Extending the Olive Branch - Kaeya x Reader

I Don't Swim

"If you say so," Kaeya replied lazily, "Just let me know when to 'approach'." He used mocking air quotes to make fun of your word choice, causing you to glare at him once more. Then, you left to get into position, taking a large arc around Prince's chosen rock and positioning yourself behind him. You gave the bored-looking Kaeya a thumbs up, which he sarcastically repeated and slowly walked towards the cat.

"Come on, you little shit," he muttered.

Prince looked up and saw Kaeya, who paused, waiting to see how the cat would react, then took another step forward, trying to pressure him to run away into your arms. Prince looked at Kaeya with his eyes in slits. You watched as his fur started to raise, so you slowly started to move closer.

Just as you were within catching distance, Prince took off towards Kaeya, hissing ferociously. On instinct, Kaeya bent down and tried to catch him, but missed, and Prince leapt at Kaeya's face with his claws bared. Quickly, Kaeya covered his face with his hands, just barely avoiding Prince's attack. As he fell backwards to the ground, you couldn't help but snicker in disbelief.

"Not the good eye!" Kaeya yelled at the attacking cat, sounding genuinely worried, which was very out of character for him. That was what sent you over the edge, causing you to burst out laughing.

Hearing you, Prince was pulled away from his prey, and he took off again, running across the fields and up the massive oak tree nearby before you could even pull yourself together. You walked up to your partner, still laughing loudly.

"I thought it was a fashion statement..." you chortled, trying to stop, but unable to keep the giggling away. Kaeya glared up at you as you extended your hand to help him up. He scoffed and slapped your hand away, just as you had before, then stood up of his own accord.

"Where did the fucking cat go?" he grunted angrily, brushing dirt off his clothes. You pointed over to the oak tree, causing Kaeya to sigh in annoyance.

"Remember when you said this was going to be an easy commission?" you asked in an amused tone, smiling cockily at him. He glared at you, then pushed you aside and started walking towards the tree. You caught up with him as he reached the Statue of Seven. You gazed up at the statue for a moment, then bowed your head and closed your eyes, folding your hands under your chin.

"You never struck me as the religious type," Kaeya commented, breaking you out of your silent prayer. You shrugged.

"I dunno," you replied, "Maybe they're not any more special or different than we are, but..." you paused and looked away, a dark look clouding your face, "we both know what it's like when they're not around." Kaeya nodded silently. You didn't have to say anything else.

"So, who's climbing up into 'ol Vanessa to get the cat?" he asked, pointing at Prince, who was clinging to a branch, meowing in fear. You snickered.

"I mean you're so good at getting up into girls," you threw out casually then walked over to get underneath the terrified cat.

"Ha, ha," Kaeya enunciated sarcastically and rolled his eyes. You giggled as he climbed up to the large branch and stood up, putting his arms out to stabilize himself.

He took a couple steps towards the cat, who arched its back and hissed. Prince's eyes darted from Kaeya, to the ground, and back to Kaeya again. He swatted and scratched in Kaeya's direction, so Kaeya wobbled a bit, trying to dodge his claws. Finally, Prince made his decision, and he dove out of the tree towards you. You tried to catch him, but he crashed into your face, knocking you on your ass while he landed perfectly on his paws. He instantly darted off the edge of the tree's half-island and into the water of the pond surrounding it. Immediately regretting his decision, he meowed pitifully as he doggy-paddled in the water. You gasped and crawled to the edge, trying to reach his wriggling body.

"Well I knew cats always land on their feet, but now I know you for sure don't," Kaeya commented as he landed his glider next to you. You flipped around and sat, looking up at him.

"I can't reach, we have to go in and get him," you said, sounding concerned. Kaeya laughed and shook his head.

"Oh, I don't swim," he replied quickly.

You grunted in frustration and ripped your boots off before diving off the edge and into the water. When you resurfaced, you swam over to Prince and grabbed him. He dug his claws into your chest and shoulder, but you didn't care because you finally had him in your grasp. You used one arm to swim as best you could and the other to hold onto the cat while kicking furiously to stay above water. Suddenly, a platform of ice appeared in front of you. You rested your arm on it to keep you and Prince above the water while breathing heavily as Kaeya walked across it towards you.

"I said I don't swim, I didn't say I was going to let the little guy drown," he said, extending his hand out to you.

You panted in exhaustion as you debated whether or not to take it, but decided you were too tired to pull yourself up. You grabbed his hand and he pulled you onto your knees on the ice. You sat there a moment, clutching the cat and catching your breath, then stood up and followed Kaeya off the ice and onto solid ground.

The once-warm day now felt chilly in your soaked state. You hugged Prince close and shivered as the breeze blew by once again. He trembled in your arms, so you held him tighter, your teeth chattering. Water dripped from your face, running down your neck and chest to drop off your clothes onto the ground. Then, suddenly, your vision went dark. You quickly realized it was because Kaeya had tossed his cape over your head as he walked over to a nearby snapdragon and bent down to pick it.

You wrapped it around yourself and Prince, nuzzling into the furry collar, causing the gentle scent of wine and an expensive-smelling cologne to fill your nostrils. You glanced at Kaeya quickly, and in seeing that his back was turned, you took another deep breath though your nostrils with your face in the fur. You didn't want to admit it, but damn, he smelled good.

"Well, we got the cat," Kaeya said, facing you and twirling the flower he had picked in his fingers, "Time to head back." You nodded and grabbed your shoes, still holding onto Prince tightly.

As you walked through the gates of Mondstadt, Swan and Lawrence gave you strange looks.

"Don't ask," you told them, crossing through the threshold of the city.