A Matter of Taste
Silva Noctua
"Paimon declares it official: Xiangling's black-back perch stew is still the best in Liyue~!"
The distant cheer echoed in Lumine's ears as she stood at the rail overlooking Liyue Harbour. The outlander closed her eyes, breathing deeply. The breeze that tickled her cheeks carried the mingling scents of seawater, spices, and an untold myriad of fried delicacies. It was an enticing medley—so why did her heart ache?
"I'm glad you liked it!" she heard the budding Liyuan chef giggle in response to Paimon's enthusiasm. "I just wish I had time to make something more exciting for all of you. Lantern Rite is our busiest time of year! By the way—you guys are staying for the fireworks tonight, aren't you?"
Seated at a table on Wanmin Restaurant's sunlit patio, Amber and Barbara hastened to assure Xiangling that they were, and if she was free later, wouldn't she join them?
The girls' scheming faded from Lumine's awareness as her senses honed in on a scuff of footfalls behind her. She reopened her eyes in time to see Captain Kaeya amble up alongside her.
The long-limbed Cavalry Captain leaned his forearms against the railing, his chin resting atop his gloved hands. He squinted down into the harbour as though interested in the junks unloading below.
"Care to talk about it?" he prodded.
It was uncanny how Kaeya read her thoughts better than even her constant travelling companion. Perhaps there was some solidarity to be found between outlanders.
Lumine drew a breath and released it, slowly. Behind them, she could hear their friends laughing at one of Guoba's antics. Paimon was squealing indignantly: it seemed Xiangling's pet had snitched some particularly desirable ort from her bowl.
"When I went up to the Jade Chamber," she murmured, "Lady Ningguang said that if I ever grew weary of travelling, I would be welcome here. And Shenhe asked earlier if I had come back to Liyue for good this time."
Kaeya nodded against his clasped hands. "And?"
"I've made a lot of good friends in Liyue. I feel like I could be happy here. But..."
Lumine hesitated, chewing at her lower lip. She knew she should be happy to be here, enjoying the last day of Lantern Rite with everyone. Still, deep down...
"...The heart is a fickle beast," Kaeya concluded on her behalf. He glanced sideward and smirked. "And yours belongs to Mondstadt—or should I say, to a certain Miss Lisa of Mondstadt."
Lumine felt herself blush. "You know about that?"
Kaeya chuckled, "Tell me something that goes on in Mondstadt I don't know about."
She wasn't falling for that one. Cheeks aglow, Lumine fixed her stare upon a large junk edging ponderously up to the docks below. White-winged gulls shrieked as they circled its battened sails.
Where she came from, 'Cavalry Captain' was hardly synonymous with 'intelligence operative', though sometimes she felt the latter was a better epithet for Kaeya. Still, whatever his sources, perhaps there was some comfort in feeling that she could finally confide in someone.
Lumine swallowed the butterflies in her throat. It had been only a few weeks ago that she'd managed to snatch a moment alone with Lisa Minci, upon returning from her first excursion in Liyue. The memory of her own confession—of the warmth that had filled her head to toe when the librarian silenced her stammering with a kiss—had haunted her dreams ever since.
She couldn't bring herself to bare her heart to Amber or Barbara, dear friends of hers though they were. And she certainly couldn't tell her travelling companion—though afternoon tea in the Knights of Favonius's library had been agonizing with an unknowing Paimon hovering over her shoulder.
"I keep wishing I had asked her to come with us," Lumine told Kaeya. "I almost did. I just... I already feel bad taking you all away from your work."
The Captain shrugged one shoulder, idly. "Escorting you is far more interesting than any of the usual Favonius stuff. I'm sure Outrider Amber agrees. And seeing the world has been good for Sister Barbara. The Acting Grand Master signed off on us leaving, remember?"
Lumine nibbled at her thumb, frowning. Jean had proven as magnanimous as ever in dispatching an honorary guard for her journey. That didn't change her guilt for leaving Mondstadt's protectors even more short-handed than usual. Especially considering she wasn't just inconveniencing the Knights of Favonius—a fact that Kaeya had been only too careful not to mention.
"What about Diluc?" she asked him.
"Diluc?" Kaeya arched his brows, then shook his head. "Knowing him, he just wanted an excuse to work on his Liyuan. Not that it's helped—he's tone-deaf, I swear. —The point is, none of us mind tagging along with you. And Miss Lisa would mind least of all."
The carelessness with which he deflected made Lumine suspect there was more to it than that. Perhaps Kaeya knew exactly where the fabled Darknight Hero kept disappearing off to, this afternoon being no exception. Or perhaps his estranged adoptive brother's mind was one thing in Mondstadt Kaeya didn't care to know about.
Blithely Kaeya grinned at her. "So, how shall we keep your lovesick self from jumping into the harbour and swimming all the way back to your bonny librarian? There's still time before the festival ends tonight. Have you considered getting her a gift from the market?"
The thought had crossed Lumine's mind, but she hadn't known how to go about it without arousing awkward questions—or worse, Paimon drawing attention to her inevitable stuttering.
Kaeya read her answer in her pink face. Smirking, the Captain straightened up and stretched like a cat rousing himself from a particularly satisfying nap.
"Let's go for a walk, shall we? The girls can entertain themselves for a while."
Lumine had to admit: she enjoyed wandering Liyue Harbour's festive marketplace with Kaeya, far more than she had anticipated.
Perhaps it was because the Cavalry Captain was easy company. It was hard to feel lonely when he was intent on making her laugh, or daring her to try Li street foods she couldn't pronounce until she swore there was a fiery mountain lion clawing at the back of her throat. (He agreed to finish anything that was too spicy for her, and he bought her milk tea afterward, so she felt they wound up even in the end.)
But unless she was inclined to buy Lisa a pile of uncut gems, some finely crafted ceramics, or any of the most ornate kites she'd ever laid eyes on—none of which was really within an adventurer's means—she would be leaving Lantern Rite empty-handed.
By the time they finished their tour of the waterside market, the sun had begun to dip below the horizon. The harbour itself had turned to gold. Strands of orange lanterns swayed gently overhead: they flickered like fireflies in the fading light.
Lumine slowed her footsteps, drinking in the cool of the evening breeze. She was happy to be here, she realized suddenly.
Two paces ahead of her, Kaeya cocked his head. She had been walking on his blind side. "Getting tired?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I'm fine... I was just thinking... there's one more place I'd like to go, if that's all right with you."
Heat warmed her cheeks: she redirected her gaze to the half-empty cup of milk tea in her hands. If she were honest with herself, she had known all along that the gift she wanted wasn't at the market. But she wouldn't have been brave enough to venture there on her own.
"Lead on, then," Kaeya said, with a grin that told her he'd known, too.
They followed the winding boardwalks south, past the decorated booths and the lanterns. The streets were more crowded than they had been all afternoon: Lumine certainly wouldn't have found a spot at the harbour rail now. Surely everyone in Liyue Harbour was looking forward to Lantern Rite's finale—the fireworks show.
There were no fewer people milling about the Chihu Rock district, in the vicinity of Wanmin Restaurant. Lumine skirted the lights and lineup of hungry customers, ducking purposefully down the next alley—then hovered anxiously while she waited for Kaeya to catch up. When he did, she avoided looking him in the eye. She had a feeling he was smirking at her, and she was already blushing.
Miss Ying'er was in the midst of closing up when the pair approached her shopfront.
"Oh my~" the perfumer tittered, catching sight of them. She swept her braid over her shoulder and greeted Lumine with a curve of rosy lips. "If it isn't my old acquaintance, and looking as lovely as ever. Did you come all this way during Lantern Rite to see me?"
Old acquaintance?
Feeling hot all over, Lumine heard herself start to stammer an excuse in reply. Archons—this was precisely why she wouldn't have dared come here alone.
That was when Kaeya came to her rescue.
"Indeed we did," he said in effortless Liyuan, flashing Ying'er a dashing smile. "My acquaintance here wouldn't stop talking about you. I admit, I thought she was exaggerating about your talent. Forgive me for wanting to see it for myself."
The perfumer giggled. "Well, then, why don't you feast your eye on what we've got in store? Who knows, you might chance upon some extra benefits."
"Don't mind if I do. —Do you sell anything with Sumeran lavender? I've always been partial to lavender with a hint of citrus."
"My, my~! I can see you are a man who appreciates true beauty." With that Ying'er sauntered behind the shop counter and started picking out a collection of vials for his consideration.
If ever Lumine had imagined she could love a man, it would be the canny Cavalry Captain. Though if she had thought of him in that way, she ought to have slapped him for the way he was eyeing up the perfumer. Not that Ying'er wasn't making sheep's eyes at him, too.
It was the perfect cover for Lumine to scout out the shelves for a scent Lisa would enjoy.
Rosewater? The other woman was fond of roses, she knew, but they were as plentiful in Mondstadt as they were in Liyue. Silk flower—that was a Liyuan scent, but perhaps a little too subtle for Lisa's taste. Hmm, what about glaze lily...?
Lumine eventually settled on a bottle of jasmine oil: exotic, delicately spicy, and feminine. (She hoped.)
Kaeya glanced over when she approached the shop counter.
"Found something you like?" he said lightly. "Excellent. It's my treat."
"You don't have to—" she began to protest, but it was too late: he had already slapped a handful of gold coins on the counter. She felt herself flush again. As a full-time adventurer, she wasn't hurting for mora, but she wasn't exactly rolling in it, either. She found it hard to imagine that a Knight of Favonius on unpaid leave was any better off.
"Then at least let me get you something," she determined.
"If you insist." Kaeya shrugged and snatched up one of the bottles Ying'er had chosen for him. "I'll take this one."
I didn't mean you had to get something here, of all places. But Lumine couldn't bring herself to say as much in front of the perfumer.
In short order they paid for each other's purchases and then bid Ying'er a happy Lantern Rite as they left the shop.
Evening was falling in earnest by then, and Lumine could see the glow of lanterns along the main street up ahead of them. She could see the ruminating shadows of the festival crowd, too.
Now she felt she really was getting tired. Kaeya noticed. He slowed his strides to match her own and glanced sidelong at her.
"So—jasmine, was it? That'll tickle Miss Lisa's fancy."
It tickled her fancy, at least, but Lumine saw no reason to say that out loud. She watched Kaeya uncap the vial she had bought him. He dabbed a generous amount of the oil on his fingertips and appraised it with a sniff.
"Are you really fond of lavender?" she asked shyly.
"Not really." Kaeya indulged her with a grin, wiping his fingers off against his collarbone. "I'm a man of simple tastes. Rosemary water, a full-bodied wine... the way grape blossoms smell after it rains."
"That sounds romantic."
The Captain laughed. "Speaking of romantic—you were invited to watch the fireworks from the Jade Chamber, weren't you?"
"Oh—yes, I should probably go." Lumine looked up at the darkening sky and bit at her lip. Was it wrong that she didn't really want to leave?
She lowered her gaze to her boots. "Thank you," she murmured, abashedly reticent. "For everything." For reminding me that I have such good friends.
Kaeya chuckled, "Let's not mention it."
The cool of his fingertips tucked beneath her chin, lifting her stare from the ground. All she could make out of the Captain's face above her was shadow. For some reason, it made her heart beat faster: just now, why did he frighten her?
"All this talk of romance..." Kaeya said lowly, "I feel like I'd make for a poor escort if I didn't kiss you goodnight. Would you run me through if I tried?"
Lumine started to object that she wasn't that much of a brute—and what did he mean, kiss her?—when Kaeya swooped in and pressed his lips against her brow. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the strange gesture, other than that the headiness of lavender and orange blossom was really rather intoxicating.
"Run along now and enjoy the show," he told her, withdrawing. "Don't do anything I wouldn't."
"What wouldn't you do?" she echoed archly. Being kissed by Kaeya didn't make her stammer the way Lisa did, Lumine was glad to note—but she still felt far too hot beneath her skin. "Do you kiss anyone who thinks of you like a brother?"
"Only if they're as cute as you." Kaeya winked at her. "Goodnight—and happy Lantern Rite."
Kaeya nudged the rental cabin door closed with his boot. Even if he hadn't seen the threshold haloed with Pyro, he might have guessed that he wouldn't be the only one back before the end of Lantern Rite.
His brows merely lifted slightly when he found his bunkmate dressing a burned right hand in the candlelight. He had a feeling Diluc was in no mood for his assistance, so he turned his back and traipsed over to the table where he'd stashed a pair of goblets. He picked up the leftmost one and sniffed—clean enough.
Kaeya popped open his wine flask and filled the glass. "Did you find what you were looking for?" he inquired, carelessly.
"The trail's cold," Diluc informed his back. "If the Abyss has agents left in Liyue, then they're doing a better job of lying low since you and the outlander wiped out their stronghold."
Let's not praise my part in that business too loudly. I'm still a Khaenri'ahn spy, you know.
Kaeya sampled his drink. "So, you tripped on your way back, then?"
"Yes, I tripped over a nest of treasure hoarders." The redhead grimaced, tugging his glove over his newly bandaged hand. "Turns out they were playing with stolen fireworks."
"Were they really? Fascinating."
Kaeya cocked his head at the sound of an explosion outside. It had come from the direction of the harbour. "Speaking of fireworks—have you ever watched the Lantern Rite finale, Luc?"
"Only once. I spent some time in Liyue after my... retirement." Diluc frowned, whether at the memory of that time or his disagreement with the Knights, Kaeya could wager a guess.
"Well, I haven't," he said briskly. "Humour me, would you?"
He strode back outside without waiting to see if the other man would follow. In the open air Kaeya leaned up against the porch railing, crossed one booted foot over the other, and savoured the bitterness of dandelion wine as the first sunbursts lit up the sky.
What had he told Lumine? He was a man of simple tastes.
Perhaps it was even true.
Kaeya heard the rustle of Diluc's coat and knew from the hint of rosemary in the night air that the redhead had opted to settle on his right.
He wondered if he'd ever told Diluc how much he hated anyone standing in his blind spot. It was simple paranoia, but the Khaenri'ahn agent could never shake the premonition that he was about to be shanked in the back. Perhaps that was why Diluc insisted on it.
But whether the other man was consciously shielding him or not, when he was standing there, Kaeya merely thought it was a shame he had to turn his head to look at him.
"You're staring," Diluc said flatly, drawing him out of his contemplation.
Kaeya offered up an unrepentant grin. "Well, you are pretty cute."
The sound that parted the redhead's lips figured somewhere between a scoff and a sigh. "You're not drunk enough to start talking like that," he muttered.
No. Kaeya knew he wasn't. At least not where anyone might overhear a Khaenri'ahn spy chatting up the Abyss's Most Wanted. It was better for both of them if they carried on hating one another's guts: they'd put years into establishing that status quo.
But the heart was a fickle beast.
"You don't know how drunk I am, Luc," he pointed out. "You did leave me unsupervised all afternoon."
Diluc sighed again, but he didn't protest when Kaeya shifted a little closer to him. Arms folded atop the rail, he squinted out at the spectacle of lights above the harbour, and he pretended not to feel Kaeya's fingertips tracing the curve of his right hip through the thickness of his coat.
In turn, Kaeya pretended he didn't notice when the redhead leaned into him. It said more about Diluc's current mental state than anything else. Still, when he was breathing in the sweetness of rosemary water in his partner's hair, Kaeya could see why Lumine had accused him of romantic tastes.
It was a beautiful night.
One crackling burst after another seared the sky, and for a little while, the midwinter night burned as bright as dawn. If ever a moment could last forever... Well. Kaeya supposed he was turning into a proper romantic now.
That was when he felt a huff of breath against his throat. "...Kaeya."
"Hm?"
Lowly, Diluc prodded, "Where did you even find lavender oil?"
Ah. I was wondering when you'd notice.
Kaeya buried his grin in the thick of crimson hair. "Did I remember right?" he inquired.
The other man's scoff was dismissive. When the next explosion rippled overhead, however, Kaeya felt the heat of Diluc's lips graze his right ear.
"Watch your damned fireworks. Then you can ask me that question."
Well. In that case, Kaeya supposed Lantern Rite couldn't end soon enough.
- end -
A/N: Constructive feedback is always appreciated! :)