elle

(ki)niche and esoteric .. she 19

[kiniche]

hello kinich nation !!!!

elle / she / 19

I finally made a blog after years of lurking idk what to do ummm…

anyway i’m probably just going to use this place to share my musings .. probably mostly about kinich, xiao, and kazuha LOLLL

also nsfw + dark content friendly… but that does not mean i support all dark content …..

[kiniche]

cameras on, flash !

pairing: kinich x reader (fem)

content: suggestive !! not exactly nsfw but slightly kinky … modern au (college/university), financial domination, barista reader, athlete kinich, dom/sub undertones

wc: 1.7k

an: perchance i write more for this ... im not too sure yet lmk what yall think kekeke

university was exhausting, miserable, and, most of all, expensive. 

tuition, housing, club fees, food– the expenses all started to add up.

it wasn’t until you opened your fridge after a long shift at the campus cafe, lutece, to stale bread and eggs, the same foods that remained your sustenance for weeks, that you decided you needed something on the side to help you live a little more comfortably. 

but you were in class most of the time, and you already had a part-time job—even though it didn’t pay the best, you were fortunate enough to work on campus.

so after a sleep-deprived night of searching for solutions online, it seemed the best option to make a little extra mora on your own time was… well… join a certain subscription-based platform and post some …intimate photos of yourself.

except digital footprint is forever, and you were terrified at the thought of the whole of teyvat seeing you like that. 

even though you had mostly given up the thought of making some more money, you stumbled upon a fairly obscure community of the internet that same night: financial domination.

it didn’t seem too bad after a little bit of research—while there was more of a fetish aspect to it, most of it was girls getting paid to be pretty. the really successful girls would post themselves suggestively; it didn’t seem as mortifying as the earlier option, and it wasn’t not like you thought you were jaw-droppingly beautiful, but you definitely believed you weren’t ugly–if others could do it… you guessed you could give it a try.

—

and just under a year later, that’s how you found yourself complaining to your co-worker and best friend, mualani. while the campus cafe was usually packed, most people had gone home for reading week, but you needed the money, and at least the emptiness of the cafe allowed you to whine over the sensitive topic.

“maybe i should give up. it’s been like a year since i started and i still haven’t blown up,” you groaned, phone in hand as you stared at your three-digit follower count. 

even with your full-time studies and part-time job, you still dedicated an immoderate amount of time into findom, hoping you’d catch a whale’s attention–just enough that you’d be able to pay off your student loans and live comfortably. but you found that your side hustle was just a bunch of acting; though mildly uncomfortable, you would enjoy it more if you were actually successful.

mualani threw her arm around you, eyes soft as she tried her best to give words of encouragement, “come onnn!! maybe your big break will be tomorrow… maybe even tonight! you can’t give up just yet!”

but you just felt so defeated. 

between trying to maintain enough anonymity online, to coming up with captions and figuring out camera angles that made you look best, you began to think it was time to move on.

“listen, you know I care about you…” her words sounded serious, but her tone didn’t, “i’ve seen the toll this whole thing is taking on you… maybe we should find you a boyfriend!” there it was.

you let out an exhausted sigh, chest heaving as you throw your arms over the counter of the cafe, your head following straight down.

“okay… my bad. seriously though, maybe give it a bit more time and then see if you’re ready to quit?” mualani mumbled, allowing you to finally hear the sympathy in her words.

“I guess.”

your head was still down as you contemplated reasons as to why you weren’t as successful as others. you had seen some new girls hit over 3k followers in the span of a week. posting as frequently as them, albeit a little less risque, you started to wonder… were you not attractive enough?

your contemplative trance snapped when you felt mualani’s elbow nudge your arm.

head snapping up, you looked back at your friend, but she seemed to have found herself busy polishing the silverware. her silence constituted a refusal to elaborate on the physical contact moments prior, instead only cocking her eyebrows toward the register with a smile.

you followed where her eyebrows pointed, only to be met with a customer who had just entered your place of work.

the unassuming boy studied the cafe menu a little longer than most customers did, and out of boredom, you watched. though his skin glistened with sweat and his compression shirt hugged his muscles, your eyes found focus on the bandana supporting his messy ebony hair.

“i’ll just have… an iced americano,” he said, sternly. 

you slowly punched his preference into the till, didn’t even bother to ask the name for the order. after all, he was the only customer there. leaving him with the terminal, you went to make his drink; nothing fancy, just ice, espresso, and water. 

before you could hand the drink over, mualani tutted while the boy was distracted on his phone, “don’t forget the cafe policy!” you hated that policy–handwritten notes on cups to ‘foster campus community.’ you widened your eyes sharply at her, silently questioning her career proactivity, but her smirk extended, reaffirming her position.

fostering campus community. although the proposition was good-intentioned, you thought it was a bit silly. sure, sometimes it also made you feel good writing little messages, but it was also a pain in the ass during rush hour. this time, you were in no rush; you decided to take advantage of the opportunity, hoping your customer would look past your aloofness and tip.

“here’s your iced americano,” you slide the drink across the counter.

“thanks.” his eyes scanned the cup: nice bandana : )

“before i forget, i forgot to ask you your name..? for the order, of course… for next time.”

he could sense the hesitancy in your voice. were you flirting with him?, he thought.

“kinich…” he trailed off, dark circled two-toned gold and green eyes scanning your nametag instead of returning the question.

you smiled awkwardly, dipping your head in an attempt to nod.

“right.. hope to see you around…!”

kinich gave a curt smile back before leaving.

…

once he was out the door, you had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time you saw him. 

“sooo…. he’s kind of cute…!” mualani teased.

even though you didn’t want to admit it, she was right.

and that fact was enough for you to ignore the way he never tipped.

—

at home, you examined yourself in the mirror, head moving at different angles to check if you liked the way your makeup sat on your face, finishing the look with a touch of lipgloss. 

the photos you took this time had made you proud, and you so desperately hoped they’d get you some more attention. more attention meant more money… and although you were a bit scared to put them out, they felt riskier to post.

you uploaded the post, your heart pounding as you threw your phone across the bed, hands covering your face out of mild embarrassment, even though you were the only one in the room.

now, you just had to wait.

—

the discipline and dedication required for extreme sports are unmatched, and the training for it comes to a close second. kinich knows this. he knows from the way he gets up early every day to feed his lizard before training and attending his classes. he knows from cooking and packing his own meals to avoid paying for lunch on campus, and most of all, he knows it from the way he’s conditioned himself to stay practical; in his eyes, he’ll only pay for what he has to. even though he’s a firm believer in rewarding good work, he also believes it’s an employer’s job to pay their employees.

1300 mora for an iced americano? it’s basically daylight robbery, but then again, he knows he’s paying for campus convenience and labour. 

door opening when his fob hits the sensor, he’s happy to be back in the comfort of his place, with his devious little lizard, ajaw.

“you were good while i was gone?” he asked as he passed by ajaw’s terrarium.

silence. then a blink.

the soft hum of the microwave filled the room as kinich laid on his desk, resting his chin on his arm as he stared into the terrarium, reflecting on his day,

what a weird girl.

he looked back at the cup, glossing over your note before looking into his reflection on the terrarium glass.

did you really mean it when you asked his name ‘for next time?’ did you want to see him back there at lutece?

beep! beep! beep! 

suddenly interrupted by the microwave, he strolled back to the kitchenette as he scrolled through his phone, brushing past leaks of his favourite game. now wasn’t the time to be distracted. after all, he was about to enter into an extreme sports competition, and he couldn’t stray from his path. not for a girl–especially when he couldn’t be so sure that you were into him.

“new posts near you:”

as he opened the microwave and grabbed his bowl of spicy meat stew, he scrolled to the section that had just caught his eye, expecting to see what other students were getting up to,

it was you. 

then came the crash. stew everywhere on the hardwood floor. shards of broken porcelain scattered.

you, the same girl who served him coffee at the university cafe. 

the way you stared into the camera, the way your plump, glossy lips were slightly ajar, the way one arm pushed into your side to create cleavage.

fuck.

transfixed, kinich didn’t know what to feel. he gulped, heat growing in his cheeks and throbbing growing in both his chest and pants as he scrolled through the rest of your profile, studying each picture you posted. 

he quickly realized how different this post was. 

why these photos? why today?

kinich barely even knows you. to him, you’re just a barista who attends the same university.

but everything in his mind was telling him how wrong it felt for you to be posting this, 

for him to be seeing this, 

for him to be enjoying this.

and that fact, despite all his traditions and beliefs, was enough for him to tip.

“m4l1p0 sent 5000 mora!”

[kiniche]

wish you were sober

pairing: kinich x reader (fem intended but gender neutral reader for the most part)

content: modern au (university), angst, idk how much i would classify this as fluff? kinich has no game LOL?, alcohol ig, implied trauma, kinich backstory

wc: ~2k

kinich isn’t one to mess around. 

he never gave domestic life much thought. 

home life wasn’t the best for him; an alcoholic, abusive father, and a mother who he couldn’t blame for leaving—the boy quickly learned how to survive, rather than live. the thought of finding a girlfriend naturally remained at the back of his mind. 

but he unfortunately isn’t the most social either. university came time to meet new people, so he swore he would put himself out there, yet most times he finds himself cooped up in his dorm playing his video games. apart from the atmospheric hum of his pc fans, and the click and clack of his keyboard, the outstanding silence almost felt as if his lizard, ajaw, was mocking him. 

and so he reflected on his solitude, an acquaintance in the esports club suggested dating apps, but kinich quickly shut that idea down, citing that he “would much prefer to meet someone ‘naturally.’”

kinich isn’t one to mess around, but he quickly realized how unlikely his statement was. . .

but he’d be lying if he said he’s never wanted someone to screenshare his game to, a player two–someone who could show him how to live, that there was more to life than just mere survival.

all he’s ever wanted is to be able to throw himself into arms he knows he can find comfort in … that maybe don’t have to involve semblances of a past he once lived. 

again. he’d ruminate on his solitude. 

—

this particular friday, he sat in his chair, the cheap university-provided seat creaking every time he swivelled back and forth. kinich was bored; the dishes done, the laundry basket not full enough to constitute a full load, and worst of all… the servers for his favourite game were down for updates.

with nothing for him to do at home, he thought he’d go on a walk to pass the time. then he remembered the esports club mixer. he sighed, staring at his own reflection in ajaw’s terrarium. 

well, if all went wrong, he could at least probably make a new friend. 

kinich walked a good seven minutes across campus to the event. the building was sparsely populated, esports club members tucked away in a tutorial room on a mostly empty floor. 

after pacing outside for a few minutes, he was ready, making his way toward the room, his hesitancy showing in his body language as he walked with his head down. 

the fluorescent university lighting emanated through the hall—“are you here for the esports club event..?”—and hit the side of your face as you suddenly approached kinich. 

“yeah,” he muttered, confused. when’d you get there? had you noticed him pacing?

and you somehow answered his unasked question, 

“my bad. just came out here for a little less noise… did you fill out the form online? matches were made in advance.”

kinich shook his head. “ah. sorry. i can just head off then,” his body turning to leave. 

“nonono! it’s fine. everyone is paired up… i think. but it’s esports club and let’s be real. most people here are not getting any play, and i bet nobody else is coming anyway…i’ll be your partner!” 

you trailed off toward the middle of your declaration. now,

kinich isn’t sure whether or not he just got friendzoned already, but with a cute girl in front of him, he’s reluctant to admit he hoped not. 

the “mixer” the both of you attended turned out to be speed dating in disguise. but the two of you seemed to (awkwardly) hit it off, and to spare the shame in admitting you attended a speed dating event, you and kinich agreed to stick together for the rest of the night; if it never happened, you never had to admit it. 

and the rest was history.

the rest being two weeks in which you two barely spoke.

—

the two of you hadn’t talked much since the event. he thought you weren’t very interested in him. sure, you initiated conversations and tried getting to know the boy better, but kinich was DRY… not that he realized. he liked your voice, wanted to call you a few times but didn’t think you guys were at that point in your friendship. 

even still, you managed to learn some bits and pieces about him: ajaw, his favourite games, travels—

winter break was imminent and you were eager to get back home, breaking the chokehold that the monotony of university life held against you. you wondered how he fared. being away from university meant being away from kinich. 

meanwhile;; 

kinich sighed, the steam from his shower escaping into the rest of his room. he collapsed onto his bed and checked his phone. 

“u going anywhere for holidays?” “no why” “heading home tmr, you mentioned you liked travelling so just thought i’d ask” “cool” … “send me travel pics?” “keep me company on call while i pack?”

he was pleasantly surprised you remembered his like of travelling. and maybe it was that little detail, or your sweet voice, or simply the way you actually listened, but kinich found his chest tightening, and mouth smiling. 

with your voice filling his room on speaker, there was no more turbulence for kinich to think of as ajaw’s silent lizard mockery. 

—

a month had passed.

there was just something that drew you to him; perhaps it was the thrill of talking to somebody in a different major? or perhaps you found him cool since he was the only person (that you knew of) with a lizard on campus?

you didn’t know what it was, but you enjoyed his presence. 

multiple photos and videos of your city, paragraphs of reviews on numerous food items you thought he might enjoy, kinich loved it all.

you loved it too. photos and videos of his upgraded setup with parts he bought for christmas, ajaw, and dishes he’d cook, the idea of something more started to blossom in the back of your mind. 

and so the two of you became closer friends over the break. you looked to him as more than a friend, but not quite a confidant either? 

then that thought always lingered. 

when you returned to university, you guys finally met up for the first time since the “mixer.” his typically nonchalant demeanour was… different. though still stoic, you could tell he was putting in more effort when interacting with you in comparison to your first encounter. 

kinich hoped it wasn’t too much.

if anything, his mind had just as much of an inkling as you did when thinking about what the two of you could be. 

so he hoped. 

—

more weeks passed. 

more weeks of your voice filling his otherwise empty room, stolen glances, gazes that were a few seconds too long, brushing knuckles,

more weeks where neither of you deliberately made any moves for the other to catch onto. 

then one night came. midterm season and all of those lingering feelings culminated at a head.

so for that one night you thought you’d forget about it; tag along to that party your friend invited you to, have a drink… or five… and hopefully not make any brash decisions you know you would regret otherwise. 

the third drink you had made you realize you lost your friends. 

and by the fourth drink, some dejected asshole struck up a convo with you, hands gripping your hips. wouldn’t take no for an answer. 

a fifth drink was the excuse you used to get away, but the asshole followed. not knowing what to do with your friends gone, you realized you had texted kinich. you missed him. 

and so your mission failed; 

the boy was puzzled, confused as to why you sent him an address so late at night.

why was it so sudden? were you hurt? did you need him? without thinking twice, he rushed out his door, game still open on his pc, leaving ajaw in the dim light. 

kinich isn’t one to mess around. not one to use dating apps or go around partying either. 

but the door to the house was open. students littered the front yard for a smoke, some sitting on the steps, blocking kinich from entering. it was loud. and the air was hot and heavy,

he quickly realized why he hated parties, despite never attending a proper one. 

yet he continued to look for you. and then he saw you;

more like, you saw him first, calling his name to grab his attention.

“kiniiichhh! over here!”

as he walked over, you stumbled into him, slightly shaking and clearly a little too inebriated as your mind moved faster than your body. kinich caught you, eyeing the man beside you.

“told you i have a boyfriend...” you rolled your eyes at the asshole, signposting for him to leave you alone. luckily, kinich quickly understood, tightening his toned arms around you.

his grip wavered after the man left, but yours never did. 

and so the world felt still, it was just the two of you, quietly coexisting in a corner of that loud living room as bodies brushed up against each other;

hands gliding on waists,

arms around necks,

lips locking passionately,

it was in this moment that kinich, again, would reflect on his solitude. 

boyfriend? of course, it was majorly an excuse to get away from that creep, but he couldn’t help but wonder if there was any desire for your affirmation.

the truth is that there was, but he had no way of knowing that.

he’s skeptical.

and, archons, 

how he wishes you were sober right now.

though he made the conscious effort to let go of you, the distance between your bodies never decreased. 

“ahem,” he coughed, “ let’s get you home.” kinich mumbled. 

something about kinich was a little different. you didn’t know what it was, maybe the alcohol— you couldn’t tell if he was blushing– were you in his arms? did you make any drunk confessions?

you’ll ask in the morning. 

—

the sunlight peered through unfamiliar blinds, hitting your face in an unexpected pattern. soft breathing filled the room, its source appearing to be a dark haired boy sitting on the floor, head down and opposite the bed. you pieced together that kinich slept on the floor. did he not like you? or did he not want to disturb you or make you feel uncomfortable after the night you had?

“morning. you never told me where you lived so… just brought you back here. you’re kind of heavy, ya know?” he says groggily. 

you know he doesn’t mean any malice, but the embarrassment of the situation has the guilt rising from your chest into your cheeks as you watch him get up from the floor to feed ajaw.

“i’m sorry,” you manage to stutter out. “i drank too much, i didn’t mean to text you and disturb your night.”

“don’t worry about it, just be glad nothing bad happened to you,” he replies without meeting your gaze.

he insisted you stay for breakfast, 

but the rest of the day is a blur.

because kinich’s mind is still stuck on that moment. he’s glad he was there for you in the moment, but he’s also conflicted.

the moment he felt his heart drop into his stomach, dread swirling around it as his gaze met your fingers curled around a premixed cocktail, your skin all glowy from the other drinks you consumed earlier in the night. 

it wasn’t even that much, maybe 6%? he hadn’t known how much you drank, yet the thought of you consuming something so... corrupting, crushed him. 

it’s not like he ever told you about how he grew up. you didn’t know. he couldn’t blame you.

and he won’t. but he still finds it a little weird. 

parties, drinking, 

he has to realize it’s more of the norm in university. 

but kinich;;

he doesn’t understand. 

he wants to understand. 

so for now, he’ll feign understanding.

he’ll learn.

kinich isn’t one to mess around.

his eyes are only on you.

it’ll be a few days before he finally awkwardly asks you out, inviting you over back to his dorm so he can cook the two of you a quaint little dinner.

he’ll make it work; tell you eventually, 

and you’ll understand. 

you’ll both make it work.

[kiniche]

giggling at my draft rn… kinich x reader..? Or commentary on American capitalism

[kiniche]

wish there were more kinich fics aw man

[kiniche]

maybe im just picky asf but i feel like its so hard to find a good smau bc i feel like so many characters are mischaracterized .. a text exchange with xiao would probably be like:

“hey xiao wyd :3”

“Nothing”

“oh have you seen that new show that just came out?”

“No”

“oh ok”

*no response*

[kiniche]

I keep liking xiao edits from like 2024 on tiktok and I just realized I prob look insane bc now my mutual is getting notifs that I’ve liked a really old vid they reposted

[kiniche]

hhHhhh don’t know if my new work should be a oneshot or multi chapter…. 1.1k words deep and i still don’t know

but its kinich so Yum

[kiniche]

omg pls write more for kinich ur writing is fantastic

THANK U ANON I will >_< currently like 700 words deep on my current draft…

[kiniche]

OK.. I just made this flipping blog but the fact it’s a side blog is kind of pissing me off bc following and likes r tied to main ,.. do I just start fresh after a day ,

if anyone actually reads this PLS lmk before I’m in too deep

[kiniche]

still procrastinating my essays .. kinich brainrot

[kiniche]

how do i make mutuals T_T

[kiniche]

wish you were sober

pairing: kinich x reader (fem intended but gender neutral reader for the most part)

content: modern au (university), angst, idk how much i would classify this as fluff? kinich has no game LOL?, alcohol ig, implied trauma, kinich backstory

wc: ~2k

kinich isn’t one to mess around. 

he never gave domestic life much thought. 

home life wasn’t the best for him; an alcoholic, abusive father, and a mother who he couldn’t blame for leaving—the boy quickly learned how to survive, rather than live. the thought of finding a girlfriend naturally remained at the back of his mind. 

but he unfortunately isn’t the most social either. university came time to meet new people, so he swore he would put himself out there, yet most times he finds himself cooped up in his dorm playing his video games. apart from the atmospheric hum of his pc fans, and the click and clack of his keyboard, the outstanding silence almost felt as if his lizard, ajaw, was mocking him. 

and so he reflected on his solitude, an acquaintance in the esports club suggested dating apps, but kinich quickly shut that idea down, citing that he “would much prefer to meet someone ‘naturally.’”

kinich isn’t one to mess around, but he quickly realized how unlikely his statement was. . .

but he’d be lying if he said he’s never wanted someone to screenshare his game to, a player two–someone who could show him how to live, that there was more to life than just mere survival.

all he’s ever wanted is to be able to throw himself into arms he knows he can find comfort in … that maybe don’t have to involve semblances of a past he once lived. 

again. he’d ruminate on his solitude. 

—

this particular friday, he sat in his chair, the cheap university-provided seat creaking every time he swivelled back and forth. kinich was bored; the dishes done, the laundry basket not full enough to constitute a full load, and worst of all… the servers for his favourite game were down for updates.

with nothing for him to do at home, he thought he’d go on a walk to pass the time. then he remembered the esports club mixer. he sighed, staring at his own reflection in ajaw’s terrarium. 

well, if all went wrong, he could at least probably make a new friend. 

kinich walked a good seven minutes across campus to the event. the building was sparsely populated, esports club members tucked away in a tutorial room on a mostly empty floor. 

after pacing outside for a few minutes, he was ready, making his way toward the room, his hesitancy showing in his body language as he walked with his head down. 

the fluorescent university lighting emanated through the hall—“are you here for the esports club event..?”—and hit the side of your face as you suddenly approached kinich. 

“yeah,” he muttered, confused. when’d you get there? had you noticed him pacing?

and you somehow answered his unasked question, 

“my bad. just came out here for a little less noise… did you fill out the form online? matches were made in advance.”

kinich shook his head. “ah. sorry. i can just head off then,” his body turning to leave. 

“nonono! it’s fine. everyone is paired up… i think. but it’s esports club and let’s be real. most people here are not getting any play, and i bet nobody else is coming anyway…i’ll be your partner!” 

you trailed off toward the middle of your declaration. now,

kinich isn’t sure whether or not he just got friendzoned already, but with a cute girl in front of him, he’s reluctant to admit he hoped not. 

the “mixer” the both of you attended turned out to be speed dating in disguise. but the two of you seemed to (awkwardly) hit it off, and to spare the shame in admitting you attended a speed dating event, you and kinich agreed to stick together for the rest of the night; if it never happened, you never had to admit it. 

and the rest was history.

the rest being two weeks in which you two barely spoke.

—

the two of you hadn’t talked much since the event. he thought you weren’t very interested in him. sure, you initiated conversations and tried getting to know the boy better, but kinich was DRY… not that he realized. he liked your voice, wanted to call you a few times but didn’t think you guys were at that point in your friendship. 

even still, you managed to learn some bits and pieces about him: ajaw, his favourite games, travels—

winter break was imminent and you were eager to get back home, breaking the chokehold that the monotony of university life held against you. you wondered how he fared. being away from university meant being away from kinich. 

meanwhile;; 

kinich sighed, the steam from his shower escaping into the rest of his room. he collapsed onto his bed and checked his phone. 

“u going anywhere for holidays?” “no why” “heading home tmr, you mentioned you liked travelling so just thought i’d ask” “cool” … “send me travel pics?” “keep me company on call while i pack?”

he was pleasantly surprised you remembered his like of travelling. and maybe it was that little detail, or your sweet voice, or simply the way you actually listened, but kinich found his chest tightening, and mouth smiling. 

with your voice filling his room on speaker, there was no more turbulence for kinich to think of as ajaw’s silent lizard mockery. 

—

a month had passed.

there was just something that drew you to him; perhaps it was the thrill of talking to somebody in a different major? or perhaps you found him cool since he was the only person (that you knew of) with a lizard on campus?

you didn’t know what it was, but you enjoyed his presence. 

multiple photos and videos of your city, paragraphs of reviews on numerous food items you thought he might enjoy, kinich loved it all.

you loved it too. photos and videos of his upgraded setup with parts he bought for christmas, ajaw, and dishes he’d cook, the idea of something more started to blossom in the back of your mind. 

and so the two of you became closer friends over the break. you looked to him as more than a friend, but not quite a confidant either? 

then that thought always lingered. 

when you returned to university, you guys finally met up for the first time since the “mixer.” his typically nonchalant demeanour was… different. though still stoic, you could tell he was putting in more effort when interacting with you in comparison to your first encounter. 

kinich hoped it wasn’t too much.

if anything, his mind had just as much of an inkling as you did when thinking about what the two of you could be. 

so he hoped. 

—

more weeks passed. 

more weeks of your voice filling his otherwise empty room, stolen glances, gazes that were a few seconds too long, brushing knuckles,

more weeks where neither of you deliberately made any moves for the other to catch onto. 

then one night came. midterm season and all of those lingering feelings culminated at a head.

so for that one night you thought you’d forget about it; tag along to that party your friend invited you to, have a drink… or five… and hopefully not make any brash decisions you know you would regret otherwise. 

the third drink you had made you realize you lost your friends. 

and by the fourth drink, some dejected asshole struck up a convo with you, hands gripping your hips. wouldn’t take no for an answer. 

a fifth drink was the excuse you used to get away, but the asshole followed. not knowing what to do with your friends gone, you realized you had texted kinich. you missed him. 

and so your mission failed; 

the boy was puzzled, confused as to why you sent him an address so late at night.

why was it so sudden? were you hurt? did you need him? without thinking twice, he rushed out his door, game still open on his pc, leaving ajaw in the dim light. 

kinich isn’t one to mess around. not one to use dating apps or go around partying either. 

but the door to the house was open. students littered the front yard for a smoke, some sitting on the steps, blocking kinich from entering. it was loud. and the air was hot and heavy,

he quickly realized why he hated parties, despite never attending a proper one. 

yet he continued to look for you. and then he saw you;

more like, you saw him first, calling his name to grab his attention.

“kiniiichhh! over here!”

as he walked over, you stumbled into him, slightly shaking and clearly a little too inebriated as your mind moved faster than your body. kinich caught you, eyeing the man beside you.

“told you i have a boyfriend...” you rolled your eyes at the asshole, signposting for him to leave you alone. luckily, kinich quickly understood, tightening his toned arms around you.

his grip wavered after the man left, but yours never did. 

and so the world felt still, it was just the two of you, quietly coexisting in a corner of that loud living room as bodies brushed up against each other;

hands gliding on waists,

arms around necks,

lips locking passionately,

it was in this moment that kinich, again, would reflect on his solitude. 

boyfriend? of course, it was majorly an excuse to get away from that creep, but he couldn’t help but wonder if there was any desire for your affirmation.

the truth is that there was, but he had no way of knowing that.

he’s skeptical.

and, archons, 

how he wishes you were sober right now.

though he made the conscious effort to let go of you, the distance between your bodies never decreased. 

“ahem,” he coughed, “ let’s get you home.” kinich mumbled. 

something about kinich was a little different. you didn’t know what it was, maybe the alcohol— you couldn’t tell if he was blushing– were you in his arms? did you make any drunk confessions?

you’ll ask in the morning. 

—

the sunlight peered through unfamiliar blinds, hitting your face in an unexpected pattern. soft breathing filled the room, its source appearing to be a dark haired boy sitting on the floor, head down and opposite the bed. you pieced together that kinich slept on the floor. did he not like you? or did he not want to disturb you or make you feel uncomfortable after the night you had?

“morning. you never told me where you lived so… just brought you back here. you’re kind of heavy, ya know?” he says groggily. 

you know he doesn’t mean any malice, but the embarrassment of the situation has the guilt rising from your chest into your cheeks as you watch him get up from the floor to feed ajaw.

“i’m sorry,” you manage to stutter out. “i drank too much, i didn’t mean to text you and disturb your night.”

“don’t worry about it, just be glad nothing bad happened to you,” he replies without meeting your gaze.

he insisted you stay for breakfast, 

but the rest of the day is a blur.

because kinich’s mind is still stuck on that moment. he’s glad he was there for you in the moment, but he’s also conflicted.

the moment he felt his heart drop into his stomach, dread swirling around it as his gaze met your fingers curled around a premixed cocktail, your skin all glowy from the other drinks you consumed earlier in the night. 

it wasn’t even that much, maybe 6%? he hadn’t known how much you drank, yet the thought of you consuming something so... corrupting, crushed him. 

it’s not like he ever told you about how he grew up. you didn’t know. he couldn’t blame you.

and he won’t. but he still finds it a little weird. 

parties, drinking, 

he has to realize it’s more of the norm in university. 

but kinich;;

he doesn’t understand. 

he wants to understand. 

so for now, he’ll feign understanding.

he’ll learn.

kinich isn’t one to mess around.

his eyes are only on you.

it’ll be a few days before he finally awkwardly asks you out, inviting you over back to his dorm so he can cook the two of you a quaint little dinner.

he’ll make it work; tell you eventually, 

and you’ll understand. 

you’ll both make it work.

[kiniche]

i’m going to post this on ao3 eventually eek

[kiniche]

FUCK tsurumi island i just want primos

[kiniche]

non oomf will you hear me out: kinichxilluga

oh anon i’ll be so real i have NO idea who that is… but i looked them up and will hear you out.

I’ve actually JUST returned to genshin so i only just unlocked sumeru hhhHhhhh and my world quests r stuck on chasm and inazuma …. got like 17 fates saved rn . kinich will be mine >;)

[kiniche]

i’m the type to like medium male model genshin characters u gotta catch me…

[kiniche]

wish you were sober

pairing: kinich x reader (fem intended but gender neutral reader for the most part)

content: modern au (university), angst, idk how much i would classify this as fluff? kinich has no game LOL?, alcohol ig, implied trauma, kinich backstory

wc: ~2k

kinich isn’t one to mess around. 

he never gave domestic life much thought. 

home life wasn’t the best for him; an alcoholic, abusive father, and a mother who he couldn’t blame for leaving—the boy quickly learned how to survive, rather than live. the thought of finding a girlfriend naturally remained at the back of his mind. 

but he unfortunately isn’t the most social either. university came time to meet new people, so he swore he would put himself out there, yet most times he finds himself cooped up in his dorm playing his video games. apart from the atmospheric hum of his pc fans, and the click and clack of his keyboard, the outstanding silence almost felt as if his lizard, ajaw, was mocking him. 

and so he reflected on his solitude, an acquaintance in the esports club suggested dating apps, but kinich quickly shut that idea down, citing that he “would much prefer to meet someone ‘naturally.’”

kinich isn’t one to mess around, but he quickly realized how unlikely his statement was. . .

but he’d be lying if he said he’s never wanted someone to screenshare his game to, a player two–someone who could show him how to live, that there was more to life than just mere survival.

all he’s ever wanted is to be able to throw himself into arms he knows he can find comfort in … that maybe don’t have to involve semblances of a past he once lived. 

again. he’d ruminate on his solitude. 

—

this particular friday, he sat in his chair, the cheap university-provided seat creaking every time he swivelled back and forth. kinich was bored; the dishes done, the laundry basket not full enough to constitute a full load, and worst of all… the servers for his favourite game were down for updates.

with nothing for him to do at home, he thought he’d go on a walk to pass the time. then he remembered the esports club mixer. he sighed, staring at his own reflection in ajaw’s terrarium. 

well, if all went wrong, he could at least probably make a new friend. 

kinich walked a good seven minutes across campus to the event. the building was sparsely populated, esports club members tucked away in a tutorial room on a mostly empty floor. 

after pacing outside for a few minutes, he was ready, making his way toward the room, his hesitancy showing in his body language as he walked with his head down. 

the fluorescent university lighting emanated through the hall—“are you here for the esports club event..?”—and hit the side of your face as you suddenly approached kinich. 

“yeah,” he muttered, confused. when’d you get there? had you noticed him pacing?

and you somehow answered his unasked question, 

“my bad. just came out here for a little less noise… did you fill out the form online? matches were made in advance.”

kinich shook his head. “ah. sorry. i can just head off then,” his body turning to leave. 

“nonono! it’s fine. everyone is paired up… i think. but it’s esports club and let’s be real. most people here are not getting any play, and i bet nobody else is coming anyway…i’ll be your partner!” 

you trailed off toward the middle of your declaration. now,

kinich isn’t sure whether or not he just got friendzoned already, but with a cute girl in front of him, he’s reluctant to admit he hoped not. 

the “mixer” the both of you attended turned out to be speed dating in disguise. but the two of you seemed to (awkwardly) hit it off, and to spare the shame in admitting you attended a speed dating event, you and kinich agreed to stick together for the rest of the night; if it never happened, you never had to admit it. 

and the rest was history.

the rest being two weeks in which you two barely spoke.

—

the two of you hadn’t talked much since the event. he thought you weren’t very interested in him. sure, you initiated conversations and tried getting to know the boy better, but kinich was DRY… not that he realized. he liked your voice, wanted to call you a few times but didn’t think you guys were at that point in your friendship. 

even still, you managed to learn some bits and pieces about him: ajaw, his favourite games, travels—

winter break was imminent and you were eager to get back home, breaking the chokehold that the monotony of university life held against you. you wondered how he fared. being away from university meant being away from kinich. 

meanwhile;; 

kinich sighed, the steam from his shower escaping into the rest of his room. he collapsed onto his bed and checked his phone. 

“u going anywhere for holidays?” “no why” “heading home tmr, you mentioned you liked travelling so just thought i’d ask” “cool” … “send me travel pics?” “keep me company on call while i pack?”

he was pleasantly surprised you remembered his like of travelling. and maybe it was that little detail, or your sweet voice, or simply the way you actually listened, but kinich found his chest tightening, and mouth smiling. 

with your voice filling his room on speaker, there was no more turbulence for kinich to think of as ajaw’s silent lizard mockery. 

—

a month had passed.

there was just something that drew you to him; perhaps it was the thrill of talking to somebody in a different major? or perhaps you found him cool since he was the only person (that you knew of) with a lizard on campus?

you didn’t know what it was, but you enjoyed his presence. 

multiple photos and videos of your city, paragraphs of reviews on numerous food items you thought he might enjoy, kinich loved it all.

you loved it too. photos and videos of his upgraded setup with parts he bought for christmas, ajaw, and dishes he’d cook, the idea of something more started to blossom in the back of your mind. 

and so the two of you became closer friends over the break. you looked to him as more than a friend, but not quite a confidant either? 

then that thought always lingered. 

when you returned to university, you guys finally met up for the first time since the “mixer.” his typically nonchalant demeanour was… different. though still stoic, you could tell he was putting in more effort when interacting with you in comparison to your first encounter. 

kinich hoped it wasn’t too much.

if anything, his mind had just as much of an inkling as you did when thinking about what the two of you could be. 

so he hoped. 

—

more weeks passed. 

more weeks of your voice filling his otherwise empty room, stolen glances, gazes that were a few seconds too long, brushing knuckles,

more weeks where neither of you deliberately made any moves for the other to catch onto. 

then one night came. midterm season and all of those lingering feelings culminated at a head.

so for that one night you thought you’d forget about it; tag along to that party your friend invited you to, have a drink… or five… and hopefully not make any brash decisions you know you would regret otherwise. 

the third drink you had made you realize you lost your friends. 

and by the fourth drink, some dejected asshole struck up a convo with you, hands gripping your hips. wouldn’t take no for an answer. 

a fifth drink was the excuse you used to get away, but the asshole followed. not knowing what to do with your friends gone, you realized you had texted kinich. you missed him. 

and so your mission failed; 

the boy was puzzled, confused as to why you sent him an address so late at night.

why was it so sudden? were you hurt? did you need him? without thinking twice, he rushed out his door, game still open on his pc, leaving ajaw in the dim light. 

kinich isn’t one to mess around. not one to use dating apps or go around partying either. 

but the door to the house was open. students littered the front yard for a smoke, some sitting on the steps, blocking kinich from entering. it was loud. and the air was hot and heavy,

he quickly realized why he hated parties, despite never attending a proper one. 

yet he continued to look for you. and then he saw you;

more like, you saw him first, calling his name to grab his attention.

“kiniiichhh! over here!”

as he walked over, you stumbled into him, slightly shaking and clearly a little too inebriated as your mind moved faster than your body. kinich caught you, eyeing the man beside you.

“told you i have a boyfriend...” you rolled your eyes at the asshole, signposting for him to leave you alone. luckily, kinich quickly understood, tightening his toned arms around you.

his grip wavered after the man left, but yours never did. 

and so the world felt still, it was just the two of you, quietly coexisting in a corner of that loud living room as bodies brushed up against each other;

hands gliding on waists,

arms around necks,

lips locking passionately,

it was in this moment that kinich, again, would reflect on his solitude. 

boyfriend? of course, it was majorly an excuse to get away from that creep, but he couldn’t help but wonder if there was any desire for your affirmation.

the truth is that there was, but he had no way of knowing that.

he’s skeptical.

and, archons, 

how he wishes you were sober right now.

though he made the conscious effort to let go of you, the distance between your bodies never decreased. 

“ahem,” he coughed, “ let’s get you home.” kinich mumbled. 

something about kinich was a little different. you didn’t know what it was, maybe the alcohol— you couldn’t tell if he was blushing– were you in his arms? did you make any drunk confessions?

you’ll ask in the morning. 

—

the sunlight peered through unfamiliar blinds, hitting your face in an unexpected pattern. soft breathing filled the room, its source appearing to be a dark haired boy sitting on the floor, head down and opposite the bed. you pieced together that kinich slept on the floor. did he not like you? or did he not want to disturb you or make you feel uncomfortable after the night you had?

“morning. you never told me where you lived so… just brought you back here. you’re kind of heavy, ya know?” he says groggily. 

you know he doesn’t mean any malice, but the embarrassment of the situation has the guilt rising from your chest into your cheeks as you watch him get up from the floor to feed ajaw.

“i’m sorry,” you manage to stutter out. “i drank too much, i didn’t mean to text you and disturb your night.”

“don’t worry about it, just be glad nothing bad happened to you,” he replies without meeting your gaze.

he insisted you stay for breakfast, 

but the rest of the day is a blur.

because kinich’s mind is still stuck on that moment. he’s glad he was there for you in the moment, but he’s also conflicted.

the moment he felt his heart drop into his stomach, dread swirling around it as his gaze met your fingers curled around a premixed cocktail, your skin all glowy from the other drinks you consumed earlier in the night. 

it wasn’t even that much, maybe 6%? he hadn’t known how much you drank, yet the thought of you consuming something so... corrupting, crushed him. 

it’s not like he ever told you about how he grew up. you didn’t know. he couldn’t blame you.

and he won’t. but he still finds it a little weird. 

parties, drinking, 

he has to realize it’s more of the norm in university. 

but kinich;;

he doesn’t understand. 

he wants to understand. 

so for now, he’ll feign understanding.

he’ll learn.

kinich isn’t one to mess around.

his eyes are only on you.

it’ll be a few days before he finally awkwardly asks you out, inviting you over back to his dorm so he can cook the two of you a quaint little dinner.

he’ll make it work; tell you eventually, 

and you’ll understand. 

you’ll both make it work.