I see that, I'm just surprised that Diluc even allows any on his special day."

"It's not strong and rather sweet, I like it." [M/N] tased as Kaeya sighs dramatically, shaking his head. "Cheer up, maybe on the way home we can pick up something stronger." 

Kaeya doesn't reply but lays his head onto [M/N]'s shoulder, they both ignore the music behind them as they stared at the water as it shins under the sun as it falls slowly behind the horizon so its own love came up for the night. [M/N] watched the water shine and smiles softly, before Kaeya whispers softly.

"Do you want to get married?" He asked, voice soft and honeyed as if he didn't ask an important question. 

"What? You serious?" [M/N] asked, attempting to laugh it off as a joke as Kaeya sits up straighter and turns his head. No joking vibe, a smile pulled as [M/N] stares at him. "....Do you want to?"

"I do, since the first day when we came back and made Teyvat your home.." Kaeya says, grasping [M/N]'s hands in his. Kaeya's ice cold and [M/N]'s warm ones, making him shiver as Kaeya smiles, "I didn't know who you wanted to stay with, and I...I was happy when you picked me," The Captain breaths as his voice gotten wobbly and watery, "That you picked me, that someone finally picked me."

"Kaeya.." [M/N] says as he wiped the lingering tear off Kaeya's face and smiles, feeling like he was going to cry too as Kaeya slides off the rock, going down on his knees as a box came up and [M/N] watched it open. Two dark bands and they seem to glow as the moon finally came up. "They're beautiful." 

"I know..." Kaeya smiles, "I found them while Thoma was looking for a ring for Diluc."

"That was a year ago.." [M/N] felt his heart stutter a bit as he looked and chuckled, rubbing his cheek as his own tears fell. "You wanted to ask me that long ago?"

"By Friday of that week we came," Kaeya explains as he adjusted his hold and clears his throat, he stared up at [M/N] and asked, "..Will you marry me?" [M/N] smiles and laughs, ducking his head a bit as he could see a recognizable figure in the distance watching them and smiling.

"Of course, I will now give me the damn ring." Kaeya gives a little chuckle before sliding on the ring on [M/N]'s finger as it glints in the moon light. [M/N] smiles as he looked over it and felt gooey, it was odd but it made him feel even happier.

Kaeya brushes the dirt off his pants and was taken back a bit when [M/N] yanked him close for a kiss, both holding each other as they kissed under the moon as their only witness.

Well, living witness at least.