Extending the Olive Branch - Kaeya x Reader

Dont Push It

"Acting Grand Master Jean, I respect you and your authority as Acting Grand Master, but I really must protest," you said desperately while following her back to her office.

"Yes, for once, I agree with her," Kaeya commented, following closely behind.

"Great!" Jean replied quickly, "the start of a beautiful partnership." She smiled brightly at the two of you who scowled back at her.

"I don't see how us working together will improve our efficiency," you added insolently.

"It doesn't," Jean responded matter-of-factly and entered her office, you and Kaeya close on her heels, "a wealthy merchant pledged a large, consistent donation to the Knights, and so we have money to promote people." Kaeya plopped down in one of the chairs in front of Jean's desk, but you remained standing.

"But why her?" Kaeya whined, "Surely somebody else would be a better option." You shot him a dirty look.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" you snapped, "Are you trying to say I don't deserve this promotion?" Kaeya shrugged and smiled gloatingly at you.

"Well you were ten minutes late to the meeting announcing it," he remarked, smiling at you mischievously. Your face turned hot and you glanced at Jean quickly in embarrassment.

"Just because I was late doesn't mean-"

"Stop," Jean interrupted, looking at you, "it doesn't matter if you were late. You don't get paid enough for all the extra work you do." She turned to Kaeya. "And you get paid too much for work you don't do. We're just evening the scores here." You smiled proudly but Kaeya scoffed indignantly.

"Well maybe you should demote Kaeya and just make me the Cavalry Captain," you sing-songed cheerily. Kaeya stood up threateningly.

"Maybe you should learn your place," he spat, getting in your face, "Promotion or not, I'm still your superior, don't forget that." You glared back, the tension building.

"Stop it, you two!" Jean yelled suddenly, breaking your hateful gazes from each other, "You're on the same team. You need to work together. Grand Master Varka and I thought this might help improve your relationship." You softened a bit at the true Grand Master's name.

"Maybe I don't want the position," you muttered, crossing your arms and looking away, "Maybe I'm fine with my current position and salary."

"I suppose as your Quartermaster, I should remind you you're behind on your rent," Kaeya threw out, snapping your hateful gaze over to him, "Just another example of how irresponsible she is..."

"Why you little-"

Jean slapped a paper on her desk.

"Perhaps you'd like to read your contract before you make your final decision," she stated, eying you intensely. You looked at her curiously and walked towards the desk. You picked up the small packet and scanned it quickly. Your eyes froze on a number. A LARGE number.

You weighed the options in your head. Despite Kaeya being a shit head, he was right about the rent. You had spent a lot of money recently and didn't calculate your spending right, leaving you short on Mora. If you got kicked out of the Favonius girls' dormitory, you had nowhere else to go. You didn't have any family in the city you could stay with. And most of your friends lived in the same place you did, so you wouldn't be able to stay with them either. If you didn't pay your rent and got kicked out, you would be on the streets. You felt the gravity of your situation hang on you.

You sighed, placed the contract down on the desk, and turned to your blue-haired nemesis.

"I will see you at work tomorrow," you told him, holding back as much sass as you possibly could.

Kaeya's jaw dropped.

"You're just giving up?" he yelled in annoyance. You sighed.

"I'd rather work with you than be homeless," you stated, resisting the urge to give him daggers, "That means I like you more than I thought I did. Don't push it."

AN: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you had/are having a happy holidays! Go check out my Diluc x Reader fic too, if you're interested. :)