kinich x reader; pure fluff; a little something before I go MIA for finals
Kinich looks at you like you hung the moon and stars in the sky.
And really, it’s quite obvious. Almost too obvious to his friends — particularly Mualani, who giggles about how "utterly in love with you" the saurian hunter was. To her dismay, you refuse to believe so, always laughing her words off entirely.
Well, she supposes you can’t be blamed for being so oblivious.
Kinich is rather skilled at putting on the calm, stoic facade you’re used to seeing, after all. But while it may be difficult for you to catch the affection that lingers in his eyes, it's all too clear to everyone else.
Kinich is always right beside you: a gentle hand on your back when walking through the busy streets, or the occasional brush of his shoulders against yours when he "accidentally" stands too close during your meetings with Chief Wayna.
Even when Kinich isn't beside you, you don’t see his longing gaze fixated on the way you so easily laugh and smile with others, whispering lighthearted jokes in their ears. You don’t see the usually-poised warrior fixed in a trance as he scrubs his claymore clean 10 times too much because his mind is preoccupied with thoughts of you.
Mualani likes to joke that Kinich looks like your guard dog, and Ajaw agrees, much to the Almighty Dragonlord’s annoyance. Archons, how did his servant manage to turn into this gooey, cheesy mess of an idiot?! The dragon can only pray you turn Kinich so stupidly in love that he trips over himself and falls off a cliff to his demise.
Unfortunately for Ajaw, you are rather oblivious to Kinich's feelings.
Well — mostly. Because sometimes, you're left wondering if Mualani’s exaggerated words may have even the slightest bit of truth to them. Times like this, when it’s just you and Kinich. Alone.
“Tired?” you murmur, observing the hunter’s face. It’s dim outside, the only source of light being the flames of the bonfire before you.
“A little,” Kinich admits. He’s subconsciously leaning into you, warm breath grazing your cheeks. It makes you shiver despite the relatively warm weather.
You can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, but his eyes look softer, gaze tender as they trail over your eyes, nose, and finally landing on your lips.
“What?” you chuckle, nudging his shoulder softly. Kinich is quiet, yes, but never this quiet. There’s an air of vulnerability to him as he looks back up at you. His pupils are dilated, you realize, orbs of sunset widening considerably as they meet your gaze.
“…Nothing.” Kinich exhales softly, fidgeting with his gloves as his eyes flit away from yours again. He seems almost a bit nervous, you think — quite odd for the usually stoic man. For the next couple of seconds, the hunter continues to stare wordlessly at the dirt.
You sigh. You’re about to ask Kinich what in Teyvat was on his mind, but he beats you to breaking the silence.
“It’s…” he starts, swallowing thickly.
“It’s just…you look really pretty tonight, did I tell you that?”
