Work Text:
Haruka sighed as she closed her eyes, letting the cold sea breeze drift across her face. She felt a petal fall on her face and she quickly swatted it away. She let out a sigh. That was the end of her brief break and it was time to get back to work.
Today was washing day at the Konomore Teahouse. Taromaru was quite particular when it came to the towels, pillow covers, table mats, and his favorite plushie toy that he liked to snuggle with in the evenings. Only the best of soaps for himself and the teahouse customers. Yet this time around, Taroumaru was even more excited because they had just gotten word from the Kamisato estate that the famous Traveler who saved Mondstadt and Liyue was coming to the teahouse. When they got the announcement at the teahouse, Taroumaru barked in excitement. He even wagged his tail so much that he sprained it. He looked pretty sheepish the next day when he had to be on bed rest and not move his tail at all.
It was understandable how everyone was bustling with nerves and excitement. Haruka was too, but for a different reason. It meant that her boyfriend Thoma was done at Ritou and would be back on Narukami Island soon. It looked like he got to meet the Traveler and had probably invited them to the teahouse. Haruka thought the two of them would have gone straight to the Kamisato estate, but she trusted Thoma’s judgment on the matter.
It was late afternoon when Haruka got the water into two big buckets for laundry from the local well. As she set down the two buckets on the back porch, she moved her arms around. They felt sore after carrying those buckets through the streets of the city. As she reached up to the sky for a stretch, she grinned at the thought of what it would be like after not seeing Thoma for a few months. He would probably run up to her and call her name. She could already imagine the hugs and kisses he would give her.
She then was taken out of her daydream when felt someone from behind poking her sides. Haruka shrieked and turned around. It was Thoma, who held his hands up as if he was innocent and had a big smile on his face.
“Hey there!” he said.
Haruka slapped his arm before wrapping him in a tight hug. It must have taken him by surprise as he stumbled back a bit, but then he wrapped his arms around her.
“Did you have to slap my arm like that Haruka?” asked Thoma.
Haruka smirked as she looked up at him.
“It was a just punishment for scaring me like that,” she teased.
“Oh?” said Thoma, “If we are talking about just here, I was JUST thinking about doing this.”
He then kissed her on the lips. It was only a few seconds, but Haruka felt instantly happier. She was disappointed at how short it was the moment Thoma pulled away.
“That’s not the way I was using the word “just”! And besides, you call that a kiss? That was too short!” said Haruka.
Thoma laughed, and Haruka’s heart fluttered. She had missed hearing his laugh.
“Well,” said Thoma as he leaned in with a smirk, “If you thought that was too short-”
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
The couple turned their heads to see Taroumaru along with Nakanishi at the doorway.
“Taroumaru!” said Thoma, who crouched low with his arms stretched out.
Taroumaru ran over and Thoma started to scratch under his chin. Nakanishi, who was behind Taroumaru, walked out slowly and smiled at the sight as Thoma started to tell Taroumaru how he missed him.
“We tried to keep Taroumaru back as much as we could. I tried to distract him and Nobumori tried to hold back Taroumaru the moment he sensed Thoma was here,” said Nakanishi to Haruka, “It seems though we might have cut your reunion short.”
Haruka scratched the back of her head. She was glad that she and Thoma were not kissing for very long. She would rather not have an audience for such a display of affection.
“It’s no problem, sir. Thoma knows many at the Konomore teahouse and is quite popular. I think Taroumaru is his biggest fan.”
“You know...he did sneak around the back once Kozue told him where you were,” said the owner, “What Thoma did certainly speaks volumes if he went looking for you first when he first set foot back on this island.”
Haruka blushed. She still had not quite wrapped her head around the fact that people were seeing her and Thoma as a couple. It was comments like this that got her embarrassed because she still wasn’t sure how to properly react to them.
“Well, as long as he doesn’t have urgent news for the clan, it should be alright,” said Haruka
“I have already sent a message to Lady Kamisato,” chimed Thoma, it looked like he and Taroumaru were done greeting each other, “The Traveler is certainly an interesting character. I can tell you more, but maybe we should go inside?”
Haruka shook her head.
“I can’t. I have all the teahouse washing today plus Taroumaru’s favorite plush toy to wash.”
Thoma pouted and Taroumaru gave a woof and went back inside briefly to bring out a plush toy, which looked like a Tanuki except much smaller. As Taroumaru set his plush toy at Haruka’s feet, Thoma suddenly had an idea.
“Haruka, let me help you with washing everything!” said Thoma with a grin.
Haruka now felt bad. She was supposed to be able to do this herself. Surely he didn’t want to do her work with her after spending a few months as a fixer in Ritou.
“Thoma, you don’t need to-”
Taroumaru began to bark.
“Well,” said his owner, “The boss has requested Thoma to be the one to wash his plush toy. Remember to be careful as it needs to get restitched soon.”
“Great!” said Thoma, “But before I wash it, do you happen to have a sewing kit?”
For the next hour, Haruka carefully washed the towels, palace mats, and pillowcases while Thoma sewed repairs on the plush toy. They talked about what had happened since they last saw each other. Thoma’s description of Ritou was detailed and Haruka liked how he not only talked about what was there but WHO was there. Thoma had a way with words that she certainly had seen when he bargained at the market over the price of fish, but she liked hearing his stories the best. She was curious about the foreigners who had decided to come and stay on Ritou. Thoma was lighthearted for the most part even though Haruka could not believe how bold he was with the Kanjiro commission. How could he be so carefree about a tense situation?
“How did you not get imprisoned for acting like that?” said Haruka trying to keep her voice level, “The Kanjiro commission sounds absolutely terrifying!”
Thoma looked up from his stitch, the grin sliding off his face as he saw Haruka’s fearful expression.
“Darling! I’m so sorry! I’m here now, don’t worry. I’m fine!”
Thoma got up from where he sat and went to sit next to Haruka who instead of washing the towels, was bunching it up in her hands. He placed a hand on her back and started to rub it in a circular motion. Haruka felt her shoulders and back relax at the motion and a small warmth from his increased body heat that was a side effect of his Pyro vision.
After a few minutes, Thoma asked if he could wash the plush toy himself, Haruka scooted over so that he could have room. She picked up the other basket filled with wet laundry and started to hang the laundry on a nearby clothesline.
“Haruka,” said Thoma, “I want to know if you have been alright? The Tenryou commission doesn’t get too close to here right?”
Haruka turned around. Thoma was looking intently at the water in front of him, being careful with the plushie. Although Haruka could only see the side of his face, he was not smiling. This time it was Thoma that needed assurance. He was constantly worried about her protection within the city boundaries. Although she was working for the Kamisato clan, you could never know what the other commissions would suddenly accuse you of. She had only recently moved out of the estate to work at the teahouse around the same time Thoma went to Ritou. Haruka then wondered if the surprise visits from Kamisato Ayaka to “check on the teahouse” was so that Thoma could be reassured that Haruka was accounted for.
“Not at all!” said Haruka, “I think they are too busy with the vision hunt to come here.”
Thoma nodded, looking thoughtful.
“What about the fake visions?”
Haruka shook her head, not wanting to give Thoma the bad news. Growing up with her grandmother Futura, the former housekeeper, on the Kamisato estate was a blessed existence. Haruka had only been to the city a few times before moving to work at the teahouse and that was during the festivals held by the Kamisato clan. Visiting a city and living in a city were two different things. While she had gotten used to how busy and messy city life could be, she was still terrified of the fighting, crying, and screaming that happened when someone’s vision was taken from them. It was like they had lost a body part in the process and it was terrifying to see the serious effects it had on them. Fake visions were needed to make sure many people were spared of that.
“The man who made them was just arrested,” said Haruka.
Thoma frowned and carefully looked at the plush toy cradled in his hands. Haruka walked over and knelt behind him. She put her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear.
“But don’t worry, I have been talking to Yoimiya. We have a plan. Don’t worry about it Thoma.”
Haruka kissed his cheek and Thoma sighed.
“The work is never finished.” said Thoma, “I need to get this back to Taroumaru.”
“Don’t you need to let it dry? I don’t think he wants it back soggy.”
“Oh, ha ha! Right.”
Haruka removed her arms from around him as he stood up. He turned around and held out a free hand which Haruka took to stand up. She then went on her toes to kiss Thoma on the lips. The small smile he gave her after that was a sign to Haruka that Thoma was going to be alright despite everything that was going on right now in Inazuma.
“Taroumaru likes to keep the toy by the fire to let it dry, not too far and not too close of course. I’m sure he will show you.” said Haruka, “Once you are done, you should come back outside. Will you sit under the sakura trees here with me? It’s about time we relax with just the two of us.”
“Of course, darling,” said Thoma as he kissed the top of her head, “See you back here in a few minutes.”