մղɾҽզմíԵҽժ αԵ 1:43αო [COMMISSIONS/Requests OPEN]

If there was one thing Aether had learned after months of traveling together, it was that you had absolutely no filter.

Most people thought before they spoke.

You spoke before you realized you'd been thinking.

It had gotten the two of you banned from one restaurant, chased out of another, and forced Paimon to apologize to more strangers than she could count.

So when the three of you met and became friends with Captain Beidou who had laughed at the fun trio she found, she thought of the lovely idea to introduce a wandering swordsman named Kaedehara Kazuha, and Aether noticed the exact moment your eyes widened.

"...Oh no.” You had muttered under your breath.

"What?"

"...He's gorgeous."

And this started the endless flirting of you with Kazuha who, bless his soul, would smile at you and chuckle. Whether he understood what you were aiming for or not, didn’t really matter. He was mostly pleased that you were so comfortable to be like this around him.

However don’t get it twisted, Kazuha has absolutely blushed and became shy over the past couple days of your flirtatious comments.

“Damn you’re really good at blowing on a leaf to make music. You should try that skill on me—“

“Kazuha? More like I got to have ya!”

“The Anemo archon cooked while giving you a vision. May the wind bless me alright.”

And many more shameless words sprawled out of your mouth that had everyone—Aether and Paimon—groaning in embarrassment.

.

.

.

It had long been a few days out on sea, the crew were noisy as ever and one can always find a drunkard or two hanging around playing cards or talking rather loudly.

You had left Aether and Paimon earlier so that they could speak with Captain Beidou about their next destination, which was Inazuma to find and meet the Electro Archon.

You knew that joining this long journey ahead was going to be full of adventure and meeting all kinds of people. After all you did meet both archons of geo and anemo not long ago, and even crossed paths with the Harbingers. Sometimes your blabbering would get yourselves into trouble, especially when it came to enemies, you just had to speak what was on your mind and most of the time…it was insults. It definitely had La Signora annoyed when you first met her in Mondstat.

Oh the memories.

You leaned against the ship railing, taking in the ocean air as the sun shined brightly down upon you. Inazuma surely wasn’t far now. Perhaps two or so days away at this speed.

You wondered what the nation was like. From what you’ve been told it was closed off and rarely lets people in now. But it was also quite beautiful and full of tradition. While admiring the ocean view and thinking to yourself of the next journey, your eyes couldn’t help but glance upwards.

Kazuha stood gracefully as he looked over the ocean, silent, pondering. Then he must’ve sensed you staring as he gently fixed his gaze over to you and offered a polite smile before he walked down to the deck level.

Making his way over to you and idly standing by to keep you company.

“Are you enjoying the breeze?”

“I’m definitely enjoying it now. Since you're here.” You blurted out, Kazuha by now though was a little used to your blurting, making him softly chuckle as he turned his gaze to the horizon.

"Did you know…the wind carries many voices." He said softly. "Sometimes, if you listen closely enough, they'll answer."

He closed his eyes for a brief moment before speaking.

"Autumn's gentle breeze—"

"Even wandering hearts pause"

"Where the maples sigh."

Silence settled over the two of you. Your mouth agape a little and staring shamelessly at him. .

Your brain supplied a thought.

That was the most attractive thing anyone has ever said.

Unfortunately...

"So... are you always this attractive, or was that haiku specifically written to make people fall in love with you?"

...

A gull squawked somewhere overhead.

Kazuha blinked once.

Then twice.

A faint pink dusted the tips of his ears as he let a small, surprised cough that also sounded like a light laugh.

"I...I wasn't aware my poetry had such...effects."

"It absolutely does."

The words left your mouth before your brain had the chance to tackle them.

"I think if you recited another one, I'd actually jump you."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Then a sigh was heard behind you both, making the two of you turn to see Paimon and Aether walking over, the two sharing a knowing look as they overheard the conversation between you two.

The long braided traveler stopped on the other side of you and he longingly looked toward the sea.

"I wonder if swimming back to Liyue is an option."

Paimon nodded solemnly.

"Paimon supports this decision."

You gave an almost offended scoff, before pouting. "What’s with that comment? I'm complimenting him."

"You're declaring your love after one poem!"

"I am not!"

You paused.

"...Yet."

Aether made a noise somewhere between a sigh and a groan. Placing his hand over his face in secondhand embarrassment for you.

Kazuha however just listened to your antics and most of all, observed you, and he couldn't quite hide the smile tugging at his lips.

"Your honesty is...refreshing."

You blinked and turned to him, grinning happily, "Oh, good. Because I was also thinking your voice is really pretty."

The blush on Kazuha's face deepened. He wasn’t quite expecting that sort of compliment out of the blue.

"And your hair looks incredibly soft."

"..."

"And your eyes are—"

Paimon flew over and slapped a hand over your mouth.

"That's enough compliments for one evening!"

You mumbled something unintelligible behind her hand. Before you slapped her, not hard, but firmly away from you with a brief look of annoyance. Kazuha chuckled quietly, the sound almost carried away by the wind.

"It seems the breeze truly does carry honest words."

His gaze lingered on you for a moment longer than necessary.

"...I don't believe I've ever met anyone quite like you."

You tilted your head at him, blushing a bit as you tried your best to not make a fool of yourself. "Is that a good thing?"

A warm smile crossed Kazuha's face.

"I think..."

He looked back toward the sea before meeting your eyes again.

"...I'd like the opportunity to find out."

You felt your face heat up as you giggled and looked away rather comically, your hands on both sides of your face, “Gah, you're so hot! How are you single?! You’re going to make me actually jump overboard at this rate.”