say no to this - kaeya x m!reader
tw/contains: ooc cheater kaeya, cheating, oneshot based on a song (title of song is in the name), yelling, modern day genshin au in a way?, mild mention of sexual actions, use of explicit language (cussing.)
kaeya didn't know what he did at the time, and he completely hated himself for it. you were gone a trip with your friends jean and lisa, and he was lonely, so he talked up a drunk lady at the tavern while you were gone...
kaeya tried to gather his thoughts, his heart pounding in his chest. what was he doing? what would you do if you found out?
what would he do with his life, if you, his light, left over a mistake he shouldn't have done?
the door opening to your shared apartment didn't help, he wanted to run. to be given even two more minutes just to think.
"kae, i'm home!" you said, stepping into the empty house.
the way it was, it was unsettling. the feeling rose from the pit of your stomach, a feeling of dread.
kaeya on the other hand was freaking out. how? oh, barbatos, how was he supposed to forgive himself after what he had done? but he couldn't stop...you stepped into your shared bedroom. in fact, anything you two had was shared. the apartment, the rent to the owner, the furniture, the food, your hearts.
but your heart had broken, when you walked into the bedroom to be met with kaeya's bare back, on top of what you could only guess was a woman under him.
"kaeya...?" you said, not understanding the sight in front of you.
oh barbatos, why didn't he say no to this?
you stared at him, disbelief was the first thing that came to mind. why was he on top of someone else? in fact, why was there someone else in your bed?
"kaeya, why'd you stop?" the woman asked, not noticing you were frozen in place at the door.
tears pricked in your eyes as you realized they were connected, the way only him and you should've been. what was going on?
"[name]," he started, breaking that bond between the two.
you instinctively stepped back, once, twice. you couldn't respond to what he was doing at all when you had this scene in front of you.
the first thing that came to mind was to get away. to run, to flee away to catch your thoughts. however, what slipped from your mouth wasn't what you wanted to say.
sure, it was what anyone would say, especially in a situation like this. but not you. you didn't want to say something like that, something to hurt your love.
but was he really your love? after what you've seen?
out of the corner of your eye, you saw the woman creep out of bed and start to change back into the clothes that were on the floor. you only watched as kaeya tried to gather some words to say, to attempt to help the situation.
"[name]... let me explain."
"'explain'?" you repeated with a scoff. "how do you expect to 'explain' this?"
kaeya had to be honest; he had no idea. his shoulders drooped as he didn't have a reply, as you continued talking. you didn't know what was coming out of your mouth, but in the back of your mind, you wanted it to sting him. to sting him so bad. but why? you wanted to resolve it as much as he did.
"how do you explain to me that you were on top of a woman, touching her in ways that you sure as hell shouldn't be doing...?" you asked, in a harsh tone. "i'm sure i already understand most of what you were getting at."
technically, yes. but kaeya couldn't admit that. it would hurt his pride.
his pride? it was getting the best of him right now. he only knew he wanted you to believe different from what you saw. even though that was all there was to it.
he just slept with a girl from work a few times because he was lonely. kaeya admitted it to himself, it's as bad as you make it sound. you were only gone for a little, and yet he took advantage of that.
you were always worried he didn't love you, as he would openly tell you about his relationships at work. it was nice to know, though, that he had many who were fond of him where he spend most of his days.
"you don't." was the first thing he replied with. he felt exposed, physically and ideally. "you don't understand what i'm doing."
"you're sleeping with someone." you stated, staring dead into his eyes (or eye?). "because what, are you tired of me? you missed me? this isn't how i expected to be greeted when i came home."
"did you expect a warm welcome?" kaeya shot back, rubbing his temple. "i hope you realize you came home late. what is it, 9:00? [name], if you're gone for that long i'd like at least for you to say you're coming home."
"so you can get away with these types of things? to be able to sleep with whoever you want from your workplace? how do i even know you aren't sleeping with your best friend?" you said, taking a confident step forward.
the pounding in his chest moved to his head, he didn't like seeing you pissed. especially at him. but kaeya couldn't shield himself from what you were saying. because most of it was true.
"did you miss the feeling of a cunt around you?" you said, stabbing him and yourself where it hurt. you were most insecure about that, and his sweet nothings he would say would always make you feel better.
maybe they were truly just nothings?
"excuse me?" kaeya said, his face scrunching up in anger, confusion. "what are you getting at by saying that?"
"i'm saying you're nothing but a lying bastard." you spat, tears threatening to spill from your eyes. you glared at him with hatred and hurt, hoping, praying that it was obvious to get it through his dense head.
"so i'm the bastard?" kaeya said, a tired laugh coming out of his mouth. "you're the one who left me alone this long. did you think i would love you for this long?"
they truly were nothings.
"me trying to keep us stable, to be able to pay off bills and everything because your crummy job won't help, is the reason you cheat on me?" you replied, before looking at the woman directly. you couldn't help but give her a sharp glare as well.
"honestly, i don't understand you." kaeya said, "it was for fun. for no feelings whatsoever, no strings attached. why are you reacting like this?"
"because you promised you'd never do this again!" you shouted at him, at his face.
"then it's your fault for not keeping your end of the deal!" kaeya said, threatening to do much more than hit you with his words.
"how am i responsible for your choices?!" you retorted, crying freely. you let the tears flow, crocodile tears or not.
"what?" you said, but you had heard him clearly.
"i said get out, [name]." kaeya repeated.
you stepped back again, shaking your head a bit. "i can't believe i settled for someone like you."
"i probably should've settled for a woman like you've said to so many times."
you had already stepped out of the house, barely able to escape the smell of booze and wine.
it had been three days since you and kaeya fought. you had taken 'shelter' at diluc's place instead of your own. you felt indebted to him for allowing you to stay, even though he was your best friend who supported you two's relationship.
you were currently pouring yourself a cup of your favorite energizer for the start of the day. taking a drink from it, you looked over at the couch to see the sleeping redhead. since he didn't have a guest room, he lent you his room while he slept on the couch. too tired from crying to even fight back you reluctantly agreed.
you decided to cook something, ignoring all the texts on your phone from kaeya. you dared to read a few, but never bothered to reply to him. always leaving it on read.
anything ranging from 'im sorry' and 'let me explain', is putting lightly what you had received from him.
you couldn't stop thinking about it, replaying what happened in your mind over and over.
you turned on the stove to start cooking breakfast, yawning from drowsiness. maybe you should hear him out...
no. why would you if you fully accepted that you two wouldn't be able to be what you originally were?
you heard a groan from either the creaky couch or diluc, keeping back a laugh from the birds' nest of hair he had.
"good morning." you said, a small chuckle escaping your mouth.
"don't even." diluc replied, pouring himself some coffee. "what are you cooking?"
"something." you said, focusing on trying not to let the eggs stay on the pan too long.
after a short while of silence, or rather after diluc finished his coffee, he looked at you. "when are you going to talk with him again?"
you froze for a moment. you had been trying to figure out how to even strike up a conversation with him in the first place.
and how you were too tired from coming home to understand he may have been drunk.
"probably never." you replied bitterly, "i don't want to talk to him."
"you can't ignore him forever." diluc said, tying up his hair. "let me finish the breakfast."
"oh, no no! it's fine..." you try to say, but are gently moved aside by him, grabbing the pan and spatula.
"i'm the one taking care of you, it's nothing." he said.
you sighed and couldn't deny him, mumbling a small 'thank you' before finishing your own start up for the day.
"diluc, thank you. really." you said, "for just being my best friend. you've been there for me for as long as i can remember."
"don't get all sappy with me all of a sudden." diluc replied, giving you a deadpan look. "it makes me think you're going to say something unexpected."
you laughed softly, "you're right. it's like a cliché sudden-confession from your best friend."
diluc tensed as you heard the doorbell ring, and you excused yourself to go get it.
you look through the window next to the door to see the all-too-familiar blue hair.
"...he's here..." you said quietly to yourself, immediately backing away from the door. you go back to diluc.
"here, just keep the stove on for now." he replied, not even needing you to explain before he went to the door.
diluc opened the door a bit, peeking out to confirm it was, indeed, kaeya at his doorstep.
there was a light drizzle outside, and you saw a sorrow expression on your questionable lover's face.
"kaeya? what are you doing here?" diluc asked, slightly opening the door more. only enough so he couldn't see you from outside.
"is [name] here...?" kaeya asked. he seemed out of breath for whatever reason.
"[name]? no, he isn't." diluc lied, which you let out a quiet sigh of relief. "why? did something happen?"
"yeah..." kaeya said, "i thought, because you two are close, he'd be here."
diluc nodded in understanding, "well, i haven't seen him in a bit. mind explaining what's going on?"
"uhm, is it possible i could come in?" kaeya asked, rubbing the nape of his neck. "it would be too much to explain if we stood here..."
you hurried and turned off the stove, hiding your cup, knowing diluc would let him in. you then slunk behind the counter. but what diluc said surprised you.
"you can just give me a short explanation." diluc replied, "i'm a busy man and i need time to finish my breakfast."
"right, right..." kaeya said, laughing quietly to attempt to lighten the intensity between the two. "but, we had a fight. to put plainly, i don't think he wants to talk to me, but i need to talk to him about it."
diluc sighed, he had heard the whole story from you, but he hoped to get some information on why he would do this to you.
"i see, and was it a petty fight or no?"
"it was all my fault." kaeya confessed, "i fucked up really badly and i want to apologize. i would understand if he didn't want to talk to me anymore after, or even break up."
"it was that bad?" diluc asked, and kaeya responded with a nod. "i see. i wish you luck for finding him, i'll tell you if i see him. [name] is more likely to seek help from zhongli if he ever needed advice or comfort rather than me."
it was true, zhongli was much better at the comfort thing than diluc was, but you appreciated he took you in no question as he was closest to you and kaeya's place.
"thank you... i'll see you." kaeya said, nodding slightly before walking off.
diluc closed the door as soon as kaeya turned away, and looked at you with a stern gaze.
"you're quite troublesome, aren't you?" diluc said, as you only smiled a bit.
"thank you for playing along..." you replied, sighing softly.
you saw a smile twitch onto his face, which you could feel yourself smile even wider.
behind that smile, you were wondering how to even make amends with kaeya. yet as you and diluc shared breakfast, you didn't bother wondering.
maybe it just wasn't meant to be. you should've said no after knowing what you'd get into.
