Work Text:
Neuvillette was blankly staring at the long document that Sedene carefully brought to his office, informing him that all he needed to do was double-check the report's accuracy and he'd be done for the day.
It was almost nighttime, the stars were gradually aligning as they formed mystical constellations in the pitch-black sky.
Somehow, just by staring at the glowing lights, the Iudex was reminded of a very close friend...who had broken through the defences which had protected his cold dragon heart for hundreds of years.
“Monsieur Neuvillette, Miss Lumine has arrived at the Palace Mormania. Should I guide her to your office?”
The dainty melusine, Sedene, chirped after slowly creeping through the door, her eyes holding a glint of excitement and joy, which always managed to melt the judge’s heart.
Although he wanted to inform the darling creature that, most likely, Miss Lumine knew exactly where his office was, as she had studied and spent time with him countless of times before, he decided against it and merely replied with a sharp nod.
★
Oh? Did the soft patter of rain, trickling down the glass panes finally catch the attention of Fontaine's most powerful judge, Neuvillette? Can he hear himself exhaling sharply, like a swift knife cutting through the heated air?
It felt as though an invisible mist had suddenly faded away from the Iudex’s stressed mind, allowing him to comprehend and feel all of the pressure and exhaustion which had accumulated over the course of the week.
“Mon chéri…”
“...”
“Monsieur Neuvillete?”
God, that heavenly voice makes his knees go weak. It makes his body feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, as if hundreds of people are lighting up his pounding heart with innumerable exploding fireworks.
No, this isn’t one of his daydreams that he has on a daily basis, all of them centred around the gorgeous traveller from beyond this world.
If somebody would ever catch him in the act, smiling like a child while fantasizing about Lumine, he would certainly lock himself into his office for a good amount of time to hide himself from the embarrassment and potentially save his whole career.
When a soft hand suddenly caressed his shoulder, Neuvillette's trance came to an abrupt end.
The man turned around to gaze at the long-awaited guest with a sense of anticipation he had never experienced before. She was the only person who understood him, who never judged him and who was always worried about his wellbeing.
The rain poured down even harder.
“Oh Neuvi, what am I going to do with you?”
She whispered while slowly wrapping her slim arms around his neck. Her words held a teasing tone, but the moment he looked directly into her sunset eyes,
Neuvillette knew that she was never making fun of him in the first place; rather, she was simply trying to cover up her remorse and empathy for the man in front of her.
“Please… don’t cry. I don’t want to be the reason of your tears.”
It was one of the few times the Traveler has ever heard the Iudex stutter and tremble, and she didn’t like that one bit.
As the Iudex carefully pulled her into his arms, into the most comforting and almost suffocating embrace Lumine had ever felt, the Traveler sighted, attempting to stop her tears from flowing down her cherry colored cheeks. She managed to sputter a few words, even though, most of them were locked up in her throat.
“I’m not tearing up, because of you. I’m just… upset at the fact that you have so much on your plate and your duty as the Iudex...”
She could go on and on about his troubles, but she chose not to pursue this topic. It wasn’t worth it.
“I wish I could just take all your burdens and…ugh…”
…
If she could punch all the citizens of Fontaine who decided to drop all their problems and trials on Monsieur Neuvillette, she would do it in a heartbeat.
Forget her hero persona and his high status, he was more important to her than any title she’s ever achieved on her journey in Teyvat.
After a few seconds of silence, in which she had time to calm her nerves, Lumine’s skin right below her earlobe began to tickle, and she soon realized the dragon was… scenting her.
He constantly scented her at the start of their relationship, to clearly show everybody around that the traveler is his and his alone.
Of course, the girl indulged in his dragon -like antics, feeling rather giddy from the occasional licks or butterfly kisses he left while patiently going down her exposed neck.
“Don’t think I forgot about your recent trip to Liyue, in which you spent time admiring the views and… talking to the geo archon.”
Neuvillette whispered against the nape of her neck, before getting back to his scenting and kissing duty.
“Ohhhhh, so this is the cause of his mating instincts…”
Lumine thought, quickly realizing that she may or may not have made the judge worry from her visit to the nation of contracts.
Even though, a part of her felt sorry for making her lover stress over such a petty thing, the other half sort of enjoyed his possessiveness and jealousy towards the other dragon from another region.
“Hm? What’s so funny, dear?”
His serious but delicate face suddenly turned around to observe her smirk and melodious giggles which rose in her chest, sending vibrations through his suit.
He had to admit, it was an addictive feeling, which always made him eager to make her laugh like this at any given moment.
“I can’t help but laugh at your jealousy Neuvi! You know that I only love you right? You don’t have to mark me, silly~”
As she continued to giggle softly and twirl her fingers around his hair, he couldn’t help but blush and dart his eyes from her, to the nearest thing in his sight, which happened to be a velvety cushion sofa where he often read his favorite novels in peace and silence.
After a few gasps, Lumine found herself carried like a princess and set tenderly on the relatively spacious couch.
As her wide round eyes scrutinised his every movement, he quickly settled on top of her, letting the majority of his body weight fall down on her body, taking care not to crush her.
“Hmmm…”
Lumine finished her daily commissions early, and her precious companion, Paimon, was peacefully sleeping in her teapot, probably dreaming about sweet madames and mushroom skewers. So, why not spend the night with him?
“You’ve done enough, Neuvi. Now it’s time for you to relax. It’s just you and me here, and the rain outside. Rest for me, please. That’s all I ask of you.”
Lumine murmured the sweet-sweet words with her lips pressed against the top of his head, right between where his horns hid.
Blue at the bottom and pure white at the very top…he was certainly a handsome dragon.
From the right angle, Lumine could see the way his eyes fluttered shut, struggling to keep open and admire her.
That’s when her hands stealthily closed his eyes shut, his hand rapidly grabbing her wrist before she could retreat.
As Neuvillette nestled into her warm chest and began nibbling on the flesh of her fingers, she began combing through his long slivery hair, fuzzing the tips of his blue locks with her spare hand.
The rain was calming down.
Lumine decided to reward her “mon amour”with a gift she was sure he would love. While the rain poured down on the empty streets of the nation of water, she gently scratched the base of his majestic navy horns, earning a shaky breath and a few groans from the hydro deity. His body fully relaxed under her touch.
Through his half lidded eyes, Lumine could catch a rare glimpse of the glossiness and glimmer that hid in his violet orbs, only reserved for her whenever he felt at ease.
She was his forever home.
“*yawn* I’m getting a little…sleepy…” she mumbled in his pointed elf-like ear.
“Mhmm…you can fall asleep right here, mon cheri. I’ll be here all night, to protect you and keep you warm~”
He huffed, making himself even more comfortable by moving slightly to the side, now their position changing to them facing each other.
It's obvious that they have no intention of departing anytime soon.
Thankfully, Lumine arrived to his workplace in comfy silk clothes while he just swiftly removed his leather jacket and tossed it on the floor. Screw proper etiquette.
The traveler tried to oppose his idea of falling asleep on his office’s couch, her mind filled with her Sumerian friend, Tighnari, who often nagged her for not having a good sleep schedule, but all that came out of her mouth were unintelligible whispers and squeaks.
A raspy chuckle echoed through the air, before the man gave her a long tender kiss on her cheek and turned off the lamp which was spreading yellowish light all across the room.
“Good night, Lumine. Thank you, for staying here with me and for always being the only star that I can see whenever it rains and my mind is clouded by sorrow.”
He sighted, admiring her one of a kind beauty which never failed to make his heart race.
His heartfelt remarks caused her cheeks to flush and her heartbeat to quicken, despite the fact that she was only partially conscious.
“Fais de beaux rêves, mon étoile~ ”
Her adorable snores were muffled by the soft and lustrous fabric of Neuvi’s shirt. Sure, the Iudex had a tiresome week, but just by getting the opportunity to spend time with Lumine, in such close proximity, made it all worthwhile.
At last, the rain stopped, only to be replaced by the soothing twinkling of the stars, dancing merrily in the pitch black canvas of light.
BONUS ★♡:
“Lilith! Be quiet and help me cover them with this blanket! “
Sedene whisper shouted at the other grinning melusine, which was currently squealing with joy from the sight she saw.
The traveler and the Iudex… nuzzling close to each other?!
“I can’t help it! You have no idea how much time I’ve waited to see them together all cute and cuddling~!”
Lilith squeaked, causing a sudden movement from the couch. Thankfully, no one woke up, rather the lovers got even more comfortable, Neuvillette putting his arm around her body, while Lumine was holding her hands in front of her, on his chest.
“I understand, believe me! It makes my melusine heart melt by watching them sleep so peacefully like this….but we have to be silent or else we’ll wake them up and earn another one of those long lectures from Monsieur Neuvillette!”
She softly giggled towards her giddy friend, who finally helped her tuck the pair under the clumsily folded cotton blanket.
Under the dim light which was projected by the white moon outside, two melusines found themselves staring affectionately at the adorable couple who always treated them with care and kindness.
Neuvillette was like a father to them, him being the person who gave the melusines homes and a purpose in life, and once they got the chance to meet the renowned hero and traveler, all of them realized how good of a pair these two made.
As more time went on, the melusines became emotionally attached to the warmhearted and emphatic girl, often complimenting and yapping about her to the judge, so happy that Lumine helped them with this or that.
After all, the melusines were the ones that made Lumine and Neuvillette a couple in the first place.
“Sedene?”
“…”
“Yeah?”
“…do you think Monsieur Neuvillette and Miss Lumine would be fine with us calling them mom and dad?”
Lilith’s shy voice rang through out the room. Somehow, Sedene got a feeling that all her friends had been very eager to call them their father and mother figure, but the words simply bottled up in their throat.
…
“Well, I guess, we’ll never know until we do it~”
★★★