𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻 | raiden ei x reader

Chapter Eight

You had never given so much thought to attraction before.

Growing up, you never experienced anything like it. Shared glances with a man on the Liyue docks, a shy confession from a girl your age just last month, and once a proposition from a drunken man whilst you were out on the streets at night.

All of these one-sided instances passed you by, and you let them.

Especially that last one. That damned commission found him beaten within an inch of his life and thrown away like trash in a nearby river. You would have killed him, but knowing his legs were shattered beyond repair and that he would be crippled for the rest of his miserable life seemed more... satisfying.

When Ayaka had found you, saved you... you thought the feelings you had for her could be love. You wanted to love her, who wouldn't? It was safe. Easy. Understandable, even.

Kamisato Ayaka was a regional beauty. A once in a lifetime prodigy that could never fail to take one's breath away with her way of sword-fighting. She was perfect in almost every way someone can be. And still, you couldn't find it in yourself to fall in love with her.

Instead, you find yourself attracted to the one woman whom you have sworn to defeat. The woman who has declared your very possession of a vision treason. The woman who has captured you as some sort of sick political move.

It's so strange—how attraction works.

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You wake up that morning with a mission.

Your eyes are shining with resolve. A friend, maybe, is what you can call Baal. She may have been using you as a bargaining chip, but you knew she had some sort of fondness for you. You need to play that fondness. Make it blow right up in her stupid. godly. face.

It's early... really early. The sun hasn't even risen in the sky.

Your feet are aching fiercely—yesterday had felt like an eternity of walking. It seems more and more work has been piling onto the Electro Archon lately. You had asked her about it, but you only got a tired glance in response. She evidently was not in a good enough mood to put up with your usual bickering.

You normally wouldn't have let it go. If you weren't in your right mind, you may have poked and prodded until she had given in.

Your latest revelation, though, had you shirking away from the idea.

Your hand pushes against the door to the kitchens, revealing a hidden world within. Working hard so early in the morning were the Tenshukaku Palace cooks and chefs, most of whom greeted you with a quick smile.

You exchange polite greetings back, even winking at a particular girl who stumbles and blushes afterwards, almost knocking over the bowl of batter she was beating. You forget her name, but she's a funny girl, even if she seems a bit sheltered.

Ah, no wonder she has some evident feelings when it comes to you. A strapping young rebel with a revealing outfit coming in every morning to check on food preparations? Her poor small town heart must have been shivering!

You whistle as you make your way through the kitchens, weaving your way through the people at work with an expertise of someone who was used to such labor. You're so glad your clumsiness had been trained out of you during your weaponry practice, otherwise this would have been a pain.

Still, it's difficult to manuver when you're so damn tired. You stifle a yawn.

"Yo, y/n!" You hear a voice call, and your head whips around to the person calling out to you.