Addiction
I do not own anything but the fanfiction. Plagiarising or copying without express permission from the author is a butt move and kills little kittens.
That being said: Enjoy!
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Run.
Your lungs, limbs, and heart were about to burst. A bloodthirsty treasure hoarder was hot on your heels and after the fake letter you had conspicuously placed into your pouch. Thank all of your lucky constellations he had no time to call any of his friends, particularly the crossbowmen. Otherwise you would already be dead.
Run and don’t look back.
Generally speaking, this was above your paygrade: baiting a treasure hoarder chief (leader?) to a designated place where your commanding officer was waiting. Most of the Knights with the same paygrade as you were still stuck filing reports and patrolling Mondstadt. Captain Kaeya just liked keeping his subordinates on their toes.
That usually meant a dangerous mission outside of the city, with the danger ranging from stray roots to unthinking and unfeeling Ruin Guards.
On paper these were scouting missions, so they have no reason to be disapproved. The scouting just coincides with questionnable deliveries, an incoming heist, or a suddenly activated Ruin Guard. Today, Captain Kaeya was looking to getting rid of an influential person in the meager organizational chart of the treasure hoarders. Personally, you thought that this would barely put a dent in their plundering; even the thought of bandits having an organizational chart was absurd, but any and all logical thought was banished from your head in favor of running for your life. You could revisit those later at home.
What? No doubts whatsoever? You’ve gotten pretty reckless haven’t you?
The designated spot was in sight and it revitalized you if only for a while. While you could not spot any of your fellow-Knights, your relief outweighed what potential concern you might have for the situation. There was a whoosh behind you followed by a shocked yell of pain from the treasure hoarder pursuing you.
Captain Kaeya stood in all of his glory, sword in hand and posture confident. In the glow of the setting sun, the ice he conjured from his hand glittered like jewels. He looked quite like a rascal himself, but of the good kind. The kind you would want to be on your side.
Nothing of note happened during the short battle, and soon the treasure hoarder was on the ground, unconscious. You breathed a sigh of relief, but your heart was still beating fast from the adrenaline. Perhaps it would be best if you stayed put for a minute or so.
“You did well,” Kaeya sat on the grass beside you and handed a canteen which you tentatively sniffed. He laughed at your caution. “It’s not alcohol don’t worry.”
It was cold sweetened water. You wondered if he used his Vision for mundane things such as chilling the water in this canteen. One by one your muscles relaxed, leaving an ache that will protest tomorrow when you inevitably report to Acting Grand Master Jean. Taking one more swig from the canteen, you handed it back to Kaeya.
And he drank from it without hesitation.
Your heart refused to calm down. Everything else felt sore and tired, but your heart was full of vitality. In an attempt to distract yourself, you looked to the setting sun. “Was today’s mission a success, Captain?”
Turning back to him, you saw that he was staring at you. A boyish grin split his face and his hand came to rest atop your head. “Of course. This will slow them down for a couple of days.”
“And then we’re back to hunting them again?”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you doing this, Captain?”
The question was meant to be rhetorical; an expression of exasperation, but your tone did not quite convey that. Something in his eye flashed and he took another gulp of the sweetened water.
“Why, you ask?”
The sun had already set and the night time shadows cast a dangerous darkness across the Captain’s eyes. “Would you believe me if I told you it was to protect Mondstadt?”
“No, sir.”
Realizing you had said that out loud, you flushed and sputtered an apology. Betraying your expectation, Kaeya laughed and the hand on your head ruffled the hair there.
“Good answer.” He stood up and brushed some grass of his leg. “I take it you won’t be opposed to another scouting mission like this one? It would hurt so terribly to be rejected.”
Your heart still would not stop frantically beating. Despite the danger and the uncertainty of it all, you liked this. You liked being pushed to your limits. You liked the feeling of accomplishing something worthwhile that had nothing to do with sitting in an office and filing papers.
You liked the feeling of Kaeya’s hand ruffling your hair. You liked the feeling of your heart refusing to calm down when his eye was fixed on you. You liked the feeling of helping him out with whatever goal he had and leaving your own safety in his capable hands.
You liked it so much that you wanted more.
So with a smile, you answered, “Yes, sir!”
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Writing for Kaeya cause Diluc and Childe wouldn’t come home. :(
I love this shady man though. He gave me crits on crits so…