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You grip the thin paper invitation tightly in your hand. When you first opened the letter and read it, you felt a twinge of anxiety along with your initial fleeting sensation of joy. You hadn’t expected Eula’s plan to actually go through, especially with the history surrounding her family — Amber, in between gossip sessions, had revealed to you that Eula was petitioning Jean and Varka to bring back the long-held tradition of the Ball Masque to Mondstadt. Initially harboring some (well-deserved) doubts, they both agreed to it.
“We could use some celebration…” Varka assured Jean, before looking back at Eula, “...especially since our expedition squadron has finally returned. I bet the boys are aching to have some fun in the city gates again” he laughed in his usual, hardy tone.
----
Eula glared at you in her typical vengeful fashion, though underneath that veil of false pretense, she was excited to invite you and Amber to the knights’ official Masquerade.
“Indeed, the knights did good to get rid of all that superfluous detail… but some traditions ought to be kept. Especially during times like these.” She looked at Amber, her tone growing ever-softer.
“You always say that, Eula. Though I find it touching that you came up with such a wonderful, heartfelt idea — I never knew you had it in you” Amber teased.
“W-well, you know. I only thought it appropriate because of our current situation.” Eula glances at your direction.
You can only guess that she is referring to the now-returned expedition force, one which you, their dear friend, were a part of for the longest time. It’s truly touching, in a way, that she thought of this returning gift for you and your comrades.
You had been gone for a very long time. Five years to be exact — as a part of the Fifth Company’s most capable knights, you were selected amongst your peers to accompany Vice-Captain Lohen and Grand Master Varka on the great expedition to the North. Snezhnaya and Nod Krai took an obvious toll on you and your companions; you had come back changed.
Despite these tribulations, you look back fondly on your time spent with your compatriots. One peculiar person that always stood up to you was your Vice-Captain. A man in his early twenties, with light hair and dark, hypnotizing eyes. Daily training with Lohen was beyond grueling, but you didn’t have the heart to tell him so… or so you’d say. Perhaps you were too afraid of his reaction?
Eight-hour long shooting practice, along with dodging his self-made traps, while simultaneously dealing with the Wild Hunt. Whilst others would find this torturous and grow tired fast, you reveled in the heat of battle. This fighting, practicing, hitting, kicking, squishing… it turned on a switch of concentration in your brain that could only turn back off once everything in your path was dealt with. This caught your Vice-Captain’s eye.
You get lost in your memories before Eula’s throat-clearing snaps you back into reality.
“Oh, yes. Thank you, Eula. It means a lot to me and the other knights that you’d think of us like this. It looks really fun.” you can’t really hold back the growing unease in the tone of your voice.
Your initial anxiety returns at this one simple thought, hiding and ruminating at the back of your brain:
…Who do I even bring?
It was only natural, and very much expected that you show up with a partner to such a formal event as this. Yet, weirdly enough, you cannot shake the image of the Vice-Captain’s visage from your mind whilst asking the above question.
But that is a ridiculous notion, so you purge the thought of it from your head immediately.
“Y/N… are you alright?” Amber questions, before Eula quickly realizes what your dilemma is and speaks:
“I see. Are you nervous about your plus-one? Apologies. Had I not invited Amber as my partner, I would have swiftly—”
“Is that it?! Y/N, don’t feel so nervous. I’m one-hundred percent certain that anyone you ask to come with you will most definitely accept,” Amber interrupted, “Plus, it’s not required you bring a partner. Don’t worry so much!” Eula cleared her throat at Amber’s interruption, though Amber paid no mind. This was, unfortunately for Eula, a very regular occurrence.
“I know. I just feel like I have to, these things aren’t necessarily fun to go to alone.” you reply.
Amber and Eula reassure you that they’ll stay by your side, but you are still left with an insecure feeling of loneliness. Heading home to Dorman Port, you ruminate on the aforementioned problem plaguing your mind.
Amber and Eula are your friends, yes, but you still yearn for a romantic evening. Something about the event itself is drawing out all the lovebirds inside the Knights of Favonius, and you felt quite lame in not having someone to cherish in that particular moment. In the middle of your thoughts, a familiar figure stops your mindless pacing with a hand to your arm. It’s a firm yet familiar grip, and the voice that emanates from the darkness drips down into your ear like honey. You cannot resist but indulging in its very sound —
“Found you…” a shaky, unstable voice mutters out from your side.
“Vice-Captain?” you can only hope.
“Skipping out on your duties isn’t a very wise idea, Y/N. You’d better have a very good excuse…” his voice drags out in an intimidating manner.
Shit. You knew you were forgetting something when agreeing to meet those two girls. The Fifth Company was known for its less-than-ethical, unorthodox training sessions — and you had just skipped yours. Typically this spells out trouble for the knights, but when it comes to Lohen… he has his own special brand of punishment. You don’t want to think of what happened to Gunther that one time.
Oh, poor, poor Gunther.
You mutter some poor, old, tired excuse… It's no use. Your Vice-Captain’s already made up his mind, and dragged you from your home to the shooting range.
“I want you to hit all sixty-seven of these targets flawlessly. If you are as much as a millimeter off, you re-fire. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” you ready your aim.
You shoot.
You move through each target with utter precision. If there’s one thing you’re confident of, it’s your abilities here and on the battlefield. You keep moving with ease, though as you reach your next target, you lower your weapon in utter shock.
Before you stands not another wooden dummy, but your Vice-Captain holding an apple up to his chest.
“What’s wrong? Keep shooting.” he yells from across the range. You can’t help but stifle a small snort at the sheer ridiculousness of this sight.
“Sir, I cannot continue. This feels… unethical, at best.” you shout back.
He glares at you, “Come on now, surely you’ve heard of my ‘special training’ regimen, no?” it’s almost as if this man is teasing you, or trying to get a rise out of you. What is this leading to..? Though, you have seen him repeat this act with your other colleagues. Something about this guy… he likes to put himself in rather dangerous situations.
You lower your gun completely as your boss continues to tease. This now felt less of a punishment, and more of a humiliation ritual. You ought to be taken seriously. You begin to walk toward him, until you reach a distance that to any sane passerby would appear rather scandalous for two knights. The way he stares into your eyes sends a shiver down your spine, though it was far from fear. This fills you with a sadistic sensation, as you stab the apple in his hand with your dagger previously located on your hip.
“It seems I’ve done enough teasing for today.” he says, in a low hum so quiet only you can hear.
“Am I free to go now, Sir?” you can feel the heat radiate from his ear as you speak into it.
He looks up into your eyes, then his head slowly falls. His breath softly grazes the side of your neck — the tension in this moment is enough to melt off your very skin.
“Fine. You’re no fun anyway.”
This was a regular occurrence for you two. The way you interacted was a mystery to the others, and yet there existed an unspoken mutual understanding between you and Lohen. It was almost as if you were… friends? After the bizarre encounter, you return home.
----
The next day is drills and practice per usual. What happened the other night, and many nights before that, remains an unspoken taboo that best remains unspoken. Though this time, you notice his gaze linger on you far longer than usual. Perhaps you stepped out of line, just this once.
Despite this, in your mind, you have other issues worth worrying over. The thought of a partner to the dance sucked on your thoughts like a leech, or a rifthound’s poisoned fang digging into your skull. This had caught your Vice-Captain’s attention, as it had begun to affect your performance during drills. He calls you over to a secluded corner.
“What is the matter with you today?” his sly tone ever-present, “you’re sloppy. By the gods, don’t tell me that yesterday’s events actually bothered you.” Even he has begun to realize how regular this is for the two of you. You’re such a normal person around others, but something about this man brings out a darker side of your soul.
“No, sir. It’s nothing. If I can continu—”
“Oh, bullshit. Tell me now, soldier. Don’t waste our time here.”
You blush. The very thought of telling anyone but your friends of this trivial, stupid problem of yours… most especially revealing such a deep insecurity to your Vice-Captain. Unthinkable, and yet, you are forced into such a position.
You explain Eula’s plans, the invitation, and your dilemma.
Never had you thought you’d see such an expression strewn about Lohen’s face, a beautiful mixture of a wince and shock.
“...you cannot be serious. I mean, I suppose I was invited as well but… seriously, having it affect you this much? I just threw it away — This is unlike you. Or perhaps I didn’t take you for such a frivolous individual?” Lohen mused.
“It’s far from frivolous. Every normal human being desires to be loved. Is it not one of our greatest needs?” you felt yourself gag after saying that. Seriously, what were you thinking?
Judging by Lohen’s reaction, that brief moment of sincerity made him gag as well.
“We can pretend you never said that.”
“...”
In this short yet tense silence, Lohen appears pensive.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changes.
“Why, I just had a fantastic idea.” a creepy smile began to invade his face, “Why don’t I join you? Then… you can stop acting all sloppy on the battlegrounds, and begin producing some decent results?”
You’d sat there in shock, but only momentarily. The thought didn’t upset you entirely. You’d already half fantasized about it repeatedly throughout your encounters recently, anyway. Though the thought of asking your boss out filled you with a taboo ick, now that it’s the other way around, it’s still pretty weird — but you oddly revelled in that feeling. It’s not like Varka didn’t let such relationships fly under the radar before anyway, but you didn’t care what others thought. You liked this proposition, even though it’s half-assed and likely one-sided from your end. He might be doing this purely out of entertainment, knowing him, but part of you hoped he shared this attraction.
This attraction, the attraction you’ve felt ever since setting off for the expedition together. You couldn’t help yourself from thinking about how his clothes tightly wrapped around his body, exposing certain contours whilst masking the parts you’d longed to see most. His hands which gripped his dagger and sometimes your body in the heat of battle — you’d longed to know how they would feel dragged against your body, slowly and tenderly gliding down until… you snap out of your daze with haste. These aren’t thoughts a subordinate should be having.
“I suppose that will suffice” you spit out, trying your best not to sound excited. Your expression betrays you, only slightly.
He smirks and dismisses you with a sharp “Good.”.
----
The night of the ball has finally approached. During the time before this particular night, practice occurred as usual, including your ‘overtime’ shifts with Lohen at the firing range. Rumors had already been spreading from across the Fifth Company, along the lines of ‘Barbatos knows what they were doing… all I hear is gunshots and cryo-infused warfare.’.
You had selected your attire carefully, your favorite color accompanied along with jewelry of exquisite taste. To say you were not feeling the most radiant you’d ever been would be an understatement. You were glowing with excitement.
Despite it being naive, your excitement truly came from a warm place in your heart. The coquetteish joy of attending a lavish dance was something you’d dreamt about in your youth, never expecting it to become a reality.
Unfortunately for you, your prince was Lohen.
Sighing and walking to your house’s door, he was nowhere to be seen. Is he really so cheap as to stand you up? A small doubt began to creep from your brain into a lump in your throat. Walking outside to the gates of Dorman Port, you arrive at your agreed upon meeting point.
You wait.
You wait a little more.
Now you’re pissed.
Suddenly, your partner arrives. Disheveled yet dressed to the nines. It was almost gaudy, but you couldn’t help but feel that he looked undeniably handsome.
“Ahem, well, sorry about that… I was uh, busy clearing out some unwanted guests along our path to the main city.” he says.
“I’d figured you’d gone off fighting god knows what. I’m just glad you’re here. All I ask is that you please refrain from abandoning me mid dance.”
“Relax! I’d never dream of that!” something about his tone, this time, felt sincere.
“It’s just these things, you know, are so trivial… and god knows how boring this event’s going to be..” he mutters, but you scold him in response:
“It’s not trivial to me. Let’s get going before we’re late.”
You head off to the main city together, making conversation along the way. Something about Lohen’s posture is more relaxed around you today; his answers more sincere, and his glances more frequent. You can’t help but feel a growing anticipation for the dance.
As you arrive, the announcer at the gate calls out your official titles. You could feel a deep shyness emerge within you when half the room, stunned, turns to look at the two of you enter the building. Whispers fill the halls, and your doubts grow. Yet, your partner beside you whispers in your ear:
“Don’t look so surprised. They just never expected me to show up with anyone. Or at all, for a matter of fact.” he attempts to reassure you, “Hehe, especially with someone as beautiful as you.” he smirks as he savors your shocked expression. Surely, he must be saying this to tease you. Someone like Lohen doesn’t enjoy trivialities such as flirting or dating.
He clears his throat and signals for you to wrap your arm around his to guide you down the stairs. As you walk, the shocked faces around you begin to fade and the festivities continue. You feel a wave of relief shower over you, but not for long. Something on Lohen’s face tells you he’s got some sick plan brewing in his twisted little head.
“Wanna hit the food bar?”
At this point, you’re trying to think of any excuse to get him to stop planning whatever he’s planning.
“Huh, interesting. So that’s the type of person you are?” he replies.
“You seem to spend a lot of time thinking about what type of person I am, Lohen.”
Your reply leaves him a little flustered.
After circling the table like two sharks, you notice that some alluring tango music begins to play. You sense that this has something to do with Eula and her various schemings. You can see her and Amber in the distance, readying to dance. Suddenly, a hand grips your wrist.
“Dance with me. We’d ought to make our situation look believable here… dear.”
You almost choke on your spit hearing that word come out of his mouth. If anything, he sure knows how to be a huge tease.
Almost lunging you onto the dance floor, he beckons you to take lead, and the two of you begin to dance. At first it’s a sensation you have to get used to; after a few steps, you begin to get the hang of it, and everything falls into place. You grow curious as to why Lohen didn’t take an initiative as he usually does. Seeing the confused expression on your face, Lohen decides to answer your question before you can even ask it.
“Don’t bother asking. Eula wouldn’t let me take lead during our impromptu dancing lesson.” Lohen tightens his grip around your body, digging his fingers into your skin. The sensation is sharp, but you don’t mind.
“Dancing lesson..?” you ask.
“Well, it’d be pretty embarrassing to drag you all the way over here and not know how to dance.” he says as you dip him during the song’s end. Judging by his expression, he’s a little flustered.
“When did you two… Wait, drag me over here? But I asked you.” you almost whisper, but Lohen decides not to answer. He stares uncomfortably long into your eyes and pulls you away from the dance floor. You notice how his expression’s changed, only momentarily, into something more sincere — that is, of course, before it switches back to his normal sinister smirk.
“I’m bored. Let’s do something more fun, dear…” he mockingly whimpers at you.
To say the least, you’re confused.
“What? But it’s so early..”
“Just meet me by the cavalry stables downstairs. I’ll be waiting.” he disappears into the crowd effortlessly, leaving you for naught.
You spot your friends at the edge of the dance floor, and let them know what’s going on. You ask Eula what Lohen meant by ‘impromptu dancing lesson’... scared, perhaps, that he imposed upon your friend in a manner that you did not intend. Eula then informs you that Lohen came to her just two hours before the dance, as she was in the middle of her preparations, practically begging her to teach him something before he ‘utterly embarrassed himself’ in front of you. Apparently, those were his words verbatim.
Perhaps that explains his lateness earlier on in the night..?
You realize you have little choice in whether or not you intend to go after Lohen, and follow his instructions against your better judgment. Entering the stables, you’re greeted by some whinnies from your favorite horses (you feed them from time to time, against Kaeya’s wishes) and a blanket of darkness surrounding the outskirts of the building. There, suddenly, you hear a voice from the darkness call out to you..
“Come, come closer…” a hand slowly emerges from the darkness, which drapes it like a soft silky cloth… it beckons you to approach it. It’s hypnotizing.
Like an angel, calling out your name, begging you to come closer. You cannot resist, you approach...
You follow it into the storage room.
“Yes… good…” suddenly, a figure jumps out from that darkness — like the wind, it moves behind you. Something in your training, or perhaps your adrenaline, helps you dodge it at equal pace. You breathlessly stare until..
“Lohen! What the hell!!”
“What, can’t you take a little joke?” he coos, and only as his body inches closer to the light, you notice he’s holding a rope.
Now, what the hell is he planning? You’ve had enough of entertaining this little freak. It’s about time he took you a little more seriously..
With haste, you lunge at him and grab the rope. It's almost like he's planned this, and willingly gave up the rope — but that would be counter-intuitive in this situation, you think to yourself, so you don't question it farther. You then notice a chair where Lohen was standing just moments before, in the darkness; you push him into it and stomp your foot in between his legs.
“Don’t talk to me like that.” you speak with an authority in your voice even you have never noticed yourself use before.
“Oh?” a sly, almost flirtatious smirk grows on Lohen’s previously cold face, “Last time I checked, I’m your boss, so… I think I can”.
You sneer at him. His tone, his body language, everything up to this point has boiled up into an amalgamation of mixed emotions inside of you. You begin to tie his hands behind the chair with his rope.
“I’ve had enough… enough of your games… why can’t you ever just tell me what you want?” you complain, whispering into his ear.
“I thought you liked playing these types of games with me, soldier.” at this point, he’s breaming with sadistic joy.
“You’re always so… normal… around the others. You pretend. But you’re just like me, in the end. You’re the only freak in our entire company…”
He breathes hotly onto your neck. You tighten his restraints.
“...who willingly offers themselves up to take punishment for other’s misdeeds.”
It’s true. Perhaps it has already slipped your mind due to the winds of time, but you had often requested to take on punishments or overtime for other soldiers’ mistakes. Some called you a martyr, but Lohen’s growing intrigue in your actions had long deduced the true answers.
You liked how it made you feel.
You liked his insults, his scolding. How your muscles burn, after hours of practicing, only to hear his cold voice pierce through air like a bullet from your gun…
‘You misfired. Again.’
You liked all of it.
The truth was, that after some time, he too had grown to like it.
Perhaps through this sick mutual understanding of yours, you both silently agree that it is time some of your honorable martyr work be paid back, with interest.
“I should gag you” you spit at him.
His thighs clamp around your shoe.
“God… Please…” he begs you — in a tone of voice you’d never heard come from him before… this turns you on.
You’re both fully committed now.
His grip around your shoe tightens and you can feel the heat radiate off of his body. He rubs himself on your leg, pathetically. You ought to kick him where he stands.
“You’re such a disgusting pervert” you hadn’t known you contained such a capacity to spew vile vitriol from your mouth… but judging from his expression, he’s beckoning you to keep going.
“Aw, I love you too..” he teases.
You take your leg and press it down firmly on his groin. He simultaneously moans and winces. You can feel his growing erection press against your knee. He twitches with fervorous desperation.
“Ah, Y/N…” Lohen fights with his restraints, but never enough to fully undo them. “I know you’re typically such a sucker for punishment, but this.. even for you, this is..” he’s smiling. He decides to give up on his thought half-way through his sentence; perhaps his boner is getting in the way of actual comprehensible speech.
“Whatever.. please, just kiss me,” he’s given up fast, much to your surprise. You’d normally make him wait, but something in the air compelled you to just suck his face. You kiss deeply, but it is nonetheless brief. This conduct is going to spell a lot of trouble for you later anyway, so you might as well enjoy yourself to the fullest now.
You move from his lips to the corner of his jaw, slowly kissing and sucking whilst inching up to his ear. The heat of your breath tickling his earlobe, as you slowly bite down and suck causes him to shudder and moan, loudly. To think just this would work him up this much? The pressure of your knee on his erection did not help, as he began to thrust himself onto it to gain even a morsel of additional pleasure. You grin at the thought of someone walking in on you two at this pathetic moment...
“Please,” he moans, “please, let me inside of you.”
“No.” your firm answer shocks him.
“Wh- what?”
“You of all people should know that we have to work hard to reap such rewards..” your hand moves from his cheek, inching down to his chest, and slowly makes its way down to his groin; you tenderly caress him for a bit before undoing his pants.
You’re still busy working on kissing his ear, and while you give it a hot lick, you free his erection.
You do not concern yourself with looking at his current expression, though judging from the noises he’s making, he is enjoying himself thoroughly. As an utterly evil idea pops into your head, you decide to look into his pleading eyes before calculating your next tactical move. You move your clothes out of the way and sit on his lap, placing your thigh next to his cock. You can feel him twitch beneath you.
“Go ahead.”
“What..?” Lohen responds, breathlessly.
“Hump it.”
Lohen complies faster than you initially thought he would; you expected a usual pomp and sass in his attitude, but clearly, right now he has larger priorities. The impetuousness in his moves as he thrusts himself onto your body, you can smell his carnal need for you grow with every slightest touch. If he weren’t in restraints in this very moment, he would have made you his without second thought. Perhaps he likes ‘battling’ for dominance, even outside the literal battlefield.
You feel like squirming and giving in, but your pride defeats your instincts. This man deserves to suffer a little for you, to fight for you before he can have you wholly. Letting a man win over you, in anything, fills you with a malice even the abyss couldn’t compete with. Yet, you love Lohen more than the common man — so you reward him with an extra tease.
Biting down into his neck, you kiss and suck as he whimpers your name, hastening his movements. Before he can fully satisfy himself, you get up.
“Well, I guess you’ve earned something for your efforts here.” you trail soft kisses from his breast down to his stomach, then the base of his cock. Lohen’s loud panting and occasional pleading to continue give you the OK to proceed. You lick your way up to the shaft, and insert him into your mouth. This sensational pleasure overtakes him, and it does not take him long to drown in it entirely. A few moments of sucking and teasing are all it takes to finally climax.
Absolutely pathetic.
And yet, this fills you with an ever-growing sadistic pleasure. You longed to watch him squirm and plea, just for you. Only for your eyes to enjoy.
Now he sits there, tied up to a chair exposed, panting like a rabid dog. Your evil smile seriously rivals his during battle. You’ve won.
As you both begin to calm down, you undo his restrains (which you notice were rather loose after all. Did he decide to just not fully remove them this entire time?) and re-dress him. He watches you as you clean him up. You lean in and kiss him tenderly before he holds onto you, leaning his head onto your body.
“...I’m sorry I didn’t make it on time. I was too late when I was done practicing dancing with Eula. I just didn’t want to make a fool of myself in front of you.” he whispers so quietly you barely catch him.
“It’s okay, she told me” you smirk. He quickly looks up at you in a flustered manner.
“W-wait, what did she tell you exactly?!” he blushed.
You laugh at him and pet his head, before helping him up. You then change the topic, for his sake.
“Don’t think we’re finished here… you owe me a lot more when we get back home.” you say before motioning him to follow you out of the storage room.
Lohen flashes you a dirty smirk before taking your hand and leaving with you.
You both end up spending the entirety of the night together, indulging in whatever torturous ideas each of you come up with…
----