Clear Day in Mondstat II Jean x Diluc

Bonus: Turtle-Racing At the Dawn Winery

i accidentally deleted it oops

this ones meant to be a thanks for reaching 1k reads!! <33

"I've got Snaps!" Jean cried, racing across the Dawn Winery grounds, her turtle in hand. Snaps tucked his head into his shell, probably avoiding the bright sunlight. "Where do you want to start?"

"Over here!" Someone called. Jean pivoted towards Diluc's voice, her heart already pounding in anticipation of seeing his face framed by the sun. His hair would be up in a ponytail, leaves scattered throughout it. The sun would sparkle in his eyes just right, and Diluc would turn to smile at her, his face brightening exactly how hers did whenever she saw him.

Jean rounded the corner without looking, slamming into something solid. Or rather, someone.

"Agh!" Jean exclaimed, tripping and falling backwards. A hand reached around her waist and grabbed her free hand.

"Don't worry, I've got you." Looking upwards, Jean saw Diluc's face, slightly overshadowed by the sun. It was dotted with strawberry freckles, a side effect of playing with her too long. Jean suspected she had the same freckles on her face.

Heart pounding, Jean realized exactly how close Diluc was holding her. His hand was wrapped securely around her waist, anchoring her and sending a swarm of butterflies through her stomach. Diluc's other hand was grasping hers closely, warm and comforting.

Their chests were pressed close together, and Jean sincerely hoped Diluc couldn't feel her heart about to explode out of her chest. Jean lifted her free hand and placed it gently on Diluc's chest, standing back up.

"Ah, thanks." Jean said, stepping back slightly and brushing her hair out of her face. "Sorry I bumped into you."

"No, no, it's fine." Diluc said, waving a hand in front of the sun, squinting slightly. "I was looking for you anyway." He smiled at Jean, the chip in his front tooth peeking out slightly. Jean felt warm all the way down to her toes, and she looked around nervously.

"I- ah, I brought Snaps." Jean said, holding out her turtle. "Do you have Halley?" Halley was Diluc's turtle. The turtles loved playing together, which meant Jean got to spend more time with Diluc all the time. It was convenient, because Jean liked spending time with Diluc.

However, ever since Diluc had gained his Vision on his birthday a month ago when he turned 14, his father, Master Crepus, had been calling Diluc in to take more lessons. It meant Diluc got to spend less time with Jean, which opened a gaping hole in her heart.

She consoled herself by thinking of Diluc inviting Jean to his birthday party, the way he had smiled at her over the birthday cake, the way their fingers had brushed when she handed him his gift, a sword she had been saving up to buy him for a long time.

"Yes, she's right here." Diluc said, shaking Jean out of her thoughts. The two turtles nuzzled each other, clearly experiencing something more than friendship. Both their owners blushed as their fingertips touched.

"Ahem, um, I set up the racing track over there." Diluc pointed towards a section of the orchard, with two lines drawn in the dirt.

They set up the turtles behind one line, holding them back with their hands.

"3, 2, 1, go!" Jean called, releasing her hand. Snaps began wandering forward lazily, obviously not realizing Jean's pride was bet upon this race. She scurried to the finish line, where she sat down cross-legged and began cheering her turtle on.

Halley moved slightly faster than Snaps, causing her owner to move to the finish line and sit down with Jean. Their knees touched, the bare skin exposed by Jean's shorts next to Diluc's pants. He moved his hand onto his knee, leaning forward to watch the race.

Jean was hyperaware of how close he was to her, his fingers brushing her bare knee. Her vision fuzzed slightly, not quite focusing on the race. Every time Diluc touched Jean, ripples of warmth flew out from that spot. Jean was a little scared of the affect Diluc had on her.

"Good job Halley!" Diluc scooped up his turtle, who had persevered and eventually won the race. He stroked the top of her head gently. Jean suddenly envied the turtle for receiving Diluc's attention.

"You did great, Snaps." Jean consoled her turtle by petting his head gently as well. She turned to the side to see Diluc watching her turtle, a strange expression in his eyes, almost of jealousy. "Even if you didn't win. I'll give you a carrot later or something."

Diluc stood up, still cradling his turtle under his arm. He reached out a hand to help Jean up, who accepted it gratefully.

"So, what do I get for winning?" Diluc asked, a dangerous half-smile on his face. Jean's stomach fluttered, her brain reading into that question way more than it should have. She blushed nervously.

"Why should you get anything?" Jean countered, laughing a little. "Your turtle's the one that did all the work."

"Hey, I trained Halley. That's work." Diluc insisted, watching Jean with a soft look in his eyes.

"You didn't tell me we could train our turtles!" Jean cried, feigning betrayal. "I demand a rematch."

"It wasn't in the rules."

"We didn't state any rules."

"Either way, I still get a reward." Diluc shrugged, as if to say it couldn't be helped. He set his turtle on the ground and stepped closer, his hand twitching at his side.

"Fine. What do you want?" Jean asked, expecting something like a meal at Good Hunter, or a new book from the bookstore. She put her turtle on the ground, barely noticing how Snaps and Halley started cuddling as well as turtles could.

"How about a kiss?" Diluc said, smirking and stepping even closer. He tapped his cheek. "Right here."

Jean's face flamed. It was alright, really. Diluc had the right to ask for whatever prize he wanted. Besides, Jean and Diluc were just friends. This was purely platonic.

"Oh- Okay." Jean said, moving forward. Diluc's smile faded on his face, replaced by a look of intensity.

Jean moved forward, biting her lip. Diluc's eyes flickered to her mouth, and his mouth parted slightly. His eyes focused on hers with startling power. Leaning forward on her tiptoes, Jean inched closer, able to smell Diluc's pine and wood scent.

She pressed a light kiss to his cheek, her lips barely brushing his face. Her hair swung against his neck and shoulders, pressing her body into his. Jean stepped back and blushed heavily, leaning down to pick up Snaps.

Looking up, she found Diluc touching a finger to his face where Jean had kissed him. Jean had kissed him. Oh, Archons, what had she done?

Their eyes met, connecting with a sort of attraction Jean didn't think came from friendship alone. Diluc stepped closer, opened his mouth to say something-

"Master Diluc! Your father wants to see you!" Adeline, the head housemaid, called. Diluc turned his head, a slight frown crossing his face.

"Ah-um, you should, uh, go see your father." Jean said, staring at the ground. She could feel Diluc's eyes on her, but found she didn't have the strength to meet them.

"R-right." Diluc made to leave, picking up his turtle, but then pivoted on his heel, turning his face over his shoulder. "I'll see you later, Jean." He sent her a half-smile that made Jean's legs wobble.

Diluc dashed away, the descending sun casting a golden halo on his red hair. Jean touched her lips with the pads of her fingers, blushing. She picked up Snaps and left, smiling to herself.