Chapter Text
Lohen sighed for the hundredth time that morning. From Piramida, he could see the rest of Pohjola Island; a mesmerizing view that would make anyone unable to stop looking. Lohen, though, stared at nothing, eyes lost, looking at anything in particular. His mind was too focused on other things to care about how pretty the scenery was.
With another sigh, his gaze traveled down to the paperwork on the table. The weather that day was nice: sunny and not too cold, enough for people to enjoy. Thus, Piramida was livelier than usual. Illuga had told him to enjoy the pleasant morning outside before having breakfast. That's how Lohen found himself sitting on the table right outside their house, while his fiancé played around with some kids nearby. He watched Illuga being thrown to the ground by an excited crowd of little kids and chuckled. Lohen's gaze caught his fiancé's. Illuga was staring at him with love written all over his face, which somehow made his heart throb.
Going back to the reports about the aftermath of their expedition, he felt even guiltier. Not only had he not told Illuga about his parents, but he hadn't told him that he was leaving Nod-Krai soon. Add that to the list of things he was hiding from the person he loved.
Lohen still had time before leaving. He could tell Illuga everything and then-
"You're scowling. Your scent is also filled with worry." His fiancé's pretty eyes disarmed him. Too lost in his own troubles, Lohen didn't notice Illuga had gotten close. He hadn't noticed that his own scent was acrid with the worries he hid inside his heart. Taking advantage that the omega was sitting on the chair, Illuga sat on the ground in front of him and rested his head on Lohen's thighs, staring straight at him. His scent enveloped and mixed with Lohen's, making him feel safe and helping him forget the wild thoughts running through his mind.
"Did you finish playing?" He asked as he ran a hand through Illuga's hair. He was rewarded with a soft purr that made the omega smile fondly.
Illuga nodded. He let out a satisfied sigh at the nice sugary scent of honey, jasmine, and violet. "They're going for breakfast. We should too." Lohen only hummed as an answer, still busy petting his fiancé's hair. "Lohen, do you want children?"
The question took him by surprise. He blinked a few times. "Why do you ask?"
"You seemed happy when you were looking at us playing. You were also happy with Aino the other day."
"She's cute and reminds me of someone back home," Lohen answered. He smiled when the image of their small but mighty Spark Knight claiming she could cook the best fish ever, only to blast them from the water. Every time she did that, she got grounded for the whole day, but she was right about the fish being tasty after being roasted with one of her explosions. His smile disappeared as he went back to Illuga's question. "But children… I… never thought about it. It's not like I particularly like them. Back at home, I've been told many times that I should stop terrorizing them."
The alpha blinked. "Terrorizing?"
Lohen chuckled. "Why do you look so surprised, birdie? Didn't I terrorize you, too?"
"You were… a lot," Illuga answered with a sigh. Lohen chuckled again.
"What about you?" He asked. Illuga was a gentle person. He took care of the people around him, managed everything efficiently, had the patience of a freaking saint, was supportive and warmer than anyone else… He definitely seemed like he would be a good parent. "Do you want children?"
"I didn't."
That was an unexpected answer. "Didn't?"
Illuga sighed once more. His scent carried a cold, nostalgic feeling that Lohen disliked. "Nod-Krai is a cruel place. My parents were killed by the Wild Hunt when I was young. I can no longer recall their names, but I'll never forget the black fire that engulfed everything that day." His words and the melancholy in his scent broke Lohen's heart. As always, his warm and precious Illuga noticed his concern. He smiled softly at Lohen, grabbed his hand, and kissed it tenderly. "Don't look so sad."
Lohen's scent grew heavy with sorrow. Despite his fiancé doing his best to calm him down with his own scent, the sheer sadness he felt at that moment did nothing to ease the throb in his chest. His own past felt puny when he thought about what Illuga went through. "It must've been hard."
The alpha chuckled. He was definitely an expert at hiding the sorrow he had carried inside himself since childhood. "It's fine. We're in Nod-Krai. A land where no one asks about your past, because it doesn't matt-"
Lohen squeezed his hand. "It matters to me," he said with determination written on his face. His unwavering gaze broke down the walls Illuga had carefully built around his own feelings.
He chuckled again, this time a bit sadder, yet his scent was warmer than before. "Pops was the one who found me in the ashes and brought me here. The Lightkeepers are like an extended family, where everyone worries about everyone else. This place is my home, but I don't like saying the word aloud. If I don't acknowledge it, I might somehow deceive the world, and it might just not take it away from me. It's a bit of a foolish thought, because there are always those who never make it back. Being a Lightkeeper is dangerous. It took a lot of pestering before my old pops finally let me join the Lightkeepers. I couldn't bear the idea of staying in Piramida safe and sound while others were out there risking their lives. I know how hard it is to lose everything, so I promised myself that I would never do that to anyone."
Without truly knowing what to say, Lohen opted for squeezing the other's hand again. He wasn't the best with words, but he could at least show Illuga that he was right there. Sorrow thrown away, the alpha turned to him with that blinding smile of his. "But you see, this lovely omega came recently into my life, and I changed my mind," he said.
Lohen's eyes widened a bit. His voice came out as a whisper, "What?"
"I thought it would be horrible of me to marry someone and have a family, only to end up dying and leaving them alone. It's a profession where we can die at any time. It wouldn't be fair to have a family only to die and leave them alone. I've seen that many times. If it's you, though, I feel relieved, because even if I'm gone-"
"Don't say that!"
"I wouldn't worry because I know you would do everything in your power to move on. You're like a winter icelea. Beautiful, strong, and resilient." Illuga's scent embraced Lohen. Warm, sweet, and everything he wanted.
Illuga was opening his heart to him, and yet, here Lohen was, hiding the truth behind their engagement. His heart throbbed. For the first time in many years, he felt like crying.
It was painful.
"So, I've been thinking that having children wouldn't be bad if it's with you."
He couldn't handle it.
The bitter smell of burnt sugar enveloped them both.
Lohen snatched his hand away from Illuga's touch. He stared at his lap blankly, shoulders slouched and avoiding his fiancé's worried gaze. Without any emotion in his voice, he said, "Please break off our engagement."
"What…? Why?" The desperation in the alpha's words was agonizing. It made Lohen feel awful.
He didn't have the courage to look at Illuga at that moment. "Please…"
"Did I do something to upset you? We don't really need to have a family, I just-"
"No. It's not that. I… My parents are deceiving you." His eyes never left his lap. And still, sweet, wonderful Illuga, who understood him perfectly, only took his hand, silently asking him to continue, and silently supporting him even when he didn't truly deserve it.
"They like to pretend they're still part of Mondstadt aristocracy, even though they were exiled many years ago. I was always treated like their toy, forced to live a life I despised." He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic taste wasn't as bad as the bile from spitting out everything he had held quietly inside for months. "They wanted me to act like a perfect little omega, but I'm far from it. They tried to marry me off many times before, but I always scared them away."
Illuga hummed. He probably understood better why he acted so obnoxiously before.
"It wasn't hard. I'm not exactly very likable." He finally dared to look at the alpha. Despite everything, Illuga still held his hand tightly and rested his chin in Lohen's thighs, staring at him with worry. The omega had always been good at hiding things; he faked a smile, as if that would take the other's worries away. "They even gave you a discount for damaged goods, because who would want to marry me?" He chuckled, pretending that his own words weren't hurting him, yet his scent was full of anguish.
His fianc… Illuga's scent also became sour. His voice also came out a bit sad. "Lohen…"
"They planned this engagement because they want to sell you supplies and resources that they buy from the Fatui. They have always been doing questionable deals, but they're good at hiding everything. Even when I tried to find out what they had been doing, I found nothing illegal. I couldn't do anything. You lightkeepers already have a lot to worry about; you shouldn't have to bother with them too. I knew this was affecting your family, and still kept it to myself because I thought I could scare you away. I'm a terrible person, aren't I?"
"You're not…"
"Arranged marriages here in Nod-Krai follow old rites and practices. Parents are to choose partners for their omega children, even without their consent. You're the only one who can end this, so please, break off the engagement." Lohen pleaded as he grabbed Illuga's hand. He gave back the gold band that had been around his finger for months.
Illuga stared at it blankly. The smell of bitter burnt sugar was so intense that he could even taste it. He closed his eyes and sighed. Then, he opened his pretty eyes and stared at the omega with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "It's okay, Lohen. I'll talk with pops and solve this. I promise."
His words burned. It would have been better if he had gotten angry and left. It would have been better if he had told Lohen that he didn't want to see him again. But sweet and kind as he always was, Illuga did none of those things. His sweet, comforting scent still made Lohen feel safe and at home.
It truly was painful.
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It wasn't like him to run away like a coward, but here Lohen was. Ever since the day he told everything to Illuga, he hadn't gone back to the alpha's home. He missed the warmth of his nest and Illuga's scent, but this was for the best (or at least, that's what Lohen told himself).
He stayed at his tent at Favonius Keep. It was once good enough for him to rest, but after becoming accustomed to Illuga's home, being there was harsh. It had never been a problem before, but now he didn't feel safe at all. Didn't sleep at all. He was exhausted both physically and mentally.
Illuga didn't seek him out. Although his traitorous heart broke at that, Lohen knew it was better this way; otherwise, he wasn't sure he could keep his composure if the alpha appeared in front of him. His heart also broke a bit more at the thought that Illuga was giving him space.
I know you're an overthinker when it comes to these things.
He truly was.
Days turned into a whole week, and before Lohen knew it, it was time to go back to Mondstadt. Time to go back home, even if it didn't feel like home anymore.
That morning was busy. Between getting their things and horses ready for the journey back to Mondstadt, their precious Grand Master trying to get everyone to drink at The Flagship one last time —even though they were busy working— and grateful civilians getting out of their way to say their farewells, everyone was exhausted. It wasn't until someone made a joke about Cavalry Captain Kaeya finally getting his horses back that the ambience relaxed.
Lohen, though, didn't pay attention to anything the others were saying. Between his fucked up life and the ridiculous amount of letters Varka forced in his hands, he wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. Maybe both.
"Are you okay? You seem exhausted." It was embarrassing how fast Lohen's gaze snapped away from Varka's dumb letter to the owner of that voice.
"Illuga…" He looked the same as always. His scent was the same as always. It had only been a week since they last saw each other, and somehow it was enough to have Lohen longing to be by his side. Illuga walked closer, probably ready to caress Lohen's cheek as he always did when the omega was tired. He couldn't deal with that. Not now. Lohen avoided the alpha's touch. Offering a fake smile, he mumbled, "I'm fine."
"You're wearing blockers again."
"Yes"
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes"
Illuga squinted his eyes a little, not believing his words at all. Before he could say anything, some knights carrying wooden crates interrupted. "Sorry for the intrusion, Vice-Captain, but where should we put this?"
"Anywhere's fine," Lohen answered absentmindedly, doing his best to ignore Illuga's piercing gaze. The knights nodded and went away to load the cargo carts.
Once gone, Illuga asked, "You're leaving?" His eyes and scent became sad, and Lohen hated every second of it. "I didn't know…"
"Sorry. I should've told you." Those words burned his own heart. He should've told Illuga a lot of things, yet he didn't. Now they stood in front of each other awkwardly. Lohen wanted nothing more than to throw himself in the other's warm embrace, kiss him stupid, and be by his side for the rest of his life, but did he even have that right anymore?
"It's okay," Illuga answered weakly.
Was it?
"Why are you here?" Lohen asked. Part of him hoped that it was because of him. That Illuga missed him just as much as he did. That he was there to tell Lohen to stay. That he would tell Lohen that he loved him and that he-
"I have an appointment with Miss Nefer."
Oh… Of course.
What was he expecting?
If Illuga noticed his disappointment, he didn't say anything.
The alpha cleared his throat in a way that seemed fake and unnatural. "Listen, I-"
"Vice Captain! We're done loading the carts, and we need you to check that everything's in order!"
"I'll be there in a second!" Lohen turned to Illuga with his trusty fake smile plastered on his face. "Well, duty calls. It was nice seeing you."
He turned to leave, only to be stopped by the other, who grabbed his wrist. Before Lohen could say anything, Illuga took his hands between his own. "I'm solving everything, so wait for me, okay?" He stared at Lohen with a raw determination that sent a shiver down the omega's spine. His scent was full of self-confidence.
"Sure." Under such a gaze, that was the only thing Lohen managed to say. Despite wanting to throw himself in Illuga's arms, Lohen pulled away. "Take care, birdie," he said with a real smile this time, one that was somber.
The alpha's eyes widened at the sight. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Illuga shook his head slightly. "Have a safe trip back home."
Home, huh?
"Thanks. Make sure to write, okay?"
"Of course."
It was a lie. Once he was out of Nod-Krai, they would move on with their lives without the other. Lohen knew that, and so, he hesitated to walk away. In the end, he did it. Turned around and didn't look back.
On the way back, he rode behind everyone else. The distance made him able to keep an eye on the others, but it was also enough to let him shed a few sorrowful tears. For the first time in ages, Lohen cried. Shoulders trembling, but chin held high so that no one would notice.
He cried silently, but the shattering of his heart was loud.
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Sitting in the middle of Cider Lake, the city of freedom stood amongst mountains and wide-open plains. Carefree breezes carried the scent of dandelions. Full of cobblestone streets, cozy-looking houses, and windmills, it was completely different from the cold, metallic architecture in Nod-Krai.
The statue of the Anemo Archon that watched over the city had greeted the Fifth Company personnel when they arrived weeks prior. The dandelion-scented breeze caressed their faces, and everyone saw it as Barbatos blessing their return home. Lohen did too, but it also sent a pang to his chest. In the last months, Illuga became his safe place. Home was at his side, and while Mondstadt was still the place he cherished the most, he missed the warmth of sandalwood, amber, and vanilla.
It had been a bit more than a month since then. Everyone from the expedition team was back, with a few exceptions staying back in Favonius Keep to help around Nod-Krai. Assigned to their new posts, the knights went back to their duties around Mondstadt as if they had never left. The Fifth was moved to Dornman Port. Mika was the one who helped them adjust to their new duties, which was nice because he was cute and easy to tease. As the main patrol area or the Reconnaissance Company, Eula was there too. They drank together and pestered each other just as they used to before the expedition.
Lohen did his best to hide his own feelings from everyone, and if they noticed, no one said a thing. Well, no one except one annoying person.
"Shouldn't you be in Dornman Port? We already have a lot with Klee and the Grand Master rampaging here."
Lohen snorted. Kaeya's stupid smirking face was the last thing he wanted to see. He also didn't want to smell his stupid wet-dog-smelling alpha scent. The omega scrunched up his nose. "You reek," he said.
"Thank you."
"I brought a report concerning the personnel arrangements for the expeditionary force upon their return. Cardinal Seamus already reviewed it, but it still needs the Grand Master's signature."
The other man peeked at the paper and hummed. The closeness had Lohen scrunching up his nose once more. "Who wrote it? Gunther or Ursula?"
"Ursula. Gunther's handwriting is ugly."
Kaeya smiled at him. "Not even trying to hide it?" Lohen smirked and shrugged as an answer. The older man let out a fake sigh. "So what now? You plan on terrorizing innocent civilians? Is this why you're sitting on the wall outside headquarters? Looking for a new victim?"
Another snort. "I'm actually waiting for your precious man-child of a Grand Master to get out of confinement."
"Ah, right! I fear you'll be waiting for a long time then."
"What did he do this time?"
"Klee blew up a wall inside the headquarters, and the Grand Master tried to save her by saying he was the one who did it. When Jean threatened to send him into confinement, Klee stepped up to cover for him. Then they fought about who had the blame, and Jean grounded them both." Lohen groaned. Kaeya laughed at how annoyed he looked. Then, his stupid face twisted into a smirk. His scent carried a whiff of mischief that only served to make him reek even more. "Someone told me you got dumped," he teased in a sing-song voice that had Lohen wanting to punch him.
"I didn't realize you were this nosy, eyepatch. Is this someone, Eula?"
"Nope. It was Amber. She's worried about you."
The omega pouted. "I wasn't dumped."
The other whistled, clearly amused by the whole situation. "Oh… Then you dumped them?"
"No! That's… yeah, maybe…"
Putting a hand over his heart, Kaeya feigned sadness. "Poor thing. Our Lohen is truly heartless," he teased again.
He probably was expecting Lohen to act all feisty. For some reason, the man had always enjoyed teasing him, even when his own life was at risk. Kaeya was definitely confused when Lohen only sighed in defeat. Even though he was trying his best to mend his heart, talking… hell, even thinking about Illuga was hard. "Why are you even here? Don't you have some horses to look after?"
The thing with Kaeya was that he could be the biggest flirt and an annoying tease, but he got serious when needed. His face was devoid of any mockery, and even his stench turned into a tolerable scent that helped Lohen calm down a little. "We're all worried about you."
And he thought he was doing a good job at hiding his feelings…
"I'm fine." He wasn't, but they didn't need to know that.
Kaeya hummed. "We can go and get rid of some electro slimes, if you'd like."
Lohen's smile was weak but sincere. Sure, the patchwork he had been doing on his heart was a bit sloppy, and he was still sad, but knowing that there were people who worried about him eased his anxiety a little. "You always end up shrieking and running away when they explode."
"Maybe if someone didn't make an effort to have them explode in my face, I wouldn't run away."
The omega chuckled when the ridiculous image came into his mind. "I'm really fine. Maybe some other time."
"If you ever need it, I'll keep you company while you drink your sorrows away. I can also lend you my shoulder to cry on and my expertise in romance."
Lohen snorted. "What an enticing offer. How chivalrous of you."
The other man bowed with feigned chivalry. "At your service."
His shenanigans had Lohen chuckling. His cheeks were adorned with a pretty pink blush as he laughed. "Thanks."
"Our Lohen being honest and cute? This is a once-in-a-lifetime event. I need to take a picture."
"Fuck you."
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He really should've seen it coming the moment he told Illuga to break off their engagement.
Although he was supposed to do his job properly at Dornman Port, there was an unspoken rule that said he had to look out for their highly esteemed deaconess every time she was out singing all day long. Lohen wasn't exactly sure why he had to be the one following Barbara around, but he guessed it was because people were scared of him; her stalkerish fans never tried any funny business when he was close. He didn't quite like the bodyguard job, but at least Barbara bought lunch, so he wasn't complaining.
Just like every time he had to keep an eye on her, he was absolutely bored. It wasn't as bad because at least Amber was in bodyguard duty too, and he had someone to talk to, but it was still bad. Lohen would rather fight some monsters that could break his bones any second than follow an idol around town.
Everything had been fine until lunch. Sitting on one of the Good Hunter's tables, the two girls chatted amicably. He didn't join in their conversation, too focused on the people walking around and making a fuss about their dear idol.
That's when he felt a heavy stare over him. Sure enough, his parents stood near the fountain, glaring daggers at him. The woman nodded as a sign for him to approach. He would've ignored them, but it wasn't the best idea considering how obnoxious they could be. With an exhausted sigh, he excused himself to deal with the two annoying individuals, hoping they wouldn't cause a scene in the middle of the city.
How foolish of him.
The woman slapped him across the face as hard as she could. His ear rang, and heat radiated from his skin, accompanied by a throbbing sensation. "Do you know what you did?!" His mother roared. All the people around stopped to stare and gossip about them. From the corner of his eye, he caught Amber about to step in, and shook his head. She looked at him with worry, but understood and stayed still. Barbara also seemed worried, but she didn't move either. "You ruined everything!"
Lohen smirked. "Good news, then."
Her scowl deepened. The disgusting man beside her laughed sardonically. "We should've sold you when you presented. Useless piece of-"
He blinked when a shiny ray of gold flew past his eyes. In a second, his father was screaming in pain, with his mother staring dumbstruck at the scene. A bird flapped its wings around as it bit down on the man's nose, breaking skin and pulling out blood. The guy tried to pull it away, but the small bird didn't let go.
Well, not any bird. Aedon.
With a whistle, the rampaging bird let go and flew off. Ignoring the fuming man and the woman screaming at him for making a fuss about a bird, Lohen turned towards where Aedon flew. His breath caught in his throat, and his heart raced at the sight of the man he loved approaching him.
His voice almost came as a whisper. "Illuga…"
"Hi," Illuga said with that sweet smile on his face that melted Lohen's heart. Standing next to each other, the alpha's pleasant scent immediately made him feel better. He wasn't wearing his coat, so his scent was stronger. Made the omega weak on his knees. Lohen wanted nothing more than to hug him and sink his face in-
"You dare show your face here after humiliating us?!"
Ah… yeah. They were still there.
Turning towards the two nuisances, Illuga laughed softly. "Aren't you the ones bold enough to show your faces in public?"
"Excuse me?!"
"Don't you know Fontaine sent a warning everywhere about the dangers of sinthe? They are also looking for the people who still sell it."
Sinthe?
Their eyes widened. The woman recovered immediately. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said.
"Are you sure?"
The man laughed with mockery. "What? Don't tell me you actually fell for that tras-"
In an instant, Illuga's warm scent turned raw with fury. Lohen didn't even have time to blink before the alpha was punching his father square in the face. Bones cracked before the guy landed, knocked out on the ground. Lohen's mother stared at her unconscious husband in shock. Then, she turned to Illuga with a nasty glare. "You-!"
Even though his scent still reeked of anger, the lightkeeper remained calm. He smiled at the astonished woman. "Me," he said.
A woman with black hair approached Lohen. "Are you okay?"
"Egle?"
"Hello, Sir Lohen." The rest of the Nightmare Orioles soon joined her.
He blinked with confusion. "Why are you guys here?"
With a smug smirk plastered on his face, Anleifr put an arm around Lohen's shoulders. "Our Squad Leader exhausted himself to find out the weird shit your parents were doing. Turns out it was darker than what… Why is she also knocked out?"
Sure enough, Lohen's mother lay unconscious on the ground next to her husband. Illuga shrugged. "She tried to escape." He raised an eyebrow towards Anleifr, who immediately let Lohen go.
People around were still gossiping, so Amber and Barbara took it upon themselves to shoo the crowd away. Lohen was grateful about that, but he was also supposed to look after their deaconess and-
His thoughts flew far away as Illuga's scent enveloped him. He smiled sheepishly at Lohen. "Sorry, he was getting on my nerves. I know you're more than capable of defending yourself, but I don't want you murdering someone in the open."
The omega chuckled. "It's fine. You're right. I would've killed him if you hadn't stepped in." He saw Illuga's squadmates already tying his parents' hands together, like the criminals they were.
"We brought an arrest warrant."
Lohen blinked. "A what?"
Illuga sighed. "You were right about them hiding their illegal business well. I couldn't find any traces. Unfortunately for them, Miss Nefer is really good at uncovering secrets."
"Is that why you had an appointment with her the day we left Nod-Krai?"
"Yes. While their reselling of supplies and resources from the Fatui is technically not illegal, they were trafficking sinthe."
"The drug from Fontaine." He wasn't even sure how his sorry excuse of parents found a way to traffic sinthe into Nod-Krai.
"They bought a lot of it from a guy called Vacher. Fontaine authorities stopped sinthe's production line. Because of it, it now sells for a big profit. Because of how addictive and dangerous it is, Fontaine's working on confiscating any sinthe still on the market. They even put an international arrest warrant on everyone who traffics it."
"Still, you could have sent a letter? You didn't have to come all the way here?"
"He wanted to!" Anleifr shouted. Egle hit him on the shoulder.
Illuga ignored him and continued. "We had to. Your parents were starting to sell it to both the Lightkeepers and the Frostmoon Scions disguised as medicine. According to some letters Miss Nefer found, they planned to make people addicted so that they could sell more. They even went as far as to tell the Fatui that once they were done with the Frostmoon Scions, taking their land would be easy work."
Lohen hummed. His parents were even worse than he knew.
"I talked with the knights at Favonius Keep to put an arrest warrant on your parents. Pops also sent a letter to Sir Varka about this. Pops told us to bring-"
"He didn't. Illuga was the one who insisted on us bringing this information here."
Lohen chuckled again. Illuga rolled his eyes. "Anleifr," he deadpanned.
"Sorry!"
"Anyway, we weren't expecting they would be so easy to catch, so we were supposed to come here and present your Grand Master all the proof we found. I guess we now have two criminals to present too."
"A terrible gift, if you ask me."
"I agree," Illuga laughed. He then caressed Lohen's cheek softly, with the latter leaning into his touch. "It's nice to see you. I was hoping I could find you when we arr-"
"He also practiced all the way here on how he was going to propose to you!"
One of Illuga's eyes twitched. "Anleifr, for fuck's sake!"
"Sorry!"
The alpha sighed with exhaustion as he pinched the bridge of his nose. His scent was a bit sour with irritation. "We're taking those two into the Knights of Favonius headquarters!"
"Yes, sir!"
The image of the nightmare orioles dragging his unconscious parents like ragdolls was too funny for Lohen not to laugh. A thought suddenly appeared in Lohen's mind. "You should hurry before the Grand Master tries to escape, or ends up locked in solitary confinement."
Illuga looked at him as if he had grown another head. "What?"
Lohen laughed again. "Just hurry."
Illuga nodded. His scent turned sweeter at how pretty and free Lohen was when he laughed. He took the omega's hands between his own and stared at him with love. "Wait for me, okay?"
Those were the same words he told Lohen when they said farewell in Nod-Krai, and he answered without any confidence. Back then, he thought they would never see each other again, but now, with Illuga in Mondstadt and no one tainting their future, Lohen was sure about his answer. "Okay," he said softly. A blush graced his features as he lost himself in Illuga's eyes.
The alpha was no better. With his whole face flushed, he mumbled, "Good… that's good…"
"Squad Leader! Stop flirting! We have some criminals to deliver!"
Illuga's scent soured again. He stared at Anleifr without any expression on his face. A second later, Aedon flew away from his shoulder and straight to the other man. Anleifr squeaked and ran away.
He didn't really like Illuga walking away from him, but it was fine. He would surely come back to Lohen.
"Are you okay, Lohen?" Barbara asked with worry at his side. Without even thinking, she started to heal his cheek. "We didn't want to interrupt you and your… acquaintances?"
"Was that your fiancé?" Amber asked.
Poor Barbara looked completely confused. "His what?!
"My ex-fiancé, actually."
"Your what?!"
Lohen sighed. "It's a long story."
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Illuga was a man who knew what hell was like. He knew what it meant to carry someone else's life on his shoulders and to lose everything. What he didn't know was how terrifying Mondstadt's deaconess and the outrider of the Knights of Favonius could be.
Both girls stood between him and Lohen, arms crossed over their chests, and nasty scowls set on their cute faces. He wasn't sure which one of them was an omega, and he also didn't ask. Their scowls and the stench of rancid candy were enough to stop him from asking anything. He tried his best to ignore their obvious displeasure and smiled gently. "Umm… Nice to meet you. I'm-"
Barbara interrupted him, "The one that hurt our Lohen!"
Amber nodded along. "You have a lot of nerve to-"
The outrider swallowed her words as Lohen pulled the back of her collar. "Okay, that's enough. I told you many times it was my fault."
"So? He's still the reason why you've been so sad since you came back!" Barbara exclaimed. He really wasn't so good at hiding his feelings.
"Enough. You two will go straight back home because it's already nighttime."
"No, we're not. We're-"
"Leaving," Lohen said with a fake smile. He pushed them softly, shooing them away. Although they complied, the two girls kept their fierce gazes on poor Illuga as they walked away.
Lohen smirked. "Must be a shock to have someone acting like that when you're used to everyone loving you."
"It's fine. Shows how much they worry about you. I'm at ease knowing more people make you feel comfortable," the alpha said. His scent was way too sweet for Lohen to handle. He wanted to throw himself in the other's embrace and drown in sandalwood, amber, and vanilla.
Lohen cleared his throat. "Did you catch him before he fled?"
Illuga sighed. "He was about to escape from his office with a young lady dressed in red. You should've seen his face when he saw us dragging your parents inside." Lohen laughed freely.
With the sky painted dark, silence reigned around the city. Buildings had their lights on, but there weren't any souls wandering outside. "Sorry. It took longer than I planned," Illuga said.
"And?"
"They're going to be sent to Fontaine and tried there. Most likely, they'll be thrown in jail. So, you're free." The smile Illuga gave him was blinding.
Free.
He was finally free to love Illuga without those two dirtying their relationship.
Joy bubbled up in his chest. "Thank you." Then, he asked, "Where are the others?" Illuga raised an eyebrow. Lohen chuckled. "I'm just asking in hopes that you didn't kill Anleifr because of the things he said earlier."
"Sir Varka lent them some space to rest. Anleifr is fine… for now."
Lohen laughed again, full of the freedom of someone who had finally gotten rid of dead weight on his shoulders. Too bad he was wearing blockers again, Illuga was sure his scent would be lovely at that moment. He stopped laughing. "You didn't write. Didn't ask me to stay either," he said with melancholy in his voice. It made Illuga feel guilty. Made him want to hold Lohen in his arms and take away all his worries. Made him want to give the omega the world if he wanted… but they had to talk.
"I wasn't sure if you wanted to stay." His own voice was a bit gloomy, too. "I already love you too much to let you go, but you were unsure. I thought that it would be best to first solve the problem with your parents and then come for you. You looked so anxious, and I thought that coming back to where you feel safe while I dealt with everything back at Nod-Krai was a good idea."
"I feel safe with you, though," Lohen said, full of confidence.
Illuga felt his face growing hot. He ran a hand through his hair as if that would help to ease his embarrassment. "That's so unfair. You can't say that." Lohen chuckled, and it only made him more embarrassed. Trying to stop his mortification, he cleared his throat and said, "I have something for you."
The omega hummed. He tilted his head to one side. "Should I close my eyes?"
"Are you always this keen about ruining surprises?"
"Maybe?" Lohen answered with a smirk.
The alpha rolled his eyes, but he still laughed. "Just close your eyes."
Lohen did as told. He heard the other rummaging around his pockets before grabbing his hand gently and placing something on it. "Can I open my eyes now?"
"Yeah"
The first thing he saw was poor Illuga being a blushing mess, looking at anything but Lohen. Then, he moved his gaze towards whatever the alpha gave him. Upon seeing what it was, his breath caught in his throat.
A winter icelea and a dandelion.
"Sorry. They're small and a bit crumpled because I had to put them in my pocket. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a surprise."
Strange as it was, Lohen was speechless. No one had ever looked his way. No one had ever found him likable enough to gift him anything. Maybe he wasn't a perfect omega, but he was a person with feelings, and sometimes he also wanted flowers and a cute boy courting him.
As he stared at the pretty flowers, his eyes burned a little. He closed his hand around them, scared that if he loosened his grip, they would disappear. Yet, they were still there. "Did you crystallize them?"
Illuga finally looked back at Lohen. The latter had his eyes locked on the flower, with pretty pink adorning his cheeks and a small smile. Under the moonlight, Lohen was stunning. "I did. Both are a bit fragile, so I had to preserve them."
The omega felt like crying. All his life, he had been accustomed to being treated as less. No one tried to understand him until Illuga, who came into his life and swept him off his feet. He was sweet, kind, strong, and liked Lohen just the way he was. Took his time to understand the omega and knew that even if he was strong and fierce, he also enjoyed being treated fondly.
His Illuga really was the most wonderful person in the world.
"I told you before, but you're like a winter icelea, resilient and beautiful. I read somewhere that the dandelion represents the romantic spirit of love and freedom here in Mondstadt. There was also something about it connecting lovers, but I'm not sure about that part."
Still mesmerized by his flowers, Lohen answered, "It does. You pluck the seeds, whisper something you wish to tell your loved ones, and let it ride on the wind. It turns into a whisper in the wind that the Archon himself takes to where it needs to go."
"So, it's like that," Illuga said with a bit of disappointment in his voice. "Guess it doesn't work if I'm here, right? Well, I'm glad you like them."
"Are you proposing to me, birdie?" Lohen asked bluntly. He finally stopped looking at the flowers and turned to stare at Illuga.
"Yes," the alpha answered immediately. His honesty mixed with the sweetness of his scent melted Lohen's heart. His blush deepened. Illuga smiled softly at him. He cradled Lohen's hands between his. "You said you aren't a perfect omega, but you're already perfect the way you are."
That was all Lohen needed to finally let a few tears slip away. Illuga caressed his cheeks. He wiped a few tears off Lohen's beautiful eyes. Their kiss was careful, gentle, and full of everything they felt at that moment. A soft brush of lips that drove away all of Lohen's doubts, leaving only certainty.
Once they parted, Lohen whispered against the other's lips, "Quite bold of you, proposing to me when you know I just came out of an engagement."
Illuga laughed, looking all soft and cute. That was exactly what Lohen wanted. He wanted to share his life with that wonderful man and make him happy. A sudden idea came into his head. "Give me your hand, birdie." Full of trust, Illuga instantly grabbed Lohen's hand. The latter squeezed the alpha's hand and smiled with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Let's go!"
"Where are we…" Poor Illuga didn't have time to finish his question when the omega broke into a sprint, dragging him behind. "Wait, Lohen!"
Lohen didn't wait. He ran around the empty city laughing freely; one hand holding Illuga's tightly while the other clutched his precious flowers. Giddiness bloomed in his chest. He wanted to treasure that feeling, save it deep in his heart, and never forget it.
The omega brought them all the way to the Anemo Archon statue. Like the rest of the city, the plaza was deserted, and only they and Barbatos stood there. Lohen plucked a few seeds from the dandelion in his hand. They were a bit heavier due to the crystallization, but that shouldn't be a problem. He handed Illuga his flowers for safekeeping. He smiled when the other grabbed them and put them in his pocket without saying anything, as if it were the most natural thing ever.
"Aren't those supposed to bring a message to someone?" Illuga asked curiously.
Lohen smirked. "Yes. It's going to be a statement. One for all Teyvat to know."
The alpha laughed. "How daring."
His smirk widened. "You know me, birdie." Lohen stared at the Archon's statue. "Technically, we have to climb on the statue's hands and blow the seeds from there." At his words, poor Illuga seemed horrified. The omega laughed. "I'm not doing that, though I really want to. I feel like you'd have a seizure if I do, so I'm doing it here where you can be reassured I'm safe."
"Thank you for being considerate."
"Aren't I always?"
"Not really."
How easy it was to laugh when you were truly happy.
Staring at the tiny seeds on his hands, Lohen smiled fondly. Soft and sweet, he whispered against them, "May we be free to love each other for the rest of our lives." He blew at them, staring with affection as the seeds rode the wind until they disappeared. Right at that moment, with his eyes shining with childlike wonder, Lohen was stunning. "See? A stateme-"
His words died in a soft, chaste kiss that had their lips barely brushing against each other. The alpha's heavenly scent embracing his very soul. Soothing, warm... Perfect.
"I love you so much," Illuga whispered against Lohen's lips when they pulled away.
"I love you, too."
For a moment, Lohen thought the other was giving the flowers back to him when he rummaged through his pockets again. His eyes widened when he saw the gold band with three small diamonds embedded in it. Just like all those months ago, Illuga slid the ring on his finger with all the care in the world. "Don't lose it next time," he said.
"I won't."
Their kiss was tender. It tasted of promises of a lifetime together.
This time, when they pulled apart, it was Lohen who whispered against Illuga's lips. "Should we also ask the Anemo Archon to bless us with many children?"
The poor alpha was mortified. His whole face turned red with embarrassment. His expression changed from tenderness to pure shame in slow-motion. He collapsed, covering his face with his hands. "Stop!"
Lohen laughed. "I'm just teasi-"
"I'd like that."
Once again, he was rendered speechless. This time, he was the one who blushed madly. As gently as he could, he moved Iluga's hands away. He was still a blushing mess, and somehow he still looked all pretty. Lohen giggled. "Birdie?"
Still embarrassed, the alpha only hummed. How cute his Illuga was.
"Carry me?" Lohen asked.
Even through his mortification, Illuga nodded. "Sure, let me… Stop!" Poor man didn't even have time to prepare himself when Lohen threw himself in his arms, laughing. He staggered a bit, but caught his balance. Lohen fluttered his legs and giggled. "We're going to fall! Lohen! Sto-!"
They fell in the shallow water around the Archon's statue. Both their clothes were half-drenched. Lohen kept giggling. Illuga ran a hand through his hair. "Seriously, you-"
Lohen silenced him with another kiss. "Prepare yourself, birdie. I'm going to love you with everything I have."
"Good. There's nothing I'd want more."
He wasn't what everyone considered perfect, but he was perfect to the one person who mattered. Illuga had taught him how to love someone, how to be loved, and how to make someone happy. That was something he would cherish for the rest of his life.