Genshin x (Youkai) Reader Hurt & Angst/Comfort and Fluff

(TW: SH) Albedo x Reader SH Comfort

The front door creaked open and clicked shut without warning early in the evening.

Oh no.

This was bad. If Albedo came into your room and saw you like this... he'd never let you out of his sight again. You scrambled to shove the blade into your nightstand drawer and cover up what you'd done. Pulling out a book and trying to look comfortable atop the blankets, you did your best to ignore the stinging and burning of your cuts. 

Albedo knocked on the door before peeking his head in, smiling at the sight of you. "Hello, love. How was your day?" He kissed you on the forehead and leaned one knee on the bed. "And why is it so dark in here?" He grinned a little. "Has my partner turned into a vampire? Hm.. actually, that would be very interesting. If you ever do get turned into a vampire, let me know. I'll run some tests on you." He stood up and moved to turn on the lights; as much as you wanted to beg him not to, you couldn't. It would make him curious.

And a curious Albedo always got what he wanted in the end.

You blinked as the bright light hit your eyes and your lover laughed. "What's wrong? You haven't actually turned into some vampire-kitsune, have you?" He chuckled, turning to face you. But when he saw you in the light, his face suddenly changed. With a jolt, you remembered the tissues on the bed next to you. They hadn't been visible in the darkness, but the crimson they were stained with was sure to catch his eye now.

All you could do was stare helplessly as Albedo walked slowly over to the bed again and delicately picked up one of the tissues. 

"...love?" Was the only thing that escaped his lips at first.

"Is.. is this what I think it is?" His voice trembled.

You turned away, unable to meet his eyes. "Hey, love. Look at me. Please." He placed a hand on your cheek. With as much effort as you could muster, you turned to face your lover, keeping your gaze fixed on your lap. "Yeah.. I, uh..." you trailed off, setting the book down and gingerly pulling back the fabric covering your cuts. "Are.. are you mad..?" You looked up at him, heart twisting at the pain in his eyes. "Huh? What- no, of course not, love. I'm not angry, I could never be angry with you. Not for this. This..."

He took your hands in his. "This is not your fault. Whatever you're thinking- that you're weak or stupid or pathetic or whatnot- is false. You've been hurting very deeply, haven't you? For a while now." Albedo seemed to understand based off your silence. "Do you remember the day you promised me you'd never hurt yourself without talking to me first?" 

You looked away again, anticipating the scolding to come. The bed dipped under the alchemist's weight as he sat down and scooted to sit facing you, cross-legged. "Now I see that may have been unfair of me. I didn't take your feelings into account. I'm sorry, love." Your ears perked up slightly. You were the one you'd expected to be apologizing tonight, not him. "I didn't consider that when I asked you to give me your word, I placed an extra burden on you. You not only had the worry of the urges themselves, but also the fear of making me upset. Is that right..?"

Surprised he understood, you nodded shamefully. "I see. It's okay- it is. But I have to ask, love... did something happen today to.. trigger this?" 

Albedo gently hovered his fingertips over your bloodied skin, trying to survey what had been done. You looked down at your tail, unable to watch his expression as he examined you. "It's just.. it's all too much, Albedo. Everything came crashing down on me- all the memories, all the trauma, all the pain. You weren't home and no one else knows about... about this. I couldn't come to your lab, either; I know you said you had a big project you had to work on and I didn't want to bother you." 

You flattened your ears, aware of how stupid it sounded now. "No project is worth your safety, Traveler. It wouldn't matter if all my alchemy research over the past century was burned to the ground by your hands; so long as you were safe, I wouldn't care." He promised. 

Something about the way he spoke made your eyes overflow with tears, and you burst out sobbing, clinging onto your partner's shoulders. 

"Shhh.. I know, I know." He soothed, petting your hair. "I'm here. I'm here and I won't ever leave you." His voice was quiet, doing his best to hold you without agitating your injuries. "'Bedo... I'm sorry.. it was just too much, I couldn't... I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry." Albedo gently placed a hand on your back, rubbing in slow, calming circles. "Oh, love. You needn't apologize anymore- you are hurting. You deserve care and affection and love. Think for a moment- if someone else were doing this to themselves, someone you held dear, would you sit back and let them?"

You understood where this was going now, and shook your head. "That's how I feel. You may not believe me, but I love you just as much- if not more- than you love me. I would do anything for you. If I could, I'd take away all the pain that has ever scourged your body and mind. I love you ever so much, darling."

Albedo's voice shook as he pulled you into another hug, holding you securely as if you were a glass vase in need of protection. "I... I love you too, Albedo. I.. uh, I should probably make sure there's nothing.. left on the bed. Help me?" You asked quietly. 

"Of course. But first, come with me. Please." Your partner took you by the hand and gently pulled you from the bed. You two entered the bathroom and you were sat down on a stool. "What's happening?" You looked at your alchemist with mild confusion. "Before anything else, I intend to clean you up. If you aren't going to take care of them, which I know you aren't," he added as you opened your mouth to object, "then I'm more than happy to do it for you.
 Please, just let me take care of you for once." 

You sighed in resignation. "Oh, alright." Albedo grabbed a box of bandages from a cabinet and placed it on the sink countertop. He flickered around the bathroom, grabbing other items and dressings. "Okay. I have a cloth soaked in warm water, some disinfectant, and bandages. I'm sorry, this will probably sting." He warned, sitting down in front of you. 

You shook your head. "Stinging is hardly the worst thing in the world. Archons know I've felt worse." You managed to crack a smile, reflecting on your past adventures fondly. But the smile couldn't completely block the pain, and you bit your thumb as your partner began gently wiping the wounds and applying the medicine. 

"Good job, love. You're doing wonderfully." Albedo said as he put the bandages on you. "Other side." He told you, and you switched which thumb you were biting so he could patch you up some more.

"Don't bite please, darling. Your fangs could break your skin." Your alchemist reminded you, gently taking your hand and removing it from your mouth. Relenting, you took your tail in one hand instead and began petting it while he worked. "There." He said, rising from the floor and helping you stand next. Feeling overwhelmed with love for your wonderful lover, you flung your arms around him and breathed in his scent. He smelled of fresh rain and honey, his soft hair tickling your face slightly. "Thank you." You whispered softly.

"Oh, love, there is nothing to thank me for. I only made sure you would set out on the path to healing smoothly. All the same," he smiled, pressing his lips to yours, "you are most welcome. I love you, Traveler."

Albedo pulled back. "Now let's go clean off the bed so we can head to sleep, hm?"

-

A/N

This chapter has been worked on for a couple days due to my recent obligations but I swear on my honor as a writer the more recent requests are in development! Again, please be patient.

Love you all and stay safe! <3

-Enby