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The moon stood high in the night sky and you couldn’t help but admire how bright it and the stars looked as they played among the treetops.
“Careful” you were tugged back by the hand, having almost tripped over a pair of large roots.
“Oh… thank you, Lohen…” you said, feeling a bit bashful as you glanced back over your shoulder. He offered a grin in turn, lifting his chin.
“What would you do without me?~” he cooed. You scoffed and kept your gaze low as you kept tugging him along. A trail of lamp grass lit your path, its gentle rustling joining in with the clink of glass from the basket Lohen carried. It was a spontaneous outing– or that’s what you wanted him to think– so you’d asked him to prepare the basket once he got off work. That left him no time to get changed. Not that you minded. Lohen looked very handsome in uniform…but he could make a tailor envious of the design of a potato sack if he wanted to.
“In here” you said, straying from the path. Your partner obediently followed along. The blue lights were more sparse among the trees, but in the distance you saw a warm one. Together you stepped into the small grove and you let go of Lohen’s hand, turning around to see his reaction. His near-permanent smile had completely dropped in surprise as he gazed up among the trees, where multiple garlands of flowers hung. You couldn’t help but grin proudly as you walked backwards with your hands clasped behind you. “Lohen~” you cooed, making him immediately lower his head to look at you. “Does this place feel familiar to you?” you asked, foot ‘subtly’ motioning to a small ring of rocks. Within stood the lantern, charcoal at its base. The man took a moment to think it through before a glimmer of recognition reached his eyes and his mouth widened into a big grin.
“Oh how could I forget…” he said, stepping closer. “It’s where we spent our first night together…”
“Haha! You make it sound like something bigger than it was. But yes” you chuckled, walking over to a hollow log and kneeling down before reaching inside to pull out only the picnic blanket. For now. As you straightened back up, you subtly patted your pocket.
“So that’s why you said we didn’t need to grab a blanket…” he said. You smiled wide as you returned to him, unfurling the blanket onto the grass. Lohen put the basket in the middle before settling down, one knee pulled up while the other stretched out ahead. You crossed your legs as you sat down beside him. “It’s no wonder you were so busy all day… how many times did you have to go back and forth between this place and the city?” he asked with a mischievous smile that made his eyes crinkle.
“I don’t want to talk about it” you said flatly before a smile broke through. “It was worth it though, seeing you like that” you continued, leaning your head on his shoulder.
“I was certainly surprised!” he laughed, putting his hand at your side to pull you even closer.
“And you know what else?” you asked, trying to sound innocent while your smile betrayed you.
“Enlighten me” he said, resting his head against yours.
“This is the exact– or well… I think it is at least– day when we met all those years ago” you said. You felt him shift, head turning to look at you.
“Really?”
“Mhm. I heard it was going to be a full moon today as well, just–”
“Just like that night…You’ve really planned this out…” he whispered, looking towards the pale celestial body. Then he let out a snort before bursting into laughter.
“What?” you asked, tilting your head up, still against his shoulder.
“Just imagine what our past selves would’ve said had they seen us now…”
“Oh…” you let out before joining in on his laughter. “I would never have believed it. I really hated your guts”
“You wanted to gag me so bad”
“I *did*! But I didn’t want to risk you biting me or something” you laughed, remembering the man sitting tied up across from your campfire that night. His unchanged cocky smile and witty words…
“I would never! I am the perfect gentleman” he said with fake offense, placing a hand over his chest.
“Uh huh, because it’s very gentlemanly to pounce someone with a knife drawn in the dark”
“Precisely! I wanted to beat you down before you had a chance to flee”
“You’re making yourself sound like the villain saying it like that” you sighed with a fond smile. It had been by pure luck you’d avoided his first blow that night, giving you the chance to retaliate. And by even more luck that he’d tripped over a rock in the midst of the fight. Otherwise *you* might have been the one tied up being carried over *his* shoulder instead.
“I suppose that’s not doing me justice, since *you* were the criminal” he hummed, moving his hand from your side to your arm, thumb rubbing over it soothingly.
“A thief” you said.
“Oh I didn’t realize thievery was legal! My apologies” he said with a shit-eating grin. You scoffed, giving his leg a light smack. “You were a good one though. Stole something truly valuable”
“It was just some jewelry,” you said.
“That’s not all you stole that night”
“What are you talking about?” you asked, raising one eyebrow. His grin widened and he drummed his fingers lightly against his chest.
“My heart. You so rudely stole it and kept it all these years” he said with feigned exasperation. Your cheeks grew hotter.
“You’re saying… you liked me? Even then?” you asked, pushing forward onto your knees to escape his warm gaze for a moment, placing a hand on top of the basket.
“Yes~ I do tend to find strong people attractive… but what really sealed it… was you trying to protect me from your own collaborators. It was very endearing~” he cooed.
“Ugh, it was so embarrassing… especially when I realized you’d been untied that whole time” you said after a sigh, looking over your shoulder. “Then you proceeded to beat them all to pulps”
“Gods I miss those times… back then I could really just let loose on people… and *our* fight in particular…” he sighed pleasantly, leaning back onto his palms. “I’ll never forget it… even if it was cut short…”
You’d been about to open the lid of the basket, hesitating and feeling the material for a bit before opening your mouth.
“Actually… speaking of…”
“Hm?”
“I…” you tried to find the correct words before just pushing yourself back onto your feet, letting go of the basket and returning to the hollow log. You had to reach a bit further in that time, grabbing onto two handles. Due to their combined weight, you needed to place a foot on top of the log and use it as leverage. Slowly you unsheathed the spear and greatsword, sticking the latter into the ground while holding out the former. “Would you like to spar?” you asked, feeling a little awkward. You’d left combat behind along with your former life years ago, which meant Lohen never got his revenge match. He still sat on the blanket, blinking a few times before an absolutely delighted expression spread out over his face. He rose and almost stumbled in his excitement to get to you.
“Is it my birthday and I’ve somehow forgotten?” he asked as he took the spear from you, looking it over. Both of your weapons were basic ones, but Lohen didn’t seem to care. He was unable to stand still, watching as you gripped the greatsword with both hands.
“So, rules… No surprise knives. You only get to use your spear and your body. The same obviously goes for me. Are we in agreement?” you asked. Lohen nodded eagerly. You let go with one hand for a brief pat on your pocket again before taking a deep breath and lifting the greatsword out of the ground. It took you a minute to find balance as you took a few practice swings. “Alright… are you ready?”
“Gods yes” Lohen wheezed out in a laugh. “Don’t worry or hold back, I’ll be happy if you wipe the floor with me!”
“Ahaha…” you shook your head with fondness before cooling your expression. Seeing that, Lohen got into a stance as well but did nothing to hide his excitement. You took another deep breath, reminding every nerve in your body of times past. Then you kicked the blade upwards before bracing against your shoulder to slam it against the ground, making both it and your hands vibrate as you overestimated your ability. Lohen had jumped back.
“Had that hit me I would’ve gotten real hurt!” he laughed giddily. You tried to act unbothered, even though you still felt it. Seeing as he wasn’t attacking, you kicked up your blade again and swung it diagonally instead. As it went down your side, you spun the hilt around in the air so the blade faced upwards as you swung it up in the opposite direction. Lohen stepped aside for the first swing, leaned back for the second and managed to deflect the next one which resembled the first. The tip of your blade sunk into the ground and he made his move, dashing forward with the spear. You gripped onto the hilt tighter and tightened every muscle as you jumped, throwing yourself onto the other side of the blade, evading the blow and managing to use the momentum to pull it out.
You kept managing some swings, but none ever landed. Lohen had only grown stronger and faster with time. Still, he seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself, and you were doing your best not to ruin that. The only problem was that his attacks picked up speed as he entered a bit of a manic state. Meanwhile yours grew slower and clumsier as your arms, legs, back and other long-unused muscles ached.
Then you threw a heavy slash, losing control of the momentum and stabbing into the ground again. That time Lohen didn’t hesitate. But instead of using his spear, he threw it aside and pounced unarmed. You hit the ground with him straddling you, hands on each side of your head. He was panting hard, cheeks flushed and eyes filled with thrill. You wouldn’t be surprised if he started drooling at that point.
“Do you yield?” he panted. If it wasn’t you, he wouldn’t have asked. Saying nothing, you shoved your hand into your pocket. He was quick to grab your wrist and yank it out. “Ah, ah! You said no other wea–” he shut himself up, staring dumbfounded at the ring you pinched between your thumb and index finger.
“Marry me, Lohen” you asked, voice sounding more confident than you felt. He blinked, going from staring at the ring to you. Then his confusion grew into absolute ecstasy.
“You beat me to it~” he breathed, hand moving from your wrist to hold your hand instead.
“Sorry?” you asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Wait here, don’t move” he commanded, letting go of you before getting up. He rushed over to the picnic basket, opening it and grabbing something before returning. You had begun to sit up but he immediately pushed you back down, straddling you again. “Let’s make a deal. I will marry you… if *you* marry *me*” he said with a grin as he showed you the item. A small box. Your eyes widened as he opened it to reveal another ring. For a few seconds you couldn’t get a sound out. Then your eyes began to water and you slung an arm around his neck to pull him down.
“Yes…” you whispered, getting choked up from relief. He embraced you in turn, squeezing tight.
Eventually he let you sit up, although remained in your lap. He used his free hand to wipe away your forming tears before grinning as he held it out daintily.
“Well? What are you waiting for, my love? Lay claim to this finger of mine~” he whispered the last part, voice deepening. You felt your face flush and your hands shook as they worked to strip him of his glove, discarding it on the ground before slowly sliding the ring onto his finger. Internally you thanked Barbatos for it fitting. He lifted his hand, turning it to admire his decorated digit. “You’ve got good taste…”
“In rings or future husbands?” you chuckled, nerves still going wild. His gaze met yours and he made a show of kissing the ring.
“Both~” he cooed before holding the hand out, palm up. You placed your left hand in his and he slid his ring onto your finger with far less shaking. Your breath hitched as it settled perfectly.
“Oh my archons…” you whispered.
“Hm?” Lohen hummed as he took your hand in both of his, rubbing his thumb over your new ring.
“We’re going to get married…” it finally became real for you. He chuckled, bringing his gloved hand to your cheek to guide your lips to his.
“We are…” he whispered before kissing you. You didn’t hesitate to kiss back, your free hand moving to the back of his head. It grabbed at his hair as your breaths intermingled, interrupted only by brief gasps of air. Only when absolutely necessary did you tug him off your lips. At that point he was a mess and you mirrored him perfectly. “Gods… I need you… I need you so bad right now…” he panted.
“Then let’s lay claim to more than just fingers… shall we?” you whispered, eyes lidded. Lohen did not need to be convinced. It did not take long for everything to be thrown aside. All but the rings.
When the day began to chase away the night, you lay together on the picnic blanket, pleasantly buzzed from a bottle of dandelion wine– which was then as empty as the basket it lay in. Lohen’s coat covered you both, keeping out the worst of the early morning chill. Your head rested on his arm as you played with his finger.
“Lohen?” you asked. He hummed in response, turning his head to look at you. “I’m curious… how were you planning to propose to me?” you felt his body rumble from his chuckle.
“Well… I was going to let you find the box in the basket… and when you asked me about it, I’d just shrug and say ‘Oh well, guess we’ll have to get married now’” he grinned drunkenly and you couldn’t help but snort.
“By Barbatos… you’re an idiot…” you said fondly. “Then… how did you get my ring size?”
“Darling, I know your size for everything”
“Huh?” you raised an eyebrow. He turned onto his side, placing his hand on your cheek.
“Every part of you that I’ve held I’ve mapped out and measured in my head over and over… And that of course includes your–” you were quick to cut him off by putting your hand over his mouth.
“Okay, I’ve got it!” you muttered, face reddening. His eyes crinkled in amusement before he removed your hand.
“What about you? How did you know *my* size?” he asked.
“By a most calculated plot, of course” you answered with a straight face.
“Oh? And what was this plot?”
“I went to bed with measuring tape hidden beneath my pillow and put all of my weight on your arm. Once both you and it were asleep, I simply measured it” you said, unable to stop a proud grin from spreading out on your lips.
“I’m so proud” Lohen smirked, tucking some hair behind your ear.
“... you know… back then…” you started.
“Mm?” he hummed, letting his hand rest at your side.
“I thought you were really handsome…and after you spared me and took the necklace back… I might have gotten a bit of a crush…obviously I couldn’t act on it then… but now I promise I will act on it every single day until I die… thank you… for helping me crawl out of the underworld… and into your arms…” you whispered. He gave you a most gentle smile and his left hand sought yours, interlacing your fingers and squeezing.
“Always…” he whispered. Your breaths met, but this time it was in a manner most soft.
Teyvat could throw anything at you… but you’d make that man your husband, no matter what.