Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Fuck, not again.

Amber can feel the strain of her cock begging to be freed from her sleep shorts as she wakes up from yet another colorful dream about the traveller who saved Mondstadt, Lumine. This is the third morning in a row Amber has woken up alone and frustrated with her body feeling way too warm for comfort; her bangs damp and stuck to her forehead, a blush dusting her ears, cheeks, and chest, and her cock hard and throbbing with precum already smearing against her shorts just waiting to be buried into the beautiful blonde omega.

From the first moment Lumine appeared on the Outrider’s usual route in the outskirts of Mondstadt, Amber thought she was breathtaking. Lumine’s eyes were shining bright like the golden colored sap she found on trees that grow sunsettias; Amber could look at them for days. Lumine’s scent radiated off of her. She smelled like the Cecilia flowers Amber would pick on Starsnatch Cliff to bring home. She immediately wanted to bury her nose in Lumine’s neck to smell her.

The blonde traveller wasn’t like anyone she had met before. Lumine flaunts her scent like an Alpha would, she’s straight forward, and dominant. She’s witty and sarcastic and just loves teasing the shit out of Amber about everything she does. Amber hates it but loves it all at the same time. The brunette has never felt the need to prove herself as an Alpha like she does when she’s with Lumine. Her Alpha wants to put Lumine in her place, make her submissive like a good omega should be. But on the other hand, She wants Lumine shoving her down into the bed using Amber for all she’s worth. It drives her crazy but in the best way possible and that’s why she's, once again, debating if she should take care of herself before she goes about her day of being an Outrider.

Amber’s internal battle doesn’t last long as she quickly yanks her sleep shorts low enough to free her cock. A sigh of relief falls from the alpha’s lips as she moves her hand down her body to grip the base of her cock. She steadily slides her hand up her length to the tip a couple of times to collect her precum to lube her shaft. Amber pumps her cock leisurely from the tip down to the base getting a feel of her length. The Outrider has always known she has a nice looking dick. She’s girthy enough to give a delicious stretch that would have any omega moaning with their eyes rolling back and lengthy enough to reach deep inside where some alphas’ only wish they could reach.

Even though Amber has been with others in the past, none of them compare to even the thought of Lumine. She can’t stop imagining Lumine under her, whining and begging for Amber’s cock to be push inside her. Amber bites her bottom lip and strokes her cock faster. The brunette wants to see Lumine’s short blonde hair against her bed sheets with a bright beautiful blush staining across her neck down her chest. She wants to see her perky breast bouncing back and forth from the force of her hips slapping against Lumine’s ass. She wants to feel her cock buried inside the blonde’s wet warmth with their fluids mixing. Amber can feel how close she is to cumming already, she’s panting heavily and moaning softly to herself. Her body is hot and flushed with a light sheen of sweat gracing her skin. Amber wants to know the feeling of their bare skin pressing against each other. To feel Lumine’s arms and legs wrap around her body keeping Amber close as breathy moans and high pitched whines fall from her mouth next to Amber’s ear. The Brunette can only imagine the delicious pain of Lumine’s nails raking against her back. The head of her cock is a deep red, it’s throbbing, tittering on the precipice of finishing and not. She’s bucking her hips up to meet the pump of her hand gripping her dick firmly. The Outrider wants to mark Lumine; make Lumine hers - her mate. Amber wants everyone to know that the blonde traveller belongs to her and her only; she wants to knot her, she wants to feel her knot press inside Lumine, stretching her even more than she already is. That thought shoots electricity through her whole body and pushes Amber over the edge, she shoots cum all over her stomach, with Lumine’s name rolling off her lips with every spurt. 

As the brunette comes down from the high of her release, she gives herself shallow strokes to get the last drops out. Once her climax subsides, loneliness takes its place. She can only wish that the beautiful omega was basking in the post orgasm haze with her so early in the morning, but she’s not. The omega is Inazuma with plenty of people showering her with attention. Especially Miss Kamisato Ayaka, an Alpha of the Kamisato clan. Amber groans internally, already regretting touching herself because of all the emotional guilt and shame that comes after. The last time the Outrider saw Lumine, she was nonstop speaking fondly of a “beautiful alpha” she would like to get to know better. Amber knows she lost her chance with Lumine but she still can’t shake these feelings away after so much time. She can already feel tears threatening to spill down her face, Amber is embarrassed that her emotions, after so long, can still get her worked up like this. She just wants to be her alpha. 

As much as she would love to sleep these feelings away, Amber’s starting to feel grossed out from the drying cum on her stomach.

Better start the day and shower I suppose.

Chapter Text

Days go by; weeks go by; months go by; years go by.

Amber is a more experienced outrider these days. Once she was a young alpha, almost 19 years old, but now she’s a strong and resilient 28-year-old. She’s memorized her routes, where they’ve become more than a second nature to her. Nothing catches her by surprise; she’s weathered for anything when scoping out the land. She always makes sure to go through her checklist thoroughly, ensuring she doesn't miss a beat or slip up due to complacency. Jean has offered her plenty of times to move up to Captain and form her own division of new outriders she can train, but the Crimson Knight always declines. Amber remains dedicated and loyal to the people of Mondstadt, as well as continuing to chase her dream of filling the shoes her Grandfather has left behind. If you ask anyone who knows her, they’ll all tell you she has surpassed anything her grandfather could ever imagine; the brunette has always been a perfectionist in that sense.

Amber has forever put on a strong facade for the people she has sworn to protect; she probably always will. Deep down though, the alpha knows she hasn’t been present since a certain golden-haired omega left. As much as she's tried to move on and force herself to meet new people, her love life has just been filled with small flings to fill the void; even that got tiresome for the brunette. Her inner alpha has not been pleased by any means.

The brunette is only working in the morning today due to Jean and Lisa nagging her about overworking herself. She chuckles at the thought now, she understands they just want what’s best for her. Amber knows she is headstrong, but she can’t help it! Once she finishes her morning patrols and everything is all cleared, Amber wants to stop by her favorite lunch spot, Good Hunter. The knight loves going there, whether it’s for a quick bite or a dinner with some friends; she’s almost forgotten she stopped coming here altogether at one point. 

The alpha meanders her way to Good Hunter. She finds a small table near the edge of the plaza and basks in the sun for a bit. It was so much colder this morning, with the crispy air hitting her skin on patrol; the dewiness on the grass had always been her favorite. She almost thought to wear pants instead of her usual shorts, but now with the sun beating over her head, she's glad she wore shorts after all. As the aroma coming from the kitchen of Good Hunter drifts in the air, something far too familiar stirs in her chest; Amber leans back in her chair, half to stretch and half to let out an exasperated sigh at the memories that are coming back up.

Her gaze wanders to how lively the square is at this time of day, and some citizens greet her with smiles and waves. The brunette, of course, returns the greetings—she’s the Outrider of Mondstadt after all—absentmindedly though. She’s far too accustomed to drifting off these days. Back to when coming to Good Hunter wasn’t just about getting food.

Back to her.

The brunette alpha would meet Lumine here all the time. Whether they were grabbing a quick bite or just meeting in the late evening, when Amber finished her Outrider duties and Lumine finished her commissions for the day. She loved how the orange sky would light up the omega's golden hair; it looked as if it was glowing like the fireflies they would find out in the hills of Monstadt. Sometimes they wouldn’t even talk, just sit in each other's presence, watching as the stars slowly lit up the sky. Those were Amber’s favorite times, even the memory is enough to pull a soft smile out of Amber, her alpha happy at the thought of the little omega with her. As fast as the feelings came, they slowly soured into sadness. Her shoulder slumps, and she closes her eyes tightly.

How much longer am I going to feel like this? She thinks to herself—a familiar voice breaks through her thoughts.

“You’re staring off again.”

The Outrider blinks. Sara is standing across from her, her apron tied around her waist, holding a tray of food in her hand.

There’s an edge of amusement in her tone as a smirk plays at her mouth, but her eyes search Amber’s face carefully. “That look on your face is basically a regular here, too. Should I start charging it for a seat?” 

Amber straightens a bit and huffs a laugh out, trying to play it off. “I’m just tired, I promise. Patrolling was long this morning is all.”

Sara raises her eyebrow unamused while setting a plate and a cup in front of Amber. “Rightt. ‘Tired.’ So that’s what we’re calling it now?”

Amber doesn’t answer, just picks at her food like it might save her in the moment. Sara doesn’t move away though. Instead she leans against the table slightly, cocking her head to the side all smug.

“If I had to guess, you’re thinking about that golden-haired traveller from a while back again?”

Amber’s jaw tightens at the mention of Lumine. She’s not angry though, it’s similar to the way people flinch when their bruise gets hit.

“It’s really not like that.” Amber adds dejectedly. 

“Mmmhm.” The hazelnut-haired beta crosses her arms. “Amber, you bring her up without realizing it. We dated for what, three weeks? I felt like I was a rebound from someone who never even broke up with you.” Sara looked away, the edge in her voice softening slightly. 

Ouch. That one stung, feeling her alpha’s pride falter. Guilt flickers across Amber's face. “You weren’t a rebound it was just—”

“Well, you could’ve fooled me. You were nice and sweet, polite, and I understand you were doing your best, but you were always just somewhere else the whole time.” Sara gestures to Amber’s plate. “Like now.” 

Amber stares at her food. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Contemplating on her actions from when they were younger.

The beta exhales through her nose, rolling her eyes. “I know. You never do. You just… don’t let people in.” Sara brushes off her apron, and a soft smile graces her face after a pause. “But hey,” she adds, voice lighter now,” at least you’re consistent.”

She gives an exaggerated wink, which causes some tension in Amber’s shoulders to relax. “Half of Mondstadt is in love with you, and you ghost them like the dirty laundry thrown all over your room!” “Amber can’t help the soft laugh that escapes her. “You’re terrible.”

“Takes one to know one,” Sara shoots back smugly. Then, after a pause, “Regardless, I hope she comes back, or that you at least stop waiting around like this.” Amber gives a sad smile as Sara heads back to the kitchen to continue working. Amber is left alone again in the sunlight, with cold food, and a lie that she’s used to the emptiness.

The alpha truly did like Sara, but the relationship was comfortable. Nothing Sara did was as passionate as a single look from the golden set of eyes she still dreams about. Sara was safe, and nothing about her reminded Amber of Lumine. Not her scent, since she was a beta, not the clothes she wore, not her chestnut-colored hair, not her reddish-brown eyes; nothing. In the end, Amber was constantly yearning for the omega. That was the ultimate demise of their relationship; she never said it out loud, but Sara knew. ​​

She watches Sara disappear into the kitchen, her heart twisting with a guilt she no longer tries to justify. It wasn’t fair to either of them—especially not to Sara, who never reminded her of Lumine. And that, maybe, was the real reason it didn’t work.

Today has been a whirlwind of emotions. It was suppose to be a break; a time to actually relax, to breathe, not to get sucked into the same old patterns of the past. After lunch at Good Hunter Amber, of course, she drifted off into her own thoughts.

When she tried to pay her tab, Sara waved her off absentmindedly, with a look that was more knowing than teasing.

“Consider it something to brighten your day,” then she added under her breath, “Barbatos knows you need it.”

 Sara was right about a lot of things today, and she most definitely didn’t forget how messy Amber’s place could get. 

Maybe I should spend some time cleaning up. Amber sheepishly thought. 

Sara practically lived at Amber’s house when they were together. It was the first time her place felt like a home. Since the brunette was constantly out on patrols or running errands for Jean, she’d never been good at keeping her space tidy. But Sara was there for her, cleaning, packing her lunches, and making the bed in the specific way that she liked it. Waking up beside someone. Falling asleep with her head on Amber’s chest. It was a quiet safety. It was the first time Amber realized what comfort was really like. Her alpha was content to have someone. But that comfort wasn’t love. It wouldn’t have been fair to keep up that facade when Amber wasn’t truly in it.

The last time the outrider saw Lumine was right after the Traveller returned from Inazuma. She stopped by Mondstat, just to visit, before continuing to Sumeru. Three years had passed since the first time she left for Liyue, but it didn’t matter. Amber remembered how the omega looked that day. Radiant. Wind-swept. Like freedom itself. The kind of beauty that didn’t come from clothes or posture, but from purpose. And just like that, she was gone again.

All she was left with was doubt and a bitterness of who she had been spending all her time with: Miss Kamisato Ayaka.

Amber never asked or brought it up. It was painted clearly through every letter from Inazuma.

Ayaka this, Akaya that. 

Even when she got back to Mondstadt, it was the same. The omega’s eyes would light up any moment she spoke of Ayaka, the way the blonde's voice would soften; Amber could only pretend not to notice. She was just a young alpha; a coward. The brunette knew she had no right to be angry, but her alpha couldn’t help it. The raw possessiveness of her alpha twisted at the thought of someone else getting the mere pieces she’d spend years longing for.

Before she realized it, the knight made it back to her front door. The walk from Good Hunter had been a blur; her thoughts spiraling the entire time.

Maybe cleaning wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Maybe doing something, anything, would keep her from being ripped apart at her seams. From opening the part of her that still had hope…

That it wasn't just her.