Sinking Ships (Misc. Oneshots)

Our Time (Kaeya x Reader)

The faint wind was enough to earn a shiver from me as the breeze rustled through my dress and hair.

In the lonely streets of Mondstadt, I walked toward the tavern, my arms hugging myself to try and stay warm. No one was out anymore, all resting in the warmth of their abodes except for the dutiful Katherine and a couple of tavern goers. I felt a twinge of excitement surge through me. I had just turned twenty one last week, a fact a certain someone had been all too aware of. The first present he'd presented me with had in fact been a drink, his favorite Death After Noon.

Just remembering that fact was enough to make pleasant shivers spread through my entire being.

There was a reason I was here, I had to remind myself. I wasn't here for him tonight, though I was almost certain he'd be there. He was always in the taverns at night with his favorite glass, swirling his wine in his hand as he listened to the rumors around him. The memory would never leave my mind, even though I hadn't seen him in such a long time...But no, I wasn't here for him tonight.

Well, I tried to tell myself that, anyway.

I was here on the behalf of Eury. Upset with Nimrod's drinking habits, Eury sent me here to catch Nimrod in the act and stop his pathetic little habit, a scuffle I didn't really feel I had any part getting into, but the needs of the many were ones I felt obliged to attend to. As I stepped past Patton and the poster of my missing brother, I opened the door and headed into the tavern.

Immediately I was greeted by the cacophonous chatter of the tavern. Glasses clinking against the table, loud, boisterous laughter and chatter as light music played in the background. As I surveyed the area, locating Nimrod in the process, I felt a twinge of disappointment wash over me. Dammit, I was terrible at lying to myself, wasn't I? He wasn't here, and while I should have been happy to not be distracted, I was only let down.

I approached Nimrod after Charles waved at me. Nimrod was bent over the table, his glass empty with a massive tab on the table. I placed a hand on my forehead in exasperation. Drinking was fine and all, but to let the action consume you was just pathetic. Addiction was always so difficult to see.

"Nimrod, how many drinks have you had tonight?" I asked, my tone coming out a tad more frustrated than I had wanted initially. He groaned.

"Not too many," he denied, his words slurred. I raised my brow, hands on my hips as I asked him once more.

"And how many is that?"

He shook his head, "Just about like...four."

A quick glance at his tab told me that he'd had a couple more. I pursed my lips together. Eury was not going to be happy that she was right about him drinking so much. I didn't like getting him in trouble, but I had a request to fill, after all.

"Nimrod..." I started to say, and he drunkenly grasped my wrist tightly, his fingers digging into my skin as he tried to beg with me.

"Don't tell her, please don't..."

I tried to pry his digits off of my wrist, but his firm grip held strong. "Nimrod, it's not my actions that led you here. Eury deserves to know."

He frowned. "Don't tell her, please!" His grip grew tighter, a gasp of pain escaping my lips as his nails dug further into my skin. Before I could yank my hand away entirely, someone's silky tone interjected calmly.

"That's enough."

Is that...?

I hadn't heard the usual familiar sound of his boots across the ground during my conversation with Nimrod, but I did know exactly who that voice belonged to. I glanced behind me for confirmation, and sure enough, here he was, a glint in his uncovered icy eye, his hands planted firmly on his hips while his silvery voice demanded respect. Kaeya was here, after all.