#kaedehara kazuha x reader

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five hundred years ago, a pair of immortal twins saved the world of teyvat from collapse with the help of its gods: the seven archons. as a result, they bestowed their powers upon the twins and crowned them the rulers of their kingdom, celestia. then, they disappeared from history, never to be seen or heard from again.

fast forward to five hundred years later, you are a mercenary living in the woods unknowingly rescued the twin rulers from thieves. indebted to you through this action, they offered you a position in their kingsguard. now a royal soldier, castle life takes time getting used to, especially when there have been threats made against the royals. you are tasked to find the source of those threats, and so far you suspect the various visitors that have stepped foot inside and decide whether they are either friend or foe.

will you be able to save the world from the forces of evil? or will it finally collapse — its supposed fate from five hundred years ago?

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• princeps cretaceus [albedo] - social interactions are not his forte and so are assassinations… or are they? several servants claim to witness him attempt to assassinate the twins, having him enlist you to help him clear his name.

• taurus iracundus [arataki itto] - the mighty mercenary leader has a bounty on his head for the recent robberies and kidnappings. you don’t believe he’s behind this, so you’ll have to punch the truth out of him… literally.

• monoceros caeli [childe] - the self-proclaimed diplomat is a terrible liar. in fact, he isn’t a diplomat at all. when his brother sneaks in for a visit, he dumps all his elder sibling responsibilities to you to hide what he really is.

• noctua [diluc] - politics are the least of his worries, except when they concern the knights of favonius. it’s suspicious that his views align with a vigilante named the darknight hero, so you decide to investigate the matter for yourself.

• aphros delos [eula] - the townspeople become even more upset with her due to her uncle conspiring with an enemy. to prove her trustworthiness, you must learn aristocratic etiquette from her to stop his evil schemes.

• canis bellatoris [gorou] - a certain guuji takes advantage of his adorable appearance to promote her works. you find it strangely convenient somehow that the targets on your list are attending the event by being drawn in by his alter ego.

• leo minor [jean] - work is always in her mind. her knights are concerned about her health, not to mention her sister. they task you to distract her during work while setting up a surprise party for her.

• acer palmatum [kaedehara kazuha] - the infamous crux fleet is hosting a clash for the strongest warriors in the kingdom. the grand prize goes missing, so you and the newest addition have to chase after the culprit.

• pavo ocellus [kaeya] - the cavalry captain is full of secrets, so it’s uncharacteristic of him to share one of his. his favor looks nothing more than a treasure hunt, but that’s just a scratch on the surface. what’s he up to exactly?

• cypressus custos [kamisato ayato] - the royal ball is a rare occasion where the young lord is seen in public. it’s also a good hiding place for enemies. you agree to act as his spy to prevent a potential massacre from happening.

• dracaena somnolenta [sangonomiya kokomi] - the divine priestess gets tired easily. her general states that she likes books, so you buy her favorites. upon entering her room, she’s been waiting for you in the most unexpected way.

• rubeum scutum [thoma] - soldiers from house kamisato love to criticize his special treatment by the family. he doesn’t mind, but you can clearly see that they’ve been troubling him, especially when his past is brought up.

• alatus [xiao] - the vigilant yaksha is posing as a soldier to meet you, the mercenary who fought a beast alone. rumor has it that demons have occupied the castle, and he has to risk his identity to make this fateful encounter happen.

• historia antiqua [zhongli] - a monster that was thought to disappear centuries ago mysteriously appeared to destroy the kingdom. while you search for ways to defeat them, a certain historian makes himself known from the shadows.

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inspired by fire emblem: three houses and based on my royal au headcanon: within these castle walls.since i reached 2k+ followers, the installments are planned to be around 2k words each. but maybe i could make them longer hehehe.

all these installments are inspired by their story quests (5* + kaeya) and hangout events (4*). if you haven’t done some of them, refrain from reading those to avoid spoilers. they’re not connected in any way, but they’re still part of the same universe.

the characters on my list are the same ones from my headcanon. however, i could always add more (dainsleif, scaramouche, yelan, etc.). i may or may not have roles for them already lol.

i’ll be graduating next month, so this will be worked on during the summer! let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!

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@albedostar; @aibiito;@aqualesha;@ayra2452008​ ; @bl6o6dy;@blissmal;@bluexiao;@bokutosworld;@cindoritos;@dreamiehrs;@emperatris-rinaka;@help-wtf-am-i-even-doing;@lilikags;@moss-murin;@pastelsicheng;@philosopher-of-fandoms;@shxnosuke;@sleepyyangyang;@softception;@stage-lucida;@sucrosia;@sunfloweritea;@ttaechi;@xriin;@ydmc;@yeetmeoffjueyunkarst; @yunzuha

(ModernAU!Kazuha x gn!Reader)

A/N:ahh it feels so good finally getting this posted. i dropped the piece i was originally working on so i’m glad this brought my motivation back. this is my first shot at modernAU! super fluffy and comforting. everyone, make sure you take care of yourself, especially at this time of the year!

warnings:none

SFW

word count: 1.7k

summary:When you’re about to crack from stress, there’s only one person who is able to put your mind at ease.

“I give up! I can’t do this anymore.”

Beyond frustrated, you slammed your textbook shut. You had been mindlessly staring at its contents for the last few minutes; the now meaningless words definitely would have turned your dull headache into a throbbing migraine if you continued.

After spending the entire day studying, your brain had finally burnt out and forced you away from the monotonous walls of text. The rational part of you knew that nothing would get done if you weren’t focused. Even so, you couldn’t help but feel like you were wasting precious time by taking a break. It made you anxious and only added to your stress.

A heavy sigh fell from your lips as you rubbed your temples. How much time had you spent studying in the first place? Could you even afford to take a break? Similar thoughts pounded in your head, but you were surprised to see the sun setting through the window. The golden light that filtered into the room gave you your answer.

In the middle of standing from your seat at the dining table, a soft knock echoed from your apartment’s front door.

“Coming,” you called. Your voice was weak due to not being used all day.

Upon opening the door, you were met with the troubled face of your boyfriend. Kazuha’s lips formed a slight pout as he looked you up and down, examining your condition.

“Are you okay, (Y/N)? I was getting worried,” he frowned, his voice laced with gentle concern. “You haven’t answered your phone all day.”

You stepped aside, nonverbally inviting him into your apartment. Kazuha shuffled over to your kitchen while you scanned the room for your phone. It was left abandoned, partially hidden underneath a cushion so as to not be a distraction while you worked.

“Ah, yeah—I’m okay. I’ve just had my face stuffed inside these stupid textbooks since this morning. I feel like my head is about to explode.” Picking up your phone, you saw Kazuha’s two missed calls and fourteen text messages from throughout the day, along with the various other notifications left unanswered. Guilt settled in your gut. “I’m sorry, Kazuha… I didn’t mean to worry you.”

While you were distracted on your phone, Kazuha snuck up behind you and trapped you in his arms. Soft lips placed a kiss on your temple, then disappeared as he moved his chin to rest on your shoulder.

“I understand, love. As long as you are safe, I can rest easy,” he consoled. You twisted your body in Kazuha’s hold to face him directly. His scarlet irises contained nothing but love as he gave you a tender smile and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. “Your dedication is something I greatly admire about you, you know.”

Whenever Kazuha spoke to you, it was almost guaranteed to be something tooth-achingly sweet. Adoration and affection dripped from his words like acid and melted your heart. A comforting warmth grew from your chest and spread through your body, alleviating every knot of tension you carried. Kazuha never failed to make you feel as though your hard work was worth it in the end.

His compliment caused your cheeks to heat slightly. “Mm, careful now. All that sweet talk might go to my head,” you joked. Kazuha shared your goofy smile and leaned in to kiss your lips, only to divert and peck your nose instead. Now, you were the one left pouting while he wore a teasing grin.

“Well, we wouldn’t want that to happen, would we?” Kazuha ruffled your hair and pulled away from the loose hug, making his way back to your small apartment kitchen. “Are you hungry at all?”

You hadn’t noticed the weak pangs of hunger coming from your stomach until his question forced you to acknowledge them.

“I guess I am… I haven’t eaten much all day, actually. I’ve been so busy with other things.” You heard a sigh and the rustle of a plastic bag from the kitchen.

“I figured as much. I brought some takeout from your favorite place on the way here.” The smell of food wafting through the room made your mouth water. “We can watch a movie while we eat, if you want. Is there anything that’s caught your eye recently?”

Ah, so Kazuha really wasan angel. There was no other reasonable explanation for the godsend who you called your boyfriend.

This time, it was you who hugged your partner from behind while he prepared the food. “Thank you, Kazuha,” you said, burying your face in between his shoulder blades. “You always treat me so good… I’ll never know what I did to deserve you.” His upper body vibrated as he hummed in response. You knew it was his way of accepting your words, even if he didn’t completely agree with them.

You stood holding Kazuha in comfortable silence, relishing the feeling of his muscles slightly flexing whenever he moved his arms. His body heat drew you in closer and closer until he wiggled out of your grasp, making a teasingly unimpressed face at the way you ‘couldn’t even wait until the food was ready to cuddle.’

—

You sighed contently, curling deeper into Kazuha’s chest. The light from the television flashed through the room and illuminated your lover’s handsome face with cool blues and magentas. It was a calm night; the lack of clouds allowed the vibrant moonlight to stream through the curtains.

The steady beating of Kazuha’s heart nearly lulled you to sleep. His eyes were hazy as they watched the t.v. screen, as if his mind was somewhere else entirely. This wasn’t an unusual expression for Kazuha by any means. His aloof and easygoing nature was one of the most endearing things about him, but the list went on and on. You loved the way he would offhandedly recite poems while you walked through the park, and the way he always brought an extra umbrella to class for you when he knew it was about to rain, and the way he managed to fall asleep practically anywhere at any time.

But you especially loved moments like these, where it felt as though it was just you and Kazuha, alone and ignorant to the rest of the world. The gentle sighs from his breathing were barely audible over the t.v.’s low volume, yet you could hear them clearly all the same. It was only with him that you felt completely at peace; every stressor in your mind was hushed by his presence.

You figured Kazuha could sense your attention was focused on him when he broke his red eyes away from the t.v. and looked down towards you.

“Is something wrong?”

You chewed the inside of your cheek before speaking your worries aloud.

“Are you happy with me, Kazuha?”

Kazuha’s eyebrows raised, evidently surprised by your question. It was a bit unfair of you to ask something like that out of the blue, but you knew better than to lie to him. Once Kazuha thought you were upset, he would always try to comfort you until you opened up about whatever problem was on your mind. You didn’t want to make him any more concerned for you than you already had.

“Of course I am, love.” He cupped your face with his hand soothingly. “Did something happen to make you think otherwise?”

“No, nothing happened. It’s just that… I’m really happy with you. You’re so sensitive to my needs, sometimes I think you even know me better than I know myself,” you laughed softly. “But, if I don’t make you feel the same way… If you aren’t happy, I don’t want you to waste your time on me—worrying or anything like that. I doubt today will be the last time I disappear for a bit. I won’t be able to spend as much time with you anymore, so I’m scared that I’ll make you frustrated, or you won’t be satisfied being in a relationship with me anymore.” You hid your face in his chest, unable to hold such intimate eye contact with Kazuha at the moment. “I don’t want you to feel lonely.”

You held your breath. There was a short moment of silence before you heard Kazuha chuckle. It was your turn to look up at him in surprise.

“Lonely?” He smiled affectionately. “Don’t you know who you’re talking to, love? Even if a day passes where I don’t see your face, the fact that I can call you mine fills my heart with more than enough joy. There is no room left for loneliness.”

You groaned out a weak complaint, scooting your body up in order to bury your nose in the crook of his neck. “But still,” you whined, “I’ll be really busy with my studies.”

Kazuha huffed at your stubbornness. “Aren’t you forgetting? It’s not as though we won’t be able to see each other at all, and I don’t expect you to drop your work just to spend time with me. I am here only to support you, not to cause you more stress than needed,” he cooed. Kazuha’s fingers combed through your hair as he spoke. You had to stop yourself from moaning out at the feeling. “Unless, you don’t want to be with me anymore? I wouldn’t want to distract-”

“No!” You shot up, looking him directly in the face. “That’s not what I want at all! It was just-”

Kazuha abruptly silenced you with his lips. Your breath was taken away as you temporarily froze in shock, processing his actions before kissing him back just as passionately. The kiss told you everything you needed to know—that there was no point in worrying for Kazuha, that he would get by just fine with some more alone time than usual. He was a bit of a wanderer and was always able to adjust to the flow of things. He never got high-strung over stuff that didn’t go his way. Kazuha was always patient and understanding with you, no matter what happened. You knew you were the luckiest person in the world to have the chance to stay by his side.

As your lungs began to feel tight, Kazuha broke the kiss and pulled a few inches away from your face. You stared at each other, lightly panting, before Kazuha parted his lips to speak.

“Good,” he smiled, “because leaving wasn’t really an option, anyways.”

Kaedehara Kazuha x gn!Reader

A/N:the fluff just keeps getting more and more disgusting, doesn’t it? i have severe kazuha brainrot recently… pls enjoy <3

warnings:light swearing, none just fluff

SFW

word count: 1k

summary:If you were left with no choice but to leave the comfort of your bed, there was no other way you’d want to wake up. Morning cuddles with Kazuha!

It was nearly impossible not to be lulled to sleep by the motion of the waves. They gently rocked the hull of the Alcor like it was a baby’s cradle. Some days, it was impossible to rest as violent storms shook the battleship all through the night. The ocean had chosen to be merciful, however, letting you comfortably sleep without a care in the world.

Fingers ran through your hair, lightly massaging from your temple to your crown, to the base of your neck. The feeling made you hum in pleasure. You curled in closer to the heat source underneath you, trying to find even more contact than your already close proximity offered.

“(Y/N)… It’s time to greet the day, my love.”

A displeased noise left your throat. You weakly squeezed your left arm that was tucked around the waist of the person separating you from the surface of the bed. Two pairs of legs impossibly managed to become even more tangled in each other, the mess hidden beneath a shared quilt.

Their hand that wasn’t petting your head rubbed your back soothingly, tracing lines up and down your spine. “Don’t be like that… I can tell that today will be beautiful, with nice weather and clear skies. Let’s go look together, shall we?”

You slowly opened your eyes at their words. The thin curtains that framed your cabin’s windows had been left open, allowing sunlight to leak through and paint the floor and walls. Distant chatter was muffled outside of your door, along with the sound of crying seagulls and splashing waves. You lifted your cheek up from the bare chest of your partner, replacing the empty spot with your chin.

Kazuha smiled down at you with sleepy eyes that were slightly less fresh to the morning than your own. The sunlight highlighted the gentle curves of his features. His hair was even more curly than usual, now released from the confines of its hair tie. White and red strands swirled everywhere like a halo, accentuating his angelic face—urging you to give it some attention. Who were you to deny the request?

Your hand, which had been resting open-palmed on his chest, snaked up to his cheek. You traced Kazuha’s cheekbone and tucked a portion of his bangs behind his ear. The eye near your hand shut as his head leaned in closer.

“I’m perfectly content with this view,” you objected. You knew there was no sight in Teyvat that could ever compare to the man in front of you.

Kazuha sighed out through his nose but gave you no response. Thinking you won a few more minutes of sleep, you retracted your hand from his face and snuggled back into his chest. His slow heartbeat drummed against your ear, calming your own heart. It was peaceful for only a moment.

Your lover wrapped his arms around your waist and suddenly flipped you over. Your eyes shot open in surprise, looking up at the man who now straddled your body. Kazuha’s bangs hung down, tickling your forehead. His hands were placed on either side of your head and his elbows were bent, allowing him to lean his face only centimeters away from your own. You pouted, knowing he was plotting something to get you out of bed.

“What’s with that look, darling?” Kazuha asked with a smile. His eyes broke contact with your own as he moved up to kiss your forehead.

“Your sinister temptations have no effect on me. I won’t be swayed so easily…” You said, lying through your teeth. Kazuha knew as well as you did just how badly you crumbled under his kisses.

“Sinister?” he laughed. “Isn’t that a bit much?” Kazuha’s lips moved to your right temple and down your cheek. You subconsciously tilted your head to give him more access.

“No… It’s definitely warranted when you use such underhanded methods. Ulterior motive bleeds through those kisses of yours.” You could feel his lips smile against your face through his kisses, which had now finished trailing down your left cheek.

Kazuha’s half-lidded, loving eyes returned to meet your own. His soft hand cupped your face as he leaned down, placing a final kiss on your lips. You fully succumbed to his plan and closed your eyes, deeply kissing him back.

After a few seconds, Kazuha broke the kiss and touched his nose to the tip of yours.

“Guilty.”

His kiss itself had distracted you from its purpose. You couldn’t help but chuckle as he fully pulled away from your face. Kazuha sat on top of you, resting his weight on his own legs instead of your body. The two of you stayed in that position, happily gazing into each other’s eyes and letting the bliss of the moment linger. Tranquil moments such as these were precious; both of you knew to cherish them for as long as possible.

An abrasive knock disrupted the peaceful air, pulling your attention to the cabin’s door.

“Kazuha! (Y/N)! Get your asses out of bed, Captain Beidou needs you!” A voice called. Kazuha climbed out of bed and began to make himself presentable. You sighed annoyedly, throwing your forearm over your eyes.

“It isn’t fair, Kazuha. Why can’t we just stay here all day?” You complained. He just laughed in response.

“I tried telling you, love. You should know by now that Captain Beidou waits for no one.” He finished brushing his wild hair and tied it into its usual side ponytail. “After we deal with Beidou, we can have some breakfast together. I’ll even make us some tea.” Kazuha walked over to the side of the bed and stood over you with an expectant look on his face.

A final huff fell from your lips as you threw the quilt off your body and crawled out of bed. As you and Kazuha got ready for the day together, chatting about the limited items on the breakfast menu, a warm feeling filled your heart. If you had to leave the comfort of your bed, then there was no other alarm you would rather wake up to.

Kaedehara Kazuha x gn!Reader

A/N:requested by @feartheuwu lol idk if you were deadass about a part 2… i wasn’t planning on doing one but i made a small little bonus just since you asked and i had an idea from my shower thoughts <3 not much, just a little somethin sweet for the kids. pls enjoy!

SFW

word count: 545

summary: bonus to the og story

Part 1

- [Bonus!] -

The first night of the banquet came to a quiet end as the party goers slowly filtered out. The conscious sailors of the Alcor dragged their inebriated crewmates out of the square—whether they were on their way home or to a nearby bar, only the Archons knew. I chose to stay behind, offering to help close stalls and collect any stray dishes left behind.

“So, you and Kazuha, huh?”

A sudden loud voice by my side made me jump, pulling away from the table I was cleaning. Beidou stood there looking at me with a cheshire grin and red cheeks. I couldn’t even act surprised at the confrontation.

“O-oh, you saw all that?” I awkwardly chuckled.

“Me and the whole harbor,” she smirked. “Who knew he had it in him! It was about damn time, too. I made quite the haul in bets tonight thanks to that!”

“Bets?! You guys bet on—wait, how did you even know what happened? We were too far away from anyone to be overheard!” My entire face burned.

Beidou just laughed and raised her eyebrows. “We didn’t need to hear anything! It was pretty obvious from the way you both-”

“Okay, okay, I get it!” I cut her off. I didn’t think I’d survive hearing about how my entire crew watched Kazuha and I dance together. “Gods, this is so embarrassing. I told him that we wouldn’t hear the end of it-”

Peck!

“Oh, hello there, Captain! I didn’t know you were still here.”

I stared at Beidou in shock, not quite comprehending what had just happened. A hand was thrown around my hip and held me against the sudden body by my side. A body that belonged to Kazuha, who had just kissed my cheek in front of Beidou. The tall woman let out a booming laugh at the scene.

“Kazuha! Have some tact in front of your boss, won’t you?” She joked, obviously undisturbed by his actions. “Don’t go breaking a valuable crew member of mine.”

My mouth was gaping open stupidly, like a fish out of water. Kazuha’s body was warm against mine. The ghost of his lips was the spark that lit me on fire.

“I-I’m not…Kazuha! Why would you…” I couldn’t form a cohesive thought, whipping my head between Beidou and Kazuha. I heard him chuckle at my flustered state.

“Captain, I’m almost offended at the idea. Me? Breaking (Y/N)? I would never do such a thing.” Kazuha leaned close to me, whispering in my ear with a smirk, “Isn’t that right?”

This man was going to be the death of me.

I pulled away from Kazuha’s hold on me and held my hands out defensively. My mouth moved, trying to stutter out an answer, but ultimately failing. Instead of standing there like an idiot for any longer, I decided to grab the dishes I had been previously collecting from the table and began to speed-walk away.

“Agh! Y-You both are so annoying!” I heard them share a laugh as I moved farther away.

-

“Excuse me, Beidou. I ought to go fix what I broke,” Kazuha said. He made his way after you with a cheeky smile on his face, leaving Beidou to shake her head and grin, happy for her two friends.

Kaedehara Kazuha x gn!Reader

A/N:this piece made me really soft,, i’m coping with the loss of the megumi nendroid selling out so fast… anyways, please enjoy <3

warnings:drinking, pure fluff

SFW

word count: 1.6k

summary:After a long voyage, the only way the Crux Fleet knows how to celebrate their return is with a big party. Kazuha seems to have his own agenda for the night, however.

Bonus/Pt. 2

It was no secret that the Crux Fleet loved a good party.

Anytime the rambunctious crew of the Alcor had a successful voyage, they made sure to celebrate it properly. Their previous trip had been especially bountiful. They had managed to overfill multiple crates with valuable gems and artifacts; loot that would surely make a grand profit for the fleet. The only way to adequately welcome them home and acknowledge their victories was by holding their traditional three-day long celebratory banquet.

The tame docking square of Liyue harbor was quite the sight to behold during the banquet. It was transformed into a lively place with fragrant food stalls lining the area and tons of citizens and crew members enjoying the Wanmin Restaurant’s catering. Live music constantly filled the air, whether it was Xinyan’s famous rock or a small acoustic band. People danced all through the square and chatted with each other. The boisterous energy of the Crux Fleet seemed to be contagious all around, fueling the spirit of the banquet goers. It was either that or the copious amounts of alcohol available to the public.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched my crewmates enjoy the party. They acted like children on a sugar-high, running around and dancing with each other. An arm-wrestling tournament had somehow formed in the corner of the square, Beidou of course holding the title of “undefeated arm-wrestling champion.” This didn’t discourage any of the burlier men, however. They only laughed at their defeat and declared a rematch against the battle ship captain.

A small group of the more reserved crew members had settled down on the other side of the platform and fell into casual conversation. I hung on the outskirts of this group, leaning against the balustrade and nursing a cup of alcohol. It made me happy to watch all of my friends relaxing and enjoying the well-deserved banquet held just for them. The change of pace was needed after the arduous trip we all had just returned from.

I sighed deeply, resting my muscles and letting the sound of music and idle chatter fill my ears. A new presence next to me caused me to turn my head.

Kazuha had found his way to my side while I was distracted by the party. He looked at me with his kind eyes and tender smile. I noticed his cheeks held a bit more color than usual, the culprit most likely being the cup of alcohol he also held. In all honesty, I would be more surprised if there was someone who wasn’tdrinking at this banquet.

“Didn’t feel like arm-wrestling with Beidou?” I asked with a chuckle.

“Mm, can’t quite say I wanted to break an arm tonight,” he joked back. I loved when Kazuha was in the mood to joke around with me—his sarcastic side always managed to light a fire in my stomach. It was impossible not to feel excited.

I sent my gaze back out towards the banquet’s crowd. “You don’t usually hang around for these types of things. Something special about tonight?” I wasn’t complaining about his presence. If anything, I hoped he would stay as long as possible. It was good for him to be social every once and a while, especially when we were cramped up on the Alcor for so long.

“Not in particular. It’s a beautiful night beside the water, and the air is warm and comforting,” Kazuha mused. “I also happened to be in the mood for a drink.” He always did say he enjoyed a cup of wine late at night.

“Well, this certainly is the place to find one.” I took a sip from my own drink. “Are you glad to be back on land for a bit? I know that trip definitely took a lot out of me. It seems to have been worth it, though.” I was exhausted from all of the fighting out at sea, but this banquet had eased my mind greatly.

Kazuha hummed. “Aren’t we all glad? The ocean has its moments, but the scenery grows familiar rather quickly. Fish was also becoming quite tiresome…” he trailed off. It wasn’t often he complained to me. The alcohol must have loosened him up more than I realized. I gave him an understanding smile.

“You did good out there, Kazuha. We definitely wouldn’t have brought so much treasure back if it wasn’t for you. You worked hard, so enjoy yourself for a bit.”

He paused to stare at me through heavy eyes, then looked away contemplatively. “You know, I might just have to.”

I was a bit confused at his response but brushed it off. The two of us continued to talk and laugh about various things—recounting stories of our fights out at sea and the stupid stuff our crewmates did while drunk. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the night relaxing with anyone else but Kazuha.

There was something about the time that we spent together that was just so…unique. No one else made me feel the same way he did. Whenever he was with me, I couldn’t help but give him my undivided attention. I wanted him to notice how completely invested I was in his words—in him and his entirety. I wanted him to be interested in me in the same way.

The live musicians played various songs until a slower ballad arrived. The shift in the atmosphere was nearly unrecognizable. People carried on talking and drinking as usual. Only a handful of couples had decided to dance together in the docking square to the music.

Kazuha’s attention had been drawn to these dancers. They swayed together to the rhythm, spinning and stepping with their partners. I almost felt sleepy watching them move.

The samurai next to me rested his drink on the railing behind us and blocked my vision with his body, breaking the trance the dancers held on me. He looked into my eyes with determination and the hint of something else I couldn’t quite place.

“You told me to enjoy myself tonight, so,” Kazuha said, holding his hand out to me. “Come dance with me.”

I felt my cheeks flare red.

“Dance with you?” I laughed out, surprised. “You’re drunk. Since when do you dance, anyways?” He only looked at me with a mischievous smirk.

“Since now. Now, come on. Before the song ends.”

I was left stuttering as Kazuha grabbed my hand, pulling me out into the middle of the square with him. Once he was satisfied with the spot he found, he turned towards me. I could feel the curious stares of the Crux Fleet on us as Kazuha set his hands on my hips.

“W-wait, Kazuha! I don’t even know how to dance,” I tried complaining. I thought I was going to die from embarrassment.

“It’s not that hard to pick up on. I had to learn these types of things as the heir of my clan. It seems that now is the time they will finally come in useful,” he smiled. “Just trust me to guide you.”

With those comforting words, Kazuha removed his hands from my waist and slid them down my arms, wrapping them in my own hands. They were warm and soft, except for a few callouses here and there. He lifted my hands up to his shoulders, causing our chests to move closer together, then returned his hands back to my sides. This position was the most intimate I’ve ever been with Kazuha. My head began to spin.

There was nowhere left to look but directly at him. His entire body filled my vision and consumed my senses. It would have been overwhelming if he wasn’t giving me such a loving look.

His expression calmed me down. It was understanding and patient, waiting for me to adjust to the situation before making any other moves. I decided to trust his words and follow his lead.

Kazuha got the hint and slowly began to sway with the music, lightly pushing my hips side to side with each motion. Next, he began to move his feet, stepping slightly. After some time, I finally caught on and we fell into a comfortable slow dance together. When I was no longer distracted with learning how to dance, I plopped my face into his shoulder embarrassedly.

“The crew isn’t gonna let us live this down, you know.”

Kazuha just laughed.

“Perhaps. It’s your fault for telling me to enjoy myself, though. You’ve only brought about your own downfall.” I could hear his grin and couldn’t stop one from breaking out on my face as well.

“You’re such a dork,” I laughed, closing the distance between our bodies. My head rested on his shoulder, the remainder of my body pressed flush against his own. I felt Kazuha’s hands hug behind my back.

No one could hear us talk due to the volume of the music and our distance away from everyone else. We just kept dancing together, letting the song guide us.

“(Y/N).”

“Hmm?”

“I really like you, you know.”

I tensed for a second, surprised by his confession, before goofily smiling into his shoulder.

“Oh, is that so?”

Kazuha pinched my side lightly, making me laugh and flinch away. “Come on, I’m serious,” he chuckled.

I lifted my head from his shoulder so I could face him directly. His cheeks were a rosy pink and a soft smile graced his features.

“Well, Kazuha, I really like you, too.”

His toothy smile grew. Kazuha shut his eyes and bumped his forehead against mine as he let out the most angelic laugh I’ve ever heard. Nothing more needed to be said between the two of us. All we could think about was each other, completely oblivious to the world around us; the distant groans and cheers of crew members passing around their betting money also went unnoticed. Kazuha and I were so focused on each other that we didn’t even realize the slow song had already ended quite some time ago.

Kaedehara Kazuha x f!Reader

A/N:aah i’ve been working on this one for a while! i really hoped to get it posted today, so i’m sorry if it sounds rushed;; there are some intense scenes later in the story so please be aware if you’re sensitive towards that! i tried to write an inazuma setting so i hope i used accurate terms. it’s heavily inspired by teapot dialogue and kazuha’s character stories// the bake-danuki mentioned are the little tanuki who prank people and dance

warnings: swearing, light blood, violence, break-in, intense scene, ooc, reader mentioned to be smaller than kazuha

SFW

word count:5.8k

summary:You live in a forest far from the city. When someone knocks on your door during a storm, will you regret opening it to greet them?

Crash!

Lightning struck nearby, its booming echo piercing through the dense rain. The night sky was pitch black, visible only when another flash of lightning sparked life into the thunder clouds. The intensity of Inazuma’s storms had been slowly increasing as of late.

From the safety of my home, I watched the tall Aralia trees—which usually swayed peacefully—be harshly blown by the storm’s aggressive winds. The force of the downpour caused the rain to fall diagonally, agitating all the nearby greenery and sending wildlife into hiding.

I returned my attention to the kettle of tea brewing. Stormy weather was unpleasant if you were caught outside during its onslaught, but wonderful background noise to enjoy a book to. I’ve always found the sound of drumming rain to be therapeutic, even if its current intentions were anything but. Tension disappeared from my body just from the thought of snuggling under my kotatsu with some hot tea and the latest novel I purchased.

A sudden knock brought me out of my musings. That couldn’t be right. Why would anyone be outside so late in this weather, and at my door, nonetheless? A few seconds passed in silence. Before I could write off the sound as my imagination, a second series of knocks from my front door confirmed the existence of a visitor. I skeptically made my way to the door, opening it to greet whatever mysterious person found their way there.

Standing in front of me was a young, white haired man, soaked by the rain from head to toe. He was on the shorter side and had a non-threatening presence, although my eyes were instinctively drawn to the sheathed sword at his hip. Warm-colored maple leaf patterns painted his black yukata—it was only the top layer to a second white and red one. His forearms were wrapped in bandages and shiny, black armor plating. I brought my focus to his face. The man’s eyes were a fiery red, yet felt mysteriously peaceful to look into. Dripping white bangs tickled his pink nose and soft cheeks. My unexpected visitor was quite handsome.

“Good evening, miss. I hope I’m not disturbing you by showing up so late?” he spoke. His voice had a soft, soothing tone that effortlessly carried his smile in it.

“U-um, no! It’s alright.” I was caught off-guard by the situation but tried not to let my confusion be too evident on my face. How long had this guy been outside for? The wind probably would’ve blown me away the second I went out. Not wanting to keep the man there longer than need be, I asked, “Is there something I can help you with, sir?”

He nodded.

“I am a wanderer who’s been caught in this storm-” That much was obvious. “But, there aren’t many places nearby that offer shelter. Usually, I try to find unoccupied caves or abandoned temples, but it appears those options aren’t available tonight.” He chuckled sheepishly, rubbing a hand over his nape. “I thought I would try my luck at a nearby house. Although, it’s alright if you turn me away. I understand how a stranger asking for shelter late at night can appear from your perspective.”

This traveler had a point. Red flags should be waving all around, keeping me on guard from any potential danger. They should, and yet, I found myself feeling comfortable with him. He wasn’t pushy or agitated and even acknowledged how the situation looked objectively. Besides his words, the man himself made me curious; I wanted to learn what would happen if I let him inside. Doing just that, I pulled my door open for him.

“You are welcome to stay here for the night. Let me grab some tea and something for you to dry yourself off with,” I said, closing the door behind him once he stepped inside. Water instantly began pooling on the floor where he stood. The layers of his outfit were thick and the water weight only made it appear more uncomfortable. “I can take some of your clothes and set them to dry by the fire if you’d like?”

“Please,” he agreed. I noticed his hands were covered in small scars and callouses—proof of his experience wielding a blade. I watched them unwrap the black and red scarves from around his neck and hang them over his forearm. Next, they slowly untucked his black yukata from his belt, then slid the garment off his shoulders. I only caught myself staring when he began removing the white yukata. His chest was now exposed, showing the droplets of water that trailed over his muscular chest and abdomen, tempting my eyes to fall lower. I felt my cheeks growing warm at the sight.

“Uh, wait a second! Let me grab you a change of clothes first! I should have something that fits…” I shuffled away into another room before he could respond, returning moments later with a towel and an oversized outfit for my veryhandsome guest. Thankfully for my sanity, he had stopped stripping in my absence and patiently waited for his clothes.

I excused myself while he changed. Upon announcing that he was finished, I took his folded, wet clothes into the kitchen and placed them by the open fire to dry. I set the still warm kettle of tea and two cups onto a tray, carrying it out into the living room. The man had remained near the front door, not daring to cross any boundaries while I wasn’t present. He was very polite, I noted.

“Here, come sit. I actually had some tea brewing when you arrived, so it’s still fresh,” I smiled, pouring him a cup as he sat across the kotatsu from me.

“Thank you, miss. You’re very kind to be doing all of this for me.” His movements were graceful as he accepted the tea, bringing the cup to his lips and blowing on the drink’s steam.

I took the moment of silence to study him again. The top he now had was a white, long-sleeved piece meant to be worn beneath outer layers. It ended up fitting wrong on me but looked rather nice on him. It hugged his chest, stretching over his muscles and leaving little to the imagination. His arms were hidden by a comfortable, earthy green haori. I also took notice of his hair, now removed from the ponytail’s hair tie and falling just above his shoulders. Some of the wet strands had curled slightly, mixing with the red streak and cutely framing his face.

My guest sighed appreciatively after taking a sip from his cup.

“Ah, pardon me for not introducing myself. My name is Kaedehara Kazuha. Please, call me Kazuha.”

Kaedehara Kazuha. I thought his name fit him nicely. It was smooth, like his voice, and rolled off the tongue easily.

“Kaedehara… that sounds familiar,” I wondered aloud. Kazuha hummed in response.

“The Kaedehara Clan used to be a renowned noble house, but has fallen from grace over time. It has long since held its previous status. I would’ve been the one to inherit the Clan’s wealth and prestige, but it appears the Archons had other plans for me.” Kazuha didn’t sound upset while revealing this information. Rather, he sounded quite relieved while speaking of his clan.

“I see.” I nodded in acknowledgment. “My name is (Y/N). It’s very nice to meet you, Kazuha.”

“The pleasure is mine, (Y/N). It’s rare that people are willing to house wanderers like myself on such short notice. The weather lately has been difficult to travel in without some form of shelter, as well. Though, I wasn’t expecting to find a house so far away from the city,” he commented. It was true. My house was far from Inazuma City, and there weren’t any villages around for miles. I had lived alone here for some time.

I awkwardly laughed out. “Yeah, I’m probably the only person around in this forest. I moved out here a while ago, trying to escape the city.”

Thunder clapped outside, reminding me of the storm that continued to rage. I couldn’t help but grimace at the thought of it damaging my house somehow. That would be a pain in the ass to repair.

“I have many unhappy memories from the last time I was in the city. It got to the point where I couldn’t stand living there, so I thought moving out here would help me a bit,” I explained. “It ended up being a good decision! I’m an author, so gaining new experience out here has been really beneficial for my writing.”

Kazuha smiled softly at me, as if he related to my struggles.

“I understand the stress that comes from living in the city quite well. Having the opportunity to travel through nature the way I do is truly a blessing. Your heart calms when you’re alone, and you’re able to appreciate the beauty in the land around you. Sometimes, you’ll even end up having special encounters, such as this one.”

Kazuha had a way of speaking that was very dreamy; each word was laced with empathy and genuine interest in the conversation.

I found myself relaxing around Kazuha. We had only just met, yet conversing with him felt unexplainably natural, as though we’d been well acquainted for a long time. I was nervous opening my door to him at first. Inazuma’s storms were not to be taken lightly—I would have felt terrible leaving him outside to brave the weather. Taking him in turned out to be the right decision, and one I would have done many times over.

Our conversation carried on for a while. Kazuha told stories of his travels and the most recent places he visited, while I talked about the latest novel I was writing. I learned he enjoyed poetry and had the curious talent of turning leaves into makeshift instruments. Autumn was his favorite season, as it had the best weather and was the most opportune time to enjoy the scarlet maple leaves. The night grew late before we ended our conversation, fresh out of tea and feeling sleepy.

I made Kazuha a temporary bed on the living room floor. We said our goodnights before I departed into the other room, crawling into bed more satisfied than usual with the day’s end.

-

Kazuha had left early the following morning, only after profusely thanking me. Our time together was pleasant, so I told him he was always welcome to stay when he found himself in the area. He responded with a smile and wave, leaving me to return to my usual routine. I wouldn’t see my traveling friend again until a couple of weeks later.

The next time Kazuha appeared on my doorstep, the sunset had already covered the sky in bright shades of orange and pink. In his hands was a small box filled with sweets, “repayment for last time,” he had said. I laughed at his antics and brought him inside.

After I (barely) managed to convince him to share the box of desserts with me, we quickly fell into easy conversation. He recounted his latest adventures and the various people he met, while I updated him on my relatively calm life out in the forest.

This became a normal thing between the two of us. Every few weeks, Kazuha would show up at my house with some new gift he picked up on his travels. His presents constantly varied. Sometimes, he arrived with a box tricolor dango and sakura mochi, or he had small decorations and trinkets for my shelves. Once, he even brought a kitsune mask from a festival held on the other side of the island from me, paired with a vivid recollection of the beautiful firework shows.

I loved listening to Kazuha’s stories more than anything else. They were so beautifully told that I felt I was there experiencing the events alongside him. I felt as though I had passed my own hand through the sakura blooms beneath the Sacred Sakura of the Grand Narukami Shrine, catching the soft pink petals in my palm. I felt as though I had walked along the Araumi shore that was sprinkled with vibrant blue sea ganodermas and cherry-colored crabs that blew bubbles in the water. A large number of his tales became inspiration for my writing; in his absence, I eagerly awaited his return just so I could hear more. Just so I could see him again.

Before I knew it, Kazuha had become my motivation and my muse.

-

Storms plagued the sky again tonight. Heavy, thick drops of rain fell non-stop against my roof and the rest of my house creaked and moaned under the force of the wind. I shifted cozily in my bed, sleepy and unbothered by the typical Inazuman weather.

I didn’t fight against my thoughts as they drifted to the frequent occupant of my mind. Kazuha hadn’t visited in a while—longer than he usually was gone, in fact. The last time we were together, he said he planned on traveling past Narukami Island. I wondered what he was doing. Perhaps he found some abandoned ruins, overtaken by vegetation and aged by the weather, or an old shrine, still being cared for by a friendly village. Maybe he found a nice spot to watch the clouds pass and play a song on his leaf flute. I hoped he was somewhere that made him happy.

I did worry for Kazuha every time he left, but my trust in him outweighed any of my nervous feelings. I knew he was a level-headed, experienced traveler who could protect himself from danger. To offset the small frown on my lips, I buried my face in my pillow and forced myself to think positively. If I let myself think the worst every time Kazuha went on a new journey, I would give myself an aneurysm.

Instead, I tried to guess what gift Kazuha would share with me the next time he visited. I loved everything he brought back, regardless of the quality or cost. The last gift he brought me, I was particularly fond of. It was a small teru teru bozu doll, but the usual string had been replaced by a black and red ribbon. The doll appeared as if it was wearing a miniature version of Kazuha’s scarves. It rested on my bedside table, propped up against-

Crack!

I jolted up into a sitting position. A loud noise had sounded through the house, too nearby to have been thunder. My heart beat painfully fast, having gone from steady to frantic in just a second. Adrenaline killed all the haze in my brain and made me fully alert. In the dead silence, I heard footsteps make their way to my bedroom door.

I completely froze.

My chest was tight and my body went stiff. The shock was short-lived and overwhelmingly replaced with fear as the door violently swung open. Its momentum caused it to bounce off of the wall, vibrating the room and making a terrible booming sound. My blood ran cold.

This was my first time experiencing a break-in, and I was utterly terrified. I was terrified of the way the shadowy figure stood in the doorway, looming and unbalanced, disguised by the darkness of the room. I was terrified of the sounds they let out: heavy pants that could have easily been called growls. I was terrified of the unavoidable reality I faced, the reality of being completely alone and defenseless at this moment.

But, more than anything, I was terrified of the long knife they held in their hand, pointed accusingly and directly at me.

My fight or flight sense kicked in harder than it ever had before when a throaty yell came from the intruder. I dove out of my bed and onto the floor as they leaped at me, knife digging deep into my mattress. I didn’t have time to think of excuses. My brain was completely focused on escaping this person who had obvious intent to kill.

I forced myself off of the floor, stumbling forwards. They quickly climbed over my bed and dove at my low position. My stomach dropped as a vice-like grip squeezed my ankle. Their fingers were long and boney as they dug into me. In tandem, I harshly yanked my leg away and pulled my dresser over, trying to hit them with its momentum. They realized my plan and released their hold, barely dodging the dresser as it crashed onto the ground.

The large piece of furniture created a temporary blockade between myself and the intruder, giving me time to bound towards the door. If I could make it out of my room, I had two options: I could escape the house through the front door or grab a knife from the kitchen and fight back. These thoughts were useless, however. I wasn’t even able to make it out of the bedroom.

The same iron grip that had bruised my ankle bunched the fabric of my shirt. It tugged—hard—and I was thrown onto the floor even deeper into the room. The air was roughly knocked from my lungs and winded me. I was lightheaded and dizzy, but I forced myself to shuffle back against the wall in a desperate attempt to put distance between us. This person now blocked me from the room’s only exit and trapped me into a corner.

I flinched, startled by a flash of lightning outside. The window let in the sudden white light, illuminating the face of the person who stood over me, still wielding a long knife. I could make out the face of a man. His cheeks were hollow and his eyebrows were pinched above wide and crazy eyes. His mouth hung open, taking in huge, greedy breaths. It seemed that he was covered in blotches of dirt and his clothes were torn in several places, as if he had gotten into a fight outside. I couldn’t make out any injuries on his body, however.

The light disappeared as just as quickly as it arrived, allowing the shadows of the room to submerge us back in its depths. My body was shaking and a cold sweat had long since broken out.

“W-Who are you?! Why are you attacking me?” I cried out. This only agitated the man further.

“Don’t play your games with me, you damn bake-danuki!” he shouted, pointing the weapon more confrontationally at me. “I know how your pranks work all too well! Do you even realize what you’ve put me through, you little shit?” His jaw was tightly clenched, straining the muscles in his neck. The arm that pointed the knife at me was shaking, presumably due to the strength of his grip.

This man was absolutely insane.

“Bake-danuki?!” I gasped out. “You’re crazy! I’m not a bake-danuki! I’m a human! I don’t even know who you are, you broke into my house!”

He let out a groan and yelled, “Shut up!” Lunging towards me, he stabbed his knife directly at my face.

I threw my body onto the ground, avoiding the blade now lodged deep into my wall. This angered the crazy man even further. He gave up on the knife and jumped on top of me, straddling my body on the ground. I hit and clawed at his arms as they reached towards me. Gross hands wrapped tightly around my neck. I began to panic and scratched him more, but he was unaffected by my attempts. We glared at each other with equal ferocity until black dots began blurring my vision. He continued shouting at me.

“You think I’m stupid?! No one would have their home out here, in the middle of nowhere, except for you conniving little bake-danuki! I’m so-” Pant. “Damn-” Pant. “Tired of you!” He spat out, heavily gasping. I felt my eyes begin to roll back.

“Can’t laugh now, can ya? Now that you’re on the losing side, huh? Don’t worry. I’ll be laughing plenty enough for the both of us once-”

Air raced back into my lungs as his hands released my throat. I didn’t have much time to savor the feeling as I was immediately yanked up. I was sitting on the floor still, but instead of the wall behind me, it was the chest of the intruder, legs on either side of me. One hand gripped my jaw painfully and forced my face up. I figured the other was holding the blade I felt pressed against my neck.

I didn’t have many other options but to look forwards, instantly seeing what had caused the shift in the man.

Even though it was dark in the room, I could clearly make out Kazuha’s familiar figure, which had just walked in through the doorway. His sword was sheathed and he held both his hands parallel to his head. We were on opposite sides of the room from each other, but his presence alone filled me with hope again.

“K-Kazu-”

“Shut up, bake-danuki.” Kazuha cut me off sharply. I was taken aback for a moment. His voice was still and emotionless. I could feel the man shift uncomfortably behind me.

“W-Who are you? How did you find this place?” The man stuttered out. He didn’t sound like he trusted Kazuha, but was also much less aggressive to him than he was with me.

“It appears we’ve come for the same reason, no?” Kazuha tilted his head at me. “This bake-danuki has been tormenting me for weeks. It was time I came and put a permanent end to its games.”

I felt the man slowly, but eagerly sit up behind me to respond. “Yes! Yes, I know exactly what you mean!” He let out a relieved, airy laugh. It was the laugh of someone who had been driven to the brink of insanity for a while. “I’ve been lost out here for days, and it’s all because of them! Every time I think I’ve found food or water, or even someone’s house! I get pranked by the bake-danukis! I just couldn’t take it anymore…” His mood dropped as he held the knife closer to my throat, opening a small cut. “It’s just so cruel what you vile things do to us,” he complained. His hot breath in my ear made me cringe.

My body hurt from the fight earlier and the interaction occurring made my head throb. It was hard to think straight, but there really wasn’t much I could do in this position to begin with. I just had to trust Kazuha to save me.

Kazuha began taking slow, cautious steps forwards as to not alarm the man behind me.

“I understand. This house we are inside of right now… It used to be mine. This bake-danuki here forced me to give it up. In return, I would be spared from its ceaseless pranks.” He knelt down onto one knee, still a few feet away from us. “Please, if you understand how I feel… Give this one to me. Let me take care of its punishment. In return, I’ll let you stay in this house, where there is real food and real water. Do we have a deal?” Kazuha was close enough to see his face clearly. His kind, gentle smile sat on his face, just as it always had. His eyes, however, told a completely different story. They were serious and intense, threatening the man to accept his offer.

The room was silent except for the rain that fell outside—the rain that had once been so loud and comforting, now only a whisper compared to the suffocating tension in the air.

My jaw was suddenly released and the knife retracted from my neck. The man shoved my body forwards and pushed me into Kazuha, who protectingly wrapped his arm around my waist and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“A-alright. As long as you promise me this house won’t disappear once you leave, I’ll let you take that one.” He was looking around paranoid, like he expected the walls to collapse after releasing me.

Kazuha pulled me up to stand with him, holding my wrist with feigned strength. “You have my word.”

He wasted no time swiftly rushing me out of the bedroom. The second I made it through the doorway, a massive weight fell off of my shoulders and the air became breathable once again. Now that we were in my living room, I could see the source of the loud “crack!” from earlier. The front door was busted open, broken from its hinges, letting moonlight and rain pour through.

Kazuha took long steps through the room, splashing in puddles from his haste. He dragged me along with him until we were through the ruined doorway and out of the house entirely.

Thunder boomed in the distance and rain instantly drenched us. Kazuha turned partially towards me, a serious expression on his face.

“Jump.”

I barely realized what he said before I felt a strong force pushing my back. I gasped and did as he ordered, jumping along with its momentum. My body was thrown against Kazuha’s. Our chests were flush against each other and my thighs wrapped around his sides. Kazuha had picked me up by the waist with one arm in order to carry me. His other arm was supported underneath my legs.

I felt like I had to say something, but the words died off on my tongue. I was still trying to process everything that had just happened inside, let alone whatever Kazuha had planned outside.

His hold on me tightened. Unlike the hateful grip of the intruder, I felt safe and secure in his arms.

“Hold on tight,” Kazuha commanded. He began running while holding me, quickly making his way through the forest of trees that surrounded my house. The downpour and leaves crunching under Kazuha’s feet were the only sounds made. My adrenaline began to wear off and I felt extremely heavy. Confusion made my head spin and questions raced through my mind. I placed my hands on Kazuha’s shoulders, leaning back to look into his face.

“Kazuha! I-That man! He just broke in! I didn’t know what was happening until it was too late…” I quickly explained. Words basically began spilling out my mouth before they held any meaning to my brain. “I was just laying in bed and t-then I heard this loud noise! But, before I could do anything, he was already in my room a-and he had a knife!” My voice was shaky and emotional. What a terrible story I had for him this time. Everything had happened so fast. The reality of the danger I was in crushed me all of the sudden now that I knew I was safe. Tears began spilling from my eyes as I gripped his shoulders tighter. “H-he had a knife, Kazuha! I didn’t do anything to him but he still seriously t-tried-”

“Calm down, (Y/N),” Kazuha spoke. It was the same gentle, soothing tone he used the day we met, along with every day after that. It was the only tone he ever used with me. This time, its purpose was to console my fear. I felt his thumb tracing over my back. “You’re okay now. I promise, I won’t ever let anyone hurt you again.”

My lip quivered while I looked into his warm eyes. I believed every word he said to me.

The area we were in now was unfamiliar in the darkness. I had been so focused on everything else that I wasn’t even aware of where Kazuha was taking me.

“Kazuha… Where are we going?”

“There is a village in this direction, although it is quite some distance away. Please, be patient. I’ll get you there as soon as I can.”

“So far? Y-you usually stay in abandoned caves and temples, right? Why don’t we look for one nearby and wait out this storm?” I asked. I was bruised and tired, but I wasn’t in need of emergency care by a long shot.

He shook his head, his wet hair tickling my knuckles. “It’s not safe here. Not while we’re so close to that man.” I frowned.

“Kazuha… I trust you to protect me, though. It’s better if we rest somewhere. If he comes looking for us-”

“I won’t be able to hold back.” He hid his eyes from me by digging his nose into my collarbone. “We will be fine, but if he were to seek us out—if he were to try and hurt you again… He would not be safe from me.”

I was speechless. My stomach filled with butterflies as I bounced lightly in his arms. Kazuha continued to run in the direction of the village with no intention of resting. I trusted Kazuha with my life at this point. I knew he would do anything to keep me safe, but the fact he felt so angryat that man gave me a new feeling. My cheeks were hot and my heart ached. He was obviously ashamed of his words and the undeniable truth they held, so I changed the subject.

“He kept calling me a bake-danuki… He looked really rough, covered in dirt and such. He said he had been lost for a few days?” I recalled.

“Mm. I think that was the truth,” Kazuha said, “that he was lost in the forest. I don’t think it was the bake-danukis doing, though. They aren’t malicious creatures the way he made them out to be. Yes, they like pranking travelers, but it’s all mostly harmless teasing. He probably was dehydrated and agitated and fell victim to a bake-danuki’s prank. Whatever it was, it made him decide to blame his desperate situation on all of them.” He readjusted me in his hold, so I wrapped my legs tighter around him in order to be easier to carry. “I was once accompanied by a traveling merchant who fell into a bake-danuki’s trap. It disguised as a young woman and offered him shelter and a meal. He didn’t listen to my warning and ended up eating leaves and mud instead of real food. Something similar must have happened to that man, which is why he thought you were also a bake-danuki.”

I would’ve felt more pity for the man if I hadn’t been caught in the misunderstanding.

“I see,” I sighed. It was sad things turned out the way they did. I wouldn’t have minded sheltering the man, just as I did with Kazuha. He just wasn’t in the headspace to think properly. My head rested on Kazuha’s shoulder. “Kazuha… Thank you for saving me. I owe you my life.”

He hugged me tight and glanced into my eyes before focusing on escaping the forest around us. “When I got to your house and saw the door broken in, (Y/N)… I was so scared,” he confessed. “I thought I was too late, but when I walked in, I overheard that man shouting at you. I wanted to get you out of his grasp the moment I walked in the room, but…” His expression was one of disappointment, directed entirely at himself. “I didn’t want you to see me hurt him. I don’t want you to think I’m someone dangerous.”

My eyes were wide from surprise. I didn’t think it was possible to feel any softer for Kazuha than I did at this moment.

“Kazuha, stop for a second.”

He listened to my request and slowed his pace before stopping completely. I left his arms and felt my feet touch the wet ground. Kazuha’s red eyes were staring down, embarrassed at himself. I gently pressed my hand to his chin, lifting his face to meet my eyes.

“I knew the moment I met you that you knew how to take care of yourself. You don’t seem like the type to wear a sword just as an accessory.” I laughed. He smiled softly at this.

“No, I suppose I don’t.”

“Can I tell you a story?” I asked him. He looked confused for a second before he slowly nodded. “Once upon a time, there was a bake-danuki who didn’t get along with the other bake-danuki in the forest. The bake-danuki spent a lot of time alone and began to feel lonely. It disguised itself as a human girl, luring any passing humans into its home and playing pranks on them.”

Kazuha looked like he was lost. I tried not to laugh and continued my story.

“Eventually, the lonely bake-danuki grew bored of the humans it pranked. One day, however, everything changed. A carefree ronin found his way into the bake-danuki’s home. It continued its act as a human girl, but this time, she didn’t prank the ronin. The two talked all night, as though they had been long friends. The bake-danuki was truly happy talking to the ronin, who kept returning to her home. The ronin was grateful to the girl and would bring gifts each time he visited…”

By this point, realization had dawned on Kazuha’s face.

“All the bake-danuki could think about was the kindness the ronin shared with her, and would eagerly wait for his return after each journey. Once, the bake-danuki had been waiting for the ronin’s return in its house when a fox snuck in, attacking her. Just when things looked bad, the ronin returned and rescued her. It’s only then that the bake-danuki realizes… she’s in love with with the ronin.” I looked up at Kazuha, cheeks warm. He had the same light blush coating his cheeks. “There’s just one problem, however.”

“Oh? And what’s that…” He asked.

I chewed the inside of my lip for a second, feeling nervous. “I don’t know how the ronin feels about the bake-danuki.” We stared at each other for what felt like forever until Kazuha responded.

“Well, it just so happens that I’ve heard this story before,” he said, leaning towards my face. “The ronin feels the same way.”

Kazuha’s lips smiled against mine as he kissed me. I was beyond happy he felt the same way. The rain never stopped falling around us, trailing down our faces and soaking into our clothes. It was cold and hot all at the same time. I rested my hands behind Kazuha’s neck, pulling him closer to me. The way our lips moved with each other felt natural. His body felt like it was always meant to be pressed against mine.

We laughed and kissed in the storm for a bit until we broke away, making our way towards the village once again. The night had been long and scary, but he easily managed to rescue me from my fear. I knew that as long as I was by Kazuha’s side, I would be safe. I realized something as we walked together in the night. His stories may have been my inspiration, but the stories we created with each other were by far my favorite.

Kaedehara Kazuha x gn!Reader

A/N: i really like the way this one turned out! enjoyy

warnings: none,, fluffy

SFW

word count: 1.4k

summary: You’re woken up by the cold, only to find a certain samurai missing from his bed.

You curled deep into the thick blanket on your bed, believing that engulfing yourself in its warmth would somehow return you back to your dreams. These efforts were to no avail, however, as the biting chill in the air had already invaded your warm cocoon and roused you from the brink of sleep. A defeated and tired sigh made its way from your lips. You would curse Dragonspine’s brutal weather once you found the energy.

The frigid region’s merciless reputation preceded itself all across Teyvat. Horror stories of adventurers never returning from the snowy mountains were frequently told in bars; you were unsure whether those rumors were told just to get a reaction out of the drunkards, or if they actually held some validity. Now that you were stationed along its icy coast, the latter option was becoming more and more feasible.

The Alcor’s new course currently placed the armed ship along Dragonspine’s icy shores. Although the weather wasn’t as aggressive in the water as it was on mainland, it still sent most of the crew into their sleeping quarters early—eager to escape the freezing air on the main deck. The cold proved to be inescapable, sadly, leaving you victim to its unpleasant intrusion.

You huffed and rolled over, checking if any of your fellow crew members were also awoken by the freezing draft. The room was small and had beds lining both walls. Barely any moonlight shone through its foggy windows. From what you could make out, there was only one empty bed in the room—one usually inhabited by a certain stowaway.

Of course, who other than Kazuha would stay out in such low temperatures, in the middle of the night, nonetheless.

You willed yourself to pull away from the bed, disrupted by the cold and curious of Kazuha’s whereabouts. As to not wake any of the sleeping crew, you slowly opened and closed the door of the sleeping quarters and walked out onto the main deck. The air was unwelcoming, instantly pinching at your fingertips and nose. The tall Dragonspine mountains loomed menacingly in the distance, daring you to fight back against its frigid attack. A calming tune pulled your attention away from the provocation.

It was a faint sound that danced around the restless, sharp wind. The sound very well may have been the only peaceful one for miles. Before a harsh gust of wind could muffle the soft music, you identified its source to be from the Alcor’s crow’s nest, a favorite spot of your ronin friend.

“So troublesome…” you muttered with feigned annoyance. No matter how hard you tried, it was impossible to be upset with Kazuha’s carefree nature. Even if it meant exposing yourself to the unforgiving air. You slowly ascended the rope ladder that led up to the lookout spot.

At the top sat Kazuha, as expected. A half-full cup of wine sat by his side. His eyes were contently closed as he happily serenaded himself using a leaf flute. While he continued to play his song, unaware of your arrival, you took in his appearance. The usually half-worn, black yukata Kazuha wore now properly covered both arms. Red and orange maple leaf patterns hung from both wrists. His cheeks and nose were dusted pink from both the alcohol and the weather. The red and black scarves on his neck were pulled up higher around his neck, barely kissing his chin. Draped around his shoulders was a blanket, the excess fabric on the ground folding around his frame in a semi-circle. A small triangle of his chest was exposed between the blankets gap, a place usually hidden by his scarves.

You blamed your blushing cheeks on the cold air.

Kazuha’s flute stopped singing as he took notice of your presence besides him. His welcoming smile reached his eyes as he spoke.

“(Y/N), it’s nice to see you,” he hummed. “To what occasion do I owe this pleasure to?” His bandaged hand reached for his cup of wine and took a sip, staring into your eyes all the while. You swallowed and crouched down next to him, ignoring his question.

“Gods, Kazuha, it’s freezing outside. Why are you out here so late?" 

He broke eye contact with you to continue observing the far off Dragonspine coast.

"I love the snow…With our usual routes at sea, the opportunity to appreciate the snowfall rarely presents itself—even if it’s just watching from some distance away,” he sighed. “I can’t help but feel at peace in this weather. Wine and song go quite well to compliment the view, no?” He wasn’t wrong. The sight of the coast and its bright white snow was a calming beauty. However, you were a bit too tired and freezing to truly appreciate the scenery.

“I guess you’re right. Doesn’t change the fact that my hands are about to fall off, though,” you laughed.

Suddenly, your balance was forcefully taken from you as Kazuha tugged on your arm, pulling you into his lap. Your back was flush against his chest and his legs straddled your sides. Kazuha’s hands gripped the sides of the blanket on his shoulders, then wrapped his arms around your waist, covering both of you in it’s warmth. Your brain lagged behind the events occurring. All you knew was that Kazuha had just pulled you onto his lap and began cuddling you, tucking his chin over your shoulder and cheek to cheek with your own face.

“K-Kazuha, what? What are you doing…” You were a stuttering, blushing mess as his body heat quickly fought off the prickly, icy sensation in your limbs from all directions. Forget hypothermia, you were going to overheat if you stayed in this position any longer.

He wrapped his arms and the blanket tighter around you, and softly whispered in your ear, “You said you were cold. I’m simply warming you up.” Kazuha’s breath was hot, sending a shiver down your spine. Never before had he been this direct with you. Perhaps it was the alcohol in his system that guided his movements. Whatever it was, you had no complains as you made yourself cozy against him. There was hardly any room left separating your bodies from each other.

“I did say that, didn’t I? Well, we better stay like this for a while, then. I get cold rather easily,” you smiled. Your sleepiness and Kazuha’s actions made you feel more daring than usual. Turning your head slightly, you said, “In fact, my face is pretty cold, too. Anything you can do to warm me up there?”

Kazuha knowingly chuckled, his lips smirking against your jaw before placing a gentle kiss to the spot. He dragged his lips up to the shell of your ear before sighing and kissing again. As his kisses made their way over your cheek and temple, your upper body twisted to partially face his own, giving him easier access to you. Warm, loving kisses danced across your forehead, cheeks and nose for a bit until their attacks ceased. Kazuha touched his forehead to yours, causing your noses to bump together. Flirty, scarlet eyes filled your vision and captivated your own. A cheeky smile had long since bloomed on the samurai’s face.

“Is there anywhere that I missed?” He hummed out.

“Mm, my lips feel a bit blue. Would you mind checking, just to be safe?”

“Your wish is my command, my love.”

Your lips collided with his in a passionate kiss as Kazuha threaded one hand through your hair, and another around your waist. All your senses were filled with him. He tasted like red wine and smelt like evergreen. His body was hot and comforting as you pushed closer into him, placing a hand on his chest. The way Kazuha kissed you was needy and intense, yet gentle and affectionate all the same. It was clear you both had wanted to do this for a very long time.

It was unclear who broke the kiss first, but you and Kazuha were both lightly panting in its aftermath. Goofy smiles broke out on your face in the bliss of the moment. Even without words being spoken, the two of you communicated every loving word you wished to say in that kiss. A happy sigh escaped you as you returned your back to his chest, continuing to gaze out at the snowy horizon. His arms took their place around you once again, as if they were always meant to be there.

The freezing Dragonspine weather was no match for the loving warmth Kazuha brought you on this cold night, out at sea.

Kaedehara Kazuha x gn!Reader

A/N: this is my first fic, so it might sound a bit stiff. i’m nervous posting but tried my best! sorry for it being so long,,, do people still post longer fics on tumblr anymore?;; it’s the “he saves u” trope. enjoy :)

warnings: blood/light gore, knife, violence, cursing, needles, possible ooc, SPOILERS for Kazuha’s story/Ch.2 Prologue

SFW

word count: 7.6k

summary: You and Kazuha are sent into Liyue Harbor on a supply run, but the trip takes a turn.

If it wasn’t for the rising and setting of the sun, time would have felt unmoving. This feeling, however, was nothing foreign to the crew aboard the Alcor. Not much variety came with sailing at sea. Usually, gentle blues were painted across the sky, and ocean waves licked the battle ship’s hull. The scenery was peaceful but greatly lacked excitement. Because of this, feelings of anticipation and relief always managed to fill the air when Captain Beidou declared for the docking of the Alcor.

I set the last of some folded cloth into a small crate, then secured the lid shut. Beidou had chosen to dock us in Guyun Stone Forest, as she planned to hold the Crux Clash nearby in a few days. The crew was tasked with preparing the supplies to be sent to the tournament’s location. Since the event’s focus was on the fighting, no one minded reusing the boat’s supplies, which were slightly dull from their time at sea.

The contents of the crate were light, so I had no problem carrying it out onto the main deck. Everyone was casually loading their own crates and carrying various boxes ashore. Across the deck from me, a very unimpressed Kazuha talked with Sea Drake, who was failing at balancing a pile of large crates in his arms. The top of the stack predictably crashed down onto the deck floor, followed by several more boxes of the cargo. Kazuha sighed down at the large man, who began to dejectedly reassemble the fallen supplies.

Almost as if the wind had brushed his hair aside and whispered a secret in his ear, he looked over in my direction to see I had witnessed the ordeal occur. Kazuha’s usual gentle smile dawned across his face. The easygoing nature he emanated always managed to relax me—as if his kind eyes put me under a calming spell. Returning his smile, I continued on, descending the ship’s gangway. The feeling of the stable ground under my feet was a welcomed change after so many weeks at sea. I placed my smaller crate among the other cargo on the shore.

“(Y/N)! C'mere for a second.” Beidou called to me from her place next to Juza, who she’d been chatting with for a while. Earlier, I spotted Juza pointing around the area and Beidou nodding in turn, so I figured they were overlooking the packaging and transporting of supplies. Swiftly moving around the boxes in my path, I made my way over to the woman.

“Yes, Captain?”

“You’re heading into the harbor while we’re here, right? You doing anything special there?” I thought her question over briefly. I wasplanning on going into Liyue Harbor, but I had no dire plans.

“Not especially.” She smiled her big, toothy grin at this.

“Fantastic. While we’re here, I wanna take the chance to restock some of our supplies. I need you and Kazuha to pick up some stuff for the Alcor.” She turned her head up in the direction of the main deck. I realized Kazuha had been watching us talk from above after meeting his eyes. He looked away from me and nodded to Beidou, who was waving him down over to us. “The ride from here to the harbor will take a few hours, so it’s best to leave while it’s still early. Do you think you’ll be ready to go soon?” I returned my sight from Kazuha and answered Beidou.

“Uh—yeah, I’ll be ready. I just need a few minutes to throw some stuff together.” Beidou nodded and continued to speak, although her eyes were cast on something behind me.

“I’ll go ahead and leave the list of supplies needed with Kazuha. You go prepare, (Y/N), while I fill him in.” The person of her attention had quickly made his way off the ship and now took his place next to me, waiting to be informed of our trip together.

“Yes, Captain.” I gave Beidou a final nod and Kazuha a parting smile, before turning away. The voices of the two I had departed from slowly grew faint as I made my way back onto the ship.

Once I was left alone to gather my belongings, the blush I had been fighting back crept its way onto my face. I would be left alone with Kazuha while in Liyue Harbor. The two of us had been good friends ever since Beidou accepted him into the Crux Fleet, although he was a bit hard to understand at first. As Kazuha warmed up to the crew, it was quickly apparent how friendly and kind-hearted he was. After many nights of drinking and listening to him recite haikus in the crow’s nest of the ship, I found myself having feelings for the fugitive samurai.

In retrospect, it was truly an unwinnable fight. Kazuha was undoubtedly attractive. His silky white hair pulled into a side ponytail gave him a matureness that was nicely complemented by his softer features. His expression was naturally welcoming, but the passionate, bright red of his irises concealed a mysterious past. Even if I were to ask him a hundred questions, there would still be plenty I didn’t know about Kazuha.

I packed light, but I was sure it was more than my travel partner would ever consider bringing. Kazuha instantly proved me right as I made my way onto the shore. Per usual, the clothing on his back and his sword constituted as his luggage. It was a common saying of his that as long as he had his blade by his side, there was nowhere he couldn’t go.

“Good morning, (Y/N),” Kazuha greeted. “Have you finished preparing for our journey?”

“I have.”

“Then, let us be off.”

—

The sun began to kiss the horizon by the time Kazuha and I arrived at the harbor. The warm light emitted from the city’s traditional lanterns spread its famous nightlife ambiance through the streets. It was an impossible feeling to replicate out in the darkness of the ocean.

I looked over to inspect my partner. It was no secret he was fond of spending time in nature and had much intimate experience with the outdoors from his travels. Although this wasn’t his first time visiting Liyue Harbor, I wondered if there was a bit of a sensory shock going from the mostly quiet life aboard the Alcor to the busy city nightlife. If Kazuha was shocked, he concealed any hint from being apparent on his features.

“You’ve told me before that you usually opt for camping outdoors,” I began. “What do you plan to do for shelter tonight?” I was more than happy to spend time with Kazuha, but I couldn’t help but crave a warm bed and a room that didn’t sway all night.

“That is true,” Kazuha chuckled. Even if it was brief, his small laugh sent butterflies into my stomach. “However, the air has begun to stir. It’ll most likely rain tonight. I’d rather take my chances at finding an inn.” I might never understand how he was able to predict the weather the way he did, but his judgment had never been wrong in the time I’d known him.

“Likewise. Liyue Harbor is a popular location for tourists and travelers, so there’s always places open late for people like us.” The trip here was long and tiring, and I was hoping to take a shower as soon as possible. “There’s a nice place I know of only a short walk from here.”

On the way to the inn, I saw many of the night shops and vendors laying out their goods. The sun would be gone from the sky relatively soon, but that did little to discourage the citizens from staying indoors. Enthusiastic voices filled the streets as people conversed and bartered. The storytellers who entertained at restaurants echoed their tales, and the rich smell of Liyue’s cuisine ensued. I felt a bit embarrassed. Even though I was a local to the city, I had been looking around the streets more excited than Kazuha. Nonetheless, I was happy to be back for a bit.

“It’s been a while since I was last here. I grew up here, yet I still feel elated every time I return from a journey.” As the words were spoken aloud, I quickly felt regret in saying them. From what I knew about Kazuha’s past, he was unwelcomed back to his home. “Ah! I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me to say.”

Kazuha, however, was unbothered by my comment. His face held no sort of negative emotion. Rather, he seemed more at peace than usual, if that was possible for the already carefree soul.

“You need not apologize for appreciating your home… It’s a wonderful thing to still feel joy when visiting a place you know well. Often, a place well-traversed easily grows monotonous.” His forgiving eyes met mine, and I felt I would become weak if I looked into them any longer. “It also happens to be that your enjoyment is rather contagious.”

His smile might very well be far more lethal than any monster we face at sea.

I silently hid the blush his tender words caused by studying the stalls that lined the street. All kinds of colorful trinkets and gems were exhibited by the various stores. The renowned Mingxing Jewelry shop had elegant rings and necklaces displayed all along the store’s front, and thick jewels sat lavishly on the wooden shelves. There was a certain Mingxing good in particular that caught my eye. Several vibrant ribbons with delicate gold embroidery were splayed along a velvet case. They looked like they were intended to be hair accessories.

Not long after, we arrived at our inn. Once done checking in with the receptionist, Kazuha and I made our way to the two-bed room we would inhabit for the night. The inn wasn’t the fanciest place available in Liyue Harbor by a long shot, but compared to the rough conditions we faced on the Alcor, it could’ve been the very bedroom intended for the Jade Chamber. The room itself was on the cozier side, but having two separate beds would give us some privacy.

“Do you mind if I use the bathroom first? I’ve been craving a proper shower ever since Beidou said we’d be landing.” Bathing was difficult in the middle of the ocean, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the relaxing feeling of a hot shower.

“Go right ahead,” Kazuha acknowledged as he made himself comfortable on the outdoor balcony overlooking the harbor.

—

It didn’t take long for the two of us to clean up, as it was now impossible to ignore our shared hunger. We had quickly decided on Wanmin Restaurant since it was high-quality food served late at night. After ordering, we found an open table off to the side of the restaurant. Sharing meals outside was the usual case for the Crux Fleet, but it felt special to do so with the wandering samurai under Liyue’s night sky.

“Beidou said she left the list of supplies we need to get with you,” I said, starting conversation. I didn’t mind Beidou requesting for us to run this errand, regardless of her being my Captain. She had done more than enough to earn my friendship and respect. Spending time with Kazuha in Liyue Harbor was also much more exciting than shopping alone, although I doubt Beidou knew what she was doing by arranging this. Kazuha made a sound of agreement in response.

“Since we got here relatively late, I thought it would be best for us to find a place to stay first and foremost. Fresh supplies will arrive with the morning shipments,” he breathed out with a light sigh, “but Beidou requested for so much, it would never fit on the boat we arrived in. We’ll need to find a sailor with a larger boat to transport it all in. Of course, this can wait for tomorrow.”

“She didn’t happen to include a shipment fee for the trip back, did she?” I laughed, already knowing the answer was ‘no’. Kazuha’s sigh was heavier this time, but a grin had broken out on his face. We continued to chat about the materials we’d need to obtain the next day.

The waitress eventually interrupted the conversation with our meals. The atmosphere was a comfortable one—laughing with Kazuha under the stars and surrounded by the lively city. I would without a doubt remember this night for a long time.

I knew Kazuha was a wanderer who made no promise to stay in one place for too long, and that eventually, he would leave the Crux Fleet to continue his journey. It would be unfair to try and convince him to stay with us for longer than he felt life intended, yet I couldn’t help but selfishly pray to the Archons to prolong our time together as much as possible. In moments like these, I couldn’t bring myself to look away from the man in front of me. If love had an expression, I imagined it would look similar to the one he wears. Light from the lanterns and the moon simultaneously dusted his features. It bounced off the highlights in his white hair every time he tilted his head or laughed. The scarlet irises of his eyes suffocated me in a warm ocean. Perhaps, it was these things that kept me afloat while at sea on the Alcor rather than the ship itself.

“Will you be leaving the harbor with the supplies tomorrow?” I asked, knowing he had no business in Liyue Harbor other than fulfilling Beidou’s request.

“Most likely. I’ll need to assist with setting up the tournament.” I saw him shift his arm from beneath the table. “I am also in possession of its prize at the moment.”

Kazuha had told me the story of how he obtained the “Masterless Vision” earlier in our friendship. It was an item that often aroused solemn feelings from him during the dead of night. I couldn’t help but frown at the idea of him offering it as a prize to be won by some stranger.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to have it be the winning prize for the Crux Clash, though? It’s just… It feels so sentimental.”

“I’ve tried many different experiments in order to test the possibility of it reawakening… I feel that if I do not abandon that sentimentality or keep the vision for myself, I will be doing an even greater injustice to my friend,” he spoke. His eyes were unreadable, but I had the feeling it was not as easy to use the vision in such a way as he made it sound. Kazuha had never been the type to act rashly or make impulsive decisions, so there was no reason for me to press his choice any further.

“I understand, Kazuha.”

—

It was late by the time we finished eating and returned back to our inn. Before entering, however, I remembered something I had to do before the night ended.

“Kazuha, there’s something I need to go to do real quick. I won’t take long. It’s okay if you head inside without me.” I was hoping there wouldn’t be too much resistance at my request for him to go without me. His expression told me I wouldn’t be so lucky.

“The air is distraught,” he frowned, “it’ll be raining soon, (Y/N).” I wouldn’t let his frown stop me, as this was something that could only be done tonight.

“I promise, Kazuha, I’ll be back shortly. The longer we wait, the more likely it is I’ll be caught in the rain.”

“Okay,” he hesitated. “Don’t take too long.”

We parted ways in front of the inn, which wasn’t far from my destination. I had remembered the ribbons being sold at the Mingxing Jewelry shop and wanted to buy a pair for Kazuha and I. Even if we were to part ways, I hoped to be a part of his life that he would always remember, just as he was for me. A ribbon to serve as his hair tie would be a nice gift to accomplish just that.

Upon arriving at the shop, I pointed out a bright vermillion ribbon and a (color) ribbon to Xingxi. She wrapped them elegantly around what appeared to be a thin, rectangular wooden charm, and then slipped a velvet pouch covering over the gift. Just as I had finished paying and stepped away from her booth, thick drops of rain began falling around me.

Kazuha’s weather-predicting streak continued to be flawless.

I attempted to shield the gift from the increasingly steady downpour as I quickly made my way back to our inn. There was no doubt in my mind that the samurai would scold me the second I walked through the door. It would only be worse once he discovered the reason I stayed out was for him. It was in Kazuha’s nature to care greatly for his friends’ well-being, yet I always managed to find myself feeling giddy when he expressed his concern for me.

With my mind distracted by the man waiting for me back at the inn, I failed to notice the long arms that reached out from the thin alley I was passing. Before I knew what happened, I found myself thrown onto my hands on the cold, wet alley ground. I looked around the space to be confronted with three figures. The man closest to the entrance of the alley was tall with slender limbs. I assumed he was the one who grabbed me in the first place. There were two people opposite of him—a man and a woman. Both were shorter than the first man but had a more muscular definition from what I could see through the rain.

It was a bad situation to be caught in. The heavy rain had sent all the residents back inside, and the low visibility cast by the now cloudy night sky wasn’t helping my case. No one would be able to spot my predicament in such dark conditions.

I was certainly not helpless in a fight as a member of the Crux Fleet, but being caught disarmed in a three against one fight has never been to anyone’s advantage. Still on the ground, I spotted Kazuha’s gift, knocked out of my hand from the impact of being thrown. When I reached out to grab it, the woman swiftly brought the heel of her boot down hard on the middle of my back, winding me. The second man picked up the pouch and placed it in the woman’s outstretched hand.

“This one was just at Mingxing’s. Might’ve bought some expensive shit,” the woman said. As she pulled the wooden rectangle out of the bag, however, her expression turned sour. “Ribbons? Are you kidding me?” She unraveled the red one I had chosen for Kazuha and gave her next orders. “Pat 'em down and see if there’s anything else.”

“Get the hell off me!” I tried to fight back, but the woman’s boot was still firmly planted in the center of my back. The two men now crouched over me and began feeling up and down my sides. One reached into my pocket and found the spare mora I had left from the day. Luckily, the majority of it remained back at the inn room.

“Not much left besides a handful of mora. Everything probably went into those ribbons, yeah?” The tall man who took the mora grumbled.

“Damnit. They’ll have to do then. Most of that shit from Mingxing’s sells for something, at least,” the woman chewed her lip, then shifted more of her weight onto my back, causing me to groan out. “Hey. How much’d you buy this string for?”

“None of your business,” I forced out. I wasn’t scared of some criminals like these, who couldn’t even compare to the notoriously weak treasure hoarders, but it was quickly becoming harder to breathe due to the pressure on my body.

This was apparently not the correct answer. The woman lifted her boot from my back, giving me a chance to inhale. Just as I tilted my head up to get a good look at my assailant, she swung her foot hard, colliding with the side of my head. The impact sent me rolling into the wall of the drenched alley. I moaned from the throbbing pain in my skull and slowly propped myself up on my side with my arm. Once my vision stopped swimming, I was met with a small knife the woman had shoved in my face. The two men with her seemed surprised as they stood some distance behind her. They most likely didn’t expect a small mugging to escalate like this.

“Are you sure you wanna talk to me like that, brat? I’m sure some blood would clear up just who exactly is in charge of this situation realquick,” she hissed out with an ugly look on her face. I knew she wasn’t bluffing. My pride and experience as part of the Crux Fleet wouldn’t let me be fearful, but the intensity of it all had really increased after the woman pulled out a weapon.

The lack of submission on my face must have irked the woman even further. This time, I received a nauseating kick to the stomach. It was much worse than the first hit. Since I was already against the wall, the momentum had nowhere to go but throughout my body. I let myself lie on the ground, trying to catch my breath and deal with the pain.

Leaning in close to my face, the woman asked again, “How much was the damn ribbon?”

I grimaced, feeling incredibly frustrated. At this point, my clothes were freezing and uncomfortably sticking to my body, which was aching in two separate places. The air was windy and agitated, and it was hard to think straight between a brutal headache and a knife pointed directly at my face. But, more than anything, I was mad regarding what they decided to steal from me.

It really was just some string, like the woman said. Kazuha’s ribbon dangled in her hand that wasn’t holding the knife, while mine was still wrapped around the wooden charm, discarded on the ground. I knew Kazuha wouldn’t want me to go to such lengths for a material gift, but I was angry—at them for stealing it, and at myself for being helpless to defend it. I was no use to anyone dead, so I conceded and told the woman the price.

“Twelve thousand… for both,” I said while sitting up from the ground as much as I could. There wasn’t anywhere I could move to put distance between myself and her weapon, so I tilted my head to the side while keeping my eyes locked with hers. The woman clicked her tongue at me, but didn’t respond. She seemed to be studying me over. There was a tense silence, and the relentless wind blowing the rain multiplied the strong, suffocating feeling in the air. The two men behind her grew more and more fidgety the longer the silence permeated.

“Hey…” the second man looked like he was going to reach his arm out towards the woman, but didn’t fully commit to the action. It was obvious she was the ringleader of their trio, but also the most unstable one. “We got what we could from them. Shouldn’t we just get outta here before the Millelith catch on?”

“Those guards won’t be able to see past their polearms with all this rain, let alone down a dark alley,” she snapped her reply back at the second man. “Damnit! What is up with all this wind?”

The wind had picked up substantially at this point, surpassing the rain in force and speed. It wasn’t as bad from low on the ground, but I was not spared from the brutal lashing caused by the air. In the darkness of the alley, I saw the bright red ribbon I bought for Kazuha, soaked and thrashing wildly in the woman’s hand. If she happened to let go, it would surely be carried off on the wind and never seen again.

I muttered out, “You should… put the ribbons back in their bag.” My female assailant whipped her head back to me and crouched down in my face.

“You know, you’ve had a real fuckin’ attitude problem from the start!” Her displeased face was scrunched up. It was obvious the speed of the wind had caused her to become more distressed than she already was.

“I’m sure your friends think the same about you,” I spat back.

The woman’s eyes widened and her brows furrowed tight. I knew provoking her wasn’t a smart move, but I couldn’t help my comment while watching Kazuha’s gift become ruined in her hands. Quickly, her hand with the knife retracted from my face and was thrust towards my upper chest. I reacted in time by shifting my body back down towards the ground.

A terrible stinging feeling flared from my upper arm, where her weapon had left a deep cut. I gasped in pain from the sudden stab wound. Dark red blood trailed down my arm and stained my clothing, then began to pool on the street beneath me. The injury was nothing fatal, but it was hot with pain and would become dangerous if not treated relatively soon. I had assumed the woman’s threats were serious, but part of me didn’t imagine her actually stabbing me until it was too late. The longer I was in this situation with the thieves, the greater the risk on my life was. The wind whipped violently around us and the hard rain slapping the pavement muffled my voice.

“Kazuha…” I groaned out. At this point, all I wanted to do was return to him and his warmth.

I was tired of the cold.

I gripped my hand over the bleeding wound on my arm. The second I had cast my eyes down, a yell came from the men on the other side of the alley. Two dull thuds were heard as their bodies fell into my line of sight on the ground. Frantically turning around, the woman found herself face to face with the blade that always adorned Kazuha’s side. It was radiating a bright glow due to the elemental energy infused. Wind and rain swirled around the sword, drawing my eyes towards the samurai himself.

His bangs were slicked down to his forehead from the storm and water trailed down the curves of his face. What was more shocking than Kazuha’s arrival, however, was his expression. The eyes that normally held so much empathy and care were brutally cold and unforgiving. Lightly pinched eyebrows pushed against his lidded eyes, and frowning lips parted to speak to my attacker.

“It appears I’ve been led to quite the vile situation now, haven’t I?” Kazuha’s voice was calm, but held none of his usual soothing tone. It was harsh and bitter, something I’ve never heard from him before—not until now.

The woman began stuttering out, shocked that she had been caught and overwhelmed by the vision user so quickly.

“L-led here? How? No one should’ve been able to see us here with all the rain!” She eyed the long blade held in front of her, but didn’t dare move a muscle.

“Foolish people say foolish things,” he bit. “Nature’s gaze witnessed your crimes, and the disturbance in the rain told me of your location.”

Of course, that was the case. I should’ve known Kazuha was aware of the danger I was in even before I did. His sword was unwavering in the face of the woman as he spoke his next words.

“As members of the Crux Fleet, we abide by the laws of the sea. For crimes such as this, the law calls for the thief to be thrown out to sea with their hands bound and legs broken,” Kazuha’s voice was pure ice at this point. “And I’m not one to break our law.”

Panic was evident on the woman’s face. Her eyes wildly darted around before she decided to test her luck and moved to run out of the alley. The back of Kazuha’s anemo-infused blade struck the back of her head sharply, causing her to collapse just as her two partners had. It was now just Kazuha and I, surrounded by the three unconscious bodies of my attackers, windblown and drenched.

He turned away from the woman’s body and moved towards me. Slightly in shock, I was unable to speak out to him. The passionate red eyes I adored were stoic and unreadable. They avoided meeting my own, and instead focused on studying my injuries. With his sword returned to its sheath, Kazuha unwrapped his scarf from his neck. Crouching down in front of me, he gently grabbed my arm and inspected the cut. Blood and water ran down the entire front side of my arm, and the rain had diluted the pool of burgundy below me, now running between the valleys of the street.

His frown remained as he spoke, “It’ll need stitches, but this will have to do for now.” Using his scarf as a tourniquet, he firmly wrapped it over the wound. In no time at all, blood had stained it several shades darker than it previously was.

Next, he traced his hand up from my injured arm to my cheek, where I assumed a visible mark was left. Sharp pangs had been coming from my face and stomach ever since I was first hit. My cheeks were wet from the rain, so I couldn’t tell if her kick had broken the skin or not. Kazuha’s fingers were barely felt as they brushed my hair back and ghosted over my face. It was as if he thought I would break the second any pressure was applied. Kazuha was close, yet still refrained from letting our eyes meet.

“Kazuha—”

He cut me off by lightly resting his hand on top of my head in a comforting gesture. I felt an ache in my chest, but I couldn’t tell if it was from the pain or his actions. I was dripping wet from the water, freezing cold from the now absent wind, and covered in blood. I was a mess, but I was okay because of him. Things surely wouldn’t have ended well if Kazuha didn’t sense the danger I was in.

“Thank you, Kazuha,” I bit the inside of my lip, beginning to feel emotional. “Thank you for saving me.”

Kazuha stood up off the ground, scanning the three unconscious assailants.

“I need to leave and bring the Millelith to take care of them, (Y/N). Will you be okay alone for a minute?” he spoke. I could tell he didn’t want to leave me alone again by the way he stared at the bodies, making sure they were out cold and not just faking it.

I reassured him, “I’ll be okay, Kazuha. You can go.”

I watched him hurry out of the alley to grab the nearest Millelith soldiers. The lighthearted feeling I had when the rain first started had quickly dissipated with the events that followed. Instead of getting scolded by him with his forgiving smile, I knew things would be grim and regretful. The original culprit of my prolonged outing was curled pitifully on the ground in front of me. The ribbon was soggy, but still a vibrant shade of red against the dark pavement.

Shifting, I moved myself to pick up Kazuha’s ribbon, tracing over the embroidery with my fingers. I hoped that letting it dry would restore it to its original condition. Shuffling across the alley, I picked up the equally waterlogged wooden charm with my ribbon still wrapped around it. The state of the gift put a frown on my face. Finally, the velvet pouch the gift came in was similarly abandoned in the middle of the alley, waiting to be picked up. Kazuha returned with the Millelith soldiers just as I finished reassembling the present.

Two soldiers made their way over to the unconscious muggers behind me, while one came to assist me. Kazuha remained at the entrance of the alley, talking with another soldier.

“Are you able to walk?” The soldier had a boyish face. If he was new, the sight of my blood didn’t alarm him.

“I think so,” I let him help me up. Once I was upright, the blood rushed to my head and I became dizzy. The soldier held me as I leaned on him for support, letting the spots fade from my vision.

“Dr. Baizhu usually isn’t available this late at night. I can bring you to the Millelith’s headquarters to get cleaned up,” he offered.

My savior’s voice intercepted, “No need. We’re travelers staying at an inn nearby, and I have medical supplies to treat their wounds. I’ll bring them to your doctor in the morning.” Making his way over to the boyish guard and myself, he replaced the guard and supported my weight. Even in the cold rain, his warmth bled through his wet clothing. I subconsciously leaned closer to him.

The soldier seemed to hesitate, looking my poor condition over. The way Kazuha spoke was forceful and blunt, as if he didn’t trust anyone but himself to handle me. Taking the hint, the Millelith soldier conceded the unspoken argument.

“Alright, sir. Thank you for…” the guard paused, eyeing criminals on the alley ground, “stoppingthese thieves. This sadly isn’t the first incident we’ve had with these three, but because of you, it’ll be the last.”

Kazuha and I said our farewells and parted ways with the soldiers. Once we stepped out of the alley and onto the street, I let out a sigh I didn’t realize I had been holding in. I was relieved to finally be out of that dark alley, but the tension in the air wasn’t gone just yet. Kazuha stopped us and moved himself to face me.

As I was about to question him, he bent his legs and carefully placed his hands under my arms, lifting me into the air. The shock of being picked up made me instinctively wrap my legs around his waist, which was his goal. Kazuha adjusted my position, tucking one arm under my thigh and another around my lower back. His eyes stared past my shoulder and his nose was tucked into my collarbone. This made our chests flush against each other. His wet hair tickled my neck and the side of my face.

The complaint on my tongue quickly disappeared when my body reminded me just how tired I was from the day, and the warmth Kazuha radiated made me relax into him. Tucking my chin over his shoulders, I let out another content sigh, closing my eyes and letting him carry me through the rain and back to our inn.

—

The atmosphere back at the inn was heavy, as I had predicted. Kazuha immediately carried me into the bathroom upon entering our room. Words had not yet been exchanged since we left the alley. I sat on the counter next to the sink while Kazuha unpacked our first-aid kit. Using a cloth, he wiped the blood from my arm. Once he felt my arm was clean, he held the cloth to my wound.

“Hold it there for a bit,” he ordered.

Our nurse on the Alcor always took care of our injured, but I thought it made sense that Kazuha knew how to treat wounds while watching him prepare to stitch my arm. He was a traveler before all else. There was no one around to care for his wounds but himself in the wild.

Kazuha moved away from the counter and grabbed a towel, handing it to me.

“I’ll be as gentle as possible, but this will hurt,” my current nurse frowned. “Try not to move too much, (Y/N).”

I nodded, relaxing my arm and turning my head away. It was hard not to whimper as the needle passed through my skin, but I stayed still in order to make things easier for him. I could tell he really was trying his best to make it less painful. His skilled hands didn’t make any unnecessary movements, and he was fast when piercing through the wound. My thoughts drifted off while I tugged on the towel and waited for Kazuha to finish.

I wondered what he was thinking this entire time. Was he mad at me for staying out and causing him trouble? I promised myself I’d wash his clothes since I was ultimately the one at fault for making them wet and bloody. It was no secret that Kazuha was more introverted, but his behavior now wasn’t a side he’s ever shown me before. There was complete silence as he worked, focusing on stitching the cut on my arm properly. The samurai was never easy to read, but at this moment it felt even more impossible than usual. I wanted him to open up to me, I wanted to know everything about him—his feelings, his worries, his past. I wished that he would spend hours telling me every detail about himself. It was frustrating being stuck on the outside, forbidden from knowing any of his thoughts.

“It shouldn’t leave too much of a scar,” his voice cut through the silence, startling me. Once again, he wiped my arm clean of any remaining blood, then wrapped it tightly with bandages. I could tell it would be tender for a while.

Kazuha brought his attention to the throbbing side of my face. A fresh, warm cloth softly cleaned my face from the dirt and blood. His face was close to mine, yet he still managed to dance around my eyes.

“Kazuha.” I tried.

He completely ignored me and continued to place bandages on my cheek. There was a slight stinging sensation from the medicine he applied, but it was much more bearable than the stitches.

“Kazuha—”

“I warned you not to stay out, (Y/N),” Kazuha spoke. A sigh fell from his lips as he pulled away, reaching back into the first-aid kit for another bandage. “I told you it would rain.”

His face was locked in the same serious expression. The frown wasn’t the same forgiving one I usually received with his lectures. It was heavy and added to the guilty feeling that was pooling in my stomach.

He busied himself by applying another bandage to my face. Once the tips of his fingers brushed my skin, however, I felt a strange tickle from them. Although it was barely noticeable, Kazuha’s fingers had begun to shake.

“Nature has always communicated with me, but that doesn’t make me invincible. I’ve lost many people in my life, even with my senses. What if I had been too late reaching you, (Y/N)? By the time I arrived, I could tell that woman seriously intended to…” he trailed off. Emotion had begun leaking through his voice. His concern for me, his anger towards my assailants, the sorrow he carried from his past. It was all hard to detect, but it was there nonetheless.

“I should have never agreed to let you leave my side. I should have known better.” Kazuha’s eyes had long since fallen from my cheek and down to my lap. I couldn’t stand listening to him blame himself for my decisions.

“If I had—”

“Kazuha!”

He fell silent as my hands cupped his face and forced him to finally meet my eyes, which were wide and trying to hold back tears as they stared into his glassy red ones. Kazuha was visibly caught off-guard by this. Through the blurriness in my eyes, I watched his serious expression crack into one of sadness. He mirrored my actions, cupping my face. His fingers swiped beneath my eyes.

“Please, don’t cry.”

My hands fell from his face to loosely hold onto his wrists. Big drops fell from my eyes, only to be caught by his loving hands.

“I’m sorry, Kazuha,” I cried. His lips were slightly parted and his face held the most caring expression I’ve ever seen. His sadness was a gentle one, one only saved for those he genuinely cherished. It just made me cry harder. “I’m sorry I made you worry about me… Please, don’t blame yourself for my mistakes. None of this was your fault.”

I let him wipe my tears while I mumbled apologies. The adrenaline from the incident had long since worn off, but it was only the man in front of me who was able to cause the state I was in. I loved him from the bottom of my heart.

My cheeks were red and puffy from the emotion Kazuha pulled out from me. I reached behind my spot on the counter to grab the gift I bought for him. The velvet was mostly still wet, but not much could be done about it except time. I set the dripping pouch down on my lap for him to see.

“This… is the reason I was out.” I held it up for him to take.

He slowly reached for it, wrapping his fingers delicately around his present. Kazuha looked up into my eyes as if he wanted to say something, but decided to stay silent and went back to the object in his hands. Slipping the wooden charm smoothly out of the pouch, he inspected the two colorful ribbons tied around it. His fingers untied his vermillion ribbon and lightly rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. Equally red eyes stared into mine, silently asking a question.

“I know your time with us as part of the Crux Fleet is temporary,” I began. “Travelers are called so for a reason. It can’t be expected that we will be together for a long time, but still,” my voice felt thick with emotion thinking about Kazuha leaving the Crux Fleet. If I had it my way, I would follow the wandering samurai anywhere he asked. “But still, I don’t want to be a temporary memory. I want you to always have something to remember our time together by. I saw these ribbons at the Mingxing Jewelry shop on our way here… I thought they would be nice hair accessories. The red one matches that streak in your hair,” I weakly chuckled. “I got the (color) one for myself.”

Kazuha’s eyes were wide now, surprised at my confession and the meaning behind the two ribbons he held. He handed me the red ribbon intended for him and turned around to give me access to his ponytail. I took the hint and tied it over the band that held his soft white hair in place.

When he turned around, the (color) ribbon was removed from the charm and hung limply in his hands. A smile graced his lips and his eyes were lidded. Kazuha always had nice eyes, but his eyelashes were especially beautiful. They were long and dark and curled perfectly to frame his kind red irises. A delicate hand took mine and lifted it between the two of us. My cheeks grew warm as I watched him tie the (color) ribbon intended for my hair around my ring finger. When he was done, he raised my other hand to be held in his.

Kazuha had a way of making my heart race with the softest of touches. Sitting on a bathroom counter, facing the person I loved as he tied a pretend ring on my finger was enough to send me halfway to Celestia. His thumbs began to trace over my own hands in his.

“Just as the sun remembers to rise, the seasons of Teyvat will remember to change. Winter carries its cold chill, killing each leaf on the tree. The tree is blessed with the new life and purpose brought by Spring. Summer’s heat tests the will of the tree and its determination to protect what it has been given.” Kazuha’s voice was filled with affection as he spoke these words. “As long as the maples leaves of Autumn continue to turn red from love, I promise that I’ll never forget you, (Y/N).”

Kazuha slowly brought his face closer to mine until his lips brushed over my own. My head tilted as I let my eyes close, completely giving myself to him. His lips were soft as they gave me the gentlest kiss I’ve ever received in my life. The passion behind his words and actions filled my heart, and any trace of the sadness shared between us earlier was completely gone.

He leaned his body closer to mine in order to deepen the kiss. The feeling of his lips against mine quickly became addicting. I wrapped my uninjured arm around his shoulders and began to play with his hair, messy from the day’s events. It was strange how contrasting Kazuha felt. At times, he was utterly unreadable, not letting a hint of his thoughts or feelings slip out. But now, Kazuha had nothing to hide as he kissed me. The love I felt from him was genuine and pure.

I didn’t let him go far when he broke the kiss. Keeping my arm tossed around his neck, I rested my forehead against his.

“I love you, Kaedehara Kazuha.” I felt warm all over being so close to him. Kazuha pecked my lips in response.

“And I, you, (Y/N).”

silently leaned forward, poking a stick at the fire’s dying embers. You watched him, entranced by the way the small flames danced across his pale face. For just a moment, you were even able to forget the biting chill that permeated the air around you. Once he sat back, you came back to reality, and shivered while pulling your blanket tighter around your form. 

This action didn’t go unnoticed by Kazhua, who then placed a gentle arm around your shoulder to tug a bit you closer to his side. His attention was elsewhere, however, ruby orbs much too busy scanning the snow-blessed evergreen trees that traced the surroundings. After travelling with the swordsman for so long, you had learned to practice reticence in these moments, the moments when Kazuha was carefully listening to the words of nature as they whispered and told him secrets you could never wish to uncover. 

Still, the warmth emitting from the soft action he had performed seconds ago sent pleasant tingles crawling through your skin. You closed your eyes, resting your tired head on your lover’s shoulder as you released a quiet but contented sigh. A bandaged hand reached over to place itself on your cheek, further heating the area. In a tender gesture, Kazuha’s thumb traced your undereye area carefully.

“Sleep well my love. The snow will await the return of it’s sun.”

MASTERPOST

my masterpost/masterlist! i’ve been itching to get this up and posted since it just bugs me not having one haha

this is all sorted from oldest to newest for each character, so for my more recent works they’re at the end of the list!

thanks for supporting my writing!

CHILDE // TARTAGLIA

⤜nickname hcs // non-request // fluff, concept

⤜they blush hcs // non-request // fluff, concept, pining

⤜they have trouble falling asleep hcs // non-request // fluff, concept

⤜white peonies writing prompt // request // angst, comfort

⤜red chrysanthemums writing prompt // request // fluff, pining

⤜hydro archon! reader brainrot // non-request // concept

⤜acts of endearment // non-request // fluff

⤜how they hold your hand // non-request // fluff

⤜breaking up // non-request // angst, no comfort

⤜acts of endearment (winter edition) // non-request // fluff

THOMA // CHIEF RETAINER

⤜acts of endearment // non-request // fluff

⤜how they hold your hand // non-request // fluff

⤜breaking up // non-request // angst, no comfort

⤜acts of endearment (winter edition) // non-request // fluff

ZHONGLI // MORAX

⤜nickname hcs // non-request // fluff, concept

⤜they blush hcs // non request // fluff, concept, pining

⤜acts of endearment // non-request // fluff

⤜how they hold your hand // non-request // fluff

⤜acts of endearment (winter edition) // non-request // fluff

DILUC RAGNVINDR // THE DARK SIDE OF DAWN

⤜nickname hcs // non-request // fluff, concept

⤜they have trouble falling asleep hcs // non-request // fluff, concept

⤜diluc interaction: telling him he’s pretty // request // fluff, pining

⤜camellia writing prompt // request // fluff

⤜red chrysanthemum writing prompt // request // fluff, pining

⤜acts of endearment // non-request // fluff

⤜how they hold your hand // non-request // fluff

⤜acts of endearment (winter edition) // non-request // fluff

XIAO // LONE YAKSHA

⤜red chrysanthemum writing prompt // request // fluff, pining

⤜acts of endearment // non-request // fluff

⤜how they hold your hand // non-request // fluff

⤜breaking up // non-request // angst, no comfort

⤜acts of endearment (winter edition) // non-request // fluff

RAIDEN SHOGUN // BAAL

⤜acts of endearment // non-request // fluff

⤜how they hold your hand // non-request // fluff

⤜acts of endearment (winter edition) // non-request // fluff

VENTI // BARBATOS

⤜acts of endearment // non-request // fluff

⤜how they hold your hand // non-request // fluff

⤜acts of endearment (winter edition) // non-request // fluff

KAZUHA // RONIN OF THE WIND

⤜how they hold your hand // non-request // fluff

ARATAKI ITTO // THE ONE AND ONI

⤜acts of endearment (winter edition) // non-request // fluff

HOW THEY HOLD YOUR HAND // CHILDE, THOMA, ZHONGLI, DILUC, XIAO, BAAL, VENTI + KAZUHA

warnings: none

synopsis: how i think the aforementioned genshin characters would hold your hand :]

writer’s note: again the bias with tartaglia in this one is so evident but i am shameless, speaking of my favorite stay tuned for a longfic with tartaglia himself on.. soulmates

**edit: no longer about soulmates oh boy here we go

content under the cut!

YOUR HAND LOOKS LONELY.. CAN I HOLD IT?

CHILDE

his grasp is firm, yet gentle. his hands are cold, but it isn’t anything akin to the biting frost of snezhnaya. his hands are much more of a soothing, cool feeling and if you held them long enough, they’d emit a soft warmth with time.

he usually has his gloves on. if it’s a lazy day and he doesn’t have to do much other than sign papers, he’ll keep them off. trace the little cuts and he’ll give you a small smile and a shake of his head when you ask if it hurts.

his palms are rough and calloused, a result of mastering the art of different weapons. scars litter the back of his palms.

there was once when he babbled on about how much training he had to endure to master wielding all the different variety of weapons. excitedly expressing how he’s finally so happy that he’s getting so close with his signature bow. upon you mentioning how he has yet to “master wielding” your hand, he found his face heating up, before cockily pointing out how lucky he was it’ll be something only he alone can “wield.”

when he lets go, whether or not because something came up or just to leave to run an errand– his finger tips linger longer for yours. he doesn’t want to leave you just yet. before he lets go, he already finds himself missing the familiar affection in his palm.

pinkie promise him you’ll hold his hand plenty when he comes back for dinner, won’t you?

THOMA

warm; oh so very warm! if it’s winter or even on a particularly chilly day and you find your hands getting the slightest bit cold, slip your hand flat against his.

he welcomes you with open arms (fingers..?)! he insists the red on his face is from the cold, not from the contact; laughing bashfully as you interlock your fingers, bringing your hand up to his mouth to plant kisses upon your knuckles.

his hands aren’t exactly as rough as you’d think with all the chores he has to do all day, but they aren’t particularly the softest thing in the world. his hands are pleasing to look at as well, the cream color always seems to emit a captivating glow in the sunlight.

say this to him and he’ll stop whatever he’s doing– be it chopping carrots or folding laundry– just to stare at you with an unbelievably soft gaze, lips drawn in a tight line as he wonders just what in celestia he did to get so lucky with you.

that’s before he comes up with something he deems even cheesier to say back at you of course.

ZHONGLI

you usually interlock arms, as he deems it more convenient. his hands are occupied most of the time, be it holding a cup of tea or reading a book. not only that, but he finds interlocking fingers or holding your hands as you walk quite awkward. do his gloves really feel that nice?

but that isn’t to say it’s a bad thing! on the rare occasion you do hold hands, it’s usually sitting across from each other or somewhere private.

when you two are in bed, you often find yourself playing with his gloveless hand. like the element he commands, sturdy and protective. his hands are no different.

if you look close enough, you can see that the veins coursing through them glow with a pale, faint golden yellow. if you plant kisses upon them, he’ll let out a pleased hum before reaching for your palm to do the same.

given he’s a pleaser if anything, it just doesn’t feel right if he doesn’t reciprocate.

DILUC

to be honest, you won’t find yourself holding his hand a lot.

sharing affections with the busy man are usually on a more intimate scale, examples including eskimo kisses as he leaves the manor or even welcoming hugs when he comes back.

but the closest thing you’ll get to hand holding with diluc ragnvindr would be having his hand laid atop yours while you two are either sleeping or reading a book by the fire.

they have calluses from his duty of protecting mondstadt, but his hands have a lot of care put into them. you can tell when you bring them up to your eyes. they’re perfectly trimmed, clean nails, healthy nail beds, you get the gist. diluc values his hygiene plenty and seeing as he handle people’s drinks, he finds it all the more a reason to take care of them.

he loves to cup your face in his hands, thumbs rubbing at the soft shape of your cheekbones as he leans down to take a kiss from you.

XIAO

if you’re looking for full blown interlaced fingers and the soft caress of a thumb against the back of your palm with this adeptus– please look elsewhere.

he isn’t familiar with such complicated contact like that, much less with the people he deems close to him. not only that, but he finds the prospect of hand holding a bit unnecessary. what if he needs his hands to protect you in case something comes up? not only that, but why are you going to him if your hands are cold? there’s plenty of safe heat sources in wangshuu inn, do you see him as your personal heater?

but something he doesn’t mind is hooking his pinkie with yours. of course, only when he has absolutely nothing to do and is completely free.

when he sits atop the balcony in wangshuu inn, you’re given every greenlight to stride up to him, sit besides him, and lock pinkies. he’ll get a bit warm in the face and try to shy away from you if you were to have a sentimental moment with him before this.

he silently begs for one thing– don’t tease him. at least not too much, he’s trying his best for you, okay?

RAIDEN SHOGUN

her hands are supple, soft.

she likes the contact! if anything she finds it endearing that you’ve gone out of your way to ask her for her permission to do this in the first place.

she remembers clear as day when you had first asked, flusteredly waving your arms around. saying how you didn’t want to provide her any discomfort. with a small amused smile, she waved off your concerns and took your hand in hers, effectively shutting you up.

ei finds that her favorite way of browsing through the streets of inazuma city is with you, cupping her hand with yours as the two of you walk together. she adores the look on your face when you lead her through the stalls and go up to one asking for dango milk for the both of you.

it never fails to touch her heart that you remember her personal preference for the simplest things (at least in her mind) like food.

VENTI

being a musician, his hands are more firmer than you’d think.

hours spent plucking away at the strings of the harp had made his fingertips more solid than yours, but it suits him plenty, only adding to the infinite charm that the bard exudes.

he loves holding your hand! the type to swing your arms as he hums an aimless tune while the both of you walk around windrise finding a nice place to sit down. i believe that he out of everyone i’ve written for here, he would rub his thumb against the back of your palm the most. he finds it comforting when you do the same back to him.

bonus* he absolutely adores holding your hands in his while he teaches you some fun tips about playing with his harp. guiding your hands into the correct position to pluck at it so it would cause the least amount of discomfort, that type of stuff just warms his heart since you’re so interested in his hobby-job!

KAZUHA

when you’re holding his bandaged hand, be gentle.

there are times when the bandage frays away and becomes loose. when this happens you usually tie a comfortable knot for him so he can keep it on until the both of you get home to re-bandage him.

he’s not a fan of interlacing fingers either, he finds cupping your hands more intimate and prefers the spread out contact more.

his most favorite form of hand holding with you has to be on top of a hill of some sorts while the two of you have your hands on top of each other. kazuha adores taking you outside with him on walks, which allows for intimate moments like these to happen plenty.

put your head on his shoulder and he’s doing the same back to you with a small, content smile on his face.

reacting to you confessing love

genshin impact edition pt.2

characters: kazuha, venti and xiao

warnings: spoilers for the 2.7 quest in xiao’s and my terrible original haiku…along with my unedited work LMAO.

a/n: yeah- uh please ignore the bad haiku…i tried my best + if the hcs seem kinda wonky or chunky *shrugs* that’s…that’s just my style ehe

Kazuha

• Blinks at you for a moment until your words process in his mind 
• And there we go! Kazuha has his one and only smile brightening up his face 
• His cheeks are a little flushed but shhhh we’re not mentioning that to him ;)
• Eyes crinkling around the corners as he replies to your confession with a haiku. 
• Hisoriginalhaiku:

Those three words you spoke,

Weigh heavy around us both,

But my heart feels light.

• “No wonder you were acting strangely these past few days. I feel the same. “
• You guys go on a celebratory date to that street food stall in Ritou and eat salted braised fish :D
• Somehow Beidou and the Crux family hear the news and are ecstatic for Kazuha!
• Little did you know, Beidou and the others were shipping you two for quite a while
• Waiting for WHEN THE HECKERONI you’d get together :< kids these days are so shy… just say it!! JUST SAY ITTTTTTTTT AHHHHHHHHHH
• Also, Kazuha’s Crux family forces him to go on breaks and spend time with you
• “I just wish they’d stop prying me about our…dates :(“
• Lies.. He doesn’t mind it one bit
• You’ll find yourself invited to The Crux often for partying

Venti 

• His hands stopped plucking at the strings of his lyre as his head turned to face yours…. Green eyes widened as the realisation set in.
• That’s when he tackled you to the ground with a hug TvT <3 (the two of you were sitting side by side on Starsnatch Cliff btw)
• “You have no idea how thrilled I am!” 
• The surrounding wind blew gently, a little warm but had the heartwarming scent of cecelia flowers to it. 
• Speaking of cecelias, he picked a few and tucked it behind your ears :”D now both of you are matching
• You bet every Mondtstater knew about your relationship by the very next day.
• Let’s be honest, we all saw that coming- come on, it’s Venti! 
• “Hehe, I dedicate this song to my beloved! Listen up everyone~”
• Diluc is tired of him coming to Angels Share and talking about you on the daily… He has a deadpan expression every time you arrive at the bar to pick up drunk Venti…
• Nevertheless, Diluc is actually happy for the both of you and in reality doesn’t mind too much about him getting drunk now and then; after all, someone’s got Venti’s back now ;)

Xiao 

• He turned around to look at you with his thinking pose.
• Although his face looked as cool as a cucumber… INTERNALLY HE WAS HAPPY AND PANICKING- AND DID I MENTION HAPPy? HUWEIHUIDEWGYIDEW BUT ALSO SCREAMINGGGGGGG AHHHHHHHHHHHH-
• Ehem (Xiao bestest boy)
• “Hmm… Mortal emotions are something that I do not fully comprehend but- since it is you, I do not mind experiencing this… love… with you” 
• He’s trying, okay? Give the poor boy some slack. He’s never dated his entire life and never thought about it too deeply, unlike his other yaksha siblings. 
• This is the best reply you’ll get from him at the moment. Later on though, he will slowly become better at expressing his feelings with you :”D <3
• He escorts you to his room back in Wangshu Inn 
• Since it was getting pretty late for you to return to your place, Xiao allowed you to take his bed.
• He slept out on the roof though :( 
• But dear oh dear, Verr Goldet saw the entire scene. Don’t you worry, Wangshu Inn and their workers dare not disturb the two of you the next day, ahh~ sweet love.
• Xiao often gets relationship advice from Zhongli… He calls the young adeptus for drinking tea now and then but- the god of Liyue has taken quite an interest in him and your relationship???
• “So… I heard from Ganyu that you were on a flower picking date”
• As for his yaksha siblings- well… they just tease him (in good humour, of course)
• Xiao acts grumpily afterwards, but seriously? He loves it :”D (actually misses their teasing when his family doesn’tdo it)
• “Hmph… they act like a bunch of kids”

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