tired aka Gojo’s Chair

“get over yourself, alberich,” you roll your eyes, “it was a rookie mistake.” “and one that could cost you your life,” he continues smoothly, voice as suave as ever even as he discusses your potential death. the air between the two of you crackles with tension, all those years of fighting culminating in this meeting where the weight of your shared history of you dodging his attempts at capturing you is almost suffocating.

“yeah right,” you scoff, “if you wanted to kill me, you would have done it by now. or are you too scared?” a sardonic chuckle slips past your lips, “hah, that’s rich. mondstadt’s famed cavalry captain is too cowardly to kill the prisoner he’s been seeking for years-” “i would watch my words if i were you,” kaeya cuts in, an unmistakably icy undertone to his words, “it’s not too late to change my mind.”

“change your mind? you mean you’re not going to kill me?” your brain is working overtime to try and figure out why he wouldn’t want to get rid of you, a potential threat to mondstadt’s safety. kaeya doesn’t deign to answer and instead strolls closer, a smug smirk curving his lips as he takes in the sight of you with your wrists tied behind your back. “you look almost… pretty like this, you know?” you groan, squeezing your eyes shut to hide the way your heartbeat accelerates, “i didn’t come here to hear about your kinks.” “in all fairness, you didn’t choose to come here at all,” amusement tinges his tone, and you know he’s poking fun at you now, doing his best to rile you up so you’ll lose your temper – you hate the fact that it’s actually working.

“shut up,” you scowl and he winces exaggeratedly, the action only serving to make you even more annoyed. then kaeya reaches a hand to cup your face, tilting his head almost innocently though the mischievous glimmer in his gaze gives his act away. his hands are cold against your skin, so you try to squirm away but he easily grips your chin – firm enough to make you face him, yet gentle enough that it doesn’t hurt.

“leave me alone,” you snarl, “don’t you dare-” “tsk.” he clicks his tongue, “i might have to get a gag for you if you keep talking so much.” “you wouldn’t.” your eyes meet his, but there’s a hint of uncertainty in yours. he nods with false reluctance, an easy smile gracing his features, “of course not. i enjoy our banter far too much.”

with one finger, he tilts your chin up, a smirk playing about his idiotically kissable lips, “but be careful – my patience will only stretch so far.” “i’m not scared of you.” the words are filled with venom as you snap at him, but he merely laughs, “that’s what i love about you.” “love?” you gasp, unable to hide your surprise, and kaeya chuckles, “you wish. perhaps i’m just entertained by how much you pretend to hate me.” “i do hate you,” you do your best to seem intimidating, but it’s undermined by how your voice shakes as if you yourself don’t believe your words. you hate kaeya… right? “there’s a thin line between love and hate,” kaeya grins, “i would know.”

you despise the way he speaks in riddles, the way he always tries to arrest you, the compliments that fall from his lips like jewels, you despise everything about him – but you don’t. not really. that’s just a lie you’ve been telling yourself because you refuse to admit that amidst all those years of intense combat, both verbal and physical, you’ve allowed yourself to fall for him. kaeya lets out a low whistle, “i think you agree with me, don’t you?” you’re silent for a moment, unwilling to confess to him how right he is. then you say scornfully, “that’s just your ego talking,” but your heart is thumping against your ribcage so loudly you’re worried he’s going to hear it.

“is that so?” kaeya’s voice drops to a whisper, and his finger skims across your lips almost teasingly, with an undertone of affection he certainly shouldn't be harboring for a criminal. yet the way you can't stop how your pupils dilate as you gaze up at him makes a knowing smirk curve his lips – you definitely like this as much as he does. he moves his hand away and you hate how you already miss his touch, and the satisfied manner with which he smiles at you makes you wonder if he can read your mind.

“i must admit, i don’t think i hate you,” kaeya murmurs, the words hanging heavy in the air. “what?” it comes out rougher than you expected, probably because of the anticipation bubbling in your chest as you try to ponder the meaning behind his words. “the things i’d like to do with you…” he dips his head to whisper in your ear, breath warm against your skin, “i don’t think they’re things that one would do with someone they hate.” a soft gasp escapes your lips before you can stop it, and kaeya pulls back with a smug grin, “how cute.” you hiss at that, exhaling through gritted teeth because you can’t deny the butterflies forming in your stomach from his suggestive words, and you don’t think you can formulate a coherent sentence without your voice trembling.

“you can stay here until the attention regarding your case dies down,” kaeya stands up, “otherwise you’ll be thrown into jail the second you step out.” “but you’re a knight! you should be arresting me!” you blurt out, mind racing through a mess of emotions from how he’s left you with a desperate want blossoming in your core.

“i should be… but i’m not one to play by the rules,” kaeya throws you a confident smirk over his shoulder, and he lifts an eyebrow, “don’t tell me you’d rather rot in a jail cell?” heat rises to your face, and you look away from his playful gaze, “no…” “that’s what i thought,” he snickers. but just as he’s about to turn to leave, you ask, “what do you get out of this?” kaeya turns around to face you one last time, a teasing smile on his lips, “i get to keep you to myself a little longer.” and with that as his parting words, he leaves you in a daze, wondering what on earth you’re going to do about your feelings for him.

[ID: Two versions of a painting of Boothill from Honkai Star Rail. The shot is up close, focusing on his eyes with his bangs partially covering his right eye. His irises are grey with a gem effect, and his pupils have a white halo and a red dot in the centre. Tears are welling in his eyes and faint streaks roll down his cheeks.

The first version is very vibrant with unnatural colours, while the second is more desaturated and realistic.

Both are watermarked with your local astronomy nerd on Instagram and fox in the dandelion sea on Tumblr. End ID.]