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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Y/n stood frozen in place, his mind reeling from the weight of everything unfolding around him. The war between the Archons and the gods had loomed like a storm cloud, but now it was no longer a distant threat—it was upon them. Every piece of Zhongli’s plan echoed in his mind, but no matter how logical, it all felt so surreal.
What if they lose? What if I lose them?
The thought crushed his chest, making it hard to breathe. He had spent so much time with the Archons—getting to know them, learning about their pasts, and forming bonds stronger than anything he had ever experienced before. They had protected him, cared for him, and filled his life with warmth and love.
And now... what if they were taken from him?
Y/n's hands trembled at the thought. He had only recently come to terms with the depth of his feelings for them. He loved them—truly, deeply. It was a fact that had snuck up on him quietly, woven into the moments they shared, but it was undeniable now. The idea of losing them, of never seeing them again, of them falling in battle—it terrified him. It paralyzed him.
The world around him seemed to blur as he stood there, motionless, trying to process the possibility of a life without them.
Suddenly, a small, familiar figure appeared beside him. Nahida, with her big, concerned eyes, had come to his side. Without a word, she wrapped her tiny arms around his legs, her embrace warm and comforting despite her small size. She looked up at him with a sorrowful gaze, her own fears visible in the way she clung to him.
“Papa...” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Y/n froze at the word. Papa. It was such a simple word, yet hearing it come from Nahida—so soft, so vulnerable—made it feel monumental. He blinked, his heart aching in his chest as he processed the name she had given him. She had always been the youngest of the Archons, despite her wisdom and power, and in this moment, her childlike nature showed itself in full force.
But he didn’t hesitate for long. The instinct to comfort her overpowered his own fears. Bending down, he gently scooped Nahida up in his arms and held her close. He hugged her tightly, resting his cheek against the top of her head, and felt her small body shake slightly as she buried her face in his chest.
“I’m here,” he whispered, his voice soft but steady. “I’m here, Nahida.”
For a few moments, they stood like that—locked in each other’s embrace, drawing strength from the connection they shared. Y/n could feel the weight of Nahida’s emotions, her own fears and uncertainties. She, too, was afraid of what was coming. She, too, had so much to lose. But in this small moment, they found comfort in each other’s presence.
“I... I’m scared, Papa,” Nahida admitted in a soft voice, muffled by his shirt. “What if we lose? What if... what if everything changes?”
Y/n’s heart clenched at her words. He didn’t have the answers. He didn’t know what would happen. The future was uncertain, and the fear of losing the people he had grown to love was overwhelming. But he also knew that he couldn’t let that fear control him—not now.
