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#tempus fugit ;; IC . LISA
lyric-abaddon · 9 months
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Hate me and Love me..
Ajax Abaddon and Diluc Ragnvindr
(Abaddon isn’t his REAL last name that’s just my headcanon-)
(This is NOT canon, and the characters belong to Genshin Impact!)
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The city of freedom, a peaceful place to most. Barbato’s wind blowing in your hair, causing you to shiver at the sudden breeze that passes through your body, feeling the windy element go up your spine and travel through your veins. Monstadt was much more peaceful at night, footsteps of knights and late night drunkards filling ears, lanterns brightening the streets of Monstadt, guiding you a path like way through the kingdom like town. Silence was filling the Anemo wind, faint music guiding it right to the palace of windy worship, Dvalin sighing to cast currents of breeze towards the place of magic and dances.
There was a ball in Monstadt, a Masquerade ball, the acting grandmaster inviting everyone in the small town to the worshiping palace, even sending invitations to other regions to join in on this traditional gathering, only happening when the moon glistened bright, Dvalin’s sigh coating it with the Anemo archon’s power, that even resonated on certain individuals blessed by his hurt. The ball would come at random. Sometimes weeks can pass by, and other times, once every few decades, some even being unlucky enough to never see it in their lifetime and remember its swirling effect it had on their soul. Without even knowing, Archon souls would join common folk, strangers, and even those with their blessing, their presence being a simple vision wielder, not as someone who is holding immense power from their chess piece of power; the Gnosis.
Glasses clinking with promises and toasts, faint music from famous music writers all around, and even crowds of people laughing and snickering, as one of the people they conversed with said something worth laughing at, so the whole crowd knew they were just as, if not more, funny than anybody else in this large castle.
A certain Pyro wielder stood in the corner of the room, wine glass in hand, no anemo blood in it, but instead fruit coating the dark violet liquid in his small wine glass. He stared into the crowd of people, watching people he knew very well and didn't know, having the time of their lives. Eyes lurking to the left, was Jean talking to Lisa about the future of Monstadt and hoping that the real well known grandmaster, Varka, shall return soon. His eyes began to glide to the other side, watching as Kaeya and Klee attempted to dance with each other, their height difference becoming the main problem, stumbling and tripping more than actually dancing. His eyes glided a little more to the left, watching as Amber and Noelle laughed as the Cavalry Captain struggle to dance with Alice’s daughter on the dance floor, a small smirk even forming on Diluc’s lips as he watched his brother struggled to keep up with the oh so energetic and explosive child. This masquerade was special in Monstadt, as each mask that was worn was representing something special to the one wearing it, vision wielders wearing their own personal constellations. Jean stood high and mighty, the queen of the jungle, a fierce lion in her blood, representing the star alignment of Leo Minor. She exploded with the fresh sensation of dandelion seeds, representing the windy element she received. The librarian standing next to her wearing an hour glass of Tempus Fugit, Shogun blood running through her fingertips with the shock of Inazuma. Klee’s was expected, her smaller mask representing a clover, or as read in books, it is also known as Trifolium, the Natlan archon pleasing her with the power to contribute to every bomb she makes with sparks of fire. Kaeya’s was a peacock, elegant and even an icy blue to match the ice in the tip of his fingertips, basking in the elegance that was the constellation of Pavo Ocellus. Amber’s was one of the more obvious stars, a bunny mask covering her features, Lepus representing her, as the explosion of Baron Bunny had also pleased the Natlan archon, blessing her with unlimited fire. Noelle was also one of the most obvious one’s, but her mask was a little harder to identify. It looked like a breastplate, matching her knightly personality perfectly. From his memory, it was called Parma Cordis, and she was given the blessing of Rex Lapis, an earthly shield to protect others being granted to her. Diluc resembled an Owl, and was the same bright red as every pyro user. He knew his own constellation by heart, and the name was Noctua. He was fortunately able to blend in with other Pyro users, the red matching the child that was with the cavalry captain, and the bunny girl with a Knight of Favonius in training. Something felt off to him though, as he looked around the big room in hopes of soothing the uncomfortable sensation in his chest. After a little while, he eventually saw a man, but thought nothing of it for now.
Diluc’s eyes began to wander again, feeling that small sensation of dread fill his fiery veins once more. Something to him wasn't right, and it all came back to the boy he saw earlier. Upon looking at the same place he was before, he was no longer found, as Diluc’s eyes began to dart back and forth, searching for him, eventually finding him in a new crowd of people, joking with some ladies from Liyue. Diluc examined him thoroughly.
He was a boy with a wine glass in his left hand, only half full from drinking some of it while talking to others. He had ocean blue eyes and fiery orange hair, his mask resembling a narwhal, glowing that bright ocean blue to resemble the Fontaine archon's blessing. The star alignment now makes sense, his representing the Monoceros Caeli. He looked…oddly familiar to the red haired man, something about him screaming suspicion and familiarity, but it just didn't click in his brain when he thought about it, minutes even passing by with his mind still becoming blank. Diluc continued to sip his drink slowly, watching the ginger haired boy intensely, trying to put his finger on why he looked so damn familiar to him and why he felt the feeling of suspicion deep in his flame-covered heart, until one thing clicked; the object hanging below his Snezhnayan vision. His vision was one of Hydro, and the object hanging below it was none other than a Fatui harbinger mask, smaller than a regular one, but still the same shade of red as before, details similar to paintings. Diluc’s eyes shot wide, attempting to not to panic at the realization he made. He attempted to take some deep breaths, calming down his racing heart, hearing the beat through his own ears. As calmly as he could, he set his drink down, beginning to adjust his mask with both hands, before walking over to the Snezhnayan boy before he moved again.
Walking slowly, he crept up behind him, before getting as close as a normal person would, and tapped him on the shoulder, interrupting his chatter with the ladies and gentlemen he was conversing with. He cleared his throat before beginning. “Excuse me,” Diluc had started, making sure to get the hydro wielder’s attention before continuing, “may I speak with you outside?” His tone was slightly cold, and he felt like he rushed or even slurred his words, but fortunately for him, it didn't raise any suspicion with the Snezhnayan boy. “Of course, lead the way.” The unknown man responded, apologizing to the crowd before stepping beside Diluc, and beginning to leave the cathedral together. Once they had exited the cathedral, they had begun walking a bit towards the covers around the Anemo Archon statue, a true symbol of Monstadt and its beliefs. While beginning to get closer to the covered parts, the Snezhnayan boy began to whistle a small tune, almost sounding like a nursery rhyme to any ear that heard it. Minutes of whistling and walking passed, reaching the covered area around the statue, as the orange-haired boy began to start a conversation with Diluc. “So..” He had begun, “why did you wanna-?” His mask was quickly lifted up, a tight grip forming around his shirt as he was dragged to the nearest wall and slammed against it, creating a loud noise.
*Slam*
“Gh!” The fatui boy yelped, life flashing before him before feeling the sudden pressure of the wall on his back, a sting of pain from the force beginning to crawl up his spine. It burned, his shoulder blades in pain and his heart racing from his feet no longer touching the ground. It felt like he had hit his head from the pressure to, but he couldn't even tell with his mind and heart racing. The hydro wielder wasn't scared of heights, but he sometimes couldn't help but get a bit nervous when he was in a situation like this. With the breeze knocked out of him, he had begun to pant while attempting to speak. “Y’know..*pant* I didn't take you as the *pant* assertive type..” He said, cockiness in his tone. He was quickly punched, before blood began to form around his mouth, his cheek bruising. Another punch, but this time to his other cheek, causing his head to slam hard against the wall, just enough pressure to scratch the very top of his head and open an old wound, blood pouring out.
Blood had begun to trickle down the harbinger’s head when the wound reopened, being able to only taste the cool iron liquid as it flowed into his mouth, his face like becoming a river when the head injury reopened, painting his face, while still panting, completely out of breath. The ginger couldn't help but smirk at the man holding his collar, staring into those fiery eyes as the flame was fed more fuel when his smirk appeared. Diluc’s eyes burned with hatred and anger, burning into the snezhnayan boy’s ocean eyes, almost like he had been hit with the fiery wrath of Diluc’s vision. The harbinger chuckled weakly, making the pyro users' eyes squint in anger, confused as to why, in a situation like this, he still was cocky as ever, even laughing at the man who was probably about to kill him then and there. The ginger raised one of his snow white hands, setting it onto the hand Diluc was using to hold him against the wall. The harbinger attempted to push his hand away, trying to be released so he was able to be set free. Diluc squinted his eyes, his other hand moving towards his suit pocket slowly, confusing the boy he was holding.
A small noise was heard before Tartaglia’s hand was shoved off, as a small dagger was put up to his throat, a warning. One wrong move and he was a dead man, and if his delusion didn't kill him sooner or later, then he was going to die in another region by someone who he thought was one of the knights. The harbinger laughed, mostly wheezing being heard, as he stared into those cold eyes, convincing him that he should have been blessed by the Tsaritsa instead. He had begun to speak, breathing still limited due to the small blade being held up to his throat. “Killing me will only..” Diluc slammed the harbinger against the wall once more, causing the orange-haired boy to groan in pain before he continued what he was saying just moments earlier, “..make things..*pant* things worse for..*pant* Monstadt..” Gritting his teeth, Diluc moved the small blade, causing it to be driven closer to the harbinger’s neck, said harbinger attempting to lean back as much as he could so his throat wasn't immediately sliced open when he moved his head even just a bit more forward.
“You have the nerve to bargain with me, even at a time like this? When I'm about to slice your throat open and kill you right here, right now, fatui scum” The knife inched closer once more, threatening to dig into the pale and freckled skin of the harbinger in Diluc’s grasp. The Snezhnayan boy spoke again, breathing more regulated than before, the panting coming to a stop. “I would take my offer if I were you, don't want the Tsaritsa coming after the city you try to protect every single night..Dark Knight Hero.”
Diluc’s eyes went wide at the words that slipped from the other man's mouth. How could he have known that about him? Diluc has never seen him in Monstadt before, and not even people like Jean knows who he is. The only person who knew about this identity was Kaeya, but even with all that hatred towards him because of the past, he still doubted he would give any information to a stranger, let alone one of the fatui harbingers. Diluc squinted his eyes more, angry, frustrated, and especially confused. He questioned the boy,”How do you know that name?” He growled out through gritted teeth, the harbinger’s words burning into the back of his mind like the way he burns the members of the Abyss. Another laugh, does he really think all of this is a game? “Answer me dammit!” Diluc shouted, raising his voice at the boy he was holding, deciding to no longer be quiet and try to be reasonable with him. Diluc was hoping to get even the slightest bit of fear out of the harbinger by raising his voice, unfortunately to no avail. The harbinger put one of his hands on the red haired man’s, specifically the one holding up the knife to his throat, threatening to plunge into his pale skin. Diluc’s heart sped up at the contact, anger building, but more or so confused as to why his body was reacting this way, especially to someone who associated with the thing he hated most.
The orange haired man cleared his throat, beginning to speak once more. “I’m not gonna do anything,” The paler man started, “Harbinger's word.” The freckled man looked Diluc dead in the eyes as he spoke, dull as the abyss, mysterious like the ocean. Those eyes stared into Diluc's, anger induced, lava filling them to the brim. They stared and stared, and after what felt like minutes, the harbinger was released, knife being pulled from his throat, being dropped shortly after. Diluc groaned, regretting listening to the harbingers' words, but he had to, he didn't want to put Monstadt in any more danger. Diluc put the small blade back into his pocket, keeping it close by, as he kept his left hand close to the pocket he had put it in. The ginger let out a groan as soon as he was dropped to the floor, leaning forward and coughing due to impact. The harbinger coughed up a bit of blood, painting some of the concrete tiles with it, and smearing the rest onto his suit, attempting to clean it up from his lips. The hydro wielder couldn't talk, he could barely catch his breath from all the coughing from being dropped so suddenly. With each passing minute, he tried his best to breathe, attempting to regulate it and get any more blood cleaned off from his face. After all, it was the harbingers suit, so it really wasn't his job to wash it later.
About 10 minutes pass before the harbinger is able to talk, Diluc staring at him from above, patiently waiting for him to either talk, or to force him to leave Monstadt so he wouldn't cause any more trouble. The harbinger slowly stood up, dusting himself off and wiping the trickled down blood away from his mouth for, hopefully the last time. As much as the harbinger was used to the taste of blood, it got sort of bland after a while. “Take your hand away from the knife,” the paler boy started, “I swore a harbinger oath to you.” The hydro wielder said, standing up slowly before making his way down to a nearby bench, his legs shaky and weak from being dropped suddenly. Diluc hesitated, before taking his hand away from the blade in his pocket, walking over and sitting a good distance away from the bloody and beaten harbinger. Diluc sighed, clearing his throat before beginning to speak to the man sitting only just a few feet away from him. “Who even are you?” Diluc asked bluntly, attempting not to make eye contact with the other boy by staring at the cold concrete tile that covered Monstadt. The blood covered man sighed before he spoke.
“I’m number eleven of the Fatui harbingers, Tartaglia, code name, Childe.” Diluc’s eyes went a bit wide, shock coating his facial features as he lost every train of thought in his mind. Did he actually give him a response? Let alone information about himself and his status? Diluc was conflicted, searching for anything in his mind to think of and say to the bloodied man next to him. He looked to the side, unsure of where else to look, tapping his fingers on the bench in hopes to break the silence and buy time while he thought of something to say to the harbinger. ‘He did introduce himself,’ Diluc thought to himself, biting his tongue on the next few words that came into his mind. Diluc sighed softly, taking in a big breath, and speaking the only thing that actually came to his mind in the moment. “Diluc, of Monstadt.” Tartaglia’s head shot up a little too quickly for Diluc’s liking, looking up at him, Tartaglia’s eyes meeting Diluc’s. The pyro wielder was able to look at the harbinger’s eyes much more clearly now, no longer in pain or with fear and hatred in his eyes. Diluc never noticed it, but the harbinger’s eyes told a story, not a pretty one, let alone a happy ending, but still a tale to be told for years. A story of abandonment and death, violence and blood coating his hands and corruption in his mind, reeking of the abyss. A part of the red haired man wanted to press forward and ask him why. Why his eyes were so dull like an unmoving river, why he chose to associate himself with some of the most horrible people in the world. Wait…why did he care? Tartaglia’s stay was only temporary, and then he was going back to Snezhnaya, simple and to the point, no further complications or complaints. Diluc was lost in thought, until a voice spoke. “Your turn.” Tartaglia spoke, looking down at his hands as he twiddled his thumbs, brushing over healed past scars. Were we just gonna exchange information like that? Was it really that simple? Almost killing somebody, making their face bloody and knocking their teeth out was a way of getting information out of people, even people like the fatui? Diluc hesitated, before asking another question to the harbinger next to him. “...what are you doing in Monstadt?”
Tartaglia processed Diluc’s words, before chuckling weakly. There was something about the harbinger’s laugh that struck him as the eerie type, but also as..confident, and of course, extremely cocky. “Your grandmaster, or should I say, acting grandmaster, sent an invite to her majesty, the Tsaritsa herself. But unfortunately she could not attend because of some business deals and Snezhnayan matters, so the Jester sent me to take her majesty’s place as the Snezhnaya representative.” So he was mostly innocent? Wait, he wasn't innocent at all, he was still apart of the fatui and probably had bad intentions or maybe even ulterior motives. Or maybe..he really was here as a representative for his homeland.
God dammit..
“Go back to the ball,” Diluc had started, looking up at the harbinger, making sure to keep eye contact to let him know he was serious and not joking around before he continued. “But try anything, and Snezhnaya will be obtaining a corpse soon.” He stared into those abyss-covered eyes, watching as a small shade of pink covered the paler man's face, noticing Tartaglia start to sweat from nervousness and embarrassment. “You got it..Diluc.”
The way Diluc’s name left the other man’s lips sparked something in the pyro wielders chest that had only been there a few other times in his life, but only right before it was immediately lost and filled with dread. “Although, the ball seems to be almost over, judging from most of the guests stepping out to leave and the decorations starting to be taken down. So, Diluc, to compensate me, you could..” The hydro wielder bows his head down a bit, reaching his left hand out to the man sitting in front of him, before finishing his sentence with a cocky grin, dull eyes lighting up even the smallest bit. “Let me have this dance with you?” Tartaglia looked at Diluc hopefully, mostly hoping that he wouldn't draw that small blade again, and that he would at least get a dance with the cold-hearted Diluc before he went back to the snowy mountains of Snezhnaya. Or worse, getting his throat slit by the tiny blade Diluc still had in his pocket. Yeah, Tartaglia didn't forget he had a dagger in his pocket. His eyes were closed in a cocky manner, mostly just bracing himself for impact, seeing as his eyes were closed shut a little harder than a normal man’s were, and especially since he expected a blade to be put to his throat again. Yeah, Tartaglia fully expected more blood, pain, hatred, and way more death once more. With hesitance, the red haired man put his right hand slowly onto the ginger’s, causing Tartaglia’s eyes to widen a bit from shock, but still smile a bit as well.
“Try anything, and you’re dead Snezhnaya meat, got it?” Tartaglia gulped softly, nodding quickly, knowing his demise if he did try anything to harm the man in front of him. Hydro enclosed Pyro's hand, Tartaglia’s other hand going to his waist, and Diluc’s on the paler man’s shoulder, slowly starting to move in sync. Diluc was ashamed to admit he was a bit rusty when it came to ball dancing. Avoiding the ball for these past few years had made him completely rusty to the dance style entirely, but in Diluc’s eyes, the harbinger was a natural, he could even be considered as a professional with how smoothly he moved. Tartaglia even corrected Diluc’s mistakes and improvised so Diluc wouldn't hurt himself. The harbinger couldn't help but faintly smile, adoring the sight in front of him as they danced , basking in the moonlit area. The red haired man felt his face heat up suddenly, cheeks matching his hair as he danced, trying to not meet his abyssal eyes, trying not to stumble and potentially bring down Tartaglia with him if he did fall. They danced and danced like they weren't out in the middle of Monstadt, as water met fire in a peaceful way, vaporizing, as two opposing elements met, dancing as a truce.
It was peaceful, and Diluc enjoyed the peace for once in his life. Diluc smiled faintly, attempting to follow the harbingers' smooth movements, trying to get accommodated with this type of dance again. Water and Fire danced and danced for what seemed like hours, basking in Barbato’s wind and soul,as they moved quicker and quicker when Diluc finally got the hang of it. Tartaglia eventually moved, so his head was on the pyro wielder’s shoulder, but making sure it was slow and not too sudden, since he didn't want another blade on his throat again. Diluc felt his face heat up once more, facial flames almost burning the harbinger like a piece of Natlan. Tartaglia mumbled out a soft, but quick ‘sorry,’ before Tartaglia dipped the red haired man down in a traditional ballroom dance dip, making sure to not put Diluc’s head too close to the ground, not wanting to hurt him. Tartaglia’s eyes closed, smiling wide at the man beneath him, orange hair falling forward, messing up the slicked back style he had entered in with. Diluc couldn’t help but smile back, joining him as they smiled at each other, small laughs even escaping the two of them as they sat there, attempting to keep balance to not hurt the other and fall over. Minutes passed before Tartaglia lifted Diluc back up, trying his best not to drop the older man he was holding. Diluc attempted to regain his balance, eventually sitting down on a nearby bench, Tartaglia eventually joining him, sitting down next to Diluc, a lot closer then he was before.There was no talking between the two, just basking in the silence and the breezes that blew by every so often. The silence was loud to both of them, neither knowing what to do or say in the moment of awkwardness. Tartaglia was relieved when Diluc had started to talk and disrupt the over so dreadful silence. Diluc reached out to the harbinger’s hand, Tartaglia’s small finger slowly being intertwined with Diluc’s. There was a pink tint to the ginger’s cheeks, laughing sheepishly at the small gesture. All Diluc did was smile, basking in the side, the newer side, of the harbinger he hadn't seen all night. The side that, once the cocky exterior was broken, was a broken man himself, who was longing for the love he never got as a child.
The two men both enjoyed the temporary silence once more, before Diluc broke it once more, words being spoken this time instead of action.
“You know..” Diluc had started, a small blush creeping up onto his face as he spoke. “As much as I hate to admit it, regarding how much I hate the fatui, you're not so bad yourself Tartaglia” Tartaglia’s eyes went wide, blushing himself to match the man next to him, before gently smiling, saying one small phrase in return to what Diluc had said.“So..you hate that you love me?” Tartaglia chuckled, Diluc lightly laughing as well at his small joke in return before answering him. “Guess that's one way to put it..” Diluc responded, before slowly getting up and moving closer, sitting right next to the orange haired man, leaning his head against the taller man's shoulder. Their smallest fingers slipping away for only a moment, before intertwining once more, not just a finger, but as a full hand. They never wanted to separate, even if their life depended on it, as Diluc felt the coldness of Tartaglia’s hydro hands, and the way Tartaglia felt the heat and warmth of Diluc’s fiery palms. Diluc would never admit it, but there were three things he learned from the night of the most recent anemo ball;
the eleventh harbinger was a pretty good dancer and Diluc needed to definitely practice with him more
Diluc needed to patch up the hydro wielder next to him
and..
He definitely needed to visit Snezhnaya a lot more often..
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