.

.

.

You

"I wasn't planning on it. I don't feel like sleeping in a cave tonight, and I'd like to sleep on a proper bed for once."

Thoma

"What are you..."

"About... Talking..."

"Ehe... Haah... Haha..."

You

"Okay—shh. I want to sleep."

Thoma

"Hold me?..."

You

"... I'm sorry?"

.

.

.

Thoma

"Hold me."

"I want... You to hold me."

You

"Why?"

Thoma

"Because you're warm."

"And I'm sooo... Cooold..."

He said, while still slurring his speech and forcefully snuggling into your arms like a worm. You couldn't help but chuckle. You caved in and put Thoma to sleep while you held him in your arms, his head resting on your torso. He was all cuddled up with you in bed. 

This isn't normally part of your nighttime routine, but you'd let it slide for one night. 

.

.

.

THE NEXT MORNING, THOMA'S RESIDENCE

Thoma

"Mmh..."

Thoma grumbled and moaned as he tossed and turned in bed, rubbing his eyes as he awoke. He lay flat on his back and stretched his arms and legs wide before noticing something was different.

Thoma

Hmm... Smells nice.

That's not my cologne.

Hm.

.

.

.

I can't remember anything. 

Thoma ruffled his hair slowly with one hand, attempting to recall the events of the previous night. 

Thoma

I'm half-naked... Did I sleep with somebody?

...

No... I for sure would've remembered something like that.

Maybe last night it was just hot in my bedroom.

Thoma noticed someone exiting his bathroom through his foggy vision.

Thoma

"Mmh... Hello?"

The figure simply continued walking, picked up a bag from the floor, and left his house.

Thoma

"Huh. I'm even hallucinating now." 

Let's see...

I was at a concert. I drank... And...

.

.

.

That's where it goes blank.

Hm.

"I should go back to bed if I'm still hallucinating..."

Thoma drew the covers over his head and rolled onto his side, falling asleep again.

.

.

.

You

"Close one. He'd just woken up."

You spoke to yourself while scanning the area for Tenryou Commission personnel. When you saw that the coast was clear, you began walking with your hood raised and your hands in your pockets.

.

.

.

A FEW HOURS LATER, THOMA'S RESIDENCE ONCE AGAIN

Thoma

"Fuck!"

Thoma yelped as he saw the time on his clock. He had told Ayato a few hours before leaving for the concert that he would pay him a visit around midday. It was already three whole hours after twelve o'clock. 

Thoma

"Shit... shit..."

Thoma ripped out his clothing drawers in a hurry, only to discover that a large portion of them had vanished, leaving a complete mess.

Thoma

"Are you fucking kidding me?! Did I get robbed?!"

He searched everywhere and eventually left the house with a plain but tattered white t-shirt and a pair of shitty sweatpants.

.

.

.

Thoma

"My lord!"

Ayaka

"Ah, there you are, Thoma."

Thoma

"Ayaka! I am so sorry!"

Ayaka

"Yup... You're a tad bit late." 

Thoma

"I know... I'm sorry. I slept in."

Ayaka

"... It's alright. He's in his room."

Thoma

"Phew..."

Thoma walked slowly to Ayato's room, still trying to catch his breath. He knocked on the door.

Ayato

"Come in."

COME INSIDE MEEEEEE 😘

anyways

Thoma

"My lord?..."

He greeted, slowly opening the door.

Ayato

"Thoma."

Thoma

"Sorry I'm late."

Ayato

"No worries. I've been reading while I waited."

Thoma

"So, feeling any better today?"

Ayato

"Not at all. 

Thoma

"Aw, man. You've been taking medicine, right?"

Ayato

"Yes. Every 4-6 hours."

Ayato has had a high temperature for three days now.

Thoma

"... Don't you think we should take you to a doctor?"

Ayato

"I've had a fever for 5 days before, and I was fine. I'll just wait it out, okay?"

Thoma

"Isn't that abnormal?"

Ayato

"What, having a fever for more than three days?"

Thoma

"Yeah."

Ayato

"Hm... Sure, but I've gone through it before. Please, Thoma, don't worry about me."

Thoma

"Hehe... It's hard to not worry when you're so close to me."

Ayato grinned.

Thoma grinned back.

Y'ALL DO NOT KNOW HOW HARD I'M TRYING TO NOT MAKE THIS SOUND LIKE AN AYATO X THOMA FIC

Ayato

"So, what was up with you?"

Thoma

"Hm? What do you mean, my lord?"

Ayato

"You're late today. Why?"

"Don't worry, I'm not upset with you."

Thoma

"Heh, well, Ayaka sure is."

.

"I slept in."

Ayato

"Strange. That doesn't seem like you."

Thoma

"I know, right? I never sleep in!"

"I guess it must be because I drank pretty heavily last night... I don't know how I managed to go home while being that intoxicated."

"There was a bunch of other stuff; I'm sure of it, but it all seems like such a haze to me."

Ayato

"Oh, Thoma."

"Don't make that a habit."

Thoma

"I won't. I promise."

Ayato

"Alright."

Thoma

"Ooh, I know! How about I get you some milk tea from Inazuma City?"

Ayato

"Thoma, I appreciate that you know my cravings, but I've got to stick to hot tea and such for now."

"Plus, isn't it difficult to breathe outside because of all that smoke?"

Thoma

"Oh, come on, I know you waaant it!"

Ayato chuckled.

Ayato

"Thoma, you just ran from there. It's quite the distance."

Thoma

"And I'd do it again!"

"I'll be right back!"

Ayato

"Wait, Thoma!"

"Be careful! Don't inhale too much of that smoke!"

Thoma raced right out again, rushing back to where he'd just come from.

.

.

.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, INAZUMA CITY

Clerk

"That will be 720 mora."

Thoma withdrew his mora from his wallet and handed it over to the clerk. 

Thoma

"Here you are."

.

"The smoke outside's mysterious, don't you think?"

Clerk

"Definitely. There have been no sightings or reports of any fires, but the Raiden Shogun has stated that this had happened before. Make sure you get yourself a facemask, alright?"

 "Breathing in all this smoke isn't good for you."

Thoma

"Will do."

Thoma peered carefully at a billboard just outside the store as the clerk began mixing the drink.

Clerk

"Here is your drink, sir."

The clerk said while wiping the drink clean with a paper towel before placing it on the pick-up counter.

.

.

.

Clerk

"Ahem."

.

.

.

"... Sir?"

The clerk uneasily watched Thoma hunched over, peering directly into the billboard outside the shop.

Clerk

"... Excuse me,"

Thoma

"..."

Clerk

"Sir-"

Thoma

"Do you know this person?"

Thoma asked and cut the clerk off, ripping a piece of paper from the billboard and displaying it close to the clerk's face.

Clerk

"... That's Y/N. Highest bounty in all of Teyvat, sitting at 500 million mora."

"It says it on the paper-"

Thoma

"... Oh my fucking god!"

Clerk

"..."

Thoma

"Sorry! So, so, sorry for the language-"

Clerk

"It's fine. You're drink is ready."

...

"It's been ready."

Thoma

"Oh... My bad. Thank you."

Thoma, coming to the realization of something, wandered through Inazuma City, asking locals tons and tons of questions.

.

.

.

Yoimiya

"So, Y/N, huh?"

Thoma

"Yes."

Yoimiya

"How have you just heard about them? Their bounty's been around for ages; that's why it's so high."

Thoma

"Uh... Well, I've heard about them before, of course, but I didn't actually really get to... Y'know, get more into it."

Yoimiya

"... Why are you talking like that?"

Thoma

"Hm? Like- Like what?"

Yoimiya

"Like that."

Yoimiya inquired, observing Thoma fumble with his hands while speaking in an uneasy tone. For the life of him, he couldn't sit still.

Thoma

"Uh..." 

He said while glancing around and avoiding eye contact with Yoimiya.

Yoimiya

"Hm... What are you hiding?!"

Thoma

"Pfft- Nothing!"

Yoimiya

"Tell me!"

Thoma

"Ow- Ow ow!"

Yoimiya grabbed Thoma's ear and began tugging on it.

Thoma

"Stop- Stop stop!"

Yoimiya

"Spill it, boy! I know you're hiding something from me!"

Thoma

"I slept with Y/N! I slept with Y/N!"