Drunken gentleman
Synopsis: varka being a even bigger softie and lovesick puppy while drunk?!
Grand Master x knight!reader
Warning(s): childhood friends, slow-burn, fluff, mutual pining, sfw, pre-relationship, he want dat cookie bad again👀, gender neutral reader♡
w/c: 3.2k
Art cr: muimi575
Varka was a gentleman, the entirety of Mondstadt knew that. But who would've thought that the Grand Master could be an even bigger gentleman when he was drunk off his mind?! Well, they didn't, but you did as his childhood friend and his best friend.
Varka finally returned back home from his expedition after 3 long years, and what was the first thing he did after meeting and greeting everyone? Go to Angel's Share to drink dandelion wine, of course.
You weren't able to meet him when the entirety of Mondstadt was celebrating his safe arrival back home earlier because you had some matters to attend urgently as a knight, so you couldn't welcome him back then along with everyone. But after searching for him in his office and asking almost everyone in the Knights of Favonius about where he could possibly be and getting no clues, there was only one place you could suspect.
"Angel's Share."
So you made your way there, and your guess was correct as usual. There he was, warm light hitting his face, making his features look softer as he was wasted, head down on the countertop, cheeks flushed after multiple mugs of dandelion wine, probably. Even though he had a crazy high alcohol tolerance, taking way too much gets him gone too.
You walked up and sat beside him on an empty chair, resting your elbow on the counter, glancing at him.
"Well, long time no see."
Upon hearing your voice, Varka shot up straight as if he had just been electrocuted before looking over at you with a comforting warmth in his smile and his eyes, probably caused by the alcohol, right?
"You..." he said in a tone that you wouldn't be able to hear if you were even 1 cm away from him.
"Did you forget who I am in just 3 years, Grand Master? I'm gravely wounded," you said, clenching your heart dramatically.
Varka shook his head, chuckling.
"No, no, how could I ever forget you... my one and only best friend? It's just... seeing you after so long feels... nice. Like I'm finally home now... finally, truly home" he said before taking a huge sip from his half-filled mug of wine.
"I almost thought you didn't want to see me or had forgotten about me when I couldn't see or find you with everyone else earlier... where were you?"
"I had some urgent stuff to deal with. Sorry I wasn't able to welcome you back like everyone else did."
"No, it's fine. You're a knight. A knight should always give their attention to things that require it the most for their people."
Even when he's drunk, some things never change, huh?
Varka then drank all the remaining wine from his mug before setting it down on the counter.
"This wine never loses its warmth and the home feeling it has in it..."
Varka continued to order more while you got a cocktail to sip on as you chit-chat with him about his journey, and before you know it, he's gone drunk. Like, normally he'd drink until he's wasted but still has control of his senses thanks to his high tolerance, but this was like one of those very few times where he would actually, ACTUALLY be drunk. So drunk he's stuttering over his words, making incomprehensible sentences, mumbling gibberish, and constantly looking at you with those ocean eyes that have the most desperate and pathetic(lovingly) lovesick look in them... probably because of the alcohol again, right...?
You take the mug of wine from Varka's hand before he gets more drunk.
"That's enough. You're way too drunk."
He whined a little, a small pout forming on his lips, with his eyes looking like those of a neglected hamster, but he loosened his grip and let you take the mug away.
(sub varka wat-)
"You're right..." he said before resting his face on the countertop again. "You're always right..."
While keeping his head facing in your direction, looking at you with those same lovesick eyes again.
Fuck.
"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are? Like, I can see golden light radiating off you right now..."
Yeah, it's definitely the alcohol.
"There's no golden light radiating off me, Varka. It's the alcohol making you hallucinate."
He pouted even more, with his brows frowning like you personally offended him.
"No! Even when I'm not drunk, I see it... really, you must be an angel..."
You hit your palm against your head and sighed.
"Wow, you're... really drunk, huh...?"
Varka laid his head back down on the counter again, his voice softer and lower. It was still his drunk tone, but much gentler, almost like he was talking to the wind itself while looking at you.
"You know... I used to think about you a lot while I was gone..."
You froze in your seat before letting out a, "Huh?" out of your mouth.
"Yeah... almost every one of those 1,095 days... you're unforgettable, you know?"
Varka's face looked so tender and vulnerable at this moment, and god, if only you could share your eyes with him and show what he was doing to you with those lovesick, tender eyes and that vulnerable face he made while looking at you, with the soft light covering his flushed face, making him look adorable beyond the limits you could handle and badly making you have a strong urge to kiss him.
But you slapped yourself internally and cleared your throat before speaking again.
"That's not you, Varka. It's the alcohol speaking and making you say such things."
But Varka suddenly cut you off.
"No, I wanted to say this since I came back to you. Wine just helped me..."
You flinched as he started tracing patterns on your palm resting on the counter gently, while his head was still resting there with a tiny pout still on his lips, just softer.
Is he trying to kill you with cuteness aggression?
You suppressed the urge to pinch and squish his cheeks to make his pout even bigger, but you held it together and silently watched him as he kept tracing god knows what on your hand before saying,
"You should really go home and sleep."
As soon as he heard it, his pout became even bigger. He slumped on his chair.
"Noo... I don't wanna go home when you're still here. I promise I'll be good, no more drinking, just... sit with you? You're really warm..."
You just stared at him.
"Am I?"
"Yes... you're my favorite person too."
You sighed, looking down.
"Wow, alcohol really makes you delirious."
He frowned at that again.
"Not really. I've known this for years. Alcohol just... makes it easier to say it."
You flicked his head. It wasn't hard, soft actually, but Varka looked surprised, like he was still registering what had just happened.
And, oh, he looked so cute...
You slapped yourself internally again to stop thinking about those things before looking at him and saying,
"Come, I'll drop you-"
You stood up from your seat, but the hem of your clothes got caught under your foot, making you trip, and you were so ready for humiliation in front of Varka, plus a free hit straight to the face. But instead of the hard wooden floor, you felt warm, beefy, and strong arms around your waist...?
You opened your eyes, which you had closed to ground yourself before hitting the floor, but instead of the floor, you had Varka in front of you.
How can this guy still be sharp enough to catch you? He was drunk off his ass. Whatever, you won't even question it. At least you didn't have to go through the humiliation.
"Hey... you okay...?"
Varka's face was so close you almost forgot how to even breathe for a second before he helped you straighten up on your feet, then pulled back instantly like touching you would turn him into stone.
"Sorry! I shouldn't do that when I'm drunk. Touching someone while being drunk isn't exactly appropriate... please forgive me."
You stared at him, frozen, as he mumbled countless apologies after he was the reason you didn't fall.
Geez, this guy was so fucking cute when he's drunk. Oh god, you wanna bite him so badly.
"Ahem... I'm fine. It was an accidental slip, nothing much to worry about, and thanks for saving me from kissing the ground and embarrassing myself."
You tried to look a little busy fixing your clothes, but in reality, you were just doing anything to distract yourself from him before finally looking up at him.
"Let's go now. I'll drop you home."
He immediately took his jacket and wore it before paying for his drinks (and yours) and following behind you like a lost puppy finally finding an owner.
Varka walked closely while still keeping a respectful distance. The night wind was cool and refreshing. Varka swayed from side to side as he walked, his eyes looking down, still having that dazed and drunk look in them. The flush on his cheeks was lighter under the moonlight, but still there.
"Are you cold?" he suddenly asked, making you flinch again before taking his coat and giving it to you.
"I'm not cold."
"Then keep it for when you're cold."
"You should care about not falling face first on the ground instead of me."
Varka giggled at that.
"You'll catch me if I do, no?"
You didn't answer back to it and continued walking. Of course, you'd catch him... or at least try if you were even able to catch a guy this big before becoming smashed potato yourself.
You sighed, and as luck would have it, right then Varka tripped over a tiny rock, not enough to make him fall, but enough to make him tumble a little.
You gripped his hand tightly.
"Be careful."
Varka stared down at both of your hands entwined.
"And before you start with "This isn't appropriate" and everything, know I'm only doing this to escort you home safely so you don't trip over things."
You continued walking a little faster.
Varka's face felt even warmer, not just from the alcohol, but from the warmth of your hand. It was so comforting he could fall asleep just standing there, but he continued to let you take him home with careful steps.
"Do you have your house keys with yourself?" you asked, just to make sure he had them.
Varka searched his pockets, but to his horror they were empty, with no key in sight...
"No..." he said, looking at you with innocent puppy eyes again.
You face-palmed.
"I should've asked earlier..."
Varka scratched the back of his head, suddenly feeling smaller than an ant.
"I thought I put them in my pocket."
Then he remembered. At angel's share, while paying for the drinks, he must've accidentally put his keys on the counter too while paying.
He looked over at you with glossy eyes.
"Maybe I left it back at angel's share..."
Great. Now you have to go back to get the keys when you're almost at his house.
"Wait here. I'll go back and get the keys."
Varka's eyes widened.
"No, no, no. You're not going alone at night."
He got in front of you, blocking your way.
"I'll run back and go get it."
"No, you're not going alone when you're drunk."
Varka looked down like a scolded kid before nodding.
You sighed before taking his hand again and pulling him with you.
"Let's just go and get it together."
Varka silently followed you, his hand gripping yours firmly like he'd drown if he let go.
After a silent walk, you reached angel's share and went inside, and there it was, his keys sitting right there on the counter where he was before.
You went and took them before exiting.
"I'm gonna hold on to your keys so you don't drop them somewhere again, okay?"
Varka just nodded and started walking with you back to his house, glancing at your face basked in moonlight whenever you weren't paying attention, then quickly looking the other way, flustered.
After a while, you reached his house, and you unlocked the door for him.
"Go in."
Varka obeyed and went in, kicking his boots off.
"Go to sleep straight, okay? I'm going home too."
Varka's breath hitched.
"Wait... you're leaving already...?"
You tilted your head to the side, looking at him confused.
"What happened? Do you need something?"
Varka just stood there like a lost puppy before mumbling a slightly comprehensible,
"Thank you... for bringing me home."
His voice was heavy with sleep, like he was fighting back falling asleep right there and then.
"You're gonna fall and sleep on the ground if you don't go to bed."
Varka blinked, slow and heavy.
"Then I'll get going," you said as you turned around.
But as luck would have it, unfortunately (well fortunately for varka maybe...), it started pitter-pattering before going heavy immediately.
You felt drops on your head just a few steps away from his door.
"Shit, it's even raining now of all times."
Varka pulled you inside his house before closing the door, shutting the rain outside.
Varka pulled you inside his house before closing the door, shutting the rain outside.
"It's raining. You won't be able to go..." he said before going to the bathroom and getting you a towel to dry off the raindrops that fell on your hair.
"It's just a few drops."
"No, you can't walk home in that. You'll get sick."
You wiped your head a little before putting the towel on his head and ruffling his hair to dry his hair too.
"Chill, I'm fine."
Then you looked at the window, rain hitting against it hard.
"Guess I'll have to stay over tonight... I hope you don't mind, Varka."
Mind?
He was over the freaking moon, his smile so tender and warm like he won a prize.
What was the last time you even stayed over at his house or had a sleepover?
Probably when you were both kids, but seeing you stay after so long felt so nostalgic and comforting that Varka couldn't help but be happy.
"I'll take the couch. Go sleep before you faint."
Varka immediately shook his head.
He can't just let you sleep on the couch while he sleeps on the bed. No way.
"I'll take the couch. You can sleep in my room..."
Then you remembered he had a guest room.
"Oh, I'll take the guest room, actually. I almost forgot you had one since it's been a while."
You told him to go back to his room before walking to the guest room.
It was neat and clean, everything untouched, like barely anyone came here.
Without thinking much, you walked to the bed and lay down, exhaustion immediately creeping up to you, making you feel heavy with sleep suddenly. Before you knew it, your eyes were closed and your breathing was stable, the rain from outside acting as a lullaby for your sleep.
But just as you were about to fall asleep completely, the door of the room creaked open slightly.
You sat up on the bed, looking over at it with half-lidded eyes, and of course it was Varka, holding a pillow close to his chest and just standing there like a puppy.
"Varka...? What happened?"
He looked down before saying in a low voice,
"Can't sleep."
You stared at him for a few seconds before patting the empty space beside you on the bed.
"Come here."
Varka slowly walked inside and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Sleep here."
Hearing you say it, Varka looked over with wide eyes.
"What... are you serious? But it's-"
"OMG, if you start the 'it's not appropriate' talk again, I'll kick you out myself. It's just sleeping, not anything weird," you said before lying back on your side and closing your eyes again.
"Now close your eyes and go to sleep."
Varka lay down on the edge, trying to give you as much space as possible before his breathing slowed down. The alcohol and the exhaustion from coming back after such a long journey finally weighing on him, lulling him into the gentle arms of sleep, even more peacefully because you were next to him.
And just like that, he was deep in sleep.
After a while, you opened your eyes to check if he was sleeping or not yet, looking over at his relaxed face, lips slightly parted, and hair all over the pillow, his long lashes making him even cuter.
You reached your hand out and brushed it against his cheekbone. Tracing his long lashes, making him stir a little and lean towards your hand in his sleep.
You slowly withdrew your hand away from his face so his sleep wouldn't get disturbed.
You tucked the blanket properly around him before lying back on your side again and falling asleep too.
Quiet settled around the room. The only sound was the pitter-pattering of rain from outside hitting against the window, the sound just making everything more cozy and relaxing as you both slept.
Hours later, the rain had stopped and the sun had risen.
The sunlight entering the room through the window hit Varka's face, waking him up first.
Varka shifted, still half asleep, and rested his face on a warm hand, which wasn't his.
He slowly took in his surroundings...
This wasn't his room, but the guest room...?
Why was he here-
He stopped his thoughts as his eyes landed on you beside him, way too closer than last night.
He instantly pulled away, almost falling off the bed before catching himself as memories from last night flooded back into his head.
How you helped him get home.
How you let him sleep with you because he couldn't fall sleep alone.
He rubbed his head, probably hurting from overdrinking so much last night, and, sitting on the edge of the bed, he looked over at you sleeping peacefully.
The sunlight hit your face too now, making what he said about "golden light radiating off you" last night true.
He slowly reached his hand out to tuck a strand of hair that had fallen onto your face.
His touch was as gentle as the wind.
But you stirred, waking up slowly before opening your eyes and looking at him with half-lidded eyes.
"What are you doing...?"
Oh.
He didn't even realize his hand was still on your face before immediately pulling away and clearing his throat.
"Ah... there was something on your face, so I was just making sure it doesn't disturb your sleep."
You lifted an eyebrow.
"What, like golden light radiating off me because I'm an angel?"
You teased him about his words from last night.
"That... I'm sorry for troubling you so much last night," he said nervously, scratching the back of his head before looking up at you.
"And thank you for taking me home too."
You stretched your hands above your head.
"It's no big deal. Whatever you did and said was because of the alcohol, I understand."
Varka looked down, his cheeks still slightly flushed from sleep, and maybe last night, before saying,
"Not all of it."
You felt a pit in your stomach and your whole face burning at that instantly.
Before you could think any further, Varka got up.
"Well, never mind about that. I'll go make us some breakfast," he said before rushing off to the kitchen, leaving you flustered and confused.
Oh god...
He surely didn't mean anything by that, right?
Right...?
a/n: omg another long oneshot😭 this one took a very long time too Imao im so bad at long fanfics... I had it sitting in my drafts for 6 days just thinking abt how i should make the story and everything bcz my head kept playing with me and I was going insane over what type of theme i should go for this like at first I chosed an icy theme for this with pastel blue and white color but later went for this bcz of that gorgeous varka fanart (also because i couldn't find a drunk varka fanart i wanted to use for this but its all good now) i hope yall like reading it ofc its not the best its just some random stuff i wrote as it kept popping in my head
© femsylusglazer | Pls don't feed my work into AI, or anything related to it. If u wanna repost it on a different platform or translate it, u can do it, but pls credit me properly, and ask permission first.
