Fandom: Guild Wars 2
Pairing: Zhou Yao x F!Commander (no specific name or race)
Chapter 1 [AO3 Link]
Word count: 912
Genre: Toothrotting, cliché fluff
A/N: This plot bunny wouldn’t let me go until I wrote it. This story is based on @rosewoodroad‘s extremely cute art of Yao and their holo-hobby! Unfortunately I got a migraine and had to stop, but I plan to continue as soon as I can. I hope you enjoy <3
For the Canthans, it was a national disaster. Dead bodies and rotten horrors were rising out of the dark murky water of their old, drowned city, clawing at their stone walls and gates, slowly but surely working their way into New Kaineng to inflict what Zhaitan wanted - agonizing death with no release after.
For the commander, it was Thursday.
As sensational as Mi-Rae brought it on the holonews, the situation wasn’t a disaster yet. It was slowly becoming one, certainly, but at least they had enough time to analyze the problem from every angle. No rushing because void was about to explode from every crevice of the earth. The commander would even dare try humming as she swiped her finger down the jade holopad, reading up on magical yet not-dragon-like creatures that may lurk in the depths.
When Taimi mentioned something about the strange blue orb they had used in Orr to battle the risen, the commander’s communicator went off. A specific bell that indicated a videocall. Videocall - it truly was the 14th century.
“Hold on Taimi, this might be important,” the commander apologized with a wave and Taimi nodded. The commander’s loyal jade bot hovered lower and displayed an image with the face of her caller.
It was Yao. The commander couldn’t help but stiffen. Taimi couldn’t help but notice.
“Commander!” Yao’s voice rang through the jade bot. They were rummaging with something below them. “Are you busy?”
The commander nearly flung away her holopad. “Not at all. Just some undead. What do you need me for?”
By Aurene, she could feel Taimi’s grin on her back.
Yao straightened themselves, tossing their hair around messily, holding up what looked like a disc. “You told me you wanted to try holodramas sometime, so for you I got my favorite! I had to dig through the archives a bit but it’s worth it. I’ve watched this one three times!”
“Oh wow, eh, thank you Yao!” the commander stammered. She had not expected them to go above and beyond for this. Then again, Joon did mention this was one of their passions. “Shall I come pick it up later today?”
“I think it might be more fun if you two watch it together! Maybe this evening? Because you’ll both be free?” Taimi suddenly said.
The commander whipped her head around so fast, whiplash got whiplash. With her hands on her back, Taimi conveniently acted like she had said the most ordinary thing, like the plants needed water or Rama got a bigger hat.
“Oh! Yeah, that’s fine,” Yao said, rubbing the back of their neck with their non-robot hand. “We could watch it at my apartment- IF-if that’s alright with you,” they stammered, instantly holding up both hands. “We can also go somewhere else that’s nicer-”
“I’m sure your place is very nice!” the commander said a tad too quick and too loud, and winced at herself. “I mean, I’m honored you’d invite me to your home. Thank you Yao, I look forward to tonight.”
“Great, me too! Later!” Yao saluted with one finger and signed off.
The commander sighed. That was more embarrassing than Ryland mocking her before the Arcane Council. She turned around and Taimi stood right there with a smile that was up to no good. “Gah!” the commander yelped. “Taimi, what in Omadd’s name are you doing?”
Taimi was smaller than the commander, but oh so much more powerful now that she was filled with dangerous knowledge about her friend. “Holodramas, huh? I recall very well a certain commander telling Kasmeer that drama was ‘not her thing’.”
“I’m allowed to change my mind,” the commander protested, crossing her arms.
“Admit it! You like them! Is it because Nozomi said Yao thinks you’re cute? It is, isn’t it?” Taimi was the unstoppable force, and all the commander could do was feel her cheeks reddening. Damnit!
“I don’t have to confirm or deny anything. Is that why you’re trying to set us up? Because of gossip?”
Taimi rolled her eyes. “It’s not gossip. Nozomi is a good friend of Yao, so it’s reasonable to assume that Yao likes you back. You might as well bring roses already!”
“They said I’m cute - that’s just about appearance. That doesn’t mean anything. That doesn’t mean they lo- like me.”
“They literally gave you their jade bot the moment you arrived in the city. I mean, who does that?
Said jade bot started dancing in the air, beeps forming a melody, grabbing everyone’s attention. The commander shook her head. “They only did that because I’m the commander everyone’s talking about. Surely Joon would give me one anyway if they didn’t.”
Taimi groaned. The commander was more stubborn than Braham competing in a moot. “Can’t you at least give it a try? Come on, you’re always saving people, commanding armies… Don’t you want to go out and, I don’t know, command some love?”
The commander facepalmed. “You are way too young to chat with Snargle.”
“I’m not your progeny. I’m old enough to talk to anyone!” Taimi huffed and snapped her fingers. “You’re going to go home, put on some nice garments and create some beautiful memories in Cantha! And if I hear you ditched Yao, I will tell everyone about your skiff-driving abilities.”
The commander pulled down her face. Rama and Navan knowing was bad enough. “This is payback because I teased you about Gorrik, isn’t it?”
glorification and romanticisation and ESPECIALLY ‘normalisation’ have nothing to fucking do with authorial intent and everything to do with cultural reaction to a text. next question
