stress — varka x reader, SFW, drabble
summary — you're a woman who takes pride in her work, even the most frustrating parts. you'd normally ignore varka when he tells you to take a break, but this time, he might be right.
themes — kof!reader, fluff and comfort, stressed!reader, a lil kiss, mild suggestive themes, established relationship, minor mika appearance, jean hunting for varka per usual
WC: 1.06k
It was only ten in the morning, and you were already nursing a raging migraine with two stacks of paperwork and an empty cup of tea.
“Um, Captain?”
“What?!”
Perhaps your words were a bit too sharp, because Mika went yelping, cowering behind the door. His hands grasped the edge of it so hard, his fingers turned a ghostly shade of white.
“I’m sorry!” he exclaimed. “It’s just that…! Captain Eula, she…! She said you requested some maps! I’m sorry!”
Your shoulders immediately fell slack. Frowning, you said, “No, I’m the one who’s sorry, Mika. I didn’t mean to snap at you. Please, come in.”
The awkward younger man seemed like he was still on edge, not even making eye contact with you as he handed over the bundle of parchment. He gave you a quick, brief nod before immediately spinning on his heel.
You felt bad, but you didn’t have much free time to dwell on it. Chewing the end of your quill, you stared down at the illustrated maps of the Knights’ new patrol routes. As always, Mika had marked it with incredibly insightful intel, but the sheer volume of information was only making your headache worse.
You thought your day couldn’t possibly manage to roll any further downhill, but then the door to your office kicked open again. As quickly as it had opened, it shut, and the tallest man in all of Mondstat stood with his back to it, his teeth glimpsing through his strained grimace. He lifted his pointer finger to his lips, and your brows furrowed together so tightly, you worried your forehead muscles might stay cramped like that.
Click, click, click, click! That was the sound of Jean’s heels, marching right past your door. She was a sensible woman, as were you, so when you had told her you wouldn’t let Varka escape his duties so easily, you knew she had believed you.
You pointed at your door. “Get out of here.”
Varka let out a hearty chuckle. “Now, that’s no way to greet me, pumpkin. I just wanted to drop in and say hi!”
“While you’re running from the Acting Grand Master,” you replied flatly. “Varka, I don’t have time for your nonsense today. Some of us actually do our work when we’re told.”
You gestured to the stacks of paperwork lining your desk, and he blinked at them like he didn’t know what they were. Giving you the kind of frown that a sad puppy might give its owner when begging for a treat, Varka complained, “You’re not happy to see me? You look awful stressed, hon.”
“Because I am stressed,” you snapped. “I have to get this all done by four PM, the 5th Company has a stack of work that Gunther can’t manage alone, and everyone else around here is incredibly fucking useless with administrative duties!”
Your shoulders heaved with angered breaths. When Varka crossed the room to stand at your side, you let out a groan, dropping your face into your palms.
“Sorry,” you said. “I’m trying to keep my emotions in check.”
A large palm wrapped around the side of your head. You looked up, surprised, before your face ultimately met the cool metal of Varka’s armorplate. His thumb stroked along the back of your hair, and after a moment of hesitation, you wrapped your arms around his hips and closed your eyes.
You took in a deep inhale. His scent wrapped around you, warm with hints of fragrant cedarwood, bold like dandelion wine. It made your tense muscles relax, and the pain in your head slowly dulled.
“You’re doing a great job, pumpkin,” he murmured. “It’s okay to be a little upset.”
“I just wish everyone would do their jobs,” you said. “Why is it always that people like Jean and I have to pick up the slack? We’re just as busy as the rest of you.”
“Well…no one ever said you have to pick up the slack. Why not take it easy for today? Come out with me to Angel’s Share and have a drink.”
“Angel’s Share doesn’t open until noon,” you groaned. “And you shouldn’t be going to taverns while you’re on duty, Varka. For Barbatos's sake, you’re the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius…”
“You gotta live a little sometimes, ya know?” he asked, the rumble of his laughter tickling your cheeks. “It’s not a crime to bend the rules every now and then, is it?”
Not a crime, but incredibly irresponsible. Though you supposed the important part was that it wasn’t a crime.
“Why don’t you just…give Gunther his half of the paperwork back? Ask one of the rookies to help with the less important parts?”
“I don’t want to be seen as a Captain who pawns my duties onto others. It’s not fair to my subordinates.”
“But you don’t do it every day, pumpkin. I’m sure your subordinates wouldn’t mind helping their favorite Captain out every once in a while. Give ‘em a pretty little smile, and any man would do anything for you!”
You snorted, smiling against him. “Wouldn’t that make you jealous?”
“Well, of course not. Even if you smile at another guy, I know I’m the one you smile at the most.”
You lifted your head, your lips still curled into a fond grin. Varka’s gloved hands rose to your face, squishing your cheeks between his palms. With that rugged smile of his, with those blue eyes vaster than the sky itself, he stared down at you as he murmured, “I’m all you see. Right, pumpkin?”
You giggled. “Right, Grand Master. Now are you going to kiss me or what?”
He let out a deep chuckle, his eyebrows popping suggestively. “Oh, I’ll do a lot more than kiss you if you want me to.”
“You’ll have to buy me a drink first,” you purred.
You felt the heat of his breath when he leaned closer. As the bridge of his nose brushed yours, he murmured back, “Of course, pumpkin. I know how to take care of you.”
When his lips pressed to yours, you smiled against them. That was your Varka alright—a little bit of an idiot, a lot of a nuisance—but also your heart’s biggest weakness.
“Let’s sneak out,” he whispered, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
Giggling, you gave him an enthusiastic nod.
“That sounds good to me, Grand Master.”
a/n: so i got an ask the other day about a captain!reader with lohen, and thought a bit about my kof!reader that i often use with varka. i decided to make her a captain, cause i felt like it'd work! (disclaimer: this is not me saying i will be writing her with lohen and pls dont beg me for it >.>) anyway, if you liked what you read, please consider leaving a me a heart! (˶>⩊<˶) ♡ reblogs and comments appreciated! if you would like to be tagged whenever i post genshin x reader, please check my rules here! thank you! icymi! chai's last non-lohen post: insignificant, nsfw scaramouche oneshot (1.3k) masterlist
