Well, it's the truth. In fact, the other children used her visits as an opportunity to test out our acting skills to see which of us would get the best gift. [A faint chuckle escapes him.] It's something interesting, isn't it? These terrifying people that entire nations fear, yet to us, they really do sound like odd relatives of sorts.
[He lets out a sigh, resting his forehead against Heizou's again. When he speaks again, it's a bit more rueful.]
I suppose that's the reality of being in the Fatui, or at least being a member of the House of the Hearth; laughing amongst each other like comrades or like family in one moment, and dealing with nightmares in the next. And that's assuming we're even able to see each other that night...
I can only imagine how scary it can be, being the ones left waiting for their return.
[Heizou gives Lyney another squeeze, a quick, reassuring peck to the tip of his nose.]
But your bonds within the House are strong. Having a warm, loving home gives you all something to live and fight for, a place you strive to return to... It keeps you all strong. You should keep faith in that.
[Despite the kiss to his nose, Lyney's gaze lowers as sorrow touches his voice.]
I just always pray they get home safely. The nights they don't... those are the hardest.
[There have been nights where members of the House come back fatally injured, or don't come back at all... he always prays to whichever god will listen that his siblings always come back safely.]
It's funny... though we're named after the warmth and protection of a home's hearth... I don't think any of us truly know what a real home is like. But you're right; our bonds with each other are as strong as any flesh and blood family.
[He idly runs his hand up and down Heizou's back. Whether it's to pacify Heizou, or calm himself, he's unsure.]
...I want to be able to make the House of the Hearth a real home. I know that one day... one day I'll succeed Father, and take her place as "king". When that day comes... I only hope I can make the House of the Hearth a true home.
[He's watching Lyney so closely, as if he's studying him from just a few inches away. He notes that melancholy in his voice, putting the worry he always carries for his siblings on display, and Heizou wishes that there was more he could do to put Lyney's mind at ease. There isn't much, certainly not while they're worlds away from Teyvat, so he just has to do his best to try to comfort him. Provide a warm, safe place where Lyney can unburden himself, even just for a little while.
As he brings up the part where he'll be succeeding Arlecchino one day... Heizou settles in a little closer, giving the other a soft look as he goes back to stroking his hair. Gently pushing the strands out of his face so there's nothing blocking his gaze.]
You'll do it. You're compassionate, brave, smart... Most importantly you have determination. I truly believe that if anyone could manage such a feat, it's you.
[Then his smile turns a bit wry.] Maybe with just a little help from your friends and siblings, of course~
[Lyney looks up at Heizou as he brushes the hair away from his eyes, blinking curiously at the redhead. Hearing those reassuring words, the same ones echoed by Arlecchino... it makes his heart swell with gratitude and pride, a small smile forming. Curiously, he feels his eyes misting.]
Heizou...
[He wraps his arms around Heizou's middle tighter, squeezing a bit as he hugs Heizou close.]
You know... I had always thought that nothing would be more important than looking after my family and keeping them safe. But then you came into my life, and then... things became complicated. I didn't know how to balance what I felt for my family, and what I felt for you. I thought... I had to choose.
[He buries his face into Heizou's neck.]
I... I couldn't choose. I was so worried, I couldn't choose. You had become so important to me, that I couldn't just... cut you out. You're... as important to me as my family. [He shakes his head.] No, you're... you just like family to me. Just as dear...
[Heizou's heart warms with every word. On some level he knows it's selfish to want so much from Lyney. It makes him happy to know he's become so important to the magician, to know that he's carved out a space for himself in his life. Maybe it's because Lyney has done the same to him; burrowed under his skin and made a home in his heart before he even knew what was happening.
For now Heizou just lets out a soft, warm chuckle as he cradles Lyney close, carding his fingers gently through his hair, scritching lightly along his scalp.]
You're dear to me too, Lyney. I have to confess... It broke my heart a little to think that I could never compete with your family. That's not even something I could be upset about, either. I know how important they are to you.
But... [He presses a small, quick kiss to Lyney's head before continuing.] You telling me this... All of this... I can't even begin to explain how happy it makes me.
[To feel trusted. Included. Cared for and wanted in a way no one else ever does.]
[Oh... the light scritching against his scalp is incredibly soothing, enough that Lyney begins to sag against Heizou a bit. He lets out a small hum that's not quite a hum, a purr that isn't quite a purr either. Something weirdly in the middle, human yet not. But the kiss to his forehead draws Lyney's attention, and he looks at Heizou with open adoration.]
That time apart... I felt like the two halves of my heart were at war with each other. I don't ever want to feel that way again...
[He slowly blinks up at Heizou while offering a warm smile, feeling completely at ease. Trusting and caring, just as much as he feels trusted and cared for.]
You're the first I've ever felt such a way about before... No one else has made me feel as strongly as you.
[He can't help but chuckle at the soft sound this is pulling out of Lyney. He really likes it, too, so he keeps it going as he snuggles in tighter. There's nowhere in the world he'd rather be than right here, right now, holding onto the man that's stolen his heart.]
Being with you feels... right, somehow. I didn't even know I could feel this strongly about someone.
[The more Heizou continues, the more he continues to make that half-purr hum. And the more he relaxes the more he slowly blinks, a content and adoring look on his face.]
Me neither... you're just... someone special to me, Heizou.
[And because he feels like if he doesn't say it, his heart might burst with feeling, he adds the words he's been afraid to utter out loud for so long, but now feels so right.]
[There's something... so sweet and wonderful about the way Lyney keeps blinking at him like that. It makes Heizou feel like there are butterflies dancing in his stomach, a comforting warmth spreading in his chest.]
You're the most special person in the world to me, my dearest Lyney.
[And those beautiful foreign words again. Heizou's never heard that phrase from the Fontanian before, there's no way he coule understand it perfectly, but the feeling he can sense within it... He knows it. And hearing it put into words stirs up something inside of him that he knows he also needs to put out there.]
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book2thehead
no subject
Date: 8 Sep 2024 06:05 (UTC)[He lets out a sigh, resting his forehead against Heizou's again. When he speaks again, it's a bit more rueful.]
I suppose that's the reality of being in the Fatui, or at least being a member of the House of the Hearth; laughing amongst each other like comrades or like family in one moment, and dealing with nightmares in the next. And that's assuming we're even able to see each other that night...
no subject
Date: 9 Sep 2024 02:09 (UTC)[Heizou gives Lyney another squeeze, a quick, reassuring peck to the tip of his nose.]
But your bonds within the House are strong. Having a warm, loving home gives you all something to live and fight for, a place you strive to return to... It keeps you all strong. You should keep faith in that.
no subject
Date: 9 Sep 2024 05:51 (UTC)I just always pray they get home safely. The nights they don't... those are the hardest.
[There have been nights where members of the House come back fatally injured, or don't come back at all... he always prays to whichever god will listen that his siblings always come back safely.]
It's funny... though we're named after the warmth and protection of a home's hearth... I don't think any of us truly know what a real home is like. But you're right; our bonds with each other are as strong as any flesh and blood family.
[He idly runs his hand up and down Heizou's back. Whether it's to pacify Heizou, or calm himself, he's unsure.]
...I want to be able to make the House of the Hearth a real home. I know that one day... one day I'll succeed Father, and take her place as "king". When that day comes... I only hope I can make the House of the Hearth a true home.
no subject
Date: 9 Sep 2024 06:10 (UTC)As he brings up the part where he'll be succeeding Arlecchino one day... Heizou settles in a little closer, giving the other a soft look as he goes back to stroking his hair. Gently pushing the strands out of his face so there's nothing blocking his gaze.]
You'll do it. You're compassionate, brave, smart... Most importantly you have determination. I truly believe that if anyone could manage such a feat, it's you.
[Then his smile turns a bit wry.] Maybe with just a little help from your friends and siblings, of course~
no subject
Date: 12 Sep 2024 22:47 (UTC)Heizou...
[He wraps his arms around Heizou's middle tighter, squeezing a bit as he hugs Heizou close.]
You know... I had always thought that nothing would be more important than looking after my family and keeping them safe. But then you came into my life, and then... things became complicated. I didn't know how to balance what I felt for my family, and what I felt for you. I thought... I had to choose.
[He buries his face into Heizou's neck.]
I... I couldn't choose. I was so worried, I couldn't choose. You had become so important to me, that I couldn't just... cut you out. You're... as important to me as my family. [He shakes his head.] No, you're... you just like family to me. Just as dear...
no subject
Date: 13 Sep 2024 04:40 (UTC)For now Heizou just lets out a soft, warm chuckle as he cradles Lyney close, carding his fingers gently through his hair, scritching lightly along his scalp.]
You're dear to me too, Lyney. I have to confess... It broke my heart a little to think that I could never compete with your family. That's not even something I could be upset about, either. I know how important they are to you.
But... [He presses a small, quick kiss to Lyney's head before continuing.] You telling me this... All of this... I can't even begin to explain how happy it makes me.
[To feel trusted. Included. Cared for and wanted in a way no one else ever does.]
I've never felt this way about anyone before you.
no subject
Date: 13 Sep 2024 05:03 (UTC)That time apart... I felt like the two halves of my heart were at war with each other. I don't ever want to feel that way again...
[He slowly blinks up at Heizou while offering a warm smile, feeling completely at ease. Trusting and caring, just as much as he feels trusted and cared for.]
You're the first I've ever felt such a way about before... No one else has made me feel as strongly as you.
no subject
Date: 13 Sep 2024 05:22 (UTC)Being with you feels... right, somehow. I didn't even know I could feel this strongly about someone.
[If this isn't love, then... what is?]
no subject
Date: 14 Sep 2024 02:33 (UTC)Me neither... you're just... someone special to me, Heizou.
[And because he feels like if he doesn't say it, his heart might burst with feeling, he adds the words he's been afraid to utter out loud for so long, but now feels so right.]
Je t'aime, mon amour.
no subject
Date: 14 Sep 2024 08:48 (UTC)You're the most special person in the world to me, my dearest Lyney.
[And those beautiful foreign words again. Heizou's never heard that phrase from the Fontanian before, there's no way he coule understand it perfectly, but the feeling he can sense within it... He knows it. And hearing it put into words stirs up something inside of him that he knows he also needs to put out there.]
Aishite'ru yo, mon couer.