Freedom in Servitude - Diluc x Reader

Patrol

"Behind you!" Amber shouted. You whipped around and stabbed a Hilichurl with your spear, freezing it from the inside, before Amber shot it with a flaming arrow, causing it to melt before you.

"Thanks!" you said and threw your spear across the pathway into another enemy, sticking it square into its chest. You ran up to it and yanked your spear out, finishing the last of the camp.

Amber shot flaming arrows into some of the barricades the Hilichurls had set up and you both watched as they slowly burned away.

"Man, what a day!" Amber remarked, stretching upwards. "I feel like we've knocked out a hundred of these camps today." You nodded, feeling the warm summer breeze blow through your cloak.

"It's always nice when we have good weather on patrol day," you said. The two of you began to walk down the pathway in search of more enemies to crush.

"Where is Master Diluc today?" Amber asked.

You internally winced thinking about your decision to reveal a bit of your past to him last night. Thankfully, he hadn't made it weird that morning. He had just acted like normal. Which gave you some comfort, but you still wondered what he thought of it. More accurately, you wondered what he thought of you.

"Hello?" Amber snapped you out of your deep thoughts.

"Oh, sorry," you replied sheepishly before explaining, "every two weeks he has to go into the cellar and check each section to make sure the wine is fermenting properly and the barrels are in the right spots, and a bunch of wine stuff I don't understand. There's not much I can help him with so he kind of just gives me a day off."

"Is today not the day he goes into town and does the thing with Margret and Jean?" Amber asked.

"No, no. That's the meeting they have once a month about alcohol safety and whatnot. I have to be at those meetings-OW! MOTHERFU-"

A pyro slime had suddenly jumped out of a bush and burned you. In response, you blasted a cryo attack at it and stabbed it through the face. Amber giggled until the slime started to pulsate. You both immediately took off running, still laughing, as the slime exploded behind you.

"Gods, I can't catch a break," you said, still chuckling.

"Oh, by the way," Amber suddenly remembered, "I'm sorry I couldn't come to your one year thing last night. How did it go?"

"I drank a little too much..." you replied sheepishly, "Kaeya can be VERY convincing when it comes to alcohol."

"I can imagine!" Amber said brightly and stopped in front of you, "I just feel really bad I couldn't be there, so..." She hummed a triumphant tune before pulling out a gift-wrapped small box from her pocket.

"Aw, Amber! Are you proposing?" you swooned dramatically. Amber laughed and shoved the gift box into your hands.

"What? And steal Diluc's woman?" she shot back suggestively, causing you to blush furiously, "Just open the box, Y/N." You obliged and were absolutely stunned at what was contained.

Inside the box was a pair of stud earrings shaped like little windmills. You felt tears of happiness prick your eyes as you looked back up at your friend. Her bright smiling face reminded you of the day you met her.

It was a few days after you arrived when Diluc took you into the city when Amber approached you, smiling the same as she did in front of you now, and used the classic Favonius line: "Welcome to Mondstadt, strange, yet respectable guest! Please state your identity and intended destination. The Knights of Favonious are here to ensure your safety."

Despite Diluc's urging you to ignore her, you obliged her requests and asked a few questions about Mondstadt. She was so welcoming, so kind kind, and her enthusiasm was infectious. Polite greetings when passing by quickly turned into more friendly encounters, and now every two weeks, you joined her on patrols. It can get lonely being the only Outrider left in the knights.

"Amber, you're seriously the best," you said and gave her a tight hug.

"I noticed your ears were pierced, but you never wore any earrings so I thought you didn't have any," she explained. You smiled at her while putting them into your ears.

"They're perfect, thank you," you replied genuinely. Before Amber could respond, your watch dinged the time.

"Oh, crap, is it five already? I have to cover Charles' shift at the tavern tonight. He's in Liyue for his niece's wedding."

"Go!" She replied, shooing you away, "I'll see you later!"

You waved as you took off toward the city, the wind blowing in your hair as you ran. You said a quick thank you to Venti-I mean Barbatos for the beautiful breeze.

A smile graced your lips as you lightly touched your new earrings, and you realized...

"I'm finally truly happy."