AYLM

Sitting in a sunny patch of grass, your hunched figure is small compared to the towering trees surrounding you. Clearing his throat, Tighnari lets his step rustle against the forest floor to alert you of his presence. At first, you don’t react - so he moves to stand next to you and see what has your rapt attention.

It is his shadow that finally breaks your focus, causing you to bowl over with a start, jerking your paper upward so it doesn’t land in the grass.

“Phew, safe!”

Amused at your interesting reaction, Tighnari offers you a hand that you gladly accept, pulling you upright.

“Apologies for interrupting you, but I don’t recall seeing you before. I'm Tighnari, Forest Watcher of the Avidya Forest.” He gestures to your garb, which doesn’t seem the most fitting for the humid climate. “Is it your first time visiting?”

Nodding, you admit that you wanted to explore the forest and observe its rich flora but you got lost on the way. However, he has found you in the middle of documenting some fortunate findings, so it is not a bad experience.

At his questioning gaze, you flip through your sketchbook and show him your previous works. The flora and fauna that you have depicted are, of course, familiar to him. And yet, despite knowing firsthand the rich vibrant sight of the forest in real life, Tighnari is still strangely spellbound by your drawings.

“They’re beautiful. You certainly have an eye for detail - are you familiar with these flowers’ properties?” He points to the unfinished sketch you were working on.

“I’ve only read about them - I couldn’t believe my luck when I found a whole clearing of them here.”

Realizing that you’re not familiar with the area, Tighnari quickly pulls a copy of the Avidya Forest Survival Guide from his pack. When he mentions that the guide includes the location of certain plants, your eyes light up with excitement. Of course, he takes care to note that you should be careful of the toxic inhabitants of the forest.

“Especially since you are not familiar with the area, please take care not to touch or approach the flora without caution.”

At your look of apprehension, he gently taps you on the shoulder. “Do not worry so much - I am always around. As a Forest Watcher, it is my responsibility to care for the wellbeing of this forest as well as the safety of visitors.”

And Tighnari stays true to his word, looking out for you when you explore the forest, guidebook in your pack. Some days he travels with you, picking up flowers that have fallen to the forest floor relatively intact. Following his lead, you also take a few, captivated by their soft petals. He takes you back to his workplace, where he goes about preserving them. You watch the process, enthralled. Seeing your interest, he lets you borrow a few books to press your own flowers in.

One night finds the two of you seated in his workplace after he offered to show you a special type of flower that only blooms in moonlight. Tighnari is writing in his log about the day’s events and you are working on your drawings, eager to finish it before the awe-inspiring sight disappears from your mind’s eye.

“Ah - before I forget, what happened to those flowers we picked up before?” You inquire about the pressed flowers, and Tighnari slides a thin wooden box across the table to you. It contains the flowers you chose as well as one you haven’t come across before. Its glossy petals and vibrant deep hue glimmer in the candlelight - a specially preserved flower.

“I think you added this one by mistake.”

Tighnari shakes his head and motions for you to accept it. “It reminded me of you.”

Before he knew it, Tighnari was always looking out for you. He was busy with his duties and you were usually off gazing intently at a cluster of shrubs or whatever sight had caught your eye, but whenever he saw you so enchanted by the forest, he felt a swell of pride and joy in his chest.

Some of his colleagues seemed to have noticed, saying things like, “Oh, they haven’t passed by yet,” when he met them on patrol, which he made sure to shut down. But sometimes he wondered if his constant presence bothered you. After all, the guidebook he had given you is rich in detail and description of the forest. Was he only associating his fondness for the forest with you because of your obvious appreciation for nature?

One evening, while going through his log, he hears from a colleague that you mentioned interest in going to Fontaine to learn more about photography. “It sounded like they wanted to go when they finished with their illustrations here.”

Dropping his pen, Tighnari has already rushed off mid-sentence, looking for you.

He finds you calmly drinking some tea, sitting on a rock watching the moon on the outskirts of the forest.

“I told you it’s dangerous to roam the forest at night alone.” He can’t help but scold you from worry, and he regrets it as soon as it leaves his mouth. Why can’t he just talk normally?

You look up at him and smile, patting the rock next to you. “But I’m not alone - I have you.”

Oh, if only you knew how true that was. Tighnari’s lips twist in trepidation as he settles down beside you, letting out a soft sigh.

“So… I heard you’re going to Fontaine.”

You glance at him, then down to your hands cradling the cup in your lap. “That’s the plan. But I know I’ll miss the forest a lot.”

Tighnari blinks slowly, unconsciously swallowing hard. “Just the forest?”

“Well, the people too, especially -” Your sentence cuts off as you look up and meet his gaze again, with a little frown he doesn’t know what to do with.

“… Especially?”

You bite your lip and look away, but Tighnari reaches forward, resting a hand on your free one. It's now or never, and his master taught him to face his fears head on.

“I apologize if this is a misunderstanding. Fall in love with me, just once. And no matter where you go, I will carry you in my heart forever.”

Heart pounding in his chest, Tighnari can barely register your quiet gasp as you turn to face him.

“It’s not a misunderstanding at all. I - I’ve already fallen for you. Will you pick me up?”

Lips automatically curving into a soft smile, Tighnari finds himself leaning in before he can stop it.

“Of all the flowers in the forest, I will always choose you.”

it's languid, the way your lips move against his. slow and almost methodical, as if kissing him is a science. kazuha's return kisses are light; playful. teasing and impish, the way he grins into each kiss; passionate, the way he appeases you when he's teased you for too long.

your fingers rest comfortably on the back of kazuha's neck while his hand rests on your cheek. from up close, you can see the gold in his eyes -- it shimmers as he scans your features. for what, you're not sure.

"looking for something?" you murmur your question into the space between.

kazuha's eyes jump from your lips and back up. "no," he murmurs in return. "just admiring." when you fluster slightly, kazuha leans in and brushes his lips over yours, drawing a gasp from your chest. "you're a work of art, my love. so divine." his voice drops to a whisper.

you're at a loss for words. all you can do is kiss him fully and pour all of the devotion you feel into the gesture. kazuha meets you halfway and does the same, his mouth warm against your own.

soft. so impossibly soft, he is. the gentle pecking of you do turns into longer, slower kisses. no longer can you see the way kazuha's eyes are hooded when he pulls back and looks at you. you can only feel his body pressing closer and closer to yours as your kisses deepen. you lick at the seam of his lips and he grants you access, opening just enough for you to brush your tongue against his. kazuha shivers subtly in your hold and you can feel the heat rising up his neck each time your tongues meet.

the kiss comes to a standstill when you gently take his bottom lip between your teeth. you tug ever so slightly, and you can hear his sharp intake of breath. when you pull away, you see the color that's resting high on his cheeks. kazuha's dazed by you, and you think you can almost see the hearts that are dancing in his irises.

you try to say something witty but kazuha is kissing you again, feverish this time. he's picking up the pace, his fingers twitching against your skin when you sigh into his mouth. it's a bit of an afterthought, but you realize that he tastes of the tea that you two drank earlier. roses bloom behind your lids whenever kazuha parts his lips for you -- only you. the sound of your lips connecting makes is like music to your ears.

usually, when kissing kazuha, you take your sweet time. but there are times when he gets impatient -- when he loses his composure and leans into the greed that he keeps locked away.

you satisfy his cravings for you by slowing down the kiss. you try to get him to savor it. this time, it is you who pulls away first. kazuha is the one who chases after your lips this time, a frustrated huff leaving him. you chuckle and he pinches your side in an effort to quiet you.

"take your time, kazuha." you croon at him. you keep yourself just out of reach, much to his annoyance. "i'm not going anywhere."

it's not often that he's on the receiving end of such taunts. kazuha narrows his hazy eyes at you, his brows furrowed. "i'm aware." he mutters. "but i'd prefer if you stopped teasing me."

"you can dish it out but you can't take it, huh?"

"you're really pushing it, dove."

"what's the magic word?" a grin splits your face when kazuha rolls his eyes. he's getting more and more antsy by the second, as indicated by the way he's drumming his fingers on your side. you think he's going to pinch you again, but he doesn't. he stays quiet instead. "not gonna say it?" you ask. "then can you let go of--"

kazuha's arms encircle your waist and he drops his head onto your shoulder with a sigh. "...are you really going to make me say it?"

you snicker. "maybe. do you want more kisses?"

"when did my petal become so cruel?" kazuha turns his head and noses at your neck. he finds your most sensitive spot in an instant -- he has you memorized by now. lips brush against your skin and when you shiver, you can feel his smug smile. "is something the matter, petal? you've gone stiff."

in pure kazuha fashion, he's trying to regain the upper hand. if only everyone else knew he resorted to such underhanded tactics. "you still haven't asked," you breathe, your voice tight. "you have to let go of me."

kazuha hums and lazily presses kiss after kiss against your neck. "but you're warm." you can feel his words more than you can hear them. he licks a slow stripe up to your jaw and kisses the skin there, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest when your hand comes up to grab at his hair to keep him in place. "oh? you want more?"

cocky bastard.

you struggle to find your voice as he starts to suck on your skin. teeth nip and your neck stings with the creation of fresh marks. you can feel the way kazuha steadily paints your neck with purples and reds. "yes," you stammer, your voice airy, "but at least i'm not afraid to admit it." you challenge him with your words. it's the only way you two do battle with each other.

"and who said i was afraid?" kazuha stops and straightens himself out to look you in the eye. there's something richer in his eyes -- something darker. goosebumps start to litter your skin.

"you still haven't asked." you can't believe he actually took the bait. "if you're not scared, then say it. tell me what you want."

kazuha's stare is intense. the autumnal shades of red in his eyes threaten to take you under. he's quiet as he thinks of the right words to say, and you have to keep yourself afloat in the meantime. then, he finally speaks. so plain, so simple. "kiss me."

it sounds like a demand, but you know it's a request. kazuha's bandaged hand comes up and rests comfortably on your neck. his grip is firm -- not squeezing, but comfortable. wrapped fingers encircle your neck and flex, and your pulse flutters beneath his fingertips. in turn, you gently rest your fingers on kazuha's pulse point, your nails lightly raking his skin. you can feel him run his fingers over the marks he'd made earlier.

"again," you whisper. "one more time."

kazuha obeys. "kiss me, petal." his eyes drop to your lips. back to square one. "please."

you'd be a monster if you denied him. you lean in and oblige him.

when kazuha kisses you back, he takes his sweet time. he sighs into your mouth, pleased, and the cycle begins once more.

✦ ... i literally cannot say anything to defend myself. y'all know what i'm about.

✦ but okay look, in my defense, the kazuha x reader tag is drying out and i want kazu kissing content. i had to take matters into my own hands, your honor.