Archive of Our Own

Far up above in the sky, grey clouds circled Teyvat. It wasn’t the malicious kind that foretold tragedy, it came only to nourish the world and balance days of sun. Lightning cracked and thunder boomed, the pitter patter of steady rain against metal walls, but all was muffled through the cozy defenses of the lightkeeper’s home.

“Looks like we’re not going out today,” Lohen said miserably, hardly aware of his foot thumping against the floor. They’d both been excited to walk through Nasha Town today (and maybe fight some monsters along the way– moreso Lohen’s wish), so he could definitely sympathize. Yet, it was out of their control regardless.

“Don’t look so down,” he replied gently as he walked up to the knight, unclasping his heavy outerwear as inevitably, they’d be stormed in today. “I can’t handle it when you pout like that, you’re too…”

Lohen glared at him.

“Don’t you dare say cute.”

Illuga smiled and looked away, that furrow of his brows and small, pointed lips only made him cuter.

“I won’t.”

That made the knight roll his eyes, to which Illuga couldn’t help laughing at. Yet, the cute knight in question huffed, reaching over to help Illuga shed his coat, too. It was warm enough in his abode, the many flickers of warm candle flame and a small hearth running keeping it just toasty enough to not need their usual layers.

“There’s not even anything to do!” He complained, foot still tapping, ending with yet another, this time more theatric huff.

Oh, his bunny was simply too cute! A ploy to get his attention like that, Lohen never did know how to ask for affection.

The games were part of their courtship, really. Illuga thinks, by the time they both figure it out and can be honest with one another, he’ll put a ring on that finger.

Until then, while the storm weathers outside, Illuga plops himself on his couch, grabbing a random book on the table, not really looking at what he’d grabbed. He wouldn’t be reading it anyways.

“Wait,” Lohen said desperately, suddenly quite needy. Illuga responded with a noncommittal hmm, though that obviously did not satisfy the hare as he followed suit and plopped himself on the couch alongside him, leaning onto Illuga’s shoulder as he tried to read the book from his tilted angle.

“...Basics of electronic wiring.”

Illuga’s eyes widened a bit as in a quick fit of panic he flipped his book to check the cover– Indeed, it was the book Aino had assigned him reading in, and he… uh, promptly threw it on the table and promised himself I’ll read it later.

Lohen snickered, “Reaaaal interesting, right, birdie? Why, I’m sure you’re just sooo eager to study instead of spending time with me, so like the good boyfriend I am I’ll leave you alone now–”

Oh, fuck it.

He threw the book on the table and with his free arm wrapped it tight around Lohen’s waist, “Oh you’re not going anywhere,” he said aggressively, but not without obvious mirth and affection in his inflection. The knight yelped in surprise as Illuga wrestled him onto the couch, retorting by playfully battering him as their limbs suddenly became a brutal, tangled war–

They both fell over, landing with a harsh oof as their bodies hit the cushions, Lohen decisively pinned under Illuga’s weight as just as abruptly as the thunder splits, they burst into unexplainable laughter.

“You–” Lohen said between ugly snorts and cackles, “You brute! Why– You can’t ask me to stay in a normal way, can you?!”

At that, Illuga only buried himself deeper into Lohen’s nape, getting a mouthful of hair as he laughed and gasped for breath all the same, “You’re no better!”

Lohen shoved his head off, though the ratnik briefly contemplated biting his fingers just to get back at him, and suddenly realized, Archons, he’s an awful influence on me. Me, biting people?

Hmm, but looking at Lohen below him like that, a dangerous and beautiful smirk on his face, he can add an addendum to the clause– Only bite Lohen, because he deserves it as retaliation for how many bite marks litter his own body!

He’s calmer now without Illuga’s full weight on him, but laughter undeniably lingers in his voice as he speaks, “I’m more eloquent about it, at least.”

“I’ll leave that upright stuff to you Mondstatians, things are different here in Nod Krai. Actions get things done, bunny.” The last of his words came out like a sneer, but he knows Lohen isn’t going to take it like that. If anything, the knight is surely going to retort with something wors–

“Oh I know,” Lohen suddenly purred with something haughty in his voice– “Why, a certain lightkeeper here has been, on frequent basis, defiling my innocent, knightly grace–”

“Th-that’s enough!!” He stammered, suddenly feeling quite shy about the positions of their body. Lohen only laughed at his plight, almost cruel if he didn’t totally deserve it.

“Awww, the ferocious birdie is getting shy now? Now where’s that energy that pinned me to this couch, hmm? Who’s body is sitting right atop mine? Don’t give me mixed signals here, lest you forget, us Mondstat folks are so pure and virtuous, why, I’ll surely get confused?”

The absolute brat, his hips shifted slightly under him, marking Illuga’s face with blush even brighter.

“Y-you’re doing it again! You never ask for things in a normal way–”

“No no no, I have noooo idea what you’re talking about. Chaste and untouched, remember?”

“...Untouched is not the right word for you.”

“Practically a virgin,” Lohen drawled lazily, “...if you ignore how many times I’ve taken you up the… A-a-actually, y’know what? Let’s just pretend, alright? C’mon, it’ll be fun, trust me!”

“W-what’s even the story here?!”

“I dunno. Make it up! C’mon, please?”

Lohen looked up at him with sparkly eyes. Illuga swallowed.

…What a way to spend a stormy day.

Face still a bit flushed, he coughed into his fist, while Lohen continued staring up at him bright eyed… if you could call them bright, with the lack of light and all. Regardless, he painted a surprisingly convincing naive expression, mouth parted and just a hint of redness, cheeks perpetually rosy.

“I–” He cringed at his own voice, trying to sound more… uh, brutish…? That was the word Lohen used to describe him…?

Lohen kicked his shin for it. So much for “innocent!”

He tried again, “P-pretty little hare… What are you doing in this land like this? Don’t you know predators are everywhere, waiting to gobble you up?”

“You’re awful at this.”

“Sh-shut up!”

Lohen’s amusement only grew at his obvious frustration, though not so mean as to see that Illuga was starting to feel frustrated at himself. Gingerly, he reached up with the curved edge of his palm to caress Illuga’s jaw, rough but gentle bare skin running along his own, and whispered the words in a voice so soft, “Pretend that it’s our first time again, alright?”

Illuga leaned into the heedy touch, face lifting into a grin as he recalled the event. They’d both been each other’s firsts, it was surely something he’d never forget– Only…

“Our first time was spontaneously after a spar, covered in blood and dirt, and it hurt like hell because I didn’t even know to prep you properly–”

That same hand smacked him on the cheek. It didn’t hurt, but it got the point across.

“I liked it fine,” Lohen said, seemingly quite miffed. “But–” His voice drooped soft again, “Pretend like it’s our first time… in a gentler world.”

A gentler world.

He almost couldn’t even imagine it, given the circumstances both he and Lohen had lived through. Yet… even with the storm cleansing the world outside, looking at this beautiful man beneath him and so truly in love with him, and he felt it deep in his heart he loved him back– Maybe this is the gentler world, already.

A beat of silence passed by them. Two hushed heartbeats, pressed chest to chest as Illuga took in a warm breath, filling his lungs with the love and sincerity he felt for the man beneath him.

“Sir Lohen…” he started sweetly, earnestly. “Please… allow me to take you to bed.”

For his part, Lohen seemed very convincingly abashed. Or, maybe it wasn’t an act.

“Ah, Sir Illuga… what do you intend with me?”

Carefully, he raised himself off Lohen, bringing him up too with two outstretched hands, facing no resistance as he pulled Lohen directly into his arms. They settled together comfortably, naturally. Illuga finds it hard to imagine, there was ever a time the knight did not rest in his arms.

“I will make love to you,” he professed, finding the words honest and truthfully, not feeling like an act at all. “I’ll unravel you, bit by bit, and show you the highest pleasure my humble self can. By the end, I’ll tangle us together until we’re inseparable– That is, if you allow me.” It wasn’t a lie, not even theatric– He truly did. He had been for a while, just waiting for the day Lohen let him, where the man always favored it rough and careless.

Maybe today really is that day, as Lohen leaned into him, allowing their bodies to rest together in such an intimate way that he could feel the knight’s heat pressed against his own, steady and warm against the cold storm out the walls, grounding them both to the moment within. Despite the lack of true heat to any of their words or actions thus far, it felt more sensual and laced in desire than most any of their other times, somehow.

“...Illuga,” he whispered. It sent shivers down his spine, the way Lohen had dropped his title– Intimate. Deep. Possibly even a little forbidden, in that delicate way when something precious is deflowered for the first time–

“Please…. show me what it’s like. I want to know.”

He swallowed hard. He’s never had Lohen like this before. Never. So… so– He can’t even think of the right word for it, just so bare, like all the armor has been stripped away.

“Then..”

With shaky hands, he delicately grabbed at Lohen’s hand, bringing the bare skin to his lips to kiss.

“...Allow me.”