insurmountable | i'm dragging a heart that weighs a ton / holding out for not just anyone

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i'm dragging a heart that weighs a ton / holding out for not just anyone

[Fontaine: The technological hub of Teyvat.

For as long as anyone can remember, the country of Fontaine has always been the innovative center for the continent. High speed rail was originated here, and now spans across the entirety of Teyvat and beyond. High rises and skyscrapers pepper the skyline, modern Victorian buildings supporting a gear-like aesthetic from an era gone by. A thousand years ago, it was a much different place, but now it thrives with the bright lights and bustle of its people. One can hear the occasional street performer playing for cash, as businessmen and tourists alike walk down narrow cobblestone streets. People are buried in their phones, some take pictures as they gawk at the sights of the city, but one young man in particular walks languidly down the street, enjoying the life around him. He's in no hurry to get where he's going, as he has plenty of time to get there, noting a deli across the street from where he is now that he'll have to try.

Unfortunately, he is on business, so that'll have to wait.

Never being one to be dressed completely formal, he wears a comfortable pair of slacks and dress shoes, with a collared shirt that isn't buttoned up all the way under a grey vest. Various pieces of metal are woven into the vest, notably a crest on his right shoulder with a chain attached to it that hangs under his arm to the back. On his belt lies a Vision, glowing blue with hydro. The young man always seems friendly and easy going, but what lies underneath is something that not many are allowed to know- the heir to the family business of a company who develops tech for various products is also the right hand man of the mafia that runs the city.

And, their true business behind the scenes; creating Delusions to sell on the black market.

Today is a day where some investigating has to be done, and he's headed to see an old friend of his, from university. One that he's sure can help him with this problem he has. Entering the building, he swings in quietly to give a polite wave and a smile to the only person there.

Someone who looked exactly like their brother, whom he can only assume is the twin sister he'd yet to meet that he'd heard about.]

Hello, I was wondering if Aether was in today? I had a...business proposal for him, and I'm sure that he'd love to hear it. Unless of course, you might be of assistance instead.

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[ he's just like a spoiled toddler, wanting his demands fulfilled or else. lumine sighs under her breath, gently nudging his forehead with hers in response to his wheedling. if he wasn't in such a state previously, she would've flat-out denied his request. ]

Fine, [ she huffs with a roll of her eyes, flicking his nose with her fingers. ] But we're going to rest and sleep and nothing else, or else I'm going back to my room with Aether.

[ because knowing him, his irreverence knows no bounds. so she needs to lay down the rules as early as now. before he demands anything else from her.

in any case, she pulls away a little from him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. ]

Go on, lie down first. I'll follow.

[His hand comes up to rub his nose, not realizing how nice even the small amount of pain that inflicted reminded him of how alive he was, smiling a little brighter than he had been just moments ago. Ajax makes no protest to the rules she's laid down for the evening, sighing with content as she presses a kiss to his forehead.

He's well aware he can act like a spoiled brat sometimes, but it always seems to end up going his way anyhow, so he sees no reason to stop.]

Alright, alright. I understand.

[Ajax slips down underneath the covers of the bed, on his side, keeping them open for her to join him, looking up at her as if he were a happy little kid that was pleased with his own skills to sway a decision in his favor. But even this little lighthearted exchange was helping keep the heavier topics off of his mind, leaving their dark reality to a future hour that he doesn't care to think on for the time being.]

But, I want to kiss you at least once before we sleep.

[ ... she really needs to stop indulging him whenever he asks. then again, even if she does stop, ajax is pushy enough that he'd refuse to relent until he gets what he wants. a part of lumine wonders if he's always been like this as a child, if his parents had always given him whatever he wants when he wants it.

still, he's gone through something terrible today. so she also doesn't want to deny him even something as small and simple as this. ]

Just once.

[ that's her concession as she crawls into the space he left for her, slipping under the covers. for a moment, lumine faces him while she's lying on her side before she turns around, her back towards him, comfortably settling on the pillow. ]

[An amused, tiny snort comes out of his nose when she turns her back to him, realizing what she's doing here. It won't work of course, because he's let his determination set in that he'll kiss her before he falls asleep. And no back turn is going to stop him as far as he's concerned.

Ajax doesn't immediately press himself up against her back, but his arm does snake over her waist as it usually does when he's preparing to fall asleep against her. If anything gives it away, it's how the mattress shifts differently under his weight, because instead of scooting up next to her, he's lifting himself up with his other arm. That arm he's used to snake around her is now pressing her backwards towards him, leaning over her with a mischievous glint in his eye, before he lets his head crane down to capture her with his lips.

It's a feeling that he's glad he can experience again, his kiss more needy, more deprived than it has been in the past. Ajax envelops her with his desire, but it's not a kiss that craves or wants for her body and the pleasure it brings, but rather one that desires for her and her love instead. It makes his own heart beat faster, muffled murmurs of her name escaping from him, between the slow languid passes he's administering to her lips.

But he honors her request, keeping his hands from wandering down her, concentrating only on making his kiss as intoxicating as possible. If it isn't working on her, it's certainly working on himself- Lumine becomes the only thing he can think about, breaking finally when his arm starts to grow tired from holding himself up over her the way he is.

Ajax smiles down at her, pleased with himself, happy that he could create that connection between the two of them again. He hadn't realized how badly he'd longed for it, longed for her- as if she was the only one that could ever make him feel this elated and happy to be alive. To think, it could have been her being pulled from her body instead of him, dying all alone. It's a thought that makes him shudder, and he's glad that never came to pass. He could never stand to lose her.

Never.]

[ look, is it so wrong that she wants him to work for it? after all, this is also her way of getting back at him for what's happened in the past few weeks or so.

then again, it isn't like ajax to simply give up, especially when he wants something. and it's as expected when he draws her in closer and leans in to prove his point and take what he wants. not that she protests or fights back, letting ajax indulge himself after weeks of separation. if anything, lumine's more surprised that he holds back, slow but in want, full of desire but at the same time, not forcing it on her.

lumine returns the kiss, her eyes fluttering close as her fingers brush against his jaw. she gives back what he gives her, satiates his need to reconnect with her. it's nothing fervent or heated, nothing like the desperate kisses they used to lose themselves in, just a gentle reaffirmation of what they've lost in the past week.

she's breathless when he finally breaks off, looking like a cat that's just gotten his cream, and lumine rolls her eyes in exasperation. ]

You got to kiss me once as agreed, [ she says with a sigh, waiting until he's settled back down on the mattress before she turns back on her side to face him.

that was her concession to him, she thinks. her hand presses against his cheek once more, her forehead gently nudging his. she gives it a beat, her gaze tracing each familiar line, curve, indent on his face: the incline of his nose, the curve of his cheeks, the sharpness of his jaw. but she hasn't had hers.

lumine leans closer until the tip of their noses touch, until the breaths mingle. her eyes heavy-lidded, she kisses him this time, drinking him in as he did with her. ]

[Ajax doesn't respond to her exasperation, only settling down into the bed, letting his head hit the pillow with the same smile on his face. He wishes he could kiss and touch her more, always feeling satisfied whenever they both share an intimate moment together. But, she said one, and he's in no mood or condition to push that any farther, which is why his face goes from smug smile to genuine surprise when she turns over.

He's not sure if his heart has beat harder for her than it is right now. Ajax can't remember if she's ever initiated a kiss with him that wasn't heated with lust or sober, his eyes watching her own as she traces his face with her eyes, her hand keeping him in place. It's as if he doesn't dare move, until his eyes close as she presses her lips against his, finally allowing his hand to snake up into her hair as he responds to her caresses.

Letting her take the lead, allowing himself to be overwhelmed by her was as mesmerizing as he'd hoped, as she drinks from him and vice versa. When they finally break, his eyes look clouded over, feeling lightheaded from their intimate dance of lips, teeth and tongue.

He sighs with a soft smile, burying his head into her chest, to kiss the soft skin right below her neck.]

I missed you...

[He murmurs against her, his arm coming up to wrap around her side, refusing to let go for fear of her leaving, or disappearing.]

[ it's admittedly different. perhaps because it's a kind of intimacy they've never shared before, almost always driven by raw desire or need. or perhaps because it's been a while, and a part of her longed for him much more than she would ever admit. lumine doesn't really know, doesn't really care to figure out.

she too buries her face into his hair, his fingers stroking and curling around the ginger strands at his nape as she hums quietly. the sound of his breathing is soothing, his pulse underneath her fingertips. ]

This hair of yours is in my face ...

[ lumine's voice is muffled as she wrinkles her nose, blows it over with a puff of air. his cowlick stands stupidly even while he's lying down, which is tickling her face. ]

You need a haircut.

[The hands in his hair soothes him, letting him sink into the mattress a little further, craning his head down a bit as he reaches to smooth his hair down and tuck it under her chin and trapping it against her chest so it doesn't bother her. That elicits a laugh from him, knowing his hair has always been a little wild if he does nothing to tame it.]

I'll get it cut later, [he says, with no intention of taking care of it anytime soon.]

Besides, I think you like playing with it...

[And how can she do that if he cuts it shorter? Maybe he'll grow it out really long instead.]

[ lumine idly wonders if she can shear it off while he's asleep. will that trigger another argument between them? or maybe he'll just stop talking to her altogether? she wonders if aether will support her in that endeavour, seeing that her twin brother looked a little pained when she said she'll be looking after ajax until he wakes up. ]

If playing means I get to yank it, sure.

[ her fingers run through his hair, nails gently scratching his scalp, in search of the ahoge, tugging it sharply because she can. is that really what he wants, what he considers as playing with it? ]

Did you enjoy that?

Ow!

[Ajax lifts his head up, mouth turned downwards in a hurt expression, eyes saddened. That's not how he imagined this conversation to go, pouting at her for yanking on his hair like that.]

If you're going to pull my hair, you could at least make it a part of some kind of foreplay first, [he complains, smoothing his cowlick down again to hide it from her under her own chin, burying his face back into her chest.

His voice is now muffled against her shirt, still pouting, like he was a little kid who'd gotten reprimanded for something he feels as if was unwarranted.]

I thought we were going to sleep now.

[ lumine gives him a flat look, in disbelief that a guy like him who supposedly kills and does hits for a living for his family, could pout like a toddler denied of his toy. what a baby. she almost wonders if he shows this face to his men, and if he does, what do they think? ]

Then why aren't you sleeping?

[ isn't he the one who is in need of rest here? after all, he almost just died ... something she doesn't really want to dwell on for too long or think about, really. because for some reason, that is even more painful than getting beat up by a god.

in any case, she fights the temptation to find his lock of hair again, instead mulling over his words. ]

We can't have sex in this place, anyway. Aether's staying downstairs, and Tubby, too.

[Not that he wants to right now, but he disagrees with that sentiment completely- they absolutely could. He hums against her in amusement, his eyes closing and trying to relax his mind after having his hair tugged so violently.]

We could. We'd just have to be quieter than we normally are.

[As much as he loves to hear her cries and moans, the last thing he wants is for Aether to come storming up the stairs to the sound of them being far too loud. He's sure Tubby is used to it from Lumine and Childe from long ago...]

Or, we could wait for Aether to go to the apartment to use the wifi...

[That would work. He'll have to coax her into bed later, when he feels better...]

[ lumine frowns at those suggestions, wrinkling her nose again. why is he making plans about this, already? especially when they've just come out of a really dangerous situation barely unscathed. also, why is he shamelessly even thinking of sleeping together while in a teapot they share with her twin brother? ]

... You do realise you're the louder one between the two of us?

[ with that talkative mouth of his that just doesn't stop running. she can bet with all of her stocks in the company that him staying quiet is going to be a challenging endeavour in itself. ]

I mean, even now ... [ he's the one who still keeps talking. ]

[He huffs into her shirt, as if that mattered. He knows himself and when he has to be quiet when taking care of certain needs.]

Oh, come on. I can be quiet when I need to. I've just never needed to when I've been with you.

[He's not sure if they'd disturbed Lumine and Aether's neighbors the night he'd spent at their apartment, but he really couldn't care less. They'd had a good night, and he doesn't regret a single moment of it.]

But I'm not interested in that right now anyway. We'll get to it, in time.

[He really does...just want to sleep. He's far too tired to exert himself so much, but that doesn't mean he won't run his hand down her side, across her behind and stopping finally halfway down her leg before removing it to be placed back over her to lay an open hand on her back. Just to remind her of what would come another day.]

Ajax!

[ he's lucky she doesn't slap his hand off of her for being suggestive, especially when he's not even going to be assertive about it. instead, lumine just rolls her eyes, finding this entire situation ridiculous and irreverent. but what did she expect when dealing with ajax, after all?

she settles heavily into her pillow, closing her eyes. she continues to run her fingers through his hair, almost thoughtfully this time, though there's that temptation to pull at it again. ]

Just go to sleep, will you? Before I change my mind and decide to sleep in my own room.

[That put him in a good mood, laughing quietly, soft hums being elicited out of him as she runs her fingers through her hair. It's as if she were rocking him to sleep, the motion pacifying and subduing his chaotic nature to cause problems to entertain himself.

It's a faint thought at the back of his mind, but she's the only one who's been able to do that.]

Haha, only because you asked...

[His body relaxes against her, his breathing beginning to deepen as he allows sleep to begin to overtake him, those fingers across his scalp bringing a calm that makes his eyelids heavy to the point where he couldn't open them even if he tried. It doesn't take long, a few minutes or so, until Ajax is sound asleep, face still buried underneath her chin and quietly snoring.]

[ lumine waits until ajax finally falls asleep again, lulled by her hand stroking his hair. she doesn't get out of bed just yet, though, finding that his presence actually soothes her despite everything that's happened so far. it's restful, but she also finds herself unable to sleep in this bed, her eyes focused on the ceiling above them as she goes through the events earlier that day.

it's early dawn when she finally tries to extricate herself out of ajax's embrace. a little tricky, really, especially when he seems to stir to wakefulness the moment she successfully gets out. he only returns to sleep when she once more strokes his hair, pressing a gentle kiss to the side of his head, and she's able to pad out of the bedroom.

aether, also still awake in the living room, greets her with a bleary expression as he goes through all the files left. he's been working on contacting their employees, making sure they're all okay.

i thought you'll be spending all night with him.

lumine shakes her head, yawning widely as she walks back to their shared bedroom. what, did you guys not make up? after all of that? ]

We did, but I just couldn't fall asleep in that room. Wake me up in time for lunch?

[ the door shuts behind her, lumine falling asleep very quickly the moment her head hit the pillow. if ajax wakes up and asks aether where she is, that's the answer he's getting. ]

[Ajax doesn't wake again until later in the morning, sunlight shining through all the windows of the room. He squeezes his eyes shut, hating how the light made his eyes hurt, still feeling tired but not nearly as much as he did the day prior. He has no idea what time it is, noticing that Lumine is missing, his memory hazy on whether he knew she'd left or not. He swears he remembers her hands combing through his hair, kissing him back to sleep- but he can just ask, he figures.

Ajax pads down the stairs, sleepily walking into the kitchen to grab something small to snack on, his stomach annoyed that he hasn't eaten in over a day. He walks out with a cereal bar in his hand, chewing on it thoughtlessly as he takes a heavy seat on the couch. He glances over to Aether who is awake as well, and all the paperwork.

Right.]

Hey, [he says, taking another bite of his bar,] you look like you haven't slept at all. Were you up all night doing that?

[It might be a stupid question, but Ajax's brain isn't functioning at a hundred percent yet, still waking up.]

[ it's a stupid question, but then, aether, having had zero hours of sleep, doesn't have the capacity to think it's stupid. maybe later, when he's had some sleep, but that's if he remembers anything. huge chance that he wouldn't, not when his brain is still preoccupied with other, more important matters.

yeah, i needed to go through everything before i head out today.

and before ajax can say anything: zhongli agreed to come with me, so you don't have to worry. but lumi doesn't know it yet, and she might still be asleep by the time i head out. can you tell her?

he'd honestly rather stay in the teapot where it's safe, but even aether knows that there are things he also needs to take care of on his end. lumine already did the heavy lifting; it's time for him to get his ass moving too. ]

[Ajax hums back in understanding. Given the defeat of the god yesterday, he doubts that Celestia is going to move on them so quickly. If anything, they may be rethinking their strategy to take them out, being dealt such a heavy blow by losing what seems like one of great stature. At least, that's what Ajax thinks. And having Zhongli was a surefire way to ensure Aether's safety.]

Of course. Oh, hey...

[He gives Aether a worried look, because there's this sudden urge from within him, to give his friend a fair warning.]

When you're out with Mr. Zhongli, don't let him wander off and let him do any bargaining for anything, or let him order the entire menu if you go out to lunch, okay? I just got this strange feeling in my gut...and I don't think that's any coincidence.

[He'd bet his entire bank account that Childe has made this mistake before.]

He may of been the former geo archon, but I don't think he knows how to manage money very well. But...I feel at ease that he'll be accompanying you out. Come home safely, alright?

[ a flat look crosses aether's expression before he sighs. zhongli doesn't seem like a bad person, but despite his worldly knowledge, he also seems like someone who'd get lost in the middle of a city in a heartbeat. lumine didn't tell him anything else about the ex-archon, only that he'll be able to protect him if worse comes to worst.

i'll keep that in mind. if he orders the entire menu, well ... at least we'll have something for dinner.

aether gets up from the couch, stretching his arms above his head. he honestly needs sleep, but that can wait until he gets back. he picks up his laptop and phone from the table, heading towards the entrance.

lumine wants to be woken up for lunch, so don't let her sleep for the entire day.

there's a beat, before he looks back at ajax, his eyes narrowing. and no funny business while i'm not around. tubby's here to watch the two of you. ]

[Ajax shoots him a flat look, as if he was going to listen to that. Please, he's not underage and neither is Lumine, nor is Aether her father. If anything, it makes him want to engage with 'funny business' more, if just to irk Aether. Maybe a punch or two could be thrown. He wouldn't mind a fight...]

Alright dad, [he waves his hand dismissively, motioning towards the door.] I'll have her home by nine, don't worry.

[The cereal bar gets finished off, realizing that he's a lot more hungry than he gave that small little snack credit for. He gets up to wander off towards the kitchen, Aether's comments already forgotten save that he needs to get Lumine up for lunch. Ajax is already contemplating what he was going to make for her, to surprise her with it when he gets her up.

He keeps walking to the kitchen despite any comments made, disappearing into it with one last wave of his hand as he goes in.]

[ i always worry when she's stuck with you.

aether rolls his eyes, somehow debating if he should still leave before he decides against it. lumine is old enough to make decisions for herself; he only hopes that she decides to leave their bed alone or at least set it on fire once they're done. still, though, he goes to tubby and asks her to keep an eye out on his sister while he's gone, something that the bird adeptus look a bit hesitant about.

lumine stirs from her sleep a few hours later, the room still dark with the curtains drawn over the bedroom's only window. she isn't entirely sure what time it is, uncertain where she's left her phone, but she assumes that it's still early in the day. after all, aether hasn't woken her up yet.

with another yawn, she falls back into their bed, rolling and turning away from the door, pulling the cover over her shoulder. what's a few more hours of sleep? ]

[It's not too much later after she rolls over in bed that her bedroom door opens, with it now being lunchtime. Ajax slips in silently, coming to sit on the edge of the bed as he looks down at her sleeping form. He's contemplating just slipping under the covers with her over just nudging her awake, but that sounds like a good idea anyway, doesn't it?

Plus, it's kind of a proverbial middle finger to Aether too, even if he's not here to see it.

So he climbs in, scooting all the way up to her, letting his arm wrap over her to rest his hand on her stomach as he buries his head into her nape.

He wonders if this alone will wake her up...he'll find out, and if not, he'll find a different way to wake her.]

[ it doesn't, not completely. though lumine does stir to wakefulness for a bit, shifting against the arm wrapped around her and the presence of another person in bed. she squirms, trying to break free from ajax's hold and go back to sleep, a little peeved that her rest is being disturbed by someone. ]

Let me sleep a bit longer.

[ her voice is heavy with sleep, muffled against the covers she has pulled around her. her moody temperament doesn't last long, quickly dozing off again as if relenting to ajax's attempt—or lack thereof—to try and wake her up. ]

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