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Lumine was woken by the bright morning sunlight streaming in through the window. She groaned at the ache in her head as daylight overwhelmed her vision even with her eyes closed. Her body felt heavy and sluggish, but she managed to roll onto her other side, putting the sun at her back.
She exhaled in relief as the darker interior of the room sheltered her eyes and eased the throbbing in her head slightly. She tugged the duvet to cover her upper body, but it resisted when she got to her shoulder. She tugged it again, trying to bring it up to her chin, but it didn’t budge. Annoyed, she blinked open her tired, dry eyes to see what the blanket was caught on.
The experience of staying and sleeping in different places all the time on their travels made it so that Lumine always felt like she was in and out of hotels, her brain never really getting used to what view she would wake up to. It always took a moment for her to remember where she was again.
However, this morning’s scene was even more unusual than she had adjusted to expecting. Her vision was taken up by vivid, alert, crimson eyes. She blinked stupidly for a moment, confused. She recognised the mole under the right eye as the face in front of her smirked.
“Good morning, Honorary Knight,” Lohen said, sitting up and getting out of the bed, looking down at her with an amused expression on his face. Adrenaline shot through Lumine’s veins as she jumped up to sit on the bed, hands reflexively pulling up the duvet to cover her body. He rolled his eyes at her. “Relax.”
“Why in the Abyss are you here?” she hissed, lowering the duvet as she realised she was wearing her usual day clothes.
“In my own room?” he asked drily. Lumine refocused her eyes, glancing around the room and realising it wasn’t her and Paimon’s room. It was Lohen’s room.
“Why in the Abyss am I here then?” she asked, voice sharp with annoyance. Lohen sat down in an armchair at the far side of the room, in front of a floor length mirror. He crossed his legs and rested his chin on a hand, looking bored as he regarded her.
“If you weren’t here then you might instead be lying in a pile of your own sick at the Angel’s Share.” Lumine flushed at the insult, angry, but hesitated as she noticed the acidic taste in her mouth. Shame overwhelmed her other emotions as she realised that he might not be as far from the truth as she had initially assumed.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, but it sounded more venomous than grateful. She couldn’t think straight with the pounding in her head, but he was making it so much worse. He smiled in satisfaction, as if hearing her thoughts.
“No need for gratitude, I was more than happy to share my bed with you. Although you are a needy sleeper, did you know that?” His voice was so nonchalant that Lumine had to suppress the growl of anger within her. He was such a brat.
“I assure you,” she said, trying to make her voice as even as possible, “it won’t happen again.” She scooted to the edge of the bed and stood up, trying to look composed, feeling his eyes on her. He stood up again and approached her, making her freeze in place, eyes downcast.
“Surely we are more than well-acquainted for that to be your concern?” he purred, steps slow and methodical. They were like an ominous countdown as they neared her. He stopped in front of her and put his hands on his hips, examining her wilted posture.
“That can’t happen again,” she said shortly, “it didn’t mean anything.” Lohen scoffed and slid a gloved hand under her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. She realised they really were deep crimson like she had seen when she woke. She had never noticed before. She clenched her jaw under his grip, eyes serious as she matched his gaze. He smiled, amused, as his eyes narrowed at her.
“I know you want me already – so when I have you, I will make sure you are less worried about meaning and more occupied with feeling every touch and remembering every second,” he said as he trailed his hand from her chin down her neck, making her shiver. His smile widened. “What more expressions can you make, I wonder?”
A traitorous part of Lumine wanted to kiss that smile, she wanted to give in and feel his hands all over her body. But the pain in her head grounded her, helped her stay resolute under his piercing gaze and trailing hand’s touch.
“I’m leaving now,” she said and he withdrew his hand with a bored sigh.
“Fine,” he replied, turning and waving lazily without looking back at her. Lumine was momentarily stunned by his uncharacteristic agreement. It was so unlike him to be cooperative that she hesitated for too long before heading toward the bedroom door.
She was about to open it when she heard distant voices outside and stilled, hand jumping back from the door handle. She looked back towards Lohen who seemed to be intentionally not paying her any attention all of a sudden.
“Is this the only way in and out of here?” she asked, seething at having no other choice but to ask him.
“Sure is. Is there a problem, Traveller?”
“Someone could see me leaving your room,” she answered, exasperated.
“And?” he said, his tone unbothered. He did turn towards her now though. She wished he hadn’t because looking at his face was annoying her more.
“People know you brought me home! They will think something happened between us!” she hissed in a half-whisper, worried that they could also be heard through the door.
“But something has happened between us,” he said slyly. Lumine scowled, losing her temper.
“I am not here because of that!” she corrected him.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to correcting the situation if you want them to have their facts straight,” Lohen replied smugly, leaning against his desk.
“That is not what I said!” Her fists tightened at her sides in annoyance.
“Well you can just walk out the door then,” he said, examining his glove disinterestedly.
“What if someone sees me?”
“So what?”
“I think it would be unwise,” she spat through gritted teeth.
“I think getting drunk to the point of throwing up is also unwise, Honorary Knight.” He smiled innocently as he said it and she shot him a thoroughly dirty look. That’s it, she thought, I am going to strangle him.
Fortunately, it was while glaring at him that she saw her salvation. She strode forward up to him and his eyes lit up excitedly. He grimaced when she walked right past him though, to the window behind the desk. She undid the latch and opened the window wide, stepping one of her feet up onto the windowsill.
She couldn’t help grinning in satisfaction when she looked back towards him. He didn’t look half as annoyed as she hoped he would. Instead he crossed his arms and smiled knowingly up at her.
“You know where to find me when you change your mind,” he said casually, smirking knowingly at her. She scowled at him and dropped out of the window into the bushes below, escaping his room unnoticed.
Or so she thought.
“Who goes there?!” came a voice from the front of headquarters. Lumine froze in place, crouched in between two bushes, hoping that whoever it was would doubt themselves and leave. They did not. “Show yourself!”
Lumine buried her head in her hands, exasperated, then stood up out of the bushes with her hands held out to the side. It was Porthos and Athos, the Headquarters’ guards.
“Honorary Knight?” said Porthos, looking at her in surprise. She nodded, pressing her lips together guiltily. “We were worried that there was an intruder… We apologise for startling you.”
“It’s alright,” she said, lowering her hands and eyeing the pair, “it would be best if you don’t tell anyone you saw me out here though. I am carrying out a very important mission.” She tried not to wince at how bad the lie sounded out loud, but she seemed to have more sway in Mondstadt than she realised because they nodded eagerly with wide eyes.
“Of course, of course!” they chimed together, voices more hushed now. They rushed away back to their posts. Lumine breathed out a sigh of relief then glanced up as she heard laughter above her. She only saw a window above her closing, no further trace of Lohen.
She ran her hand through her hair, scowling, and walked towards the front door of the headquarters. She tried to ignore Porthos and Athos’ excited, secretive smiles as she passed them to enter the building and hoped that they would keep her sudden appearance in the bushes to themselves.
Her shoes clacked on the floor as she made her way through the entryway and up the stairs toward her and Paimon’s temporary lodgings. She smiled politely to a couple knights she passed in the corridor but didn’t know by name but didn't see anyone else. When she arrived at the bedroom, she lingered in the hallway for a moment and shot a glance toward Lohen’s bedroom door at the other end of the hall. Then she quietly unlocked the door and slipped inside her room.
It was dark inside, the curtains still drawn to block out the sunlight and Lumine realised for the first time how early it still was seeing the clock on the wall. She tiredly changed into more comfortable clothes, passing an eye over a sleeping Paimon who was drooling on her pillow. Lumine smiled endearingly at it but was glad they had separate beds in this instance.
She was growing bleary eyed from exhaustion; her body hadn’t gotten enough sleep yet, especially after such a rough night. She drank a glass of water, hoping it would alleviate some of her discomfort and brushed her teeth for good measure to take the bad taste out of her mouth.
Then, she settled in under the covers of her bed and buried her head into the pillow, clutching the spare pillow in her arms against her chest. It comforted her to have something to hold for some reason. Her drowsiness returned within moments, and she drifted off to sleep.
“Paimon was so worried about you!” Paimon exclaimed, teary-eyed, clutching Lumine’s arm. Lumine bit her lip, ashamed for worrying her friend and patted her comfortingly.
“It’s okay, I’m feeling fine now,” Lumine replied, smiling. It was a half-truth. She did feel okay but she was definitely not in fighting form either.
“Where did you go if you weren’t here? I was hoping you just ended up in the wrong room by accident or something! That Lohen didn’t do anything to you did he?” Paimon asked, concern large in her eyes. Lumine lost herself for a moment, thoughts of Lohen’s hands on her body, his lips on her neck, his-. She cleared her throat nervously, heat rising to her face.
“No! Nothing like that hah... He abandoned me a bush outside so nothing inappropriate at all,” Lumine said quickly, the lie awkward from her mouth. Paimon gasped in shock.
“He did what?! Left you in a bush?! What kind of Knight of Favonius is that guy?! Varka told me you’d be fine because Lohen brought you back ahead! Wait ‘til he hears about this!” Paimon yelled angrily, pumping her fists for extra effect. The colour drained from Lumine’s face and she laughed anxiously.
“You know Paimon, I don’t think there’s any need to tell Varka anything! I didn’t have my key so what could he do really?! It was a great bush, honestly!” Lumine wondered how deep she would have to dig her hole of lies before the universe fulfilled her wish and had the ground swallow her whole. Paimon crossed her arms in annoyance.
“Well Paimon doesn’t want to cause trouble for you, so she won’t say anything if you don’t want her to… but if we run into that guy Paimon is gonna give him a piece of her mind!”
Lumine breathed a sigh of relief at Paimon’s reluctant agreement. Now she just had to make sure that they avoided Lohen long enough for Paimon to forget about this conversation. She reckoned that around twenty-four hours should do the trick.
“Let’s go get some work done,” Lumine said, stretching. Paimon nodded eagerly, her anger seemingly forgotten already.
“Let’s get our commissions and see where the wind takes us!” Paimon said with a grin.
Lumine was slower to get out of bed the following morning. The previous day had been uneventful, easily their most normal day in Mondstadt since they had returned a couple days previously. Uneventful should have been a good thing. It meant that all was well and normal.
Unfortunately for Lumine though, it didn’t feel like a good thing at all. She hadn’t managed to see Lohen even once since the previous morning and it made her feel empty and confused. She knew that she had pushed him away and that it was probably her own fault.
But she couldn’t help it. Being near him lit her passion on fire. It made her want to hit him and kiss him at the same time, which only heightened her anger with herself. He riled her up in every way imaginable.
Every time she rounded a corner, she hoped that she would find him standing there as if waiting for her. She found herself searching for his face in the crowds, but he was nowhere to be seen. It filled her with longing, a gnawing sensation that was making her restless.
She had gotten little to no sleep last night; her thoughts a blur of his face and touch. Images of those crimson eyes haunted her and she found herself missing his watchful gaze. She wanted the feeling of those intense eyes on her, making her hair stand on end in anticipation.
She got no such respite. Instead, she lay in bed, tossing and turning in the dark and imagined him lying there next to her. She imagined his crafty smile, intense eyes and nimble hands, all focused on her.
Exhaustion won out a couple times, and she drifted to sleep eventually, only to wake from dreams of him. Inappropriate dreams. She cursed herself for having them but they left an ache in her that she hadn’t been able to quell. She had convinced herself that she hated it, as much as she hated him. But a small voice inside her wondered, if that was all true, why couldn’t she get him out of her head?
When Lumine did get out of bed that morning, she entered the bathroom and cautiously examined the dark circles under her eyes. She looked exhausted – more run down than a night of bad sleep should have been able to affect a person. As she ran her hands through her hair, she spotted the bruise between her neck and shoulder and grabbed a robe from the hook in the bathroom, quickly putting it on and making sure the neckline hid the discoloured skin.
Just another mark he had left on her, one that was visible to anyone who knew to look. It was also an instant reminder of his touch and exactly where he had been. The bruise on her neck was one of the least intimate things he had done to her. She found herself wondering if yesterday had just been a fluke and if he would should up again today, armed and ready to go right back to annoying her. Did she want him to? Wasn’t that just adding fuel to the fire? The indiscernible ache inside her told her that it very much was what she wanted.
She sighed in annoyance to herself at her indecisiveness as Paimon floated into the bathroom next to her, rubbing tired eyes. Lumine glanced up to greet her but Paimon screamed suddenly, startling Lumine instead, leaving her speechless.
“Lumine!” Paimon shrieked, looking aghast, “you look terrible!” Lumine’s expression contorted from surprise to a glare making Paimon shiver, horrified.
“Thanks for the early morning confidence boost,” she grumbled, leaving the bathroom so she could get changed. Paimon scurried after her.
“Paimon didn’t mean it! She just got a fright!” Paimon said guiltily. Lumine sighed, a tension headache building from clenching her jaw too much. “Do you want to rest today? Paimon thinks you might need it.”
Lumine shook her head slowly. “It’s okay Paimon, the fresh air will do me good… and hopefully it will help me sleep tonight.” Paimon looked sceptical but didn’t push her anymore.
They fell into their routine and got ready for the day as Paimon chatted amicably about whatever popped into her head. Lumine was grateful for it because it gave her something to focus on. She loved travelling with Paimon, especially when the weight of the world felt like it was too much to bear. Today though, it was only the weight of her foolish desires that needed alleviating. Every little helped she supposed.
A short while late, they stepped out into the cool Mondstadt breeze. The sunlight made Lumine wince in irritation. It was too bright and her head throbbed, but she tried to shake off her sleep-deprived annoyance as they wandered through the city, towards the Adventurers’ Guild.
“Are you looking for someone?” Paimon asked suddenly, startling Lumine.
“I- What?” Lumine said, flustered. Paimon cocked her head to the side.
“Paimon noticed that you keep looking around like you’re trying to find someone. Who is it?”
“No one! I was just… admiring the scenery,” Lumine replied, blushing, feeling stupid that she was so obvious. Paimon didn’t say anything else about it but Lumine made sure to not let her gaze wander for the rest of their walk. Katheryne had their daily commissions set aside already so Lumine opened up their map so they could check the commission locations.
“Those are pretty far apart, huh,” Paimon commented. Lumine nodded in agreement, scanning the map.
“I guess… we can start at the north of Starfell Valley , swing by Springvale on our way south and finish at Dadaupa Gorge?” she suggested.
“Sure!”
Hours later, they were trekking their way into Dadaupa Gorge. It had been a very long day for Lumine. Or rather, it had felt like a very long day. Timewise, it was only mid-afternoon. Lumine didn’t remember commissions feeling this dull. Sure, they could be repetitive, but it was work you got on with, got some training and practice in and went home to have a nice meal. It usually felt like a good, fulfilling life. Not today though.
Today she felt like she was dragging her heels. Fortunately for her lack of patience, they were on their way to complete the final commission of the day. Then, Lumine could go back to wallowing in her own pity. Because, no matter what she did, her thoughts were consumed by him. She shook her head in irritation, as if hoping she could shake Lohen out of there as well.
For now, she tried to focus on the task at hand. She and Paimon were crouched and sneaking through the tree cover to stake out the hilichurl camp that constituted their final commission.
“Paimon thinks these guys keep coming back here just to get beat up,” Paimon said in a quiet voice as they watched the hilichurls dance around their campfire. Lumine hummed in agreement as she scanned the area. It would be an easy battle; just one mitachurl, four melee hilichurls and one ranged.
“Alright,” she whispered, looking at Paimon, “I’m going in. You stay hidden here until it’s clear.” Paimon nodded energetically in reply. Lumine stalked around the trees until she was behind the ranged hilichurl.
She leaped up onto the hilichurl tower and quickly dispatched it before dropping down onto the grass next to its companions. She weaved around their attacks, avoiding the mitachurl for now, focusing on thinning the weaker numbers first. One, two, three, four, she counted in her head.
Lastly was the mitachurl. It dashed for her, roaring in anger and she rolled to the side to avoid it. Then, with a slash to its back, it dropped. Lumine let her sword hand fall to her side and was about to dismiss the weapon when she felt a presence behind her. Had she missed one on her initial check?
Danger spiked in her veins and her instincts took over. She turned quickly, sword flashing as she dealt a powerful blow against the foe who had managed to sneak up behind her, almost unnoticed. There was a loud clang as her sword was stopped by the blade of a dagger. Her blood ran cold as she simultaneously recognised the dagger and the person holding it. She dropped her sword, stunned to silence, staring at Lohen.
He was grinning ecstatically as he rubbed the gash on his cheek with a gloved hand and admired the blood that came off on it. He had blocked her sword but not with enough strength to stop her blade from cutting his cheek before she had realised it was him.
“Such a warm welcome. You certainly seem to be harbouring some… pent-up frustrations,” he said cryptically, eyes flickering up to her face from the back of his hand, where wet blood shone bright red against the black leather. Her breath caught in her throat, his piercing eyes holding her in place. She could have killed him, she realised slowly. If he had been someone less skilled or reactive, she would have at least seriously hurt them. Lohen’s eyes glinted as they watched her.
“I’m… sorry,” she said, throat dry as panic welled up inside of her, making her hands tremble. She could have killed someone.
“It’s only a graze,” he said, shrugging casually, “besides I’d happily be your victim again if I get to face blows like that.” He licked his lips as he said it, as if relishing the thought. She was horrified, realising that the shock she felt was completely one-sided. He was enjoying himself. More blood was welling at the cut on his cheek, spilling slowly down his face.
“Hey!! What happened? Why are you here Lohen?” Paimon’s voice came from behind Lumine and she exhaled heavily, trying to control her breathing. She had gotten so momentarily disoriented that it felt like coming back up for water.
“I came to clear out this area, but it looks like I missed all the fun already,” Lohen said smoothly. Paimon huffed to herself.
“Well Paimon thinks that’s what you deserved for leaving the Traveller to sleep in a bush when you were supposed to take her home!” Lohen eyed Lumine in blatant amusement and she found herself wishing the Heavenly Principles would smite her where she stood.
“A-anyway,” Lumine said quickly, not giving him a chance to comment, “let’s get going now Paimon. We’re all done here.”
Unfortunately for Lumine, her exit was cut off by Lohen as he swept to the ground on one knee, delicately catching her hand in his. He smiled up at her wickedly through thick eyelashes and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. Her cheeks turned bright red at the gesture. The obvious romance of it was not lost on her.
“What are you-!”
“My most sincere apologies for mishandling you Honorary Knight. It was most unchivalrous of me. I will endeavour to be more attentive next time.” He exhaled in amusement as he said it, his breath tickling the back of her hand. Lohen was smiling to himself as he stood back up and released her hand. She held it to her chest, flabbergasted.
“Paimon supposes that’s a pretty great apology. As apologies go,” Paimon said, with a small hand held up to her chin thoughtfully.
“I am glad you liked it,” Lohen said in response to her, but his eyes were on Lumine. She averted her gaze from him. She wasn’t sure if she was more embarrassed that he discovered the cover story she told Paimon or by his successful attempt to prompt a reaction out of her. The shame of unintentionally hurting him fought with her sheer embarrassment at the current situation. She swallowed against the lump in her throat, the silence stretching too long.
“Sit,” she said shortly, pointing to a large, flat rock nearby. He raised an eyebrow questioningly but obeyed, probably curious as to the reason behind her request. He propped his upper body with hands behind him in a relaxed position, legs stretched out in front of him.
“Paimon, could you please collect some fresh water for me?” Lumine asked as she inspected the gash on his cheek with delicate fingers. Fortunately, it had looked worse when it had bled originally but was actually quite shallow. Paimon saluted and quickly disappeared from sight to fulfil her mission.
“Concerned for my wellbeing?” Lohen asked, lips twitching into a smile. She shushed him and took a rag from her bag, using it to gently wipe away the blood dripping down his face but avoiding the cut for now.
She held out her hand towards him, palm facing upwards and he took her unspoken meaning, placing his hand in hers so she could wipe the excess blood from that as well. She rubbed at the glove until there was no obvious stain left behind.
He watched her silently, with sharp eyes as she tended him, not smiling or mocking her anymore. She left the rag on the ground and removed a box from her bag that was packed with first aid supplies. She tapped the side of the box with her fingers thoughtfully as she examined the contents, noting that she needed to stock up on some items.
“Paimon is back with the water!” Lumine looked up toward her friend and smiled gratefully. Paimon waited patiently as Lumine doused rubbing alcohol on her hands to sanitise them and took out another jar and crisp wipes wrapped in plastic. Her expression was focused on the task at hand, eyes serious.
Meanwhile, Lohen was thoroughly enjoying being the object of her attentions. The truth was, he would have done all of this himself. However, that was information that he wouldn’t be offering to Lumine right now. She doused the wipe with liquid from the second bottle.
“This will sting,” she murmured and at his slight nod, she pressed the wipe to the cut. To his credit, he didn’t wince or react to it, so she cleaned the wound, then used a clean side of the wipe to remove the remaining diluted blood stains on his face.
Her work was swift and methodical as she continued through the process, applying a small cream and bandage to the cut, cleaning and sanitising as she went. She was so thorough that she lit everything with blood on it on fire so it would burn away and be harmless. When she was done, she asked Paimon for the water and drank it, almost making Lohen laugh.
“Thirsty work?” he asked, smiling with his chin resting on his hand at her.
“Here,” she said, rolling her eyes and passing him the waterskin, “it’s for you. You need to stay hydrated after losing blood.” She went back to packing up her supplies box. Lohen eyed her wet lips and drank from the waterskin.
He knew he hadn’t lost enough blood for her hydration excuse to matter but he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to drink from her waterskin. The water tasted sweet somehow, but he wasn’t sure if it was from the water or the object of his desire.
Lumine stood, finished and ready to go so he stood as well, passing back the waterskin. She nodded to him and tucked it away. Lohen carefully touched a hand to the bandage on his cheek, smiling wryly.
“It’s been a pleasure to be the centre of your attention yet again. Let me know if you ever want to… blow off some steam.”
“You wish,” she countered, lips pursing in annoyance.
Lohen winked at her, smiling mischievously. “Oh I do.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and he chuckled, walking away. Her heart pounded in her chest and she breathed deeply, closing her eyes to calm herself. He always found a way to rile her up no matter the situation, even after what she had just done.
She gazed after his retreating figure, anxiety creeping into her heart as she wondered if she had closed herself off from him too harshly again. She had gone from missing his presence to accidentally attacking him.
“Is Paimon imagining things or are you two flirting?” Paimon said inquisitively. Lumine spluttered, eyes wide as she looked towards Paimon in shock.
“Absolutely not!!”
“It’s okay if you were, you can tell Paimon anything you know.”
“I wasn’t!” Lumine protested. Paimon hummed disbelievingly to herself but said nothing more about it. Lumine bit her lip, feeling the traitorous heat in her cheeks. “Let’s get back to the city.”