Girlfailure - Jahoda X Reader
TW: mentions of injury and descriptions of violence
Oh, Nefer was going to kill her for sure.
It was one thing to be late with a delivery once or twice or to accidentally reveal minor pieces of unimportant intel for free, but this…
‘That’s it… I’m doomed…,’ Jahoda thought dramatically as she crouched down in the corner of the cave, clutching her head as her thoughts began to spiral into downright murderous scenarios.
“Jahoda… I can hear you thinking from over here.”
You lay next to the makeshift campfire that Jahoda had quickly set up to make sure you were warm. After all, Frostmoon Scion attire wasn’t known to be the warmest of clothing, and with the gash on your leg, now bandaged of course, Jahoda wasn’t going to take any chances.
Outside the cave, it rained and stormed, the weather fluctuations of Nod-Krai were in full swing. In a way, it’s kind of calming, you’re sheltered from the rain and in no danger at the moment. If it weren’t for the throbbing pain in your leg, you might even consider walking in this kind of weather, being used to it as you are as a Frostmoon scion. Plus, it was currently summer too, so it wasn’t like it was cold even if you were in the north. The weather and season had been kind to you and the other Frostmoon scions this year, providing a bountiful harvest around the Frostmoon Enclave, much to Lauma’s joy.
Jahoda walks over, her posture defeated as she sits down cross-legged next to you. She looks pitiful with her depressed frown.
“Ugh, why did the Fatui have to be there anyway? If our contact had informed me ahead of time, none of this would’ve happened.”
You smile sympathetically. It’s clear Jahoda is feeling guilty that you got hurt on your mission, even if it wasn’t her fault.
“Hey, don’t worry, I was the one who pushed you out of the way. I did this to myself,” You reassure her kindly.
You had been sent on a mission with Jahoda, as per Lauma’s request, to retrieve some ancient artifacts belonging to the Frostmoon scions that the Fatui had stolen and hidden away, no doubt planning to auction them off for money.
When you had arrived in the area where they were last reported to have been seen, thanks to Jahoda’s contact, she quickly figured out where they were buried.
You had heard of Jahoda’s knack for treasure hunting, but it really was impressive how she managed to locate the exact site of the hidden cache, using her experience to your advantage.
Remembering that the contact had told you to wait till the evening to retrieve the items, you had spoken with Jahoda, suggesting that even if you knew where it was you shouldn’t try to retrieve the items right away.
But Jahoda assured you it was fine and that if you got the job done quickly, there might even be an extra reward in store.
Well, for you maybe, you couldn’t imagine Nefer rewarding Jahoda for doing a job she was assigned to do, just because she completed it faster than expected. But regardless, Jahoda thought it would be a good idea, and seeing as no one was around, you had both approached the small cave where the cache had been buried inside.
It hadn’t felt right and you know now you should’ve trusted your instincts. As soon as Jahoda had started digging up the cache with the artifacts inside you heard a noise behind you by the cave entrance.
When you turned around you saw a group of Fatui agents blocking the entrance. It was an ambush.
Jahoda had nearly jumped out of her skin before she grabbed the box and your hand. As the Fatui got closer, stalking towards the two of you slowly, Jahoda threw the box over their heads. Using the momentary distraction, she threw a smoke bomb on the ground before grabbing onto your wrist tightly as you both rushed past the fatui soldiers, Jahoda grabbing the box on the way out of the cave.
Jahoda was quick and nimble and you struggled slightly to keep up with her, but as soon as you got out of the cave, your reflexes kicked in as you briefly caught a glimpse of another fatui agent about to strike.
You had pushed Jahoda out of the way and barely had any time to dodge yourself. The fatui agent's sword had left a large gash in your leg, bleeding steadily, staining the grass beneath you. You were no stranger to scraps, bruises and wounds here and there but that didn’t diminish the pain you felt, leaving you stunned momentarily.
Jahoda had called out, voice filled with concern but despite the pain you quickly drew your sword and slashed at the fatui agent. With Jahoda as backup, you both managed to get away, finding the cave you’re currently in and setting up camp there.
The storm had come later and prevented you from leaving, ultimately causing Jahoda to clench her hands and muffle a frustrated scream into her beanie.
Now, as you lay with your bandaged leg next to the campfire, Jahoda sits next to you. She drops her head in her hands with a sound that can only be described as a mix between a groan and a whine. You can’t help but chuckle. It’s endearing how much she cares, and although her levels of anxiety border on unhealthy and can be dramatic at times, it’s clear that her worries are genuine.
“Are you worried about Nefer?” You ask, observing Jahoda who seems to curl in on herself even further at the simple mention of her ruthless boss. Her reaction is an answer in itself.
You shift around to sit up properly before moving a calming hand onto her shoulder. Her skin feels cold under your touch and you worry for a moment that she might get sick if she doesn’t warm up, but then remember that Jahoda is also from Nod-krai. She’s used to the colder weather and sometimes harsher conditions of the northern lands.
If she wasn’t there’s no way she would dress like that…
Probably…
You shake your head, snapping out of your thoughts before you look up at her. You know Nefer can be ruthless from time to time, even with her own employees and you truly don’t want Jahoda to get in any trouble.
With a deep breath you nod determinedly,
“What if I took the blame?”
Jahoda’s reaction is immediate. Her eyes widen with disbelief and she shakes her head, grabbing your hands.
“No way! You didn’t do anything”
As it stands neither of you are really at fault, the events that transpired were circumstantial at best, and coincidental at worst.
But even so…
“I know, but with Lauma backing me there’s a chance I can escape Nefer’s wrath,” You reason calmly.
Jahoda shakes her head again before she frowns at you. You feel her hands tighten as they grasp your own, it’s clear Jahoda is being serious in not letting you take the fall, at least not alone.
“No, we’ll just tell her what happened and… and hopefully all she does is cut my pay for the next month.”
You sigh softly. A part of you appreciates Jahoda’s commitment to honesty, and admires her bravery, but you can’t help but wonder if there isn’t a smarter way to go about this. Jahoda had tried healing your wound after bandaging it, but it didn’t help much, it was going to need time to heal on its own before it would disappear. And even then, it would probably leave a long scar on your leg, forever reminding you.
The storm continued to rage on for a few more hours before it finally cleared up. Jahoda was there immediately grabbing onto your arm and wrapping a hand around your waist to support you as you walked.
“It’s fine Jahoda I can manage,” You tried telling her, but her grip on you only tightened and you saw a guilty look on her face.
“No- I mean, I’m sure you can but…” She sighed before turning to face you fully. Her expression was serious, unusually so for this anxious girl. You could see the furrow of her brow and the soft frown of her lips, but her eyes weren’t angry or disheartened, if anything they shone with determination.
‘Stubborn’ You thought to yourself, the corners of your lips quirking up slightly.
With Jahoda’s help you walk out of the cave, holding the cache with one arm while she supports you with both of her arms.
She’s gentle with you the entire way back to Nasha Town making sure not to rush you or pull on you, even stopping a few times to ask if you’re okay. As you get closer to Nasha Town she falls quiet and her expression and posture is tense. You can tell she’s probably in her head, overthinking and imagining what horrible things Nefer has in store for her. You sympathize with her anxiety and wish that there was something you could do for her.
For now you settle for holding her hand tightly, squeezing it with reassurance.
As soon as you are back in Nasha Town you immediately head for the Curatorium of secrets, but Jahoda pauses right outside the door, looking up before swallowing nervously.
‘It’s okay Jahoda, the worst thing that can happen is… OH who am I kidding?! Nefer is going to roast and feed me to Ashru!'
Jahoda nearly dropped you to scream as her thoughts spiraled again.
“I don’t want to become cat food!” She exclaims loudly.
As disastrous as her anxious thoughts were, they still caused you to huff out a slight laugh. She may be praying for her life at that very moment, but she was undeniably cute doing so.
Finally, you manage to convince her to walk inside with you. Luckily, Nefer was nowhere to be seen at the moment.
Jahoda sits you down on one of the plush couches before she stands back up and puts the cache on the counter to the side. Afterward, she begins to pace back and forth and although she isn’t saying anything you could practically hear her thoughts.
Before you had the chance to attempt to comfort her the front door opened and you heard both Lauma and Nefer’s voices. From the sound of Nefer’s tone, she was already a bit annoyed due to something. Your eyes immediately sought out Jahoda and you watched as the poor girl stopped like a deer in headlights as the two women entered the room.
“Ah Jahoda you’ve made it back I see, and with Lauma’s apprentice and the cache, good”
Nefer’s tone was noncommittal as always as she walks over to inspect the artifacts making sure they are in good condition. She appraises them with a judgmental gaze but ultimately seems satisfied.
She didn’t outright reprimand or scold Jahoda but her tone was all the evidence needed to know that she isn’t happy.
Then again, when was she ever?
Jahoda is silent, you notice her lips moving, her jaw working as she tries to find an explanation but her anxiety is clearly overwhelming her at the moment. To make matters worse Lauma walks over and notices the bandage around your leg, and gasps softly before moving closer.
“Were you injured? Do you need me to heal you?” She asks gently as she looks down at the bandage.
Nefer narrows her eyes where she stands by the counter. She doesn’t turn to look at Jahoda, she merely casts a glance over at the silent girl for a moment without saying anything. Her silence, ten times worse than any word she could’ve said.
You reassure Lauma that you’re fine, she seems insistent for a moment before sitting back with a sigh.
“Boss Nef..” You look up at Jahoda whose voice is wavering as she speaks.
You notice the way her hands clench and how she looks off to the side almost ashamed to face you or the others in the room. Before she has a chance to continue, you speak up.
“The contact had told us not to go get the cache before the evening, but Jahoda found out where it was pretty quickly and I suggested we should grab it right away, to get the job done faster. We were then ambushed by fatui agents and in my recklessness I got injured… Jahoda saved me.”
The room is silent for a moment, Lauma regards you with a soft sympathetic gaze while Nefer’s eyes bore into you with a sharpness equal to that of a blade.
Jahoda shakes her head, frowning deeply, she won’t let you take the fall especially since neither of you are at fault.
She squeaks quietly when Nefer turns to look at her, all previous bravado and confidence replaced by a cold feeling of wanting to shrink impossibly small until you’re practically unnoticeable.
“But you decided not to follow the contacts intel to wait till the evening?” Nefer questions, and although she sounds relaxed, her casual demeanor is a trap, which Jahoda is very well aware of.
When Jahoda doesn’t reply or defend herself, Nefer decides to continue.
“It was your laziness that made you want to rush in and get the job done quick, and as a result Lauma’s little apprentice got hurt in the chaos”
Nefer was intimidating. Beautiful, cunning, silver tongued and utterly intimidating as a result. There were many that had suffered thanks to her. Everyone in Nod-Krai knew you didn’t want to be on the bad side of the intelligence network's leader. Not only could she take you out herself, she didn’t even have to lift a finger, she controlled the flow of information, she could ruin you with one well placed rumor.
Despite all this however, in that moment, hearing her unjustly accuse Jahoda of being lazy set you off and made you rise from the couch, ignoring the pain from your injury.
“That’s not fair,” You say pointedly, your posture tense, “The mission went sideways because we were ambushed, things got confusing in the chaos and it’s difficult to say who or what’s to blame, but Jahoda is not lazy and it wasn’t her fault that I got injured”
Lauma’s soft hand grasps your shoulder urging you to sit back down, while Nefer merely hums and tilts her head at you, unimpressed. Everyone is silent for a moment, a minute that seems to stretch on forever thanks to the tension in the room.
With a loud sigh Nefer uncrosses her arms and shrugs before turning back to the cache.
“Regardless you secured the goods, and brought them back in one piece, that’s worth something I suppose”
Nefer’s resignation should’ve eased the tension in the room but it didn’t. There was still a nagging feeling that the situation hadn’t been resolved…
Probably because Jahoda still seemed upset and hadn’t gotten the apology nor recognition she deserved.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door to the Curatorium of secrets. A Nod-Krai citizen needing help with a delivery. Before you could stop her Jahoda walks past you and Lauma stiffly.
“I’ll handle this one boss Nef… I’ll be back later,” She says quietly before leaving without another word.
Lauma got up from the couch before approaching Nefer. You watch her put a hand on Nefer’s shoulder and although it’s a subtle movement, the intel broker’s posture seems to loosen slightly, relaxing under the gentle leader’s touch.
“It is late, and my apprentice is injured, we could try and get a room at the flagship but it would be a great kindness if you would let us stay here for the night instead,” Lauma says in a way that sounds more like a negotiation than a question or a plea.
Although you’re not one to complain about your sleeping arrangements, seeing as you’re used to sleeping in rooms with many more people regularly due to how the sleeping arrangements at the Frostmoon Enclave works, you couldn’t deny that a night spent away from all the noise, and on a soft couch sounded far better than the Flagship.
The tavern was nice and had its charms, but the soundproofing was nonexistent which was particularly annoying when you were just trying to rest and could hear various drunkards loudly laughing and yelling all night.
It had been especially bad when the Knights of Favonius had been in Nod-Krai…
Most had drank their fill and passed out pretty early on… so much for that Mondstadter alcohol tolerance you’d heard so much about.
But one person in particular had kept on going, drinking and drinking all night, and he had practically shook the building every time he laughed and slammed down his tankard.
Yeah…
Safe to say you’d be happy if the Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius never returned again… Or at least not while you were trying to sleep at the Flagship.
Nefer ultimately agrees and lets both you and Lauma stay the night in the Curatorium of secrets. You get a blanket and an extra pillow and are allowed to sleep on the couch, meanwhile you watch as Lauma follows Nefer to sleep elsewhere.
Lauma often speaks of Nefer at the Frostmoon Enclave, and you never fail to notice how she seems to soften when talking about the other woman, so it’s no secret to you there might be more to their relationship than meets the eye.
It’s also extremely evident in how lenient Nefer is with Lauma compared to others.
If only she could be a little more lenient with Jahoda from time to time. You don’t know the full extent of their relationship or partnership, but from what you’ve observed you can still confidently conclude that Nefer isn’t treating Jahoda how she deserves to be treated.
Jahoda was silly and carefree from time to time, definitely someone who put a smile on other people's faces regardless of her intent. Sometimes it was because she was being funny on purpose, other times her anxious dramatics were simply too ridiculous to not laugh at.
She was in all honesty, a bit of a loser.
But oh, how endearing that was.
In a place like Nod-Krai with so many different types of people from fae folk, to robots, to intimidating intel brokers, to moon goddesses… Jahoda was relatable, and that made her perfect.
You figure you would have to try and talk to Nefer again in the morning, for now though, better get some sleep.
The couch is surprisingly comfortable despite how it looks at first glance, and the Curatorium is almost dead silent save for Ashru who sometimes gets up and walks to a new spot to sleep.
You are just about to drift off when you hear the front door open softly. Sitting up, you see Jahoda trying to sneak in quietly, no doubt wanting to go unnoticed. While you can’t see much in the dark, Jahoda’s silhouette still seems stiff and tense, her earlier anxiety still prevalent.
“Jahoda?” You call out to her, to her surprise and she squeaks quietly. She stands still for a moment before she walks over to you.
“Hey,” She responds with a slight smile. Her eyes look tired and she can’t quite seem to hold your gaze for more than a few seconds before she looks away again.
You sit up properly and pat the seat next to you, inviting her to sit down. After a moment of hesitation she does.
“About earlier…” She starts, her hands clenching where they rest in her lap, “I didn’t want you to take the blame and I didn’t mean to storm off like that afterwards, I appreciate you standing up for me, but it wasn’t necessary”
You consider her words for a moment before you respond, “I’m sorry if I made things difficult for you with Nefer”
Jahoda lets out a short huff of air, a rueful smile on her face that screams of self-deprication.
“No, it’s… it’s fine, I can talk to her tomorrow, try to smooth things over,” Jahoda says, convincing herself it's going to be alright, but you can still see the resignation on her face. She obviously doesn’t believe that she is going to escape any form of punishment.
Feeling sympathetic toward her you put your hand on her shoulder in support, “You did a great job getting us out of that cave and securing the artifacts”
Jahoda froze for a moment before she smiles genuinely. It’s a small smile but you can tell your approval and praise means a lot to her in that moment.
“Thank you,” She replies, finally turning to look at you, giving you a small nod of appreciation.
She yawns suddenly, and you feel your heart flutters for a moment before you scooch back on the couch.
“Lauma and Nefer already went to bed a while ago and you seem tired… I can move over and there should be enough space for both of us here, only if you don’t mind of course,” You suggest nervously.
Jahoda rubs the back of her neck and waves her metallic hand dismissively, “Oh no, no no, it’s fine I’ll take the floor, I’m flexible I can sleep wherever,” She laughs but it’s uncertain, awkward. Clearly she’s just as nervous as yourself.
“But there’s only one blanket, won’t you be cold?” You ask with genuine concern.
She scratches her cheek with a lopsided smile like she hadn’t even considered the idea of a blanket.
“I’m fine with us both sleeping on the couch, if you’re fine with it,” You offer her the other end of the blanket and give her a small reassuring smile. She swallows nervously before she takes it.
You lay down with her on the couch and it is admittedly a bit more cramped than you had originally anticipated, but being this close to Jahoda feels nice. You’re close enough to feel the warmth that radiates from her and you catch a whiff of her scent. It’s a unique blend of metal and something earthy and dusty with a warmth similar to homebaked goods. Even her scent is natural, home-y and it puts you at ease.
“Is this okay? My arm isn’t annoying you?” She asks quietly, shifting slightly so that her metal arm doesn’t touch you.
You nod and smile as you take a deep breath and close your eyes before grabbing her metal hand comfortingly.
“This is perfect.”