Chapter Text
The sun was blaring, setting the summer afternoon up with loud whines of people and animals craving for shade. Despite the heat, people were still out in the market in Dornman Port wanting to complete their weekly shopping. The streets were loud and crowded for which Lohen found himself muddled into, being pushed around in all sorts of directions making him frustrated to the core. All he wanted to do was find this promising shop that opened up that had antiques and other odd things. Oddly enough, you could possibly find fascinating weapons in these sorts of stores, handmade from generations down.
There it was, the new shop he had heard about; excitement filled him which made him squirm between the loads of people getting in his way. Without noticing on-coming traffic he crashed into someone. A disgust filled his nostrils from an alpha's arm meeting directly with his nose. Blinking his eyes, he noticed it was a knight with a nasty look playing in his eyes.
"Hey, why don't you watch where— Vice Captain?," the knight's voice trembled as he fully turned his body to face Lohen, "my apologies sir, are you alright?" A blush creeped onto the brown haired man's cheeks seeing the scoffing omega stare at him just for a moment and then waving him off.
"Yeah yeah," the poison of agitation in his voice settled and before finishing his sentence his eyes deviated towards a tall blonde man in his classic uniform walking over to the commotion. None other than the Grand Master himself making his way towards them. Their eyes met only slightly before Varka looked over to guess what happened, wanting to calm the situation with how Lohen could be.
"Lohen, it's great seeing you here, what brings you to Dornman Port? You finished your commission rather quickly," Varka complimented the omega on how quickly he was able to complete such a long task quickly. Varka's blue eyes seeing how Lohen crossed his arms and tapped his foot with a couple different notes on the screaming pavement.
"Ahh.. Grand Master Varka, I was meaning to return to your desk tomorrow morning with some paperwork, but this shop caught my attention on my way over," his voice stirring between agitated yet a hint of sweetness to it. Secretly inside he gushed over that man, his little nose smelling him waft through the air. The omega tilted his head seeing Varka start to rub his temples muttering under his breath about more paperwork, "what's the matter, Grand Master? Don't tell me you're having work pile up again."
A light sigh left Varka, "don't mind that, Lohen, meet me with your papers later so I can look them over." The knight next to them both decided to slide away that that point to save face from the Vice Captain and the Grand Master.
"Oh? So you're actually going to do some work today? I can go meet with Jean instead to sign them away," Lohen's eyes followed the knight for just a moment before the tall man interrupted his thoughts. His body language now felt a lot more loose when it was just him and Varka.
"No-," the blonde spoke too fast and even had stepped forward making Lohen smirk knowing how Jean could be to him. He had almost wondered if she was looking for him this very moment. "I mean, Lohen.. don't bother Jean with such a small thing, I can look over those papers. Just meet me at my desk before sunset, alright?"
Lohen wouldn't lie with how much he gushed over Varka, but he had his plans for the day and had planned for tomorrow being with visiting the other man. Silence hushed the air between them just for a second before he begrudgingly agreeing to the alpha's request. Varka's face contorted into confusion for a moment at how his subordinate responded, "Oh.. right, you did say tomorrow morning," his fingers on his chin now in thought, "that can work—“
"No, I will be there tonight, you best make your way down, Grand Master, and forget all your dawdling around," another smirk creeping up on his lips. Varka laughed, almost leaning forward to touch Lohen's shoulder, but instead pulled his hand back onto his hip. Looking around, Varka seemed to notice that knight was gone now. Was he that invested in the conversation with the Vice Captain?
Varka smiling, nodded his head towards the shorter man, "I guess I'll be on my way, but if you can't make it tonight, don't worry your little heart about it, Lohen," should he have said that? Lohen found himself chuckling at his senior, finding him cute. He really found himself having a growing soft spot for the alpha.
After both of them waved each other out, he was back to his personal mission of this mystery shop. He stood proudly admiring how he finished his commission early just to make it here in opening hours. Lohen opened the door, a little bell jingling when he stepped onto beautifully laid wooden floors. A pleased hum left the omega, smelling hints of rust and old pages of books which was so much better than sweaty people. His eyes grazed over display cases with potions and weapons and then on the other side armor and shelves of knick knacks.
Of course, he was at the display cases first, seeing works of art on elegantly crafted knives, swords, and even guns. His eyes sparkled at the sight, wanting to just press his face into the glass, but his excitement faltered having that same nasty smell come to interrupt his imaginations. Was he really just okay with Varka's scent?
"Hello, may I help you with anything?," Lohen knew it was all customer service facing, but he really wish he could browse on his own. Lohen only shook his head and continued to look around. There was dozens of beautiful weapons, but nothing really called to him. He spent already over an hour analyzing each weapon and potion label, finally reaching the end of both the cases.
Looking at the time, he saw he had pick up his own slack to be there before the sun set to meet with Varka with his papers. Maybe one last look in the back? The green haired man hummed as it was tempting but should he just go ahead and go? Usually these shops just has dumb junk in the back. Ah, it wouldn't hurt.
His heels clacked somewhat against the wooden floor towards the back of the shop. Lohen was in fact right, it was junk, though these books drew him near. Carefully stepping closer, he skimmed over what seemed like hundreds, maybe thousands of titles. Then something caught his attention, 'A Guide to Make Your Own Potions and Poisons', how straightforward could it be? Grabbing the book and flipping through the pages instantly. All handwritten and not printed, this had to be good. There was no telling how old this book was, it was gold in his hands. Typically books like these are destroyed for citizen's protection.. which means he, himself should destroy it.
Lohen couldn't bear to bring himself to do such an act considering what could be in here. All the pages were front and back, it filled him with adrenaline making him laugh a little as he read through. That settled it, he would purchase this book. The short omega made his way to the counter, setting it down and preparing his hands in his pockets for payment.
"Wow.. you' are a really cute omega, how about I cut you a deal for the right price? Your smell is so intoxicating," the man at the register cooed to Lohen, "you could do a little something for me.. I could give you anything in this shop with this flimsy book." It was the same man from earlier.
Really? Not this bullshit again. His agitation had come back with a vengeance but he smirked, "Yeah? How about you ring me up before your little shop gets rundown with a violation.. selling a book such as this to the public.. you do know it's illegal right?," Lohen wanted to burst into laughter at the horror of this alpha's face. As suggested, he was rung up quickly in silence. Alphas really could be submissive once you threaten something valuable to them.
"400 Mora, sir," which he assumed was the owner grumbled to him. Lohen couldn't wipe the nasty smile he had on, off his face. His polychromatic eyes set on this ugly man's face feeling his shame across the counter. It's always like this wherever he goes, some perv alpha trying to use him, it makes him sick. After paying up he left the shop, he left having the wind of Monstadt hit against him. *Ah, it feels so much better out here compared to earlier,* the air could cool him on his way south to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
On his exit of Dornman Port, Lohen stopped by a stall to grab a quick snack which sold his favorite treat, dried jueyun chilis. Luckily this time the stall owner was a beta, for which he knew her for a long while from making pit stops to her stall as often as he could. Thanking her for the snack, he left starting his long trip to the city.
Just about mid way through his trip of reading the book he had started to feel really hot, this ache eating at him. Lohen prayed to the Archons that it wasn't his heat. It honestly was too early and his scheduled leave wasn't for a few days now. "Please just be the weather getting to me .. or the chilis," the omega prayed to himself quietly, not that a soul was around to hear his plea.
Then his eyes widened at the greatest opportunity his eyes stumbled upon, a combination that could just be made with some ingredients on him. The name and description were smudged out but the ingredients seemed really light, perhaps it wasn't too harsh? Ideas filled his mind .. going to Varka mainly as he wanted to catch him off guard for the longest. A giggle left the omega seeing finally his opportunity to get Varka off his high horse of always catching his plans with him. The poison wouldn't cause any discoloration of the drink or food.. would that also include alcohol? Varka loves that stuff with a passion. "I wonder.. if he'd be up for a little Lohen special tonight," a sly smile preying on his lips now.
After his long walk, his feet finally rest at the entrance of Mondstadt, turning his body to go to Angel's Share to buy a bottle of wine. Lohen had about an hour or two before it was sun set to complete his quite ambitious plan that he came up with just hours ago.
Walking into the Tavern, he saw none other than Diluc at the counter who seemed a little surprised to see Lohen considering he didn't drink. The omega strolled up to the counter with such an evil smile on his face, "Hello, Diluc, I'd like to purchase a bottle of your most popular, Dandelion Wine," he spoke more politely than normal.
Diluc eyed him for a moment before bending his body down to pull a bottle up from beneath the counter, "2,000 mora, Lohen," it wasn't any of his business after all what he'd be doing in his spare time. After dropping the mora on the counter, Lohen picked up the bottle that had been wrapped into a paper bag and practically bolting out the door. Lohen coughed from the horrible smell inside, his eye twitched starting to feel shaky in his legs. Lohen cursed to himself, his lip wobbling as he felt really hot now. This can't be happening right now, he needs to finish this and see Varka. He needs to see this through, he can hardly bare the excitement coursing through his veins.
Part of him just wanted to forget about the whole plan and just see Varka. Varka. Just earlier when he had seen the Grand Master, he felt so calm even in that irritating situation with the night. Lohen's stood there right outside the tavern thinking about how he wished that dumb alpha would be here right now and pick him up.. take him home. "Stop, Lohen," he scolded himself, facepalming with one hand. Those thoughts always creeped up on him at the start of his heat.. not that he didn't have them outside of that, but usually he has work on his mind.
Now he started to feel emotional about the whole thing. How none of what he wanted with Varka could be plausible. Varka couldn't see him in that way.. did he think of anyone in that light? Shit, he might not even like omegas. People are more open to two alphas or an alpha and beta nowadays. A fire started to burn in his heart making him turn away and walking towards Good Hunter to boil the ingredients he carried on his person from the book.
Pulling out the book and following it's directions to the letter, boiling and cooling each herb into the pot and popping the cork of the wine out to pour it into the Dandelion Wine. Luckily, nobody bothered him during this process and he finished right in time. Stirring the wine and mixture together with a stirring rod and the clumsy attempt of pushing the cork back into the hole of the bottle.