Archive of Our Own

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Today was as normal as one could hope in Teyvat. 

Notably, never. 

Flins thought-or perhaps knew that today was different. Rerir hadn’t been seen in a long time, even though Flins knew that the Sinner was somewhere in Nod-Krai, or perhaps even in some other part of Teyvat, but that wasn’t here. 

Some tiny part of him did wish to see the other, but he doubted Rerir would be as forthcoming as Flins were.  Probably because he still had the Sinner’s heart in his lantern. 

His days had gone from wandering in the silence of his eternal slumber to now fighting the Sinners of Khaenri’ah and battling the Wild Hunt when need be. He’d encountered Rerir several times, including when the other had first escaped the Abyss. And the other- 

Well, he didn’t know precisely how to describe it, but Rerir was glorious. 

Flins liked the other more than he’d admit. 

And he admitted quite easily that he had a fixation on the Sinner, but alas, perhaps it was too dangerous for a Fae such as himself to obsess over one who’d never return his feelings. 

If anything, if he even could- Flins would pocket the Sinner like one of the old coins he fancied, Fae were known to love hoarding, and Flins was no exception. 

He was a Snowland Fae, long since extinct, yet he had survived, and persisted in this cruel, cruel world. He supposed, after time in Nod-Krai and Snezhnaya, that he should try a more positive outlook on this life he was thrust into thousands of years after he had condemned himself to eternal slumber. 

Was life truly so horrid?  

No. 

He fancied many things, notably old coins, Ancient gems and really anything shiny. It intrigued him. 

That and the human culture. 

Oh, and Rerir. 

The Sinner was just so... 

Enigmatic. 

Even though it seemed as though Rerir despised him- Flins couldn’t bring himself to return the feelings. 

God, he loved Rerir. 

Crack. 

Glancing down, he sees the crumpled leaf he’d stepped on. It was a withering grey green, the color of death. It’d been crushed under his boot, blown from a dying tree as the cool winter wind whipped through the cemetery.  

He sighs before looking up. He may not be truly alive- per say, but he was close to it. No breaths puffed from his pale lips in the cold temperature, and no rise or fall of his chest indicated his breathing. 

He was, after all, a spirit inhabiting a body. Nothing more, nothing less. 

The graveyard he had taken as his own had been run down and nothing more than forgotten gravestones with spirits haunting it, scaring away any and all visitors. 

Except him. 

He could see them, and he could guide them and calm them down. He helped them relax as he fixed their home and made them comfortable. His lighthouse overlooked the graveyard, but the light that shined never went out. And Flins was planning on it to never go out. 

The spirits were between restless and wakeful tonight; many took to pacing the trails of the cemetery, others floating aimlessly as though a rogue demon might appear. But demons weren’t real; perhaps they were also thinking of Rerir.  

Why could he not stop thinking about the Sinner? 

But nonetheless, he continues his route through the haunted area, lantern gripped semi-tightly in his gloved hands. The air tonight was brisk and cool, and if he had breath, he’d surely see puffs of it surrounding him. 

He followed the cobbled path, his boots thumping lightly against the grey stones as his gaze traces over the spirits that roamed currently. One was pacing his grave, muttering vengeances. Another was lazily floating as they hummed hymns under their breath as they curled a strand of their hair in their hand. 

Some spirits did not realize they were dead; rather, they believed they still lived. Delusions, of course, and no one would speak to them, leaving those spirits who believed themselves still alive, to get frustrated as why no one answered their small talk. 

Alas, when Kyryll had been a spirit, he had no pleasure where he engaged in talking with other spirits. He never truly died, all those millennia ago, but rather he cast an eternal slumber on himself, thinking to be left in peace, but then awoken close to four months prior to tonight. 

It had been an annoyance at first, but then he found purpose. He was curious about how humanity could change and how it was so different from his time. He joined the Lightkeepers and drove away the hordes of the Wild Hunt. 

And then came Rerir. 

Flins hadn’t known what he had pieced together when he found Rerir’s heart. He found something he synced with and kept it in his lantern now. The heart called out to him, even now. Calling to Rerir and Flins. For it belonged to both of them. 

And meeting the Sinner of Khaenri’ah had been an experience of its own, which he cherished to this day. 

Because Kyryll Chudomirovich Flins was obsessed with Rerir, the Rächer of Solnari, and the Blasphemy of Death. The Sinner was his point of fixation, and once a Fae was obsessed, there was no way to undo that. 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Once he’d made it back to the lighthouse, he slumps into a velvet armchair. He’d inherited the place because it once belonged to the leader of the Lightkeepers whomst died at Rerir’s hand. 

The death had hurt Flins for some time, but that was before he truly knew Rerir. He now knew the reasons behind the death. It wasn’t justified, of course not. 

But curse his thoughts, because they always strayed back to Rerir, someway, somehow. 

He wondered where the Sinner was. 

Sighing once more, he gathers himself up before trudging into his room. He didn’t need sleep, but it felt good to lie in a bed. And rest his eyes. And deflating from the day’s events. But when he truly needed a recharge, he returned to the lantern to relax. 

Today wasn’t that stressful of a day, so he merely resorted to lying in bed.  

And always on the cusp of him, closing his eyes, half lidded and weary with exhaustion. He was always plagued with the thoughts of Rerir. 

He didn’t dream. 

Spirits didn’t dream, nor should Fae. 

So why, when he always succumbed to exhaustion, did he see Rerir? 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Rerir, was, undoubtedly, the most restless creature in Teyvat.  

He never stayed in a spot for long, worried he’d be caught lingering anywhere. Then he would fight the Knights of Favonius, and that would become a whole thing. 

It was annoying. 

His own thoughts often strayed to that Snowland Fae. 

He was...  

Rerir didn’t know the word, but he seemed polite. He knew the extents of a Fae’s mind; it’s tricks and ploys to get what they wanted. He despised them thoroughly, to his core; all the way to his goddamn heart. 

But he didn’t have a heart due to that pesky Fae. He’d stolen Rerir’s heart and hadn’t even realized it until Rerir had brought it up! The Fae was totally, and fully, oblivious to the power he wielded. 

He wanted- No, needed- his heart back. Not that it was particularly useful anymore, due to it stopped beating a while back, but it was the last part of himself that he’d needed. He had every piece of his body back, except the one that Fae kept in his lantern. 

His heart did not beat for anyone; nor had it in many years. Not since Tholindis... But he chose not to dwell on that. Never to dwell on that.  

Pacing his way in the cave he was situated in, he lets out a low growl. Oh, how he hated that bloody Snowland Fae. It was no matter; he still had his Abyssal power; he’d merely find the blasted Fae and take his heart right back! 

...but. 

He would never admit this to anyone, not one soul he’d ever known or come to know... 

But he felt weird. 

The body he was in was so... 

Different. 

He only truly knew how to use his human body, when he had brown messy hair, and blue eyes, where he only wore a grey vest and had no care in the world. When all he could think of pretty blond hair and purple eyes that flashed with affections. When all he knew was researching the false moons of Teyvat, and he could be less than bothered when sent out on jobs as the Rächer of Solnari, and continue living his normal life. 

He truly despised what had happened to him. What had happened to Tholindis, and all those lived he’d ruined when he’d read a name from a paper, and they’d be dead the next day. 

But he’d never admit that. 

One of the most constant things in Rerir’s lifetime was his heart. Whether it had beaten or stilled, it’d still be there. 

Not in a Snowland Fae’s fucking lantern. 

Besides that, he had resorted to staying in a cave near the Lokapala Jungle. He hated the humidity, and the animals and everything. 

But who would think that one of the Five Sinners of Khaenri’ah would be hiding in a jungle on the outskirts of Liyue? 

Not the Knights of Favonius, that’s who. 

He barked a low, dry laugh at that thought; surely the Knights would never find him here.  

Aside from his whereabouts, he was still getting used to his magic. He’d only used it on separate occasions, one being when he tried and failed to save Tholindis. The other when he and the other Sinners destroyed Khaenri’ah; they were called the Sinners of Khaenri’ah for a reason, no? The Cataclysm... 

But lately... Well to put it simply, his magic was on the fritz. He’d teleport somewhere random and end up stranded, or he’d be caught and then must resort to teleporting someplace random. He hated that he didn’t know what to do, nor who he should go to.  

The other Sinners were not the friendliest bunch; alas, if he had his heart perhaps, he might have a better grasp on the situation. The Knights of Favonius would no doubt try to have him incarcerated or thrown back into the Abyss, which he refused on all levels. 

Then, there was that Fae. 

That stupid, blasted Snowland Fae that had stolen his heart. 

A thief was a better word, but he didn’t care what he called it. Flins would always be and would stay the Fae who’d stolen his heart.  

A situation he despised but had no choice. 

He’d seen the Fae, actually almost as soon as he clawed his way out of the Abyss, out of the reflection of the moon. He had stood there, dark blue hair fading into a pale periwinkle as his black coat bristled in the wind that had stirred. It was so peculiar; the Fae’s pale harvest moon yellow eyes meeting his own sparkling magenta that glimmered with malice. 

The Fae had been so stoic upon seeing Rerir, had been so... So polite it almost disgusted the Sinner. 

Yet why could he not halt his thoughts? 

Why could he not pull his gaze away from the Fae at the very moment he saw Flins? 

Why could he see an obsession that mirrored his own deep within Flins? 

He despised Flins, yet why could he not begin to stop his pacing as he planned? As he went through several scenarios that included the Fae- 

Why was he so essential to what Rerir needed at his core? 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

It’d taken time, but eventually Rerir settled on a plan. He knew where the bloody Fae lived and knew what he needed to do- What he needed to get. 

He needed his blasted heart back, and Flins still had it. So, he’d decided that he was to sneak into the Fae’s lighthouse (because yes, he knew exactly where Flins lived), and to snatch the lantern and his own heart back. 

With his magic... Well, he’d need to try. He couldn’t travel two continents on foot, nor would he believe he’d survive without being captured. 

And so, he hoped, and quite almost prayed, that his magic would take him to the Final Night Cemetery, where he knew Flins resided in his lighthouse. 

Stopping his pacing, he grumbles before looking around. If the forest caught fire, he wouldn’t care. He just hoped it wouldn’t catch when he was still there. 

And with that, he snapped his fingers and disappeared. 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Usually, when Flins would lie to rest on his bed, it would be silent. Yes, there was still the chirping of animals, the soft coos of Cinderneck Storks, the quiet baas of a Chestnut Goat, and the subtle flicking of a tongue as Red and Blue Horned Lizards as they scurried about the island. Sometimes, though rare, he could hear a Pale-Fur Wolf howling to the moon. 

But what he most definitely had never heard on all his nights was the sound of a body falling on the roof of his lighthouse and the groan of metal and echoing thud as it rolled to the edge before he heard claws- or fingers, scrabbling to hold onto the gutters. 

And upon hearing the low moan, that was raspy and yet so toe-curling familiar, Flins bolted upright, eyes wide and blue hair messily sticking up in random spots.  

He knew that voice almost as well as he knew his own. 

“Rerir?” He mumbles before blearily rubbing his eyes. 

He was not sleeping.  

Merely... 

Resting his eyes. 

Yes, that. 

As he scrambled out of bed, he ran to the window, drawing back the curtains. It was nearing midnight, yet whoever other than Rerir would be on his roof? It also sounded like Rerir- But he could be sure. 

So, when he pushes open the window, he’s met with a face full of black bandages, a magenta eye, and silver hair that pooled downwards. 

There he was, Rerir, hanging upside down from the roof of the lighthouse, and staring at him. It took the Sinner a moment to meet Flins’ eyes, but when they do, he loses his grip once more, almost tumbling to the ground if not for the Abyss hands he summoned that held fast to the windowsill even as Rerir’s body falls, the hands grip and pull him up. 

Once Flins gets a good look at him, his eye is wide, panting heavily with exhaustion. 

What a coincidence- He had just been thinking about the Sinner. 

“Rerir? What are you doing?”  

The man in question’s eyes flutter shut before he groans and falls into Flins’s open arms. He was heavy, slightly sweaty and bordered on consciousness and unconsciousness. Nonetheless, Flins grips the man tight, happy to be the pillar unto which Rerir leans upon.  

“Damn you... Fae.” Rerir barely musters out before his eyes roll to the back of his head. 

“Wait- Wait, wait, wait! Don’t faint, I don't know mortal bodies!” Flins flusters, before dragging the unconscious Sinner to his bed. Laying him down, Flins pants from the exercise of pulling the heavy man but wipes the sweat off his brow.  

Rerir groans before nestling into Flins’s bed. At least one of them was enjoying their night.  

Rerir was dressed as he had when the two had first met, his black bandages wrapping around most of his body, which included his face, only leaving his right eye and nose to be touched by cool air; his messy silver hair covered where his left eye would be. He still wore his heavy burgundy cape, and the lightweight crimson pauldrons that weighed next to nothing but was still sharper than most would think. His grey pants had dirt and some unidentified liquid that was not piss, but his tall, armored boots with the gold outsoles still were pristine.  

He looked glorious, if not sweaty, but Flins loved him all the same. 

His lantern though, glowed a faint pink and then blue before settling on a shimmering purple. He’d never seen it turn purple- Perhaps because Flins’ default flame color had been a dark sapphire blue, and the reddish-pink color that was Rerir, perhaps they’d combined? 

But nevertheless, he was astounded by the mere colors of the flames growing and licking purple on the edges of the lantern’s black metal rim. It was beautiful. 

And the heart that Flins had pieced together inside pulsed, demanding to be returned to its original owner. 

He wondered then, what would happen if he were to return it. 

Perhaps an experiment would be called for? 

Standing up now, he waves a hand and his Lightkeeper uniform appears. He didn’t want Rerir to see him while he was only wearing bed-clothing after all. Crossing over to his desk (that he rarely used), he grasps the handle of his lantern, the metal pulsing between ice cold and blazing warmth.  

Grimacing, he strides back to Rerir, the flame growing with each step it grew nearer to its original owner. Rerir’s heart sure was eager to get back to him. Yet Flins felt weary to return it. He’d seen the chaos that had erupted upon Rerir’s release, and even if Flins had it down bad for the Sinner, he wasn’t sure he wanted to destroy the world. 

Maybe this was a bad idea. 

Letting out a sharp breath, he eventually settles at the foot of the bed. The flame now licking his fingers hungrily, even. He lets out a shuddering sigh before his eyes flutter close. He was so, so close to Rerir now. He can see the Sinner’s chest rising and falling as he rests in Flins’s bed. 

Truly, he had been given a blessing. But still, he wanted this more than anything else- He needed it. To be able to hold the Sinner, and to mark his possession. Kyryll had a problem and would admit it if someone asked him most likely. 

Upon finally crawling to the other side of the bed, he hums, hovering over Rerir. The lantern was now ravenous, begging to be returned, now more pink than purple or blue. Flins may have kept it for several months, but it would always belong to the Sinner. 

The flames jump, and Flins carefully holds the lantern over Rerir’s chest. The Sinner wouldn’t wake up- He hoped. How would he explain it if he did? 

And gently, ever so, lowering the lantern, the flames hop, coalescing on Rerir’s chest. It felt like a sour twist of Kyryll’s stomach, to see the thing he had cherished and used in his lantern leave so quickly. But he couldn’t do much, could he? 

That was when, unfortunately, Flins discovered Rerir’s glitching magic. It wasn’t the powerful waves of red he’d felt before, now it felt off- He saw yellow? And blue... 

But neither of those colors belonged to him- Nor Flins. The blue perhaps, but it wasn’t- 

He hears, or more like sees something bloom beneath them. On the surface of the bed, inky tendrils drag them- Somewhere, he wasn’t sure. But it was down. The lantern’s flame and Rerir’s heart are deterred and instead hop back into the safety of the lantern. 

Eventually, they’re both pulled into the darkness. 

It’s black, there’s no light, and it's so similar to how Flins felt when he had his eternal slumber. He’s not scared by any means, just... 

Confused. 

Rerir’s magic was acting glitchy; it wasn’t normal. Why had he seen yellow and blue? The lantern now thrums in Flins’s grip, steady and cooling. Looking around now, he can see Rerir. The Sinner has somehow managed to stay unconscious, so perhaps he was more exhausted then Flins thought initially. 

And soon, come the tendrils. Different from the ones that pulled them both in, and different colors as well. Shining through the darkness of whatever abyss they’d been pulled into, four tendrils of white and gold light curl around Rerir, pulling him away. And blue and silver ones wrap around Flins- around his waist, roughly pulling him. The tendrils that cling to Rerir cradle him as though he’s precious, and Flins is at least content that the tendrils aren’t hurting them. 

But soon, both are yanked violently from each other. Let it be known it's not easy to get a Fae to lose consciousness; it’s nearly impossible to. 

But as the blue and silver tendrils yank him, it feels as though his sensations are slipping- No sight, no sound, no touch. And soon he loses his mind, knocked unconscious. 

Perhaps today wasn’t normal. 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

As the hot air balloon touched down at the port in the Vanilla Kingdom, Pure Vanilla Cookie let out an audible sigh. He was happy to be back home- Even if he did miss Shadow Milk Cookie... The other clearly didn’t want Pure Vanilla there.  

His other half was so stubborn. 

Alas, he couldn’t do much when the Spire of Deceit had started crumbling- In all honesty, he hadn’t expected Shadow Milk to react so... Violently, to his offer. Yes, lying to the Beast that he was the Truthless Recluse wasn’t right, but what was he to do? To simply embrace deceit?  

That couldn’t happen. 

Shaking his head, he sighed. Eventually, once the doors opened, he strode out. The streets were always filled with laughter and joy; he’d done that. He’d founded the Vanilla Kingdom; he’d brought the remnants of his previous village to live- And look! They were all flourishing. 

The castle floating in the sky hadn’t been a part of his previous plan- Dark Enchantress Cookie raised it into the sky after taking it during the Dark Flour War, but luckily Vanilla and Gingerbrave and his friends all took it back- Thank the Witches for that. Although they never found a way to actually get the castle to return to the ground, they merely found ways around.  

The hot air balloon ride hadn’t taken nearly as long as he’d thought it would. He would’ve preferred to stay in Beast-Yeast, but his friends had sent letters that Dark Enchantress Cookie was preparing for another war against the Ancients again. It was such a shame that peace never lasted as long as so many wished it did. Yet another reason he had abdicated the throne. 

Nonetheless, walking through the cobbled streets of the Kingdom was beautiful- He loved seeing children running around the pathways, parents always near, but social and always connecting. The Raisin Inn was doing quite well. He had said a quick hello to Black Raisin Cookie and told her a brief recap of what happened in the Spire of Deceit before she was pulled away to help a villager. 

Humming a soft tune, he made his way to the castle. He may not be the King of the Vanilla Kingdom anymore, but he still lived in the castle (many had insisted upon it, actually). Smiling, he grips his staff a bit tighter and walks through the double doors. Wafflebots whirred here and there, floating as they made their way through the halls. Strawberry Crepe Cookie must have been busy, he supposed. 

“Pure Vanillaaaaaa!!!” A small figure with bobbing pink hair and turquoise eyes hurls themselves at him, hugging him tight. He responds in kind by hugging them tightly back.  

“Strawberry Crepe Cookie! Ah, my dear, I’ve missed you.” He smiles warmly, patting her back.  

“I’ve missed you!” They give a cheeky grin before pulling back to see him. “You’ve got a new form? Ah! I simply must analyze it!” It was true; he no longer wore his waffle cone patterned robes, now donning a white Alb and white dress pants. His golden blond hair flows down his back in elegant waves, and his signature waffle cone hat.  

“Ah ha,” he laughs softly. “Of course, my dear. Did anything happen while I’ve been gone? I see you’ve been hard at work with the Wafflebots; there are more than I’ve seen in quite some time!” 

“Hmm... Nothing, bleh, it was so boring without you! Custard Cookie III came but left when he found out you weren’t here.” 

“Mm-hmm? Well now, we can’t have that. Let’s go find something exciting, yes?” 

“Really?!” They clapped their hands together, smile wide. 

“Yes, now what do you think we should-” Pure Vanilla’s words are cut off as he feels something in his chest. A pulling, or perhaps a twisting, it was... Abnormal. It wasn’t health-related by any means, just... 

Like his magic was winding itself into circles, winding, winding... Twisting and pulling at something. 

“Pure Vanilla? Pure Vanilla Cookie!” Strawberry Crepe’s voice is faint; he can barely hear it. His eyesight is blurrier than usual, and in the corner of his eye, he can see something black- 

Wait, no, this was white. 

It was white and gold- A portal to the other-realm? The other-realm had originally belonged to Shadow Milk Cookie, but now it belonged to both of them. Why was it opening? He certainly hadn’t used it, that he knew of. It was white and gold, the eyes blinking with uncertainty. It wasn’t black and blue- those were Shadow Milk’s colors.  

Why was his other-realm opening? 

Tendrils of white and yellow curl around the portal, writhing as though in agony before almost concentrating to pull something out. The portal drew the attention of Strawberry Crepe Cookie, who looked wary yet excited. Using her headset, they summon Vanilla Cone Legionnaires, Vanilla Cone Javelins, and several Berry Bishops to surround the portal. 

He presses a hand to his chest, feeling as though he’s being ripped apart, and it hurts, Witches above it hurts-!  

It stops a moment later, the pain. The tendrils concentrate once more before pulling out something- someone- And a quick flash of blue and black before the portal starts closing. 

Once fully sealed, it leaves the stranger on the floor of the main hall, Wafflebots surrounding them, and Pure Vanilla Cookie plus Strawberry Crepe warily stepping towards them. 

It was a man- They think. He seemed broad, but much too pale for it to be his doughtone. No, he looked... Almost like a Witch. Not an actual Witch, but he seemed like one. Fleshy and soft. He had black bandages covering almost every part of him, his hair a pale silver, while his face was also covered in bandages; only his nose and left eye seemed to be shown. His eyes were closed, though- He seemed unconscious. He sported a burgundy cap that curled around him. His boots were all the way to his knee, silver on the edges but not overall a flaunt of wealth. 

Who was this stranger? 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

Shadow Milk Cookie grumbles, pacing endless circles in the theater. Witches, why, why, why did Pure Vanilla even- 

Ugh, he couldn’t even think the name without lashing out! He hated stupid Pure Vanilla, lying to him about being a cookie of Deceit! 

“Stupid, stupid, stupid-! AGH!” His hair lashes out, tendrils bristling as the eyes within glare at absolutely anything.  

“Black Sapphire Cookieeeee!!!” Candy Apple Cookie’s voice rings from down the hall, loud and obnoxious. Witches, maybe he should’ve made her a quieter cookie. Yet another mistake of his. 

Witches above, could this day get any worse? 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

A gentle prod to his head makes him stir, if only lightly. Another poke and his eyes flutter. The ground felt cool, like tile. Yet the only place he knew that had tile was Fontaine and Mondstadt- Even occasionally Nod-Krai. This wasn’t his lighthouse. Nor did it feel like any of the places he knew would have tile. It felt conditioned- Almost like the Kuuvahki Experimental Design Bureau. There was a chance he could be there, but he doubted it. 

Slowly, his senses come back, one by one. Feeling returned to him first; now he could definitely feel the tile beneath him. He was lying on the floor wherever he was- and then came his sense of smell. It was almost sickeningly sweet, what he smelled. Flins didn’t partake in much food, but this was like he’d been shoved into a bag of sugar and forced to breathe it. He supposed it was good he was technically dead- he doesn’t need to breathe, but the scent would never leave his nostrils. And then came his hearing, and he could hear two voices. 

“Ahh, our guest is waking up.” A smooth voice comments, definitely male. 

“Shut up, Sapphie! He looks weird; I’m getting Master!” Another voice, young and high-pitched, but also female.  

His eyesight returns last, where he blinks open his bleary eyes before rubbing them furiously. He wanted to see whoever these two were, because he was most certainly not in his lighthouse anymore, nor was he sure he was even in Nod-Krai. And where was Rerir? Wait- 

“Who’s... There?” His voice is raspy, like he hadn’t used it for several days. He looks at himself, making sure he’s still intact. He is, and the lantern is clipped to his belt. The flame was back to normal, a blue, cerulean fire that lit up lightly as he awoke. Flins still felt Rerir’s heart inside, beating and powerful. Was it selfish to say he was happy he still had it? 

“Our guest speaks! Marvelous,” The male one- Sapphie?- says.  

“I don’t trust it.” The younger one says.  

Finally, seeing semi-clearly, he looks up, and there are two people –if that’s what they can even be called- standing there. The boy is tall and lanky but holds a confident posture. One of his eyes is hidden behind his short yet fluffy black hair, which falls over most of his face, the visible eye being a deep black and a pointed lavender slit. He wears a tailored black suit that resembles one that an entertainer would wear, which hints at gold accents in the suit. He has double onyx earrings plus a matching brooch, and a white rose on his left lapel. The sleeves on his suit are puffed at the wrist, made for exaggerated movements. A chain hangs from his waist, pinned to his undershirt. He wears sleek slacks, black of course, and a pair of black and purple wings that curl elegantly beside him. He holds a staff, which looks similar to an eye, but also a gem- a purple sapphire specifically.  

The other one, the girl, has a messy bob of white hair, devil horns, and ribbons tying off her hair. Two globes of- Well, what looks like, candied apples, are stuck on either side of her head, like buns. She wore a black dress with puffy, transparent sleeves, with a ruffle rimming the edge of her dress, and a fat red bow on the back. There’s a black bow tie around her neck, and she sports Mary Jane shoes, black and glossy. There are also two black and red wings on either side of her. She has round, scarlet eyes with a white diamond like the pupil; her mouth looks cat-like, with a small fang poking out. 

“My name is Black Sapphire Cookie, and this is Candy Apple Cookie. I presume you do not know how you have ended up here? Not many travel to the Spire of Deceit after all. Ah, and of course, may we have your name?”  

Flins regards them both warily, even though he was Fae; it was still dangerous to give his name out. Yet another reason he went by his last name. 

“Flins. I suppose that is where I am, though? The Spire of Deceit? I haven’t heard of it.”  

“Flins. Hmm, you don’t look like a cookie. Perhaps an experiment of Dark Enchantress’s? I suppose we should just take you to Master Shadow Milk Cookie then. Run along now, Candy.” Sapphire waves Candy Apple away; she huffs before darting down the hallways. 

Observing the Spire around him, Flins blinks, and everything becomes clearer. The halls around them consist of several things – bunny creatures that run around, clutching keys tight. Stairs that go to nowhere, and halls that seem endless but stop abruptly. 

“This place makes no sense.” Flins murmurs, running a hand through his hair. He still wore his Lightkeeper’s uniform; he was grateful for that. Gently, ever so, he unclasps the lantern from his belt and holds it tight. Black Sapphire casts him a curious glance, lips curving into a somewhat smile. 

“Of course, it makes no sense. It’s the Spire of Deceit.”  

“I do not know what that is supposed to mean to me.” Flins hums under his breath. Taking a step forward, he realizes that the ground is hard, somewhat so, but almost hollow. Like biting into a chocolate bar almost. 

“The Spire of Deceit is the domain of my Master, Shadow Milk Cookie, the Beast of Deceit,” Sapphire explains patiently, ready to see the usual panic and fear overcome this guest's face. 

But it never comes. 

Flins merely graze over the title before glancing at Sapphire. “I see. And where are we on the map?” 

Black Sapphire sputters for a moment, astounded that this man didn’t react. “Ah- Well, we’re in Beast-Yeast, obviously. A bit farther past the Ghost-Yeast Forest, though. And you seriously don’t remember how you got here?” His gaze narrowed in suspicion, “Wait, you’re not with Pure Vanilla Cookie, are you?” 

“Who?” Flins replied honestly. His thoughts were close to messy; scattered was more like it. He’d never heard of a place called Beast-Yeast in his centuries of living; he didn’t know where it would fit on the map of Teyvat he had in his mind. Beast-Yeast could be past the Easybreeze Holiday Resort, or perhaps south of Seirai Island? He doubted it’d be near Snezhnaya, that was much too far. 

“...” Black Sapphire Cookie frowned. Who was this stranger who knew absolutely nothing about the land that they were in? How did he not know? “Perhaps you should tell me where you’re from,” Sapphire suggests after a moment. “I know Earthbread’s map quite well.”  

“Earthbread...?” Flins muttered before shaking his head. “I do not know, nor have I heard of a Pure Vanilla Cookie, but I am from Nod-Krai. It’s more on the western side of Teyvat, but close to Paha Isle. Both Lempo Isle and Hiisi Island are also nearby, if you know them?”  

Black Sapphire’s eye raised so high it almost went into his hair, but eventually he murmurs, “I’ve never heard of any of those places. It may be somewhere else on Earthbread, but I’ve never heard of Nod-Krai.” 

“Nor Teyvat? But... That is the world we live in, no?” 

“What? No, no, we all live on Earthbread! Beast-Yeast is adjoined to Crispia, and Sugarberg is north of us. Where have you been all your life? Under a rock?”  

“No, yet I’ve never heard of a place called Earthbread. It sounds like it could be a pastry, though...”  

“Are you okay?” Sapphire shakes his head, exasperated. “We’re all pastries, Flins, sir. I think you may have amnesia or perhaps you have schizophrenia...” He mutters under his breath. 

“Pastries? What?” Flins whips around, gaze darting around. When it finally clicks, it makes sense in a way. The tile beneath his boots was hollow-like chocolate. The scent, the names... Where the hell was he? 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Rerir’s body felt warm. It was nice. 

Like he was bathing in sunlight... 

It took him a moment to realize it was magic he was feeling. It was sweet and warm and so, so different from any magic he knew. It felt close to Sumeru magic, but not dissimilar to Nahida, the Dendro Archon, but this felt... 

Warmer. 

Pure-er. 

Groaning, he lifts a heavy hand to his face and scrubs over it. God, when was it so bright? Eons spent in the Abyss, in the reflection of the moon, and he had gotten used to the darkness, never this light. The smell here was different too, almost sterile... And vanilla? Perhaps a hint of... Strawberry, for some reason. He’s on something soft, he realizes. Like a bed. Perhaps it's softer? Hm. 

Nonetheless, he needs to find out where the hell he is, fast. The last thing he remembered was tumbling down the roof of Flins’ lighthouse and using the Abyss hands and then being face-to-face with the Fae. Then he knocked out... He was more exhausted than he thought after using his magic. Nonetheless, he rubs his hand- or clawed hand over his face, the touch of smooth skin cool and tender. 

He pauses at the touch. 

Why can he feel that? Wasn’t he wearing his- 

Bandages. Bandages, where are they? 

Where, where, where? 

At that, he bolts upright, eyes snapping open, both of them. They’re wild and sparkling magenta with madness and malice. His gaze darts around furiously, searching for his bandages. Upon his sitting upright, two sounds occur that he hears- A yelp, like a child would, and a patter of footsteps.  

His hair is messy, plaited with a sheen of sweat on his face as he growls. He can feel the warmth and humidity of the air on his face, and it feels so, so weird. His lips part, and a raspy noise is let out. He needs his bandages.  

A door swings open, and his gaze snaps onto the figure that stands there. And of the other, much smaller figure running to them.  

“Pure Vanilla Cookie! He woke up!” The younger one squeals, in both excitement and fear. They have a bob of hot pink and teal eyes that stare at the figure in the doorway. 

His eyes catch on the other man, who is, most definitely, not Flins. He has a tan skin tone and heterochromia. One eye was sunshine yellow, the other a pastel blue. He had blond hair that fell to the floor in waves, clad in white and gold everywhere. He seems to radiate light, and that is enough to make Rerir hiss in frustration. He supposes this is the “Pure Vanilla Cookie”, that the pink-haired one referred to as. 

Where was the bloody Fae? Wasn’t he last with Flins? Hell, did Flins give him up to the Knights of Favonius? No, this place wasn’t Mondstadt. Yet, why the hell was he here? Upon another sniff, he gags before looking around with fury. This place smelled like sweetness incarnate, and he was going to disgorge his stomach if he didn’t get the scent of vanilla and sugar out of his sinuses. 

“Fuck, what the hell is that smell?” Rerir mutters, waving a hand and trying to blow the smell away. He scowls, looking down at his body and realizing he’s been stripped of all his bandages. 

“Good morning, sir.” Says Pure Vanilla Cookie, not at all worried about the smell. God, it seemed like the vanilla scent came from him- Rerir supposed he was named ‘Pure Vanilla’ for a reason. He stank like a vanilla bean. 

Rerir sniffs and looks around once more. They were in a medical bay of some sort, but everything looked... Wrong. Tools made for baking, gauze that looked sticky with sap. Where the hell was he? 

“Pure Vanilla- I tried to analyze his ingredients, but it’s really weird- He doesn’t have any! Nor does he have any jam...” The young one says. 

“Stay quiet for now, Strawberry Crepe Cookie,” Vanilla says with a gentle shush. Strawberry Crepe huffs before scampering out of the room on two small feet. A child, what was Rerir afraid of? These two could do no damage to him, and he was sure to stay alive; he was immortal after all. 

“Where the fuck am I?” He growls before swinging his feet- because he’s been so graciously stripped down to nothing but his pants- over the side of the bed and standing on woozy feet. He wore nothing but his pants, and he knew if they had tried to undress him further, he would’ve rioted.  

“You are in the Vanilla Kingdom, sir. May I ask where you are from and what your name is? I’m afraid I haven’t seen you around here, and I normally know all my residents.” Vanilla says softly, like he’s trying to coax a foal out of hiding in the brambles. Rerir gives him an expression of disgust, who was this strange man who didn’t even recognize him? 

“You don’t know who I am? What I am?” The Sinner grunts. His gaze flicks around before landing on normal white bandages. They’d have to do for now. He snatches them up with ferocity and glares at Vanilla.  

“No, I’m afraid I do not. And I checked your bandages earlier; you don’t appear to have any wounds.”  

Rerir hisses in irritation. “You seriously haven’t heard? Not of the Five Sinners or of my battle with the Knights of Favonius?” 

“Five... Sinners? Are you speaking of the Beast Cookies? Are you one of them?” Pure Vanilla Cookie finally looks wary and grips his staff –a flower that shines with radiance- a bit tighter. 

“Beast Cookie? The fuck is that?” Rerir growls. Once he finishes re-bandaging his body, he quickly does his face. In all honesty, he’s slightly pissed because of these... Strange people had removed his bandages and seen his face, which he normally would never allow.  

“You don’t know them? Not Shadow Milk or ah, uhm... I believe it was Mystic Flour Cookie, or Burning Spice, Silent Salt, or Eternal Sugar?” 

“No, and you haven’t heard of me? Rerir, Sinner of Khaenri’ah, Rächer of Solnari, and the Blasphemy of Death? Nor the other four? Surtalogi, Rhinedottir, Verdrflonir, and Hroptatyr?” Rerir mutters. He glances and sees a mirror in the corner, striding over he looks himself over. He wasn’t a vain man, but he did have a reputation to keep- He wouldn’t let his face be seen anywhere. 

“Are those even names...?” 

“Of course they are, you bloody idiot.” Rerir growls, his eye twitching. God, could this man be any thicker? 

“Ah, no need to be rude... Rerir.” Vanilla says with a nervous chuckle. Rerir merely grunts in response. 

“I’ve never heard of the Vanilla Kingdom. We are still in Teyvat, yes? Or Nod-Krai? And I still need to find Flins...”  

“I don’t know ‘Flins’, but no, we are currently in Crispia. Are you perhaps from the Beast-Yeast continent?”  

“No? Did I not say I was from Teyvat?” Rerir sighs and runs a hand through his hair.  

“I’m sorry.” Vanilla says, offering a small smile, and it’s genuine. This place was so weird. 

“Whatever.” Grumbling, Rerir waves a hand and tries to summon the Abyss hands, yet nothing appears, “Fuck.” He mutters. “Stupid motherfucking magic...” 

“Is your magic not working?” 

“Obviously not.” Rerir snorts before pacing. 

“I... Alright.” Vanilla sighs. “My name is Pure Vanilla Cookie. I’ve just returned from the Spire of Deceit, and when I entered my castle a... Portal to my other realm opened, and tendrils pulled you out. I don't know the reason why they’ve taken you, nor why they’ve even done it, but I apologize severely. If you need anything here in the Vanilla Kingdom, ask. I may have abdicated the throne, but I still have some sort of authority here.” Pure Vanilla chuckles. 

“I fucking hate monarchies,” Rerir says darkly, gaze flicking to Vanilla. 

“A-Ah, I also dislike them as well, another reason why I abdicated the throne.”  

“And you have magic, hm?” Rerir hums before striding to a window. On the way, he sees his scarlet cape and grabs it, putting it on. At least he still had that. Upon first glance out the window, all he sees is clouds. Perhaps this castle was on a mountain? And then the clouds shift, showing a drop so tall one would most definitely not survive.  

He scrambles backwards, hissing. From this height, he would have thought they were on the moon. “What the... Where the fuck am I?” He hisses.  

“So, you don’t know the Vanilla Kingdom territory...” Vanilla chuckles before striding to the window, “The Castle has been in the sky since the Dark Flour War. I simply cannot return it to the ground.” 

“’ Simply cannot’... Pure Vanilla Cookie –I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” Rerir shakes his head before looking up, “When... You said I came out of a portal from your ‘other realm’, did you see anyone else with me?” 

“No, unfortunately, I did not. I did see a flash of blue and black in my portal, though, so I believe Shadow Milk Cookie’s other-realm was open at the same time as mine. Was there someone else with you?”  

“I... Believe so. Maybe.” He casts Vanilla a suspicious look. This day could not have been any weirder; Rerir’s magic was on the fritz, exhausted after simply trying to use his magic, and this strange place he was teleported to.  

“’Maybe’?” 

Rerir grumbles before relenting, “I wasn’t actually awake when I was pulled into your other-realm. At least I think I was pulled into your other-realm.”   

“May I ask why?” 

“Do I need to explain?” 

“I would think so, it’ll help me know a bit more about your situation and how to help you.” 

Rerir grumbles once more and shakes his head. “Fine. But don’t you dare tell another soul.” 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

When Candy Apple Cookie comes into Shadow Milk’s theater, squealing about a guest of some kind, he scowls. He was in no mood to deal with any nuisances and didn’t even want to think about the whole Pure Vanilla Cookie debacle- And there he goes, thinking that blasted name. 

“Pleeeaaaasse, Master Shadow Milk Cookie!!! I super promise it’s cool! He looks really weird and fleshy, like when you told us stories of those witches!!!” Candy tugs on his sleeve again, but the Beast pauses at the word ‘witch’. Witches were known to be women, and he doubted a wizard would be in his Spire, but still... If there was a witch-like being in his Spire, he wanted it out. 

“Fine, but be quiet, I have a headache.” Shadow Milk grunts before floating after a skipping Candy Apple Cookie. 

Walking through his Spire of Deceit always was a comfort, but now he couldn’t look anywhere without remembering. When he played the Endless Game of Chess with Truthless Recluse, when Recluse had survived the Yogurt River of Rebirth, and the Recluse’s room... Shadow Milk Cookie stifles a sigh.  

Stupid Truthless Recluse, somehow the bloody cookie had ascended and reached the height of his beliefs, awakening into a compassionate Pure Vanilla Cookie... Damn it. Why can't he stop thinking of that stupid cookie? 

His Spire didn’t even feel right. It felt...  

Well, hollow was one word. 

But why would he think that? The Spire of Deceit it his home; it shouldn’t not feel like home.  

Right? 

Floating his way through the Spire, he watches as Candy Apple’s buns bounce with her every step. When he told her that she was made from his first lie, it was technically true. He supposed. 

Once they round a corner, he sees Black Sapphire Cookie speaking with another figure. Sapphire seemed agitated, which was nearly impossible to make him irritated. Only Candy Apple could do that to him. 

Nonetheless, Shadow Milk is intrigued. His gaze shifts to the other who-... 

Who really couldn’t be called a cookie at all. 

He was tall, yet slender, and had a pale pallor. His hair is a dark blue that fades lighter, and choppy all around, yet there’s a tie in the back, where his hair flows down in elegant tresses to his waist. He wears a black uniform of some kind, with many confusing layers, but there are silver embellishments whenever there is an edge. And the man’s eyes... A pale yellow that was reminiscent of Pure Vanilla’s left eye, but a bit more... Colorful. A lantern was clasped to his belt and glowing a sapphire blue that brightened when Shadow Milk and Candy Apple entered. 

And this... well, the figure was most definitely not a cookie. 

Their gaze flicks over as they see Shadow Milk and Candy Apple. They were unnervingly hollowed out but held an intelligence unmatched. Shadow Milk’s face splits into a grin, “Ohhhh~? And whoever could this be?” His voice is mocking and full of tricks, as it usually is. 

The guest’s eyes shimmer faintly, as though remembering something, “Good morning. I assume you are Shadow Milk Cookie?” The Beast nods before floating over to Sapphire. 

“Soooo~? What happened?” Shadow can’t help teasing Sapphie, it was always fun to play fun with him. 

“This man, Flins, he calls himself,” His minion mutters darkly, eye slitted in annoyance, “is from a place called ‘Teyvat’. A portal to your other-realm had opened and the shadows pulled him out, but I did see a flash of light, and some gold.”  

Upon hearing that his other-realm was opened, Shadow Milk blinks several times. He most certainly did not open his other-realm. Why had it opened? And didn’t that flash of white and gold mean Pure Vanilla’s part of the other-realm had been opened? 

“You.” Shadow Milk grunts; theatrical tone dropped. “Do you know a cookie named Pure Vanilla? Blond, wears waaaay too much white and gold, and with a stupid waffle cone hat?”  

“No, I unfortunately do not. Do you know a Sinner of Khaenri’ah named Rerir?” Flins responds, gaze analytic. 

“Kahn- what's it now?” Shadow Milk arches an eyebrow. 

“I’ll take that as a no.” Flins sighs. 

“Yeah, whatever. How did you even get here? I did not open my other-realm at all, and my Spire crumbled in Beast-Yeast...” Shadow’s gaze narrows in suspicion. 

“We’re leaving. Don’t even ask him about that Teyvat place, all I hear is a bunch of nonsense words.” Sapphire grunts and pulls away Candy, who protests loudly till Shadow Milk gives her a task to do, which she happily obliges. 

“To answer your question, Sir Shadow Milk Cookie-” The Beast was unsure how to feel about that title, but damn, this guy was polite- “I suppose this may be harder to explain than I thought. Would you like to know, even though the story would be lengthy, Sir?”  

“Yeah, fine, whatever.” Shadow Milk waves away the question, eyes gleaming. This was a stranger who hailed from a place where Shadow Milk knew nothing about, and he wanted to know everything. 

Flins starts. “In my home, Teyvat, I live on a lone isle in a region called ‘Nod-Krai’...”  

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

Pure Vanilla Cookie’s initial opinion on Rerir was... 

Well, the only word he can think of is hostile. 

He could be set off by the simplest of phrases, which he still hadn’t explained even half of those reasons, but he also seemed to despise any monarchy. When he had been explaining what had happened, a Fae named ‘Flins’ had taken his heart (to which Pure Vanilla didn’t even know how that was possible), but somehow this Fae had kept it in his lantern. Upon hearing Rerir had been imprisoned for eons, his thoughts stray to Shadow Milk Cookie. 

His Beast of Deceit... 

No, this was Rerir’s moment. 

And so, he listens to the story of the Sinner of Khaenri’ah (a term he was still learning). 

Once finished, Rerir scoffs and settles at the foot of the bed, “That little thief...” He growls under his breath. Once again, Vanilla’s thoughts stray to Shadow Milk, and how he had called Vanilla that very term. 

Nonetheless, he tries his best to connect with Rerir, even if the other is brusque and cold and quite possibly the harshest man he’s ever met. He’s also starting to believe that perhaps he was called a ‘Sinner’ of Khaenri’ah (which he found out was a place destroyed by something called ‘The Cataclysm’) for a reason. 

Maybe this man was evil, but he also didn’t have a place to stay. Vanilla offered a guest room here in the castle, and Rerir agreed. Begrudgingly though. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie truly hopes this wasn’t a bad idea. 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Flins didn’t know what to think about Shadow Milk Cookie. He was chaotic, silly, and quite dark. He also got this gloomy, depressed look on his face whenever he saw a certain area of the Spire. Kyryll had told the Beast about his situation, having Rerir’s heart, who Rerir was, the portal that had appeared under them both and being dragged apart from each other. When he mentions the abyss of darkness, then the colors of the tendrils that dragged Flins, Shadow Milk mutters: “Well those are my signature colors...” And when he mentions the white and gold ones that dragged Rerir, Shadow Milk stiffens. He’s silent for a moment. 

“Shadow Milk Cookie?” Flins tilts his head. “Do you know something?” 

“I... No, shut up!” Shadow Milk’s face flushes into a deep navy. 

“You shouldn’t lie to me, I am a Snowland Fae, and we do despise lies and deception.”  

Shadow Milk Cookie scowls, “This place is the Spire of Deceit, and I'm the Beast of Deceit! Of course I’m gonna lie to you!”  

“You just admitted you lied. Ah, so you do know something.” 

“N-No I don’t!” Shadow Milk shakes his head rapidly, but Flins had already guessed his tell: The eyes in his hair always darted away, not able to look Flins in the eyes.  

“Liar. It’s a dangerous thing to lie to a Fae, and you’ve given me your name, so easily...” 

“W-What the hell does that mean?” 

“In Teyvat, when you give a Fae your true name, willingly, we can steal your body, your soul, your personality... Everything. We can become you,” Flins laughs quietly. A dangerous gleam in his eyes. “So maybe you should tell me exactly what you know, little Beast.” 

“F-Fine.” Shadow Milk grumbles, then reluctantly mumbles.  

“I have a hunch, okay? The colors, what Sapphie said he saw when my shadows pulled you out of my other-realm... I think Pure Vanilla Cookie might be involved.” 

“And who, may I ask, is this Pure Vanilla Cookie?”  

“Do I need to explain? Reaally?” 

“Yes, in fact, you do.” 

“It’s a really, really long story that happened... Oh, wait it happened like a week ago.” 

“Yes, I in fact do, plus I have nothing but time. So, start speaking, little Beast.” 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Rerir did not necessarily like spending time in the Vanilla Kingdom, especially since Pure Vanilla Cookie seemed more like a ball of pure sunshine, because truly, no one could be this caring.  

He had –begrudgingly- taken a tour of the floating Kingdom, though as he walked the cobbled streets, all seemed to clear out of the way for him. Hah, even this world was terrified of him. Irony, he snorts. 

Pure Vanilla stayed by his side the entire time, which was a bit too dedicated, but Rerir didn’t have the heart (ha-ha) to tell Vanilla to scram. He was in a new world, with no magic and no one he knew other than a ball of fluff and a child who had yelled at him after he got startled and smashed a bot that looked to be made of waffles to pieces. 

Yeah, Strawberry Crepe Cookie and Rerir did not get along well. 

Besides the tour, the Vanilla Kingdom was... Peaceful. Perhaps senile was the word, but Rerir thought it slow and barely moving. As though the Kingdom was stuck in time. There were flowers galore, the sun shone down on them all, and it was positively the brightest place he’s been in his entire life. 

He couldn’t help but wonder where Flins was. The damnable Fae had somehow split off from the Sinner, which didn’t help his case at all. 

Vanilla probably thought him insane. Rerir thinks he’s insane himself. 

But whatever, he was in an unfamiliar world with people- or rather, cookies, who spoke and acted like talking and walking confections were normal. Maybe he was losing his mind. Yeah, it was probably that. 

God, maybe he should just jump off the cliff, it’s all probably a hallucinogenic dream caused by something Kyryll had done. Yes, the Fae would do something like that. 

Nonetheless, he slinks down the streets, hands in his pockets as he resists picking at the white bandages that cover his face. White has never been and will never be a color he likes. But they only have white bandages here, and he prefers even the color white to having nothing covering his face. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie compared him to several other cookies he knew, Burning Spice Cookie (whoever the fuck that was), for his attitude and personality. Could this Burning Spice Cookie claw his way out of the moon’s reflection? No, I think not. 

Then someone called Silent Salt Cookie, and Rerir now thought that, truly, this was all getting ridiculous. Does every sentient being in this world have to be named at the end with what fucking species they were? Really weird. Besides his growing grievances with this world, Silent Salt Cookie (from what Rerir was told) was that the other had an affinity for having his face covered. Yes, Rerir was self-conscious, but was he going to wear a fucking helmet to keep his face sealed off from others? No! 

Then, lastly, Pure Vanilla Cookie spoke of someone named Shadow Milk Cookie. He drew many similarities between the two, which further pissed Rerir off. He could best this Shadow-Whatsit cookie in a battle easily! He would be nothing but crumbs when Rerir was done! 

Once they’d made their way through the tour, Rerir had vehemently crushed blades of grass, and he looked like someone who’d rather sit in darkness for an eternity (which he already had) then spend another minute outside. 

Begrudgingly, he admitted he wanted to go home. Anywhere in Teyvat, really. But how the hell was he supposed to get back? 

Eventually, Pure Vanilla Cookie led the Sinner to a guest room that would be ‘his’ for the remnant of his stay, which... Well, neither of them had an estimate on how long that would take for Rerir to find a way back. But Vanilla had a hunch that Flins was somewhere else on Earthbread, and that they’d find him. 

Regardless, the moment he even saw the Fae, he was ripping his heart out of that gods-be-damned lantern and taking back his magic. He just hoped that the reason his magic was acting up was because he didn’t have his heart. 

He hoped. 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Later in the night, Rerir had settled down after dinner. Surprisingly, dinner on Earthbread consisted of ‘jellies’. At least they had... Semi-meat, he believed. It tasted like meat, but hells be damned, that consistency was chewy as fuck and reminded him of a gummy. 

At this point, he settled in the given room he stayed in before straying to the bathroom. It seemed... Normal. Ish. There was a tub, and everything smelled floral. There was a toilet and a closet with robes... That looked like cream. Gingerly, he approached the closet and poked it. It rippled like cream, it smelled like cream and felt like cream. Absolutely everything here was dessert-based.  

God, could he have perhaps been in hell? 

Maybe, but if he was there, Flins was also here. Somewhere.  

He thought. 

Probably. 

He was fucked if Flins wasn’t. 

Returning to his thoughts of the bathroom, he warily made his way to the tub -before turning on the water- or whatever the water-adjacent substance (it... Looked like water. Rerir just wasn’t sure) used, he filled the tub and stripped from his clothes and bandages. It wasn’t often that he washed his body, nor had he been in a tub in quite some time... After all, being trapped in the reflection of the moon wasn’t the homiest place to live for eons. 

Grumbling about his life choices, Rerir slips into the tub. It was... Warm at least. Yes, that was it. Not relaxing, no, no. He’d never relax in enemy territory, and much less then in a strange new world. 

No, he was merely decompressing. 

And upon that, he lays back, resting his head against the lip of the tub, a soft sigh spilling from his mouth. Damn this world to hell, why did a simple bath have to be his undoing? 

Eye twitching, if only faintly, he grumbles to himself before they flutter shut.  

Maybe a bath wasn’t the worst thing in the world. 

Maybe relaxing wasn’t either. 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Once he was finished... Bathing, so to say, the Sinner dried off with (well, actually, that robe was quite nice and dry, yet softer than anything he’d felt in quite some time) the robe. He meticulously rewrapped white bandages around his face and most of his body. There was no way in hell he’d go out naked, nor was he going out with nothing to cover his face. 

He still had his dignity! 

Besides that, he collapsed in the bed he was given, sighing loudly. He needed to find the damnable Fae and get his heart back and find some way to return to Teyvat. Yes, this world had many plusses, but it wasn’t Nod-Krai, or Teyvat. 

Was it wrong he wanted to go home? 

Nonetheless, he snatches the covers and pulls them over himself. He was comfortable at least, but it was nothing compared to his old bed in Khaenri’ah with... 

With Tholindis. 

No, no!  

He shakes his head furiously, scraping those thoughts of Tholindis up and out, out, out. 

Tholindis wasn’t here, she was gone, and there was absolutely nothing he could do to change that. 

Fuck. 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

Once Shadow finishes... Telling his story, he huffs. The Beast had an idea on what happened, but he didn’t think it was possible. He was aware of other realites, in fact, when he was still the Fount of Knowledge it was one of his most favorite things to research.  

But he wasn’t Fount now, he was Shadow Milk Cookie, the Beast of Deceit- and the Master of Deceit! He wasn’t a good two-shoes anymore. He was something to fear, and feared he was! 

But even he had to admit that Flins was... Scary. Ish.  

The Beast didn’t remotely like the Fae here in the Silver Kingdom, but this Fae- Kyryll, he found out was Flins’s first name, was... Unnerving. And it was Shadow Milk’s thing to steal identities! Not this Fae’s. 

Unfortunately, it was getting late, and Flins had no place to go... So, Shadow Milk being the utmost kindest cookie on Earthbread (ha-ha, no, that title belonged to ‘Nilly), offered him a place to stay in his Spire of Deceit! 

Flins took the offer with wariness, but always staring. Did this Fae even blink? Or breathe? Shadow Milk didn’t particularly care but he had to keep Flins around. He was interesting and it gave Shadow Milk something else to focus on- No thoughts of the Truthless Recluse or that stupid Pure Vanilla Cookie! 

And, though he’d never admit it, he was fascinated by the Fae. He was different and weird and it piqued his curiosity. But he did hate that he might need to speak to Pure Vanilla to get this situation cleared up. Perhaps he could just shove Flins into an other-realm  portal... 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Flins didn’t understand the Spire of Deceit- It was a marvelous thing as well as something that gave him endless questions that ran rampant in his head. Shadow Milk had given Flins a room for the night, but even that was confusing.  

It was a nice room; a four-poster bed with a bathroom adjacent, a closet (which Flins had no idea what to put in it), but the aesthetics were.... All over the place. There were embellishments which took up most of the room’s decor. There was a navy blue and light blue checkered lounge, with a silver rim.  

There were several other fixtures that Kyryll saw but didn’t care for. He had a pounding headache and wanted to rest. Not the rest where he lays on a bed and shuts his eyes, rather, he wanted to recuperate in the lantern where he would get his energy back.

He was also in sore need of Firewater, or something else he enjoyed that would help him regain his energy. 

For now, though, he carefully strips off his uniform and places the lantern on the bedside table. Its flames were smaller now, but a sapphire blue that showed he was nowhere near Rerir. A pity. 

Sighing, he lets his form dissipate, before he returned to the lantern. 

Perhaps tomorrow would be better- He could search for Rerir in this new world. 

Yes, he thought. 

Tomorrow I will scour the end and beginning of Earthbread to search for that Sinner. 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

Upon the first rays of light that seeped through the drapes of Pure Vanilla Cookie’s quarters, the Ancient yawned before sitting up. Then proceeds to scramble back into the pillows upon seeing Rerir at his bedside, watching him with a magenta eye squinted. 

“Oh, Cheeses!” He places a hand over his heart, nearly having a heart attack. Pure Vanilla didn’t take surprises well, and this was, in fact, a surprise. 

“You sleep too long.” Rerir grunted before standing up. “I’ve had more than enough rest to last several lifetimes." 

“A-Ah, yes, you were imprisoned in the reflection of the moon...” Vanilla says warily, his hands clutching the bedsheets a bit too tight. 

“Don’t mention it.”  

“O-Of course, but... Ah, please don’t do that again. I’m frightened easily.” 

“Whatever.” 

Pure Vanilla sighed before standing up. The Sinner merely watched him as Vanilla went to his bathroom to freshen up for the day, although he was really just trying to work up the courage to deal with Rerir. Perhaps he should call the other Ancients... Or maybe he should speak to Shadow Milk. That sounded good- The Beast probably knew where this... ‘Flins’ was that Rerir mentioned often. 

Once he returned, the Rächer was gone. Vanilla sighs before dressing. He decided not to use his awakened form- Rerir seemed to hate the light, despised it really, so Vanilla decided to be impartial and kept using his old form. 

Making his way throughout the castle, he makes polite ‘good mornings' and chit-chat, but eventually Rerir appears and slinks behind Vanilla. All who see them coming slip away in fear. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie gives a weary sigh before turning back to Rerir, and yep, he looks just as intimidating as he did the previous day. “Would you like breakfast? The maids and cooks always make enough for everyone...” 

“I suppose the menu consists of sugar, sugar, and more sugar?” Rerir responds with sarcasm. Witches above, today was going to be hard.  

“Yes, in Teyvat, do they not have anything sugary for breakfast?” Vanilla tries hard not to sass the Sinner back, already his hands gripped his staff tight, white-knuckled already. 

“Of course we do, we just don’t have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” 

“Well, you’re in Earthbread now, and we do.” Upon losing the argument, Rerir just sighs before stalking back behind the Ancient. 

“And what do you plan for today? You have magic, obviously, is there any spell you’d know for getting me back to Teyvat? And finding that bloody Fae...”  

“No, I don’t think I would. If anything, I could send a letter to White Lily Cookie, but she’s gone missing after her battle with Silent Salt Cookie...” Seeing Rerir’s narrowed eyes, Vanilla amends. “B-But we could contact Shadow Milk Cookie, he might know about Flins, and he was once the Fount of Knowledge, so that should count for something...” 

“When can we contact this... Shadow Milk Cookie? You’ve already compared me to him several times,” 

“After breakfast hopefully.” 

“I’m holding it to you, ball of fluff.” 

“I’m a ball of what?” 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Breakfast was... Appeasing, to say the least. It wasn’t his thing to have sugar like it was all he needed to eat. He preferred meat. But alas, sugar was all they had here, and truly, he needed energy.  

He wanted, no, needed, to meet this Shadow Milk Cookie. Whatever his title was, he didn’t care. What he wanted to know was how to return to Teyvat, and where the hell that Fae was. Was this cookie the most dangerous being in the universe? No. He was a cookie. 

And decidedly, Rerir saw they had cookies baked at breakfast, most likely for him. Though everyone in the dining hall had been mingling and eating and chattering, most of the talk had been silenced when Rerir and Pure Vanilla Cookie had entered. There were wary looks cast in his direction, though he paid them no mind. 

Seeing the plate of cookies, untouched by anyone, Rerir brought one to his lips- after pulling down his bandages enough to eat –and snapped the head off the gingerbread man. 

Gasps went up around the room, and nausea was the shared emotion between all. One of the cookies actually fainted. Rerir didn’t care and kept munching on the cookie. Pure Vanilla saw this and opened his mouth to say something, then shut it. 

The Sinner cast them all a curious glance. What was wrong with eating a cookie? His gaze flickered between the ones who looked like they’d be sick and the one who fainted, then to Vanilla’s face. “What, may I ask, is wrong with eating food? I thought this was breakfast, not an operating room.” He snorted before scarfing down the rest of the cookie. 

Yet another in the room made a whimper and fainted. He ate a cookie. What the hell was wrong with it? Was it because they all still believed Pure Vanilla was still the king and that he wasn’t supposed to eat till the Ancient ate? 

“A-Ah...” Vanilla tilts his head. His own nausea is apparent now, “W-We don’t eat cookies here. That’s... Ah, that’s cannibalism.” 

“...” Rerir blinked several times before barking a loud, dry laugh.  

“I-It’s not funny...” Vanilla protests quietly. 

“If it’s goddamn cannibalism, then why the fuck would you leave a plate of cookies on the table, just begging to be eaten?” He laughs harder now.  

“They’re for decoration...” 

“That’s a morbid taste for decoration! Hah!” 

“Can we just eat without another conflict...?” 

“Fine, fine. But I’m eating the rest of these,” Rerir snatches the plate of cookies and several more in the room faint. 

“Witches above, fine. Just don’t make a scene...” 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Flins didn’t hear the door to his room creak open. 

Nor did he hear the steps that never hit the floor. 

But he did hear the mocking voice of Shadow Milk Cookie. 

“Flinnnsssss~ Where’d you go~? I thought I gave him this room...” 

Was it amusing to Kyryll that Shadow Milk had no idea he was there in the lantern? Supremely. He let the Beast search for him, poking around the room. Using his magic, Shadow Milk lifted the chaise and bed, half expecting to see Flins there. He wasn’t there. 

“Come out, come out, wherever you arreeeee~?” 

“Must I?” The Fae’s voice echoed around Shadow, startling him into dropping the bed and lounge chair. 

“Huh?!” 

“I much prefer staying where I am, quite relaxing...” 

“Where are youuu~?” 

“On the bedside.” Flins cursed himself for being obligated to answer. Damn Fae laws. 

“But there’s nothing but your lantern there...?” Shadow Milk floated over, eyes sparkling with curiosity. It was cute, but not as adorable as Flins thought Rerir to be.  

“Don’t touch it, nitwit.” Flins laughs quietly before exiting the lantern, the flames coalescing into a form before solidifying, and then he was there all at once. Shadow Milk jumps back, eyes wide and excited yet surprised. 

“How did you do that?” 

“Look, now I’m obligated to answer...” 

“Huh?” 

“Well,” Flins’s lips curve upward faintly. “Snowland Fae are required to tell nothing but the absolute truth." 

“Eugh, that sounds terrible! Not being able to lie? Ugh!” 

“I agree, but alas, I cannot do much, for it was how Griseo made me. Born a Snowland Fae, I can never change.” 

“Well, that sucks. Anyways, do you want some breakfast? I stole it from the Faeries in the Silver Kingdom! I don’t make breakfast, nor do I ever do this soooo... Be grateful!” 

“I suppose I could eat. I don’t need to, but I suppose I can.” 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

When they both made their way down to the dining hall of the Spire of Deceit, Shadow Milk Cookie was bursting with questions. Unexpected, but since Flins had revealed that he could never lie, the Beast took advantage of that.  

It was questions about the geography of Teyvat- and Kyryll patiently explained that there were ten main regions he knew of. Nod-Krai, Natlan, Fontaine, Sumeru, Inazuma, Mondstadt, Liyue, Enkanomiya, the Sea of Bygone Eras, and Snezhnaya.  

Then came questions about the rulers, which Flins explained the Archons of Teyvat. Barbatos, the Anemo Archon. Zhongli, the Geo Archon. Raiden Shogun, the Electro Archon. Focalors, the Hydro Archon. Mavuika the Pyro Archon. Nahida, the Dendro Archon. And the Tsaritsa, the Cryo Archon.  

And then the question- 

“So, who are the villains~?” Shadow Milk said with a giggle. 

“...” Flins pauses for a long moment. He knew of the Wild Hunt, the Fatui Harbingers, the Traveler’s Twin... The Unknown God, and the Five Sinners. Hearing about the Five Sinners, the Beast's attention is piqued. 

“Hmm, it sounds like my friends and me! We’re the Beast Cookies, and the Five Sinners sound... Like us. Ish.” 

“The Five Sinners of Khaenri’ah,” Flins thinks for a moment. He had done his research when he found out about Rerir, and whatever he could about Rerir. Ugh, the Sinner took up so much space in his mind. “They were once Khaenri’ahns who’d gained immense power from the Abyss. There are five of them, of course. Rhinedottir, Verdrflonir, Surtalogi, Hroptatyr, and... Rerir.” 

“Oh, that one. You wouldn’t stop talking about him yesterday! Plus, you’ve got his heart, eheh!” 

“Yes, I suppose I do speak of Rerir quite a lot. And yes, I do have his heart.” 

“Hah! I’m assuming he’s with ‘Nilly, so I can’t wait for that interaction!” 

“Wait, you know where he is?” 

“Duh- Or well, a hunch~!” 

“Then can we see him- them?” 

“After breakfast, yep!” 

“Then I shall eat quickly.” 

“Sounds like unrequited love is in the air~” Shadow Milk mutters under his breath. 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Once they make it to the dining room, both Candy Apple Cookie and Black Sapphire Cookie are seated, arguing about who knows what. Candy’s candy apples bob as she shakes her head furiously. Sapphire sighs and runs a hand through his fluffy black hair. 

Seeing both Kyryll and Shadow Milk enter; they shut up quickly.  

“Good morning, Master Shadow Milk Cookie,” Sapphire says coolly. 

“Master Shadow Milk Cookie! Sapphie is saying I’m not good at rumors!” Candy squeals, before snatching a loaf of bread off the table and gnawing on it. Black Sapphire Cookie is quick to smack the backside of her head, where she yelps in surprise. 

“Stop that! You’re sooooo annoying!” She squeals. 

“No, I’m not you little brat-” Sapphire growls before taking a sweet bun and biting into it carefully. 

“You need to teach your children manners,” Flins murmurs as he takes a seat at the round table. Everyone pauses, and Shadow Milk’s gaze slides to Kyryll’s. 

“What? Am I wrong?" 

“These aren’t- I don’t have children!” He practically screeches, eyes wide, and his hair fanning out behind him. 

“We were Faeries, but Master Shadow Milk Cookie took us in.” Sapphire explains, his gaze narrowed. 

“Then doesn’t that mean you should be obligated to speak nothing but the truth? I am a Snowland Fae, so those are the rules for my kind.” Flins tenderly takes a slice of rye bread and spreads butter carefully. He puts a napkin on his lap, like a noble or something.  

“Y-You’re Fae?” Candy stands up in her chair and leans over the table to stare at Kyryll. He nods, and she gasps, observing him closely. 

“No way! Oh, you should embrace Master Shadow Milk Cookie’s Deceit and then you can be with us!” She claps her hands. Sapphire observes with quiet intelligence, his eyes slits as he watches. 

“That, unfortunately, is not an option for me. I can take your identities and personalities, minds, and magic. You all made the foolish decision of telling me your names, so now I can take them. Would you like to be nothing but a shell in a body that you cannot even control?” He bites into his buttered bread; his gaze meeting Candy’s as a faint smile curves his lips. 

“You can do what?! Wait, don’t do that to me! WAIT! DON’T DO THAT TO MASTER SHADOW MILK COOKIE!!! Oh, you can do whatever to Sapphie.” 

Black Sapphire Cookie scowls and shakes his head. “Very rude, Candy.” 

“Whatever! I’m just happy I get to eat breakfast!” She giggles and settles back down in her seat. Shadow Milk grimaces at her loudness before settling himself. Everyone eats but Shadow Milk, who doesn’t even touch a piece of the food he stole. 

“Maybe Mr. Flins can teach us how to steal identities...!” Candy Apple chatters while stuffing her face. They all occasionally speak with one another, but Candy’s chattering takes up most of the time they spend eating. 

Flins admits quietly, he likes it here. Aside from the confusing aspects of the world, he enjoys the company of these three. But he does want to return to Teyvat. At least, after this, they’ll be able to contact Pure Vanilla Cookie, who hopefully knows where Rerir is. 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Finishing breakfast didn’t take long, but eventually Shadow Milk Cookie sent away Candy Apple Cookie and Black Sapphire Cookie to plant rumors in the Silver Kingdom. Flins had no idea where that was. Shadow Milk had explained his own relationship with Pure Vanilla, that he despised the Ancient of Truth and all he stood for, but nothing more. That he held half of what was called a ‘souljam’, and the other half of the souljam belonged to Pure Vanilla Cookie. 

Flins just summed it up to ‘each of them having half of the same soul and being destined for each other’, but Shadow Milk Cookie refused to tell him anything else. Although, on the way to where they walked to cast the spell, Shadow Milk muttered several times, something about a ‘stupid’ Truthless Recluse, and how he should’ve just stayed with Shadow Milk. 

Kyryll didn’t know what the Beast was talking about, but he wasn’t going to pry.  

Once they made it to a wrecked library, Flins knew that... Something had transpired here. Nonetheless, it made the perfect place to cast the spell. 

Though Shadow Milk Cookie never told him what spell he was going to use. Would he need items? Or salt, or something...? 

It turned out that, in fact, Shadow Milk needed none of those things. The Beast turned to Flins with a mischievous glint in his eyes.  

“I never asked what spell you were going to use?” 

“Oh, just a portal to my other-realm! Eheh, I may use some of my tendrils to snatch them up... Heh.” 

“I don’t think you should take them, if Rerir is there he’ll be irritated-” 

“Too bad, so sad! I’m already doing it~!” Shadow Milk Cookie cackled and slammed his staff into the floor of the library, and a portal as black as ink coalesced into existence. Flins sighs and merely stands several paces away, but a faint smile is on his lips; he might be able to see Rerir.  

Maybe he was pining. 

Oh well. 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Rerir and Pure Vanilla Cookie had planned to make a portal to the ancient’s other-realm in the courtyard of the castle, where there were plenty of observers that watched with curious gazes. Rerir positively hated the attention, but if this was what it took... 

Pure Vanilla murmured soft words under his breath that sounded like prayers, but the Sinner didn’t care. Vanilla makes a wide sweep of his staff and his gaze focuses on a single point.  

Yet they didn’t get any further than murmured words. A black inky abyss, that positively gave Rerir the creeps and nostalgia, appeared in front of them. Before any image of what could be on the other side, black, slippery tentacles flash out, grasping them both tightly. 

“What the actual fuck-?!” Rerir growls, clawing against the tentacles that seem to rear back at the hit, then actually hiss in annoyance before wrapping around his waist and restraining his arms behind his back. 

Pure Vanilla Cookie seems to know, and accept, the tendrils that wrap around him. He seems to know the drill, and glances at Rerir, before mumbling quietly. 

“Don’t resist, they won’t hurt you if you do.” 

“You’re fucking insane!” Rerir snarls before the tentacles pull him in, then Pure Vanilla too. 

The transition is jarring, seeming to be pulled through a void of nothing. It’s dark and there’s nothing. 

At least, nothing until Pure Vanilla appears in the void beside Rerir. Then... God, everything blooms into bright white and gold, prematurely flash banging Rerir, when he curses, “Fuck!”. 

The tendrils writhe under the light, but don’t leave. They continue their mission and drag both Vanilla and Rerir back to the darkness, incredibly fast. Then, they are promptly spat out of the void and onto dark blue and pale blue checkered tile. 

So unused to the feeling of being pulled, Rerir has half the mind to roll over and hurl, but that’d be bad for his reputation. Instead, he stands so incredibly fast that his vision tunnels before he smacks his face. He scowled; he most certainly didn’t like that.  

He brushes his hands over his face, and thankfully, the bandages are still there. At least he still had that. He finally turns, his gaze bouncing around what looked like a ruined library where someone had a very bad temper-tantrum, before settling on Pure Vanilla Cookie. The ancient had just pulled himself to stand, brushing his clothing off and straightening it. Rerir only knew Pure Vanilla here, not this weird place- 

Wait, scratch that. 

He finally whips around and lays eyes on what seemed like a pale blue cookie that resembled a jester, who the Sinner thought was ‘Shadow Milk Cookie’, and then to the figure beside that cookie. Someone he knew very, very well. Black uniform and choppy blue hair, pale yellow eyes and a faint smile on his lips. 

Fucking Flins. 

He was here! That bloody, motherfucking Fae- 

Rerir, and surprisingly Shadow Milk Cookie open their mouths and snarl at the same time, “Thief!” Though the Sinner’s gaze is on Flins, Shadow Milk’s is on Pure Vanilla Cookie. Both Rerir and the Beast make eye contact with each other. 

Shadow Milk mumbles, “Souljam?” 

And Rerir responds with, “Heart.” 

“Lunge at the thieves?” Shadow Milk grunts, gaze flicking to Vanilla. 

“Agreed.”  

And both Sinner and Beast, then lunge at their other halves.  

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

Just as Rerir tumbles into the ground with Flins, Shadow Milk knocks Pure Vanilla Cookie’s head into the hard chocolate ground. The ancient groans before looking up at the Beast with innocent eyes.  

“I didn’t expect you to do that, Shadow Milk Cookie. It’s nice to see you again.” He says softly, and Shadow recoils as though struck. 

“Don’t spit your lies at me!” He hisses, scrambling away after the failed attempt on taking his souljam back. 

“I’m not lying. It’s only been a week since the Spire, I am truly happy to be back here with you.” 

“Shut up!” 

“I also see you’ve got a visitor too; I’m assuming his name is Flins?” 

"How do you even know-?!” Shadow Milk grumbles, gaze flickering to where Rerir and Flins struggle on the ground several paces away. 

“Rerir told me about what happened.” 

“Well, Kyryll told me what happened!” 

“Ah, that’s good. Is that his real name?” 

“Shut up!” 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Upon their tussle on the ground, Flins can feel Rerir’s hand snaking into his hair and gripping him tight enough to pull his neck back. The Fae gives a strangled laugh before looking up at the Sinner with hollow eyes. 

“I see you’ve had a change of wardrobe.” He murmurs quietly, not at all concerned with the danger Rerir poses. 

“Shut up, thief!” Rerir growls, before patting Flins down after successfully pinning him down. “Where is it? Where’s my heart, you bloody Fae?” 

“Put away for now.” Kyryll gives a coy smile. 

“Damn you! And what the hell did you do to have us end up in this strange reality?!” 

“I tried to give your heart back, but I find out your magic was acting up.” The Fae shrugs. 

“You... What?” Rerir stands up, letting Flins lay there and stare up at the Sinner. He looked different- Cleaner, and he had white bandages, not black ones! Oh, so pretty! 

“I told you; I tried to give your heart back.” 

“Liar. You must be!” Rerir’s gaze snaps to Pure Vanilla. 

“Who is that with you? Did you make a friend?” 

“Shut up!” 

“I made one. Three in fact. Shadow Milk Cookie has lovely children; though they need to be taught manners.” 

“Oh, so that is Shadow Milk Cookie. Maybe I need to pummel him like I said I would...” Rerir grumbles. 

“Please don’t do that- Oh, he reminds me of you.” 

“No! Shut up! Pure Vanilla Cookie already told me that! Fuck!” 

“You two are so similar- Maybe you’ll be friends. You are in dire need of them, no?” 

Rerir steps back at that, his gaze murderous. “You have no idea what you just condemned yourself to, Fae.” 

“A happy and healthy life with my possessions?”  

“Third degree murder.” 

“A pity.” 

“Shut up!” 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

Shadow Milk’s mind was all over the place; thoughts of Vanilla, Flins, and this new one- Rerir –filled his mind. Why was it he felt jealous of Rerir? That he wanted to take the Sinner’s place badly... 

No! Bad mind! Shadow Milk mentally chastised himself. He was not weak, he wasn’t lonely, and sometimes his souljam really needed to shut up! Why did it have to mock him with Pure Vanilla’s offer to be his friend? 

He scowled and backed further away from the ancient as he stood up and bumped into something-someone behind him. It was a large body, much too large to be a cookie, and too beefy to be Flins. Was this Rerir then? Flins had already compared the Beast to the Sinner and further pissed off Shadow. 

He wasn’t anything like Rerir! No matter what scary stories Flins told, he would never be scarier than him! He whirls around, snarling, but stops the moment he sees the expression on Rerir’s face. It was an expression he knew quite well, of unfathomable pain, loneliness, and something worse, something darker. 

He had mirrored that expression only moments before, when Pure Vanilla Cookie had said those words. And close to a week ago, when Vanilla had uttered those words-  

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

“Yes, it’s all coming back to me. But there is something new... A boundless conviction, warming me from within. I recognize this feeling... At times, distant and shimmering, or disheartening, doubtful... The path that I’ve walked and will keep on walking... Gladly embracing all sorrows and pains... Is it... the Truth itself?  

I’ve been seeking it for so long... I can barely remember the ideal it was in the beginning. With time, it became ephemeral, shapeless... Brilliant, yet often dark, poisonous. Still... Despite all the hardships, everything I heard and felt, my faith did not die out. Amidst the fog, there had always been a light, beckoning... 

Will I ever reach it? I don’t know. But I will never stop walking towards it. And thus...” 

“You... you traitor!!! LIAR!” 

“Ha ha ha. Should there be Deceit, I shall embrace it. Should there be doubt, I shall accept it. Everything and all holds an answer. Wouldn’t you agree? Come Shadow Milk Cookie. Let us end this.” 

“GRAAAH! I WILL DESTROY YOU!”  

“A lie shall vanquish a lie!” 

~~~ 

“Kh... Ha... Ha...”  

“You seem... exhausted.”  

“Kh... Ha... Ha ha... Ha ha ha ha!”  

“...?” 

“You... you might’ve won this battle! But it won’t bring your friends back. Heh.” 

“They’ve crumbled to dust! Nothing more than helpless souls that’ll roam my Spire for eons!” 

~~~ 

“Excuse me? I’m so sorry to disturb you... But I’m still THE MAIN CHARACTER here!” 

“Shadow Milk Cookie, wait.” 

“Heh, what’s that now? Afraid I’ll destroy your friends again?!”  

“You are right. For me, nothing is more important than protecting my friends. But they are much stronger than you think. They helped me find my path again.” 

“Hah, seriously? You’re gonna lecture me, now?!” 

“I’ve been wondering: instead of taking my Soul Jam by force, you decided to test me and see if I could truly fall. Why?” 

“Oh, can’t I have a little fun? Seeing the seeker of Truth tremble, consumed by self-doubt. So scared to be devoured by my Deceit!” 

“You say that, and yet... I saw your records. I saw how happy you were to see my Soul Jam touched by Deceit.” 

“...What?” 

“I could feel how lonely you truly are.” 

“PSH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! LONELY?! AHA HA HA, NOW WHO IS THE CLOWN HERE?! OH, I’M TEARING UP... 

Look at my Spire! Bask in its splendor! Here, I have anything I want! Fools, so eager to fall to their knees in exchange for one little lie! You... You must’ve lost your mind!” 

“Still, you continued to test me. Was it solely for enjoyment that you wanted to see me fall...?” 

“SILENCE!!! I am the MASTER of this world! You dare act like you know ME?!!!” 

“When you and I became one, briefly...” 

“One more word, and I will wipe your pathetic dough off the face of the world!” 

“...I felt it. A minute droplet of longing, hiding in the dark. I know it, for I’ve felt the same. Yes, Shadow Milk Cookie. No one else but me can truly understand you.” 

?” 

“We share the same Soul Jam. We can understand each other like no one else can. You don’t have to be lonely... I’m right here. 

Please. Let me be your... friend.” 

“Friend...?” 

~~~ 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

He hisses, clawing those thoughts from his mind angrily. He didn’t need friends; he didn’t need anyone! He had Candy Apple Cookie and Black Sapphire Cookie- and perhaps, maybe, Flins, but who cares? He didn’t need anyone! Not when he silenced his souljam, not when he revolted against the witches, and not even when they sealed him in the Silver Tree! 

He was a perfectly functional cookie, so why the hell couldn’t Pure Vanilla Cookie see that? He wasn’t lonely- And he believed, truly so, that Pure Vanilla Cookie was fibbing when he said Shadow Milk’s soul. He didn’t! Lies! Blasphemy! 

... 

It had taken him a moment to realize both him and Rerir were sharing that same expression. Rerir had something that haunted him, and Flins had brought it up. But unlike what Shadow Milk did- covering up his feelings with lies and trickery, Rerir just seemed to engulf himself in rage and seemed so, so angry. 

Rerir reminded him of himself. Of Burning Spice Cookie. Of every one of the other Beasts, and... 

Why oh why did he feel this mutual understanding between him and the Sinner? 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

“Rerir? S-So the rumors about your work are true...”  

“What? No! Listen. Something happened at the palace tonight; we have to leave!”  

“You don’t need to lie to me anymore.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I know you’re worried. And I will respect the decision you’ve made. But it’s okay because... I’ve found a solution. I know how to end all this. You can have it back... The normal life you so desire. But until then... I’m afraid our wedding... will have to wait.” 

“Tholindis? No, don’t do it! Tholindis!? Thonlidis!!!” 

“I told you, Rerir, let her go. You will find someone better.”  

“No! No, I... I won’t do it! I have to save her!” 

“By what means, exactly? A lowly pawn, you lack the power and strength of will...” 

“Do... Do you know a way? Tell me!” 

“Come to the palace. Join us.” 

~~~ 

“Rerir? Thank goodness, we-”  

“Step forth, and take your share.” 

“You made it.”  

“Not you, too...”  

“Hatred or grief, despair or desire... We all have our reasons.” 

~~~ 

“Rerir, Rerir!” 

“Tholindis...” 

“Were you daydreaming? 

“You still remember Rerir? That question you asked me a couple of weeks ago?” 

“Oh... You mean, the proposal?” 

“Yeah. I’m wondering, where do you think would be a good place to discuss it? Maybe in the garden? Or were you thinking of a fancy restaurant?”  

“It’s your choice.” 

~~~ 

“I will find you. And then, you can give me your answer.” 

~~~ 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Rerir hated that he let himself be engulfed in that memory once more. Hated that he could pull it from the depths of his mind. Tholindis... He could picture her so, so clearly. 

He hated that Flins had said something so similar to what she had murmured often; Did you make a friend? And Hopefully you’ll make some friends, Rerir. The Fae had brought up that dredge of memories he had no desire to witness once more. 

Upon him scrambling back, he had collided back-to-back with what he thought was Shadow Milk Cookie. It was most definitely not Pure Vanilla Cookie; this cookie was thin and had bells jingling whenever he moved. Whipping around, he was face-to-face with the Beast of Deceit. 

And the expression he saw was so haunted and just as venomous as his own had been. This cookie went through something that Pure Vanilla Cookie brought up. Rerir had his own trauma with Tholindis, and Shadow Milk Cookie had something with Pure Vanilla. 

In a low murmur he finally said, “The fuck’s up with you?” 

“...” Shadow Milk scowls and they both back away from each other, distrust and malice sparking in both their eyes. “You’re one to talk.” The Beast snarled. 

“As if.” Rerir growled back with the same level of defensiveness. 

“And you? I don’t think you were accused of being lonely and in need of a friend. Much less Pure Vanilla.” 

“That is exactly what Flins told me, and I don’t think your to-be wife fell into the Moon Gate while you obtained one-sixth of the world-shattering Abyssal power?” Rerir grunted, his grip initially reaching for where he would have had Barnstokkr, but it was gone. Curse his fall with Flins through that portal- at least, that’s what he thinks happened.  

Shadow Milk Cookie’s eyes traced Rerir’s figure lazily. “I see you’ve been with Pure Vanilla Cookie,” He hissed. “Why should I not blast you to smithereens?” 

“With him?” the Sinner snorted, throwing his head back and letting out a laugh. “That ball of fluff wouldn’t know if Barnstokkr hit him on the back! Hah!” Rerir pauses his laugh before his own gaze turns calculating. “And you? You spent time with Flins.” 

“And? The silly Fae likes being here,” Shadow Milk cackled, his face splitting into a grin. 

“Oh really?” Rerir’s eye twitched. "I wonder why that is. The little thief shouldn’t relax at all.” 

“Nor should Pure Vanilla Cookie. But alas,” Shadow Milk tsked. “you two just had to appear, piquing my interest.” 

“Appear? I don't know half of what the hell happened to bring me here.” Rerir grunted. 

“Perhaps I could explain?” Both Rerir and the Beast turn and see Flins, watching them both with a saccharine smile. 

“I don’t need your help,” Rerir growled at the same time as Shadow said, “Didn’t you already explain?” Rerir cast the Beast a murderous glance after that. 

“Yes, I did, but my dear Rerir wasn’t conscious when that happened.”  

“Fucking fine, explain and be quick. I will lunge and take my heart back as soon as I can, you bloody fucking Fae.” 

“I have a name, Rerir. And you are one of the few who know my true name.” 

“Does it matter that I know your real name?” Rerir grumbled. 

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. But you want to know what happened to have us led here, yes?” Flins tilts his head before answering. “I tried to return your heart, as I said before, but instead a portal to, what I’m guessing is Shadow Milk Cookie’s other-realm, opened in its stead. I saw tendrils of light pull you one way, and tendrils of shadow pull me the other. And voila, we’re here.” 

“Then if you try to give me my heart, it’ll take us back to Teyvat?” 

“Perhaps, but I doubt it’d be that easy.” 

“I agree with Flins.” Shadow Milk finally piped up. Pure Vanilla Cookie had settled himself beside Flins, both of them sharing amused glances as they had watched Rerir and Shadow Milk tussle and bicker. 

“Oh?” Pure Vanilla turned to the beast who flushes faintly. Rerir’s eye twitches in annoyance. If those two weren’t meant for each other, he didn’t know what the hell each of them was for. 

“When I was... Still the Fount of Knowledge,” Shadow Milk swallows audibly before averting his gaze from the Ancient. “I had an affinity for searching for other realms. I was curious and couldn’t help it.” 

Rerir watches with narrowed interest, but his gaze nonetheless zeroes in on Flins. Damn Fae still hadn’t brought back his lantern. Gods be damned, all he wanted was to return to Teyvat. 

If working with Flins was what would do it, he’d try his best to behave. 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

Pure Vanilla Cookie admitted he liked watching both Rerir and Flins interact with each other- Both were obviously made for each other. Flins was cool and collected while Rerir was a loose cannon that could go off at any moment. 

He liked watching both of them bicker, but he liked seeing Shadow Milk Cookie even more. The other was so... Pretty, in his own way. Cute, one could say. With his flustered glance at Vanilla, it just made the Beast adorable. 

But alas, he also quite loved hearing Shadow Milk Cookie talk about his past even more. Vanilla had known he was the once Fount of Knowledge, but it was always nice to hear the Beast talking about his past. 

“I liked researching those realms,” he murmured. "To know that there were worlds beyond Earthbread... It had amazed me.” 

Pure Vanilla did not dare interrupt the Beast. He didn’t want to shatter this moment. Though the Ancient’s gaze did travel to Rerir and Flins. Flins was paying attention to Shadow Milk, but Rerir was staring at the Fae with such an intensity that he could feel Rerir’s-obsession one could call it- from where he stood. 

“Is it possible that Teyvat is one of those other realms?” Flins mumbled; his gaze calculated. Pure Vanilla Cookie decided then and there that he liked the Fae. Though Rerir seemed to hate him, he thought the Sinner had quite an obsession with Flins. Flins seemed cool, yet his own gaze seemed to catch on Rerir when the Sinner was looking at him. 

“It could be. Actually, that’s the most probable reason.” Shadow Milk hummed before using his magic to float down one of the aisles in the library they were in. Rerir watched, aghast and slightly envious as Shadow Milk used his magic to float. The Sinner couldn’t access his magic in the slightest, though Vanilla believed it could be because Flins still had his heart. 

“It’s nice to meet you.” Pure Vanilla finally approached the Fae, holding out a hand to shake. “I am Pure Vanilla Cookie, the Ancient of Truth. I see you’ve met Shadow Milk Cookie, the Beast of Deceit?” 

Flins clasps his own hand in Vanilla’s, and it’s startlingly cold. 

“I have, indeed. Shadow Milk Cookie is truly one of a kind. You may call me Flins or Kyryll.” The Fae murmured, his yellow eyes watching the Ancient. 

“Ah, of course,” 

“And I see you’ve met Rerir?” 

“I have; he is... Quite enigmatic.” Vanilla gives a faint smile. 

The Sinner merely huffs from where he overhears, crossing his arms and looking away. He keeps his gaze trained on where Shadow Milk disappeared, though he can clearly hear Flins and Vanilla’s conversation. 

Flins chuckles before sidling up beside Pure Vanilla. “He truly is amazing,” There’s a hint of admiration and affection in the Fae’s voice. And before Pure Vanilla can think better, he murmurs- 

“I think you two are quite the couple; you balance each other out quite well.” 

Rerir goes stock-still, seeming to freeze in place. Flins has a similar reaction, though he seems to flush, which seems unnatural. 

“I-I- We aren’t-” The Fae protests, blinking rapidly. 

Rerir grumbles before turning his attention to the Ancient and Kyryll. “We,” Rerir growled. “Are not a couple.” 

“Ah, apologies.” Vanilla smiles but the Sinner can spy the coyness in his expression. 

Rerir shifts and leans down to catch Pure Vanilla’s gaze before he mutters, “Yet you and that... Shadow Milk Cookie seem to know each other quite well. He looked positively haunted when he and I collided. What did you do to him? What did you mention, more like it.” 

“I... Ah... I didn’t tell you about the Spire yet.” Pure Vanilla mumbles, his grip on his staff tightening. 

“Shadow Milk Cookie told me.” Flins pipes up, finally pale once more. 

“He did?” Rerir and Vanilla echo each other. 

“Coming from me, I simply cannot speak about theft, for I’ve committed the act of stealing a heart,” Flins murmurs, his gaze flicking to Rerir. “But he seemed quite distraught whenever he mentioned that you had stolen his Soul Jam.” 

“Damn right you can’t be speaking about stealing.” Rerir grumbles. 

“-Yet,” Flins pressed on, ignoring Rerir’s barbed comment. “I believe that cookie is lonely.” 

Rerir hissed and stepped back, “Yet another thing you can’t speak of with experience, you are lonely, you blasted Snowland Fae.” 

“I suppose that is true,”  

“You think... Shadow Milk Cookie is lonely...” Pure Vanilla murmurs, his gaze saddened. “I tried to offer him friendship back when I awakened, but he rejected me.” 

“He told me that too; you were too direct and scared him off. You need to be subtle. Though Fae like myself are never subtle.” 

“I see. Any ideas? From both of you. I’d appreciate it deeply.” 

“Yeah, don’t fuck with a guy’s personal life.” Rerir grumbled. 

“I would say, try to give him small acts of kindness. Like merely visiting him or helping him with a task. I’m not saying to give up your Soul Jam, I don’t even want to return Rerir’s heart, but try to help him in any small way before building up to something larger.” Flins said softly, his gaze flicking between Rerir and Vanilla. 

“You don’t want to return my heart, why did I expect anything different...” Rerir rolled his visible eye. 

“...Alright.” 

“I’ve returned! Your glorious savior has found my old journal!” Shadow Milk called as he floated down with, not a journal, but an actual tome. 

“That’s not a book.” Rerir said flatly. 

“Of course not, silly! I’ve lived for thousands of years, not even counting my time sealed away in the Silver Tree!” Shadow Milk grinned. 

“It’s a tome,” Flins said softly, gently approaching and then stroking the binding, “And well made as well. I don’t suppose you have any old coins or trinkets while you search for a way for Rerir and I to return?” 

“Mm-hmm, I got tons~! CANDY APPLE COOKIE!” Shadow yelled that last part as Candy scrambled inside, tripping over herself as she readied to help the Beast in any way.  

“Yes, Master Shadow Milk Cookie-” She stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing Pure Vanilla. Vanilla knew she didn’t like him particularly, perhaps because when he was the Truthless Recluse, he had captured more of Shadow Milk Cookie’s attention than she’d ever had. 

“YOU!” She screeched, her apples bobbing as she shook with fury as she glared down the Ancient. Rerir eyes her with mild interest. 

“A-Ah, hello Candy Apple Cookie, it’s always good to see you-” 

“YOU LIAR! TRAITOR! BETRAYER! YOU HURT MY MASTER SHADOW MILK COOKIE, AND YOU WILL PAY!!!” She barrels toward Pure Vanilla Cookie and shows no sign of stopping. Shadow Milk merely claps his hands as he watches, as though this was entertainment. Kyryll sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.  

But Rerir takes action. 

Before Candy can tackle Pure Vanilla, in a quick movement, he grabs Candy Apple Cookie by the collar and holds her swinging body away from himself. 

“A child.” the Sinner deadpans. 

“WHO THE FREAK ARE YOU?!” She shrieked, punching in any and all directions. Her eyes were scrunched shut. 

“Rerir, Rächer of Solnari, and the Blasphemy of Death. Now I do sorely suppose you should open your eyes and see the man you’re dealing with.”  

She did, and she gaped before flailing. “Master Shadow Milk Cookie, there’s a scary man!!! SAVE MEEE!!!” 

“At least one living being in this fucked up world is terrified,” the Sinner grinned under the bandages. 

“I’m gonna DIIEEE!!” She flailed more. 

“I love screaming,” Rerir rolled his eye, “But this is over the top.” He abruptly dropped her as she scrambled to the Beast of Deceit. 

Both Pure Vanilla Cookie and Flins couldn’t help but laugh. It was amusing to see Candy Apple like this; no one could truly scare her. 

Except for the Rächer of Solnari. 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

Shadow Milk Cookie smirked as he watched Candy Apple Cookie scramble and hide behind him. “Oh, you’re so dramatic," He ruffled the girl’s hair. 

“I am not!” Her volume was several decibels louder than needed. 

“We both are, my dear.” 

She grumbles before looking up at him with pouty eyes. “What do you need me to do, Master Shadow Milk?” 

“Can you go and find some old trinkets of mine? Or Sapphie’s. Or yours.” The Beast shrugged. 

“Yes, Master.” She looked away before looking back up, “...why?” 

“Our dear guest, Flins, not Rerir,” Shadow Milk has already picked up on Candy’s distaste for the Sinner, “would like to see some. Would you be so kind as to get some for him? Coins in particular.” 

“Uh huh... I think I still have Herald’s coins from one of his civilizations he eventually destroyed...” She eventually scampers off, and the four men are left. 

“Now!” Shadow Milk claps his hands. “We’re going to search in here till our fingers drop off! Or at least till we find a way to get both Flins and Rerir back to Teyvat! Oh, look at me, I’m so nice!” Shadow Milk clapped his hands. 

“You don’t have fingers.” Rerir says flatly. 

“Shut up!” 

🎭~~🥀~~🎭 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Once Candy Apple Cookie returned with a satchel filled with goodies, Flins pats her on the head with a smile. Rerir watches with narrowed eyes. Kyryll merely smiles and heads off to one of the tattered couches, satchel in hand. Surprisingly, the Sinner follows. 

Candy Apple leaves the library after casting the Rächer a wary glance; both Shadow Milk and Pure Vanilla Cookie are hunched over the tome, seeming to be able to work together if only for some time. 

As Flins sits down, he carefully takes out the contents of the satchel. There was a pouch of coins, several dusty rings and... What looked like a small container of red dust. 

“And what, pray tell, are you doing?” Rerir raised an eyebrow, standing across from where Kyryll sat.  

“Exploring and witnessing this culture.” 

“Why?” 

“Because I want to.” 

“Can we not just go outside and explore this damn world?” 

“We could, but I prefer relics. Especially coins.” Flins says, with barely held-back excitement. 

“Do whatever,” Rerir grunted before he promptly sat on an armchair nearby. His fingers tapped on the arm of the chair impatiently. 

“What are you doing?” Flins’s eyes flicked up as the Sinner sat, and for a minute, Rerir could see the obsession in the Fae’s gaze as he transitioned from the coins to the Sinner. Seems that they both increasingly could not have enough of each other’s company. 

“Keeping an eye on you. I spent a whole day in the bloody Vanilla Kingdom. Did you know that it is a floating Kingdom?” Rerir grumbles, running a hand through his hair. 

“Really? Shadow Milk Cookie didn’t mention that.” Flins leans forward, anticipation in his posture. 

“Yes, unfortunately, I was living in a floating palace yesterday as I searched for you fruitlessly.” 

“That sounds amazing.” Flins blows out a happy breath. 

“It was nauseating.” 

“Mm-hmm...” 

“And I also don’t trust you to not run off with my heart. I know you’re being so thick-skinned. Just give it back and maybe I’ll spare you.” 

“No, you’ll still harm me, am I wrong?” 

“...damn you.” 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

It seemed to take hours, but Rerir and Kyryll both fell into a steady rhythm, both exchanging questions as Flins searched through the old relics from the satchel. The Fae had made the mistake of uncorking the cap of the jar as red dust- actually spice- flew into the air, where both were left sneezing and rubbing their furiously red eyes. 

Finally, when Shadow Milk called out, “I found it!” Flins was tired, as was Rerir. It was nearing late afternoon, early evening and both were excessively tired. 

“Finally,” Rerir grumbled and stood before pulling Flins to stand- or trying. The Fae was slumped against the couch. Though he may not need rest, he needed it now. It was much, much harder to maintain a corporeal form without being near the essential things he needed to maintain that form. 

He needed Firewater, and this place had absolutely none-point-none. 

The Fae looked up at the Sinner with drooping eyes and a half frown, “I don’t suppose you brought any Firewater with you?” 

“No, when would I have had time to even-...” Rerir paused, truly looking at Flins. “Are you dying or something?” 

“No, but I am exhausted. It’s hard to maintain this form without sustenance. Sugar hasn’t been helping me at all.” 

“...so, you’re dying?” Rerir repeated. 

Kyryll sighs before muttering, “I need Firewater to at least maintain this form. Otherwise, I’ll be nothing but a flickering flame.”  

“...oh.” Rerir’s brow furrowed. 

“Perhaps...” The Fae huffs, “Ask Vanilla or Shadow. Please.” 

“...fine. Only because you have my goddamn heart and I don’t know what will happen if you die.” 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

The Sinner cast a wary glance at Flins. What he would never admit was... he felt a sense of solidarity with the Fae. That Kyryll might- could be someone who would want to know him. 

Perhaps. 

He shouldn’t be thinking such dangerous thoughts, though- no doubt he was only feeling... Whatever this was when they were in this sugary world. 

Flins seemed a bit... Colorless. Yes, he was a corpse, but the Fae seemed almost grey right now. Bleached of color, as though his spirit were fading away. 

Rerir had made the excuse that he wanted and was worried about his heart, but... yes, he was lying, and perhaps he was worried about Flins. 

Slinking over, he crosses his arms. Pure Vanilla and Shadow Milk were slightly arguing over something, but Rerir didn’t care much about it. The tome was opened to pages full of scribbles and complex equations and words in another language. 

“I’m just saying that I didn’t mean to lie to you as Recluse, I just had to do what it took to awaken-” 

“Lies! You could’ve stayed mine! You were perfect!” Shadow Milk hissed, his hair lashing out. 

Rerir rolled his eye at his dramatics before barging into the conversation. “I saw you found the page, yes?” 

Both cookies turn, Vanilla wide-eyed and Shadow Milk snarling before he remembers he’s speaking to Rerir. He runs his hands through his hair, before a smirk settles back on his face.  

“Yes, I have indeed found the pages!” He exclaimed, bowing exaggeratedly. 

“Mm-hmm, yeah, well I think Kyryll is dying.” 

“WHAT?” Both Ancient and Beast exclaim. Vanilla’s eyes snap to Flins before he rushes over and presses a hand to the other’s forehead.  

“What the hell do you mean ‘dying’?!” Shadow Milk Cookie growls, showing his incisors. 

“Supposedly, he needs Firewater. I don’t suppose either of you have?” 

“Firewater...” Pure Vanilla murmurs from where he was tending to the Fae. 

“I’ve heard of it, but it’s only in the Silver Kingdom. Flins won’t make it in time...” Shadow Milk paces. 

“Can you make a portal back to Teyvat in time?” Vanilla calls. 

“Perhaps.” 

“Then fucking try.” Rerir growls, slinking forward and grasping Shadow Milk by the ruffles. 

“Alright, alright, I will! Let go, you hunk of muscle...” 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

After several failed attempts of Shadow Milk making the portal by himself, Vanilla decides to step in and help. Rerir stays by Flins as the Fae draws in labored breaths. 

“Sorry for... Being a burden.” Kyryll gasps out. 

“You are not a burden.” Rerir grunts, begrudgingly drawing Flins’s head in his lap. 

“I think I am. I won’t... Die, but I’ll be gone for a while.” 

“Shut up and focus on not dying.” 

“Though this wouldn’t be a terrible last sight...” 

“...was that a compliment? Are you complimenting me now? Gods, you’re delusional.” 

“You’re so pretty when you’re worried.” Flins reaches up and brushes a hair behind the Sinner’s ear. 

“Stop that.” Rerir flushes, if only faintly. 

“Mm-hmm...” Flins shudders before waving a hand. Beside him, appears the lantern that both hold Rerir’s heart and where Flins can go to recuperate. 

“That’s how I know you’re not in your right mind.” Rerir mumbles, his gaze flicking to the lantern, though he doesn’t release Flins to dive for the heart, nor does he try to snatch the lantern. He merely... Holds the Fae and runs his fingers through Kyryll’s

choppy hair. 

“Ha, ha...” 

“Now you’re laughing and that’s unnerving.” 

“You’re so cute.” 

“Yet another compliment.” 

Pure Vanilla’s soft footsteps sound, and only then does Rerir look up. “Any luck? He’s getting weaker...” Rerir grunted. 

“I’m sorry. Nothing’s worked...” 

“Damn it all to hell.” Rerir stands up, growling. 

Shadow Milk joins them a moment later, his arms crossed, “And what do you think you’re gonna do? You don’t have any magic.” 

“Not yet, asshole.” Rerir’s eye twitched before he turned back and looked down at Flins. The Fae was laid on the couch, breaths shallow and cheekbones paler than normal.  

“Flins,” Rerir murmured, quite gently, actually, and he curses his own softness. “If I take my heart, will you be alright?" 

Kyryll can only let his eyes flutter open and give a faint nod. “As... A-As soon as you’ve got your heart, I’m going into the lantern.” 

The Sinner nodded before glancing back at the cookies. “You both might want to back up.” 

Pure Vanilla Cookie nods solemnly, and Shadow Milk scoffs; he thinks this will do nothing, but Rerir bets something will. 

Grabbing the handle of the lantern, Rerir examines it. Whenever it’s near Flins, the flame glows a bright blue, yet as it grows closer to the Sinner, it flickers from blue to purple to the magenta Rerir recognizes as his own color.  

Growling, he can feel his heart in there. He should know; it’s his after all. Moments later, trickles of light escape the lantern before coalescing into a ball that beats faintly.  

Both Pure Vanilla Cookie and Shadow Milk Cookie blink in surprise, watching as Rerir’s heart slowly climbs up his form, before disappearing into his chest.  

He feels everything gets set aflame, his body, his soul, his mind and everything in between. 

The Rächer of Solnari bursts into white hot flames as his heart finally returns to him. 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

Watching the Sinner get his heart back is glorious. His form is at once enveloped in flames, covering him, as he once again regains wholeness. 

When the fire dissipates, he stands there, once more himself.  

Yet... 

Not. 

He looked how Pure Vanilla had first seen him: Tall with those messy strands of silver hair that reach his shoulder, magenta eyes that glimmer with malice and spite, yet now alight with a fire that begs someone to try and burn brighter. The bandages he donned are now black once more, wrapping around his body tight enough to show his bulging muscles. He wears ornamental armor that is lined with gold, thin and light yet strong and hardy; it flares up toward his shoulder though, where a crimson red cape splits near the end like coattails. Rerir now has dark grey pants with boots that reach his knees, lethal spikes and silver as embellishments. 

When he finally turns to look at both the Ancient and Beast, Vanilla steps back, and Shadow withers a bit till he scowls. Though there is an appreciative look in his gaze. Rerir’s gaze immediately snaps to Kyryll, and though he may not look it, he softens only a fraction. He places the Fae’s lantern beside him, and it faintly glows, embers dying. 

“Where’s the godsdamned book?” He finally snaps. 

“T-There.” Vanilla stutters before pointing at where the tome lay. The Sinner strides over, but scowls. 

“Read it because I don’t know this language. At least English is common, not... ugh.” Rerir waves a hand at the book until Shadow Milk Cookie floats over. 

“It’s witch text, but fine.” 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

There were two failed attempts even though Rerir tried. They were all losing hope, and Pure Vanilla Cookie had half a mind to go to the Silver Kingdom to search for Firewater. Perhaps White Lily Cookie would have some... 

Nonetheless, at the second failed attempt, Rerir snarls in frustration before an idea seems to smack him on the head. 

“Everyone try it.” He finally breathes out. “All of our magic seemed to get us here, to get back we must need to everyone to participate.” 

“That... That makes sense.” Vanilla says, looking up with hope. 

“Whatever.” Shadow Milk grumbles, though he throws a worried glance to Flins who looks like Death himself. 

The Sinner, Ancient, and Beast all line up in a circle, each chanting to a part of the spell. Shadow Milk taking up the trickiest words, Rerir growling out the words that hold the most energy, and Pure Vanilla murmuring the words that give safe passage.  

It doesn’t work. 

“Dammit, dammit, dammit-!” Rerir snarls, but slowly beneath them; a flame trails the floor, adding a little bit of energy to the already large spell. The flame is a bright but dimming blue, and that’s all they need. 

A portal sparks to life, and it’s a transparent portal that appears. On the other side, it’s a place Pure Vanilla Cookie doesn’t recognize. It shows a lighthouse on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by a graveyard. Could that be where Flins lives? Based on Rerir’s shaky sigh of relief, it is. 

“I need to take him and go.” The Sinner grunts out before striding to the Fae and grudgingly scooping him up. Flins seems half conscious, but nuzzle against Rerir’s neck, making the other fluster slightly. In his other hand, he grasps the lantern. 

“I... yes, of course.” Vanilla says softly before looking up and meeting Rerir’s gaze. “It was truly a pleasure to meet you." 

“...Maybe this wasn’t so bad,” Rerir grunts out, averting his gaze with slight embarrassment. 

“At least you both will be out of my hands now! Hah!” Shadow Milk Cookie smirks. 

“I don’t like you.” Rerir says dryly to the Beast. 

“Nor do I like you~!” 

“Fuck off.” 

“Buh-Bye~!” 

“I hope we meet again,” Vanilla says with a smile. “And save, Flins. Please.” 

“What the hell do you think I'm doing?” 

“...” Pure Vanilla sighs before nodding, “I do think you care for him. Don’t let rivalry or reputation get in the way, you could have something good with him.” 

“...” The Sinner grunts before looking away, and slinks to the portal with Flins nestled against his chest. Almost faintly though, he squeezes the Fae to make sure he stays awake. 

“See yaaaa~!” Shadow Milk cackles as Rerir and Flins finally leave Earthbread. Their forms disappear through the portal, and the portal closes. 

“Well,” Vanilla says with a smile. "That was eventful.” 

“Duh! Now get out of my Spire!” 

🌱~~🎀~~🌱 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

Portals are, as Flins will describe it, jarring as hell. You have gravity one moment, nestled against the chest of the Sinner you want and desire, but a goddamn portal mucks it up.  

He only had his eyes partially closed but could see the difference between the Spire of Deceit and returning to Teyvat. Where it was once cool and he could smell the saltiness of the ocean that crashed against the jagged cliff near his lighthouse. He could hear the murmurs of the spirits and hushed whispers of the ghosts that loitered in the graveyard. 

He’s not jostled, no, not at all. Rerir holds him as carefully as he can, hands gentle, yet tight enough so that Flins doesn’t slip from the Sinner’s grip. He likes it. 

No, he loves it. 

Kyryll lets out an amused hum, his eyes lazily tracing over Rerir’s features. And his thoughts are all screaming and yelling and going insane over the fact that the Sinner is holding him; caring for him.  

“Enjoying this, you blasted Snowland Fae?” Rerir grumbles, his hands twitching lightly. 

“I thought... I thought we were on first name terms, Rächer.” Flins huffed out between wheezing breaths. 

“You don’t get to use that. Though I do have my heart back, little pest...” 

“I’ll just take it once more.” The Fae said smugly. 

“Don’t you dare.” Rerir growled. 

“I would, and I will.” 

“Damn you.” 

“You care about meeee.” Flins slurs that last part; his eyes drifting shut as he presses his face to Rerir’s neck. He nuzzles his nose against the black bandages and sighs softly. 

“I do not. You are merely an annoyance who will not yet go away.” 

“You love meeee.” 

“You’re delusional.” 

“I love youuuu.” 

“Even more delusional.” 

“Mm-hmm...” Flins lets his body go ply as he melts against the Sinner, smiling cheekily.  

“Where’s your goddamn Firewater?” Rerir merely slams the door to the lighthouse open, several spirits flitting away in fear. 

“The demon!” 

“Oh, no, we were right!” 

“He’s taken groundskeeper Flins!” 

The spirits’ whispers swirled around both Sinner and Fae, but Kyryll doesn’t care much. He just likes this warmth that’s stirred deep in the pit of his stomach (which he shouldn’t feel) but presses closer to it. “Mm, kitchen, third cabinet on the right...” 

“Finally.” Rerir passes by the couch, where he clearly could’ve put Flins down, but instead keeps the Fae in his arms. Striding into the kitchen, he rummages through drawers and cabinets till he finds it.  

Setting the Fae atop the counter, Rerir holds him upright, and rather than grab a glass for Flins to drink from, he uncorks the bottle and holds it to Kyryll’s lips. Flins grabs on, tilting the bottle back and suckling the contents of the bottle much like a child would from a milk bottle. 

A burn rises in his throat where the alcohol touches but leaves a warm feeling in its stead. Firewater is, after all, an incredibly easy way to get inebriated. And Flins just drank more than three quarters of the bottle. 

He slumps against Rerir, a flush on his face. Hiccupping, he says, “You’re so-hiccup- strong. ‘M -hiccup- thank you so much...” 

“God, you’re so weird.” 

“-hiccup- Meanie.” 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

Carefully, the Sinner scoops up the inebriated Fae and carries him up the winding staircase to his room. The room where everything went to shit, and they were transported to Earthbread.  

Once he pushes the door open, he lays Flins carefully down on his bed. Perhaps the silly Fae would think this was all a dream; and Rerir would get off the hook. But alas, Kyryll clung tight, pulling Rerir to lay beside him. 

Rerir, grumbling, obliges. He snatches the covers and pulls them over both of them. And with a weary sigh, Flins snuggles against him, and Rerir lets his eyes flutter shut. The Fae was warm and cozy to be beside. 

Why did he agree with this? Maybe it was just the Sinner indulging in the fantasy of these last several days. His magic had felt normal- Though still only 10% of what he could be using. But he felt a surplus, and he didn’t... 

Well, it didn’t feel right to use it. He thought, now, that though Flins was beside him, snoozing softly, that perhaps the Sinner had been unfair. Rerir had just been desperate to get out, desperate to get away. Desperate to finally get what he needed. 

But now he had what he needed, and it didn’t feel right. His heart didn’t feel the same as he once thought it would be; Flins had changed his heart in some way, shape or size, and it wasn't the cold heart Rerir once had. It was different. Softer. 

Like how he’d been with Tholindis. 

Gods, even thinking that name hurt him. Blinking back tears he instead focuses on the slightly warm body beside him (Flins was truly only warm because of Rerir’s own body heat). On the Fae that had stolen his heart and teased him. On the Fae that had proclaimed his love not an hour ago. 

Perhaps instead of chasing ghosts, he’d focus on the one possessing the body beside him. 

🩹~~🌙~~🩹 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮 

When Flins would wake up the next morning, he’d find no one beside him, yet the sheets would be tucked in around him. He would press a hand to the space beside him, feeling the residual warmth. But instead of the man he loved curled up beside him, a lantern that flickered pink and blue sat on the bedside, and a heart returned. 

🏮~~🔥~~🏮