In Your Arms - Genshin Impact(Dainsleif X Lumine)

2

She missed him dearly. Not because she felt things for him, but the luscious mystery he was covered in that she wanted to see him. Just once was fine, she prayed to the archons, just a whiff of his scent, please. Maybe they cared for her, because she spotted a blue silhouette, walking, if not almost gracing, the streets of the bustling city with the royalty she knew he must have learned after he earned his high position in the royal army in his now fallen nation, his abyssal cape flowing with his swift steps.

"Oh, it's you." He said flatly, his striking blue eyes striking at her heart. She'd give anything to be in his arms and bask in his scent, which was a mixture of the seven elements that existed in this world, proving he indeed used to travel with her brother. "Huh?! Dain! What gives for you to be here, in Liyue?" a now surprised yet delighted Paimon asked. Dain couldn't just possibly lie that he was here to enjoy the sights like the other mortals that made up such excuses when they were caught, something he had observed all these years, since it was odd coming from someone like him who they knew such trivial things didn't matter to him after centuries of pain and being by his lonesome. But the sight of her face made a part of him shriek in pleasure, with how ethereal she looked today, his promise of not fancying her already pushed down the drain. "I sensed the Abyss Order in here, just for a second but that was it. It seems that I wasted my breath coming here." He turned to return to whatever place he came from.

"W-wait! Since you're all the way here, you could spend the day with me, since it's the Lantern Rite and all hehe." The Honorary Knight felt like running away from there and silently scream yet she maintained a straight face. She had never been able to love someone, and asking out the (understandably) coldest man who had his defenses up didn't help her nervousness subside. She saw a hint of surprise in his eyes and just for a moment, just for the blink of her eye, she saw...adoration. "Alright." She wanted to kiss him right then and there, to tell him it would be all okay, that even though she'd just be a burden to an experienced person like him, she'd stay with him till she drew her last breath. But she knew he'd never let her in, never in this lifetime, or maybe in this lifetime, she didn't know, it was stupid of her to hope something from him when the man was already going through so much, so she pushed aside the thoughts of being in bed with him and started walking side by side with him, their bodies just a few strands away, but never touching.

The festival was a blend of lovers chuckling at each other's flirty gestures, some rushing to a more private place for exchanging even more intimate touches, friends reuniting after a long time apart, and maybe even the adepti were enjoying the beautiful gleam of festival colors. "I know I forced it upon you to be here, but is it okay for you to be with me right now? You could be doing better things rather than waste your time and should have just declined my offer." Lumine gave a sad smile to herself, her hope to be with him already breaking. Having sensed a change in her demeanor, he said, "Well, it's not like I'm always busy, I just prefer not to be with mortals, I've been put through enough to just see them die. I don't deserve indulging in these mortal delights. The curse couldn't possibly let me." Her heart broke at seeing the anguish in his voice and hurt in his eyes, she was such a fool for hoping that he'd felt the same as she did. "Right.' Not having the courage to ask further, she sought to divert her attention, the man beside her doing the same.

All this while, Paimon was floating behind them, tuning out the conversation but noting the change in their expressions. She was frustrated at how they seemed to be so much in love with each other, yet also understood why the two hesitated. As if the distance between them was to prevent them from touching each other. As if they knew what would happen if they did. She decided to finally mellow out the awkward silence by saying, "Hey look there! They're selling almond tofu!" Lumine replied, her almost-close-to crying expression turning into a smile, "You're right! Let's go grab some! Come on Dain!" The former knight captain of the Royal Guard felt weak in his knees after seeing that gorgeous smile of hers. He couldn't believe such a lovely woman was beside him. He felt like a mortal, she the sun, her beautiful smile tugging at his heartstrings, urging him to hold her hands and kiss her hard. But he replied with a small smile, "Okay."