Innocent Moves - Diluc X Reader

Chapter 3 - Fire

It had been almost two months since I last spoke to Diluc, the two of us had occasionally shared glances when crossing each other in the street, but nothing more than that. My cuts had heald, nothing left of them but scars. I spent the time focusing on my work with Lisa, and cleaing out the monsters from Springvale.

It was a spring morning when I was busy stacking the shelves with a fresh batch of books, when a bang happened to errupt in the library, followed by someone agressivly storming in.

"Oops sorry guys! Accidentally dropped baron bunny..." the sweet familiar sound of Amber bounced around the walls, getting lots of extremely annoyed looks from all of the visitors who were just trying to read in peace.

I watched as Amber scanned the room for something, she scratched her head for a moment and then finally she found what she was looking for. "Y/N! Y/N! Guess what. Guess what!" She screamed, grabbing onto my shoulders and shaking me back and forth. Everyone in the library was now loudly shushing her. She hung her head and slumped into the seat next to me.

I chuckled a little at how excited and energetic she was, and how she seemed to have her happiness shattered when everyone shushed her. "Whats up Amber?" I whispered, offering her a gentle smile as her eyes lit up again, remembering what she came in for.

She clapped her hands together quietly, squirming in her seat with excitement, "The annual knights of favonius ball is happing next week, you have to come!" She whispered back while somehow still managing to shout.

The ball was something that the knights of favonius held every year, anyone who's anyone was invited. Famous people from all over Mondstad came to enjoy the celebrations. And I knew, there was no way in all stormterrors lair that I would be invited. I wasn't a Knight, I wasn't rich, I definely wasn't famous. So no way I would ever get to enjoy one. They weren't exactly my thing anyway.

Amber seemed to know exactly what I was thinking and continued to talk before I could even say a thing. "This year we're all allowed to invite special guests with us! And I'm chosing you!" She shouted again, and was quickly shused by everyone.

Amber was probably my best friend in Mondstad, so I wasn't too shocked that she'd give her extra ticket to me. But a ball? Dancing? Fancy people with their flashy outfits and drinking fancy wine. I had no idea where I'd even start with one of those events. What would I even wear, I doubt anyone would want to dance with me. Thousands of questions swirled in my head until I noticed Amber patiently awaiting my response, "oh Amber, I don't - "

"GREAT! So I'll meet you next Friday at 8, see you soon y/n!" She hurried out of the library knocking over the stash of books I had been stacking. I didn't even have time to say no. I should probably get a new outfit, these events required you to look the best of the best.

******

I walked home that night mildly excited about what had transpired today, butterflies formed in my stomach at the thought of next Friday. For some reason the only person that lingered on my mind was Diluc, would he be going? He probably would be, considering it was usually a big wine event, and him being the Prince of wine and all that meant he had to be there right? What am I saying? Who cares if Diluc's there anyway, he probably wouldn't look twice at me. With so many beautiful girls and guys to choose from, I doubt I'd ever even catch his eye.

I frowned, reaching my door and stepping inside finding Kaneki waiting for me behind the door, rubbing his furr against my legs. I pulled my coat of closed the curtains and made my way upstairs, my cat following closely behind, i lay down taking a moment to gather myself and wash away the day. Before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep.

*********
"Cough"

"Cough"

My chest rose and fell rapidly, trying to keep myself from choaking. What was that smell? Was that smoke? My eyes darted open, seeing an unsettling orange glow light up the room, the faint sound of wood cracking and cackling around me told me something was very much in fact, very wrong.