Please don't say you love me || Genshin impact Collei angst

Hunger

Collei wakes to find the sharp pain in her shoulder reduced to a dull ache. Her stomach lets out a low growl, prompting a matching groan from her. One glance at the window tells her she's slept an entire day away; the moon hangs high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the silent village, with only the crickets breaking the stillness.

Slowly, Collei sits up, holding her shoulder as she moves, wincing slightly at the discomfort. She takes a moment to look around, reassured by the familiar sight of the little hut in Gandharva Ville.
Quietly, she rises from the bed and walks to the door. Peeking outside, she sees that the village is asleep, save for a few forest rangers keeping watch in the moonlight.

Collei takes a cautious step outside, her eyes scanning the quiet village before she quietly moves toward Tighnari's kitchen. It doesn't take long before she reaches her destination. As she examines the counters, her eyes lock onto a bowl of fruit, and she quickly grabs the sunsettia resting on top.

She devours the sunsettia in a few quick bites, her hunger overriding her usual restraint, while her eyes scan the kitchen for more food. Spotting the cabinets above, she awkwardly climbs onto the counter, wincing slightly from her shoulder, and carefully opens one.
Inside, she finds naan bread—a delightful discovery. To Collei, naan bread is the perfect food: deliciously filling and comforting.
With quick fingers, she grabs a piece of the naan and settles herself on the counter, nibbling at it contentedly as she savors the taste.

The kitchen lights flicker on, and Collei freezes, her heart racing as she clutches the half-eaten naan bread. Standing before her is Cyno, his polearm pointed directly at her. The suddenness of it all sends a jolt of fear through her, and she instinctively looks around for something to defend herself with.

Her eyes fall on a steak knife nearby. With her heart pounding in her chest, she grabs it and jabs it in Cyno's direction, her body curling up as she hides her face behind her knees. If this is how she dies, she at least wants her eyes to be closed.

Cyno mutters a curse under his breath, lowering his weapon with a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry, Collei," he says softly, his voice filled with regret.
Collei slowly raises her head, still gripping the knife tightly, but she keeps it pointed in Cyno's direction, her eyes wide and wary.

Cyno slowly steps toward Collei, his hands raised in a gesture of caution. "Hey, Collei," he begins, his voice careful and testing. "What do you call a loaf of naan that's been telling tall tales?" he asks, glancing at the naan bread in her hand.

Collei's eyebrows furrow in confusion as she stares at Cyno, her grip on the knife wavering slightly.
"A 'naan-sense' bread." Cyno delivers the punchline with a straight face, holding Collei's gaze. They stare at each other in silence for a few tense moments, the joke hanging in the air.

Before Cyno can continue with an explanation, Tighnari's voice breaks the quiet. A mixture of relief and exhaustion is evident in his tone. "Okay, that's enough, Cyno." He steps out from behind Cyno, a small smile playing on his lips, his eyes filled with compassion as he looks at Collei.

Reality crashes over Collei as the steak knife slips from her grasp and clatters to the floor. She stares at the men in front of her, wide-eyed and trembling. "I—I'm so sorry," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion as she looks down at the piece of naan bread in her hands.
Tighnari silently steps forward, kneeling to pick up the knife. Collei tenses, bracing herself, expecting him to snap, to lash out like so many others have before.

But Tighnari simply rises and walks to the sink, where he quietly washes the knife under running water. The silence that follows is heavy, almost palpable, and no one dares to shatter it.

"Are you still hungry?" Tighnari's voice breaks the quiet, gentle and without a trace of malice.
Collei's gaze remains fixed on her feet as she murmurs, "I don't get it..." Her voice is barely above a whisper. She hops down from the counter, her movements slow and uncertain.
Cyno kneels down in front of her, meeting her eye level. "What is it?" he asks softly.

Collei hesitates, her thoughts seemingly locked in a silent struggle. "Why..." she begins, her voice wavering. "Why are you being so nice?"
Cyno and Tighnari exchange glances, a silent conversation passing between them, full of understanding and shared concern. After a moment, Tighnari turns off the tap, placing the clean knife aside, and joins Cyno, kneeling beside him to face Collei.

Tighnari is the first to speak, his voice calm and reassuring. "Collei, you've been through so much, and it's only natural to wonder why people would treat you with kindness after everything that's happened."
Cyno nods in agreement, his gaze steady and warm. "We care about you, Collei. Not because of what you can do or who you were to someone else, but because of who you are. You're not alone anymore."
Collei's eyes well up with tears, her gaze shifting between the two men. "But... I'm broken. I've done terrible things, and I don't deserve this."

Tighnari's expression softens even further as he gently places a hand on her shoulder, careful to avoid her injury. "You're not broken, Collei. You're healing. And healing takes time, care, and yes, kindness. Everyone deserves a chance to heal, including you."
Collei's tears spill over, and she wipes at them with her free hand, her emotions overwhelming her. "I don't know how to... how to accept that," she admits, her voice trembling.

Tighnari smiles gently. "You don't have to know how right now. Just take it one day at a time. We'll be here with you, every step of the way."
Collei looks at them both, her heart aching with the unfamiliar sensation of being cared for so deeply.

"Thank you," she whispers, the words filled with gratitude and a tentative hope she hasn't felt in a long time.

Tighnari and Cyno both smile at her, their silent vow to protect and support her stronger than ever.

1060 words