Genshin Oneshots

Like Summer | Yantao | MCD

!!Major Character Death warning!!

"You're like a summer," she says to Hu Tao as she wipes at her tears, "fun and freeing, bright and warm…like summer, you pass me by in a flash," she chokes out a laugh, "and when you leave…it's cold. It's a biting cold autumn and I can't help but wonder…where did all our time go?" "Yanfei–," she breathlessly says, her own tears forming at the corner of her eyes, "hey–," "I–I thought," she swallows thickly, "I thought that maybe if I'd spend every moment relishing in your summer, then maybe–maybe it wouldn't pass me by anymore."

Hu Tao closes her eyes and leans against the pillow propped behind her. The sterile white of the hospital is sickening to her, it isn't helping the situation at all.

"But here we are," she cries, Yanfei rests her head on the brunette's lap, "you're passing me by once again, and I haven't even done everything I wanted to do with you."

All Hu Tao can do is pet her crush's hair, in hopes it soothes her a little.

"…Autumn's cold," Yanfei murmurs, "I don't want your summer to end…not this early," she sniffles, "can't you hold out just a little longer?"

Hu Tao cracks her eyes open, she smiles weakly as Yanfei looks up too, "I've tried…I can't change time, I can't move it back, I can't loop it. If I could, I'd spend a lifetime's worth of summers with you, Yanfei."

The heart monitor speeds up, just a little.

"If I could, I would," she giggles despite all the feelings that are running through her, "I have a request."

"Anything for you," Yanfei answers quickly, she takes her hand in her own.

Hu Tao squeezes the hand holding her's, "live a lifetime's worth of autumns. And winters. And springs," a tear slips down her cheek, "even summers. Please, for me."

"They won't be the same," she wails.

Hu Tao shrugs, "that's just life, things constantly change, people come in and out of it. We'll see each other again one day," Hu Tao murmurs, "I promise. For now, I want you to spend every season like it might be your last."

The clock is nearly at 10, Hu Tao's summer is ending soon.

"I…do also want to ask that you…look after Xiao for me," a new wave of tears hit her, still, she laughs, "that idiot, he never knows how to take care of himself, someone needs to keep him upright when I'm gone."

The clock hits 10 and Yanfei's shaking, "I will, I promise I will." She sits up, letting Hu Tao go. One last wipe of her tears and she stands.

It's now or never, "one last thing…I know it's…selfish to tell you now of all times, but…," she takes in a shaky breath, "Yanfei, I…I love you."

"What–?"

The doors open, a couple of nurses crowd the bed to prepare and take her to the surgery room.

"Hu Tao– wait–! Please–!" like a summer, Hu Tao passes by her, leaving her no time to say it back– to give her her first and final kiss.

Just like when summer ends, Yanfei is stuck in a cold autumn.