Work Text:
In a small apartment in the heart of Nodkrai, a city wrapped in snow, the nights always felt unbearably long to Flins. In the living room, the lights were dim. In his arms, a baby girl slept soundly, breathing softly.
Her hair was thin and light, just like her father's.
Her name was Vanya.
That’s what Flins called her. Meanwhile, her father calls the baby “pretty,” just like her face.
Flins gazes at his child’s tiny face with a gentle look. His fingers gently stroke the baby’s rosy cheeks with care.
“Your father is far away. But papa hopes you’ll meet him soon.”
Far—very far away.
Entire continents stretch between them, vast and unyielding.
Their relationship had never been made public. Only close friends in Nodkrai knew about it. As for Mondstadt, no one was aware of this.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to tell anyone, and certainly not because Flins was a secret lover. But. The time just wasn’t right yet. Work in Mondstadt was extremely demanding and hectic, there wasn’t even time for casual conversation.
Flins didn’t hold it against him, but Varka still told his beloved not to think he was hiding anything.
Flins laughed when he remembered that.
He sighed.
Actually, he was used to living alone. But after Vanya was born, he felt everything was different.
That baby who would cry all night long, and all he could do was hold and rock her while singing lullabies in their apartment.
It wasn’t easy.
Especially since Varka wasn’t by his side.
Sad?
Of course.
He opened his phone.
Varka’s last message. He’d said he’d try to visit at the end of the month.
Flins sighed.
Trying, huh…
He knew it by heart.
Flins didn’t blame Varka at all, he knew Varka’s job wasn’t an easy one. They both knew the consequences of this relationship—it would inevitably be a long-distance one.
Still. Flins felt lonely even though Vanya was now in his life.
One night, Vanya laughed in her sleep. Flins chuckled softly as he watched her.
“What are you dreaming about, hm?"
Flins gently rubbed her baby’s belly, gazing at her for a long time.
And he thought.
Vanya was growing day by day, and each day passed without Varka there to witness her growth.
Flins opened his camera and sent a photo of their little baby to Varka, then added a caption. “Your pretty little girl is laughing in her sleep; I hope you can see this in person.”
It wasn’t long before Varka replied to his message. “I miss you, Kyryll, and I miss my pretty baby too. I've decided to go home next week :(”
Flins smiled softly.
Even though he always put it off, Varka was still coming home.
“I’ll be waiting for you at home, Varka.”