Archons x male reader
Candle lights flicker, rain drops onto the ground.
7 souls captured in the heart of darkness.
The candle, extinguished.
Credit to the artist who drew the art in the story cover.
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The soft sound of Y/N’s breathing filled the quiet room as he slept soundly, wrapped in the warm blankets he had crocheted himself. The fire crackled gently in the hearth, casting a soft, orange glow over the space, illuminating the two figures sitting quietly nearby. Raiden and Venti remained at Y/N’s side while the others were outside, taking care of whatever business needed to be done. For now, the two of them were content just watching over Y/N as he slept.
Venti, sitting on the edge of the window sill, swung his legs lazily as he gazed at Y/N with a fond, almost dreamy expression. “He looks so peaceful when he sleeps, doesn’t he?”
Raiden, standing near the door with her arms crossed, gave a small nod. “He does.”
They fell into silence again, both of them watching Y/N with the kind of intense focus that only came from years of longing and waiting. After a moment, Venti let out a soft sigh and, almost unconsciously, whispered, “My beautiful Aleph…”
Raiden blinked, her gaze snapping to Venti in disbelief. “What did you just call him?”
Venti froze for a moment, realizing what he had just said out loud. He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. “Uh… well, it’s just a little nickname I came up with.”
Raiden’s expression was a mixture of amusement and bewilderment. “You nicknamed Y/N after the Electro Hypostasis monster? The Aleph?”
Venti shrugged, trying to play it off casually. “I mean, it’s kind of fitting, don’t you think? The Aleph is powerful, beautiful in its own strange way… just like Y/N. And besides, I’ve always had a thing for nicknames. It’s a term of endearment.”
Raiden raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Powerful and beautiful, huh? You really are hopeless, Venti.”
Venti grinned, leaning back on his hands. “What can I say? I’m a bard. I have to be poetic about the things I love.”
Raiden shook her head, but there was a hint of affection in her eyes. “It’s a bit ridiculous, but I suppose it suits you. Still, I wouldn’t have expected you to compare Y/N to an elemental construct.”
Venti laughed softly. “Well, I like to think of it as a compliment. The Aleph is resilient, you know? It keeps going no matter what, just like Y/N. He’s been through so much, but he’s still here. Still standing.”
Raiden’s gaze softened as she looked at Y/N. “That’s true. He’s stronger than he looks. In more ways than one.”
Venti nodded, his voice turning serious for a moment. “I just want to protect him. We all do. He’s… special to us.”
Raiden sighed, her usual stern demeanor giving way to something more tender. “Yes, he is. And we’ll protect him, no matter what. But that doesn’t mean we should compare him to monsters, Venti.”
