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“It’s rather nostalgic, don’t you think?” Yae Miko asks Raiden Ei with a hint of tease and excitement in her voice as she kneels beside the bedridden archon. She doesn’t let Ei respond to her question, “The kitsune shrine maiden, who’s hospitable and doting as she is breathtaking and knowledgeable, tending to the wounds of her favorite little shadow; stubborn and impulsive as ever.” She begins examining her favorite little shadow’s injuries like it’s second nature. “Yet I’m curious, Ei,” she adds, “why is the automaton you inhabit capable of suffering so much. How did you even manage that?”
Ei knows better than to try to get a word until Miko is done speaking. Not only does she enjoy hearing the soothing, if criticizing, voice of her familiar, but she knows she has a tendency to speak aloud for long periods of time when Ei is in need of her. Strangely, the Guuji gets rather excited when she gets an opportunity to take care of her god. Also Ei can’t refute Miko’s first question, it is very nostalgic for her as well. A spark of yearning excitement begins to shine in her as well.
After waiting for a few moments for her turn, Ei speaks up, “Miko, I would love nothing more than to take the next couple days to explain to you the realistic intricacies of this body and more, but um,” Ei pauses and winces at a sharp pain in her chest. She continues, voice sounding more pained than before, “But, I think a few of my ribs are broken.”
Miko sighs at her pitiful god and a raging fury begins building in her chest at the thought of someone hurting her archon. How dare they! Thankfully a reassuring, but bloody, hand caresses her thigh and it soothes her rage for now. Knowing Ei, whatever did this to her is probably nothing but electro infused ash at this point. For now she’ll have Ei spare the details for both of their sakes.
“…Among other things as well,” the Guuji tacks on, the mirth faltering in her voice. She gives herself a second to regain her composure, and once it’s back Miko takes charge, “As much as I’ll miss hearing your heavenly voice serenade my ears, we’ll try to keep your talking to a bare minimum. Lucky for you that the only one who can read is the one taking care of you.” Miko winks. “Now am I assuming I tend to you the same exact way I used to?”
A weak nod is the only response the familiar receives. However, this is more than enough to make her clasp her hands in excitement, “Wonderful! Wait here while I fetch supplies. I’ll try not to be away for too long now.” Before Miko stands up she leans over the futon Ei writhes on and kisses her forehead as gently as possible. Ei simply gives her a weak thumbs up, it’s the best she can do right now.
About two hours pass until Miko finally returns with two shrine maidens. Not only does it look like they just robbed a hospital, but a candy store as well. As the three of them haul their items closer to Ei, she notices that Miko is only carrying two drinks and nothing more.
“That is all I needed from you two, thank you for the much needed assistance. Now, begone and remember not to mention a word of this to anyone…or else,” Miko shoos them away with barely any genuine gratitude. The exhausted shrine maidens bow deeply in silence and quickly scuttle out of the room in a slight panic. As if they never existed, Miko focuses her full attention back to Ei, who’s now clearly looking lost, “Sorry for how long it took, I might have gotten carried away, but you’re already well aware that when it’s your health on the line only the best will do, Ei.”
Ei’s confused eyebrow rests back to its neutral position after that entire ordeal when Miko’s beautiful face graces her with a comforting smile. “So,” Ei rasps quietly, “...What are those?”
Miko taps her index fingers against her lips, urging Ei to stop talking, ”Shhh.” Miko takes a second to put the drinks down and pat the top of Ei’s head. “I wanted to give you a treat for being so courageous and strong, hehehe. The troubling thing was that I wasn’t too sure if I should get you dango milk, since you seem to adore it so much, or if the medicinal aspects of the rainbow aster would be more preferable. So! Being the quick, decisive thinker that I am, I got you both! Truly the most selfless soul in your life, that familiar of yours.”
All the Shogun can do is laugh in response, however the laughing quickly turns painful, causing Ei to slump further into her futon. She grumbles to herself at her own patheticness, but Miko is having none of that, “Easy does it now, Ei, there’s no need to get frustrated. After all, even the strongest of gods aren’t immune to injury, even if you’re stronger than any of them, you’re still included.” Miko gently strokes Ei’s cheek hoping her bountiful love alone would aid. Since her god is so enamored by her, it does, but not quite enough for Miko’s liking. “I brought a few things to reduce the pain. Remember ‘Pretty Please Kitsune Guuji’? Of course you do! Pick a drink for me, pretty please~” The kitsune gives the archon a devilish smile, and her archon shamelessly blushes.
Miko dangles one drink over Ei, and the other. She repeats this process until Ei makes her mind up. Surprisingly, she chooses the rainbow aster, how responsible. The ever caring Guuji digs out a small satchel with pills inside, and with practiced ease, she deposits the medicine and the drink down her god’s mouth. Ei complies to all of this without any struggle or resistance, after all, she’s just as familiar with it by now as Miko is.
“Good girl!” the kitsune praises in a teasing manner. Ei’s surprised reaction does not escape her eyes, and she takes a mental note about it. Rummaging through her supplies some more, Miko brings to attention a few more items: a pair of scissors, clean rags, bandages, water, herbs, and some kind of ointment.
They have done this dance many, many times in the past. By this point, the two of them are no strangers when it comes to anything they do together, and tending wounds is no outlier. Ei complains and self deprecates herself, Miko soothes her worries with love and attention every time, Ei begins to relax, and Miko skillfully gets to work with caution. Using the scissors, she removes the battered warrior’s clothing, then she cleans and disinfects the wounds, applies soothing ointment as necessary, and bandages the girl up. She concludes their dance with a kiss on the forehead and some treats, since Ei is being so “courageous and strong” right now. The only thing that’s different this time is the fact Miko can’t be petty and put the blame on Makoto. This time she’ll just have to blame Ei’s attackers. Judging by all the amount of oil she cleaned off the archon, she assumes a large army of ruin monsters foolishly assaulted her.
Hours pass and it’s long into the night by now. Ei is asleep and Miko is still by her side reading. She sets the book aside when she sees the archon mumbling and tossing in her sleep. A nightmare? Miko shuffles closer to Ei and gently tries to wake her up, “Ei…Eeeeeiii? Teyvat to Ei?” Words aren’t doing it, so, while being mindful of the injuries, Miko slowly moves and cradles Ei’s head in her lap. While massaging her scalp as she waits, Ei’s eyes burst open and tears tremble from them. Soon those piercing eyes dart around wildly to study the room.
“Ei, you’re safe now. You’re awake, in my arms, and forever protected from that nasty dream.” Miko soothes
The poor woman’s panic dissipates quickly when she sees and hears the kitsune. She gasps, “Miko? I-...the night- you?” Ei struggles to get the right words to her mouth, so she pauses to catch her breath. Miko gives her all the time she needs, all she does is hold the god closer and continues to pet her hair. Finally, “Miko…my apologies, it appears I had a dream…”
That part was obvious, the familiar stifles a giggle successfully, “Don’t apologize, you have done no wrong. Why, even someone like me is guilty of dreaming. How are you though? If you’re comfortable, do you wish to talk about it, my dear.”
Ei sighs, “Still in pain, but better. Strong enough to talk. And you, Miko? You certainly must be exhausted by now.”
“Exhaustion fears me too much to get close to me, especially when you’re in need of me. Now, let me ask once more, how are you feeling?”
“What? …Oh. I understand. I feel…” The Shogun pauses to figure out the right words to say, “Scared? You mentioned earlier today that this was nostalgic. Well I agree. But the nostalgia reminded me not just of how you always got excited when I let you take care of me…but it also reminds me of the fights that led me to your astute care. The pain they brought. The dread that infected me when I started to believe a battle might be my very last. Despite how perfect you are… at closing my wounds, the ones from long ago somehow always reopen in a way that cannot be seen. And knowing that, it scares me. I suppose, I’m just afraid to face them again.”
By now, Ei’s chest grows a dull ache, but it doesn’t stop her, she’s too determined to explain everything. In a concerned whisper, Miko responds, “Oh my precious Ei, you poor god of mine. If I could take you away from this awful world of strife and death, clutch you between my arms, and protect you from all the senseless violence that you’ve been forced to face, we would be far, far away from Teyvat by now.” Miko takes a moment to adjust herself onto the futon. She lies on her side and pulls Ei into her protective embrace. “Fate has been so unfairly cruel to such a gentle, loving soul. The fear you feel isn’t wrong nor surprising. Scars embed onto the mind with much more ease than they do on the skin.”
Ei struggles to roll over on her other side so she can face Miko, but when she manages it, she stares at her with widened eyes. They’re wet but only because of all the love in them, not the pain. Ei is right, she’s perfect in every way. She murmurs so softly, “If I could only be better with words right now, I would be able to thank you until the sun rises. Until the sun sets for the very last time.” Ei closes her eyes and leans her face against Miko’s. Their foreheads rest against each other for only a few seconds before Ei realizes there’s one way she can thank Miko that would even be better than an eternity of vocalized thank you's. It would be the best way to thank her. She tilts her head and kisses Miko. Both pairs of lips are glued to each other for a good while until Ei removes her by a small margin and smiles. Miko smiles back.
“I must never forget how all the injuries and fears I face will always pale in comparison to the love you graciously give to me.”
“Worry not, if you do end up forgetting, I’ll remind you the instant you do. Now if only you truly knew how much I love you!” Miko giggles, blush now adorning her face.
“While I’m certain it’s an extraordinary amount, it falls short to my love for you, Miko!”
“Hmm, quite the bizarre way to confess your love to me, I will be honest, but I’ll gladly accept it. Now concede before the ‘I love you more’ war we’re about to have actually begins, and rest. You’re not the only one who needs her beauty sleep too you know.”
It doesn’t take long for the both of them to fall asleep. It seems exhaustion fears no teasing kitsunes tonight. The healing archon falls back asleep quickly as well, her lover’s arms prove to make her feel safer than any blanket could do.