Genshin Impact (Reader x Characters)

Swift Decisions, Caged Bird (Jean x Reader)

art by raikoart (DA)

Romantic

A cage. Yes, it was exactly like one. At least, that's what you think this office is.

The scholar looking room you occupied had rows of books to your left stacked up to the walls, and to your right sat a strategy table with papers and quills strewn about. This was the Acting Grand Master's office, and who else was it to be occupying the room with you but the Master herself, Jean.

Your eyes trail the walls for the eleventh time now in the past hour and you find yourself looking back to Jean; sitting in her chair with her full concentration on a paper she'd been writing. She diligently wrote without looking up or thinking to herself, only ever pausing to dip the quill's tip into the half-empty ink bottle before writing again. This little bird is sitting obediently in her cage again. You pondered on the thought.

Most would think it was a breach of respect for one of the division Captains to be lingering around in the office of their boss, but, you were an exception. Not formally, but everyone, including Jean, knew that you'd just go about your day everywhere and anywhere.

"I'm bored." You boldly state. Sadly, she didn't flinch to amuse you. Instead, she replied as she writes, never taking her eyes off the paper.

"Then go about your assignments for the day. You still haven't finished your commissions, correct?"

You hold back a sigh, "Yeah, but..." You had no ammo for this retort, and decided to change the subject, "Well, what of you, Acting Grand Master? Got anything done today?"

"Quite a handful, actually."

Your pride threw itself out the window.

Jean continued, stopping her hand to dip the quill into the bottle, "I helped Eury find some ingredients she wasn't able to procure in our stocks, I had also gathered intel about the Abyss Order pertaining to its recent sightings near Springvale... Hm, ah yes, there was that awfully fast Anemo Slime Balloon that stole goods right outside our borders that I just had to take care of, and there was even the matter with Flora's plants being stolen by some passing thieves and–"

"Very diligent of you, Master Jean." You cut her off, your competitive side showing slightly. "Though, have you had the time to practice for yourself?"

For the first time in an hour, she looks up to you. "Practice? Could you... elaborate?"

"Practice, you know." You push yourself off of the chair by the door and stride to the center of the room, "Techniques, Combat styles, Swordplay. Doing missions isn't the same as practicing your training."

She looks back down to her paper, her expression showing a bit of interest in your topic. "My daily missions are my training."

"Going grocery shopping isn't training, Master Jean. I'm talking about actually taking the time to practice your sword. Your swings."

"(Y/N), I've encountered battles every day from my daily commissions," She starts writing faster, pausing more in between to reply, "That's plenty of training for me."

"You know it yourself Jean, that isn't enough."

Click.

The gentle slap of the quill against her desk echoes within the silent office, that action alone cut your breath short. You felt a slight shiver at the amount of passive aggressiveness she emanated when she closed her eyes to breathe out a long sigh through her nose. Jean paused in her seat, then looks up. "(Y/N), what are you getting at exactly?" Despite the professional tone she held, it couldn't mask the irritation behind her words. To that, you smiled amusingly.