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 dinner table was alive with the sound of clinking cutlery and casual conversation. The soft light of the chandelier above flickered gently, casting a warm glow across the room as Y/n sat among the Archons. Plates of food were passed around, and laughter filled the air as they enjoyed their first meal together after a long day. Y/n was just reaching for his drink when he noticed something stirring at the far end of the table.
"Are you serious, Venti? That’s your idea of a solution?" The Tsaritsa’s icy tone cut through the chatter, making Y/n glance over to see her glaring daggers at the Anemo Archon.
Venti, who had a lazy smirk on his face, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. "Well, yes. It’s not my fault you lack imagination, Tsaritsa," he teased, waving a hand nonchalantly. "If you just lightened up a bit, maybe you’d see the fun in it."
The Tsaritsa's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing. "Fun? How exactly is it 'fun' to—"
Y/n, sensing where this conversation was headed, exchanged a glance with Zhongli, who simply shook his head in silent understanding. It was clear to everyone at the table that this argument wasn’t about anything serious—it was just another one of Venti’s antics, designed to poke fun at the Tsaritsa.
Focalors was giggling quietly behind her napkin, and even Raiden seemed slightly amused, though she tried to maintain her usual stoic composure.
The Tsaritsa, however, was not amused. She clenched her jaw and stared Venti down as if she were considering freezing him where he sat. Venti, of course, was completely unfazed by her icy demeanor. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it.
As if on cue, Venti reached for his tea cup, holding it up as though he were about to take a sip, only to “accidentally” tip it over, spilling the steaming liquid right into the Tsaritsa’s lap. He blinked in mock surprise. "Oops," he said with a grin, not even attempting to sound sincere.
The room went silent for a moment as the tea soaked into the Tsaritsa’s dress. Her eyes darkened dangerously, and Y/n could feel the temperature in the room drop several degrees. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see how she would react.
Venti gave her a cheeky smile, completely unfazed by the potential consequences. "You might want to invest in a waterproof dress next time," he said with a laugh.
Y/n, torn between laughing and feeling concerned, found himself stifling a chuckle. Zhongli sighed quietly, pinching the bridge of his nose as if he couldn’t believe Venti had gone this far, while Mavuika hid a small smile behind her hand.
But before anyone could say anything, the Tsaritsa’s eyes shifted, and she leaned toward Y/n, who was sitting next to her. With one swift movement, she grabbed Y/n by the arm and pulled him into her embrace. His eyes widened in surprise as her cool lips pressed firmly against his in a sudden, intense kiss.
The entire table went dead silent.
Y/n's mind went blank as the Tsaritsa’s kiss lingered, her hands gently but firmly holding him in place. Her lips were surprisingly soft, and he could feel the cool chill of her power radiating through her touch. His heart raced as he tried to process what was happening, but before he could even think to react, the kiss ended as suddenly as it began.
