i will

It’s been 20 hours since the last time Bennett had come back to Mondstat.

This wouldn’t have been a problem if he had actually gone with a team, but ever since his team had been disbanded in all but name, his adventures never lasted longer than 15 hours, unless something had gone wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong.

Fischl avoids gnawing at her fingernails and settles for a flip of her hair as she struts up to Katheryne. 

“One would like to inquire to the whereabouts of the ill-fated adventurer- his service to the Prinzessin is most valuable, and his absence has been noted by many.”

Katheryne blinks at her and smiles placidly, gently sliding a piece of paper across the help desk. It shows a map of Mondstat, and it shows a circled area around the woods.

“Bennett stated that he would be going to Wolvendom and nearby areas to look for any new domain openings, and possibly some treasure. I understand that it’s past his usual time limit. Will you be going to look for him, Fischl?”

“It would be unwise to leave him out in the wilderness. Fate often puts him through the most horrid of events, and I will see that my subjects are safe, no matter the cost.” 

Katheryne passes her another paper, a sheet simply saying where Fischl will be going and who she is taking with her. Fischl takes out a feather quill pen from her pack and dips it in the inkwell kept at the desk, and she crosses out the teammate section and signs the page with a flourish.

“Stay safe out there. Ad astra abyssosque.”

Fischl nods, and Oz follows her as she turns on her heel and heads back to the main adventurer’s guild to prepare.

---

“ Mein Fräulein , be sure to pack bandages. Just in case the poor lad needs them. Oh, and don’t forget your bedroll this time.” Oz hums, shifting his wings as he watches Fischl put everything into her pack.

“Do not lecture the Prinzessin on crucial items, Oz.” She snips back, buckling the straps and hoisting it onto her back and checking her bow for wear and tear, and ensuring that it needs no repairs.

The sun casts long shadows as Fischl begins the long, long trek to Wolvendom. Oz helps, at points- the flap of his wings is a soothing noise while she waits for his intelligence report.

“Watch your step, Prinzessin .” 

Fischl squawks as she stumbles over a tree root, just barely catching herself in time. She rights herself immediately and brushes off her dress, flustered despite no one being around to see her. 

“Are you alright-?”

“Silence, Oz,” Fischl mutters, adjusting her backpack. Oz sighs, not unkindly, and they continue deeper into the woods.

The day continues to pass. Fischl shoots some Cryo slimes, taking their condensate for later use. Oz points out some wolfhook berries, and they put some away in a container and eat the rest together while they check under outcrops of rock and up in trees. 

Fischl bites her thumbnail, looking at all the crossed-out areas on the map. 

“ Mein Fräulein . Don’t worry. He may be unlucky, but he is tenacious.”

“Of course! Of course, I’m not worried. I’m merely… concerned for his wellbeing. It wouldn’t do to have one of my loyal subjects be severely harmed!” 

Fischl bites down a sigh and signals to Oz, and he nods and darts into the sky, as fast as the lightning he’s made of. Fischl blinks again, and she can see through Oz’s eyes. This is why she has one eye covered- it’s far less disorienting if she’s already used to having one eye obscured. Oz soars steadily, glancing down at the treeline and-

There are scorch marks all across the grass and ground and a Hydro abyss mage. That mage couldn’t have caused that, and there are no hilichurls around. There’s only one explanation for that, and that’s Bennett.

“ Prinzessin. ”

“The threat shall no longer be permitted to continue!” Fischl breathes. “We must take care of this at once. Oz!”

“Understood.”

Oz soars back to her at top speed, and Fischl dons his form like one would a coat- Oz is an extension of her, and she is an extension of him. It is the ultimate strength, to find power in one another. They leap as one into the sky, and they spread their arms to catch the breeze. Once they catch it, their form crackles as they dart towards their destination. 

They slam into the ground, and as one, they separate and cry out.

“Midnight Phantasmagoria!” 

The hydro abyss mage screeches, chattering in a language Fischl cannot understand. It whirls its staff, summoning bubbles and waves of water. Oz dodges all of them, letting lightning arc off his body as the abyss mage swivels around to attack him back.

Fischl jumps backward, immediately entering a proper archery stance. Her gaze is sharp, focused, and she lets energy crackle as she lets it build on the tip of her arrow. 

There- its weak point-!

The arrow flies and another follows soon after. More, more! It could almost be called a rain of arrows if she were only faster, a rain of arrows to match the lightning crackling and arcing.

The shield is fracturing, rainbow swirls of light catching in between the seams. She’s so close, she’s so close. It’s only a matter of time and patience, and Fischl is intending to see this fight through to the end. 

There’s a gust of cold wind from behind her.

No.

Fischl snaps around, whirling her bow and firing as many arrows as she can, stepping backward hastily. The cryo abyss mage chatters at her, almost sneering despite the mask that covers its face. The shield fractures slightly, but it continues to advance.

No, this is bad. If she gets cornered here, there is a very high chance that she will die, and someone else will get ambushed, and the cycle will continue.

Oz swoops towards her, and they don each other’s forms again- they sweep backward, letting Electro energy crackle and strike the abyss mages before they separate again. Oz distracts, Fischl shoots.

They advance upon her. Fischl grits her teeth. She doesn’t have enough energy to fuse with Oz again, and her arrows take time to charge. 

Water blades slice a cut through her stockings and through her skin- she hisses and lurches away. It’s not deep, but it hurts. 

The mages get closer, closer- Is this where the Prinzessin der Verurteilung meets her end?

Oz shouts something, and Fischl doesn’t register what he says before she trips. Ah, uneven terrain.

The abyss mages move closer. Fischl feels her exposed skin chill, and she can see frost branching across the ground. She’s going to freeze to death on a warm spring day.

She raises her hand- she’s not used to using her powers like this, but she tries. Electro crackles and sparks to life on her fingertips, a last line of defense in the face of her certain tragic end. 

The sky darkens, and someone slams to the ground in front of her, letting Electro release shockwaves, causing the enemies to be pushed back. Fischl scrambles to her feet, and she steps back.

The boy stands, claymore in hand. There is lightning arcing across his skin, and the sky clears. His hair waves like a flag in the wind, white as the moonlight and just as shimmery. He snarls at the abyss mages, and he howls, loud and clear. The vision on his lower back shines brightly, and a shimmering wolf made of electro appears.

He launches himself at the abyss mages, and their shields shatter as he and the summoned wolf claw at them. They screech, and Fischl scrambles for her bow.

Shot after shot, slash after slash. Fischl sidesteps icicles and jumps out of the path of waves of water while the boy jumps into the fray and hits the mages with as much force as he can muster.

“Wings of Darkness, come! Sever night from day!” Fischl cries out, and Oz spreads his wings. They fuse one more time, soul becoming whole, and there’s a flash of lightning that extinguishes the life in the abyss mage’s eyes. Both of their bodies disintegrate, and Fischl straightens and breathes a shaky sigh of relief. 

The boy turns to her, expression unreadable. He inhales, once, twice, and then frowns slightly.

“You smell like… adventurer. Guild?” He asks, gesturing to her.

“Your powers of perception doth allow you to perceive my profession!” She smiles, blinking with her one exposed eye. The boy blinks back, confusion written in his body language. Oz flutters to Fischl’s shoulder, and he shuffles his wings and settles.

“What the Prinzessin means to say, is ‘Yes.” He murmurs. The boy hums.

“Why in woods?”

“We are on a grand quest to find one of my trusted companions. He hath gone missing a sunrise ago, and many worry for his safety.”

“We’re looking for Bennett.”

The boy inhales sharply.

“Bennett... Missing?” 

“He is! I, Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort, have taken it upon thyself to seek him out, in order to ascertain his safety.” 

“...I will help. Find him, easy.” The boy says, putting his claymore away in a pocket space with a swish of his hand. “I can smell. Burnt, and red flowers.”

“The lad does leave an obvious trail to follow,” Oz says, lifting himself into the air. “If we find enough scorch marks, we should be able to find where he went to.”

The boy sniffs again, glancing around with caution. He points towards the deeper woods.

“This way.”

---

The three of them begin their trek. It is mostly quiet, save for the rustles of leaves that Fischl jumps at occasionally and the soothing flap of Oz’s wings.

Along the way, Fischl becomes curious.

“One would like to inquire the name of your person, o Wolf of the woods. Your name has not come up in our short conversations, and as such, I would like to learn it before we continue onwards into these dreadful depths.”

He levels a look at her, and she fumbles. Oz sighs.

“What she means is… We don’t know your name yet. Could you tell us?”

“Razor,” He says, blinking. “Your names?”

Fischl bristles, but Oz answers for her before she can have an outburst. “Her name is Fischl. Mine is Oz.”

Razor nods slightly, and then he turns back to the overgrown path and slices a bush out of the way. He continues forwards, following slight burn marks on the ground, and Fischl pulls Oz aside.

“Why did you tell him my name without my full title, Ozvaldo? Truly, you have forgotten your place if you introduce your Prinzessin like that!” 

Oz ruffles his feathers, looking at her with exasperation written in his eyes. “ Mein Fräulein . It is clear to me that Razor doesn’t have as good a grasp of our language, and as such, you may need to drop the pretenses. I understand that you don’t want to seem lacklustre, but… It is a mark of a benevolent princess, to lower herself to the level of the people.”

“Hmph. You may be correct in that deduction. Just for this once, I will speak like a common person.”

“Thank you, Mein Fräulein .” Oz says, a smile in his voice. 

The walk continues. Fischl is jumped by a hydro slime at one point, causing her to yelp. Razor comes to her rescue, and he squashes the slime flat with his claymore. He flicks the blade slightly, and the slime condensate drips off. He sniffs, and his eyes widen.

“Bennett close, but…”

“But what?” Fischl says, already dreading the answer.

“I smell blood.”

Icy dread seeps down her spine. Of course. Bennett was already away from home for so long, it makes sense that he would be injured. Is he cowering in a tree, hiding near some rocks, or worse-?

“We have to find him, now.” Fischl snaps, and she motions to Oz. Oz bows his head and launches himself into the sky, and they begin to look under every leaf and bush, just in case. Razor huffs in frustration as Bennett doesn’t turn up after 15 minutes. 

Fischl shuts her eyes and uses her link to Oz to look over the landscape. She can see herself, she can see Razor, and she can see dips in the landscape. Everything looks normal.

But there’s a flash of colour amongst the dirt, and Oz and Fischl gasp as one.

“I see him!” Oz shouts, and Razor and Fischl dart after him as he soars through the clouds. He’s not far, he’s not far, he’s just hidden. 

It only takes a minute or two of frantic running, but it feels like forever. Oz dives through the treeline, and Fischl halts in front of a  shallow ditch.

“Oh, Archons…” She murmurs.

The sun is shining on him, dappled sunlight falling through the leaves above. Flowers surround it, red and yellow and shining in the warmth. He looks so peaceful like this, face soothed and peaceful. But he’s covered in scratches, and there are gashes in his legs and on his stomach. There is blood, just like Razor said. Razor inhales sharply, and he immediately scrambles down into the ditch. She scrambles in after him, heart pounding.

Her heels scrape against the scorch marks in the dirt. It’s in Bennett’s Fantastic Voyage pattern- he healed himself already, but there’s still so much damage. How many wounds were there before he used up all his energy?

Fischl ignores the dirt for once and kneels in the dirt and twigs. Rocks poke at her, but she doesn’t care. All that matters right now is Bennett. 

She gently ever so gently hooks her arms under his and drags him towards her. His head rests in her lap, and she presses her ungloved hand to his pulse point. Razor kneels next to them, and he gingerly runs his fingertips along the slashed edges of Bennett’s shirt.

Fischl holds her breath as she presses two fingers slightly harder, and…

A beat. Another. She breathes out and almost doubles over from the force of her relief. Tears gather at the edge of her eye, and she laughs giddily.

“He’s alive. He’s alive, Razor.”

Razor smiles, elusive as the moonlight but just as gorgeous. “Good.” But his smile falls, and he looks grim. “The wounds. He’s hurt.”

“It’s not that bad,” Fischl says, unconvincingly. “Hopefully, we should be able to get him to safety, and someone can take care of him.”

“Mm.” Razor nods.

Bennett groans all of a sudden, and their attention snaps to him. 

“Head hurts…” He mutters, turning his head to the side. He breathes out, blinking blearily in the sunlight. 

“Bennett! Oh, you’re awake! A hundred blessings have been gifted to you upon this day. Your survival is a miracle, one of many.” 

“Fischl…? Ugh, ow,” Bennett says, trying and failing to sit up. “What are you doing here? Wait… what time is it?” 

“Late in day.” Razor shuffles closer and gently pushes Bennett back down. “You’re hurt.”

“Razor?”

“You have been away from the city of wind and song for far too long, Adventurer,” Fischl chimes, already sliding back into her Princess voice. “It hath been more than a full day’s journey for you, far longer than you are usually away for.” 

“Mein fräulein decided to look for you, out of concern for your well-being.”

Bennett groans again, and he clutches at the wound on his stomach. 

“Are you alright?” Fischl brushes Bennett’s hair back, peering down at him anxiously.

“M’fine, don’t worry. I’m never knocked down for long!” He says, slurring his words slightly. He tries to get up again, lifting his head from Fischl’s lap. “Besides, there were only a few creatures from the abyss. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

“By the looks of things, you’ve been here for hours.” Oz retorts dryly. 

“It’s okay, it’s-” Bennett grits his teeth, and the strength leaves him. He flops back down, for the second time, and he lets out a yelp.

“Don’t,” Razor says sharply. “Let us help.”

Fischl glances at Razor, and they share an understanding. Bennett is stubborn. Bennett is going to try, and try, and fail, to get up so he can go back to Mondstat. They have to help him, or else he will get worse. 

Fischl hooks her arms under Bennett’s again, and she and Razor hoist him up. He cries out as he’s jostled, but Razor makes a shushing noise and pets his hair with a free hand. Bennett relaxes into the touch.

“Let’s go,” Razor says, and they move to get out of the shallow ditch. Bennett tries to take a step, but yelps and almost crumbles to the ground. He would have if it wasn’t for the two electro users holding him up. 

“Ow, ow, ow-!” Bennett whimpers, trying to stifle the noise. 

Fischl gently tries to lift him more so she can support him. Oz takes one look at him and makes a worried noise.

“His ankle is sprained. He won’t be able to walk quickly. Our plans may have to change slightly.”

“Don’t fret,” Fischl murmurs to Bennett, who is wincing and trying to stand still. “Shift thine weight to the other foot, and we shall support you. A Prinzessin is supposed to care for her trusted allies, and you are one of them.”

Bennett is too out of it to protest. Razor simply adjusts his hold, and they slowly begin to walk the way they came. Oz soars into the sky yet again, ever the faithful companion.

---

The walk is slow, and Bennett continues to make little noises in the back of his throat that make Fischl’s heart hurt. By the look of things, Razor isn’t unaffected, since he’s biting his lip and worrying at it. 

A tree branch almost falls on them, and a slime ambushes them too. They’re lucky they have Oz to warn them, and Razor’s keen senses. But then the rain starts to fall, and Oz swoops back down to them. 

“We must seek shelter. The rain is too heavy, and it looks like a thunderstorm is on the horizon.”

Razor makes a noise. “Come with me. Avoid the trees.” 

Razor leads them to a small cave, empty except for a bundle of dry branches and leaves that have been swept in by the wind. Ever so gently, they settle Bennett against the wall. He grins at them, exhaustion in his expression, but he’s trying to hide it. 

“Thank you, guys. I’m sorry my bad luck got us into this situation.”

“It’s okay,” Razor says. “But we need…” He grimaces and makes a gesture before he continues. “Wolfhook. And bandages.” 

“Ah, the thorny berries that cure ailments aplenty! Though we may be packed sparsely, one has collected some.” Fischl takes off her backpack and rifles through the contents before triumphantly pulling out the berries she and Oz had collected hours ago. 

“The seeds will help.” Razor takes them from her, and even though their hands are both covered in gloves, she feels the spark of electricity through the touch. She yanks her hands away, face aflame.

“We also have cryo slime condensate, if that will help,” Oz says. 

Fischl passes it to Razor, and Razor takes off his gloves and begins to peel apart the berries. Fischl turns to Bennett, who is slumping against the stone. His light eyelashes are fluttering.

She sighs breathily and pulls out the bedroll that Oz had wisely told her to pack this time. She smooths it out on the floor, and once she’s sure it's properly set out, she helps Bennett lie down on it.

“Ugh, that’s better.” He sighs. He smiles dreamily at her, eyes wandering up and down.

“We have to ascertain the status of your injuries now. And that means… One must divest themselves of their clothing items, post-haste!”

Bennett blinks. “Do you need me to take off my shirt?”

Fischl’s face warms abruptly. She squawks and waves her hands.

“No! I- I mean yes, but… Ugh! Just take it off.”

Bennett chuckles warmly and clumsily begins to unlace his top, and Fischl turns away to hastily try and soothe the burning in her face. Oz looks at her, amused and fond, and Fischl grumbles incomprehensibly. She grabs the bandages, and she scoots closer to Bennett. Razor follows, the container full of mushed wolfhook seeds and condensate held gently in his hands. 

Bennett’s wounds look… bad. Not as bad as they could have been, but they’re clearly on the edge of being infected. There are lots of little cuts on his chest and on his lower legs, and a big one on his stomach. They’re red and angry, and the blood is still sluggishly making its way out.

Bennett glances at their worried gazes and glances down at his body. “It’s… well, It’s not great. But it’ll be okay. You guys are here now, right? And I’m good at taking care of myself.”

“That’s not the point.” Fischl sighs. “Let us at least clean out your wounds, you fool.”

Bennett looks like he’s about to protest, but Fischl puts a finger on his lips, and he quiets instantly. 

“Let us help,” Razor says quietly, smoothing Bennett’s hair back and taking his goggles off his head. And with that, Bennett relents, putting his head back onto the bedroll.

“Water, get.” Razor grasps a bottle that has spilled out from Fischl’s bag, and he gets up and walks outside. He pulls his hood up a little higher before disappearing from view. 

“Let’s take care of your ankle, first.”

She helps him work off his boots and then checks his right ankle. It’s swollen, sprained, but not bad enough to warrant any emergency medical procedures. Fischl probes at it, and Bennett hisses, jerking his leg away from her.

“Sorry, sorry. It hurts, even though I used my burst.”

“It doesn’t look to be a truly horrific sprain- though, we will need to put some condensate on it. And a tight bandage. You did a good job healing what you could, though.” 

“Yeah, I know the drill.”

The ankle is wrapped, around and around again, and Fischl puts the metal fastener on. She gets the last of the slime condensate and puts it in a cloth, then moves a rock closer to Bennett. His ankle is propped up on it, and she puts the makeshift ice pack under it.

“Oh, that’s way better. Thank you, Prinzessin .”  

“It’s no trouble.” She says, smiling warmly at him. He smiles back at her, and he shifts to get more comfortable. 

Fischl gathers up the branches and twigs that are in the cave, and she makes a small circle of stones and piles the leaves into it.

“ Mein fräulein , did you forget your matches again?” Oz asks. 

Fischl pauses, and then she facepalms.

“It seems that once again, something has eluded my grasp… woe upon me, for not seeing this error before we had set out with the sun.”

Bennett coughs.

“Hey, Prinzessin ? Pass me the tinder. I can light it.”

Fischl makes a noise, and she passes a bundle of leaves to him. Bennett grabs another stick and closes his eyes and flame blossoms into existence. The tinder lights and she takes it quickly and puts it into the ring of stones. She blows on it, slowly, gently, trying not to put it out, and-

“Yes!” She cries, pumping her hands into the air. The flames are flickering, and she puts the twigs on first, and then the branches. Soon, the fire is roaring, crackling, and Razor is back. He’s damp and shivering now, but he has a container full of water. 

Razor passes it to her, and he looks down at her legs- right. The wound from the Hydro Abyss mage. Fischl shifts to a better position and splashes some water on it, rinsing off the blood. It stopped bleeding a while ago, but it would be terrible to have it infected. 

They kneel next to Bennett, and Fischl holds his hand as Razor takes a cloth and the water and takes to cleaning out the wounds. Bennett’s grip is strong but shaky, and he whimpers as Razor gets to the big wound.

“Ah, ah-” He cries helplessly, squeezing his eyes shut. Tears start to gather at the edges of his eyelashes. Fischl feels faint, but she uses her free hand to run a thumb over his cheek. She brushes the tears away, ever so tenderly. 

“Shh. Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe, the pain is going to be over soon.” She can’t even muster the bravado of her Princess persona, because all that matters right now is Bennett. 

“Mmhg… promise?” He says, wheezing as Razor presses a bit too hard. Razor runs his free hand across the unblemished part of Bennett’s torso as an apology.

“Promise.” 

It only takes another agonizing minute for the wounds to be cleaned out, and Bennett relaxes. His grip is softer, now, and Razor looks at him fondly.

“The seeds,” Razor says. Fischl takes the container and the bandages and passes the container to the other boy. “Might sting.” 

Bennett makes a face as the condensate-seed mix is applied to his wounds, but just as quickly his face turns to relief. 

“Oh, that’s good…”

Fischl smiles and brushes her thumb over his cheek again, and Razor continues to put the mixture on. 

“Bandages.” Razor makes a gesture, and Fischl nods. They swap places. It’s her turn to get something done. 

She carefully wraps the bandages around Bennett’s torso, putting a hand under his back to try and lift him up slightly. He arches his back as much as he can to give her better access, even though he winces at the movement. 

Razor pets Bennett’s hair, distracting him from Fischl’s movements. Bennett welcomes the touch. He looks sleepy, out of it. Fischl can only hope it's not something worse, this sudden drowsiness. She finishes wrapping up the bandages on his torso and helps him put his shirt back on, then she glances down at the cuts on his legs. Not as severe, but still in need of attention. 

“Prinzessin, there are adhesive bandages in my pack,” Bennett mumbles, tilting his head up into Razor’s touch. 

She moves to grab at the pack with his vision on it, but he coughs. 

“The one on my back.”

“You mean- ah.”

Fischl unbuckles his belt, looking away from his face. She wrests the belt free from itself and puts a hand on his lower back again to lift him up. Her hand accidentally dips too low while moving it away from under him, and she and Bennett avoid eye contact as she digs the bandages out of the pack. She peels the paper off of the bandages and places them on the smaller cuts.

Bennett yawns, the last traces of blush disappearing from his face. “I’m tired. Can I sleep here…? It’s not like we can really go anywhere in this weather. It’s probably brought on by my luck anyways.”

“Rest. You heal. I keep watch.” Razor mutters. 

Bennett squeezes Razor’s hand, and he closes his eyes and tries to sleep despite his body still being in pain.

---

Fischl stands and pops her back. The fire is still going, but if they’re going to stay the night, they’ll need food. And they’re going to need help getting Bennett back to the city.

“Ozzie, dear…” She says, turning and batting her one exposed eye at Oz. Oz, who has been perched silently for most of this, startles.

“Ozzie? You only use that nickname when you need something from me. What could it be?”

She lowers her voice and leans in. “I think it would be best if you flew back to Mondstat and asked the guild for assistance in bringing Bennett back. We run the risk of severe injury or worsening his ailments due to his… well.”

Oz bows his head. “I see. I will fly there, and I will ask Katheryne for assistance. Though, you could come with me. Or are you just staying here so you can spend time with-”

“Silence, Oz.” Fischl snaps, mostly out of reflex. Her face feels warm, and Oz chuckles. 

“Regardless of the reason, I am happy to take on this duty for you. Anything for the Prinzessin. ”

“Thank you, Oz. Your services to the house of Immernachtreich are invaluable.”

Oz flaps his wings and leaves the cave, leaving Fischl and two boys. One of whom she’s liked for a long while, and one she owes her life to. She gulps and turns towards Razor, who is warming near the fire. His face is blank as he looks up at her.

“Are… are you hungry? I didn’t bring too much food with me, but I can go shoot down some birds.”

“Hungry, yes.” He nods, and he looks lost in thought for a moment. “We can... Hunt together?”

Fischl tries to keep her heartbeat calm.

“Ah… as much as I want that- which is a lot! One of us needs to watch over Bennett.”

Razor hums. “Take turns. You go first.”

Unpacking her bag allows Fischl to see how much room she has. Enough for a few small birds at least, along with some extra foods… it will do for now. She grabs a spare cloth to wrap the birds in, and she puts the pack on her back. 

She readies her bow and looks outside. The rain is still coming down heavily, and she internally groans at how soaked she’s going to be. Plus, she’s in an outfit which… really doesn’t cover much. Curse her inclination for wearing outfits like this.

There’s a clattering noise, and something heavy drops onto Fischl. She yelps, but she doesn’t stumble. It’s…

A coat?

Razor’s coat. 

“It’s cold. And wet. Coat, warm.” He says, helping her put her arms through the holes. There are no sleeves, but the coat is warm and heavy and comforting, and it smells like the forest.

Fischl bites down on the stutter that she’s sure to have when she starts talking, and she breathes in.

“Thank you. I’ll try and stay as dry as possible.”

He smiles at her, the barest crook of his lips, and she looks away. 

“Stay safe.” He says, and Fischl almost runs out of the cave to get away from the warmth in the cave and in her chest. 

Shooting down fowl is simple and easy, and a rhythm she easily slides into despite the rain. It’s something she’s used to, and she doesn’t have to think about the stupid boy she took this journey for, and she doesn’t have to think about the boy who saved her, and, and…

Fischl puts her head in her hands and screams. Not super loudly, because it was unbecoming of a princess to scream. But still a scream.

Well. Either way, she’s here to help Bennett. And that takes priority over sorting out her feelings. 

Once she feels she has enough fowl to feed all three of them, she plucks some mushrooms from the bases of trees and grabs some wild onions. Her pack full, she begins the trek back to the cave. 

---

She had hoped to come back to something resembling calm, but when she gets back, Razor looks grim. Fischl’s eyes dart to Bennett, and-

He’s sweating and shivering, and his skin looks flushed. He clearly has a fever.

There’s a wet cloth on his brow, but Bennett is whimpering. A nightmare? A fever dream? He looks so uncomfortable.

Fischl drops to one knee and takes the makeshift condensate ice pack out from Bennett’s ankle, and she puts it on his forehead. He whines, clearly still uncomfortable. 

“No more slime,” Razor mutters. “This one will warm soon. Need more.” 

“You go get more. I’ll keep him comfortable and cook something.” Fischl takes off the coat, and hands it back to Razor, letting their fingertips touch for a moment too long. 

Razor puts it on, determination in his gaze, and he steps outside with the now empty wolfhook seed container.

“Back soon,” he says, and he disappears into the darkening rainstorm. 

Fischl takes off her glove and her arm coverings and she gets to work mopping the sweat from Bennett’s brow. She’s careful, trying to avoid waking him, but he’s not waking up easily. She puts the ice pack back on his forehead and puts a hand on his shoulder. She’s helpless right now, sitting next to him. It’s all she can do to gently squeeze and let go.

She rinses her hands in the bowlful of water and gets to work on the food. Fischl cleans the birds and ensures there are no bones or feathers in the portions, slices the wild onions and mushrooms with the knife she brought with her, and skewers them on sticks she whittled down. Then she puts them on the fire and waits.

Chicken mushroom skewers, easy and filling. Especially good for nights such as this.

Razor appears in the entrance to the cave with a flash of lighting illuminating his silhouette, and Fischl tries to hide the jolt of surprise that runs through her.

“Slime. And fruits.” Razor murmurs, showing the container full of slime and the small armful of apples and sunsettias that he has. 

“Ah. This is perfect, Razor. Thank you so much.”

They sit next to the fire, and Razor takes off his coat so he can dry it on a rock. He shakes his head rapidly, getting water everywhere.

“Agh!”

“Sorry.”

Razor’s pale skin only stands out more in the warmth of the fire and the darkness of the cave, but Fischl can’t stop herself from looking. He’s very pretty.

...What is she thinking? She can’t get a crush on a boy she just met properly for the first time today! She had heard about Razor from Bennett, once upon a summer day, and her interest had been piqued, sure, but this is… well! 

Fischl snaps herself out of it by glancing towards the fire and seeing that the skewers were almost done- she flips them over, letting them sizzle. 

Razor sniffs. “Smells good.” 

“They’ll be done soon.” 

True to her word, the skewers have cooked all the way through, and Fischl digs another cloth out from her belongings in order for her to put a serving near Bennett, for later. She grabs the small container of salt she brings with her (per Oz’s request), and sprinkles just enough onto all the servings. 

Razor digs into his skewers with all the ferocity he should have, and Fischl tries her best to eat daintily, despite the gnawing hunger she suddenly feels. She fails, of course, but at least she tried. 

It’s nice to be warm and full, especially after the stress of the day. But Bennett is still feverish and he hasn’t eaten for a very long time, so Fischl takes it upon herself to wake him.

“Bennett,” She calls, putting a hand on his cheek. “You have to wake up.”

He groans, squeezing his eyes shut. “Mm…”

“There’s food. You have to eat, you haven’t eaten in Archons knows how long.” 

“Not hungry,” He mutters. He tries to turn away and he winces, still clearly stinging. 

Fischl grimaces. The fever is messing with his appetite, and it will be a struggle to get him to eat anything substantial. She knows how to coax people into eating most of the time, yes, but this is Bennett. He’s stubborn, despite his good nature. 

She brushes her fingertips across the faint freckles on his cheekbones and then moves her hand away again. Bennett opens his eyes and attempts to turn towards her, chasing her touch.

Razor shifts closer to them. His hair falls over his shoulders, a curtain, a waterfall. He smiles, all teeth, and says,

“Pretty please?”

Bennett flushes, another splash of red on top of his fever bright skin in the firelight. 

“You- Razor, where did you learn that term…?”

“Barbara.” 

Fischl clears her throat, and both boys look at her expectantly.

“Bennett, you don’t have to eat a whole skewer. Can you at least eat some fruit and drink some water? You have a headache, don’t you?”

“...Fine.” He mumbles, glancing away. It’s clearly bothering him to rely on someone else when he’s been so used to adventuring on his own. 

Razor helps him sit up and steadies him when Bennett starts to sway to the side. 

Fischl tries her best to cut the apples into even slices, but they’re a little bit choppy. It doesn’t matter. She shuffles back to them, to where Razor is holding Bennett protectively and where Bennett looks like he’s falling asleep on the spot.

“Open wide,” Fischl says, holding out a slice for him to bite. Bennett grimaces, turning away.

“Not hungry.” 

“We literally just went over this.”

The firelight flickers and shimmers as Razor and Fischl continuously try to coax Bennett into eating, and then-

“Gah!” Fischl yelps, cold wind against her back making her shiver violently. The fire goes out, and rain starts to blow into the cave with the huge gust of wind. 

“Oh no, no, no…!” She hisses, holding up an arm to block the rain as she turns towards the entrance of the cave. All of them need that warmth right now, especially Bennett. But it’s too late. The wood is soaked, the fire is completely gone, and they’re left shivering as the darkness consumes them.

“... Just my luck, huh guys?”

Fischl takes a deep breath and tries not to snap at Bennett. Yes, it could be chalked up to his bad luck, but the last thing he needs is to feel even worse for being cared for. She breathes out, and holds up the slice of apple again.

“Maybe so, but all we can do now is get you to eat so you can go back to sleep.”

“You’re right. My bad luck doesn’t hurt anyone when I’m unconscious.” Bennett mumbles, shifting to sit up just a bit more. Razor continues to steady him, and soon Bennett is leaning against Razor’s chest and eating the apple slices. He’s warm, too warm, but he still mumbles complaints about the cold and shakes in Razor’s arms as he takes bite after bite.

He barely finishes the first apple before he squirms and puts a hand on Fischl’s, pushing it away. 

“I’m full, Fish,” Bennett mumbles.

“Fish? Just because I’ve toned down the prose doesn’t mean you can address a princess so casually, Bennett.” She scolds with no heat behind her words. 

Razor puts his chin on top of Bennett’s head. “You ate well. But you eat more, when better?”

“Yeah, sure. When I’m better.” Bennett replies, eyes beginning to droop shut. 

It takes all of 15 seconds for Bennett to fall asleep once Razor helps him settle down, and Fischl scoops up the cold serving of chicken-mushroom skewers and holds it out to Razor. 

Razor, who has just finished putting a blanket over Bennett, glances at Fischl. His eyes are shining as he looks down at the skewers and back up at her, and he says, “For me?”

“Yes, for you. Look, you’ve… done so much. For both of us today. It’s the least I can do.”

Razor bites his lip, clearly eager to accept, but he only takes one of the two skewers in the serving.

“Taste better with friends.”

It’s cold and dark, and still kind of windy, but all Fischl can feel is the warmth in her heart and face as she nods.

---

The skewers have the faintest warmth to them still, but they’re still tasty. Razor rips into his and throws the stick out of the cave entrance when he’s done, watching the arc of it as it tumbles in the dim light. 

Fischl, feeling stupid with some ungodly emotion, throws hers too when she’s done. Razor grins at her, still a bit expressionless, but it’s almost more than he’s done all day. But in the light, she can see that there’s stuff stuck in his hair. The wind howls again, whipping at them both, and Fischl sees the leaves stuck in the long grey strands.

“Your hair… Did you get leaves stuck in it when fighting those slimes?” 

Razor threads his fingers through his hair, and he makes a frustrated little noise. 

“Yes. Tangled. Stuck.”

Fischl tucks her own hair behind her ear, and she moves a little bit closer to where Razor is sitting, next to Bennett’s head. 

“Let me help untangle it, Süsser.” She murmurs. Razor tilts his head a little at the term of endearment (which she is hoping he has never heard before), but he moves next to her. He turns around, and Fischl begins plucking twigs and leaves out of the silvery hair. 

Her fingers card through his hair, trying to untangle knots gently. He hisses when she tugs too hard, and Fischl makes an apologetic noise each time it happens. They’re moving closer together while it happens, and Fischl feels panic sinking in.

‘This is just for warmth!’ she thinks, even as she’s clearly sitting with Razor practically in her lap. 

Fischl rubs some of the hair between her fingers- it’s so soft - and she glances away.

“Erm… Razor. Would it be too bold of me to ask if I could braid your hair?”

“...Braid?”

Oh, right. He doesn’t have as good a grasp on language. 

“It’s when you tie hair out of the way, but… nicer.”

“Mm. Okay.”

Razor steadies himself by resting his weight on his hands, and he leans back more into her touch. Fischl’s face blooms crimson for the hundredth time today, blanketing her cheeks in cherry red. She sighs and begins braiding. 

Easy repetition once again. It’s so soothing to lose herself in these kinds of things, especially with the rain coming down outside. Razor continues to lean, head nodding slightly as she scratches his head while smoothing hair into braids properly. Fischl takes the two smaller braids she’s done so far and adds them to the larger braid, done with the rest of his hair. 

“There, done- oof! ” 

As it turns out, Razor is weak to his hair being played with. He’s practically purring (despite being raised by canines and not felines) and he’s fallen onto Fischl , he’s leaning against her, and she has absolutely no clue how to deal with this. She’s being struck with lightning, she’s frying, she’s absolutely positively dying .

She is so lucky Oz isn’t here right now, otherwise he would be chuckling and making fun of her. She can almost hear his laughter across the nation. 

Fischl composes herself. A princess can’t be losing her composure at every sign of affection! 

She glances around the cave. Razor is warm, yes, but the air is still cold, and with Bennett knocked out right now, there’s really no way to light the wet remains of the fire. And honestly, she’s cold too in her outfit.

And that means…

Fischl shivers as they both move over to the bedroll where Bennett is sleeping. Fischl is loath to do this, but it’s a matter of survival (comfort, really, but what’s the difference?) She curls up to Bennett, tugging the blanket over herself and pressing herself to his side. Razor does the same on the other side, almost nuzzling into Bennett’s neck to get comfy. He tugs the blanket over him too, but it’s stretched thin between them. 

Bennett is warm, fever bright and blessed with a pyro-vision. This, she knows. So there’s only a little bit of hesitation as she cuddles closer to him, basking in the coziness he seems to radiate even in sleep. 

She puts an arm over his chest protectively, putting a hand on his chest and feeling the heartbeat there. Bennett is warm. He’s warm, and he’s alive, and even if today has been a nightmare, he’s still here. With her, and with Razor. 

Razor puts a hand over top of hers. She’s too wrung out from the day to even consider blushing anymore, but she glances up at him with her one working eye. Razor looks solemn, tired, but still wide awake.

“You sleep. I keep watch.” He whispers.

“You look exhausted, Razor. It’s okay, you can sleep.”

“...Worried. Attack could always happen.” 

Fischl shifts a bit and wriggles her fingers slightly. “Bennett’s bad luck won’t affect us right now. He’s asleep.”

Razor hums. It’s clear he’s been told about this before.

“You don’t have to worry. You can rest. And besides- we can protect him together. We’ve been scared all day. Scared for Bennett. We need the rest.” 

Razor clearly looks ready to protest, eyebrows already tilting down, but Fischl puts a finger on his lips.

“You can watch for a while. But when you get tired, wake me up and we can switch.”

“Fine.” Razor murmurs, gently pushing Fischl’s hand aside. “Now sleep. Be warm.” 

Razor sits up, scoots back, and looks out the cave entrance. Moonlight is starting to show through the clouds more and more prominently, illuminating everything just enough. 

Fischl sighs, and she drifts off next to Bennett, warm and somehow comforted even in their situation. 

She doesn’t dream much that night. It’s almost a blessing, considering how much all of them have done in the past day. 

---

The morning creeps in slowly, clouds parting. Birds are singing off in the distance, and Fischl jolts awake as she hears the snap-crack of twigs. Her heart beats as she lifts her head from the stone and looks towards the cave entrance. 

Razor is awake too. The bags under his eyes are more prominent than ever, but he’s startled and alert. He pulls out his claymore from the pocket dimension that all Vision users have, and Fischl grabs her bow as she gets up.

She and Razor automatically flank the entrance and she glances outside. Razor sniffs the air again and hisses slightly.

“Don’t know this scent, not well. Can’t tell.” 

Fischl puts a hand on his arm, looking up at him and biting her lip before she trusts herself enough to speak.

“Razor, I have a bow. I can shoot from far enough away if it’s dangerous, and I’ll warn you.”

“But…!”

“No. No, don’t argue. It’s going to be okay.” 

“Bennett…?”

Fischl grimaces. “Wake him up while I’m looking.”

Fischl readies an arrow and walks out of the cave, leaving the two boys behind. The sunlight is peeking through the leaves, letting her blend in with the shapes and the shadows well enough. She moves closer to the sounds, which are growing louder and louder as she approaches. 

She presses her back to a thick oak tree and quietly heaves a breath, and clutches her bow tighter. The sounds are loud, it sounds like a transport balloon- treasure hoarders? Maybe hilichurls? 

She’s about to launch herself away from the tree and towards whatever could be making the racket, but then she hears a familiar voice-

“ Mein Fräulein!” 

“ Oz!” She cries, and Fischl puts her bow in that pocket space and she leaps out. Oz flies into her, and her vision crackles as they reunite. She stumbles a bit on the leg with the cut, but otherwise their embrace is smooth and joyful.

“Oh, upon all the blessings this world could have given us, this one is most welcomed! Ozvaldo!” She laughs, loud and clear like the birds overhead.

“ Prinzessin, I’m glad to see you too. Is that unlucky fellow alright?”

“He… has a fever. We temporarily remedied his ankle but… we have to bring him to the Church.”

“Well then,” Oz says, fluttering to her shoulder. “Good thing we have the Traveller themselves to help us.”

Fischl finally looks away from her familiar, and she sees the familiar blonde hair and honey eyes of the Honorary Knight. They wave kindly.

[Fischl, good to see you’re okay.] They sign, eyes crinkling in joy. But then their expression drops, and they look at her seriously. [We need to get Bennett to safety, though. Can you lead us to him?] 

“Ah- of course, Traveller. I hold the utmost respect for you for coming out this far to help one that you have only met a sparse few times.” 

“Hey, don’t forget Paimon!” The little elf appears in a shower of sparkles and stardust next to the Traveller, and the traveller rolls their eyes fondly. 

“Apologies to you, then! Truly, both of you are sights for sore eyes.”

They begin walking towards the cave, and the Traveller tightens the rope on the transport balloon before it begins to follow after them. Oz swoops off of Fischl’s shoulder, stating, “My wings are not suited for picking things up off the floor, Prinzessin. ”

“Razor, it’s okay! They’re here to help us.” Fischl calls as they near the cave, and soon Razor is there, shadowed in the tree line. He peers out at them, and he steps into the sunlight.

“Ah… you. Long time, no see.” Razor murmurs, gesturing to the Traveller.

They sign a pleasant [Nice to see you too!], smiling kindly, and Paimon translates for Razor, chirpy despite the circumstances. Fischl ignores the reunion and goes back inside the cave to begin packing everything up before they make the journey back to Mondstat. 

---

“ Prinzessin, who’s the ‘they’ here to help us? Is it some of the adventurer’s guild, or the knights?” Bennett asks, still clearly groggy from fever and sleepiness. 

“Erm… a mix of both, I suppose- The Honorary Knight has come to help us.” 

Bennett sits up abruptly, startling Fischl as the blanket rustles. 

“The Traveller? Oh man, I haven’t seen them in ages- it’s been so long since we’ve hung out or gone on an adventure!” He chirps, eyes sparkling (with excitement and fever) as he leans towards Fischl. “They’ve been asking me and I’ve wanted to so badly, but you know how it is- I’ve been taking care of my dads most of the time!” 

“I do wish that they would invite me as well, though I suppose the adventurer’s guild has been keeping all of their members busy with menial tasks…” Fischl stuffs more supplies in her pack and then looks towards Bennett.

“Let’s get you onto the transport.” She says, and Bennett reaches for her. She stands and walks over to him, and she pulls him up and puts an arm around his waist as he stumbles. He hooks an arm over her shoulders like it’s second nature, and they move as one. 

The Traveller perks up as they see Bennett and Fischl round the corner, and in a flash they’re helping Bennett as well. 

Razor looks like he’s itching to help, too, but he keeps his hands by his sides as the Traveller gently loads Bennett onto the transport. It’s just big enough for him, and it looks sturdy, but knowing what can happen with Bennett around, she doesn’t think it’s a horrible idea to be wary. 

“Traveller, there’s a few more things we need to pack and we’ll be ready to go.”

[No problem. I’ll make sure he’s comfy and all that, you take your time.] They sign, and true to their word they lean to Bennett and ask. 

Fischl makes a ‘come here’ motion to Razor, and they go back into the cave one last time to pack everything. Razor and Fischl’s fingers brush a time too many- Fischl is doing it on purpose now, as much as she can, and she kind of hopes he’s doing it on purpose too.

“Are you going to come with us?” She says, looking up at him through her eyelashes. 

“...Scared, but… want to see him, be okay.” 

“Scared of what?” 

“Being hurt. You are hurt. Bennett hurt too.”

Fischl gulps, and she looks away. “So you’re going to come with us, to protect us…?”

“Yes. Want to.” He says, voice low. 

Fischl huffs a laugh, face warm, and finishes rolling up her bedroll and blanket. 

“Then come on. We have a city to get to.”

Paimon sparkles into existence next to Oz, and floats near the balloon as Fischl and Razor leave the cave behind. Fischl tucks the bags behind Bennett, and he leans on them with a sigh. 

“Ready to go, you two?” She asks, leaning towards them with a grin, white hair almost floating. 

“Ready.” Razor says, blinking at her like he’s not entirely sure what to make of her still. 

“Then let’s go! Adventure awaits!” Bennett says from where he’s sitting against the bags, punching the air with a fist before wincing. “Ow, ow, shouldn’t move so fast…!” 

The Traveller puts a gloved hand in front of their mouth to try and hide the giggle that comes out of them, but it fails. They tug at the transport balloon, and it begins moving with a lurch. Oz perches on the edge of the platform, settling in for the ride. Bennett simply leans back again with a wince, and Fischl smiles fondly at him. 

---

The road is winding and barely-there, and at some points, there is no road. They walk close to Cider Lake, walking through the flattest areas they can. They’re walking through the highlands, and they’re getting somewhat close to Springvale. 

Paimon floats along with them, making idle chatter with Bennett and the Traveller. They’re planning their next adventure, and Fischl makes out the fingerspelling for Pyrovine before the Traveller quickly snaps their hand out to stop the transport balloon. 

There’s the sound of yelling ahead of them- Hilichurls, and lots of them. It’s a patrol. They chatter at the group, saying things that Fischl doesn’t understand. She and Razor make a move to pull their weapons out, but the Traveller makes a clicking noise in the back of their throat a few times as if testing their voice, before they respond in Hilichurlian. 

They move towards the patrol group, holding their hands up in the universal sign of ‘I am unarmed,’ and the hilichurls lower their guard slightly.

A taller Hilichurl steps forward as well. They begin to talk, and it’s clear that tensions are high.

Fischl has absolutely no idea what they’re saying, and she glances back at the transport. Oz manages to shrug, despite being a bird, Paimon just looks mildly concerned, and Bennett is making a face that somehow screams guilt even though he didn’t even do anything directly. 

“It’s going to be fine.” Fischl grits through her teeth.

“You don’t sound very convinced!” Bennett grits back. 

“Shh.”

Razor growls lowly, baring his teeth, and Fischl swats at his arm.

The Traveller and the hilichurls look less agitated now- actually, they look pretty happy- and the Traveller turns towards the group and starts signing.

[They’re just antsy about us causing trouble- you know how tense Mondstat-Hilichurl relationships are.] They frown. [As long as we don’t attack them, they’ll let us pass through. Keep your weapons away, alright?]

Fischl translates for Razor, and he grumbles but stops growling. He clenches and unclenches his fists, and Bennett sighs in relief. 

The hilichurls move away to let them pass, warily watching from the side of the path. Fischl feels sweat run down her neck, just a bead or two, and the transport balloon trundles along as slow as it possibly could. 

It only takes a stressful five minutes before they’re in the clearing, and the Hilichurls are out of their sight. Everyone collectively wheezes a sigh of relief. 

“Holy shit, I am so glad my bad luck didn’t cause everything to go haywire,” Bennett gasps. “Maybe today really is my lucky day!” 

“After yesterday? I would personally subdue the forces of the universe if it didn’t let you rest.” Fischl tilts her head up to the sky and breathes in a calming breath before she turns to the Traveller, who is still relatively unruffled. 

[Springvale is close. It’s only a matter of time until we get back to the city, and then we can get you healed up, Bennett.] They’re signing one handed, slow and gentle, trying to be soothing.

“Thank the Archons for that, at least.”

They continue onwards. Paimon picks berries along the way, just a few, and she and Oz share. Oz puffs up his feathers in appreciation. 

“Oh, look! There’s Springvale, it really isn’t too far now- GAH!” Bennett yelps, and the platform for the transport balloon falls out from under him. Oz and Paimon easily fly out of the way, and hover in worry (and literally) as Bennett gasps for breath after it gets knocked out of him.

“Ow-!” 

“Bennett! Are you alright, Schatzi?” Fischl asks, scrambling over to check the damage. The Traveller and Razor, wide eyed, come to Bennett’s aid as well. 

“Hurts,” he grits, looking upwards, eyes glassy with tears. “I think the impact jarred the wound on my torso a bit, heh.” 

The Traveller gently helps scoop Bennett out of the pile of supplies, and they effortlessly hold him bridal style in their arms. They look at Paimon meaningfully, and Paimon nods, hands on her hips. 

“Alright, alright. You get him to Mondstat, I’ll go talk with someone in Springvale and get some help with moving the balloon and stuff since it's clearly not going anywhere now.” Paimon turns to go towards the town, but she wheels around at the last second and wags her finger at the Traveller. “And you keep them safe, alright?!”

The Traveller chuckles, and with a swish of their scarf, they turn towards Mondstat. Fischl and Razor immediately follow- it’s an easy choice to make. Fischl hears the flap of wings above, which means Oz is following too. 

Bennett is gasping as they keep moving, yelping as he’s jostled too suddenly or if he’s moved too quickly. The Traveller merely shifts Bennett in their arms and they stride as smoothly and as quickly as possible, and Razor murmurs a few soothing words to Bennett as he squeezes his eyes shut. 

“Traveller, you really don’t have to do all this for me…” Bennett’s face is tucked into their neck, cheek pressed against the white fabric of their scarf. 

They can’t really sign anything back because their hands are full, but Fischl can see them hold Bennett a little closer, as if to say “It’s okay.” 

Mondstat’s walls are visible now, imposing, and the knights at the gate salute at the Honorary Knight before one of them steps forward and asks what’s wrong.

The Traveller looks back at Fischl and Razor, and they step forward to help Bennett. He’s let down, wincing, but he’s immediately helped up by the other two.

[You guys take Bennett to the Cathedral, I need to talk to Katheryne and the Knights of Favonius. I’ll catch up with you later.] 

“Thanks.” Bennett says, still out of it from the pain of his wounds, and Fischl just shifts a little bit so more of his weight is on her and not on his ankle. 

Razor jerks his head forward a little bit, and they begin to move. 

---

Unfortunately for all of them, Mondstat has a lot of stairs. 

Bennett is gritting his teeth as they slowly ascend- people coming down the steps move out of the way for them, making sure that they can get up easily. Someone- Fischl doesn’t really know who- asks if they should go tell Barbara that Bennett needs some more intense medical attention this time, and Fischl nods. They dart away, and all that’s left now is to get him up to the Church.

“You guys, it’s fine, I can make the last bit on my own.” Bennett grunts, and Razor makes a disapproving noise.

“No. Being proud, not helpful. You’re hurt.” 

“I agree with Razor. I get that you’ve always been relying on yourself, but just… rely on us. Just for a little longer.” 

Bennett laughs with what little energy he still has, and he shakes his head.

“Haha, fine, fine. Now- ow- help me up the rest of these stairs.”

They’re at the bottom of the church steps when Barbara comes running out, eyes wide.

“Oh, Bennett!” She cries, running down the steps with her skirt held out of the way. Barbara skids to a stop in front of them. She looks distraught.

“Hey, Barbara.” He’s smiling wide. He’s so genuinely happy to see her, and if it wasn’t for the fevered flush on his cheeks and the glaze in his eyes, it wouldn’t look like he was exhausted.

“Wind, bless us… Let’s get you inside. I can heal you once you’re lying down.” She murmurs, and she steps backwards. “Come on, you three.”

Razor pulls Bennett’s arm a little closer onto his shoulder and they all begin walking after Barbara- the doors are held open by the knights on vigil there, who murmur encouragement to Bennett. (They must see him come through here every other day anyways, they must be used to seeing Bennett hurt and injured. And isn’t that terrible?)

Barbara leads them into the side room where the sick are treated, and she helps Bennett lie down on a bed with sterile white sheets.

“Ugh, I’ve done too much lying down recently,” He grumbles, settling in. “I want to go back to adventuring and moving, y’know?”

“You have been resting because you are injured. Injury is not a lighthearted matter, Bennett.” Fischl says.

Barbara moves away and brings back a bowl of water- she puts it on the bedside table, sits down in a chair she’s pulled over, and she dips her hands in it. The water begins to glow slightly. She murmurs under her breath for a moment or two before she blinks and turns her head to them.

“Ah- can you two help Bennett out of his shirt and his bandages? I need to finish my prayers before I do this.”

“Mm.”

Razor helps Bennett peel off his shirt, unlacing it and setting it to the side. Fischl helps take off the bandages she helped put on. Some are bloodied, but they’ve seen their use. Fischl sets them to the side as well, and Barbara cups her hands and lifts out a sizable amount of water from the bowl. She finishes her prayers with a breathy sigh, and then she shifts to face Bennett.

“This might be cold.”

“It’s fine. You’re doing the best you can, and besides, you’re healing me! Guh-” Bennett shivers as the water touches his heated skin. Barbara uncups her hands and the water flows onto his torso. “-that is cold, you really weren’t kidding!”

She presses her palms to his stomach and to the aggravated wound, and as he winces, she murmurs a lullaby under her breath. Razor watches raptly as Barbara slowly works her healing magic.

Barbara puts the heels of her palms together and leans her weight in a little, and Bennett sighs. Fischl can see the sparkles, the shimmers as Barbara uses her Vision to knit his skin back together and clear out any infection, ever so gently. Fischl’s hand automatically drifts to his, and he clasps it like he was made to do so.

She sighs, and she moves her hands up his chest. Fischl almost feels a flare of jealousy before she remembers that Barbara is just doing her job.

Barbara seals up a few more knicks and scratches on Bennett’s chest, avoiding the top surgery scars that he’s so proud of. The water is slowly running out, so she scoops up another handful and continues with her work. She runs her water-covered hands down his sides, causing him to shiver.

Razor helps lift up Bennett’s leg, a hand under the calf as Barbara works on healing the cuts and nicks on his legs. She doesn’t need to lift up the adhesive bandages, she just runs her hands over them and after a few seconds, the wounds are all healed.

The sun shimmers through the windows and onto the water, and Barbara gets to his ankle. She moves her chair to the foot of the bed. Barbara gets a new handful of water, and she begins the process of fixing his torn ligaments. It’s more intense, and clearly more painful than a simple surface injury. She’s frowning, focusing hard. 

Bennett is still smiling, but it’s more forced. Razor puts a hand on his head, patting gently, carding his fingers through the pale hair like he had done just last night. It’s clearly distracting him properly, and Bennett leans into the touch. Fischl squeezes his hand again.

Barbara sings something again, wordless. The meaning is clear though- good health, happiness. 

She lifts her hands and lets the last drops fall- she’s done.

“It’s almost like I was never sliced up at all.” Bennett says ruefully, running his free hand over his torso. He’s just saying it to make Barbara feel better about her healing skills, since there’s still a few thin scars where his wounds once were.

“You flatter me,” Barbara murmurs. She rinses her hands off in the bowl, and then glares at Bennett. He gulps.

“No adventuring for 3 days at the very least. My healing can only do so much, and based on how long you were gone for and how you needed another rescue party to get you, you were very hurt this time.”

“But-!”

“No buts!” Barbara snaps. ‘Snaps’ is a strong word, really. She just says it firmly, with no room for argument. She leans in slightly, hands on her hips. “I don’t want to see you in the Cathedral because you need healing for a while, alright? Just… take better care of yourself.”

“You know I can’t control how injured I get, Barbara, it just happens…”

Barbara chuckles. “I know it as well as anyone.”

Fischl snorts slightly, holding Bennett’s hand a little tighter. Wait. She’s still holding his hand. She lets go immediately. Not hastily or anything, just… quickly. The movement alerts Barbara to the gash on Fischl’s leg.

“Oh, dear… let me heal that for you, Prinzessin. ” 

Barbara dips her hands in the water again and Fischl peels the ragged edge of the tights away from the wound so she can get to it more easily.

The water is soothing, and it washes away the pain as easily as anything. Fischl sighs in relief, and Barbara moves her hands away.

“Razor, do you have anything I need to patch up?”

“Mm. No. Body is ok.”

“Then I don’t see any reason to keep you here any longer. You guys should get Bennett back to the Guild so he can get some proper food and a proper rest, so that the fever will go away quicker.” 

“Yes, deaconess. We are forever grateful for the aid that you provide.” Fischl’s lips twist, and Barbara grins back.

“It’s really no trouble, I’m just doing my job.”

“Thank you, Barbara.” Bennett says sincerely, reaching over for his shirt again. 

They leave the church with Barbara waving goodbye, farewell, and they slowly descend down the myriad stairs that exist in the city of Mondstat.

They don’t need to hold Bennett up anymore, he can stand on his own, but they still linger close to him, just in case. 

They drop him off at the Guild, let one of his dads take him inside so they can give him food and water, and then the door closes.

Razor and Fischl stand there, staring at the door before Fischl shifts and looks up.

“Oz,” She calls, and Oz swoops down from where he was perched on the rooftop so he can land on her shoulder. Oz settles there, with nary a ruffled feather. “We should go get our stuff from near Springvale.” 

Razor hums and looks at her, and he holds out his hand. She turns her head so she can see out of her uncovered eye, and hesitates for a moment, glancing up at his eyes and back down at his open palm, and Fischl places her gloved hand in his. 

“Let’s go,” He says. “Together.” Like it’s the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it will be, in the future.

The rest of the journey isn’t eventful. They get their stuff from Springvale, and they part from each other with reluctance. It’s sad, but the past day and a bit has been exhausting. Fischl goes home (because her parents like it when she’s home and not sleeping over at the guild, so she spends time with her parents for a day or two every week) and lies in bed, curled up with a battered copy of ‘Flowers for Princess Fischl”, and she watches the stars gleam outside while Oz hums in his sleep while perched on her headboard. 

Fischl sleeps, and she does not dream.

---

The next day is chilly, with the wind nipping at her cheeks and throwing her hair in disarray as she dons a cloak and walks over to the Guild. Her pack is heavy with supplies and a gift. 

Oz follows behind, ever the diligent and dutiful raven. Fischl greets Cyrus with her usual grandeur, and Cyrus laughs and gestures to the stairs. She curtseys, and she sweeps up the stairs to go see Bennett.

The door has a sign on it, paper and adhesive with crayon words scribbling out to say ‘Bennett’s Room!’ It’s crackling and crumpled at the edges, and Fischl knocks thrice underneath it.

“Thine Prinzessin has come to pay her dues. I’m entering now.” She says, and she hears a noise of agreement from inside before she turns the doorknob. 

Bennett’s room is messy, as expected for a teenage boy. She uses her foot to push aside a pile of clothes so she can walk without tripping. There are a few potted plants on his desk, lampgrass and windwheel asters with chipped containers and a bit of dirt strewn around them, covering the maps and charts left out. There’s posters on the walls, a mobile above his bed with stars twirling gently, and Bennett is there, propped up against some pillows, gazing at her fondly.

Fischl swallows down a lump in her throat.

“Didn’t expect you to come here today. Aren’t you sick of me already? We just spent a whole day together, and you had to take care of me the whole time. Really, it was a disaster.” He murmurs. Fischl stands near the bed, and he moves his legs so she has room to sit down. She sits, and she takes off her cloak and her backpack. 

“Your well being is more important than any exhaustion I may have had, under any circumstances.” Fischl says, holding her hands together and looking down at them. “Besides… I… I wanted to see if your fever had abated! Your health may have been improved by the Deaconess, but you are still ill.”

Bennett chuckles. “Even with your lofty and haughty personality, you still care.” Fischl bristles at that, whipping around to glare at him with her one exposed eye, and Oz snorts from where he’s settled on the back of Bennett’s chair.

“I… oh, stop it!” She cries. “I don’t know why I came here if you’re just going to tease me.”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay.” He soothes, putting a hand down on the sheets near to her. “Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it. But it’s nice to see you all soft sometimes, y’know?” 

Fischl stares down at his hand and turns away before he can see her expression. 

“You… are alright, right? Your fever hasn’t consumed you, despite how long you were deemed missing by the Guild?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I mean, I still have a bit of a fever, but nothing too serious.” 

“That’s good. I’m glad.”

There’s a moment of silence before Oz hums. “ Mein Fraulein, didn’t you have something to give to Bennett?”

Ah- that’s right.

Fischl pulls up her backpack and grabs a double layered container from it- the bottom layer contains mist flower corollas, and the top layer contains-

“- Die Heilige Sinfonie,” Fischl says as Bennett opens the lid and stares down. “It’s my specialty, the best thing I can make. I thought that… maybe… oh, damn it.” Fischl mumbles, turning away again, pursing her lips and wringing her hands before she continues. “Even though I am a princess, a princess should know how to make dishes in order to comfort those under her protection.” 

“This looks amazing, Fischl.”

It’s said with such sincerity she’s almost blown away in the face of it, and Bennett’s smile is so radiant with his bedhead and his dimples that Fischl can’t help but stare.

“I was just getting hungry anyways, and besides, your cooking is really good already!” He chatters, eyes crinkled in something like joy. “The chicken mushroom skewers that you made while I was, ah… incapacitated, were delicious!”

“It’s- it’s no problem!” She squeaks out. 

“I’ll eat this in a bit. Seriously, Fischl, thank you so much.”

Fischl opens her mouth to say something else, putting her hand on the sheets, next to his leg, but there’s a knock at the door and both of them turn (In Fischl’s case, the more accurate word would be whirled) towards it. 

“Oh, Traveller!”

They’re standing in the door, a small smile on their face. They nod at Fischl, and they shuffle past the mess on the floor with Paimon floating close behind. 

[You look much better today. And so do your wounds- Barbara did a great job, didn’t she?] 

“She really did.”

“Ooh, what’s that in your lap?” Paimon chirps, leaning in. She sniffs delicately before her eyes gleam. “A cold cut platter! It looks great, but… Paimon’s never seen this design on top of it before!”

“It’s the sigil of the house of Immernachtreich.” Fischl says stiffly, awkwardly. The traveller glances at her and smiles. 

[It looks very noble.] They sign, peering at it curiously. 

Fischl practically preens at that. “Why, your praise is not needed for a house as noble as ours, but… it is appreciated, starbound traveller.” 

“Can Paimon have a bite?”

Fischl is about to protest that, no, Paimon cannot have a bite, it’s for Bennett , but Bennett holds the container up for Paimon and she eagerly takes a slice of ham. 

Bennett holds up the container for the Traveller, and they grin with a little quirk of their lips and a crinkling of their oh-so gold eyes, and they gingerly take a small piece of sausage. 

Fischl feels so awkward and out of place here, now with others aside from Oz to witness her caring, so she stands up and fastens her cloak around her shoulders again and puts her bag on. Bennett looks at her, eyes wide as she flips her hair.

“I- I have to go talk to Katheryne about scouting near Starsnatch Cliff. There have been sightings of more monsters near there, and the danger that these creatures pose cannot be overstated. I have clearly overstayed my welcome, as well. I bid thee farewell.” 

“Fischl-” Bennett protests, reaching out, and Fischl steps out towards the door. Oz flaps and settles on her shoulder, and she sighs.

“Enjoy the meal, Bennett.” She says, and she strides out the door like a princess should.

She hears a faint, “Did… we do something wrong?” from Paimon as she exits.

---

 As the exit opens, Oz flutters off her shoulder and flaps next to her as she continues down the cobblestone stairs, ears bright red and face flushed. The wind barely does anything to cool her face down.

“ Prinzessin, don’t you feel that exit was a bit abrupt?” 

“Silence. Don’t lecture thine princess about the proper graces of exiting a situation!” 

“You’re clearly flustered. Was it that you felt embarrassed being open around Bennett with other people nearby?”

“I said silence!” 

The scouting around Starsnatch Cliff was something on her to-do list, yes, but talking to Katheryne was an excuse. She can do that afterwards.

The trek is long, long, long, but the scenery is nice and seeing the world from Oz’s perspective is always interesting. The wind whips around them as they join bodies and use their wings to soar up, using the currents to glide seamlessly. 

It’s peaceful, but not for long. Fischl sees the sky go dark with clouds, thundering and rumbling, and a great crack of Electro strikes the ground. The clouds dissipate just as fast, and they tilt their body to fly towards it. 

Fischl and Oz separate, and with a burst of feathers behind her, Fischl snaps open her glider and the two of them glide towards the bolt of lightning. It wasn’t natural, that brilliant bolt of purple, and thus, they should investigate. It’s their job, after all. 

Another flash, a crack, and Fischl drops down onto a ruin pillar to observe the situation- 

And it’s Razor, snarling and snapping at a multitude of slimes as they crowd around him. They’re Pyro slimes, burning and torching the grass as they hop forwards. 

He swings his claymore at them, but he’s clearly overwhelmed.

Fischl pulls out her bow from the little pocket space that all Vision users have, and she stands tall and proud and nocks an arrow. There’s a crackle as the Electro energy gathers, and she looses arrows at the slimes. 

A slime explodes into fire, and then another, and another. The clearing is empty except for the boy standing there. Razor looks up at her as she glides down towards him again. 

“Ah… you.” He says, slamming the tip of his sword into the ground and letting it dissipate into that pocket space. “Thank you.”

“Thou should be more careful in these rocky wilds. Jellied creatures will attempt to take your life should you not pay attention, and thine vision would not be able to save you from that point.” Fischl murmurs almost automatically, before Oz sighs and Razor tilts his head and Fischl remembers that she has to talk normally.

“Don’t let slimes catch you off guard.” 

“Mm. Too many… didn’t expect. Forgot about fire flowers.” 

“Fire flowers…?” Fischl glances towards the other end of the clearing, where three flaming flowers sit, burning the grass around them. They do attract slimes of matching elements, so it’s no surprise that Razor got swarmed.

“Well, at least you’re safe now. But what are you doing so far from the woods?”

Razor fumbles with his hands for a moment, looking for the right words, before he clicks his tongue.

“Hunting… group. Party. Loud. They bothered animals. Bothered Lupical. Left.” 

“Lupical…?” 

“Mm… friends. Family. Chosen ones.” 

“And who would you consider to be your Lupical?”

“Wolves. Bennett. Klee. You.”

Maybe there is a storm overhead again, and maybe it’s another one summoned by Razor, crackling with lightning and striking her down, because her heart just skipped multiple beats with that statement alone. 

But Razor turns away and looks towards the cliffs.

“Going to go up. Want to come with?”

“Ah, yes.”

He holds out his hand, and Fischl takes it. She puts her bow away, and they begin to walk up the path. He leads her gently, and his hand is warm even through the gloves he wears. Oz flies ahead of them both, and the walk is suddenly much less tedious with Razor by her side.

It only takes a half-hour before they’ve accumulated an ungodly amount of slime condensate, secretions, and concentrate. 

“There’s not enough room in my pack for all of this…” Fischl sighs, tossing some onto the ground, where it squelches. Razor looks at it with something like disgust, but he’s got kind of a poker face, so Fischl really can’t tell what he’s thinking. Oz flutters his wings before he pipes up.

“Well, regardless of that, you have cleared out a good amount of slimes, Mein Fraulein. Hopefully people who walk this path will be safer in the future.” 

The slime squelches on its own and begins to move. Fischl shrieks and Razor stomps on it with wide eyes. There’s a moment of silence before Fischl speaks.

“I forgot they could do that.” Fischl says, giggling despite herself.

“Too much slime.” Razor nods, moving his boot away from the pile of slime, which no longer wriggles.

“We should keep moving before this stuff becomes a full slime again…”

“Mm.”

They keep moving, and Razor plucks a few sunsettias from a tree for the three of them. Fischl lets Oz peck at hers, and Razor eats two. Fischl wipes the juice away from his mouth with the pad of her thumb, and Razor blinks at her.

The day passes. Monsters fall beneath their blades and arrow tips, one by one, and the world becomes just a little bit safer through their actions. Fischl sighs and wipes her brow as she glances towards the sky- the sun is peeking through the clouds a bit, and it’s getting too warm for her cloak. 

She takes it off and stuffs it in her bag, and then- 

“Abyss.”

“What?”

“Smell it. Nearby.”

Razor tugs at her wrist, and she stumbles along as they hide behind a few boulders before peeking out and looking around for any Abyss Mages or anything else of the sort. But the clearing is cool and empty, with the clouds passing overhead again. 

“No monsters…?”

“We should check it out, just in case.” Fischl stands and grabs her bow, and she nocks another arrow into it. “This is my job, after all. Investigating, finding new domains, and making sure they’re not going to be dangerous. Oz, dear, if you will?”

Oz sighs but dutifully flutters over to the entrance.

“Ah, the things I do for the house of Immernachtreich…” 

Oz flies in, and Fischl closes her eyes and peers through Oz’s vision.

It takes a split second to adjust, but soon she can see into the domain. It’s claustrophobic as Oz soars through the tunnel, but it opens up wide once he makes it out. The domain has a faint blue fog in the distance, and glowing yellow runes mark doorways and locks aplenty. There’s thunderous noises as blocks of land shift and change, seemingly on a whim, and there’s an eerie air to it.

Fischl clicks her tongue and relays what she sees to Razor, trying to split her attention between both sets of sight she currently has. 

“There is no one in this domain, Prinzessin. Somehow, it remains empty right now despite the fact that it should be teeming with servants of the Abyss.”

“Then all the stars have graced us on this day. We should not lament the lack of adversity, we should take advantage of it.”

Razor taps her shoulder, and Fischl opens her eyes and turns to him. 

“Go in?”

“... Of course.”

For once, Fischl is the one tugging at Razor, pulling him in, and he follows with little hesitation. It doesn’t take long for them to get out onto the other side, and Fischl can see Oz circling overhead as the cavernous Domain opens up to them.

It only takes a few minutes of exploring to confirm that the domain is empty of inhabitants, and that it is absolutely full of puzzles and traps.

Oz preens his feathers above a Pyro monument, which is flanked on both sides by an Electro monument. There’s mechanisms which connect to empty glass orbs, connections streaming across the floor like rivulets.

“I think we should bring in Bennett for this.”

---

Of course, Bennett is still banned from adventuring for the next few days. But that doesn’t stop Fischl from marching right back to the Adventurer’s guild, tugging Razor behind her as she barges into Bennett’s room.

Bennett, who is sprawled out on his bedsheets, asleep in a ray of sun, jolts awake as the door hits the wall. He makes a noise in the back of his throat as he sleepily sits up and glances at the two of them.

“Ah, Fisch- Prinzessin . Hi.” He says, rubbing at his eye. 

“We need your help.” She says plainly, no grandeur in the wording. Bennett perks up immediately.

“With what?”

“What you’re best at. There’s a domain near Starsnatch Cliff that’s uninhabited, but full of puzzles and traps, and it looks like we need a Pyro user, too. You fit the description through and through, Bennett.”

Said boy immediately lights up. 

“Oh. Oh! You should have said there was an adventure involved right at the start! We can get packed immediately, and we can-“

Razor makes a growling noise. “Barbara said adventuring, no.”

“Aw, but Razor…”  

Fischl pinches the bridge of her nose. “How about this, you two. We plan our adventure and gather the supplies we need, and then we can file a report about the domain with Katheryne.”

“Heck, sounds good to me.”

“Yes.”

Fischl tosses her bag onto the already messy floor, and takes off her cloak again, and Razor sits up against the side of Bennett’s bed, leaning his back against it, and the two boys watch Fischl as she unpacks all her adventuring materials. 

She pulls the chair away from Bennett’s desk so she can sit down, and she pulls out a map, a spare sheet of paper and a quill pen, made with a raven feather, tinged with purple.

“The domain was somewhere around the east side of the cliff, so I’ll mark it down and go down to Katheryne later in order to file a proper report. Although, that’s just part of my job anyways.”

“ Prinzessin , do you mind handing me that extra paper so me and Razor can write down what we need?”

Fischl passes the paper and another quill pen (this one is clearly Bennett’s, if the way it’s bent shows anything), and Bennett grabs an old hardcover to use as a writing surface. 

“Okay, so if the last time we hung out together was any indication, we should probably bring extra medical supplies this time.” Bennett says.

“Bandages. And water.” Razor hums, pulling his hood down and shaking his hair out.

“Oh, yeah, those are important.”

“Food would probably be in our best interest as well.” Fischl uses the end of her feather pen to gesture, grandiose and fanciful. 

“Mmhm, I’ll write that down- wait, we should probably write down which types.”

“Ah, I can go down to get some items from General Goods and Good Hunter after I talk to Katheryne…”

“Ooh, yes!”

“Meat. Please?” 

Their discussion of materials continues, until Bennett’s pen breaks and spills ink over the last half of the paper. Fischl snorts (before she covers it with a more dignified giggle) and she stands up and grabs her coin purse from her bag while Razor and Bennett try to dig through the mess in the room to find Bennett’s lockpicks, just in case they need them.

“I’m off, you two. Try not to destroy anything while I’m out.” She calls, snatching the map and list on her walk towards the door.

Bennett sniffs in mock-offence. Razor merely smiles slightly, and Fischl heads out. 

—-

Katheryne smiles at Fischl as she approaches.

“Ad astra asbyssosque, Investigator. The Honorary Knight has already informed the guild of what happened while Bennett went missing, so there is no need to file an additional report.” 

“One does not require to file a report on such distant matters- thine investigations have led I, Fischl, to discover a previously unknown domain near the reaches of the stars.” 

Fischl slides the map to Katheryne across the desk, and Katheryne takes it gently and traces a finger across the circled area.

“I see. We can send a team out to figure out the area, and-“

“No!” Fischl blurts out, before she reels herself back in and coughs lightly into her hand. “Ah, what I mean to say is… the Prinzessin de Verurteilung has no such need for a retinue from the Guild. I have already collected a skilled group of adventurers, and as such, I can explore the area with their help.”

Katheryne smiles knowingly, eyes crinkling with something like mirth. “I see. I will put this in the files, but keep it out of  the hands of other adventurers. Who is on your team?”

“Bennett and Razor, the boy from Wolvendom, who bravely risked himself to protect ill fated Bennett.”

Katheryne hums. “Usually you would need a team of four for something like this…”

Fischl looks upwards and sighs before she mumbles, “Oz technically counts as a fourth member…”

“Well then. I suppose all is settled. Four teammates, location… When will you four be leaving for the domain?”

“Upon the rise of the third sun, we shall depart, with the light in our wakes.”

“Three days, then. I’ll mark it down- sign these, will you?”

Fischl takes the feather quill pen on the desk and fills in some forms, stating the locations and approximate time and date they’ll be heading out on. These forms are incredibly important, and they let the Guild know if an adventurer is possibly in danger if they’re not back by the time they should be. These forms are how Fischl knew that Bennett was missing in the first place. 

That… doesn’t change the fact that they’re tedious, though. 

Fischl signs her full title as Investigator on the last sheet and makes her way to order supplies from Good Hunter and General Goods, and she stops by Marjorie’s place to check for extra things just in case.

Oz pecks at some of the rations she buys, flat bread with lots of preservatives, and she eats a bite herself on the way back to Bennett’s room. 

Three days, and then they’re off on an adventure.

---

The days pass.

Fischl and Razor are in Bennett’s room for most of it, planning out potential routes based on what Oz and Fischl saw in the Domain. Oz relays what puzzles there were, and they continue to plan out everything. 

They get the go-ahead from Barbara, and they set out with the early rays of morning light, with Razor waiting at the city gate for them- he had gone home to Wolvendom the day before.

It’s a mostly peaceful walk, aside from Bennett falling in a ditch at one point. 

They make it to Starsnatch, and the domain opens up in front of them. They link hands, walking through the entrance carefully, step by step by tip toeing step. The air swirls around them as something moves in the distance. 

It would have been a hard domain, but... The puzzles are perfectly suited for the three of them, and they all work together in tandem. It’s like they’re made for each other.

Razor and Bennett launch themselves at slimes that pop up halfway through the domain, yelling as explosions happen from the overloaded reactions, and Fischl hastily tries to figure out the electro monument puzzle that blocks their passage to the next room.

They dart to the next room, with only a bit of their clothing singed. 

Yes, there are monsters, and yes, there are puzzles that seem particularly difficult. But in the end, Fischl feels like it’s a successful trip when Bennett opens the chest at the end of the domain and he bursts into tears of joy. 

Razor has to kneel next to Bennett and gently wipe his tears away, and Fischl pulls off her backpack so she can put everything in. The cobblestone ground of the domain cuts into her legs, and her knees ache as she scoops up the heavy mora and clunky artifacts. 

They leave the domain together. The sun is setting. Fischl breathes in the fresh air, and Razor tugs them towards a cliffside in the distance where they can set up camp. Oz tucks himself away in Fischl’s vision, worn out from the day’s events. 

They brought a tent with them this time, so Fischl sets it up while Razor gets the foodstuff out and Bennett starts the fire. The glow of the fire casts a shadow behind them, and Fischl tacks the last peg into the ground for the tent tarp, and she makes her way over to the fire. 

The rocks around the fire make a lopsided circle. It’s not a huge deal. Fischl sits down in the grass, which is slightly damp and kind of cold.

Bennett is skewering chunks of fish with some sticks he tried to whittle, sprinkling it with too much pepper. He sneezes, and Razor sniffs.

It’s a nice night out. It’s clear, and the stars are all visible, and that corpse cold moon is shining high in the sky. Fischl breathes in, and breathes out. 

“Here you go, Prinzessin.” Bennett whispers, soft in the night. Fischl takes the skewer, and Razor hands her a piece of the flat bread they brought with them.

“Much appreciated.”

They talk, they chat, and they look at the artifacts they got. Razor holds the mora they found in his hands and makes a non-committal noise.

“These stones… shiny.”

“They’re what we use to buy stuff!”

“Buy…? Ah. Share.”

Bennett and Fischl try to help Razor understand the concept of commerce, but unfortunately, they are all teenagers, and they have no idea how the economy works, so it’s kind of a fruitless endeavor. It’s okay though, because Razor makes a sound kind of like a little laugh and a snort, and Fischl feels her heart melt. 

Eventually though, Fischl gets too tired to properly stay awake. 

“Sweet dreams.” Bennett says, a smile in his voice as Fischl turns away.

“Sleep, good,” Razor agrees.

Fischl curls into her bedroll, and tries to ignore how her head is spinning. A whole day and night, with the three of them together, and none of them are severely injured- It’s a good day. It’s a nice day, and she’s going to treasure it for a good long while. 

She sleeps. She wakes up about 2 hours later with the sound of louder talking. She sleepily sits up, rubbing at the eye that’s usually covered by an eyepatch. 

“And… I don’t know. It’s a lot to take in, especially with today and when you guys found me. I just don’t know what to think anymore, between you and-”

“Then... don’t.”

Fischl opens the tent flap and feels her heart fall out of her chest as she watches Razor press his lips to Bennett’s. 

When the two of them pull apart, the firelight casts a glowing edge around the both of them. Razor says softly-

“I like you, too,” and Fischl runs.

It’s stupid, she thinks to herself as tears begin to well up. Of course, of course they wouldn’t like me in the end- Fischl sobs. She sobs, and then immediately heaves in a huge gulp of air to avoid making too much noise. 

She’s not wearing shoes. The grass is cold. Her tears are hot against her cheeks, and an owl hoots above her as she runs farther away. 

Eventually, she slumps against a tree, out of breath and dizzy.

This is stupid. She shouldn’t have overreacted, she shouldn’t have ran. It’s fine if people want to pursue romantic relationships, it’s fine if it’s the two boys she liked and wanted to spend time with, and it’s- it’s-!

It’s not fine. Fischl pulls her legs to her chest and tucks her face to her knees, and she cries. 

The night is empty. The tree bark is hard. Her chest is tight with a lack of air, and the leaves crunch as someone walks closer. 

She looks up. It’s Razor, tall and imposing in the moonlight, and Fischl looks away.

“Fischl.” He says softly. “Okay?”

“How did you find me?” She murmurs, completely ignoring his question. Razor sits next to her.

“Wolves… good hearing. Not hard to find you.”

Fischl says nothing. Razor shifts uncomfortably.

“You ran. Why?” 

“I just… Razor, I’m sorry. It was stupid of me, I shouldn’t have ran.” Fischl puts a hand over her eyes, and sniffles something awful. “I was just so overwhelmed, and I… I…”

Razor puts a hand on her knee.

“Talk… it’s okay.”

Fischl sobs again, ugly and loud, tearing out of her hollowed out heart. “I like you. I like Bennett. I like both of you, and… you don’t like me. And I have to deal with it.”

“Fischl-”

“It’s fine! It’s fine. This is gonna pass, I’ll be fine.”

“Fischl.”

“I just need to tell Bennett I overreacted to a nightmare and it’ll be fine.”

“Fischl!”

Fischl stops talking, and Razor hugs her. It’s stiff, but it’s warm and comforting.

“When we talked. Bennett talked about how… he likes you. And me. And I like you, too. You woke up late.”

“W-what?”

Razor repeats himself, and Fischl laughs until she starts crying again. She throws her arms around Razor. 

‘Too’ seemed to be the magic word in Bennett’s sentence that Fischl crucially missed the context of, and it’s all so dramatic and silly and Fischl tucks her face into Razor’s neck. Razor shifts his position so he can hold her more comfortably, and he cradles her. 

“It’s ok.” He soothes. 

“Thank you.”

Firelight washes over the both of them, as Bennett peers around looking for them. 

“Oh, thank the Archons. Fischl, are you okay? You really startled us when you ran off like that.” He crouches down and extinguishes the flame on his sword that he had been using as a torch. “Did you have a nightmare?”

His smile in the dark is wobbly, like he’s scared of Fischl- no, her reaction. To him and Razor being theoretically together, now. Her heart twists because she caused this fear. She untangles herself from Razor and stands, shivering in the cold and because of her proximity to Bennett.

“Bennett. I, uh,” Fischl looks away. Bennett puts a hand on hers, and she takes a deep breath. “I overreacted to you and Razor kissing. B-because I wanted to kiss you two instead. And I thought you didn’t like me, but Razor- he corrected me. Told me what happened. I’m really sorry…!”

Her face is warm, burning, but Bennett’s hand on hers is warmer. 

“Fischl. You actually… like us back? You like me?” 

“Why wouldn’t I?!” Fischl hisses, loud and embarrassed and wow, she’s struggling to control herself now. She puts a hand over her eye. “You’re like the gods-damned sun, always bright and beautiful no matter what happens, and Razor is just as protective and as kind and- It’s a lot to deal with!” 

“Uhm. Wow.”

“Bennett is like sunshine,” Razor agrees softly. “Warm. Safe.”

Bennett’s face is bright enough red that Fischl can see it in the dark shadows of the trees and moonlight. 

“I- why me, of all people? Fischl, you’re beautiful, you could have anyone our age. And I’m just the unlucky guy who no one wants.”

“Well, I want you . And I want Razor.” 

Fischl laces her fingers with Bennett’s and stares him in the eyes. Without her eyepatch, everything is laid bare, and she hopes desperately that Bennett can see the emotion there. 

“… Okay. Okay. Fischl, can I…”

“Just- kiss me, Bennett.” 

So he does. And his lips are chapped, and there’s probably a cut on there too, but he presses his lips to hers shyly and sweetly, and Fischl tilts her head so they slot together better. He pushes too hard, and Fischl ignores that.

They break apart, faces flushed and bright, but Bennett looks like Fischl personally hung the stars for him, and Fischl kisses him again. 

Eventually Razor puts a hand on Fischl’s arm, and she breaks her kiss with Bennett so she can kiss Razor too. 

Razor’s lips are somehow soft while remaining chapped, and he licks at her lower lip a little bit. She giggles a little bit, caught up in the feelings welling up in her heart.

“This is nice and all,” Bennett says. “But It’s kind of cold. We could kiss by the fire?”

“Oh.”

“Mm.”

They walk back, hand in hand. Fischl doesn’t feel so empty anymore, it’s more a gentle wholeness. 

The fire has already gone out. Apparently there was a freak rainstorm just above their tent, but they just shrug it off, since this has happened before, and they have a tent they can sleep in.

Bennett gets the bedrolls and Fischl pulls out the thin blankets.

In a moment of impulse, Fischl pushes the bedrolls together, so they’re all side by side on the ground, and Razor has a small smile on his face as he lies down and gestures for the other two to lie down with him. 

It’s awkward.

That’s her first thought, at least, because between the bony elbows of Bennett and the genuine confusion of Razor, it’s hard for them to all settle down in the best way.

Eventually, though, they choose to lie with Razor and Bennett flanking Fischl, cozying up to her. She feels small, dwarfed between them, but at the same time, she feels impossibly safe. 

Razor shifts closer to her, making pleading eyes. Fischl huffs and snakes her arm underneath him so she can tug him closer herself, tucking him into her side.

“Better?”

Razor says nothing and merely puts his head on her shoulder, barely-there smile on his face.

For good measure, Fischl pulls Bennett closer too, and he gulps as his hand accidentally lands on her chest.

“Um!”

“It’s fine,” Fischl says, face aflame. 

He moves his hand so it’s around her middle instead, and honestly, it’s still not helping Fischl’s sudden heart palpitations.

Razor curls closer, looking like he’s about to drift off, and Bennett reaches over a little bit to pet Razor’s hair. He makes a noise that you could almost call a purr, if he wasn’t raised by wolves.

Consumed by affection, Fischl presses a kiss to Razor’s head. Razor’s pale skin gets a tint of red at that, and Fischl coos.

“Aw.”

Bennett makes a noise. “Can I have a kiss too?”

Fischl turns her head and rolls her eyes but kisses Bennett’s forehead as well. He smiles widely, threatening to crack his face in half.

“Just go to sleep. We can talk in the morning?”

“Okay, Prinzessin. ”

It’s warm, and comforting, and Fischl dreams of nothing but sunshine and moonlight. 

---

They wake up, they pack up the camp and all their belongings, and it would be almost normal if the two boys hadn’t gotten exponentially more touchy with her and each other over night. 

Fischl’s face is constantly aflame, on and off, because they keep putting their hands on her shoulders and holding her face in their hands, and most of all, they keep kissing her, out of joy or something just as sappy. It’s not unwelcome, in any way, but it’s incredibly distracting. 

“Stop it,” She sputters, wiping her lips after Razor had planted a particularly wet kiss on her lips, just to annoy her. “We have to get back to the city at some point.” 

Bennett merely shrugs, grinning without an ounce of shame. “We can use a few minutes to kiss.”

“We can kiss when we get back to the guild, Bennett!” 

Razor huffs a little laugh and kicks the circle of rocks around the extinguished fire until it’s no longer recognizable as a fire pit. 

“Oh, whatever. Come on, let’s start walking back.”

“Hold hands?” Razor asks, only a touch shy.

“Sure.”

The walk back would be faster if they weren’t all in a chain together, laughing and chatting and being awkward teenagers. Razor is holding both of their hands and Bennett is leading the charge, hacking through the woods and only getting hit in the face with some branches a few times. Of course, now, Fischl is allowed to kiss his nicks and scratches under the guise of it making him feel better. 

Eventually, Razor pipes up.

“Last night. We all kissed. We like each other. What does it mean?”

Bennett slows to a stop, and they all do.

“Well, we didn’t- talk about it? And I guess- I guess I didn’t think that through.” Bennett turns to the both of them, frown on his face. “Fischl, Razor, what are we?”

“People,” Fischl deadpans before she realizes, and she puts her hand over her mouth. “Okay, sorry, sorry, uncalled for.”

Bennett laughs, eyes crinkling. “It’s true, but also, like… are we partners? Is that what we are? Are we dating?”

Razor raises his hand. “Dating?”

“Uh, it’s when people like each other and they spend a lot of time together. And they kiss. And maybe one day they’ll get married.”

Razor makes a considering face, a slight downturn of the lips and a hum in his throat.

“Hm. Razor likes Bennett, and Fischl. So… dating?”

There’s a very long pause. Bennett’s face is turning an interesting shade of red. Fischl can only assume hers is doing the same. 

“I’m fine with that.” Fischl says, chewing her lip. “I mean, if you guys are too-“

“Yes! Yes, I’m totally fine with it.” Bennett bursts out, eyes gleaming. 

Razor smiles and leans in to kiss Bennett. They knock foreheads at first, and Razor still hasn’t let go of Fischl’s hand, but it’s nice. Fischl feels all fuzzy inside, which a princess shouldn’t feel normally, but she allows it this time. 

Bennett and Razor kiss again before Bennett pulls away abruptly, eyes wide.

“Wait! This means I have a girlfriend! And a boyfriend!”

“This only just occurred to you?” Fischl snarks, but there’s no anger behind her words. It’s just humor.

“No, I mean, it just hit me,” Bennett mumbles, putting his fingers on his lips in wonder. “Wow. I have partners!” 

Razor sniffs impatiently before leaning in again. He misses because Bennett turns his face again, and the kiss lands on his cheek instead.

“We’re all partners now.” Fischl says softly. “And as your partner, you two are going to listen to me. I want to get back to the guild so we can file this report as soon as possible, so we can hang out in bed and kiss.”

“Sounds good to me.”

They make haste, and Razor and Fischl have to tug Bennett out of a mud puddle at one point, but eventually they get home before the sun is even setting. 

---

“I’ll file the report, you two go wash up.”

“Want to stay with you.” Razor mumbles, and Fischl squeezes his hand. 

“I’ll be with you before you know it.” She soothes. 

Fischl gives Katheryne the report, who simply has a knowing look on her face. Fischl also passes roughly 15% of the earnings towards her, as that’s the mandated amount of funds that go towards guild upkeep. 

“That domain was cleared out by you three- sorry, 4, counting Ozvaldo, but we’ll send an extra party to check it out in case you missed anything. Thank you for filing your report with us, Investigator.” 

Fischl does a curtsy, and immediately turns and darts to the guild. She flies up the stairs, and goes to her room, grabs a change of clothes and immediately heads to the showers because wow, going adventuring in domains is surprisingly dirty work. 

Dirt washes away, and Fischl scrubs all of the oil out of her hair and she shivers as she turns the shower off. She dries her hair, gets changed, and checks her face in the mirror to make sure she looks okay. 

She’s about to put on her eyepatch, but she hesitates.

Fischl runs her fingers over the silk lining the inside, and she smiles.

She leaves it be. 

She leaves the washroom with her normal clothes bundled in her arms, and heads to her room. She tosses her clothes in the bin, and puts her vision on the nightstand next to where Bennett and Razor have put theirs.

Seeing Bennett and Razor cuddled up on the purple, crow-patterned sheets together melts her heart. They’ve both cleaned up as well, and she thinks Razor is wearing some of Bennett’s pajamas (based on how many rips are patched up in the knees of the pants, at least).

She has to shove them to the side, of course, because they’re taking up too much room, but she slots in comfortably.

“Cold,” Razor grumbles, swatting aside her hair. It’s still wet.

Bennett leans over the other side of the bed and pulls up a towel that Fischl had left there, and he lays it on her head.

“Here you go,” He grins, and Fischl snorts. She moves up the bed a bit, and puts her head on Razor’s chest. Her face is very warm, but it’s worth it. 

Razor ruffles her hair with the towel, trying his best to dry it. Fischl scoots closer to him, soaking in his warmth, and Razor huffs and drops his hand so he can wrap his arm around her. 

Bennett slots in beside them, comfortably soaking in the body heat, and he lays his head on Razor’s shoulder. Razor carefully wraps his other arm around Bennett, and Bennett sighs happily.

She can hear Razor’s heartbeat, and she can feel the steady, life affirming warmth of Bennett’s body. It’s so comforting after the last few days they’ve had.

Bennett runs his thumb under Fischl’s eye.

“Your eyes… nice. Like forest.” Razor says.

“You’re not wearing your eyepatch.” Bennett observes softly.

“I didn’t feel the need to wear it right now.” Fischl murmurs. 

Bennett’s eyes widen, and then soften just as quickly. “Oh,” He says, lost for words.

“Yeah,” Fischl says. “It’s a surprise for me too.”

He doesn’t say anything more on the matter, but his eyes move from Fischl’s gaze and move to her lips.

“Did you want something?” She teases, if only to avoid being teased herself.

“Uh.”

Fischl leans in, nervous and a bit shaky, but Bennett leans in to meet her.

Their teeth clack. It’s kind of awkward. She wouldn’t have it any other way. Razor kisses her forehead, and he makes a face at how her hair is still wet. She laughs, and Razor makes the tiniest smile possible and sloppily kisses her on the lips this time. 

It’s only the afternoon. They have the rest of the day, and the rest of the week, and as many days as they want to choose to spend together. 

Usually she wouldn’t be grateful for someone going missing, but maybe… maybe this time, it was worth it.

All of their visions pulse gently from where they sit on the nightstand.

It’s probably too soon to say if this is serious. Life changes easily, and so do people. But for now, Fischl is content with the way things are, and the two boys who have chosen her.

Bennett squeezes her hand, and Razor hugs her closer to his chest.

Fischl closes her eyes, and she smiles.