pairing- dainsleif x reader
category- angst at the beginning, fluff at the end
warnings- new archon quest spoilers, dainsleif spoilers.
You remembered it clear as day.
The night you woke up, body covered in a slight sweat, as the city outside your window lit aflame in a majestic, orange flickering.
As your lover stirred beside you, jolting up as he realized the situation that had currently arisen.
And as Dainsleif frantically ran outside, already too late to save the citizens of Khaneri’ah of their subjection by the archons to be turned into mortal monsters, you yourself were too late to attempt to save him.
And so, you were forced to watch as your beloved was cursed in front of your eyes, forced to aimlessly wander the lands beyond Khaneri’ah as punishment for failing to fulfill his duty to save those he failed to reach.
And yet, the archons pushed.
Why end one’s punishment at eternal damnation, when you can force them to watch their one and only be doomed to endure the same curse as you?
And so, Dainsleif watched, bound by invisible chains as you screamed in front of him.
As if that wasn’t enough.
After the pain subsided from both of you, the archons separated you to different parts of the land. So if you were to find each other, it would take ages.
It had been five hundred years. five hundred years since the fall of Khaneri’ah, five hundred years since you had seen the love of your life.
And just as you were about to give up, as you once again wandered the streets of Mondstadt, you stared at the large Barbatos statue, standing proudly in the Cathedral plaza, just barely containing yourself to not destroy it, to rip it to pieces.
Until a familiar head of blonde hair caught your eye.
From the corner of your vision, you glimpsed a brooding male leaning against a wall, seemingly waiting for someone.
Your breath caught.
No.
Impossible.
After all this time…
I finally found you.
And so, you sprinted quickly towards him, pace increasing every time you drew closer. His gaze snapped to you, prepared for a fight because of the speed at which you were launching yourself towards him.
But then his guard dropped.
His cool facade broke as if a tsunami crashed over him, relief, disbelief, and unbelievable amounts of pain flooded his eyes, all at the same time.
“[name]?” he whispered, nearly not believing his eyes.
You threw your arms around his neck, burying your face in his shoulders.
“Dain. I finally found you.”