It's that time again. Time to vent out my frustrations in form of story. Like seriously though, I barely have any rest for the last couple of weeks, and likely the weeks after this as well.
And so, what's the better way to vent other than to write some more BAMF Lumine?
Chapter 1
There always exist a fine thick line between lust and love.
Love is about someone who loves another for who they are, not what they are. Love is about liking someone's soul, liking their personality, liking the way they live their life. It's all about compassion and cares, and it was a beautiful thing.
And as for lust on the other hand... They are nothing but a sin that consumes you, rotting your heart from the inside. It's like eating salt when you're thirsty, hoping that it will quench your thirst when it was doing the opposite, and you'll never get satisfied until it is too late.
She knows that very well, for she have seen many examples of it, from other people, and... From herself.
And that is how she is able to tell the difference between love and lust the moment she sees it.
"Don't you heard what she said? You are not needed."
On one bright afternoon in Mondstadt forest, three people were seen standing amidst a clearing surrounded by trees. Two of them are girls, while the other one is a man. The two girls and the man are standing on the opposite end of each other, having an intense staring contest as the winds brushes against area, rustling the tree leaves and swaying their hair and clothes.
One girl has ash blonde hair that is tied into twintails, she has a white nun dress and a little hat on her head, a nurse purse hangs from one of her shoulders, as she has her hands wrapped around the other girl's arm. With the said girl being a young woman with short bright blonde hair in a pristine white dress, giving her a majestic and divine look, though unfortunately, the same couldn't be said to her face which are covered with rolls of bandages that specifically wrapped around her eyes, rendering her with no sight.
On the other hand, the single male in the commotion is a man with short light brown hair that wears a light green shirt with darker green pants. His eyes colored purple, and as of currently, they're glaring daggers towards one of the two girls, the one with a sealed eyesight specifically.
"Barbara-sama... How could you?"
The man that stood before them is Albert, the self proclaimed Deaconess Barbara's number one supporter, as well as apparently being the creator of Barbara's fanclub. Just the type of person that a certain blind Traveler is not a fan of.
Normally, Lumine is not the type of person who cares enough to put her nose on other people's business or personal matters, Fanboys or Fangirls were no exceptions either, it's good for someone to have someone they could idolize of, giving them at least someone that they could look up to. But of course, there will always be limits to everything, and idolizing someone has its limits as well.
And what Albert did, it is beyond that limits, and it sure is pissing Lumine off. Especially when it was Barbara who being his target.
At first, she didn't know about this ordeal at all. He was just an ordinary citizen of Mondstadt in her eyes that she shouldn't have paid much attention into, but things starts to change after one ordinary day when she received a specific commission that sees her climbing the steps towards the cathedral, where a very annoyed sister Victoria awaits her, enlisting her help in kicking out a very dodgy person, that has been lurking around the place trying to get himself inside without notice. And that's how she starts taking notice of him.
He's already looking and acting suspicious the first time they interact with each other. Trying to come up with multiple excuses to remain on the cathedral grounds even after she warns him, he even made her go sweeping the dead leaves littering the grounds as well, which she did in a matter of seconds, but even then, he's still hesitant to leave after promising to do so beforehand under that condition. It was only after she warned him again that he finally left, beginning her series of encounter with him.
After that first encounter, Lumine would find the same commissions given to her again and again, with the same commissioner, the same tasks, and the same individual that need his butt kicked. Though after repeatedly doing the same commissions several times, it seems like the man had learned his lesson, and would immediately flee the moment he saw even a single dot of gold hair heading towards the cathedral, which is a good thing since it automatically cleared the commission, as well as finally teaching him a lesson to never messing around with her again, or Barbara.
However... The situations are much worse than Lumine initially imagined.
It turns out, Albert is not only the type of person who follows his idol to the place where she works, but he's also a straight up stalker!
She learnt of this fact when she went to Wolvendom to help the deaconess to gather some red Wolfhooks fruits after sister Victoria informed her about it. At first, Lumine had expect that day will going to be a moment to relax with her dear friend, picking up fruits together in a forest while chatting and spending quality time with one another. But against her wishes, it turns into a day of anger and annoyance instead.
Immediately after arriving in Wolfendom and walking around, she hears a familiar voice echoing through the woods, as a certain brown haired man is inside, shouting from the top of his lungs, calling out his idol to come out of hiding and meet him, like he was calling for a dog to come instead of an actual person with feelings and privacy.
Just hearing his voice already made her skin crawl from irritation, to see him behaving even worse than she imagined. And so she went straight to him, calling him out as she stepped into the light and away from the shadows of the leaves that blocks the sunlight. The moment he sees her, he immediately went weak in the knees, face twists into fear and anxiety as she glares at him with her nonexistent eyes. Yet the sharpness of her glare is still strong enough to penetrate the barriers that blocks her vision, and went straight at him.
She knows of what his intentions are, but even after she call him out for it, he continues to deny her accusations, viewing himself rightsious and her being the bad guy, who constantly harassing him who had done nothing except for "helping" Barbara. And since he view her that way, then she'll gladly acts like it. Honor and pride be damned, she'll act as the villain if she needs to, if it means that she could keep Barbara safe from this creep.
And that's exactly what she's been doing for the last few weeks. Visiting the Mondstadt cathedral regularly, helping out with the church affairs and hanging out with Barbara every time. She knows of Albert's fear of her, so clinging to the one person that he idolize the most will surely drive him away for good. Though this strategy only partly works as even though she hasn't seen Albert much lately, she still sense him always lurking nearby whenever she and Barbara are together. Watching from the shadows as they hang out, getting closer with each time they being together. And although Lumine has no eyes she could use to see him, she's still could feel the darkness seeping out from his faint presence, the anger, the hatred, the jealousy, the lust... She felt them all.
And so she decided that a little more provocation would do the trick to finally putting an end to this.
"Hey Barbara... Would you like to go out on a picnic with me?"
Lumine approached the Mondstadt's Deaconess one day, during the latter's day off when she is taking a break from the church affairs and is usually immersing herself in practice for her idol life.
"A picnic?" Barbara tilts her head at her.
"That's right. You're free now, right? Well, I don't have any urgent work at the moment. So might use this opportunity to sit back and relax, you know?"
"Hmm... But I need to do some practice for next week performance." Barbara mutters, scratching her chin, she looks confused, as if she wanted to decline and continue her practice, while on the other hand, she's tempted to go out with the Honorary Knight.
"Hey, it's okay to relax for once in a while you know." Lumine shook her head, approaching her friend, she placed a hand on the Deaconess' cheek, earning a small gasp coming from the latter as her face starts heating up. "You've been working so hard lately, attending to the church affairs, healing injured people, and practicing for the show next week. It's gonna be bad for your health if you keep this up, surely you don't want to make everyone worry about seeing their beloved idol fell ill, right?"
"I-I guess that's true..." Barbara said with a slight stutter. Lumine took off her hand and Barbara breathed out a sigh of relief. "Okay then, I guess I could use some time off."
"Great. Then let's get going."
She grabbed Barbara by the hand as they went to the picnic spot that Lumine had prepared before hand. She gently smiled with how Barbara reacted when they hold hands, while mentally grinning when she senses a faint growing dark presence in the corner, all directed towards her, who put up a face of obliviousness in order to lure her target further in.
That dark presence would tail them up to their designated picnic location, a forest near Mondstadt, where there's a clearing that is a perfect spot for one to lay a mat down.
There were things already prepared there, from the picnic mattress, an umbrella in case it gets sunny or rainny, the dishes for lunch, and lastly of course, the two of them as the "actors" of this finale of a "drama."
They sat down and enjoy themselves a lunch that the traveler had prepared. Opening up the stage for the actors to begun to play. Lumine knows full well of the lurking shadows hidden amidst the shade of trees, with it's eyes glaring sharply at them, or to be more accurate, towards the blonde haired traveler among them.
Just a little more, a little more push and it should do the trick.
Lumine intentionally let herself gets a little close to Barbara, sitting right by her side instead of in front of her, feeding her a spoonful of her dishes by using the same spoon she used to eat, and also gives her a hug or two while rubbing their cheeks together. And each time she does one, the darkness grows larger and larger, it just need one single push...
"It's pretty relaxing isn't it?" Lumine said out of the blue, as they've finished eating and is currently just sits there and enjoying the breeze. "Taking a break from all your worries and pain, sitting and eating together with friends, lying down under the sun..."
"Yeah... its is." Barbara nods her head, her lips turned into a small smile. "I almost forgot about all the worries in my mind moments ago. The show next week, the cathedral affairs, the practices... Phew, it's like the wind just brushed them all away." She breathed out a sigh, giggling a little.
Darker...
"Heh, ain't that the truth. I know of how stressful work can be, people need to relax every once in a while after hours of work. And that's where a good food and a good friend comes in, great to restore your energy up to the fullest." Lumine smiled, she laid herself down on the picnic mat, putting her hands behind her head as she lie on her back.
Barbara looks to her side where the other girl is lying down, though the rolls of bandages that wraps around her eyes hides most of her most important facial features, Barbara could tell that Lumine wore a relaxed expression on her face judging from her eyebrows and her lips. And seeing it made the Deaconess remembers the events that happens during the last couple of weeks, of how the Honorary Knight frequently visited the church to help its affairs and always drags Barbara away once her works done.
"Hey, Lumi-chan, there's something I wanted to ask." Lumine turns her head towards her, a sign that she's listening. "I know that being Traveler means that you have a lot of free time in your hands, but why do you use it on me?" Barbara asked, eyeing Lumine with stares of curiousity.
Darker and darker...
"Why? Well..." Lumine tilts her head away slightly, as if avoiding eye contact with Barbara. (Though even then, she already did it with how her eyes are always sealed) "It's because I've seen of how busy you are sometimes. Like I said, it's not healty for one to constanly worked without break, so I thought that perhaps I should give you a hand with that."
Darker, darker, and darker...!
"Hmm... A guess that's one reason. However, why does it have to be me?" Barbara asked again putting a hand on her chest. "I mean, when compared to Jean, I think she's the one deserved to get some breaks, my workload is nothing compared to hers. So why?"
A gust of gentle wind brushes against them, swaying the leaves on the trees and the grass around them. As silence took over the air, Lumine straightens her head, to gaze up directly to the sky above. The time has come.
"Well, it's because you seem so lonely sometimes, and I couldn't leave you like that." Lumine paused a little, inhaling silently, she paused for a moment before opening her mouth again. "Because I like you."
A pause. Everything went silent the moment she said it.
"H-Huh?!"
Barbara exclaimed loudly, eyes blown wide open, mouth gawked which she use her hands to cover it, a faint blush appears on her cheeks, as she stares in shock.
It's done. Now she'll just have to wait.
"W-What are you saying?" Barbara asked stuttering, from shock and... Something else.
"Lumi-chan... Does she mean it like THAT?!"
"Heh, it's really hard to admit it, but..." Lumine sat up, facing Barbara, she slowly scoot closer. "Your workaholic nature, your kindness, and your overall personality, it's very charming and cute. I can see why so many people loved you, and I was one of them too, admittedly." The traveler confessed, her lips turn into a small smile.
"Lumi-chan..." Barbara don't know what to say, she could only stare at the other girl as she came closer and closer to her.
"Well, now that the cat's out of the bag, what do you say?" Lumine asked which met with only silence, just like before.
Her mind is swirling, she can't think straight. But deep down, Barbara knows of what her heart truly feels. This feeling that blooms inside her chest the moment she heard Lumine's confession, it's time for her to release it.
"Lumi-chan... I can't believe she feels the same..."
Barbara opens her mouth to speak. "Well... I-"
"Barbara-sama! Step away from that fiend!"
"Huh?!"
Barbara quickly stood up the moment she heard a voice that sounds familiar. She looks to her front to see a familiar person came out of hiding from behind the tree. It was Albert, and he has mixed up expressions of anger, hatred, and sadness on his face, making him look like someone who wants to cry while also screams in anger and anguish upon witnessing something utterly horrible, which is exactly what happened in this case.
"You are Albert! What are you doing here?" Barbara asked in surprise. She is the most oblivious person among them in here.
"Barbara-sama, please, I'm begging you! Get away from that monster in human skin right now! It's for your own safety!" Albert said while pointing a finger towards Lumine.
"You're not answering my question." Barbara said, a little sternly. Not only is she upset for him to ignore her question, but she's also angry at him for calling Lumine like that.
"Heh, finally had enough watching us, huh?" Lumine spoke up, silencing the two as she slowly stood up, dusting her dress off while doing so. She walked in front of Barbara, facing Albert heads on. "Tell me, did you enjoy the show?"
"Lumi-chan, what are you saying?" Barbara asked in confusion with how Lumine seemingly acts different than just moments ago.
"Allow me to explain: This creep has been following us from Mondstadt all the way to here, and he's been watching us from the very start of our date till the end of it." Lumine explained, specifically using the word "date" instead of picnic like before to provke a reaction, to which it did, as she saw to corner of Albert's eye twitched.
"He's been spying on us?!" Barbara gasped in shock, she then looks at Albert in disbelief and a little fear. "A-Albert... Is this true?"
The moment he is questioned by her, his expression changes, slightly. "N-No! I am not!" Albert denies, shaking his head and waving his hands in denial. "I-I would never dream of doing such things! I-I was just- simply passed by and-"
"You seriously need to think of a better excuse next time for that to work." Lumine cuts in, and all eyes are on her once more. "Not spying on us? Passing by? Don't make me laugh. You've been looking at me from the very moment I put my foot on the cathedral grounds. And you continue to do so as talk with Barbara, walking with Barbara, holding hands with Barbara, eating with Barbara, and confessing to Barbara. Your eyes never left me."
A strike to his cord, Albert looks like he's about to fall into his back when she exposes him, but he stood his ground well. She'll have to give him that.
"And that's just today. Who knew how many times you did the same the day before, and the day before that, and the day before and before that as well."
"Ngh! A-And what's your proof?!" Albert retorted, pointing his finger towards her in accusation. "You can't even see! How the hell do you even know when you can't even see what's in front of you huh?! You're just spouting up nonsenses to make me look bad in front of Barbara-sama! You're a monster!" He shouted, his voice rings through the air.
"Heh, I don't even need eyes to see through your lies." Lumine shook her head in amusement. "I may not be able to see you, but I can sense you. You and that unrelenting lust and jealousy you have." Lumine stated causing everyone to pause their breath for a moment.
"Lust and... Jealousy?" Barbara repeated, looking at Lumine and then at Albert.
Lumine sighed a little, she turns around to face Barbara, and although the blindfold over her eyes masks most of her expression, Barbara knows she's looking at her gently, softly.
"Barbara... This man, Albert. He is the person who found and lead the Barbara Fanclub, the group of supporters that always be on the front lines of every of your show." Lumine began, her expression becomes unreadable. "Though I have no resentment towards those who support and idolize in general, this particular man, he's been crossing the line way too far." Lumine lightly shook her head. "You can ask sister Victoria about that, of how much trouble she went through because of him, to the point that she even needs me to keep him away from you."
"Trouble? What did she do to sister Victoria?" Barbara asked, curious and cautious.
Lumine shrugged. "Nothing, just acting like a creep he is, lurking around the cathedral, trying to get himself in to see you, and disrupting the peace around the cathedral ground in general." She explained simply.
"Why did sister Victoria never tell me about this..." Barbara mutters, sounding shocked by the information. "Could it be what Rosaria meant when she has to "take out the garbage" that one time?" Her blue eyes looks forward, to the form of Albert. "Albert... is this true?"
"Barbara-sama please listen to me!" Albert begged before the Deaconess could reach a conclusion. "I never had any bad intention. Never! All I ever wanted is to help you! I wanted to see you smile, to make you happy, that's all!"
"Yet you're doing it wrong." Lumine shakes her head with a click of her tongue. "If you truly wanted to make her happy, then you should've known your place and stay out of her personal lives-"
"Shut your mouth! A stranger like have no right to speak to Barbara-sama like that!" Albert shouted, cutting off Lumine's sentence. "You're not from Mondstadt, you're not from around here, and you don't know about Barbara-sama more than I do! You're no one! What makes you think that you have the right to approach or even lay a finger on her, huh?! You're just a brute that's good at threatening people! I bet that that's even the reason why the knights accepted you, because you forced them to! Barbara-sama doesn't need a nasty person like you, a monster in human skin who can't even see for-"
"THAT IS ENOUGH!"
Shockingly, it's neither Lumine nor Albert who shouted this time. It was Barbara. She finally had enough, and she silences Albert in an instant. In front of her, Lumine mentally smirked upon hearing her shout.
"Barbara-sama... why-"
"Enough... don't say anything anymore... don't you dare say anything... about Lumi-chan!" Barbara yelled, stepping forward, now it's her turn to face Albert heads on.
"But Barbara-sama, she's-"
"I said stop!" Barbara shouted again, stopping him from saying anything. "I won't let you speak badly about my dearest friend like that. Lumi-chan is right, you're out of line!"
"B-But Barbara-sama! You really need to stay away from someone like her!" Albert retorted, gaining back his wits to talk back. "She is no good for you, a cruel person like that monster should not be near to someone as kindhearted and sweet like you. I'm trying to protect you because I care about you!"
"I don't need your protection." Barbara said sternly, giving Albert a scowl. "Especially from someone who just insulted my friend like that. You don't care about me, you care for yourself. If you really care about me, then you wouldn't have insulted Lumi-chan like that, you're breaking my heart, and I don't wanna see you anymore."
Albert fall into complete silence after that. His eyes widened and his mouth wide open. He couldn't believe what his ears just heard. His whole world cracks and threatening to crumble.
And thus those events led back here.
"Don't you heard what she said? You are not needed." Lumine spoke up after a while, smirking at Albert a little, as she crosses her arms on her chest.
She stepped to the front, glancing at Barbara who smiles at her, the nun puts her hand on Lumine's arm, squeezing it gently as if seeking for comfort.
"Barbara-sama... How could you?" Albert mutters in despair, the lights in his eyes have faded, and those purple orbs have drowned in darkness.
He looks up to the form of the two girls in front of him. Barbara has her hands wrapped around Lumine's arm, cradling it lovingly, smiling beautifully as she does so. How could this be? How could she has her hands wrapped on someone's arm that isn't him? How could it turn out like this?
The answer to his question is very obvious. It came in the form of that girl, that... monster! The beast who took her away from him, who robbed him of his princess!
"Go away now, or else you'll gonna see an even uglier turn of events than this."
The monster shoos him away like he's just an animal. Albert glares at her, his eyes came into contact with her lips, her lips... that turned into a grin, that grin, that damn grin! She's mocking him, she's making fun of him! He'll make her pay! He'll make her pay for taking away the one person destined for him!
"You...! It's you! You're the one doing this!" Albert screams like a madman, completely losing his mind. "Look at what you've done... How dare you tainted Barbara-sama's pure white lovely heart with your evils." He chuckles, a little crazily, one hand reaches out to his back where he grab something. "Don't worry Barbara-sama, I'll make sure to free you, from this wretched demon's influence!"
Without warning, Albert suddenly charges at them, he held something in his hand and points it forward.
"Lumi-chan look out-"
Barbara was about to warn Lumine about it and she was about to act, but Lumine pushed her, sending her away to fell to the ground, away from Albert.
There's a sound of something sharp piercing through a thick wall of flesh and muscles. And Barbara opens her eyes to see in horror at the form of Lumine and Albert standing above her. The object that Albert is holding on turns out to be a large knife, and he holds it with both of his hands as he runs it towards Lumine, who took the knife into her abdomen, standing still as if to protect Barbara that lays on the ground behind her. Red crimson liquid drips from the place where the knife buries itself into hers, staining her white pristine white dress and the grass below her.
"LUMI-CHAN!" Barbara screamed in shock and horror upon seeing the horrifying scene before her.
Lumine didn't respond, instead of saying anything, her body falls back, limp and almost lifeless, as Barbara caught her in her arms.
"Lumi-chan! Lumi-chan! Please say something!" Barbara shook Lumine's body in her arms, but there's no response, her body is limp and she's not even breathing. The stab wound on her abdomen is fatal, as blood continues to flow out of it as well as from the corner of Lumine's mouth.
Meanwhile behind her, Albert is snickering insanely, his body trembles as he laughs, still holding the knife in his hand which drips with Lumine's blood.
"Serves you right... Serves you right you bitch! That's what you get from stealing Barbara-sama from me!" Albert exclaimed as he laughs like a maniac.
Barbara went silent as she heard the insane man's words. Her hands clenching into fists. A scowl formed over her lips, as she slowly stood up and turn around to face Albert.
"Look Barbara-sama, I've saved you from that evil person's clutches! Won't you thank me about it? Did I do a pretty good job? Won't you fall for-"
PLAP
A sharp sound pierced through the air in conjunction with Albert found himself on the ground with a throbbing pain on his cheek. Looking up, he sees Barbara, with her hand high in the air, using it to smack him to the ground.
"Leave." Barbara said, without a hint of any mercy or kindness that should've always filled her voice. "Leave or I call the Knights of Favonious over."
Albert stares in shock and horror at the person above him. The Barbara he saw right now has neither the kindness or warmth of the idol he's so fond off. She's a completely different person, staring down at him with such a hateful and unforgiving stares. She's changed completely.
"Barbara-sama... How could you..." Albert rubs the spot where Barbara smacked him, his hand bawled into fist as anger overtook him once more. "It's all because of her fault. You've changed because of her! You're not the Barbara-sama I know!" He grabs the knife from the ground. "I want her back, give her back!"
Albert stood up and is about to rush towards Barbara with the knife in hand. Barbara doesn't know what to do, but she need to protect herself nevertheless in order for her to live and heal Lumine. So she calls upon the Hydro energy from her Vision and readies herself.
"Cool it!"
A new voice spoke up, and before Barbara could do anything about her assailant, Albert was already taken care of by someone else, as frost crawls on the ground, and a shower of ice is sprayed upon Albert's form as the man yelped in surprise.
In one second, Albert finds himself unable to move, his body from neck down is encased in ice, paralyzing him in place.
"Tsk tsk, attacking Mondstadt's beloved Deaconess and the Honorary Knight? How very despicable." A voice of a man spoke up, as a figure emerges from the woods.
Barbara lightly gasped when she sees a tan skinned man with blue hair that she recognised as the Calvary Captain of the Knights of Favonious shows up, and not only him, but the Acting Grandmaster and a few other knights as well.
"Captain Kaeya! Jean!" Relief washed over Barbara as she sees her close acquaintances, arriving in time when the situations is bad.
"Are you okay Barbara?" Jean asked in concern, she didn't get an answer from her sister, but Barbara rushed towards her and hug her older sibling, indirectly telling her that she's fine.
"I-I'm... I'm fine big sister. B-But... I'm so scared!" Barbara mumbles into Jean's chest after some moments, shedding some tears while doing so.
"I know. I know you are. It's fine now, we're here." Jean comforts her, rubbing circles on Barbara's back.
Looking over her head, the Acting Grandmaster assess the situation. Albert is paralyzed in ice, his hand is holding a bloody knife that still looks fresh, and not far from him, there's Lumine, the Honorary Knight, lying on the ground with a gaping wound on her stomach, her once pristine white dress is now stained with the blood from her stab wound. Anymore time than this and she'll surely die from blood lost.
"Gah! Why are the knights are out here? How is this possible?!" Albert questioned, desperately trying to free himself to no avail as his limbs are stiff.
"Why? Why indeed. Would you like us to answer it, or you answer it." Kaeya shook his head with a small chuckle, standing right in front of Albert with a smirk plastered on his face.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Albert asked angrily, though he is genuinely confused at this one.
"Oh, looks like our little friend here likes to play Amnesia." Kaeya's smirk grew wider as he put one hand on his waist. "Well then, allow me to jog your memory. Isn't it you who wrote this letter?"
Kaeya took something out of his pocket, a rolled up paper. He unrolls it, and shows its contents to Albert, whose eyes grew wide, from shock, and confusion.
"I have your sister, Barbara. Come to this location, alone, or else you'll never see her again." -A
Is what written inside the letter, as well as a handrawn map that points towards this very location.
"You held our beloved Deaconess hostage, injuring our dear Honorary Knight, and threaten Acting Grandmaster Jean. You have guts, I give you that. But this isn't the kind of thing we could tolerate so easily pal." Kaeya said, rolling the letter and putting it back into his pocket.
"I-I-I didn't do it! Honest! T-That letter is fake, a fake! Someone is trying to frame me! I didn't write that!" Albert defended, desperation and fear filled every gap of his voice.
"Save it for the interrogation. You have a lot of questions that you need to answer." Kaeya said, crossing his arms across his chest as the knights gathered around Albert. "Take him to the Headquarters, I'll make sure he'll talk."
"Yes sir!" The knights simultaneously saluted.
Kaeya releases the ice that holds Albert in place as the knights grabs him and put a handcuffs on his wrists. Dragging him back to Mondstadt city as he screams and yells that he's innocent.
"Well, that's certainly easier than I thought it would be." Kaeya mutters with a silent huff, mentally glad that he doesn't have to do nothing much during his free time.
He glanced to the side, finding Barbara and Jean on the ground. Barbara is cradling the Honorary Knight's body gently, resting Lumine's head on her lap, while Jean in on her side, grabbing Lumine's wrist to check her pulse.
"How is the Traveler?" Kaeya asked curiously, but there's a barely small hint of concern in his voice regarding his comrade's safety.
"She's still have a pulse which means that she's still alive. But, her injury need to be tended." Jean answered, small gust of wind gathered in her palm as she is ready to heal Lumine's injuries. "Kaeya, please do me a favor to make sure that the prisoner is escorted to headquarters. I can't rest until I make sure that he's there. I'll take care of the traveler." Jean commanded, without even looking at the Calvary Captain.
"Roger that." Kaeya oblige. Nodding his head, he turns around and walk away. Catching up to the rest of the Knights escorting Albert away.
Once the blue haired man leaves, Jean breathed out a sigh of relief. Her complexion softened, and her eyes looks at Barbara gently, full of concern and the the ever existing fear that has been hidden under the tough exterior that she wore before.
"Barbara, that man didn't hurt at all, did he?" Jean asked, full of concern and worry, she looks at Barbara who is staring down at the unconscious Lumine on her lap.
"No." Barbara shook her head, a small pout appears on her lips. "He didn't hurt me at all, and even if he had any intention to do so, Lumi-chan takes it all to herself." The nun explained, there's a hint of sadness in her voice, probably of concern and worry about her friend who took the blow for her.
"I see..." Jean nodded, her eyes then drifts towards Lumine. Silently giving the blonde girl a small nod of respect. "So the traveler had protected you with her own life. I'll make sure to pay her back for her kindness."
Barbara nods, Lumine has done all of this to protect her. Now all she needs to do is to make sure that she lives, or else they'll never be able to repay her back...
"Heheh, I'm glad that it works pretty well."
"Huh?"
Both Barbara and Jean gasped lightly in shock, as a voice came out from below them. The "unconscious" body of Lumine sat up slowly, stretching her arms upwards with a popping sound, releasing a sigh of relief in doing so.
"Still... Holding my body stiff like that wasn't a pleasant feeling." Lumine mutters, tilting her neck to the side to crack the soreness away.
"Lumi-chan, you're awake?!" Barbara asked in shock.
"Course I'm awake. I was here the whole time." The traveler shrugged lightly.
"Wait, so you've been conscious the entire time?!" Jean asked similarly in shock as well, looking at Lumine in disbelief. "You're pretending to pass out? Why?"
"What do you think? To make it more believable of course." Lumine answered, looking at the two of them. "I knew that you're coming after you received the letter, and you were nearby the moment Albert pulled out his knife and lunging at us. Making him stab me with the knife and pretending to be dying from it will pit him against the corner more for the knights to arrest him with crime of attempted murder." The blonde girl explained.
"Wait, how did you know about the letter?" Jean asked in confusion.
"Simple. Because I'm the one who write it." Lumine answered, gaining a look of shock from both Barbara and Jean.
"So you baited us all here, just to catch Albert?" Jean muttered, there's conflicting emotions swirling in her eyes, before she looks at Lumine and asked. "Why are you doing this?" To which Lumine releases a heavy sigh.
"Listen, Acting Grandmaster Jean, Albert... He's an awful person." Lumine said with a light shake of her head. "He's been obsessed with your sister Barbara, lusting over her, I can see it, in his eyes, the deep desire of wanting, wanting to possess all, all of her. He's been a menace to Barbara and everyone around her, and will continue to do so if no one does something about it. You see it for yourself, how truly insane he can be, running a knife straight at me in his insanity. Who knows what kind of atrocities he could do if we let him be, or who will be his victim of lust aside from me. He needs to be stopped, and I've been pulling the strings in order to do so, including involving you and the knights, though I'm very sorry for that."
Jean went silent, she thought over what Lumine said, and find some truths within it. She is right, Jean has seen it with her own eyes of what that man could do. He's a menace, and he needs to be stopped, and thanks to Lumine, they're able to do that.
"So... What you're saying... Is that you intentionally hurts yourself to catch him?" Barbara asked, her voice is devoid of emotions, making it hard for anyone to tell what she's feeling.
"I guess so. It's not like it doesn't hurt, but I've suffered even worse, and this simple injuries won't be able to kill me-"
Before Lumine could finish her sentence, she found herself being tackled to the ground by Barbara, who hugged her tightly and pressing their bodies against one another.
"Lumi-chan you idiot!" The nun exclaimed into her ears, tears raining down from her eyes. "I was so scared! I was... I was afraid that you died!"
Barbara continues to cry while hugging her. Lumine lightly smile at this, and pat her friend on the back for reassurance, that she's fine and still alive.
"You're still the same as ever... Still a crybaby."
Lumine mentally thought, immersing herself in the hug.
~o~0~o~
In the end, despite of already telling her that she's completely fine, that her injuries aren't life-threatening at all for someone like her, Barbara and Jean still insist on taking her to the Mondstadt cathedral for healing. And since they're so insistent about it, she couldn't say no.
After a while, when the sun beginning to set on the west, she is free to go now, and so she exited the cathedral, followed by Barbara who accompanies her.
"You know that you don't have to accompany me." Lumine mutters as she enters the cathedral grounds, feeling the nice cool breeze of the afternoon on her exposed skin.
"I insist." Barbara shook her head lightly. "After all, there's still so much I wanted to talk about."
"Right..." Lumine nods her head lightly. Clearing her throat a little, she turn around to face Barbara. "Look, I really need to apologize to you Barbara." The blonde girl said, making the nun tilts her head in confusion. "I know that I'm doing all of this for your sake, but from the methods I used to achieve my goal, it's not surprising to think that you and everyone else thought that I was using you for my selfish needs. I even made Grandmaster Jean panic and dragged you into that place where you could've got hurt. I'm sorry."
Barbara stared at Lumine in silence, as the traveler bows down in apology. But the nun thought over her words, and the events that transpired today, and she shook her head.
"No. Please don't apologize Lumi-chan." She stepped forward, reaching out a hand that she used to pat Lumine's head that came to her level when she is bowing. "You said it yourself, Lumi-chan did this for my sake. How can I ever hate you for that?" Barbara asked with a little smile. "Lumi-chan is my precious friend, and I'm very happy to know that you care that much about me. So please, don't think bad about yourself, be happy."
"Barbara..." Lumine whispers softly. Going silent for a moment, before a small smile formed on her lips. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Barbara smiles back.
The two stares at each other for a moment, each smiling at one another. They've been through much on this day, so this parting better be as good as any other.
"I think it's about time I head back. Paimon will be worried if I don't return home soon." Lumine lightly exhaled, turning her head to look west towards the setting sun. She had sent the little fairy to play with Klee and Amber as the latter had promised to treat her to a Sticky Honey Roast at Good Hunter, and that was this morning, who knew how long she had waited for her companion to return.
"Mm, I understand. I'll see you later, Lumi-chan." Barbara nods her head, still smiling.
"Later, Barbara." Lumine nods back at her, smiling back, before turning her body and prepare to leave.
As she watched the form of the traveler is about to leave her all alone, Barbara suddenly remembered something, something crucial, what Lumine had said to her during the picnic.
"Lumi-chan, wait!" Barbara called out to her, stopping Lumine from walking away any further.
"What is it?" Lumine asked, looking back at Barbara.
"Lumi-chan... About what you said to me, during our picnic..." Barbara gulped, looking nervous and almost afraid. "Do you... Mean it?"
Lumine stares at her in silence, and they keep it that way for several seconds before one of them breaks it.
"Heh, do you still need to ask?" Lumine asked, smirking a little as she scratch the back of her head. "I like you Barbara, you're so cute and charming, and I love you. Haven't I said it already?"
"U-uhm..." Barbara feel like she wants to back away, but her body couldn't move an inch, as Lumine approached her.
"How about if I prove it to you?" Lumine asked with a teasing smirk, reaching out to cup Barbara's chin. And pulling her face close to hers.
It should be illegal for one to do stuff like this on the holy grounds of the cathedral dedicated towards Lord Barbatos. But Barbara couldn't find the will to resist, she fell for her temptations, and as Lumine's face came only inches away from her, she close her eyes and brace herself for a kiss-
"Just kidding."
Chu
"H-Huh?"
Barbara opens her eyes in surprise, Lumine leans in to peck on her cheek instead. And after that she releases her and turn her body around once more.
"It was just a lie, Barbara. One to use in order to lure Albert out, that's all. I'm really sorry to have mislead you because of it." Lumine apologize, without looking back towards Barbara.
"Lumi-chan..." Barbara mutters, disbelief and disappointment exist in her Voice.
"So Lumi-chan doesn't feel that way towards me..."
"You're a good girl, Barbara. So kind and caring, always care for someone else, even to bad guys as long as they need a helping hand." Lumine holds her breath for a moment, before releasing a small sigh. "Someone as sweet and kindhearted as you deserves someone's better, someone who's also as kindhearted like you."
Barbara blinks, once, then twice. Someone as kindhearted like her? Is Lumine saying that she's not a kindhearted person? After what she just done for Barbara today?!
"Lumi-chan, I don't understand..."
"Albert is a bad guy, Barbara. He's likely the type of person who shows up on your front door with a knife disguised as a flower bouquet to stab you with. That's the kind of awful person he is." Lumine said out of the blue.
She glanced back at Barbara one final time. And although Barbara couldn't see her eyes that is covered by the wrappings of bandages, she could tell that Lumine is making somber expression, one that speaks pain... And regret.
"But... If you were to compare me to him..."
Lumine looks back to her front, and starts walking away.
"Then you'll find me to be ten times worse than he is..."
And with those words said, Lumine leave without further words. Leaving Barbara all alone an confused.
How could it be? How could someone as kind and graceful as Lumine to be worse than someone like Albert?
Barbara doesn't know, and she'll likely never find the answer.
~o~0~o~
As she walks the evening streets of Mondstadt all alone. Lumine thought over of what happened today, she's finally able to kick that pest away from Barbara's life, ensuring her friend's safety from the lustful dog that chases over her like she's a walking bone. She should've feel happy about but...
She couldn't help but find it ironic, to think that it has to be her who needs to take care of this mess. A lustful dog, taken care of by a lustful demon how ironic...
Sniff sniff
Lumine's nose caught a familiar scent in the air. It came from nearby, from her body in fact. It smells of rusted iron.
She raise her hand, looking at her palm, she sees her hand still has a little taint of red on it, from the blood of her wounds that Albert inflicted upon her. Barbara had cleaned it before but... There's still some remnants of it...
Just smelling it reminds her of...
Lumine sticks out her tongue, and licks her palm clean, until there's no longer stains of red remain in her hands.
"I wonder if there's someone out there selling blood like they're selling water..."
To be continued...
I originally planned to have this as another one-shot like the others, but it's likely that I have to vent again anytime soon. As well as the fact that there are some plots in Genshin worth to get "Fanfictioned," so yeah, I think I'll do at least two more chapters for this story.