watching you paint the skies
characters: kazuha x gn!reader
tags: ANGST, angst no comfort, major character death, mutual pining except they never got together
a/n: hi !! i’m back from hiatus, but idk if im gonna be writing anytime soon after this. maybe? who knows. but, this is for @mishantics for @solarisfortuneia’s summer santa event !! i hope you enjoy <3
“1…2…3…Up!”
“Hmph!”
A loud thump rang through the Crux as the crew members made sure it was set to travel along with the other cargo.
One of the crew members scanned her eyes around the cargo before giving a thumbs-up to the crew below. “Alright, that’s the last of them!”
“Thank the archons. After the Sakoku Degree was lifted, it seems like all the cargo has piled up during that time!”
The crew member looked around Liyue Harbor before sighing. “Definitely. You never realize how much people connect with each other until it’s taken away from you.”
The crew members above shared an agreed nod. One of them spoke up. “My husband was stuck during the Degree, and man… was it the most painful time of my life.”
“Same with my son! He had a thesis he had to complete and knowing he had a vision made my heart tighten every night. I wouldn’t even know if my son was dead or alive with every sunrise that woke me up.”
“Thank the archons the degree has been lifted.”
The silence that rose between the crew wasn’t awkward, considering they’d spent a lot of time working in silence. It was instead filled with gratitude, that they were able to work in a place where they connected families and loved ones together. It was of gratitude to see their family in a situation where they didn’t know if they would see them again.
The scribbling of a pen stopped and ears perked up. The white-haired poet looked up at the unusually solemn crew and was about to ask if they were alright, but was suddenly interrupted by a flash of light before it erupted into loud cracks of thunder.
Not only did crew members look up, but the people roaming through Liyue’s shops looked to the skies as well. The sky looked as if a brush stroked the skies using the sun’s rays as paint. The red and oranges and blues all clashed all while the thundering clouds as threats of rain roamed through Liyue Harbor.
“Woah…!”
“Just gorgeous…”
“What a beauty…”
Besides the occasional flinch when thunder struck, Kazuha sat in awe of the skies. How they could be so fierce and still capture everyone’s eyes. Oh, how they could leave Kazuha, possessor of the vision of wind, breathless.
His eyes widened as he swore to archons he heard your laugh when the thunder roared again. And oh, how his heart yearned for you like the day he heard your final laugh, slowly losing the charm he could never find in anyone else.
The memories of you lying there; leaving your mark on the ground to everyone else with red haunted Kazuha.
That day, he ran faster than when he was being chased by soldiers. He ran faster than when news spread of his friend being killed by the Shogun. He ran faster than the rain pelted down onto the ground.
That day, he ran so fast he thought he was going to black out from the sudden adrenaline in his bones.
He fell to his knees next to you and almost felt like his own heart was shot from pain.
When he took your cold hands in his, he knew. You weren’t going to walk out of this battlefield alive. And miraculously, knowing this as well, you smiled at him.
“Kazuha…”
“Yes, my de-”, Kazuha stopped his sentence.
You softly laughed, and Kazuha wished, prayed that he could hear that laugh anywhere else. Anywhere else but here.
“Ever so hesitant. I should’ve-” you coughed, before continuing,” I should’ve asked you out to that nice restaurant since you haven’t.”
Your eyes screamed declarations of love, and Kazuha wishes he saw how you looked at him before.
Tears welled up in Kazuha’s eyes, joining the rain that poured down. Your hands shakily wiped them off his face, and he relished in your touch.
“I…I’ll be waiting by that restaurant then. Would you get the flowers I like too…?”
You smile. “Of course.”
Your cough was harder to ignore, and the rapid decrease of warmth in your skin wasn’t ignored by Kazuha. He gritted his teeth; he wanted to tell you (mostly himself) that you would be alright. That somehow, you would still be alive. But he hated lying to you, and it already seemed you knew it too.
“Kazuha.”
His tears fell, as he desperately pleaded, “Please. Don’t go. Don’t leave…”
Your last tears fell onto the ground, as the smile on your face was too painful to bear.
“I love you, Kazuha.”
Your breath was shallow. He gasped for air himself, and suddenly he felt like he couldn’t breathe.
Your eyes slowly closed, taking in one more longing glance at Kazuha.
He gasped, “I…”
He cradled your face, now cold as the raindrops falling. Cold as the soldiers who took you from this world.
Who took you from him.
He slowly lifted your body, as your name in his mouth felt like iron on his tongue.
You were gone.
You were gone.
Kazuha wondered if you were in the skies. Laughing with the storm up ahead; painting the reds and oranges.
If you were still here, Kazuha would’ve said that you’re putting on a show for everyone, since they could all see it. If you were still here, you would’ve said that your eyes were only focused on his own.
If you only…
“Kazuha!”
He jumped in his seat and looked back to see the same crew member who was helping with the cargo.
She smiled. “Sorry for scaring you, but we were wondering if you wanted to go to the harbor and grab a drink. The weather seems like it’s gonna delay our trip for a while.”
Kazuha smiled back. “Of course. Let me grab my things. I’ll catch up with you guys.”
She grinned. “Great! We’ll meet you on the dock,” she said, leaving Kazuha to himself and making her way down.
Kazuha picked up his journal and stared one last time at the emerging clouds.
You were a force to be reckoned with, Kazuha thought. Sometimes how you stepped forward to anything brought him chills.
His vision went blurry, as he pulled his sleeve to his eyes. He could only whisper for you to keep painting the skies for him and only him. He held out his pinky and looked towards the skies.
The thunder roared again, followed by a strong gust of wind. The wind promised Kazuha to guide him in his endeavors and to always lead him to you; all he had to do was look up and watch the sunset as you splashed paints onto the skies.
Kazuha attempted to wipe his tears, but the wind beat him to it; the cold air soothing his tear-stained face. He softly laughed, as he knew you would forever comfort him with your cheeky little ways. He grabbed his things and finally stood up, walking down to the dock to meet with the crew.
Kazuha looked to the skies once more, seeing himself in you. The corners of his mouth lifted as the final teardrop hit the wood below him.
"Wait for me, ok? I'll be there one day, painting the skies with you."
He paused.
"I…I love you too."
The wind blew a kiss to his cheek as a final goodbye, before making its way through the buildings of Liyue and through the mountains, leaving Kazuha once more.
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