Whether or not they are directly linked, or the characters know each other, I think of my stories as all having happened within the same little world! In my stories. I frequently mention things that have happened in others I have written, but most of them should be able to be read stand alone without issues.

Also, while I try to keep it very close with Genshin lore, I don't know every single bit of lore, and can't remember it all. So, some things are slightly different, there are also some things that are only guessed. I'm just here to write stories for people to read, should they choose!

As for my version of travel time, everything is small, and close together in the game, so I spread it out a little. It should take time to get places! (More dramatic that way rofl)

Thank you to my husband for being my proofreader!

As always, thank you for reading, I hope everyone enjoys it!

Feel free to leave a comment :)

Bad Bet

Kaveh

They had a bet.

It was unintentional, really, an accident. Whatever it was to be called, it had happened, and now Kaveh had to follow through because he was not going to lose to Alhaitham.

"I'll go order some drinks," Kaveh said, standing.

"Of course, buttercup."

Kaveh's cheeks turned red. The only problem with his plan was that Alhaitham was, in fact, winning.

It had all started with Alhaitham accidentally calling him "babe". Even the scribe had paused at what came out of his mouth, but then made a small "hm", and moved on with a smile. Where had that even come from? Calling each other cute names wasn't really their thing.

Now, here they were, Lambad's Tavern with their friends, seeing who could publicly embarrass the other first… with pet names.

After the first incident, Alhaitham had taken to calling him all sorts of cute names, and it was surely just to see Kaveh blush. Kaveh had wanted some revenge for the embarrassment, and had tried to counter every name, but this was Alhaitham he was dealing with.

The man didn't really do embarrassment, and the only thing it resulted in was their evenings being a little warmer. Alhaitham was who he was, he was very comfortable with who he was, and that was that. So, not only did the silly scribe laugh off the pet names, but when Kaveh said it wasn't fair, and boy was that a stupid thing to say, the scribe gave him a challenge.

"In public?!"

Alhaitham nodded, adjusting the grip he had on Kaveh, as if to prevent him from escaping, "In public, this coming game night. Whoever gets embarrassed, and acknowledges the names first has to do one thing the other wants."

"That's tomorrow!" Kaveh started, then paused, "… Anything?"

"Anything."

Kaveh should have known better, he really should have, but Alhaitham has just spent hours riling him up with these silly names, and Kaveh took the bait. What was worse? Alhaitham following up some names with touches… where everyone could see. Not to mention the ones under the table he always tortured him with. Alhaitham was sadistic.

Several times now, their friends paused at the term of endearment, looking between the architect, and scribe. Tighnari averted his gaze as Alhaitham's hand ran down Kaveh's back as he stood, and paused his butt.

Kaveh tried to pretend like he didn't even notice, and tried not to look at his friends. He had to act like nothing was going on, or he'd lose. He thanked the Archons they were on the top floor of the tavern. Far fewer people to see, or overhear.

They had been together for over a year, but he'd managed to keep their relationship mostly under wraps. Most people still didn't even know that they lived together, and he was proud of himself for keeping these things out of the public eye. If Alhaitham had his way, he'd gladly mark him up in public, the man never caring about how he looked, or acted to others.

"Well, good evening Mister Kaveh. Your lot has been awfully quiet tonight!"

Kaveh gave a nervous laugh, "Oh, well… the night is young…"

Lambad raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything, "I'll have them right up."

Taking a deep breath, and fortifying his strength, he rejoined the group. Alhaitham was smirking the moment he saw Kaveh. Kaveh sent back a sweet smile, and batted his eyelashes. It always worked on the scribe, but his smile became predatory instead. This was going so badly.

Kaveh bent down to Alhaitham, to where their faces were close enough they could have kissed, "I ordered your favorite, honey bunny."

To top it off, Kaveh gave the scribe's cheek a nudge with his nose, and a wink as he re-situated himself in his seat. Apparently, this was finally enough for their friends.

"Ok, spill. Why are you two acting so weird?"

Cyno nodded, "I believe I'll have to visit the dentist soon."

Tighnari looked at him, brows knit together, "What?"

"Because they're acting so sweet it's given me a toothache," the General finished, and everyone groaned.

"Get it? Because sweets cause tooth decay, and they're-"

"That's just… no." Tighnari turned back to them, "What's going on with you guys?"

Kaveh cleared his throat, but Alhaitham beat him to it.

"I believe there's no significant difference between tonight, and any other night."

Tighnari glared at them, then slowly nodded, "So that's how it's going to be."

"Tell them, doodlebug, everything is normal, isn't it?"

Kaveh hated lying to his friends, but he was not going to lose. They would likely understand if he were to tell them, but he wasn't allowed to do that.

"Ah, mhm. Nothing wrong here, bunny boo. Are you guys feeling alright?"

He expected Cyno to call them out on the lies, but apparently he was entertained enough to just go with it, or simply didn't care. Although, it was unlike Cyno to let things go when it came to them.

Instead, the General turned to Tighnari, "It looks as though they're fine, fluffy butt. My deck is ready, let's play."

The game started smoothly, Alhaitham paired with Cyno, Tighnari paired with Kaveh. He had already been used to Alhaitham not being able to keep his hands to himself, but this time the man was playing dirty. On more than one occasion there was a caress, or a squeeze to his back side. Kaveh knew full-well that if he reacted, the dirty-playing scribe would consider it a victory.

So, he started returning the favor, but there was no gentleness to Kaveh's touches. Instead, he opted for pinches, and hard jabs. Unfortunately, Alhaitham's smile only got wider.

"Do you need your drink refilled, cuddle bug?" Kaveh asked, hoping to catch Alhaitham off-guard.

"No, thank you, handsome."

Kaveh narrowed his eyes at the scribe. These nicknames were too soft, he needed something better. There had to be something out there that was embarrassing enough to even bring down someone like Alhaitham. He had to think. What got Alhaitham going?

What brought him to his knees faster than anything else? Kaveh was the answer to that, he knew this, but it was always difficult to tell which part of what Kaveh did that Alhaitham found the most enticing. He'd just have to experiment. If the scribe wouldn't play fair, he didn't have to either.

Carefully, Kaveh "lost" a card in the cushions of Alhaitham's seat. Before he could go digging for it, Kaveh was on his feet, and once again centimeters from Alhaitham's face. Kaveh felt around very slowly, making sure to search every single spot around the scribe. Of course, the card wasn't all that deep, just tucked on the side, but that wasn't what this was about.

When Kaveh got a little too close to Alhaitham's inner thigh, the silver-haired man jumped a little, and his breath hitched. The architect smirked to himself. Alhaitham was affected by what he was doing.

"Oops, so sorry about that, Haitham. Seems I found a ticklish spot."

Alhaitham looked up at him, his eyes gleaming with something that Kaveh's brain was trying to identify. He knew what it was, but the answer just wasn't coming to him. He was busy watching the man's jaw clench, and his hands ball into fists.

"I'm not sure whether to be disgusted, or entertained by these two," Tighnari groaned, covering his face.

Cyno hummed, "I always choose the path of entertainment. It's always a drama, or a comedy. Sometimes both."

"I," Tighnari paused, sounding unsure, "I think we should go-"

Kaveh didn't realize it was too much, until it was too late.

Alhaitham

He was confused by the nickname at first, but it had rolled right off his tongue, and he liked it. Kaveh had gone all wide-eyed, and shy, even though they were within their own home. That was what raised Alhaitham's pulse, and pushed him to keep going with the pet names.

The satisfaction he got from watching Kaveh squirm at that was intense, and addictive. Of course, to Alhaitham, everything about the beautiful blonde was addictive, and it was all his. All the years they had known each other, Alhaitham loved Kaveh from the moment he could remember him.

They were just children when they first met, and from that moment on, there was only one person. There was only Kaveh.

Kaveh's existence did things to Alhaitham. He didn't know what it was at first, there were things that he didn't understand, ways his own body reacted to Kaveh, and only Kaveh. Figuring that out came with maturing.

After figuring out his feelings, watching Kaveh almost hurt. He'd talk with others his age, Alhaitham would sit, and pretend like he was reading. The blonde always seemed so comfortable around others, very friendly, and while Kaveh ultimately always kept his own distance from the people he engaged with, Alhaitham couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

Then, before he ever had a chance to tell Kaveh how he felt, they had their fight, and Alhaitham was left alone in the world once more. He had no interest in others. Not socially, not romantically. There was still only one person. There was still only Kaveh.

Women, and men had shown interest in him, and Alhaitham never cared about their advances, not unless they touched. Then there were the absurd questions they'd ask, taken aback by his lack of reciprocation.

"Well, if you don't like me, then who do you like?!"

Kaveh.

"Don't you like women?"

I like Kaveh.

"What is your sexual preference, then?"

My preference is Kaveh.

None of them ever heard his answer, because he never felt obligated to inform them. Instead, he'd continue walking, or reading, or whatever it was he was doing before they decided to intrude on his peace. After a while, most people finally took the hint, and left him alone.

When he'd invited Kaveh into the home that was legally both of theirs, Alhaitham quickly learned that he hadn't completely gotten over their fight himself. He also couldn't understand why Kaveh had let himself fall so far, all over one single building. The architect was too good for these kinds of problems, he was the best, and should have been thriving.

It didn't take long for Alhaitham to figure out what frustrated him so much about the entire situation, Kaveh would kill himself to give, give, and give more. The thought made his stomach churn. The architect would willingly die for his ideals, and leave him all alone again.

Alhaitham voiced his frustration with words, and Kaveh fought right back. That was good, it meant he still had life in him.

There was a point in all of this, however, that Alhaitham realized he wanted, and he was wasting precious time. The problem was that he wasn't sure how to act on it, nor was he certain if Kaveh would even reciprocate. The blonde was constantly annoyed with him, which was Alhaitham's own fault, of course.

The lab accident. It was the very best thing that had ever happened to Alhaitham, aside from meeting Kaveh. He saw what he was missing. Kaveh's smiles directed at him. Closeness, and touch were all his. An alternate universe that was so wonderful that Alhaitham had thought he was simply dreaming. It was too good to be true.

It was also the final push he needed, and he'd nearly passed out when he found that Kaveh loved him too. He'd promised himself, from that moment on, he would show Kaveh what he meant, what he felt, and what he thought. Kaveh was finally his, and he could never imagine going back.

Alhaitham was now allowed to feel the way skin would heat up under his touch, and watch as it turned a beautiful shade of pink. He was allowed to be close enough to hear his breath increase against Alhaitham's skin, and he was allowed to be close enough to whisper everything he wanted.

It was cute when Kaveh decided he was going to start calling him names back, and Alhaitham did not let it go. The beautiful blonde paid for every single one of the names he'd come back with, not that Kaveh complained about it.

Their little contest was fun, if not a bit risky in public. Alhaitham knew he would win, anyway, and he'd get what he wanted. At least, that was what he thought right up until Kaveh was feeling him up, in public, and called him Haitham in that sultry tone. The nickname Alhaitham was weakest to.

The scribe was done for. The game was over.

He tried to reign it in, he could hear their friends talking, but it wasn't reaching his short-circuited brain. Before Kaveh could react, Alhaitham had his wrist in a grip, and was on his feet, with Kaveh backed against the table.

"You win, Kaveh," Alhaitham whispered against his ear, pressing closer than he should have in a public space.

The words and actions had the blonde speechless, and Alhaitham enjoyed the look.

"Goodnight," he said to their friends as he pulled Kaveh towards the exit.

Kaveh would never let him live this down, for several reasons. He was fine with every single one of them.

Kaveh had won.

Alhaitham had lost control.

Their friends were embarrassed.

They had been seen being far too close in public.

Yes, Alhaitham was fine with all the reasons he was going to be hearing about in the morning.

Tighnari

Perhaps Cyno was able to remain indifferent to whatever it was they just saw take place over the course of the evening, but Tighnari felt like he needed his eyes washed out, possibly even his brain. It was entertaining to watch Kaveh bring down Alhaitham, to have him losing his composure, but why did it have to be in front of them?!

Normal couples could function in public, and it was even possible that the people around them wouldn't even know they were together. Kaveh, and Alhaitham had never been normal.

Kaveh, his sweet, good intentioned, wonderful friend, liked to think of himself as normal when it came to socialities, but he never, ever was.

Tighnari was somewhat concerned at first. His friends got touchy-feely under the table, especially Alhaitham, but that was normal. This was something entirely different. After a while, Tighnari was able to discern that something else was going on, and while he wasn't sure what exactly that was, at least they weren't sick or something.

Still, it was hard to watch, and he really, really tried not to.

Kaveh, considering what was happening, was staying surprisingly calm, as hard as Alhaitham tried to rile him up. Alhaitham seemed calm nearly the entire time, but it was the blink of an eye when that slipped away. Out of all the ridiculous things Kaveh had called him, it was the way the blonde said his name that had obviously done Alhaitham in.

Now, Alhaitham having Kaveh backed against the table was burned into Tighnari's brain, and it was not welcome there. The Valuka Shuna started digging through his bag, looking for anything that might help him forget. It was going to take more than alcohol.

"Nari, what are you doing?"

There was nothing good enough in the bag, "... burning my eyes out."

"Hm. Considering the incident has already been witnessed, it wouldn't do much good to do such a thing," Cyno packed away his cards as he stood, and held out a hand for Tighnari to take, "Let's go home. I'll tell you excellent jokes until you're asleep."

"Excellent? Cyno, that's not…"

"There are always other methods to get you to sleep. I'm sure we'll find just the right one," Cyno said with a smile as they left.

Tighnari didn't miss the smirk on the General's lips.

Archons help us all.

Kaveh Won!

"Faster, Haitham!"

"I'm going as quickly as I can, Kaveh. Be patient," Alhaitham grunted, moving as slowly as he could just to torture the blonde.

Kaveh groaned, "You are not. I need you to go faster!"

"Kaveh, this is a delicate process. We have to do this right, or one of us could get hurt," Alhaitham said breathlessly as the wood he was gripping creaked.

"Hah! What's going to hurt is you not going faster!"

"If you wanted me to go faster, you shouldn't have bought the heaviest piece of furniture you could find…"

With that, Alhaitham completely stopped, and set his end of the bookshelf down. It was solid wood, with intricate carvings around the borders. It weighed far too much, and they carried it home themselves.

"And now we are done. See ya."

He tried to make his hasty escape. If they weren't going to do his type of furniture moving, he wasn't interested. However, Kaveh could be very fast if he wanted to. The blonde stepped directly in front of him, arms crossed, and a glare that told Alhaitham he was pushing his luck. Doing so had to be better than what Kaveh had in store for him.

"I. Don't. Think. So." Each word was accompanied by a poke to the chest, "I won our bet, and you agreed that you would do anything I wanted. Time to put the books back, and in alphabetical order!"

Alhaitham scoffed, "The deal was that I would do any one thing that you wanted. We removed the books from the old set of shelves, moved it, bought this shelf, and brought it home ourselves. That's more than one thing, Kaveh."

"Ah, nuh uh! It's all part of ONE larger thing. Therefore, you are not done. Get back to work, Scribe."

He could see the warning signs, and they were telling him "Turn back now!", but all he could focus on were the lips giving him orders. Moving furniture was not what he had been expecting when he made that deal, at least not in this way. He wasn't supposed to lose, being the master of words between them.

The way Kaveh would always say "Haitham" could always get to him. It was a weakness, but using it like that had him caving faster than a spelunker exploring a new set of underground tunnels.

Like a predator, Alhaitham moved towards Kaveh, slowly backing him up to the wall, until he could feel Kaveh's fast breaths hitting his face. He slid a hand around Kaveh's back, and under the open material.

"I'm sure there are things we'd both rather be doing with our time, Senior. This can always be fixed later," he said in a low, deep voice.

Kaveh squeaked, and Alhaitham found it adorable. He leaned in for a kiss, only to have the blonde squirm away, and point at the bookcase.

"Fix now, fun later."

Alhaitham sighed, and turned towards the shelves. He wasn't going to get out of this, he supposed, so the quicker he got it done, the better. Alhaitham was very quick about it, in less than an hour and a half he was showing Kaveh the newly arranged bookcase, and books.

The blonde smiled, and walked up to the shelves, "Wow, Haitham. I'm really impressed with how quickly you did that!" his smile dropped as he looked closer at the books, "These aren't in Alphabetical order. Sages Of Times Passed, Eclipses' Scientific Significance, and Xenobiology: Discoveries Abroad? What were you even — wait the first letter of each… Oh my god, Alhaitham, you can't spell that with our books!- Wah!"

Before Kaveh could finish his rant, or make Alhaitham to do something about it, the scribe slung the blonde over his shoulder, and left the study behind. Kaveh feebly tried to wiggle out of his hold, but that wouldn't happen.

"I fixed, now I fun."

"That's improper grammar!"