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The ever victorious pointy-eared-general.
The first time Lumine heard about the resistance general capitan, she thought the guy couldn’t be capable of leading a whole army by himself, let alone being able to get some respect from a whole crew. But she was, in a kind way to say it, very wrong about it.
General Gorou was, indeed, a cute puppy to her eyes - not that she would say it out loud -, but he had the guts to make an army of strong soldiers bound to his words and follow his lead like no one else could. And that included herself.
Not that it was easy at first. It wasn’t. Lumine was a traveler, after all. A traveler from another world. Being an outsider to Inazuma was already hard enough. Being an outsider from Teyvat itself? Getting anyone to trust her was even harder and the fact that she fought alongside the resistance made her enter the first place on Shogun’s Raiden blacklist.
But that was a long time ago. Lumine was now a different person. A whole new one after everything she’d been through. From fighting archons and discovering that she was the legitimate heiress of the crown of a long-lost kingdom, she was now tired and looking for some kind of comfort that she knew better than to expect.
Lumine missed the friends she made along the way while traveling around looking for Aether. She missed the cool breeze of Mondstadt and her meals with Bennett and Razor. The “Osmanthus wine that didn’t taste the same” with Zhongli, the night talks with Kazuha along with Beidou on the Crux ship. She even missed the spares with Ajax - who managed to get a place inside her heart after she understood everything he had been through.
But the thing she missed the most was Gorou’s expressive ears and fluffy tail. And that was the main reason she decided to take a break from her rest with Tubby at the Serenitea Pot totravel her way back to Inazuma only to be held by the arms of the ever victorious General Gorou and finally feel a little comfort.
Even though there was a little voice inside her head that screamed that her friendship with Gorou was long lost, she still made her way to the beautiful Watatsumi Island, making a quick stop at Kokomi’s hidden place. And found herself relieved when she saw the pink-haired sorceress curved against her table reading some art-of-war book.
“Kokomi, may I come in?” Lumine questioned, stopping alongside the entrance of the doorless cave and calling for her excellency's attention. Kokomi just closed her book, marking the page before turning her attention to her comrade. Her eyes were shining with something that the traveler wasn’t capable of reading properly.
“Lumine? By the archons! I thought you were dead”, Kokomi stood up, making her way until she was standing in front of the traveler. “It’s so nice to see you again, please give me a hug and come inside.”
Her voice was calm, but her eyes delivered the excitement that her voice lacked. Lumine surrounded Kokomi’s body with her arms in a caring hug. The smell of salty water and Sakura flowers invading her senses as an old friend.
“I'm tough to kill, but they've tried a lot,” she laughed shortly, petting Kokomi's soft hair before letting her go. “I've missed you.”
“We've missed you too, some of us more than others, if you allow me to say. We’ve mourned your death, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard from you. We heard about what happened in Snezhnaya and, after you didn’t communicate with us, we assumed the worst.” Sangomiya explained.
“We have a lot to catch up on, then,” Lotte laughed, walking toward the inside of the cave to sit in front of the sorceress. “After Snezhnaya, I discovered a lot of things. They weren’t pleasant and I had to take a not-so-short trip to Celestia. After the war was finally over, I took a retirement trip inside the Serenitea Pot. I’m sorry I didn’t communicate, I needed some time to process everything that happened. I was far from my best shape, Zhongli and Venti were the only ones entering because Tubby refused to let me take care of myself. She contacted Madame Ping and she made them come. I never knew Venti could be so creative with his lyrics until he spent a lot of time singing healing songs, while Zhongli helped me out with Dr. Baizhu’s medicine.”
“But are you better now?” Kokomi’s face was filled with worry.
“I regained my energy points, if that’s what you want to know.” Lumine smiled. “But how about you?”
‘’Oh, things have been quite calm these past few months. After the Kujou Commission head was replaced by Kujou Sara, we’ve managed to find a place in common we would both agree on.’’
‘’That is great, Kokomi!’’ Lumine let the excitement she’d been keeping to herself reach the surface. “And the resistance?”
“We had some people stepping out, but we are now in a time of peace. Of course, we kept training some internal commissions, but the resistance is now far away from something that is deeply necessary at this moment. Besides, Kujou Sara has been more than helpful lately.” Lumine could see Kokomi’s cheeks flush with the observation and she couldn’t help but smile a bit.
“You have a crush.” the traveler stated, staring at Kokomi’s expressive eyes. “And I’m guessing it’s mutual, since you’re so talkative about it.”
“I…” the sorceress blushed. “We have a lot in common.”
“Of course you do. You are both badass women with some massive talent for war strategy, I’m impressed it took you so long to realize it.”
“And how about that little heart of yours? Anyone that captured it during your travels?” Lumine’s heart skipped a beat and suddenly shiba inu pointy ears, fluffy tail and blue eyes took a whole place inside her brain. She felt her face getting hot and she knew by the smile on Kokomi’s face that she was as blushed as the sorceress minutes ago.
“I was in war and then I was being patched inside a magic teapot, being in love was the last thing in my mind back then.”
“Your face says otherwise. Who is it? Is it the fatui boy?” the pink-haired girl curled up a little, resting her face on the top of her hands to stare at Lotte.
“Who? Ajax?” she laughed with the thought of it. “No, he’s like a brother to me. I met his family back in Snezhnaya. I already knew Teucer, but Tonia and Anthon were just as kind. We went ice fishing together, too. Besides, he’s into battle more than anything else. I doubt he would be able to be with someone who wasn’t as thirsty for it as he is.”
“Says the girl who fought the archons”
“I am a pacifist, I just did what I had to do.” she shrugged.
“Well, then I must say I know someone whose focus has been on battle for a while too. And he also happened to “not have time for heart matters” since then.” a sly smile took over the sorceress' mouth.
“Have you been hanging out with Yae Miko while I was away? You were sweeter the last time I came to Watatsumi. Now you’re looking as terrifying as her.”
“I’ve managed to get into her graces after a while thanks to Sara.”
“I’m going to have a little private chat with her when the time comes.” Lotte laughed.
“You’re dodging the question, so I’ll assume I’m right about a certain general.”
“I’m not saying anything, you are. But how is he?”
“Gorou is fine as you can be after his best friend was declared deceased in battle. He hasn't been the same since then. You know, he never had a lot of friends. Kazuha was banned and became a wanderer. Thoma lives far away, I’m his superior more than his friend. And then you came and he was all happy and talkative about you.” Lotte felt the guilt weight over her chest. “He will be very glad to see that you’re here. But what I want to know is why you came to me first.”
“I…” Lotte stopped for a while. “I wanted to ask you something first. As you are the commander of the Watatsumi island, I thought I needed an official talk before anything.”
“You came to me to ask if you can stay.” It wasn’t a question, Lumine knew.
“Yes.”
“You are more than welcome to stay, we all owe you this after what you’ve done for the island. And I’d be nice to have you around to help me.” Kokomi smiled. “You didn’t even need to ask, there will always be a place for you here.’
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
“Cut the formalities, we are friends after all.” Kokomi smiled. “Gorou’s at the beach, you know the place. Go see him.”
“Thank you” Lumine smiled, standing up and walking towards the exit.
“Lumine?” Kokomi called her a last time and Lotte stared at her. “Let your heart speak, it’s mutual. Don’t waste it.”
“I’ll do that.”
And then she walked away, leaving Kokomi’s words to take over her heart as a promise. A promise that she wouldn’t break this time.
🐶🌊🗡
Lumine remembered the place where she and Gorou used to meet in their free time like it was permanently stained inside her head. She still had clear images of Gorou’s tail wagging around just to see a butterfly. The way his fluffy ears moved when she sang Ayaka’s or Venti’s songs and the smile that took over his whole face when she looked at him.
And that was precisely the reason why the image Lumine found when she arrived at the beach broke her heart into a thousand pieces. Gorou was sitting on the sand staring at something in his hands. She knew what it was before even coming close enough. It was a picture of them together with Taroumaru of a hangout they did at the tea house, right after going on a hunt to find the responsibles for the robbery that happened a few weeks earlier. Alongside with it, rested the little feather she used to wear on her hair. Lumine had given it to him before leaving Inazuma as a reminder that she would come back alive for it.
The traveler took a deep breath before walking towards the General. She hadn't taken more than five steps to his direction before his ears twitch, clearly hearing her footsteps against the sand. He jumped, taking his bow and preparing for a fight, but the posture didn’t last long once he realized who was standing there.
“Hey, Puppy”, Lumine said his nickname “did you miss me?” she muttered, knowing he would be able to hear it even from a distance thanks to his sensitive ears.
“Lumine?” he stared at her, perplexed.
“That’s me.” She stated, standing in front of him. Gorou’s was scrawny and tiny, so they were almost even in height thanks to her combat boots.
“Oh, gods” she could see a glimpse of his tail wagging in excitement.
“Come here, puppy, I’ve missed your hugs”
Gorou ran towards her, surrounding her body with a strong hug while he hid his face on the curve of her neck. She felt the soft fur on her cheek and hugged him back, rubbing his pointy ears carefully while he sobbed. She closed her eyes, resting her forehead against his shoulder, letting herself crumble against his body.
Lotte heard symphonies playing inside her chest, letting the smell of wildflowers take over her mind while she felt the world come to its rightful place, against Gorou’s body. He whined against her touch and she felt his tears on her shirt. God, she missed him so much.
“I’ve thought I’ve lost you.” he explained, his voice low “Gods, I’ve thought I’ve lost you forever.” He stared at her face, tears rolling down his cheeks.
“I'm so sorry for not being around for so long. I didn’t want you to see me the way I was. I’m so sorry, puppy.” She cupped his face between her hands, swiping his tears away with her fingers. “I wanted to be okay before coming back, I didn’t know how much time had passed since. I’m deeply sorry about it.” Lumine kissed his forehead.
“Are you okay now?” Gorou’s expression changed to a cautious look, staring her head to toe before looking at her face again. He was checking on her. The same way he did after every battle.
“They couldn’t break me. I had a promise to keep for a certain Pointy-Eared general, you know?”
“The pointy eared general in question is very lucky to have such importance to you.” He smiled, his fangs showing off. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, Lumine.”
“Oh, I have. I missed you just as much. But I’m here to stay now.”
“Are you?” His tail wagged a little faster as his smile grew.
“I talked to Kokomi earlier today, she let me stay. So yes, I’ll stay as long as you want me to.”
“We need to tell the others” his eyes were shining “Oh, gods, Thoma is going to be so happy, Taroumaru missed you just as much. We can write letters together for “That’s life”. Oh, and we can eat cake too! I haven’t been able to get it since you’ve left, but we can do it now.” He was talking non-stop, jumping from excitement.
“Gorou, calm down a bit.” She smiled, laughing shortly after “I need to tell you something first”
“I’m sorry,” he frowned “you can continue, I’ll keep quiet for now”
“I…”, she thought for a bit “I need to know something first”
“Okay”
“Are you… with someone?” She asked.
“What do you mean? I’m with you now” he was confused.
“I mean romantically.”
“ Oh… oh!” He was surprised “I’m not. I haven't had much time to think about it ever since the war ended and…”
“And?”
“And I was waiting for you to come back.” He blushed. “I mean…”
“I like you.” Lumine spoke as fast as she could, praying that he would understand.
“You… what?” There it was, the surprised expression.
“You will make me repeat it? It’s already embarrassing enough.”
“I’m not sure I understood correctly, Lumine.” He explained.
“I. Like. You.” She said, pausadly “Romantically speaking, I like you. I like your pointy ears, your fluffy tail, the way you jump from excitement and sleep hugging your tail. And I like a lot of other things about you. And you were the only thing I was capable of thinking about during the time I was away and you are the only reason I came back. I like you, Gorou. And I’ve missed you so much. But most of it, I missed being able to take care of you the way you deserved to be treated because, gods, who would be crazy enough to not to? You are the most important thing to me and the most beautiful being that ever set foot on this earth. And I could live for hundred years and still wouldn’t be able to get over the fact that no one could ever be as incredible as you are”
Lumine opened her eyes. She didn’t even notice that she closed them until she was looking at a pair of blue eyes that shined with amusement. She felt her face go red before staring at the blue sea, keeping her gaze as far away from Gorou as she could. She could handle the weight of a thousand wishes on her back, gods knew that she had done it while fighting Ei. But she wouldn’t be able to get over Gorou’s rejection. Not when she just declared every single hidden feeling inside her heart for him.
“Hey” The general called her attention, touching slightly the palm of her hand. “Look at me, will you?” And so she did. His smile was capable of lighting up a whole nation. “You like my fluffy tail?” Lumine moved her head positively. “And you don’t mind the fact that I’m not like most of the soldiers?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not… bulky or tall as most of them are.”
“You are incredible just the way you are, puppy. I wouldn't change a thing. Actually, if i could change something, I’d try to let you see how cute those ears of yours are and how much I’d like to pet them right now.” Gorou laughed a little, letting her hand before sitting on the sand. He tapped the place alongside him.
“Come here, sit with me” And when she did, Gorou laid his head against her tights, staring straight at her face. “Go ahead, pet them.” His ears twitched and she started petting it. She could see his tail trying incessantly to move under his body. The general closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before speaking. “I got used to coming here a lot ever since they declared you dead. I thought at least in a place like this, I could feel closer to you somehow.” For a moment, she stopped rubbing his ears. “I kept thinking about the little joke the crew made about me, the one that goes ‘If you want top dog-Gorou’s luck, give his pointy ears a rub’. I kept thinking that I’ve failed in giving you luck, because you never came back.”
“Well, you can forget about it. They were right, I am here now.”
“My point is,” he paused, opening his eyes. “You were one of a few who didn’t come to me for that. You respected me first and, after a while you managed to climb your way through my head and be the only thing I was capable of thinking. I kept saying to myself that you were too great for a scrawny dog general, but still, my heart beat so fast whenever you were around that i couldn’t help myself. I never had a lot of friends or were the talkative type until you came.”
“Your heart wasn’t the only one beating fast, you know?” She smiled, pointing to his agitated tail. “How about you let go of your shame and actually trust me to see what you’re really feeling?”
“It will draw all the attention” he blushed.
“It won’t. Trust me.”
“Alright” he lifted his legs, letting his tail wag around. Lumine smiled with that and went back to stare at him again. “My point is: I like you. You never made me uncomfortable about things I can’t control and kept looking at me whenever I was too agitated to control myself. And god knows how long I’ve been waiting for someone who wouldn’t judge me for sleeping with my tail or taking too much care for my fur. You were the one helping me out with all of it. So, yeah, I like you too. Romantically, I mean”
“Alright.” She laughed, curling against Gorou’s to kiss his forehead on a caring kiss.
“You can kiss a little lower” his ears twitched while he frowned. “Or I can kiss you, if you let me.”
“Yes, you can”
Gorou smiled, getting up and leaning his body on his elbows, higher enough so he could be close to the travelers mouth. He rubbed his nose against her cheek, kissing all the way through her soft lips before finally kissing her mouth.
She felt like her heart could burst into a million butterfly-shaped pieces while she moved her hand to Gorou’s hair. She felt his smile take form against her lips and rested her forehead against his when the lack of breath was too much to deal with.
“I was waiting for this moment more than I’d like to admit.” Gorou laughed, kissing her cheek.
“Yae Miko saw it happening, you know that right?”
“Oh, gods. When she told us that you could take care of my tail.” He hid his blushed face against his hands “I never felt so ashamed in my whole life”
“She was right, though. I did took care of your tail”
“That’s because I was already into you back then.”
“I’m glad it was mutual.”
Lumine smiled, leaning down to kiss the general’s cheek. Gorou whined a bit, reaching for her hand and holding it like it was the most precious treasure he could find.
“Do you have a place to stay already?”
“I was thinking about staying at the teapot until I can figure things out properly. I have enough mora to rent a house, but I don’t know where to start yet. I never had a real place to stay before. Or wanted to, anyway.”
“You can stay at my place, I wouldn't mind having you around.” Gorou muttered.
“I can’t ask you that.”
“I’m the one asking. Stay with me, will you?”
“As you wish, general.”
Gorou smiled even brighter, jumping right to her and making her lay down on the sand while he was on top of her. The sunset was already beginning to set and the pinky-lilac shades made his blue eyes even more hypnotizing. Lumine let her body rest against the itchy sand, surrounding Gorou’s waist with her arms. He leaned on his elbow, kissing every inch of her face. And she just laughed.
She laughed more than she had ever done in her whole life.
And she let her heart be at ease with him.
The crew was right from the start.
The doggy-general was her lucky amulet ever since day one and the fact that she was the one who spread the rumor about his ears was something that Gorou would be aware of shortly after.