Chapter Text
Knocks vibrate throughout the apartment. They start off soft with an intermittent rhythm only to become loud and incessant after a while without acknowledgement. The owner of the apartment—who had been so rudely awoken by the noise—arose from her bed with a sour look on her face. Her heterochromic, ocean-like eyes burning with fire as she scans her room for her slippers.
"Coming, coming! Gosh.." She shouts in a rather grumpy manner when the knocking continued. Understandably so. It was the middle of the night and someone, who clearly has no mind for other peoples' sleep, was banging on her door like some madman. Anyone in her shoes would've been furious.
Honestly, do people have no respect these days? To just disrupt someone's sleep without a care in the world.. What could possibly be so important?
After finally finding her slippers, Furina practically stomped out of her room, down her stairs, and up to her door. She was planning on giving whoever was on the other side a piece of her mind for waking her up and then go back to bed when she cooled down. As the door swings open and Furina is met with the perpetrator, however, all her anger is washed away like a seashell against a water current.
There, standing before her with their fluffy ears twitching eagerly atop their head and pastries in hand, was the Hydro Archon's—Furina's former companion—you.
"You finally answered, my lady!" You chirped, "I'm so glad! Hehe..~! For a second there I thought I had the wrong address!"
She was at a lost for words. Why were you here? And why did you seem so happy? After everything came to light and Fontaine found out she was a sham, she was sure she'd never see you again..
So why in the world are you standing at her doorstep?
"Y/n.." She mumbled out in disbelief, but you seemed rather pleased nonetheless. Your name always sounded so lovely whenever it came from her lips.
"May I come in, my lady?" You ask after a while of her staring at you as if she'd seen a ghost, "If not, I don't mind standing here."
"Oh! Uh- No! Come in!" What is she saying? She should be showing you away, not welcoming you in! "Sit wherever you'd like!" She continues anyway, stepping aside.
Obviously pleased, a sharp smile graces your face and you walked in without hesitation, marveling in awe at her home as if it was made of gold or something.
"This place is so cute! You've decorated well, my lady!" You praise and she has to resist visibly cringing in response to your praise. In all honesty, her place wasn't much to look at. In fact, the place was quite barren since she hadn't gotten around to decorating it yet.
"Thank you.." She forces out, avoiding your piercing gaze as it falls on her. She turns on her heel, showing her back to you as she slowly, hesitantly closes the door.
"So..uhm, what brings you here at this hour?" She finally asks after taking her sweet time locking her door before turning to you—silently gulping when she, once again, locks eyes with your slitted ones. Your eyes were always so intimidating to her even when she was playing house..
Or maybe she's only thinking that to spare the slither of ego she still has.
"I wanted to see you, of course!" You gleefully say. You looked so happy—so excited to see her again and here she stands, surprised, looking almost petrified at the sight of you..
She can barely force a smile onto her faces, but she manages. She almost positive of how crinkled it probably looks, but it'll have to do for now, "I see..so that's your reason.. Well, you've seen me now so you can go and—" "I stopped by Café Lutece earlier today."
"I ran my errands super early so that I had the time to get your favorite cake," A small sigh leaves your lips as you continue, "Unfortunately, by the time I got there all sixteen slices had already been sold out.. I should've expected that, though. After all, my lady has great taste in dessert so it's no wonder they always sell so fast."
You shake your head—your ears wiggling a tad as a result of your attempt at physically clearing your head, "Anyways I'm sorry I couldn't get your favorite cake, but I bought everything else you see here to make up for my blunder so I hope this can earn your forgiveness."
While you spoke, Furina's eyes darted downwards, eyeing the plethora of small boxes in your hand which she's only, somehow, now noticing. She stared at it until it grew so close that she went cross-eyed from the proximity and you dumped the heap of sweets into her arms.
She staggered for a moment as the newfound weight immediately swayed and she reach with one hand to catch the boxes that threatened to slip through her grasp and splatter all over the floor. It was only after she managed to steady herself that her eyes widened at the realization of the mere size of the pile.
This variety of sweets isn't at all small. There were so many that even she would take at least a few days to get through.. Just how much time and money did it take you to get all of this for her? Furina's heart sinks at the mere thought of you spending even a dime on her..
"H- Hey, how much was all of this exactly?" The question hesitantly—almost fearfully—escapes her. Your ears perk up and your rambling comes to an abrupt stop. Nevertheless, your face easily gives away how you feel towards the question; genuine confusion.
"Why the sudden ask, my lady? Whenever I used to buy you sweets before, you'd never care to ask about the prices.."
"Well, you of all people know that I'm not..y'know.." She couldn't even get the words out. To put it simply, the mere thought of the incident made her shudder from the shame of it all. In fact, everything was so embarrassing to think about that it makes her want to lock herself in this home for five hundred years. Not that she could live that long anymore, thank the archons above..
"Ah, I see.." You say, and for a second, sheepish relief washes over Furina like a nice, but cold morning shower as she thought you had connected the dots to what she couldn't bring herself to voice out loud.
She sighs, that awkward smile returning albeit a little smoother now, "Thank you for your—" "You can't possibly enjoy your sweets without your usual bubble bath and milk tea!"
Her smile crinkles again.
"I- No.. That's not—" "I apologize for my forgetfulness, my lady," Your ears press flat against your head like a sad little kitten.
"It seems our time apart has taken a toll on me.. I'll get to it right away to make up for my slip up," And you speed past her and up the stairs as if this was your home and you had walked the halls of it a bajillion times over. Furina could only reach her hand out to you as if wanting to grab you but couldn't, 'lest she wanted a heaping, sticky mess on her floors. She failed to call after you as well which ultimately left her standing there with her mouth agape longer than it should've been.
What..just happened? More importantly, why did she just let it happen? Yes, she has fallen from godhood, but has she lost her nerve as well? She could've ended this as quickly as it started by simply telling you to leave so why didn't she do just that?
All she had to do was tell you to leave and she could've truly put everything behind her. So why was she unable to do just that?
"My lady! Your bath is ready!" She hears your cheery yell from the top of the stairs. As if put under some spell, her previous thought is crushed into dust and blown away from her mind and out of her ears, replaced by a much simpler task; to take a nice, soothing bath that you had oh so graciously prepared for her.
Her feet move as if under a trance, her slippers treading across the wooden flooring and leaving small plaps and squeaks in their wake as she goes about setting the mountain of sweets on her lackluster dining table and going up the stairs where she's met with your toothy grin—that wonderful smile that has been bestowed upon her for centuries—that tells so many of the stories you have shared together in earnest.
How could one possibly turn it away? At the very least, she certainly couldn't, even when she was playing god.
"Thank you, Y/n. I'll be out in a little while," Her mouth moves before her brain can even think to say something differently. Your smile remains, widens even, and she finds her body slouching—relaxing—at the sight.
"Very well. I'll be setting things up downstairs for when you return. Please call me if anything is not to your liking, my lady," And with that, you bow your head to her and make your swift exit.
Furina sighs. It happened again. Why? Has she seriously been put under some kind of incantation caused by a simple quirk of your lips? She finds herself scowering her mind for the answer to that question as she sheds herself of her night garments and nears the tub—which had been filled to the brim with bubbles that shouldn't have been possible as she hadn't went and bought anything for her baths, or for anything else, in fact.
She steps into the water and immediately drops herself in, allowing herself to be enveloped by the pleasant smells as the bubbles cling to her skin.
The water was just the right temperature. Not scorching, but not lukewarm either; just how she liked it. A delighted exhale flutters from her lips on instinct as her head falls against the rim of the tub.
What is she doing? Everything has changed, so why is she indulging in pleasures of the past, why is she letting you service her, and most importantly, why are you so eager to please her still? Was it beacuse, archons forbid, you were trying to pretend nothing happened at all as a way to still cling onto your previous life as a servant to an all-powering god? No matter the reason, she needs you to come from behind those curtain of lies you tell yourself and face reality.
She needs to get you to wake up and smell the roses, otherwise neither you or her will be able to truly move on from your former lives..
Before she knew it, her mind had completely swallowed her and time had passed with her mindlessly soaking in the tub. By the time she realized it, the water had cooled to that lukewarm temperture she had such a strong distaste for, and all the bubbles had just about dispersed.
This was all proof of how much time had passed, but even with all of that, all she managed to accomplish was nearly fall asleep. And, when she was finally brought to the realization of that fact, she sat up and pulled herself out of the tub against her better judgement.
In the time it took her to dress herself in her new sleepwear—which was not much different from her previous garments—she had once again worked up the courage to try again. Deciding that when she goes downstairs, she'll set it to you straight, no hard feelings!
With that sudden confidence rising in her like a tidlewave and ultimately exuding from her being, she waltzed down the stairs. She swishes as she walks and passes through her living room, her mouth already open to say the first thing on her mind as she enters the kitchen..
..Only for that confidence to shatter like a glass mirror when her eyes lands on the spread of pastries you brought her splayed out in a neat assortment across her dining room table with you standing before it with that god-gifted smile of yours.
"My lady, you've returned!" You cross the small distance between you two quickly, your tattooed hands cupping around her bare ones. Trapping her in place and blocking her view from anything else other than the gorgeous swirl of your hues.
"It took some time, but I managed to set the table with all the desserts! I set it from the sweetest pastries to the more tone down ones just how you taught me!" As you spoke, you guided her to the table and set her down at the head, the only place you deemed worthy of her, "I also made your milk tea with extra honey and topped it with a swirl of vanilla cream just how I remembered it!"
Furina, now sat, was staring in a daze. Her face looked rather shocked, or I guess horrified and overwhelmed would be a more accurate description. It was an odd display. One that didn't escape your feline eyes.
"My lady.." You called and she jumps. Yes, she jumps at the mere call of your courteous title to her.
So you call her again, "My lady," You repeat. She doesn't jump this time and it has you believing that her startling reaction before was unrelated or simply your eyes playing tricks on you. It had to be, right? Surely it wasn't for a reason as ridiculous as she feared or was upset with you or something, right? Right.
"Do you not like the spread I prepared?" You asked softly, as if the mere thought had saddened you to a near breakdown, "Is this not satisfactory..?"
"No!" She yelped out like an automatic response. As if you were the former god and she was the servant. As if she was programmed to have some kind of auto pilot that will say anything to make a smile return to your marked face, "No, no! Heh.. E- Everything's fine! I mean-! Uh..i-it's excellent! Thank you!"
Your smile doesn't return and her anxiety turns into full-blown panic. Her mind kicks into overdrive as she thought, "Say something! Say something!" over and over and over again.
She has to say something to appease you. To put you at ease. You deserve that much after the embarrassment that was caused by her downfall. You deserve to be at peace after fighting tooth and nail to defend her in that trial. You deserve to smile after so long of appeasing and bending to this false god's every ridiculous whim!
"My lady," Her breathing stutters. She blinks, awestruck at the sudden lapse from reality, and it's only after that shock leaves her veins that she finally realizes how damp her cheeks had suddenly became and how blurry her vision had gotten.
She had started crying..right before you of all people. By the time that fact finally dawned on her, you had already pushed her chair back to make room for yourself at her feet and were wiping them away with a cloth..
"I- Y/n, I'm so.. I'm sorry.. I- I can't—" Pathetic. It truly was such a pathetic character she was portraying right now. Surely anyone in Fontaine- No, in all of Teyvat would agree if they saw her right now..
But you weren't anyone. At the face of her crystalline tears cascading down her face, you gently patted the cloth in your hand across her cheek and used your other hand to wipe the other side, fingers bent as you made the necessary precautions as to not nick her beautiful skin with your pointy nails.
"It's okay, my lady. Please don't apologize," You cooed, "And please, don't shed tears over me. I don't deserve such the honor."
You're right. You don't deserve her tears. You deserve so, so much more. You deserve to be covered in riches. To be spoiled and praised from Mondstadt to Snezhnaya. Not anything she has put you through..
"..After everything was over, I spent days in turmoil and anger. I lashed out at Monsieur Neuvilette, the Traveler, everyone and anyone who I thought was to blame for stripping you of your title and making you cry like this," You admitted, "Despite that, everyone still respected me and gave me the time to come to grips with reality..with you and your centuries-long lie."
She chokes, her hand coming up to cover her mouth only to immediately hide her entire face behind her hands; a futile attempt to hide herself from you.
She told a lie to the nation. She was aware of it and had come to live with that for so long. So why is it that she seemed to break down at you simply restating the obvious? Why is it that she couldn't bare the thought of you viewing her any differently than before when she was just fine with everyone else doing so?
..And why is it that you even wasted your time coming here and serving her like old times if you did view her in a different light like everyone else? Was this a way to mock her of her past performance? Was it because you were trying to get back at her for lying to your face and use you as some stage prop?
Apparently—surprisingly—it was none of that.
"In that time I spent locked away from the world and resenting it with all my being, my thoughts ran back to you in search of comfort. My mind took me back to the night you took me in and gave me the prestigious title as your familiar.. The day you gave me a purpose other than to hate the world so much that my flames of hatred would one day burn everything in Teyvat to ash.. I remember every feeling that coursed through my veins that night and it made me realize—"
"Stop!" She mustered up the strength to scream, "Stop.." She repeated, that strength having promptly left her and leaving her with nothing but mere crumbs of intensity to speak with, "Please..don't say anymore.. I don't want to hear it.."
"Why not, my lady?" You questioned as you used your strength to pry her hands away from her face as you waited for a response, which she gave eventually with her previous ferocity returning. ..Unfortunately, her weeps had made her fiery words come out damp, jumbled, and shaky..
"It's because I don't deserve it! I- I- I don't deserve your loyalty-! I don't deserve you or anything you give me! Not after.. N- Not after.. Not after all that I did! I— I.." Like blowing steam from a train, she quickly ran out of gas and was left puffing, sputtering, and whimpering like some novice actress who had forgotten her lines during the most emotional part of a play.
..But despite that, you still sat and watched her nonetheless. You listened and took in her every hiccup and blubber like some diehard fan. And, when her sorry performance came to an end, you even blessed her with the gift of your warm embrace.
You stayed like that, letting her sniffle and sob into your shoulder until her tears dried up and her throat was too raw to snivel out nonsense. It was a courtesy she didn't deserve yet you granted her regardless..
"After I had come to peace with everything that had happened, I went to Palais Mermonia and talked to Monsieur Neuvilette where we both agreed that I should step down from my position as the Hydro Archon's Familiar and assistant of the ludex," You confessed, and you can tell by her sudden stiffness and that ghost of a gasp she let out that she was surprised. You found it such a cute reaction.
You knew that she wanted to question you, ridicule you—something that would make you realize how dumb that decision was, but after bleeding on stage, her throat was so sore that even the simplest of words felt like knives. You'll admit that you're partially thankful of that, especially since that meant you would be spared of any distasteful words for a little while, especially after the words you said next..
"I love you, my lady," You told her, "I love you more than anything in this world and in a way a familiar shouldn't dare to feel about their master; that's what I realized during my break from the world. During the time I spent away from you.."
"I realized that not having you in my life would be more painful than any death sentence or punishment, and because of that, I grew selfish and I acted on my own..so.." You pull away and the remnants of her tears chase after you—an action she has to resist letting her entire body mimic. She watches you, her mismatch eyes widening like a desert platter when you bend your head until it makes contact with your crossed arms on her lap; a sight that would remind one of a devout follower pleading with their god.
"..Will you forgive my selfishness, allow me to indulge in this feeling, and pursue my desires?" You asked her in such a sweet tone that her heart—that had been clouded and choked by unease and trepidation—was coated in this sugary, tooth-rotting wisp that sent her heart into this feeling of sickening bliss..
And as a silent thank you for relieving her chest of the heavy feeling, she decided to put on her cracked mask and step back onto the ruined stage for just a moment and ask you in a quivering tone, "And what are those desires exactly?"
"To be by your side again," You replied immediately, "I showed you that I can still serve a be useful to you and it doesn't matter what I'd be to you either! Just allow me to bask in your presence for the rest of your mortal days, my lady. I'd do anything for that pleasure.."
"You shouldn't," Her voice was cracking so much that a broken mirror had paled in comparison. It hurt so much to speak right now, but she forced herself to talk anyways, just for you, "You're so much greater than me.."
"Not anymore," You retorted, looking up at her, "Now, I'm just a regular civilian of Fontaine just like you. I have no power, no status, nothing.. I gave all of that up without a second thought for you and I'd do it a million times over if you so wished."
She chuckled. Yes, chuckled at your words. There was no humor to be found, though, as she was she couldn't believe how ironic and absurd this all was; a formerly reserved kitsune who once bore a heart of stone and was incapable of understanding, feeling, or sympathize with the feelings and well being of those around them, who despised the world for merely existing in their presence..was now begging to be by her so that they could essentially experience internal bliss everyday for the next century if they're lucky.
She chuckled again at herself, this time out of disbelief of herself and how hot her face was getting because of that irony.
She truly was a horrible person. A liar. A fraud..and yet, you kneeled at her knees and begged her to allow you to spend the rest of your life—which she will no longer be able to live to see the end of—with her. It was such an insane ending to this play, one that would surely turn off many of the audience members—but she didn't mind it as much as she thought she would.
"Such a stubborn fox you are," She says as she ever so gently caresses the fluffy ear atop your head, feeling them twitch from sensitivity under her touch, "..But I suppose I'm mostly to blame for your behavior. After all, I taught you everything except how to give up when the situation calls for it.." She sighs.
"I..suppose that I wouldn't mind some company from a fellow civilain of Fontaine.." She croaked rather bashfully and your entire demeanor perked up.
"Thank you, my—!" "Before anything's set in stone though," She withdraws her hand to hold it up, further telling you to halt your celebration. You freeze as prompted and after seeing you do so, Furina finally continues..
"I have one last request—er, command to make to you," She says and you slowly nod along to her every word like a puppy patiently waiting for their next instruction.
Whatever she asked, you already told yourself you'd do, without question. If she wanted one hundred boxes of pastries by the time she woke up tomorrow, you'd jump to it. If she asked you to stand on the top of the Opera Epiclese and profess to the world how much you loved and cherished her, you'd gladly adhere! Anything for her!
"You can't refer to me by 'my lady' from this point on."
..Huh? You blinked. She wanted you to..do that? Of all the things to ask for..and she wishes to discard the title she has earned and that you've been referring to her as for literal centuries?
"B- But, my- Lady Furina—" "Ah, ah, ah.." She cut off, albeit as softly as a flower petal falling onto someone's hair, "No honorifics or titles. You may only call me by name."
It was a simple request in hindsight, but would you be able to abide by it? To you, it was as if she asked you to defeat the Traveler and Monsieur Neuviellete simultaneously in battle while both of your hands were tied..
But it seems your fair lady had no sympathy about doing this to you, "So? What about it? If you can't do something as simple as that, I can't grant you the wish of remaining at my side," She egged on, and that gave just the right push for you to say, "No! I- I can do that for you, easy!"
"Then? Go on. Say my name," And she stared at you with that expectant gaze that brought you back to the same old times she wanted nothing more than to bury. It surely was a twist to her character.
"F.. My.. Miss F- Furina," You stammered, and odd enough, your face grew hot at hearing her name coated in your tone and voice, "..Would it be too much to ask to stay by your side?" By that point, you couldn't continue staring in her eyes and found comfort in burying your face in her thighs.
"Hmph.. I suppose that's good enough. We can always work on it," She said, "And I suppose that it wouldn't be too much trouble of a request.."
It took a moment, but your joy overcame your embarrassment and you lifted your head once again, flashing her the widest, toothiest smile she's ever seen on your face. If anyone else were to behold this sight, they'd truly dedicate hours of their busy day to paint it..or at least simply marvel at the sight of it. Though, as fatuous as it was, she found herself almost uncomfortable at the thought of you showing this smile to anyone other than her.
"Moving on from all of that.. Tomorrow I'll have to seek someone out to renovate this place," She said and your head tilts, your ears leaning.
"Why?" You asked, and to that, she gave you an equally confused look.
"Well, first off you have nowhere to sleep. Surely you wouldn't be fine with sleeping on my couch for a century.."
"But can't I just share a bed with you?" You questioned, and you watched as Furina's entire face and body became redder than strawberry jam.
"Excuse me?!" She shouted, "W- What do you take me for? Some harlot surely to suggest such a thing!"
You merely laugh, both at her sudden flustered appearance and the nostalgia her yelling brings to you. It's a shame Furina didn't seem feel that same rush.
"What's so funny?!" She asked, her eyes following you sharply as you stood up.
"You are," You answered honestly before turning on your heel, "Now, it is late so we should get to bed! I'll clean everything up tomorrow morning when I come down to make breakfast."
"What do you— Hey! Don't just waltz around my house as if it's yours! A- At least shower first before laying on my bed! I just washed those sheets! Hey, are you listening, Y/n?!"