Work Text:
After everything that happened in Inazuma, Kazuha thought he would never actually see the Fatui in person once everything settled down. Once Inazuma fell back into peace and Kazuha returned to Liyue. Reunited with his mate and settled back into his new normal life. Between the Crux and Wangshu Inn. It felt like his life had started to fall into a state of normalcy. His heart finally having time to settle.
Until now.
“Don’t let him get away!”
Shoes crunched through grass. Heavy footsteps thundered after him. Gunshots rang out. While Kazuha ducked and weaved. Sword drawn and each elemental blast deflected. Exploded into sparks through the bamboo forest around him. Heart racing.
Why were they after him? What had he done to be dropped onto the Fatui’s hit list? He had never ran into them before. Let alone knew of their plans. He had just gone out for some sight seeing in Liyue.
A new batch of scents caught his attention. Eyes widened as he turned and headed deeper into the bamboo forest. Fingers tightened around his sword.
He had to call for his mate. As badly as he wanted his Alpha to rest, he couldn’t handle this alone. Not with this many enemies.
“Xia-!”
“Freeze!”
Every muscle in his body locked up in an instant. A cry of pain escaped his lips as his bond strained against the Alpha command. Body trying to fight it, knowing it wasn’t his Alpha’s voice, but his instincts submitted as his knees gave out from under him. Pain rang through his nerves as he curled up in the grass. Heavily panting and shaking. Sword feet from him and steps crunched through the grass toward him.
“X-Xi-”
A foot slammed into his head. Dug his face into the dirt and a distorted growl reached him.
“Shut up.”
The pain got worse. His body trying to fight the command. Trying to free him from the clutches of the order, but his bond couldn't save him. Instead it buckled under the weight. Made him submit as the agony swept over him in waves. Unable to move as the boot slid off his head and red eyes gleamed down at him. Framed by black hair. An unfamiliar face and a mechanism over the lower half of his face.
Fingers reached up to pull the device off his face and smirk.
“Good little bitch.” The man knelt down. The Fatui emblem flashing in the little light in the forest. “Looks like the damn doctors contraptions work after all. Even mated Omegas can still be ordered to submit.”
He stood. Kazuha shaking against the grass as he tried to move. Tried to speak. Tried to do anything, but remained frozen in place. Panic setting in as the Fatui agent turned to the soldiers. The pain yet to wash out of his system. Still revenging his body.
“Tie him up and get ready to move. Lord Balladeer isn’t going to wait much longer.”
The soldiers stepped toward him. Fear spiking as his instincts flared. Scared to be separated from his mate against his will yet again. Just as his vision flashed and a gale erupted. Screams of pain filled the air as soldiers tried to retreat and the agent glared at him. Red eyes transitioned to blue and purple as fingers reached for the device he used earlier.
“Submit…”
His vision cut off with the order. The wind stopped in an instant and Kazuha lay limp. Red eyes gazed off. Brain shut down. While the soldiers hesitantly looked around wearily.
“Let’s move…”
The agent started walking away. The soldiers carefully approached him and his limp body lifted off the ground.
Why? Why did they want him? What had he done? Wh-why use such a horrible device on him? It hurt. Everything hurt. Where was his mate? Why couldn’t he fight the orders? Why wouldn’t the pain stop?
Rope dug into his wrists. A soldier tied them tightly together, before he thrown over their shoulder. His sword left in the grass as they murmured to one another. One soldier hit him across the face.
“Bitch.”
Tears welled up in his eyes. Unable to move. Before fire suddenly erupted off the soldier and he screamed. The others scrambled away.
“I told you idiots! Don’t touch the cargo!” The agent yelled. His eyes red again. “If that pervert yells at me because you idiots damaged him it’ll be your heads!”
The burning soldier crumpled to the ground. Dead. While the agent scoffed and headed down the path.
“Let’s move. NOW!”
The soldiers fell in line. Back to a cart and Kazuha was thrown in the back of it. The agent seated across from him and they took off down the path. Red eyes glared at him.
“All this trouble for one vision barer who ruined our plans…” The man scoffed. “If it weren’t for you challenging the Shogun and blocking her sword, the fighting could still be distracting everyone from my lord’s whereabouts.”
Kazuha shakily breathed. The only noise he could make between the Alpha commands, the pain, and the panic. Tears soaked his face. While the man scoffed.
“So much work for one huma-”
A scream echoed. Red eyes darted to the noise. A spell book ripped from their waist and pages torn from it. While the sounds of fighting echoed. The agent cursed and glared at him.
“You called him!?”
The pages caught fire. Balls of flame shot toward a target Kazuha couldn’t see. While the agent growled.
“This is pointless.”
The man stood. Book placed back into its holder and the agent disappeared over the edge of the cart. Leaving Kazuha to lay there as the carnage continued. Soldiers begged for their lives. Blood splattered across the floor, before shoes hit the cart and his heart stuttered in fear. His scent panicked.
“Kazuha, it’s okay.”
He wanted to sob the moment Xiao’s voice and scent reached him. Fresh tears spilled down his cheeks as the ropes around his wrists were cut. Soft hushes reached his ears, while Xiao carefully lifted him into his arms. Concern on his face.
“Kazuha?”
His Alpha’s brow furrowed when he couldn’t respond. Fingers tightened around him as he stood.
“Hold on, Kazu. It’ll be okay.”
Xiao teleported them in an instant. Right to the entrance to his hidden Adeptal Abode.
Its gate opened the moment they appeared and Xiao stepped across the threshold. The sigils woven into its protective barrier tearing away the Alpha commands as Kazuha suddenly sobbed. Feeling sparking across his body as Xiao cursed and nearly dropped him when he flailed.
“Kazuha, it’s okay.”
Xiao knelt down. Set the Omega in his lap and pulled him close. Buried his face into the samurai’s neck and purred. Trying to calm him down as he shook. Clutching onto the Adeptus and sobbing. The pain finally started to fade. Leaving him sore and scared.
“You’re okay.” Xiao reassured him. The doors to the abode closed behind him. “We’re back home. You’re safe, Kazu.”
“A-Alatus…”
Xiao gently hushed him. Standing with Kazuha in his arms and headed further into the abode. Down the stone path and through the vibrant garden. Hidden away into a small forest. A few animals peaked their heads out. While Xiao approached their nest.
Tucked away under a canopy of trees. A small pond settled in front of a large, flat stone. Its surface carved into and dipped down into a large divot. Blankets and pillows stuffed into the space as Xiao kicked off his own shoes and stepped down into the nest.
“Easy.”
Xiao laid them down. Kazuha pulled close and the Yaksha’s scent filled the air. Hands gently rubbed his back as he sobbed.
“You’re safe. They can’t hurt you.” Xiao gently spoke. “No one can Alpha command you now.”
“H-How?” Kazuha demanded through a sniffle as he hugged Xiao. “It h-hurt so bad. I c-couldn't move. H-how?”
Bare fingers brushed through his hair. Rubbed behind his ears and Xiao purred for him.
“Back during the archon war, the gods found ways to make Omegas bend under their will. Even if they were mated.” Xiao explained. “It became forbidden to perform such spells shortly after Morax’s own mate was used against him. He sunk an entire mountain into the depth of the ocean to retrieve her. Killer tens of thousands of gods and humans alike.
I wasn’t surprised that the Fatui found a way to replicate the same effects. I’ll be sure to destroy the device if I ever see it so they can’t do this again.”
Kazuha curled up against the Alpha. Gently shaking as he sniffled. Fingers wiped at his face. While Xiao kissed his forehead.
“Your abode….” Red eyes looked up to meet gold. An eyebrow raised. “It canceled the Alpha commands. Why-?”
“Because this is a safe place for you, just as it is for me.” Xiao explained as bare fingers cupped his cheeks. “I asked Madam Ping to help me update the protection sigils so you’d be safe here. In case anyone ordered you to take them to me, the moment you walked in you’d be free of any commands they gave you.”
“How long have they been there?”
“Since before we mated.” Kazuha stared up at the man in surprise, while Xiao glanced away. A clear sign he was embarrassed. “You spoke little about what happened after you lost your last mate and the soldiers who came after you. I figured you had your fair share of Alphas trying to use commands to make you surrender to Inazuma’s army. So I decided it was safer if you were protected here. Even from me in the case you didn’t want to mate again.”
Kazuha shakily exhaled. Fingers grabbed the man’s face and turned his head back. Their lips brushed together and Xiao met his kiss.
“Th-thank you.” Kazuha whispered. Voice wobbly as Xiao pulled him close. Smothering him in a hug. “But your Alpha commands-”
Finger brushed against his broken mating gland. Made him shiver and hold tighter to the Adeptus.
“We’re mates. Our circumstances are different from the sigils I put up. I can still give commands if they’re needed, but-”
“You don’t want to. Not unless you have to. I know.” Kazuha whispered. “I know how uncomfortable it makes you.”
Xiao hummed. Fingers gently rubbed Kazuha’s back and he finally purred. Head tucked under the Adeptus’ chin and curled up. A soft blanket draped over him as he shifted.
“My shoes and clothes-”
“We can worry about it later.” Xiao brushed off. Arms pulled him closer. “You need some sleep and my presence. I can talk to everyone later as to why they left you unaccompanied.”
“You mean a cuddle and a nap. And you want to yell at everyone.” Kazuha gently joked, while Xiao huffed.
“You shouldn’t have been left unattended. You’re mated to an Adeptus. It’s dangerous.”
“If it wasn’t for the device, I might’ve been fine, Alatus.”
“You’d be hurt. I don’t call that fine.” Xiao argued. “You would’ve had to fight and they would’ve done whatever they could to take you. You’d be severely wounded, Kazuha. That’s not okay. You-”
The Omega leaned up and kissed his mate. A heavy breath brushed against his cheeks, before Xiao relaxed. Pulled him closer and purred.
“I’m not fragile, Alatus. I would’ve been okay. We train everyday together. I have the best Alpha making sure I’m safe.”
Xiao sighed. His anger evaporated. While he buried his nose into Kazuha’s hair.
“Next time I’ll arrive sooner. I shouldn’t have been aslee-”
“I’ll be fine. I have you to protect me.” Kazuha reassured. “You promised me I’m safe here and I know I am.”
Fingers gently pulled out the tie in Kazuha’s hair and lips pressed against his forehead.
“Sleep. We can have dinner at Third Round Knockout when you wake.”
“I’d really like that.” Kazuha purred as he curled up against the man. “And desert?”
“And desert.”
Kazuha gradually fell asleep in the arms of his Alpha. Bare fingers gently stroking his hair and Xiao relaxing when his mate fell prey to his dreams.
“That Captain of yours has a lot of questions to answer later…along with the crew.”