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Typically, the journey between Cliffwatch Camp and Piramida is uneventful, barring occasional Wild Hunt encounters.
So when Illuga comes across the remnants of a battlefield that certainly hadn't been here yesterday, he stops to investigate.
...And is only more surprised when a familiar voice calls out to him minutes after he arrives.
"Illuga!"
He should've expected it, actually. If anybody would do this, it would be—
"Lohen," he greets in turn, giving a nod to the knight. He's certainly known to appear out of the blue like this.
"On your way to Piramida?" Lohen guesses, approaching.
"Yeah. Stopping by to drop off some reports, and then I have a meeting tomorrow."
Lohen sighs. "Sounds boring," he replies, idly twirling his spear. "Want me to join?"
Illuga eyes the blood on his face, but says nothing. "...I won't stop you."
Lohen grins. "Great! I look forward to it."
"Nothing really to look forward to," Illuga mumbles, turning back towards his path. "Try to look presentable before you get there."
"I don't look presentable?" Lohen echoes, trailing after Illuga as he begins walking. His voice turns teasing. "What makes you say such a thing, dear captain?"
Illuga turns his head, glaring. "The blood. I'm not letting you into Piramida looking like... that."
"Ah, right, right— well, I'd say the blood looks perfectly complementary to my eyes. But, of course, I won't say no to a pretty captain looking to clean me up."
"Lohen," Illuga chokes, glaring once again. A satisfied smirk is all he receives.
Illuga watches him a second longer.
"Perfectly content looking like this," Lohen repeats, smirk growing.
The lightkeeper hardens his glare. He places a hand behind Lohen's ear and yanks the knight's face towards him.
Illuga gets the satisfaction of watching Lohen's smirk immediately drop.
He draws a small piece of cloth from his pocket and begins scrubbing at the drying blood on Lohen's face with a small exhale.
The two stand in silence as Illuga works. When he finishes, Illuga drops his hold, but Lohen does not draw back immediately.
"...Sorry, I might have scrubbed a little too hard," Illuga comments, observing the darkening skin in the area.
Lohen doesn’t reply. Wow. When does he ever go quiet like this?
A beat.
“That’s— completely fine!” Lohen exclaims, finally standing up straight and drawing away from Illuga. His voice cracks.
“Good,” Illuga nods, returning to the path once again.
Lohen takes a few seconds to start following again.
“You wound me, captain,” Lohen sighs, voice regaining its usual playfulness. “You thought that could’ve hurt me?”
Illuga doesn’t look back at the knight. “No. But I wanted to apologise anyway. Besides, your skin was turning red.”
Lohen doesn’t reply again.
Illuga only scoffs, amused.
“Where to next, captain?” Lohen sings, leaning into Illuga’s space as they exit the Lightkeeper’s main hall.
“I was going to stop by my home. You’re welcome to come,” Illuga responds, already walking in the direction.
“Oh? Inviting me in so early?” Lohen teases, following closely.
“Would you not follow anyway?”
The knight hums. “Of course I would. But now I know you want me there.”
Illuga says nothing. They walk in silence for a bit.
They’re nearly at Illuga’s house when the knight speaks again. “...Although. If I wasn’t welcome, would you fight me?”
“No,” Illuga scoffs, unlocking the door. “I wouldn’t fight you for a month.”
“What?” Lohen gasps, stepping past the door after Illuga. He shuts the door behind him, eyes trained on Illuga. “No… you wouldn’t.”
“I would,” Illuga smiles, acting innocent. The knight shivers.
“How could you be so cruel?” Lohen asks, dramatic as he can be. Illuga shrugs off his shoes, propping his spear in place beside the door.
Lohen copies, watching the lightkeeper navigate the space.
Illuga places his focus on the small stack of papers in the corner instead. Hm. Letters he brought inside to read last time he was here— still sitting unread, unfortunately.
“Hm… maybe I’d have to add another month,” Illuga teases back, a little absentmindedly. “Breaking and entering is a serious offense.” He picks up the first letter in the stack.
“Who said anything about breaking and entering? Would I ever—”
Illuga shrugs off his coat. Lohen goes quiet.
The lightkeeper tears his attention away from the paper, looking towards Lohen instead. Actually, he’s closer than he thought— when had he crossed the room?
Before Illuga can question his silence, Lohen places a careful hand on his back.
Illuga is quiet.
He feels Lohen’s hand on his back, his fingers tracing—
Oh.
The soulmate mark on his back that he never quite figured out. The one now exposed by the open back of his sweater.
Illuga looks into Lohen’s eyes, waiting, watching how they’re focused.
“It’s pretty,” Lohen says, finally, voice quiet.
The little distance between them feels more private, not meant for anywhere outside Illuga’s home, with the way Lohen speaks now.
“Oh,” Illuga replies simply. “...Thanks?”
“Haven’t found your soulmate yet?” Lohen surmises, looking at Illuga's face once more. His hand remains paused at the lightkeeper’s back.
Illuga shakes his head. “No. I haven’t been searching, but… I have no idea what it could mean.”
He thinks of the symbol in his head. The one he’s always known, the one he can picture perfectly. It appears as a boat in water, drawn by a swan, and reflects a light blue glow when the moonlight hits it perfectly.
“...I have no idea either,” Lohen exhales, voice restrained. “Perhaps, like everyone else, you’ll happen to find each other.”
“Is that what happened to you?” Illuga asks, earnestly.
Lohen’s hand drops down to his side. “No. I haven’t found my soulmate yet. I’ve just heard knights talking about it.”
“Ah. Then we’re in the same situation,” Illuga replies, smiling.
“...Guess we are,” Lohen finishes, distant. He bows his head.
Illuga studies his expression briefly, and takes a guess.
“...Or are you not searching for your soulmate?”
Lohen looks up, shrugging. “I wouldn’t say I ever have been.”
Ah. That explains his attitude. Teasing. Playful. Sounding like he wants something more, in and out of spars.
“Not a believer?” Illuga continues, curious. Some people settle for not finding their soulmate, afterall.
Lohen shakes his head. “I wouldn’t say that. It’s just… never been an active thought of mine.”
The knight’s seriousness is a little new to Illuga. But… not unwelcome.
“Hm,” Illuga hums. “Well. I hope you find your soulmate soon.”
Lohen sighs. He looks up, a fresh grin on his face. “Sure. And, ‘til then, you’ll still spar with me?”
Illuga furrows a brow. “What?”
“You’ll still spar with me, right?”
“Of course—”
Lohen grabs his hand, linking the two.
“Then let’s go,” Lohen grins, running towards the door.
“Wait, Lohen—!”
The next time Illuga encounters Lohen, it’s on a battlefield during a particularly dark night. Rain pours from overhead, enshrouding the vision of those venturing into the night.
Illuga only ran out here because he heard the commotion from a far distance, and assumed somebody was struggling.
When he arrives, however, he sees a couple knights safely tending to each other’s injuries. And on the battlefield— of course.
Lohen is taking down a horde with no regards to the current situation, with his prowess the only thing protecting himself from his own recklessness.
Illuga runs towards him, bringing his lantern up to his side to illuminate the way. He draws his spear at the Wild Hunt, stepping into the rhythm of combat effortlessly.
“Nice to see you here, captain!” Lohen shouts, a wide grin present in his voice.
“What are you doing?” Illuga returns, kicking a falling body of the Wild Hunt out of his way.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Lohen laughs, throwing a larger creature of the Wild Hunt into the ground. He drives his fist into it once more—for good measure—before returning to the active threats.
Illuga slashes into one of the creatures aiming for Lohen’s blindspots. “I don’t know? Risking your life, maybe?!”
Lohen laughs, the sound tinged with hysteria. “Would I do that?”
“Yes!” Illuga shouts back, calling forth Aedon between his words. “Yes, you would—”
The knight tears through the horde with terrifying efficiency, all while grinning and joking with Illuga.
The rain is getting heavier, and the battlefield’s visibility is getting lower. Illuga readjusts his grip on his lantern, trying to allow both of them to see better.
Well.
He sees everything a little better. Especially the last enemy. Especially the crossbow that fires two arrows that pierce Lohen’s back—
“Lohen!” He screams, running towards the knight.
With the light of his lantern, Illuga sees the blood streaming down his face. The crazy expression on his face. The way he struggles to keep one of his eyes open.
Lohen throws his own spear at the last enemy, taking it down with the force behind his throw.
Then, he finally looks at Illuga.
“...Guess I would.”
“What? No, wait, don’t speak—”
“I would risk my life,” Lohen jokes, right before coughing out blood onto the ground. Whether it’s his or not, Illuga starts to panic.
He could’ve prevented this—
“I’m fine,” Lohen says, standing up straighter. His voice cuts through Illuga’s thoughts.
“You are not fine,” Illuga hisses, grabbing the man’s arms.
“Saying that while you’re staring at me so intensely, like I’m the finest man in the world,” Lohen comments, teasing, appearing dazed. “You’re giving me mixed signals here, captain.”
“What?! Lohen, this is serious—!”
Lohen hums. “I’m being perfectly serious here.”
Illuga would explode at him if this wasn’t such a tense situation. He isn’t sure the severity of the injuries, but forcibly turns Lohen away from him to examine them. For stability, he places a hand on Lohen’s shoulder.
The arrows are standard across most of the Wild Hunt enemies, and from what Illuga can see, they didn’t actually pierce as deep into Lohen’s skin as he originally thought. Just enough to stay there. He runs over to grab Lohen’s spear, and returns to the knight’s back again.
“Piramida is closest to here. Let’s go,” Illuga commands, voice firm.
“Sure, captain. Wherever you want,” Lohen replies, turning to face him.
Illuga does not dignify that with a response. He grabs Lohen’s wrist instead, ignoring the approaching knights, and begins heading towards Piramida.
Lohen struggles for a second before walking behind him. He wrestles his wrist out of Illuga’s grip, briefly, just to insert his hand in Illuga’s.
Archons. Is he stupid, or what?
“There. Better,” Lohen grins, voice teasing again.
“Lohen. Focus on yourself,” Illuga growls out, picking up his pace.
“How can I, when you’re right in front of me?” Lohen beams, stumbling as Illuga yanks him closer.
“Then get in front of me.”
“I think I’m okay.”
“Lohen,” Illuga warns.
“Yes, dear captain?”
“...Nevermind. Just be quiet.”
Illuga drops Lohen off with Piramida’s medics, and decides to head to his own home. Despite his worries about the knight’s condition. To rest at least a little bit, after practically dragging Lohen there.
And… to finally ask himself what he thinks about Lohen.
Illuga has spent his entire life believing he wouldn’t want anybody but his soulmate. He didn’t have problems with loyalty.
Now, though— he’s questioning it. Something he never thought he’d do.
But it’s difficult to swear loyalty to somebody you don’t know.
…Is he really being disloyal if he wants Lohen?
Maybe, he considers, he doesn’t have to do anything with these feelings. Just let them sit in his head when he’s around the other.
If they’re truly feelings at all. He’s still not sure.
Who’s to say Lohen would even return his feelings at all? He hasn’t interacted with Lohen outside of the two being one-on-one. It’s impossible to tell if he’s naturally… like that towards others, or if Illuga is a special case.
Secretly, he hopes for the latter.
Illuga breathes out. He looks around the room for something else to focus on.
He had ended up taking the knight’s spear with him by mistake, and now, he’s eyeing the two beside each other on Illuga’s weapon rack.
And then he’s interrupted by somebody knocking at his door.
“Illuga…” they call, voice muffled by the door between them. He stands up, approaching the door.
Lohen. Of course.
Illuga opens the door to see the knight staring back at him, a small smile on his face. His torso has been wrapped with bandages, alongside a couple patches on his head. With a raised eyebrow, Illuga spots his shirt, coat, and cape in his hands.
“They said I’m good to go,” Lohen explains, making eye contact.
“As long as you rest, I’m assuming?” Illuga responds, stepping back to let him inside.
“You caught me,” Lohen shrugs, still smiling. He steps into Illuga’s home, not breaking eye contact.
Illuga sighs, shutting the door behind Lohen. “You can rest here. I don’t want you encountering any Wild Hunt if you were to go back to the Favonius Keep.”
“Don’t worry. I could handle them,” Lohen grins. Illuga glares.
The knight laughs, walking into the main room to take a seat.
When his back turns, Illuga sees it— the faint outline of the mark representing Lohen’s soulmate, just peeking out from under his bandages.
A bird’s wing.
“...Hey, Lohen?” Illuga calls, walking slowly after the other.
He turns, a lazy smile on his face. “Yes?”
“Your… soulmate mark. What is it?”
There’s a shift in his expression, but Illuga can’t quite decipher it. “Some kind of bird. Dunno, never researched it.”
Lohen leans in, grinning. “Why? Curious?”
“Maybe,” Illuga relinquishes, standing still.
“When I change my bandages tomorrow, you can look,” Lohen promises, drawing back. “Mind if I crash here for a night?”
“...Sure,” Illuga agrees, a little stunned. “As long as you need.”
“Thanks,” Lohen smiles, brushing a strand of hair out of Illuga’s face.
When Illuga woke up, Lohen was still asleep in the main room. When he returns, however, Lohen is sitting up, already unwrapping his bandages.
“Oh. Hey, captain!” Lohen beams, looking up at him.
“...Good morning, Lohen.”
“Morning,” Lohen repeats, smiling brightly.
Lohen's back is obscured by the chair he's sitting on.
Illuga doesn't want to pry, but won't deny that he's curious. He can’t quite rip his eyes away.
Lohen seems to notice his gaze however, as his smile shifts more into a smirk.
“Curious, captain?” Lohen teases, standing up.
“I won't deny it,” Illuga replies, raising an eyebrow and pointedly ignoring Lohen's bare chest.
He doesn’t expect Lohen’s smile to falter, let alone drop. The knight takes a small breath, and turns around.
The morning sun filtering in through the window perfectly illuminates Lohen’s back, reflecting a faint gold glow off of a—
A nightingale?
Illuga’s breath catches in his throat.
Instinctively, he reaches out for the shape on his back. Lohen shivers under his touch.
“So… what’d you think, captain?” Lohen asks, a small smile evident in his voice.
“I think it's beautiful,” Illuga breathes, entranced. “You're beautiful.”
Lohen stills.
Illuga feels… relief. He won’t have to settle for another when Lohen is right in front of him.
With that, Illuga snakes his arms around the other’s torso, and pulls him close.
Lohen makes a noise of surprise.
“I’m so glad it’s you,” Illuga whispers, deeming clarification unnecessary. He feels his lips brush Lohen’s bare skin, touch featherlight.
The vice captain lays his arms on top of Illuga’s, voice strained. “Who knew you could be such a romantic?”
Illuga pulls away, ever so slightly, teasing. “Who knew you could be so quiet?”
Lohen laughs. Illuga smiles in turn, pulling him in again.
“Hey, you never told me— what kind of bird is that, on my back?” Lohen calls, kicking a stray rock to the side of the dirt path he and Illuga are patrolling on.
Illuga doesn’t look back, surveying the area. “A nightingale,” he answers, voice clear. “Just like Aedon.”
Lohen hums. “Only you would recognise that.”
“And mine? I never could have guessed that swans would represent you.”
“My, are you calling me ungraceful?” Lohen teases, taking a few large steps to catch up to the captain. “I’ll have you know, captain, that swans do not always represent grace.”
“I’m perfectly aware,” Illuga responds, casting a brief glance back at Lohen. “But nothing about you reminds me of swans at all— I still don’t understand my soulmate mark. At least in my case, I have Aedon.”
“I’m not exactly the best at identifying birds, sorry,” Lohen shrugs. “But your mark is based on my namesake— there’s this character in old Mondstadt literature that rode on a boat drawn by swans. That’s as simple as I can put it.”
Illuga slows his pace, allowing Lohen to walk beside him. “You don’t have to simplify it for me. I’d love to hear the full version sometime.”
“Sure, sure. Remind me,” Lohen grins.
Illuga nods, and they continue on with patrol together.
And, well, if a passing knight or lightkeeper happened to see them together, they wouldn’t be surprised; who could spread a rumour better than the vice captain himself?