Chapter Text
Collei loves children. She loves playing with them, telling them stories about the Rainforest and reading them the childrens books from Mondstadt that where her own first books. On the days her Eleazar flare-up and she wasn’t allowed to go on her patrols she often set down on the shore of the nearby creek, watching over the children playing in the water and running around. She still saw the protecting and caring of that lost girl as the reason why she got her vision in the first place. So, she wasn’t surprised when her Papa and Dad during dinner once said “You would be a wonderful big sister.” “You mean she would be a PEARfect big sister.” “Cyno please, I was serious.” “When you were serious, who are you now?”
She wasn’t really thinking about the meaning of this conversation, since it wasn’t uncommon for her Master to have his thoughts on his tongue in a save environment. But a few days later, in one of her books on evolution she stumbled about something interesting. It was about endangered species. It said that before dying out, the species almost every time consisted out of more female than male animals. And in the end are the last to die the females. That often ends in half breeds and hybrids that carry on a few trades of the extinct race. When she read the chapter, she couldn’t but remember that statement from that evening. She didn’t know why, but it wouldn’t leave her mind. A few weeks after that, she heard her fathers talking in the laboratory. She couldn’t understand everything they said but it was something about ‘heat’, ‘chance’, ‘love’ and in the end ‘family’.
The week after that, her fathers left for some sort of investigation. They said that they will be really deep into the woods and that she shouldn’t worry about them. Well, she did worry about them, how could she not? But, she was busy with all her own assignments and the tasks she took over while her Papa was away. Once they came back one and a half weeks later, she was really happy to see them but was also pretty exhausted. Her Dad had a smile on his face he only reserved for them.
“Everything was alright while we were away I hope.” Her Papa said while hugging her. She was really happy she could hug them. When she just got into the care of them, she couldn’t even think of touching someone or someone touching her. Over the years, she learned to love the touch of her parents, or holding and comforting hurt and ill children. After some time, she realised that she was worthy of the love she felt when she was with them.
“Everything is good! We even solved a conflict between a few researchers!” “That’s good to hear. I expected nothing else.” After they parted, her dad patted her head. “Good job.” She smiled and hugged him. “Was everything alright with your investigation?” “Nothing out of the ordinary. Tighnari was a big help, just as ever.” Answered her Dad with a small smile. “You must be pretty exhausted. Have a nap. We will make lunch and wake you up when its ready. I guess the reports I need to edit are on my desk?” She nodded. “Yes. I tried my best but you still need to look over them. Thank you!” With that, she goes to her room.
All of them had a good lunch, with words of love and laughter. Cyno however got a few death stares and made heads shake as he was telling his ‘Jokes’. Ever since Cyno and Tighnari officially adopted Collei he will call his Jokes ‘Dad Jokes’ and Alhaitham would be often be seen starring with a blank face while talking to the General Mahamatra. Alhaitham became something of the unofficial god parent of Collei, while he often seems not to care about other people he would ask about her and sometimes give little somethings to support her learning journey. Most of the educational books on her shelf where gifted by him.
Collei had no idea why he supported her like that- maybe because of his on/off boyfriend Kaveh would sometimes come over for dinner and told him about her struggles and took pity in her, but who knows? On the other side of her shelf where the Light Novels she fell in love with. They were mostly gifts from Cyno, who gifted her those even before the adoption when he visited them, often after big missions. She would get books, while Tighnari would get jewellery (and complain about it “Where should I put it? It would get in the way!” despite those statements he would find a way to wear it) they would often have a few days together before Cyno would go back to Sumeru City. Those days were the reasons why Collei started to feel comfortable with him. He was a completely other person while he was with them. After a while, she realised the love between Cyno and her Master. Whenever they would talk or do something together the feeling of ‘save’, ‘home’ and ‘love’ would fill the walls and air around them.
When her Dad became her Dad the dynamic between all of them changed. In the nights he would go back to the City she would often wake up to her door silently closing. Despite the worry she would feel about him leaving, she knows how strong he is and she also knows how much he loves them.
A few days after they came back, Cyno needed to return to the Academia. He promised not to be away for longer than a week, kissing his husband and patting Collei on the head. Later that day, she found her Papa after her patrol in the Laboratory. “Oh, are we having a patient? One of the researchers we lectured?” “No, no one is sick. At least as far as I know.” “What medicine are you making then? Or is it from one of your new theses?” “None of that either. It’s for… preparations. Something will come, and its big. I just want to be prepared.” “Understood! For what is it? Can I help? What is in it?” “It’s mostly for … vomiting and other stomach issues. Here, I show you how I do it. Just be attentive…”