Genshin Impact (Reader x Characters)

Red as Wine, Warm as Fire (Diluc x Reader)

Platonic

It was another long day on the haul. The adventurer's guild needed someone with heavy defense to guard several batches of trading goods from Mondstadt to Springvale. That someone picked was you. The Branch Master of the guild, Cyrus, intended for you to go with someone else considering how long the trek would take, yet you refused. It wasn't as if you weren't ungrateful for the help, but you preferred to work on it alone.

Cyrus had teased that you were a lone wolf type, pushing yourself away from socializing with anyone in the guild. Yet again, you debunked his statement. You weren't as gloomy as he made you out to be. You just preferred to work alone for logical reasons moreso than personal. Your Vision was effective for crowding enemies, and you didn't want to get anyone hurt from any of those Pyro Hilichurls out and about. Everyone knows what happens when you mix Pyro and Electro.

So, you covered over the commerce mission on your own, and boy, was it a long day. Three carriages to protect and only one of you. Thank Barbatos it was raining the whole morning, otherwise, you wouldn't have lasted another minute against those shielded Mitachurls.

And here you are—still damp from the rain—sitting outside Angel's Share waiting for your order of Apple Cider Vinegar. You groan, arching your back till you hear the sound of a joint popping. A sigh of relief escapes your lips as you lean back on your chair, dazed and tired. You left your mind to idle.

How long had it been since you went on a mission with someone? Two years ago, maybe? It was when you first joined the guild with that peppy youth that new recruits still had. Stars danced across your eyes that day when you were issued your first mission, but, to your dismay, it was just a stakeout mission. Two days of watching some Hilichurl camps from a distance with another new recruit. You thought the mission was going smoothly then, despite being sitting ducks, and you were about to finish up packing when they noticed your partner accidentally set the bushes around them on fire. What luck. You tried to put it out with whatever water rations you had left but, to no avail, it continued to spread. You tried for the weapons but they burned your bare hand trying to touch the handle of your sword. In a panic, you tried to get out of the fire without using your Vision but by reflex had to push the Hilichurls back without your weapon. And in its elemental chain, the damage you inflicted on the field was massive. So massive that it blew you, your partner, and the Hilichurls back. Bad luck after bad luck, you were pretty sure you fell off a cliff that day and washed up onshore.

Let's just say you didn't get your rewards that day.

You thought it funny how much you'd changed since that happened. It was your first experience being in danger with no escape, nothing but walls and walls of flaming, hot inferno. Everyone who hadn't experienced the outside world of fighting always makes fun of the idea of anyone turning into a jaded warrior after their missions. But, it was true. All of it was true. Every day, you fought tooth and nail to live to see another sunset and drink another beverage at Angel's Share. Adventurer's had it tough, and for that reason, you held anyone in that business in high regard.

"Excuse me?"

A smooth tenor graces your ears, snapping you out of your trance. What were you even staring at? You blink, looking at your gloved hands. Who called you?

You look up, trying to gain back your consciousness, and made out the first thing you saw. Red. Red and black.

A tall, lean male looks down on you with furrowed brows. His deep, crimson eyes were steely; hardened into gems that shone under the moonlight. His hair was tousled, yet for some reason, still looked neat under a certain impression. Perhaps it was the way he stood, the way he carried himself. Certainly, whoever this was had the presence of nobility. It was something about his aura. But...