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“I’ll be back before you know it.”
Flins’ eyes opened, and for a moment, he stared at the dimly lit ceiling, not wanting to be taken from the afterglow of their final union. But he gave in a little too quickly.
“Good ridence," Flins huffed, muscles burning in protest as he sat up. “It’s about time.”
Varka let out a deep, throaty laugh, one that would’ve woken the tiny inn they’ve chosen to rendezvous at.
“Eager to get rid of me, aren’t cha?”
Flins’ eyes finally turned, taking in the Grand Master’s glistening back. If it weren’t for the heavy scent of sex, Flins probably would’ve never thought twice about those toned muscles. Yet, here he is, admiring everything about the blonde’s back, the scars, the sheen of sweat and the deep groves that were left from Flins’ nails. The Lightkeeper has no doubt that Varka could feel the marks Flins had left, a deep seeded belief that Varka deserved it for leaving.
Flins waved him off with a scoff, pretending that he wasn’t checking out the other man fumbling with the thick belt that had become so intimately a part of the Lightkeepers life.
“With your tendencies to flirt with death, which has given me grey hairs, yeah, I’m glad to see you go.”
Those words felt wrong, forced though it’s the truth he needed to verbally express to convince himself that the man he’s come to crave affection from is leaving.
Varka is leaving. Leaving us .
Hot shame flooded his belly, a hand subtly pressing against the still smooth skin. He knew he needed to tell Varka. But no matter how much his heart ached, how much he wanted this man he’s been in love with to stay and raise this child, Flins had to let him go.
“And,” Flins found himself speaking, maybe a pathetic attempt to keep Varka a little longer, to try and rid himself of thoughts he’s been wanting to say for a long time. “I still don’t understand it or how you’ve done it, but the moon is yours.”
Flins barely remembered what had happened, as everything had gone so fast. But, for one, his sight, while muddled and weak, had been restored. And the subsequent stopping of his heart when he had thought Varka died.
For a long tense moment, Flins watched as Varka tied his boots then shouldered on his jacket.
“Yeah,” Varka started, his blue gaze turning to lock with Flins’ yellow gaze. “I had the moon.”
Blinking at the strangely soft words, Flins’ bare legs swung off the side of the bed as he was about to stand.
“Had?”
Flins’ heart nearly stopped when Varka adjusted his jacket once more. For a brief moment, Flins was brought back to a rather cold night where the very jacket kept him warm. But now, seeing Varka dressed, it really set the mood, one that Flins so desperately wanted to never come.
“Yeah,” Varka shrugged. “Back in Mondstadt."
Of course. Flins didn’t have any legs to argue with that, especially when the Grand Master had come to Nod-Krai for one purpose. Those simple words only cemented themselves into Flins’ thoughts.
Not me. Or for the child. Flins’ eyes cast down to the floor, though, they immediately landed on Varka when he felt a warm blanket wrap around his body.
“You should really learn to bundle up,” Varka snickered, his large hands almost tucking the Lighterkeeper into the wool blanket.
Flins’ cheeks flushed and once more, he waved him off. He opened his mouth to bite back, only for the blonde man to shush him with a quick kiss. It was soft, though hesitant. Though, the man’s forehead touching Flins’... It had the Lightkeeper leaning in.
“It’ll only be for a little while,” Varka told him. “I have a few things back in Mondstadt that I need to figure out. Besides, I owe you a couple of drinks, maybe a lovely date for staying by my side while I healed.”
Varka was right. Even with his own injuries and his eyesight healing, Flins hadn’t dared leave Varka’s side.
“I don’t drink,” the Lightkeeper mumbled.
The Knight let out a genuine laugh. “Yeah, I know. A date then.”
Flins’ heart leapt in his chest when Varka stepped back, the man’s warmth suddenly so cold. “Don’t go planning anything weird.”
Varka smiled, turning towards the door of the inn.
“I’ll bring you to Mondstadt,” he said. “There’s plenty of sights there.”
Flins clutched the blanket, drawing it tighter around him as Varka stepped out.
“Yeah. I’d love that.”