a lot of these could apply to the canon verse as well but i thought of modern kazuha when writing so i'm leaving them in anyway
cw: suggestive under the cut | pt. 1
.⊹₊ im insane so ok imagine kazuha finally coming home from his 7pm class and he's tired as hell, maybe it's exam season for him or he's been feeling low in general, so you get him a nice bath ready, fill the tub with hot water and soap and tell him to take it easy 🫶🏻 and it's kazuha so ofc he'd ask you to join him if you want
.⊹₊ AND THEN and then regardless of whether you bathed together or not you'd go and make dinner (something w fish because he likes it) and god forbid he tries to help you with the dishes he needs to rest goddammit. take out is an option too ig if you don't want to cook or clean lmao
.⊹₊ and he'd look at you with sleepy eyes, peck your lips and whisper "so lucky to have you, love" 💔💔 kill me now
.⊹₊ cheesy asf. you'll see him spacing out and ask what's wrong and he'll go "the wind...it's telling me to kiss you" (the wind is wise listen to the wind)
.⊹₊ not the easiest to fluster but not the hardest either. you can catch him off guard, but 9/10 his reaction won't be anything major aside from a small blush or some stuttering, yk?
.⊹₊ you won't ever pull an all-nighter, not on his watch. he values sleep a lot and would absolutely hate for you to overwork yourself. even during exam season, he'll maintain his usual 7.5 hours of sleep (plus one or two naps during the day if he feels like it). if he somehow wakes up in the middle of the night and sees you're still at your desk studying, he's immediately picking you up and carrying you princess-style to the bed.
.⊹₊ loves visiting new places more than anything, whether it's a nearby town he never got the chance to explore or a different country across the globe. he's quite independent and has no problem travelling alone but doesn't mind if a few friends tag along. and he definitely does not mind if you join him. enjoys camping a lot as well (he likes his marshmallows slightly roasted)
.⊹₊ i'm gonna get feral with this one but anyway i think he has the habit of rubbing circles with his thumb on your thigh when kissing/making out to ask if you'd like to take things further
.⊹₊ can be a little shit if he really wants to. will occasionally lightly tease you or make suggestive comments when the opportunity arises. none of these are done in public BUT if you two are with other people and especially if you're in front of him, sometimes he'll just stare at you and give you the look.
.⊹₊ thing is, the look doesn't necessarily mean that, the meaning ranges from "i'm tired and want to leave" to things i cannot say without going back and adding another content warning.
.⊹₊ and not knowing what his intentions are is exactly what bothers you. so you try to play it cool, chuckle and avert your gaze. or maybe you're the type to instantly blush a deep red, which prompts your friends to ask if you're okay. whatever it is that he wants, you'll find out soon enough anyway.
genshin men in different scenarios revolving around hugging.
(❕) a/n: will maybe do a pt. 2. suggest (male) characters! :]
characters included: kazuha, xiao, scaramouche/wanderer, tighnari, cyno, kaeya, and diluc.
kazuha nuzzles his head in your neck as you run your fingers through his un-ponytailed hair, your back facing him as you focus mainly on what you’re reading.
he’s gripping you tightly, thinking up reasons of how he’d be able to explain throwing your book with your notes inside across the room solely to steal your attention away from working so much. he means the best— really!
as much as it is tempting, kazuha wouldn’t dare make you upset at him for ruining your papers. instead, he’ll patiently wait and continue softly humming and kissing your neck until you finish. he’d wait for as long as you wish, if it only meant you’d eventually hold him in your arms at the end.
he hears you sigh a few minutes later. “ah… i think that should be it.”
he watches in anticipation as you put your research on the nightstand and turn to face him, a soft smile on your face as you apologize. “sorry, love.”
kazuha simply shakes his head as he brings you in closer, kissing your lips in earnest.
“xiao?” you call out, a little bit of a stutter coming out at the end. it was absolutely freezing out here. it was a good thing you brought a jacket, but even then.
you felt a breeze behind you as you turned to face the beloved adepti materializing out of nowhere.
the smile you wore quickly changed as you panicked seeing what he was wearing. reaching for your coat buttons, you cut off whatever he was about to say with, “are you crazy?! you’ll die of hypothermia wearing that in this weather! oh my gosh, xiao—”
“it’s really—” he tries to make a sentence again, only to be shut off by you wrapping your piece of clothing around his shoulders, directing his arms to go through the sleeves.
although he was used to this sort of cold weather, he appreciated the thought. but the odd warm fuzzy feelings that usually overtook his chest whenever you did something kind for him didn’t fully spread this time around, seeing that your sleeveless top and thin enough pants barely sheltered you at all from the snow starting to come down.
it was his turn to reprimand you as he sighed, “you’re calling me crazy, and yet you’re the one wearing a sleeveless shirt in the middle of one of our coldest periods. what were you thinking?”
despite him looking annoyed, he came towards you and swiftly picked you up bridal style, earning a small yelp as you were swept off your feet (literally) and teleported over to wangshu inn.
you quickly got over the initial shock, a smile returning to your lips. “y’know, that’s technically qualified as kidnapping.”
“shut up.” he responded, although with no malicious hint in his voice. he made sure to kiss you afterwards though, just for some extra warming up.
scaramouche hates you, he swears. he hates you (affectionately), he hates you (lovingly), he hates you (with absolutely no hate behind his words).
but, let’s be honest, he really doesn’t.
he loves you so badly it hurts. it hurts to think that one day, you might leave him like everyone else has. even after everything, even after he got rid of his name scaramouche, sometimes those seeds of doubt still manage to plague him, even though you’ve been with him through it all. damn his stupid past.
but, oh. the way those seeds get crushed under the weight of his non-existent heart expanding as you hug him tightly, your arms squeezing him unlike a thing but a human.
he holds back his tears as he lets himself be held by you, his own arms holding you just as tight as he leaves a kiss, albeit shaky, on your jaw.
when you rub his back comfortingly, he lets the smallest tear run down his porcelain face before burying his head into your collarbone, letting the rest fall as he recites his feelings; true and sincere.
vulnerable is a word you’d describe him as in this moment. though he’ll never admit that this scene happened afterwards, you know that he knows that whenever he’s in need of some love and affection, you’ll be there for him.
he loves you so, so much; mean words be damned.
tighnari, always so caring and hardworking. but it wouldn’t kill him to take a break once in a while, no?
“i swear, i will go into the forest and get one of those mushrooms that you’ve been so cautious around and shove it down your throat if you don’t stop working right now,” you threaten, even if from your ears it sounds empty.
he sighs in return, knowing that you wouldn’t go to sleep until he joined you. especially since he’s been skipping out these past few days. he got up a bit too quickly, wincing at the way his head spun when doing so. “fine, fine. archons, my head hurts…”
“that’s what happens,” you shrug, taking his hands and walking to the bed. he sits with you, blinking the heaviness of his eyes away as you suddenly hug him.
tighnari exhales at the feeling, he should really thank you for saving him from his continuous workloads…
you scratch behind his ears, watching his tail twitch before swishing lowly back and forth. he embraces you back, his eyes coming to a pleasant close. he really needs the sleep.
before he does get the rest; though, he mutters to you a quiet, “thank you, love you s‘much.”
and finally, he drifts off, you in his arms. what more could he ask for?
what a stoic guy that cyno is. and with the absolute worst jokes leaving his mouth, it’s a wonder that the two personalities living in his body are residing in the same person.
he’s telling you jokes as you’re cuddling with him, you mindlessly running your hands through his hair and commenting on his words as he tells them and explains if you don’t get it.
oh, and you’re doing a try not to laugh challenge. did i mention that cyno’s jokes are like, collectively the worst?
he has one goal in mind: tell a good enough joke to hear you laugh and claim victory.
he likes hearing you genuinely laugh. he likes the sound. he likes the swell of pride whenever you laugh because of him.
so as he dishes out one of his newer bests and awaits your judgement, he’s happily surprised hearing a small noise from you before turning into a full chuckle.
he doesn’t think he’s ever had the urge to hug you as tightly as he has now (okay okay, this is a lie. it’s on par with when he confessed and you agreed and the other times you’ve laughed at his jokes).
“cyno— you’re gonna break my ribs!…”
“this is my reward.”
“kaeya… go get some rest. you’re too drunk to be up right now.”
“i don’t wanna. i want to stay with you,” he says, emphasizing it by hugging you tighter. he’s behind you, his form practically towering over yours as you try to keep your composure.
he must’ve really drunk a lot tonight.
you sigh. “i'll be there soon, okay? i just have to finish—”
“you can do whatever—” he hiccups, “—it is tomorrow.”
you sigh again. first you had to pick him up from the tavern, already interrupting what you had planned tonight. now this.
however, you know it’s not really a complaint.
you’re glad he’s honest when drunk. you just can’t stop that warm feeling in your chest knowing that he genuinely wants you to himself.
well, might as well give him what he wants.
diluc can feel your hands around him as he’s busy scrubbing glasses, already having refused you four times in wanting to help him. not because he thinks you’re incapable of not breaking anything— just the opposite, actually— but he doesn’t want you to work because of him.
especially with all the work you’ve already had today. on second thought, you may break a glass from dozing off for a moment from the lack of sleep you’ve been getting. he thinks it’s better for you to rest as he’s doing his job.
he’s not moving much, thankfully. the tavern’s already closed, and it’s just you and him in there. he’s thinking about all the different ways he could carry you home in your half asleep state.
last cup done. finally, he can close up and go home with you and sleep soundly with you in his arms… yeah, that sounds good.
he turns slowly to face you, making your head raise to meet his eyes. you smile, albeit tiredly— but not failing to bring one of his own to diluc’s face nonetheless.
modern/college au kazuha headcanons because he just won't leave my brain | pt. 2
.⊹₊ first of all, when i think of modern kazuha i can't help but imagine him with a black (or red) button up shirt kinda like this one.
.⊹₊ also this is very self-indulgent bc it's just what i find attractive but hey come on like can you imagine this man with a watch and rings on his fingers coming to class holding two cups of coffee and handing one to you AAAHGDJHG
.⊹₊ you two would have a shared playlist for songs that remind you of each other/your relationship. looots of them are from Lamp
.⊹₊ doesn't mind studying at the library with you but would much rather do it in your shared apartment where you can listen to classical music together
.⊹₊ kinda a given but he'd be a big fan of the arts, mainly poetry and literature (probably his major too). loves to take you on museum dates
.⊹₊ i already talked abt this but since he's got heightened senses in canon i think he'd be bound to have sensory issues too, no? so he'd wear noise cancelling headphones on public transport or in crowded areas. and he'd hold your hand or just stay super close to you in case you needed something
.⊹₊ on that note, if you also have sensory issues (me) or something like social anxiety (me) he'd squeeze your hand when you're feeling particularly overwhelmed UGH this man
.⊹₊ also likes to kiss your knuckles. im literally so normal
.⊹₊ on the topic of shared apartments, he's kinda picky about what he eats (in reference to his least favourite food voiceline) so he'd rather do the cooking unless you have similar tastes and needs
.⊹₊ like imagine him whipping up the most mouth-watering bowl of japanese curry for dinner and you're sitting there with your 4th cup of instant noodles of the week. jk he'd make some for you too <3
.⊹₊ pleeease play with his hair when cuddling he loves it so so so much and will make him doze off in no time
.⊹₊ you two have a habit of watching old school horror movies together. if it gets boring you'll share thoughts/impressions or talk over the characters and come up with a different dialogue or make out
baths with genshin characters..... ❤❤💞♥️💞🥰😘😭😭😭😭 if u can, could u do that one but with xiao, albedo and kazuha? 🥺🥺🥺 love u MWAH
authors note ⊱ im gonna scream u chose a handful of my faves,,,,,,,, I ADORE THIS,,,, I PRESENT TO U UR FEAST,,, I LOVE U TOO MWAH MWAH!!
part one (diluc, kaeya)
part three (childe)
part four (venti, zhongli)
characters ⊱ xiao, albedo, kazuha
warnings ⊱ mentions of literal trauma but no details are given! other than that, completely safe! enjoy!
rating ⊱ sfw, but mildly suggestive (for albedo’s and ESPECIALLY kazuha’s), so viewer discretion is advised, id probably reccommend 16+ for kazuha’s
xiao
you bathe together, but it is mostly you bathing him
xiao does not know how to treat himself gently, to be forgiving and kind with his emotional scars and lingering effects of trauma
you initiate this like you initiate most of your interactions with him; you pull him in gently, guiding him towards the bath, and he looks at you in question, but he trusts you, so he follows your lead
he’s a little embarrassed, borderline shy, but he doesn’t resist when you wet down his hair, running creamy soap through it
when you touch his shoulders and tenderly wash his skin, it’s... it’s vulnerable, it’s special, and it is overwhelmingly pure
he has never been loved like this. not even by himself
but there you are, taking your time, caring for him, not judging him even when he was at his most fragile
he’s trembling by the end of it, breath leaving him in shaky, shallow exhales
he can’t tell you what it means to him aloud, because he can’t find the words, and what ones he could piece together don’t quite emulate what he feels
but what he can do, and what he does, instead, is he turns around in the tub slowly, hands lingering on your sides, resting his mouth against your forehead
and then, before you know it, he’s reciprocating everything you gave him, right back at you
his touch is gentle; as if he’s afraid you’ll disappear
you probably linger in the water after, enjoying each other’s company in relative silence, simply being a comfort to one another
and when it grows cold, he helps you out of the bath, pressing an inaudible thank you into the exposed spaces of your skin
albedo
he’s the type of person that would bathe you as a form of comfort
you’ve had a rough day, you’re tired, your eyes are puffy from crying, you haven’t been in the best mental space, the whole deal—and he presses his lips to your eyelids and says, “come on, let me take care of you.”
and he means it. he takes care of you.
he draws you a warm bath, but he also brings you some tea. he gently helps you undress, lightly batting your fingers away when you try to help—and if you keep insisting, he shakes his head and murmurs, “more efficient this way. and you need to be loved for a while.”
it’s almost heartbreakingly sweet: he asks you if the temperature is okay, alters it to your liking, and then he helps you into the bath, stroking back your hair against your head, damping it down
to put this more into perspective: when we’re in our adolescence, generally, we’re always taken care of by someone. that person always takes their time with us, giving us patience, accepting us even at our lowest. because we mean something to them. but at some point, we grow older, and people no longer give us that same, unconditional love, nor do they give us that patience, that kindness, that acceptance, and that care
but albedo does, he will give you all of those things and it’s overwhelming because when was the last time someone loved you like that? if ever?
and it makes his way of viewing this, his way of saying ‘you need to be loved for a while,’ hit a little differently
because he’s loving you. he’s showing you love because you need it and you deserve it, and it’s incomparable to any love you could fully give to yourself—not because your self-love is inferior, but because someone else is seeing worth in you, just like you see worth in yourself
so, he’s taking care of you the entire way through.
you have your tea, you sit in the bath, and he does most of the work. his touch is attentive and lingering, radiating nothing but comfort and assurance.
the entire time, he’s talking to you softly, maybe saying certain things to try and get you to smile or laugh, even though his humor is pretty dry. sometimes tells you compliments, things he loves about you. it’s easy for him to ramble, but it’s also easy for him to listen. (you can tell him about what troubles you. you can tell him about old memories. you can tell him about random trivia you learned. you can just tell him how you feel, or what you’re thinking, or what you want to do. whatever it is, he’ll listen, remember, and ask questions.)
not the type of person to really bathe with you; he might shower with you, but that carries a decently-sized risk of getting heated
dries you off personally, but it is a slow, sensual act, where he is taking his time, treasuring you, leaving fleeting kisses on your skin whenever he can
kazuha
loves, loves, loves bathing with you; he probably asks you to join him
it’s vulnerable enough where he might blush, but there is no shyness to the way he leads you in
there is also no shyness to his touch
it is very much body worship in nature—he caresses the shape of you, memorizing each nook and cranny, whispering poetic comparisons into your damp shoulder as he helps you scrub clean. he might compare any freckles or sunspots to starlight and constellations, scars and stretchmarks to lightning and thunderstorms, or your softness to clouds and flower petals.
he says these things airily, as if he is winded by the sight of you alone, and given how sincere he is, it is most certainly true
it is easy for this sensual act to turn into a more intimate territory (if that was within your comfort zone), so there is always that, as well
it’s just too tempting for him to get lost in you, enraptured by your intricacies; he just wants to know them all
loves physical affection, so he’s very touchy/handsy the entire time; he leaves kisses behind your ear whenever he pushes your hair back, he mouths along your shoulder or your throat, and his hands tend to wander as he works
but as much as he loves giving, ever inclined to be a service to you, he also adores recieving
he melts when you run your hands through his hair, or lather his skin with soap; he is leaning into your touch like an eager cat, eyes fluttering closed, sighing deeply and openly with pure relief
ticklish on his scars; he’ll giggle under his breath each time you ghost your hands over the raised skin
likes to cuddle a bit in the bath afterwards, clinging onto your body in the warm water until it’s just about to become cold
by the time you two come out, you’re both pretty pruny, and he will kiss your wet-wrinkled fingers with adoring eyes and a soft laugh
as kazuha slowly falls in love with you, he's quick to notice his old lover friend's face flashing through his mind from time to time when you're together.
he's not sure why you remind him so much of tomo at first, and thinks it might be your strong sense of justice, or the way his travel companion's beloved cat purrs at the sight of you, or how you stare at him with the same attentive gaze as he recites a newly composed haiku.
...or maybe, just maybe, it's the way his chest tightens as he looks at you grinning from ear to ear and out of breath, caught in the rain and looking for shelter like that time years ago with tomo, when he first realized he was in love.
"love..." he whispers to himself, almost like a hum. the familiar word sounds even sweeter when it finds its way back to you.
thinking about modern au kazuha where you guys are in a long distance relationship (because of his travels or something) and the cute little letters he'd send you.
he knows he could just call or text you and although of course he does, he'd rather convey his feelings through something more tangible (and romantic)
and he'd send you little trinkets he found and talk about the places he visited, the people he met and how much he wants to see you, bonus points if you're able to write back so a piece of you can always be with him <3
the only thing more powerful than a weird little girl is a weird middle aged woman. the only thing more powerful than a weird middle aged woman is a weird old lady. and the only thing more powerful than a weird old lady is a weird little girl. thus the world is balanced.
Kazuha held onto his red solo cup tightly, his eyes frantically darting around the area as his expression caved in. He couldn’t find you anywhere at this party. He knows that he isn’t drunk. He made sure to only put soda in his drink. So why couldn’t he find you? Where did you go? Did you leave him behind? He stands beside Heizou, who casually chats away with a mutual friend. He doesn’t seem to notice your disappearance whatsoever.
The situation only makes the platinum-haired man more nervous when he is approached by Gorou, asking him about his pale face. He begins to worry in front of him, looking at him side to side to evaluate his condition. There was too much noise. He couldn’t hear Gorou requesting him to go outside to rest. The music was loud. It was thumping. He couldn’t even decipher the difference between his quickening heartbeat, and the noisy bass coming from the song “Like Crazy.”
Curse Xiao for requesting this song. It was a good one but he genuinely couldn’t focus on the lyrics. Kazuha resists the urge to drop his solo cup somewhere random and leave the party. However, he couldn’t go without you. He took your car after all. It would be dumb of him to abandon you. So where were you? Were you just getting another drink? Did you get food? He turns his head left and right, still searching for you in the crowd.
Ayato’s house was too big and there were way too many people. It was a miracle that no one hasn’t gotten suffocated in this atmosphere. The platinum-haired man excused himself from Gorou, making the excuse that he wanted to go to the kitchen for more food. At first, his friend reached out to him. He quickly retracted his hand once Kokomi was by his side, bumping into him lightly as she smiles.
Kazuha’s breath was starting to get heavy. His ears felt like they were ringing and the closer he was to the kitchen, the louder the noise became. He raises his hand to cover one of his ears. People were chatty. Some talked about their experiences with their roommates, others complained about the quality of the campus food, and a few discussed their grades for their classes. It was too much. It was starting to wear him down. He asks himself again, where could you be? Everything around him felt like a blur. His head was starting to feel light and he has to fight the urge to lean against the wall.
Suddenly, he was pulled away from the crowd, the rush causing him to abandon his cup next to a planter. He winces as he bumps into a few people along the way, murmuring apologies that they most likely couldn’t hear. He was pushed into an empty room at the back of the house. The mysterious person lets go of his hand. They let out an exhausted sigh, their head tilted back as they groaned.
“It took me so long to find my way back to you, I can’t believe the Kamisato siblings live in a place this big.” At the sound of your voice, he leaps into your arms, causing you to be thrown back onto the bed. You yelped but held onto him nonetheless. “Kazuha?”
He says nothing. He only buries his face into the crook of your neck, the only place that seemed the most quiet. At his wordless response, your expression softens. You bring your hand up to gently rub the curve of his spine, keeping him close in your arms. You could hear him mumble a few words, mainly consisting of “miss,” “where,” and “loud.”
You exhaled, letting go of a breath you never knew you held. The two of you could still hear the boisterous laughter of Itto from the other side of the door. The continuous flow of EDM music did nothing to comfort his senses. Kazuha tightens his hold around you, internally pleading that you won’t leave him again. Though, his nerves are soothed when something covers his ears. He feels your body move slightly, your fingers tapping on your phone screen.
Instead of the party music he was forced to endure, he was left listening to the sound of gentle rain falling upon windows. It felt almost like home. Using your opposite hand, you toy with his hair, brushing through it. He closes his eyes, leaning against you as he feels his heartbeat slow down. It was becoming less overwhelming. The warmth of your body culled him into a relaxed state.
You doubt he could hear you but you wanted to say that you left the party to find your noise-cancelling headphones. You had gotten lost around the house looking for him, and even though you asked Childe, the tallest man in the party to help, even he couldn’t look for Kazuha. So you had to swim around the crowd of people, clutching tightly to your chest a pair of headphones meant for him. It was a miracle that you even found him near the kitchen.
You might make a reminder for yourself to avoid bringing Kazuha to these high-energy places. Or at the very least, be very well prepared to pack noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds for the poor man. It pained you to see him trembling. Leaning forward, you press a kiss against his forehead, undoing his hair tie as you both lay in what you could only assume to be Ayato’s bed. He wouldn’t mind if you just napped here, right?
jealous! kazuha would consist of a lot of pouting and affectionate touches. he might not admit it at first but it wasn’t because he was hiding it from you. he’d be confused for the first few days, maybe even a little irritated with himself for feeling so under the weather despite having you around.
he tends to leave his hand on your waist, pulling you aside through crowds or fields. he rubs circles on the back of your hand whenever a conversation with someone else goes on too long. and if he was really riddled up, he might rest his head on your shoulder, playing it off as him being tired and would like to return for the night.
hi hi, if you're still doing these could i please get a letter from kazuha? 🌷
A Letter Has Arrived From...
Hello my dear,
Are you doing well? I sincerely hope you reached Inazuma safely. I pray this letter stays intact on your boat long enough for you to read it. I know I've said it over and over before you left, but I feel the need to say it again. I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry that I couldn't accompany you to reach Liyue. I still have some business here, but I can't risk anything happening to you.
Border security has gotten a lot tighter from what you have seen before. The Shogun's guards are all lined up at the edge of the water. If anyone goes near, they brandish their spears at them, and I wouldn't be able to take it if it happened to you.
But don't be afraid for me, my dear. I've met up with kind souls in the Resistance, and they agreed to offer me aid, should anything grievous happen to occur. I've also met with the head of the Kamisato Clan. I won't lie and say that he's a pure person. However, he has agreed to assist me.
My friend… he's been summoned to duel with the Shogun's right hand, Kujou Sara. I must stay here to aid him.
There won't be a day that goes by where I do not think of you. The only solace in my heart is that I know you're in Liyue, safe and sound. Once I fix everything up here, I'll come to see you, my dear. Then, no border will separate us. Ever.
Hehe, look at me actually finishing it lol. Been ages since I've written x Reader stuff but I hope yall like it. Sethos needs more love <3
Female reader but I hope yall can still enjoy it lol :>
Getting to know each other, helping each other, soft pining, subtle affection
Masterlist
Sethos was a people person. He could talk to everyone and make them forget that they hadn't just met him, seamlessly integrating into any group he wished.
He had a good facial memory, so he could strike up a familiar conversation with most of the citizens.
But there was someone in Sumeru City that he had never properly caught for a chat. A humble cleaner girl, who seemed to hate him for some reason.
Whenever he tried to start a casual conversation with her, she focused on anything but him, her body language telling him she did not want to talk. Her replies were curt and he had to try hard to keep the conversation from dying.
He was pushy, yeah, but he knew not to push his luck. She was practically holding a weapon she could smack him with, after all. An everyman’s polearm - a broom.
So, he stopped approaching her. They just coexisted, him passing by her sweeping the streets sometimes, offering a polite wave as he jogged past her.
Then, on one rainy day, Sethos was caught enjoying the shower between his errands. He stood in the middle of the empty street, eyes closed and face lifted skyward as if to hug the rainfall.
But the rain suddenly stopped.
He opened his eyes in surprise and briefly met hers, before she handed her umbrella to him and dashed off. He was left there, staring at her disappearing form and the splatters of water as she ran.
He was confused, but shrugged the absurd encounter off with an amused smile.
“Heh, guess she doesn't hate me, after all. Interesting.”
Sethos loved being in the city. It was full of fascinating people, especially within the Akademiya. He loved learning about them, their stories, ideas and passions.
And now the curt sweeper girl had caught his interest.
He still politely greeted her when he passed by, and her responses were curt as ever, usually simply nodding and letting him pass. But now he read her behavior as shy and awkward instead of hateful.
His polite smile became a bit more genuine when he understood.
He kept noticing her in other places after that, too. She was often found sitting in random spots, holding a notebook she was very focused on, not paying attention to anyone who wondered what her deal was.
Sethos was one of them. He curiously eyed her every time he saw her, but she never lifted her face from her notebook.
One day she was sitting on a box behind Lambad’s Tavern, hand going wild as she worked on the notebook in her lap. Sethos noticed her, and decided to approach her for once.
She jumped when his voice cut through her concentration, having broken into her bubble.
“Soo. What’cha working on there?”
She immediately shut the notebook and looked away, clutching it to her chest.
“Heh, you were really into it. Sorry for spooking you.”
She didn't reply, no idea what to say, so she literally waved it off. He got the message, leaning against the railing next to her.
“You're a funny one, you know. I can never expect where you'll be sitting with that secret tome of yours. I’ve heard people call you a local cryptid because of it.”
That made her snort, and she immediately threw a hand up to cover her mouth.
His smile widened, proud of drawing a new reaction out of her.
“It's true, though. I've seen you on several branches of the Divine Tree, on a roof or two, and I swear I caught you behind a bush once. What's up with that?”
She scratched her cheek shyly, not expecting anyone to pay attention to her.
“...Inspiration”, she finally managed.
“Inspiration, eh? What's so inspiring about sitting behind a bush?”
She chuckled lightly in response.
“I just like switching spots. Different angles.”
"Riight, right, that makes sense. What do you need that inspiration for, then? Writing, drawing, homework?”
She turned the cover of the notebook towards him. It had ‘sketchbook’ written on it in fancy letters.
“Ohhh, an artist, I see. That's cool. You got the whole ‘vibe’ down too, now that I think about it.”
She drew the sketchbook back to herself again, shrugging with a small, amused hum.
“Quiet and mysterious. Who knows what's going on inside those covers”, he explained with a playful grin.
She was still curt, but her small smile gave him confirmation that she definitely didn't hate him.
“I’ll let you continue, then. Can't stop an artist when inspiration hits, after all.”
After seeing her nod and timidly wave at him, he stood back up with a satisfied smile. He waved in response and walked off, arms stretched behind his head as he went to continue on with his day.
From there on, he stopped to bother her for a moment or two whenever and wherever he caught her. She didn't seem willing to talk about art or her secret sketchbook, so he kept the conversation alive, talking about whatever. She was still curt and shy, but her snorts and amused huffs became a more common occurrence as days passed.
One day, after he was done telling one of his stories, she seemed particularly thoughtful.
“What's up? Remind you of something? Oh, oh, did I give you inspiration?” he grinned excitedly, pointing at her.
She took a moment to formulate her reply.
“..How do you always have something to talk about?”
He didn't expect that. She didn't seem annoyed, though..
“Heh, I’ve just seen and heard many interesting things. I like sharing mine, and learning more from the people I meet.”
“That simple?”
He shrugged casually.
“I’m a people person. I like talking and listening.”
Her face formed a strained smile as she looked away.
“My brain always goes blank when there's people around. It's like there's not a single thought in there.”
That seemed to confirm his assumption of her treatment of him before. She was just shy. Or socially anxious.
“Ah. More of an introvert, then?”
“...No, I want to be around people. I just… short circuit. Not very interesting company.”
“I think you're plenty interesting”, he stated matter-of-factly, “you've got me curious.”
That surprised her, and she turned to look in the general direction of his face, but still not meeting his eyes.
“You’re curious? About me?”
“Sure am. There's the sitting in random spots thing, your mystery book, how you're so focused you don't react to people gawking and talking about you right next to you…”
He counted with his fingers, amused but genuine.
“There's obviously a lot going on in there. I’m curious about what sorts of ideas you have. Art isn't exactly the biggest thing around the city, after all.”
She had to take a moment to take in his words.
“It's nothing special, really. Just stories, imaginary situations and encounters.”
“A bit of fantasy added to the ordinary, eh? That's fun. Care to give me an example?”
A bit nosy, maybe, but he was interested.
She looked away for a moment, not sure if she should or whether she even could produce an example for him. He seemed genuinely curious though, so she tried, and inspiration hit when she gazed down at the docks.
“Um, like, a long-awaited reunion happening down there. A tearful embrace…”
She suddenly felt very embarrassed.
“..That's dumb, isn't it? I can-”
“No, no, no, don't worry. I can see it. A bit of a romantic, aren't you?”
She blushed a little, but shrugged with a noncommittal chuckle.
“Comes with the whole art thing, I think.”
“Heh, makes sense. I like it.”
A moment of silence. It was comfortable to him, but she felt the need to fill it.
“U-um, thanks, for, you know, always talking to me.”
He wasn't expecting that, either, and hummed in question, grinning curiously.
“...I like talking to people. It's just..difficult”, she continued, wanting her thanks to reach him properly.
“Well, I’m always down for a chat. I'll keep stopping by to bother you, then?”
“You aren't bothering me. But yeah. I'd like that. Maybe I’ll learn some tips and tricks from the master of social skills”, she joked with a soft smile.
“Sounds like a plan.”
And so they continued their occasional chats. He often ended up stopping people to talk with them, anyway, but it was nice to have confirmation that he actually wasn't bothering her.
His company gradually helped her relax and learn to imitate some of his social techniques, like asking questions and using more open body language.
Eye contact was still an issue for her, though. And to Sethos’ surprise, it bugged him a little.
He was straightforward and social, so eye contact came naturally to him. Not everyone he talked with looked back into his, so he knew it wasn't easy for everyone. And, to be fair, his eyes were kind of intense, which was a blessing and a curse sometimes.
Yet, somehow, he couldn't shake the thought of wanting to meet her eyes. She was always looking somewhere else when they talked. Usually her sketchbook.
He had only met her eyes once, by accident that time she handed him her umbrella. They were bright and curious, almost striking in the muddiness of the downpour.
He remembered them clearly.
Still, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable, so he did his best so she could relax when they chatted. He wouldn't push her, make her feel like she had to do it.
So, instead, he focused on learning more about her and her ideas and visions, and loved telling her his stories since they seemed to inspire her to some extent.
He learned to pick up on the change in her expression when she moved from listening to him to formulating an idea.
It was cute.
He thought positively about people, appreciated their qualities, both inside and out, but it wasn't often that he considered a person cute.
That thought lingered in his mind, too.
He didn't think it affected how he interacted with her, but he unconsciously became a bit more friendly, almost flirty at times. He often grinned when they talked, initiated playful physical contact - like poking or gently kicking her - and couldn't help but give her tons of honest compliments, especially on her art.
Her reactions made her even more cute to him. She blushed at times, yes, but she was playful in return, smacking him with her pencil or broom or rolling her eyes with that amused smile of hers. And she gladly showed him her work now.
One time after their brief chat when she was working, he was left with a single thought in his mind:
“Heh, shucks. I like her.”
It wasn't a world changing revelation, just made him connect the dots and realize how much his way of interacting with her had changed.
…And he was pretty sure she liked him too.
He kept interacting with her like usual, honestly just enjoying what they had. A comfortable friendship with banter, intrigue and plenty of laughter.
But it would be a lie to say that he wasn't also gauging more on what she could be feeling.
He picked his best stories, told them with a bit more flair, and gave her more casual compliments.
And, well, if their knees happened to touch when they were talking, or his playful pokes lingered on her skin a moment too long to be read as platonic, he didn't make a big deal out of it.
One day Sethos caught her sketching on a sturdy branch of the Divine Tree, easily accessible but not immediately visible to the townsfolk.
He chuckled and approached her, nimbly making his way to her in the tree.
“You're an enigma, you know that?” he grinned as he sat down next to her.
“It’s simple, really. The view is great from here. So many people to see, so much inspiration to gather.”
He looked down. The citizens were enjoying their evening activities; entering and exiting the tavern, boats docking, adventurers returning to get their rewards for their daily commissions.
It was interesting. He preferred to be mingling down there with them, but stepping back and watching the hustle and bustle from a different angle made him appreciate it in a new way.
He might not have lived in the city for long, but watching all those people do their thing made him realize how lucky he was to be around so many people nowadays. He grew up in the desert, with only the people of the temple as his company, after all.
He was gazing down with a gentle and slightly solemn expression, happy to be where he was now. He had friends, connections, and now… her, too.
He turned to look at her, about to share his appreciation for the view too, but to his surprise, he met her eyes. She had been watching him, curious about how quiet he went and what he was thinking of.
Her eyes held a hint of worry, but enough affection to make him stumble with his words. This time it was Sethos who broke eye contact, turning to look back down.
“Y-yeah. I get it. All those people have their own lives and stories to tell.”
“Exactly!” she chuckled and pointed the end of her pencil at him. “A gold mine of inspiration and ideas.”
They both loved getting ideas from people, huh? Their ways were different, sure, but maybe they were pretty similar, after all.
Stories, curiosity, ideas and inspiration. They worked well together.
That train of thought suddenly made him feel the need to communicate his feelings to her. Like his soul was calling out, wanting to connect with this girl whose company he had been enjoying more and more.
“You know, you remind me of the Moon sometimes”, he started, fittingly artistic for what he was about to do.
“Sounds fun and poetic. Care to elaborate?”
“You're always present, I just gotta know where to look. Mysterious, but mesmerizing.”
“Hehe, thank you.”
She smiled, but didn't seem to catch the full meaning of his words, so he continued.
“What I’m trying to say is, I like you. You draw my attention in a way no one else does.”
Well that definitely caught her attention.
“You do?”
Their eyes met again, and he nodded, not ashamed or embarrassed, but ever so slightly nervous.
She cleared her throat to answer him.
“...I always thought you were like the Sun. You're warm, fun, and easily draw people to you.”
She wasn't as calm as he was, but hoped her indirect poetic message reached him too.
“Does that mean what I think it does?” he couldn't help but ask, a hopeful grin on his face.
She moved her gaze down and nodded.
“I-I like you too. I feel like I can relax around you.”
Both sat in silence, soft and giddy grins on their faces, taking in the big words hanging in the air.
They turned to look back down at the citizens buzzing around the streets, the shy mood eventually becoming comfortable again, and moved on into imagining what kinds of adventures the people below them had experienced today.
Their fingers soon found each other and intertwined slightly as they sat together.
feat. kazuha, xiao and scaramouche (headcanons and blurbs)
mild angst in scaramouche’s, skinship, gn!reader, no other warnings
Kazuha
☾ Kazuha misses you like he misses home. It’s a dull ache in his chest that grows when he looks out to the ocean, watching the waves push and pull. It’s a grim reminder that you and he are separated by miles and miles of emptiness.
☾ Ever the romantic (and the optimist, I think), he pulls through with the knowledge that despite your distance, the wind will always connect you and return you to his side.
☾ Kazuha places a lot of faith in fate, so he isn’t too disheartened, but his wistfulness makes appearances in his poems and the distant looks he gets when left in thought for too long.
☾ That being said, he keeps tabs on your through connections, if possible. When they dock in Ritou, he asks Beidou if she’s heard anything regarding you or your well-being. It comes off rather nonchalant, like just another conversation topic, but Beidou knows better.
areudirty
germansingergirl
kianamaiart
