Chapter Text
You and Amber were planning to go scouting together when you... got a bit held up.
Come on, come on, don't be late. Don't make her mad at you too...
You rushed through Mondstadt, trying to get to the gates as fast as possible.
You had been held up with a fight with your partner. Things were said... and thrown. Now, you had a black eye, which you were able to cover with some face makeup.
You fixed and adjusted your light armor as you made your way to the meeting spot. There, you saw Amber waiting for you.
"Hey!" She called out, waving excitedly.
"Uh- hey!" You said, hoping you covered your injury well enough.
You knew it would start to swell soon enough, but hoped that the darkness during your nighttime trip would help cover you.
You fiddled with some things, looking away from her so that she didn't get too suspicious too fast.
"Are you... okay?" She asked.
Or she could just think something is wrong... great.
"Huh? No, no, nothings wrong! Just uh... excited? I've never been on a scouting trip before!" You said, hoping she'd just pay attention to your words and not body language.
"Well, that is right, but still, I didn't think you enjoy the idea this much! Did you already say your farewells to your partner? We will be gone for a couple days." Amber asked, leading the two of you out of the city.
You froze, and suddenly your wounds seemed to hurt again.
"Uh- yeah, yeah... I did..." You muttered, walking away faster, taking the lead.
Amber was silent, but caught up to you.
"Are you-"
"I'm fine!" You snapped, scaring away the pigeons that that stood ahead, "Sorry- sorry I didn't mean to snap..."
You looked away from your friend. You felt terrible.
"It's okay... whatever's going on, you can talk to me about it, but I won't ask anymore. Now, how about we go find a good place to settle, then we can get on with the scouting?" She grinned, hoping to make you a bit happier.
And it worked.
"Alright, yeah... that sounds great." You gave her a slight smile.
Being able to get your mind off everything for a while? Now that was something you could agree to.
So, the two of you set off to the open plains of Mondstadt, deciding to set up near the base of Starsnatch Cliff. Amber did her usual scouting while you cooked some food and got the tents set up.
You hoped that this would be a good way to clear your head, but all you could truly think about was what was going to happen when you got back.
Your mind was filled with predictions and worries, so much so that you accidentally burnt some of the food.
"Come on- get yourself together, Y/N..." You groaned.
As you tossed the burnt food out, you felt rain start to sprinkle.
"Just great..." You muttered.
You quickly packed the food away, put out the fire, and awaited for your friend to return.
Soon enough, she did.
"Amber!" You exclaimed, emerging from your tent.
Her outfit was soaked, but she still smiled.
"Hey! Sorry I couldn't get back fast enough!" She laughed, entering the tent with you.
"It's completely fine. I'm just glad you didn't get lost or hurt!" You said, fixing up the blankets and covers for her.p
But when you looked back up, she wasn't smiling anymore.
"Huh? Are you okay?" You asked, pausing your actions.
"I could be asking you the same thing! How did you hurt your eye? It looks terrible!" She exclaimed, going to examine your face.
Your eyes widened as you flinched and recoiled.
She froze.
"I-Y/N?" She asked, grabbing your hand, feeling you shake.
"N-no, I'm fine... I-it was just an accident- just an accident..." You muttered to yourself, looking away, yet subconsciously holding Ambers hand tighter.
Amber was silent as tears slipped down your face.
"They... they didn't mean it..." You muttered, still not looking at your friend.
"Y/N.... It was your partner... wasn't it? It's okay, you don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to,... but if you don't feel safe with them..."
"They didn't mean to, it was an accident. I made them mad, and I paid the price..." You held back a sob.
In seconds, you felt yourself being engulfed into a hug.
Frozen for just a moment, you settled into the hug, allowing yourself to cry.
"You didn't deserve that... I know you, Y/N, and you are the most selfless and caring person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and calling my friend." She assured you.
This only caused you to hold her tighter.
"Thank you..." You whispered.
"Of course..." She whispered back.