Work Text:
The duty of a Lightkeeper couldn’t be called enjoyable. Constantly fighting the abyss, staying up all night and having a sleep schedule that many considered strange. The general understanding is that the Lightkeepers would aid anyone who needed (or wanted) help.
Not that Flins minded, no, he truly couldn’t mind it too much when fighting the abyss was always a step toward eradicating the evil in Teyvat. It quelled the inner turmoil caused by his inaction, but it screamed that he should have been doing this sooner. Almost as if his subconscious wanted to chew him out for ever thinking slumber was the correct way to leave this world.
But those thoughts could be quelled, they often were, by the young man standing in front of him, backpack slung to his right shoulder and silver hair messed up by the wind. He looked a little roughed up, but otherwise alright.
”Hello there Mr. Flins,” Illuga smiled, setting the backpack inside the door as he entered the lighthouse. “I brought some supplies, per usual.”
Flins sat down on a chair, gesturing for Illuga to do the same, “Isn’t it a bit early in the month for a supply run?”
”That it is, but tonight I’m not just the supplier, I’m a messenger too,” he slid a small letter addressed to Chudomirovich across the table, “Dad said it had to be me for some reason.”
Flins picked up the letter before setting it off to the side, “Has it gotten late?”
”I can always buy you a clock, Mr. Flins.”
”Please do not bother yourself with it, I have a pocket watch,” he shook his head gently before checking his watch and giving Illuga a once over, “Young Master, you should sleep here tonight.”
Not expecting the sudden offer, Illuga nearly fell off his chair, “Oh but I couldn't! That would be too much of a burden on you.”
Flins smiled and shook his head, “I assure you, it wouldn’t be such a burden.”
”Ah, but you see, you’re too kind. I fear I would be a burden and you wouldn’t say a word of it,” he started playing with his earring.
”You would only be a burden by leaving at such a late time. Young Master, certainly you are exhausted,” he gestured to the only hallway out of the main room, “I have a spare bed, if it were not used by those who visit me in these late nights I fear it would be simply useless.”
Illuga seemed conflicted, a mental war between being a burden by staying and being a burden by leaving playing in his mind. After a moment he sighed, “If you say so, Mr. Flins…”
If there were any friendly gestures humans typically partook in, Flins wasn’t entirely aware of them. Perhaps giving their friends basic necessities is seen as a form of care, a way to perhaps say that they wish for their friend to continue living?
Whatever the reason, Flins wasn’t one to waste the opportunities given to him. As per usual, he gave Illuga a glass of water with a small smile.
Sudden exhaustion crashed over the young man after finishing the water. He went from happily chattering away to nearly falling asleep in his chair.
”You should get some rest,” Illuga managed out before yawning, “I should go to bed now.”
“Ah, would you like some help getting there?” Flins sat further upright in his chair.
“No, no, I know the…” his head started drooping, “way.”
Outstretching his head, Flins offered to help again. Still, Illuga stood up. “I think I can make it there myself, thank you for the offer.”
Fate had other plans, for Illuga started falling to the ground only to be caught by his fellow Lightkeeper. When he was standing again he started giggling, “Maybe I do need help…”
Flins shook his head, “I believe you are more exhausted than you realise.”
After making their way up the stairs with luckily little struggles, Flins helped Illuga lay on the bed.
”Thank you, Mr. Flins.”
The golden eyed man focused on taking out the young man’s earring before sighing, “Rest now, Young Master.”
Before sleep took him, Illuga managed a quiet, “You should get some rest too…”
Flins stood there for a moment, simply watching the young man sleep.
”If only you knew.”
This wasn’t exactly out of the norm, but usually he'd receive a letter in advance. Still, he knew he should read the Starshyna’s letter.
Kyryll,
I trust you know well what this letter is about given the messenger I sent.
See, the Nightmare Orioles recently had a long and arduous battle with a large Wild Hunt phenomena. Five of them are currently housed in the hospital, and the entire crew is being given a break until they have recovered.
Many of them are willing to take a break seriously, but you know well that Illuga has a fire in his heart that refuses to ever diminish. That makes him a wonderful Lightkeeper, but quite terrible at taking a break.
Would you please give him the opportunity to take a break? Use whatever you wish. Even if it includes fighting the Wild Hunt in your area, I trust you can keep him safe.
Ah, and he has been just as happy as usual lately, but something is wrong. He refuses to speak of the indecent with anyone.
With care, Nikita.
He breathed a sigh of relief before starting to plan a way to force Illuga into light work.
It had been a few days, and Illuga kept getting extremely exhausted after finishing his water. he consistently stayed asleep until at least eight hours passed.
Some of the days Flins stood outside his doorway for a while before the man awoke.
I will see if you can handle tonight without it…
”Mr. Flins? What time is it?”
Flins checked the time, it had only been six hours. “Young Master? You shouldn’t be awake yet…”
Illuga sat up, hiding his eyes behind his bangs, “I had a… a nightmare.”
Quickly walking over, Flins knelt down in front of Illuga, “Oh dear. Care to tell me what it was about?”
His friend turned his head away, sniffling, “I’d rather… not?”
”Young Master, you sound unsure of yourself,” he gently put a finger under the young man’s chin, carefully pulling his face to look at him.
Though he wasn’t sure what to expect, it still broke his heart a little. Illuga refused to actually look at Flins, eyes off in the direction of the wall. There were tears in his eyes, making them glisten in a terribly uncharacteristic way. It was as if someone committed the worst crime to make him so terribly sad.
”Please, go back to sleep.”
He finally looked at Flins, gasping when he properly filled his vision. To him it was as if Flins had been torn apart, recently missing an arm and terribly wounded. As if he had been in that fight and needed help. “No…” he looked away again, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
Flins straightened a bit, recognising what was happening, “Illuga…” Words can’t help him right now. Instead of continuing that sentence, he simply sat on the bed next to him as his sniffles turned to sobs. Tears made little dots on the blanket as they fell from those ever concerned and considerate eyes.
Taking decisive action, Flins pulled Illuga towards him and gently kissed him on the top of the head before whispering, “Κοιμήσου μέχρι να επιστρέψω να σε ξυπνήσω [Sleep until I come back to awaken you].”
Illuga, exhausted and confused, questioned the words.
”Rest now, do not worry about my ramblings,” he tucked the blanket under the young man’s chin.
”Wha’ time is it…” he muttered out before his body went lax, sleep overcoming him.
Flins stood there silently, watching Illuga sleep.
”I’m sorry, Young Master. I should have asked you of your injuries…” he sighed, turning to leave the room.
”Alas, if you knew, you’d have refused the water anyway.”
Flins was busy making soup when he heard a knocking. It was distinct and familiar, so he called them in politely.
Nikita walked through the door, sitting on a chair nearby Flins, “Greetings Flins, I came to check on my son, and you of course.” He was smiling, as if nothing was wrong.
I don’t wish to break his mood…
”Ah, I have… news for you.”
That worried the Starshyna, “Illuga didn’t get hurt more, did he?”
Flins shook his head, “No, I can assure you he has not been harmed under my purview. He was harmed in their battle?”
Nikita nodded, sighing deeply, “He took quite the hit helping one of his squad members, got hit pretty bad in the back. Didn’t I tell you?”
He shook his head, ”You mentioned five of his squad were in the hospital, but nothing of the Young Master.”
”i see. Well, not like its the first time it’s happened.” Nikita couldn’t help but huff out a laugh, “Even before becoming their leader that boy has had a heart as golden as that Vision of his.”
Flins found himself smiling at that, “That he does. Sometimes frighteningly so.”
He really should stop worrying so much about me.
”Could I possibly speak with him?”
”About that,” he shook his head, “while he is not harmed, he is in a… predicament.”
”I’d hope he’s not in danger given your nonchalance,” Nikita pointedly stated.
”If he were in physical peril I would be out fixing it. As it stands, he is inside the lighthouse and physically well.”
”Is he ill?”
Flins shrugged and added some strange substance to the soup, “In a way.”
”Kyryll, please be straightforward with me, this is my son we’re talking about.”
He sighed, not wanting to admit it out loud and simply fix his mistake quickly and wordlessly, “There was a mistake on my part with how often I used a small spell.” Flins looked a bit away from Nikita who had leaned forward in his chair.
”Careful how you say things, I almost believe you bewitched my son.”
Flins contemplated it for a moment, which only served to slightly freak Nikita out. “That wouldn’t be an entirely inaccurate description,” actually it was pretty accurate, “however, I believe medicated has a better tone to it.”
Nikita dropped his head to his hands, “Is this your way of letting me down slowly?”
Flins nearly laughed at that, “You know me too well. In short, I used a simple temporary spell to help him fall asleep. He was so exhausted he simply couldn’t get to sleep, and he tends to refuse to sleep until absolutely certain I am asleep.”
”And it went wrong?”
”It’s not the first time I’ve done it,” he tried to keep the mild offension under wraps, “Typically I check him for injuries beforehand. The recent stress caused a lapse in judgement on my part.”
Nikita took a moment before replying,
”Is Illuga okay?”
”At the moment? He’s afflicted by an ailment caused by overuse of the spell,” he gave a look to Nikita that made him straighten a bit, then continued with a completely serious tone “He must’ve taken quite the hit to have over halved his ability to take the spell. If I do not fix it he will be afflicted with nightmares, and upon waking he will be constantly exhausted. Those nightmares may even begin to bleed into his waking hours causing nightmarish daydreams. None of that would be good for a Lightkeeper.”
Nikita seemed ready to go anywhere, do anything, to help Illuga. It was sweet, and showed how much he cared for his son.
It wouldn’t be surprising if he stops sending Illuga over here.
”How do we fix it?”
Now that made Flins laugh, which Nikita glared at him for.
”How I’ve missed speaking face to face with you, Nikita. Certainly you don't think of me as careless?”
“Flins, please, tell me. Is there anything you need to fix my son?”
His smile dropped, but his happy tone continued without it, “Now, now, don’t let your guard down too far. If I hadn’t already begun preparing an antidote I’d almost consider that a proposition for a deal.”
Nikita was scared, and disturbed, but above all, shocked.
”This soup here is a creation by the alchemist Albedo of Mondstat. It’s a discreet way to remove the effects of Illuga’s current ailment. We made it before I felt safe enough to use the spell on the Young Master.”
The Starshyna relaxed at that, silence falling over the lighthouse save for the occasional crackle of fire under the soup.
”Would you like to see Illuga?”
He was relieved, “yes, I need to be sure he’s okay.”
”He’s asleep in the guest room right now. I need to watch over this carefully, so feel free to roam.”
Nikita stood to move, “If he’s plagued by nightmares, wouldn't him being asleep be a bit concerning?”
Flins shook his head, “A reasonable conclusion. Don’t fret, I used a more complex and less discreet spell to put him back to sleep. He’s either having no dreams or sweet ones at the moment.”
The nerves returned, “You’re certain it won’t make it worse?”
”I am completely certain. He will wake when I wake him, but not until then. That’s part of why I don’t like using the strong spell.”
Other than the questions Illuga would have in the morning…
”Alright. Well, you know where I’ll be.”
Flins nodded before continuing with the soup
Nikita worried for his son, but after only a second of seeing how calm he was while sleeping those fears fell away. It couldn't be helped, some things were bound to happen at some point.
At least Kyryll was prepared.
”Oh Illuga…” he tucked a hair behind his son’s ear, “I don’t know if you can hear me…”
He knelt beside the bed for a few more moments, “I have to leave soon. Mr. Flins will take care of you…” I hope “I’m sorry, I should have been more cautious.”
”If you can hear me, just know that I love you. I’m proud of you, you’ve done so much.”
Nikita left the lighthouse before the soup was finished, his duties taking him away. Still, the soup was finished, and Flins was quietly walking up to the guest room.
He leaned against the door, watching the sleeping Illuga again. It had become a habit, watching him so calmly resting.
“Young Master, I’m sorry. This could have been prevented.” And so easily too.
Kneeling down next to the bed, Flins took a second.
”Young Master, it’s time to wake up.”
Illuga groaned and shifted slightly before relaxing again.
Running his hand up and down Illuga’s arm, he tried again, “Young Master, you need to eat.”
The young man sighed, mumbling out a, “Tired…” before going back to sleep.
Flins gently shook him, “Illuga, I made soup.”
That got him to roll over and look at Flins, “Wha’?”
Smiling softly, Flins tucked that same stubborn piece of hair behind his ear, “I made you some soup, Illuga.”
His eyes widened with realisation before he sat up, “You made me soup?”
Flins chuckled, “That I did, come now, let’s get you to the table.”
They made it to the table, albeit with much difficulty.
”Wait… how could you make me soup when you’re hurt? Shouldn’t I be making you soup?” He watched Flins ladle the soup into a bowl.
”It wasn’t difficult to make,” he set the bowl in front of Illuga, “Here, try to eat as much as you can. This soup will help heal you.”
He yawned before picking up his spoon, “Then you need to have some too, Mr. Flins.”
So my forethought did pay off. Flins was in the middle of ladling out some soup from a different pot into a small bowl. “I made some for myself as well, do not fret.”
Flins may not have gotten far with eating his soup, but Illuga managed to eat most of the soup. He sighed, a smile on his face again.
”That was wonderful. Thank you so much Mr. Flins, I’m sorry for sleeping in like that,” Illuga started putting in his earring, playing with it as he did so.
Flins smiled at how the young man had started twisting the earring this way and that, “There’s no need for apologies. If anything I should be apologising, Nikita came by while you were sleeping.”
Worry overtook his embarrassment and he dropped the earring, “Is something wrong?”
Sighing, Flins shook his head, “Always so worried, that is a double edged sword Young Master. Nothing is wrong, he simply wished to check on you.” At that he relaxed, silver hair falling slightly over one of his eyes.
”He told me of your injuries you sustained during your recent battle. I apologise for not asking you, that was an oversight on my part.”
Illuga tensed up, not sure if he was ready to tell him. After a few seconds of intense silent deliberation he sighed. “Everyone who knows me gets worried when I’m not… well,” he waved his hand away from himself with a roll of his eyes, “acting like my usual self.”
A second passed without reply. Then another.
He began playing with the earring again, letting out a quiet and quick, “So I’ve been avoiding the topic.”
Flins smiled and tilted his head, “Ah, but I do not worry so much when you act different from your usual.”
Illuga dropped his hand with an audible whack to the table, wincing slightly at the force, “Yes but you fought Rerir. You stood up against one of the Five Sinners. Twice. My issues couldn’t even compare,” he sunk down in his chair.
”But you agreed to help with our next battle, did you not?” He sighed when Illuga nodded meekly, “It’s not about comparison. I am willing to listen and help when you have questions.”
“Even when it gets absurd?”
Flins scoffed, “If it is any help, I once had to confide in your father about a fear that wild animals such as squirrels would enter the Lighthouse and steal my collections.” Illuga laughed at that. “There is very little I would consider absurd.”
Pulling himself back upright in his chair, Illuga calmed down his laughter, “Okay then.”
He took a deep breath, “The worst part was probably the arrow that hit my back. Sucker would’ve landed me in the hospital with Piotr if I hadn’t noticed it and tried dodging!”
”Is that why you’ve been especially jumpy around hillichurls?”
Illuga’s shoulders dropped, tone laced with annoyance, “Yes, one of them had wandered close to the fight.” The young Lightkeeper thought for a moment, “Then there’s what happened to Helmi, who knew that axes still hurt badly without their heads? The sight was horrible…”
As Illuga continued describing what happened to the Nightmare Orioles in excruciating detail, Flins couldn’t help but feel at peace.
Yes, it was completely alright that he had slept for so long instead of fighting the abyss for that time. If he hadn’t done so he would likely be extinguished by now, and then he never would have met such a beacon of hope. None of his fears that Nikita would never let his son stay with Flins again mattered. That voice was quiet, not daring to interrupt the young man's speech. Illuga always had that way of silencing his regrets and making him focus on the present.
Truly a beacon of hope to light the path.
—Bonus!—
They had migrated to the couch at some point. Illuga knew Flins hadn’t been getting rest, those eyebags didn’t even slightly diminish. So he waited until Flins fell asleep on the couch, his breath even and his eyes closed. There was no response when Illuga said his name, and he felt confident his friend was truly resting for once.
As he went to stand he remembered how he usually became exhausted into the night and never realised it until he nearly fell over, but this time his legs didn’t give way. Certainly it wasn’t strange, he’d slept through half the day anyway.
Looking back down at the peaceful and serene Flins, he decided to bring a blanket down from the guest room. He laid the blanket over Flins and pulled it up to his own shoulders. A yawn escaped him after a short bit passed and he felt sleep take him once more.
Flins heard gentle snoring to his left and slowly opened his eyes. Illuga was fast asleep on his shoulder, his smaller frame snuggled up to Flins’ in an effort to share warmth that wasn’t there. The sleepy Lightkeeper was wrapped in the fluffy blanket he had brought down from the guest room, a small smile on his face and his earring still in.
I should have started with pretending to sleep…