Chapter Text
“Vice-Captain! Letter, left it on your desk sir!” A knight called out before leaving the door for the morning patrols around the city, the shuffle of boots across the tile floors within the great halls of the headquarters.
Lohen made a non-committal noise deep within his throat, it was early in the morning, he had to get to his usual sparring sessions, perhaps raid another hilichurl camp, maybe even take on a few bounties against the treasure hoarders. He pushed off the desk he was leaning on, placing the twirling blade of his dagger back into its leather sheath. Approaching the desk with letter, he pauses, recognizing the seal in the lower right corner of the envelope.
It was his families seal.
Another letter from his family, likely concerning his whereabouts.
Or specifically, his marital status.
For years, after leaving home, Lohen did everything in his power to avoid this day, whether leaving to go on long expeditions, jumping at the opportunity to haul materials across the continent for the knights, even recently leaving for Nod Krai with Varka to bring aid in dealing with the Wild Hunt.
He measured his time, gave half-assed responses or just lied about possible matches, denied every rumor possible concerning himself. Yet, it was never enough. Lohen knew this, none of what he was doing would cover up what was going to be done, the inevitable truth hanging over him.
An arranged courting/engagement, or worse, a fully arranged marriage.
Pulling the dagger out from its protective sheath, he slit the envelope open, revealing papers neatly folded together, he could smell the ink on the pages, his eyes could even see some of the ink stains that bleed through the pages to the pages backs. With an annoyed sigh, he pulls a few of the papers out, reading through the contents.
“Dear young Lohen…”
He hated the weight and condescending voice that formed in his head with these words, he could just hear his father’s voice speaking to them. Heavy with disappointment or annoyance, in this case, it was most likely both.
“We have been utmost patient with your announcement to court, your mother has gone through many thorough searches for potential matches, even has gone as far to speak to others outside the city, something our family has rarely done in the generations prior.”
A huffed laugh left Lohen’s lips, there it was, starting out the gate with the semi-passive aggressive wording, oh do tell him more! How much more work has his folks gone through to make his life much more frustrating, how many more random invitations to dinners he will either avoid or never try for.
To save himself from the pain of how many pages of this, he skipped to the very last few paragraphs of the letters. He skimmed through, random family drama, scrutinizing him for leaving at such a young age to pursue such a violent path, how he was much more docile as a younger man, or a child to be quite specifically, the worries, prayers, the meetings with the church concerning his safety, yadda, yadda.
“However, seeing as after various attempts, you have not guaranteed a successful match for the sake of courting, your mother and I have been kind and patient Lohen, but if this continues, I fear a firmer action must be taken. I have spoken to the Cardinal of the church; he has come to an understanding for the situation.”
Lohen narrowed his eyes, the hell were they talking about? Narrowing his eyes, he continued to read further.
“We have decided, since you have refused to see what is beneficial for you, the Cardinal agreed that an understanding between the Knights of Favonius and the Cathedral can be made. A decision we as your family support-“
A strained laugh left Lohen’s lips, his left eye began to twitch, the hands holding the pages of the letter were straining, almost tearing the paper in twain.
“If you do not show any promising signs of courtship, and/or take action of your marital status, the Cardinal has agreed to looking into relieving you of your strenuous duties concerning the Knights of Favonius.”
Lohen’s heart stopped.
No. No. No.
No, no way in hell did they go to the church to try and talk him out of his job for the sake of marriage, this was worse than an arrangement! This was his job for the great winds sake! The only job that left him somewhat satisfied, the one that allowed him to feel expressive in his physical abilities.
How dare they! How dare his parents- they were pushy in the past before, he knew the time would come for an ultimatum, but this was beyond absurd? Lohen folded the pages back into their neat folds, the sound of paper tearing echoing in the empty office.
He tossed the letters, trashed the envelope deep into the trash bin.
His eyes were unfocused, his mind scrambled for an idea, a decision to make for the sake of this. But first…he needed to let off a little steam.
He grabbed his polearm, leaving the headquarters to go on a hunt. He didn’t need to look at any assignments or reports to know where exactly, he can tear a path to find it. Before he knew it, he was walking through the forest, any creature that came behind him, trailing him, fell to meet their maker. Any treasure hoarder who tried picking up a fight ended up in the worse shape he will ever know.
The sun was finding its place on the horizon, around him, a hilichurl camp laid quietly. Bodies laid lifeless all around him, his eyes were staring at the ground, the rock, mud, and grass underneath his boots.
His polearms weight was a familiar grounding in his palm, the tip of the blade had dulled yet again, the cities blacksmith could yell at him time and time again about how harsh he was with his weapons, but that was for another time.
His chest heaved, raising and lowering with each breath, the fragments of cryo energy lingered in the air, cool and sharp as his blade. He sustained a few injuries, perhaps being a little off his guard, or being too risky with his movements.
No matter, he thought, that was something he could deal with later.
For now, he just needed a little more. More to feed into his control, that he had some control over his fate and movements.
This was only a taste, an appetizer for a grander meal to feed the bloodlust.
Lohen tightened his grip on his polearm, he stepped through the camp, uncaring if he stepped over a lifeless husk. The forest was quiet, his ears focused on the sound of anything that could be of any challenge to him.
A sound to the east heightened his senses. Naturally he followed, whatever was to lie on the other sides fate was to be determined by him. (Unless it was a human, then he unfortunately had to follow protocol and leave them alive.)
It was late into the evening when Lohen returned to the headquarters, many who had seen him either moved out of his way or stayed quiet. It wasn’t just the sight that got them, but the feeling, the shift in atmosphere that came with it. The frigid air circling around Lohen was enough to freeze anyone to the bone, Dragonspine couldn’t compare, it may have been seen as a summer vacation paradise to how Lohen felt.
But the look.
The look of adrenaline, the feeling he could take anything on was worn on his face, eyes wide and unfocused, the slight scent of blood on his uniform and armor. Injuries, surface wounds that bleed like life-threatening injuries. Lohen quietly entered the 5th company captains office. Many of the knights had gone home, rarely do any stay this late into the knight.
He placed his polearm gently to lean against the wall, tossing his cape, gloves, and chest. Mint hair that usually was carelessly styled, was pushed back as he moved near a lamp to assess the damage.
A few scratches, one nasty cut to his hip, and just bruises. He didn’t get thrown around, but the geo and electro lawachurls gave him a decent fight. Decent in barely interesting, but it was enough to satisfy his needs slightly.
The door on the other side of the office opened, Lohen didn’t look up, instead he greeted who the person he believed was to answer.
“Good evening my captain, how may I help you this evening?” He spoke in that sing-song voice, but it was strained at the edges, he eyes took a glance in your direction. You stood with your arms crossed, your eyes were lowered, slowly trailing over his form.
“You’re alive thankfully. No one could get hold of you all day. I had to send 4 knights to do your one job you know?”
“Oh? I must apologize then my captain, I didn’t want to make you worry, just leave the harder assignments to me, I’ll have them finished by morning. That way you won’t worry your pretty head anymore.” Lohen’s hand dug into his pocket for gum, something to chew on while he tends to the cut on his hip, a small distraction, something to cool off his mind. Not anything to distract the pain, no-he needed to feel that a way to remind him how much more he could give and take.
You were not convinced.
He has faced worse, looked worse, yet somehow-today felt different. Your eyes looked at Lohen as he popped the gum into his mouth, his eyes were still unfocused and wide. His hands were slightly too jittery to handle with a needle, and his shoulders were tense.
You could ask, you could deduce something was wrong, but it wasn’t your place. Your job, as his captain was to ensure he was well and fine while on duty, whatever Lohen did off duty was up to him, and how the winds blessed him.
Quietly, you opened a few closets to place a first aid kit, bandages, and the extra pack of gum he kept stored. You did not speak; you only met his eyes briefly.
Ever since he became your vice-captain, Lohen respected you, for your position, and strength. Having finally sparred with you, his respect grew further, but your relationship was that of only in the context of working. Never has either of you pushed past that boundary.
So now, he expects you to leave, wish him goodnight like usual.
“Have a good evening Lohen, I hope to see you alive tomorrow.”
“Same to you [Name]. Goodnight captain.” He speaks, his voice monotone as he returns his focus to himself, back on the worries he perceived this morning. He hears the door click shut quietly.
As his hands work, grabbing the stitch kit within the first aid kit, he grits his teeth, any normal person would have asked for pain medication, perhaps numbing, not Lohen. He needed the pain to remind him that he is breathing, that he can still have control. The needle pinches into the skin, the stitching thread dragged slowly against the open wound, closing the bloody gap.
The skin could tear if he wasn’t careful, sweat dripped off his brow, his lips were pulled back into a scowl, strands of his hair stuck to his forehead, time seemed to have stopped. His mind, his thoughts could not focus on anything else.
Finally, the last stitch pinched and pulled into the skin, a gasp left Lohen’s lips, he tied off the thread with a knot, using his dagger he cut the remaining threat loose. Lohen’s body physically relaxed, hard part was over. Now just to clean up his wounds, shower, and finish bandaging himself up.
Using a cloth, he cleaned any scratches, cuts, or even grazes on his body, some could have been close calls if he was lazy, but luckily Lohen was not. He may be an adrenaline junkie, but not a lazy one. (If that is even possible?)
The water in the shower at the headquarters was stained pink along the white tile, the blood, dirt, and overall grim was scrubbed off his shoulders. After all the mental weight on his shoulders, they finally relax, dropping as the water cascades down them.
It was quiet everywhere, some would find it peaceful, others unnerving.
Lohen was focused back on his larger issue, the marriage thing.
What the hell were his parents thinking? Contacting the church of all things to “help aid and sort this out”, bullshit, they were pulling the final card from the deck, the final measure.
Luckily, nothing has been made final, even if they went out of their way to get him removed from the knights, it would be too much trouble and questions on Lohen’s personal side. His reputation for whatever romantic endeavors he has or hasn’t pursued could be fleshed out in the open.
As persistent and frankly annoying his parents were, having their sons reputation tarnished all because he doesn’t want to settle down exactly right now would be unwise for everyone.
Lohen turned the shower off, he grabbed his towel and went into one of the changing rooms, the headquarters had housing for the knights who were too tired to go home, accompanied by shower rooms and bathhouses. A kind precaution to stop anyone from overworking.
Drying his hair and changing Lohen was thinking through his options. He could ask Varka or Jean to ship him somewhere, perhaps Inazuma? Yeah, somewhere long that by the time he comes back, everyone would have moved on.
Or he could just try and sweet-talk the Cardinal into understanding his perspective, but with how much people talk about him now, and his reputation within the knights, yeah that could not work too well if he played his cards poorly.
For some, regarding his fellow knights, they get terms like “heroic, honorable, humble”, and while these words do correlate to Lohen, he was admirably strong and durable, some of his fellow knights praise him for his combat abilities and tactile judgments.
But some of the people of Mondstat?
Barbaric, brute, and bloodlust.
Those were some words whispered about him, not that he cared all that much, most of the ones speaking so little of him were weaker than him, that or envious of his strength. So why should he care?
Still, it was about convincing the Cardinal about this, perhaps having support from his superiors could also help. Jean or Varka, he can talk to tomorrow morning, you, he can talk later into the day. Perhaps written approval would help, just a little thing to give him more time to make a concrete plan.
Lohen finished dressing, he turned off the lamps and lights within the changing room, entering the halls to leave. His thoughts already knowing how to approach Varka and Jean, a favor to be repaid for Varka, Jean could just give brief detail about the situation, maybe she’d just be reluctant to help, but you?
Stumped him.
Truth be told, you were an enigma to Lohen. Not in a bad way, but more comforting. He could not explain why but knowing nothing too much about you made working with you easier, so was training with you.
You were never topic of random gossip or drama, you were lively when needed, and overall, a well-respected and good captain. If memory served Lohen well, he knew of a few knights who tried courting you, but never overheard how the attempts went.
A funny thing for him to think about now.
The next morning, Lohen requested a private meeting with Varka, Jean had to finish a few reports and apologized about having to forgo his request, but reassured Varka would be in the headquarters to help with whatever he needed.
Entering the Grandmasters office, Varka sighed in relief as Lohen entered, pushing the stack of paperwork on his desk to the side.
“Lohen! Perfect timing, Jean mentioned you placed an appointment but she’s out right now, so, what can I help you with, I’ll try my best, I assure that.” Lohen smirked, from the stack of paperwork, Varka was given, he must have been waiting on Lohen and his arrival.
As much as he could pass back and forth the formalities, Lohen cut to the main point.
“I need your approval, in the form of a written approval concerning something I’m involved in…concerning the church.” Varka leaned back in his chair, gesturing his hand for the door of the office to be closed.
“I... uh can’t guarantee anything if you put another sparing partner into the infirmary Lohen, that is something [Name] can pardon, but I don’t know about the church.” Lohen stood in front of the desk, his arms crossed, as that is true, you would have written it anyways. After so many months of you both working together, you got the gist of Lohen and his routine down within the first month.
He remembered how bored you looked when his last assigned training partner pleaded to being swapped. Of course, that left you with Lohen for the rest of that week, surprisingly, neither of you requested another switch order for sparing partners. Either you forgot to, or, as Lohen likes to think, you were too stubborn to give up or not accept his challenges.
Every taunt he gave you, you returned the force and action. It got to the point he looked forward to training, at least then he had some form of a challenge during his day. The bruises that formed on his body knew that, than and the satisfied smirk that naturally followed on his lips.
But back to the present.
“No, I need the approval concerning a marital matter, nothing too serious-I’ll even write it, you can sign it, I’ll get it to the cardinal and then it would be all over with. Just wanted to let you know first.” Lohen shrugged like it wasn’t anything.
He was praying Varka would just agree and move one.
Another reason he thought of Varka doing it would be easier. Jean would ask further questions and be much stricter about the protocols accompanying this, which on any given matter is great, but not right now when time was not of precious matter.
“I-Lohen…wow, okay, -ahem-, As much as I’d love to- do that.”
No. Please, gracious winds, no.
“I’m going to need more context, what do you mean “marital matter?” like a marriage dispute, courting matter?” He could just tell Varka nothing and leave it at that, but- Varka looked too serious, meaning, he needed to give a little more. Lying wouldn’t help him in any case.
“As in, I need you to approve that I won’t be demoted or removed of my position because of a lack of courting…my parents are a little upset about my romantic life, and have contacted the cardinal about it…now they mentioned something about him looking into supplementary ways to…step in.” Yeah, that should be more than enough.
Varka’s face dropped, his understanding eyes, squinted at the edges, his smile turned into a uncomfortable frown. “I…unfortunately I can’t do anything about that Lohen.”
“What?” What the hell does he mean? He is his boss!? How can he not do anything?
“I-now, hold on-. According to the volumes of protocol the knights must follow under the churches steed, one thing we can’t interfere with is marriages. Unless it is a civil, domestic, or professional dispute, we can’t interfere, only enforce the law. The church has the power and authority to determine the approval for these matters. As much as I’d be willing- more than willing to help, I do not think it is within my authority or power to do so.” Varka shrugged his shoulders, his eyes were apologetic.
Within Mondstat, the church holds power and influence over certain matters. Marriage falls into this, who get married, when, where, etc. However no other office within the government can dispute a marriage, the church held that authority, even in the case of potential marriages. The church offered counselling, consulting hours, classes, all the things for anyone within the nation to marry whomever they loved and life a prosperous life in marriage.
But that means this plan, Lohen’s plan, has gone to shit.
Without further words, he thanked Varka for his time, not needing any other explanation, instead he stepped out of the office, and went down the hall to the 5th companies office. Inside, knights fluttered around to get their reports approved, come changing their armor, others chatting.
As Lohen entered, some tried breaking out into conversation with him, but no-his focus was on something entirely different. He grabbed his polearm, daggers, and his left-over assignments, leaving to go out for a little while.
A little while clearing his head, to think deeper about this, and find another plan. But right now, his grasp on control was teetering, he needed to grasp it again. So, this will do for now.
The last ruin hunter fell before him, the loud crash against the area echoed in the chasm of the cave he found himself in. Honestly, Lohen forgot how he ventured his far, he was just following some of his tasks, then oops- found himself here.
“Hunting you down was annoying, please make me stop doing it.” Your voice rang out over the echo of the cave.
Lohen raised his head, you carefully stepped down from the cave entrance, moving between the ruin machines that laid before your feet. “Frankly, how you manage to find these places is beyond me, how did a “patrol Dornman Port” turn into you stuck in this claustrophobic cave filled with ruin machines and monsters alike?”
Lohen extended his hand to help you off a steep rock, you take it, fingers curling around his palm, looking around, you analyze the cave, also eyeing any potential damage. Lohen didn’t focus on that, instead, the warmth of your palm, through the glove, he could feel it.
A small part of him wanted to know. How this palm felt against him. How it felt either in the form of a fist, or even a slap, any contact will do. Any contact is good contact from you, perhaps it was the desire to spar, to have another challenge to feed the rush that made his head dizzy, eyes burning. The blood pumping through his veins, the reminders he was breathing and alive.
“Lohen?”
“Hm? Yes my lady?” Lohen quickly recovered, his hand slipped away from your grasp first, he started to instead, pick up his daggers, and weapons. “If you came all this way to hunt me down, I should feel honored to have you [name], I know you take the act of hunting serious.”
“I would if it did not come in the form of Jean’s worrying. Why are you this far out anyways? If you left now, you wouldn’t retuned back into the city until nightfall.”
He paused, the frustration and anger boiling in his stomach from before sparked to life, but he swallowed whatever wanted to bubble into his throat. As much as he wanted to complain about it, you didn’t need to hear it. It probably wasn’t important to him now, you seemed a little annoyed about his safety right now anyways.
Lohen smirked, placing on that casual, almost teasing attitude he played with you. His eyes half-lidded as he looked at you. “Now again, I apologize you had to come this far out, but I assure you, I am more than capable of handling myself. No need to go on the prowl for me. But thank you, perhaps next time I can ask you just to stalk me instead, it would offer me more than what these “monstruous machines” gave me.”
He walked close to your figure, leaning forward to smirk in your face.
“Perhaps I should just ask you to show that annoyance and frustration now, take it out on me, you know I can take it. Unlike the test dummies at headquarters.” He chuckled, turning around before seeing your reaction.
“Haha, funny, but I am serious. Grab your things, I’m escorting you back, after all the panic you temporarily gave me, I need to have you in one place. Better for everyone.”
“Oh? Even you, my lady? How so?” He does follow your order, he finishes grabbing his things and follows you out the cave, offering a hand here and there, finally the true walk back began. The sun was bleeding into the horizon, coloring the sky in a warm pinkish hue, as if an artist was blending a painting within the sky.
“Its better so I don’t have to worry about your wellbeing, you’ve been going on these…hunts for a while now. It’s getting too concerning now, makes me think your under some type of spell with how you disappear and return with someone’s else’s blood on you.” You look out at the lands before, rolling hills of green fading under the setting sun, the trees moving with the wind, waving along to the gales somber song of the approaching night.
“Oh? Is that how you see me, perhaps you aren’t giving me too much credit my lady.”
“I’m being genuine and serious, whatever is wrong with you, I’d hope you could place some trust into me to help relieve or aid you in it. However, I will not pry further.”
The rest of the walk, it was silent. Lohen could have said something, joked or teased you to ease the tension, but now the adrenaline was leaving his bloodstream, the exhaustion was cascading down his limbs, making them feel heavier, feeling returned to his fingertips.
And pain, pain was flowing, almost overflowing into his body. He staggered but kept himself upright. As endurable as the pain was, how much he liked living off of it, it was intoxicating, the thrill of battle, the pain that came with some of those brutal victories, like an addiction he was hooked on. But the pain sometimes caught him at the worse moments.
But he swallowed his tongue, walking alongside you, all the way back into the city, your words of concern for him, made his heart ache, a pain he was not sure of yet.
“Here. Rest the bad arm on my hip.” Your voice was concerned, and quite mean. But a good mean, like a “you could have died” mean.
In this case, it was because when you returned from the walk, Lohen left to shower, you waited on him so he could give you his reports, the hall of the headquarters was empty, night overtaking the windows. Moonlight peeped into the curtains, dancing across the floor.
However, as you were patiently waiting, the loud crash caught you first, jumping into action, you ran to the shower rooms, checking for any signs of trouble, instead, you found Lohen nearly fainted in one of the stalls.
Which leads you to quickly cover his nude body in towels and carry him to one of the resting rooms. Lohen sat against the bed, his body tired, very tired as he leaned some of his weight on you.
Goodness he looked weak. You must think so.
Your face was so worried about him, when his eyes focused long enough for him to note your face, by that point, he dipped out of consciousness again. His head pressed against your shoulder, hair damp, some strands dripped water down his back.
“For goodness sake, are you serious Lohen, did you get tunnel vision or something? You have bruises forming on still healing bruises.” Your hands touch gently at his back, checking for any broken bones or signs of internal bleeding.
Now any person would be upset if their boss, much less their captain was checking their naked and blemished body for wounds for their destructive habits. But Lohen was not any person. Truth be told your hands on him were comforting, he didn’t know why, maybe the concern of another person and their touch is what does it.
“I told you it was an accident; I just lost consciousness temporarily.”
“And have been for the last 15 minutes. Don’t give me that shit, lay back, let me see your chest and mid-section.” He could fight you on this, but he was too tired to do so.
Normally, Lohen tended to his own wounds, never letting too many see the scar tissue and strained muscles that lay under his uniform. He knew what worked, and what didn’t, a skill he workshopped on his own flesh willingly.
But your hands mapping every scar, gently holding him, as if you wanted to be careful made his skin shiver, the blood loss from his body could have been a reason for that, he could make as an excuse, however your hands felt so…nice…and warm on his skin.
Your hands touch the lean muscle of his abdomen, your hands stop at the stitching on his hip, your tongue clicks within your mouth.
“You could have asked if you needed help.”
“Well, you never offer my lady, how as I supposed to know.” Fair point. Lohen’s voice was breathy, short, his eyes blinking too many times to try and adjust to the faint candlelight on the desk across the room.
“The perhaps I’ll have to make it routine for you then, if you continue to be reckless I’ll just check on your behalf, I don’t want you dying Lohen. I like having a vice-captain.”
“Well, if you’re making a request then I’ll keep it in mind next time, that my lady, [Name], wants me to return to her in one piece.” His voice was dripping in sarcasm, but if it was an order by you, he’d do it.
“Perhaps I should, so you won’t split your head open on the tile in the shower rooms.” You bandage a few more wounds, even redoing the torn stitches on his hip.
The room entered a soft quietness, your hands were skilled as they worked, right now, Lohen focused on his breathing, on being able to feel and touch. The temporary reliance on you had him punching himself metaphorically.
The breathing was working but his eyes, half-lidded remembered what led him to another spree, the lack of a plan he had now. An exasperated, yet angry chuckle bubbled in his throat. Your hands paused as his chuckle turned into laughter; worry flooded your features.
“Wha- Lohen?”
“No-no, I apologize my lady, I don’t mean to make you worried, just, don’t mind me, I’m only laughing at my inevitable fate. A silly thing.”
Your brows furrow, now it was worse, what did he mean by “inevitable fate”, you stood up, sitting back in the chair next to the bed, Lohen sat cross-legged on the bed, the towel covered his groin and lower abdomen. His back leaned against the wall the bed was pressed against. The moonlight danced across its features; the beauty it left behind was that of art. His eyes in the darkness could be unnerving with the red hue of his pupil, but under the moonlight, any light, he looked…simply beautiful.
“What I mean is, you’ll possibly have to look for another vie-captain, since I may be demoted by the church for a personal issue concerning my martial reputation.” Your eyes narrowed, he closed his, shaking his head. His hand swept his bangs back as he sighed.
“Explain.” That was all you asked.
“Well, my parents didn’t want me becoming a knight, said it was too dangerous. That and it’d be a terrible outlet for my “aggression”, anyways, the only way I became one was if I started taking my future into consideration.”
“Marriage.”
“Correct as ever my lady, but, as you can probably deduce, I’m not married. Haven’t been all this time. So now my father contacted the cardinal and the church to step in. Seeing this as a personal matter, and a marriage one, not even Varka can help it. So, you may want to start finding a different vice-captain, I’ll even throw in a few picks.”
“So, I’ll lose my most capable knight and vice-captain because he isn’t currently courting someone and isn’t married. That is what I am getting.” You restated into a single sentence, Lohen nodded, he chuckled again.
“Terrible isn’t it?”
“Terribly.”
He smiled, a sad one, he really does not want to lose this, this being his current job. But also, this, you, as his superior, the closeness you can have with him as your vice-captain, your second in command.
The silence stretches again; you sit with your thoughts. Lohen was thinking about how he was going to get demoted, perhaps desk job? He knows no action for him, perhaps helping with the administrative duties the knights had. What a boring fate.
And on top of that his parents would still be nagging him.
He closed his eyes, too tired to give more thought into this, he wanted to go out fighting this, out with a bang. He has done it once; he can just dodge and avoid again, he has to.
“Lohen.”
Your voice shakes him out of his planning, he turns his gaze to you, tilting his head in your direction.
“Yes, my lady?”
“Let me help you.”
“[Name], you already are staying late, I can assure you that I can finish cleaning myself up, I won’t faint again- “
“No, with the marriage thing.” That shut him up, quickly. Whatever Lohen was going to say about his current well-being, physical or mental, went out the window.
“How.”
It wasn’t a question, or him using his polite tone to ask you, it was a statement. How, how would you go out of your way to help him.
“Well…if you haven’t found a match in the city- “
“Every match I have gone out of my way to find or have arranged for me, either ended with boredom or the lovely women of Mondstat not having the strength to deal or to stomach the idea of me. Those that could, were unbearable my lady, completely, I have exhausted this option.”
“If you would let me finish for the winds sake, goodness-” You huff, your brows furrowing, Lohen leans back onto the wall, he offers an apologetic look, but nods for you to continue. “My apologies my lady.”
“Thank you, anyways, I could marry you.”
“What.” His eyes burned into you, they didn’t widen in surprise, but instead the pure shock was heard din his voice. The sing-song tone, the casual formality was dropped in the words tone. It was flat and serious.
“There is a law in Mondstat, I know this from…pervious experience, but any marriage can be annulled by the church, free of reason if the marriage is less than 18 months of the license original date. Hypothetically we get married, and announce it to your family, the church wouldn’t have any suspicion of your courting issues, we could lie about certain issues or work them out later. Once it is believed, we can annul the marriage before the year and half mark.” Your reasoning had logic within it, sound logic.
Good logic, actually.
But with every good thing, Lohen expects something, you came with this in the minutes he told you and are willing to marry him. A whole fake marriage to appease people you will never personally know, for what? To keep him around?
“So…what do you think? Lohen?”
“I think…it’s a marvelous idea my lady…however, as much as I do not want to be a skeptic, I need to be. You are telling me you’ll risk marriage, and a potential divorce on record, to what? Keep me around, like a get-out of jail card? There must be something you can get out of this?”
He leaned forward, scanning your features deeply, whatever could you get out of this arrangement, or what favor could you pull onto him for this? That was the true mystery. Your eyes flick away from under his gaze, but once you gained the confidence, you held his gaze.
“If it means you’ll stay, then I’ll do it. I don’t want to go on another search for another vice-captain. Besides, you don’t deserve to be demoted for this, it’s an unethical solution to a frankly stupid issue. You are your own person, own adult.”
Lohen’s eyes narrow and stay on yours, at any point you could be lying, lying about wanting to help him, and unfortunately he would have to deal with the fallout from it. But from what he knows about you, he can see your honesty, perhaps you really did not want to find another to replace him. Seems extremist, but- you were offering.
And his other options look slim to none. So, trusting you and your word was the best option.
“When would you like to file the marriage license then my lady?” A small grin formed on his face, the type he usually held for battle, the thrill, the adrenaline.
“We can go any morning this week, but this is dual effort Lohen, if you want this to look real we have to make it seem.”
“Oh, so should I buy us rings too? Should we throw a party for the announcement?” He grinned, but he could do that, buying metal rings was good, he could reason because of your jobs, fancier ones could be easier to damage or lose track of.
“If you wish.”
“Then we can go to the marriage office tomorrow morning, I’ll buy the rings after.”
“Deal.”
“Deal and thank you [name].”
You begin to stand from the chair, Lohen had a genuine smile adorned on his face, you were putting up a lot to help him, so thanking you was the least he could do.
“I…you’re welcome Lohen…don’t forget tomorrow.”
“Wouldn’t if I tired.”