Chapter Text
Dancing had always been Nilou’s reprieve, even when others looked down on it or dismissed it as pointless. The theater had become her second home and she was delighted to share the joy she’d found there with others. Every gasp of awe or sigh of rapture became like her own life breath. Through her dancing, she’d helped free her beloved god and had found a group of strange yet kind friends who only fueled her passion. She’d even met someone who stirred the deepest parts of her heart in ways she had never imagined.
The Traveler, the golden prince who had stepped right out of a fairy tale, had inspired her. He had pushed her out of her comfort zone, helped her become brave enough to face the Akademiya head-on when they threatened her beloved theater. She knew nothing would ever come of her affections, he was on a mission to find his lost sibling and, beyond that, there was something...ethereal about him. Like if she looked away for too long, he’d be gone from her sight forever.
Still, she cherished this first love. She cupped her hands and imagined they were a chest. She focused all of her adoration, admiration, and care into her hands, placing each dear memory into the “chest” until they no longer weighed on her heart. She closed her hands around those precious feelings and crossed her thumbs to lock it shut. The Traveler had a great mission ahead of him...and she had decided early on she would never burden him with these selfish feelings of hers. Instead, she reached up high, up on her tip-toes, and placed the “chest” up onto an imagined “shelf” with all of her other special moments and memories. One day, when enough time had passed, she would pull the chest down again. She would search through its contents and reminisce over her first love. For now, the chest would stay up high where she could admire it...but she wouldn’t be tempted to lose herself in it.
Instead, she focused on the theater. With the return of their Lord, it meant more people opened their minds to valuing the arts, to finding worth in the thing that brought her life meaning. Her performances were always booked full of onlookers and she’d sometimes be asked to dance at celebrations all around the city. She declined most of them, as she had to focus on her own performances, but...occasionally, if she had time, she’d agree to small demonstrations here and there. Sheik Zubayr was delighted, in his way, by all the new patrons to the theater.
Their inbox had never before been so full of letters, many of them all about her dancing. She read them aloud to the others in the theater and shared her joy. Deyha and Candace would stop by the theater and bring flowers whenever they were in town and she exchanged makeup tips with them or offered them samples of cosmetics she’d been gifted. They all agreed that the pearl powder from Liyue was the best, though the rainbow rose lipstick from Fontaine was also a hit.
Alhaitham and Kaveh came to watch her performances with surprising frequency. She assumed that the “Acting” Grand Sage and the famous Light of Kshahrewar would have better things to do than attend the theater but she welcomed their company all the same. She and Kaveh would spend time after the show discussing their shared passion in the arts while Alhaitham listened, only chiming in when he had something to add. More often than not, this would lead to him and Kaveh bickering but...well, it sounded so much like a lover’s quarrel from one of the theater’s romantic plays that it made her laugh. For some reason, her laughter eased the tension between the two and they went back to calmer discussions.
She often ran into Collei and Tighnari at the Grand Bazaar when the two needed ingredients for medicine from outside of the forest and she happily helped them get the best deals possible from the merchants. It was a bit strange for Collei to fret over her so much but Nilou was charmed by how much the young lady cared. Tighnari’s company was refreshing and informative. He always had something interesting to say...and had lots of tips on how to avoid poisonous mushrooms. Not that she’d remember most of them but she appreciated the effort! And she envied how easy it was for him to spot even the tiniest differences in texture or color.
She likened it to her ability to tell different step patterns or hand movements apart when she watched someone dance. How each motion carried a meaning and a definition that was easy for her to understand, even if some others struggled. She joined them at Lambad’s tavern or Puspa Cafe after their visits and lost herself in conversation with the others. Madame Faruzan would join them and regale them with stories of her previous life and Nilou was glad to see there was less pain behind the words than there used to be.
Trips to the tavern meant that someone, usually General Cyno, would pull out his cards and start a game with someone. She had no head for remembering the rules but she enjoyed watching. She and Collei would chat and cheer on the players and she’d find herself giggling at General Cyno’s jokes, even if she didn’t always understand them. Thankfully, he was always willing to explain (though for some reason, Tighnari never seemed to appreciate that effort).
She couldn’t believe she’d ever been scared of General Cyno. Sure, he could be...intense. But he was polite and patient. He helped anyone who asked for it and she admired his strength. He also was a frequent patron of the theater, she could see his hooded robe from practically anywhere, what with the pointed ears on top. Dancing came easier when he attended, as she felt safe in his presence.
The one downside about her newfound fame, though? Some of the new fans didn’t quite like the theater’s rules. They wanted to give her gifts, to talk to her after the shows or have her chat to them before a performance. She had even been cornered once while running some errands on Treasures Street by a fan asking for a private dance. He hadn’t taken too kindly to being turned down, but thankfully a passing Matra had scared him off before Nilou had been forced to pull out her own sword.
She vented these frustrations to Inayah and Najia one afternoon as she helped them with some of the props for the next show, based on a Snezhnayan fairy tale about a girl freeing a prince trapped in the body of a doll from his curse and the two defeating an evil rodent king. Najia mumbled something around the pins in her mouth, then paused. She took them out from her teeth and set them aside. “Sorry, sorry. But you know what you should do?”
“What?” Nilou wasn’t sure how she felt about the conniving look in Najia’s eye. “I’m completely at a loss so any ideas would be a huge help.”
“You should pretend to have a girlfriend or boyfriend. Maybe one of your vision-bearing friends! If everyone thinks you’re off the market, they’re bound to lose interest and leave you alone! Plus, them having a vision would scare off the more bold ones.”
Nilou frowned. If having a vision was enough, she wouldn’t be having this problem at all! “I don’t think that’s such a good idea...”
Inayah nodded in agreement. “Definitely not. Besides, I don’t think anyone would buy it...not since...” Inayah looked at Nilou with a sudden, almost pitying expression. “Well...”
Nilou frowned. “Well what? What are you talking about?”
Najia hummed in agreement. “Oh, right, right...That’s a good point.”
“Will you two please explain? You’re speaking in riddles and you know I'm not good at those.”
Inayah looked around, then leaned in. “It’s kind of an open secret that you have feelings for the Traveler. Not that we blame you or anything! He’s a handsome guy! Not exactly my type but, y’know.”
Nilou’s face burned . “What?! No! I don’t! That’s not-Najia! Najia, you know it’s not like that, right? We’re just friends!” She wanted to hide from Najia’s knowing expression. “Noooo. Please don’t tell me other people think that too...”
“Well, I don’t think everyone knows...” Najia tapped her chin in thought. “I mean, Kourosh probably doesn’t know...not that he pays much attention to anyone’s social lives. But, uh, you kind of gave yourself away when you asked for help making flower pots so you could give them as gifts to decorate his house.”
Nilou whined and let her face land against the table. She covered her head with her hands. “That’s so embarrassing...I want to do some movement therapy but I feel like if anyone looks at me right now, I’ll explode.”
Inayah patted her back, then leaned over in her chair as angry voices rose from nearby. “Well, I don’t think anyone will look at you...Mr. Zubayr is getting into another argument with someone.”
Nilou sprang back up from her spot to see who had upset their tempestuous employer, expecting to see one of their friends from the Grand Bazaar...but instead, he was snarling into the face of a strange man, clad in fancy-looking clothes that definitely weren’t Sumerian in origin. The man, though also upset, had a strange, smug look on his face. His eyes flicked over to Nilou and something in them made her shudder, like she’d been doused in melted cryo slime. Mr. Zubayr grabbed the man’s collar and yanked him up before he suddenly punched him, sending the stranger tumbling.
“How dare you speak that way about any of my performers?! She is family to myself and everyone here, not some...some doll to be traded away for your amusement just because you flash some mora in my face! Get out! Get out and never come back, or else I’ll feed you to a Rishboland Tiger myself!”
The other man spat onto the ground and pushed himself back onto his feet. He pointed a hand, covered with fancy rings, into Zubayr’s face. “Mark my words, asshole, you’ll regret this. I’ll be getting that girl, one way or another. Had you played along, you might have just gotten her back in one piece.” The man turned and stormed out as Zubayr shook his hand to ease the ache.
As the man stumbled out into the open air once again, he pushed past two far more welcome figures as they entered. One, clad in blue and white with a large and distinctive hat, turned as if to confront the man but the other figure, wearing clothing with the pattern of red maple leaves, caught his shoulder and calmed him. Nilou perked up and stood to go greet them, though a voice caught her attention first.
“Nilou.” Zubayr approached her, his face grim, “Can I speak to you for a moment? Alone?” He looked to Inayah and Najia who both looked at Nilou. She nodded and followed him off to a corner of the theater away from prying eyes, though she felt her Dear Friend’s intense stare on her back as she went. “For the next little while...I’d like to ask that you have an escort when you’re coming to and from the theater.”
The sense of dread in Nilou’s stomach after the confrontation grew heavy. “What? Why?”
Zubayr looked uncomfortable as he rubbed his forehead, as if to dispel a headache. “That man...wanted your ‘services’ for some private entertainment...and based on what he implied, he assumed you did things other than dancing. I tried to calmly talk him out of it but he said some things that...well. Made me lose my cool. While I know you’re more than capable of looking after yourself, this visit combined with some of the more...concerning letters we’ve gotten has me...Well.”
“Worried? I...Yeah, you’re right. It’ll just be for a little while, right? Just until things calm down again?”
Zubayr nodded, visibly relieved that she wasn’t fighting him. “Yes, exactly. If he acts up, the matra will take care of him. I’ll let them know what happened right away so they can have a patrol out. But...for the sake of my peace of mind, please. Be extra careful.”
She nodded. “I will, I promise. I’ll ask my Friend and Kazuha if they’d be willing to escort me today and I can ask some of my other friends later. Don’t you worry, Mr. Zubayr, I promise I’ll be super extra safe! Can’t risk missing this next show, after all! Everyone’s been working so hard on it!”
He stared at her with his normal stern (but fond) expression. “I am far more concerned with your safety than with a show. Sometimes I worry about your priorities, Nilou.” He dismissed her with a wave and she trotted off to rejoin the others. Kazuha and her Dear Friend had finished their work in the blacksmith’s for the day, evident from the scent of metal and soot that wafted off of both of them. Kazuha had a few small singes on his cheeks while her Dear Friend looked pristine as always.
“My Friend! Kazuha! Hello!” She hurried up to them and tilted her head. “What’s the occasion? We don’t have any shows today.”
“A good afternoon, Miss Nilou. We were asked by the blacksmith to take a few days off since he had a large order to fill and needed all the space he could get. So we’re here to offer our services to help prepare, if you’ll have us.” Kazuha’s voice was soft and gentle, like a sunshower at the beginning of the dry season. She already knew she’d miss his presence in Sumeru when he inevitably moved on, once his work with her Dear Friend was finished.
“What was that all about?” her Friend asked, gesturing to Zubayr as his hand was treated by an irate Rekhar, “Something going on? Heh, this theater of yours is just a magnet for trouble. Don’t think I haven’t heard about how the Akademiya kept trying to shut it down.”
Nilou waved her hands, as if to scare off any negative thoughts. “No, no! Nothing like that. Just...well. Ever since Lesser Lord Kusanali came back, we’ve had way more attendees. Which is good! But not everyone is familiar with the rules here....so there’s been a few misunderstandings.”
Her Friend stared at her blankly. “Misunderstandings.” It wasn’t phrased as a question but she suddenly felt hesitant to clarify. Kazuha’s eyes had also sharpened in focus, his posture going from lighthearted vagabond to honed warrior in an instant. “Really.”
“Really! Mr. Zubayr is already handling it. Except, well...”
“Except we were thinking that the patrons would be waaaay less likely to give Nilou trouble if they thought she was already spoken for!” Najia spoke up with a devious glint in her eye. Nilou wanted to dissolve into foam. “Especially if her ‘partner’ was another vision bearer. But the trouble is, we can’t decide who is best suited for the job!”
“Najia! No, we’re not doing that!” She looked to Inayah for help but the other girl had gone completely moon-eyed when Kazuha had entered. She turned back to them, picturing herself pushing waves of calming water over all of their heightened emotions, hers included. “Mr. Zubayr is just a little worried so he wanted me to ask you and the others for company on my way to and from the theater for the next little while. That’s all! I-ignore Najia.”
Her Dear Friend scoffed and rolled his eyes, though the tension melted from his shoulders. “Honestly, humans are such simple creatures. That idea sounds like something out of that fox hag’s light novels.”
Kazuha smiled and relaxed again as well. “I’d be happy to escort you wherever you need to go, Miss Nilou. While I have no doubts in your capabilities, friends look out for one another.”
“Suck up,” Muttered her Friend, “But sure, count me in.” He smirked and raised a hand, as if to generate one of his balls of storm winds. “Might be nice to have an excuse to cut loose. The Lesser Lord can’t nag me if I’m just taking out the trash.”
“Yeah, that’s the spirit! No one’s gonna lay a finger on our Nilou with you two around! And it means we get some extra eye candy around here.” Najia grinned at Nilou, perfectly pleased with the situation. “Isn’t this great, Nilou?”
Nilou considered arguing but, honestly, it wasn’t worth it. “Well, hopefully it won’t come to that. Thank you both.”
The conversation was dropped in favor of discussions of Kazuha’s lessons at the blacksmith’s shop. Both her Friend and Kazuha were surprisingly good with sewing and their abilities with the wind made it easier for them to help hang up decorations for the show. Her Friend hovered above her as he wrapped a garland of large, fake candies around a pole for a scene in the second half of the performance, when the heroine and her un-cursed prince were being celebrated in the Land of Sweets, the homeland of the prince. He glanced down at her and landed with a quiet thump once the garland was secure.
“So...” he started to gather up the next batch of garland and took his time to wrap it around his arm to avoid tangles. “Why didn’t you think about asking that jackal to be your fake lover? Knowing him, he’d jump at the chance. Rather pathetic behavior, if you ask me.”
Nilou blushed from where she was practicing her dance for the show. “Wha-Cyno? No no, I couldn’t ask him to do something like that! For one, it’s a silly idea and you know it. For two, he’s a busy man! He already has so many responsibilities, I don’t want to bother him.” She felt her Friend’s stare on her back, right between her shoulder blades. She shivered but tried to make it look like she was shaking out her nerves. “And for three...I’ve never dated anyone before. I feel like I’d give it away in an instant.”
Her Friend scoffed and set the garland aside in a carefully coiled pile. “You’re overthinking it. The truth of it is, there are many people in relationships who do so just to avoid being alone. You could just stand there and look awkward in the presence of another person and people would think nothing of it. All of the things that happen in books and stories are just that. Fiction. A cloying illusion to make the bitterness of life more bearable.”
She turned and he was suddenly much closer, his storm-dark eyes focused on hers. His voice went low and soft as he leaned into her space. “Attraction and adoration are pathetically easy to fake. Eye contact, physical touch, the right body language...” His arm wound around her waist, his other hand cupped her cheek. His face softened but didn’t lose any of the intensity, the fervor. She suddenly forgot how to breathe while crystalflies filled her stomach. He chuckled and leaned in a bit more, his lips a whisper away from hers. “Nilou...”
Her tongue turned heavy in her mouth. Had he always been this pretty? Had she ever been this close to him, face to face? She couldn’t remember. “Y-Yes?” she murmured as she shyly let her hands rest on his shoulders. He smiled at her, fond and sweet. He dipped her back just slightly and despite his slender figure, it was clear he could hold her weight without issue. Just as she was about to ask what was going on...
He let her go and she landed on her rear with a startled “Oof!” When she looked up at him, all the fondness had vanished, leaving only a smug grin.
“You actually fell for that? Aren’t you the actress here? Hah...I’m disappointed. Like I said, people like the illusion, the reality doesn’t actually matter.” He still offered her a hand up and she took it, though she pouted as she did. “You’re too trusting, you know. Imagine if someone else tried that on you...you’d fall for it in an instant. That naivety will get you hurt.”
“I think I’m getting tired of being bullied today. And I don’t think romantic love is all fake. I mean...” She tried to think of any couples she knew. “Maybe it’s not all s-steamy tension or big declarations...but I see it all the time in the little things. Najia and her fiance go on walks almost every night to talk about their day and to spend time together. And the nice old man who sells the Liyuen silk we use for our shows makes sure to pay his husband a compliment every day. That’s a lot more what true love looks like to me, at least.”
He scoffed again and picked up the garland once more. “Spoken like a pure maiden.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Her heartbeat finally settled back to normal and she returned to her practice. Each twirling step was meant to look effortless and light, like drifting snow. She’d never seen snow before...but the Traveler had described it to her once. It fluttered on the wind and landed gently, its presence dulled sound and coated the land in a blanket of serene quiet. “Also, just so you’re aware...that thing you did earlier? It wouldn’t work on me if just anyone did it. It worked because it was you .”
He froze at this, but then took off with far more force than needed to finish up preparing the garlands. He staunchly avoided looking at her the whole time and she decided to call the encounter a tie. Honestly, he wasn’t as hard to read as he pretended to be. That Dear Friend of hers had an awfully cute way of showing he was worried, once you learned to read between the lines.
Some hours later, Zubayr called it a night and sent everyone off home. Nilou changed out of her practice outfit into some casual clothes and bid the others good night. Her Friend and Kazuha waited for her outside of the Bazaar to walk her back to her small apartment. It was only a few streets away so she still didn’t understand why everyone was so worried about something happening...still, she’d go with the flow. It meant more time with her friends, after all! As always, she was offered far more than she could carry in terms of leftover produce and other little snacks from the various shops.
“You certainly took your time leaving.” Remarked her Friend as he took a few parcels and tucked them under his arm. Kazuha did the same, slightly boggled by the sheer amount she’d been gifted. “You’ll see most of those people again tomorrow. Why waste so much of your breath saying goodbye?”
Nilou hummed. She might not see them tomorrow, though! Life was unpredictable, after all. But she got the feeling that her Friend knew that better than most. “Sorry for making you wait. Once I drop my things off, let me treat you both to dinner!”
“That’s unnecessary but I certainly won’t turn down free food. I think the Captain would be disappointed in me if I declined.” Kazuha caught a leaf as it drifted by and spun it between his bandaged fingers. “I wonder how she and the rest of the crew are doing...I’m enjoying myself here in Sumeru but I do find myself longing for the sea. To be adrift once more and to go where the wind takes me.” He released the leaf as another gust blew by and it soared off towards the setting sun.
“Tired of me that quickly, Kaedehara? Hah. You’re nowhere near good enough to be considered a master of the Isshin arts just yet.” Her Friend’s tone was sharp, like the prickles on a cactus. She guessed it served a similar function, protection from harm. “Since you’re the one who insisted, I’m not letting you go until you craft a blade that can be considered passable. Unless you intend to cut our deal short?”
Nilou glanced between them, her Friend’s cynical glee and Kazuha’s cold detachment. Then, Kazuha leaned in and smiled. “I have no intention of going anywhere until our work is done. And even then, I do think I will find myself visiting Sumeru often in the future, if the uncertainties of life permit. Do not fret about missing me too much, oh Wanderer of the Blue Sky. Besides, I have not decided how our deal will end quite yet.”
She stepped between them before they could escalate. “Okay, okay. Come on now! Can’t you two argue about this later? I love them both but I get exposed to enough ‘arguments’ like this when Kaveh and Alhaitham come to visit.” Nilou linked her arms with theirs and pulled them down the street towards her apartment. “Now hurry up. It seems like rain is coming and I don’t want any of the candies getting wet and ruined.”
Her apartment was actually just a converted attic space that belonged to a house owned by a nice older lady, one of her Master’s friends. Her parents had worried about her living alone but she liked having a place where she could be alone for a little bit. Even extroverts like her needed some privacy every once in a while! There were stairs outside of the building that led up to her door and as she climbed, one of the lower windows opened. Lady Fatimah, her landlady, peered out.
“Miss Nilou? Is that you? My, you’re home early...usually you take your time getting here.” She adjusted the half-moon spectacles on the end of her nose. “And who are these strapping young men? Performers at the theater?”
Kazuha bowed. “Simply friends of Miss Nilou. There’s been some unsavory sorts about as of late, so we offered to escort the lady. I hope you do not find our presence a bother.”
“My, how polite! No bother at all, gentlemen. In fact! Can I invite you inside? I have some fresh baklava with some good honey I got at the market. You should come in and eat, you’re both so thin!”
Nilou motioned for the boys to head up the stairs. “Sorry, Auntie! Our other friends are waiting for us, I’m just dropping my groceries off! But tomorrow morning, I’ll make sure we stop in for some treats before I go to the theater, okay? Oh! And here. Have some dried Sunsettias!” She pulled a few of the gorgeous fruits from her bag. “Fresh from Mondstadt. The Traveler once told me they go really well with tea and sweets.”
“Aren’t you a sweetheart? Thank you. I’ll share these with my grandson and I’ll hold you to that promise!” Mrs. Fatimah lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned in, a teasing glint in her eye. “And I must say, you have excellent taste, my dear. Not one but two pretty suitors? And those rumors about you and the General Mahamatra to boot? Haha, I do hope you’re having fun. I know I did at your age before I settled down.
Nilou’s face burned. Why did everyone assume something romantic was going on?! But before she could deny it, Mrs. Fatimah waved her off and bid her goodnight. She often went to bed just a little after sunset, so she’d be asleep by the time Nilou returned from treating Kazuha and her Friend to dinner. Her escape permitted, Nilou darted up the stairs and unlocked her door to her small loft. She was glad that she’d cleaned up a little over the last few days and that it was presentable.
Her bed was covered in comfy pillows and she had a small reading couch under a large window with some books (mostly light novels from Inazuma and borrowed romance novels from friends) stacked nearby. She didn’t have her own kitchen space as Mrs. Fatimah happily lent her the main kitchen whenever she felt the urge to cook. The only separate room was a small bathroom that also contained her shower. She had a few spare performing outfits hung up around the room to keep them aired out and ready for use. The rest of her casual clothes were kept safe in a wardrobe her uncle had gifted her when she moved out.
She placed her gifted groceries on a shelf by the entrance and motioned for the others to do the same. “I’m...really sorry about that. She’s very nice and she barely charges me anything to stay here! Mostly I think she just likes the company since her daughter moved out after she got married.”
Her Dear Friend shrugged and instead took the opportunity to examine her living space. “What did she mean by what she said? About you getting here earlier than usual?”
“Oh, that? Usually on my way home I have people who come to talk to me about the theater! I love talking to my fans but sometimes the conversation keeps going and going...it’s hard to walk away and I end up getting stuck. I think this is the first time that no one’s done so in...a very long time.” She hadn’t even noticed it!
“Then perhaps Miss Najia’s theory holds some weight.” Kazuha cupped his chin in his hand and looked up in thought. “If people believe that you are being courted, they might give you more distance. And if there are already rumors of you and General Cyno being involved, it may not be a terrible idea to make use of them.”
“Told you.” Muttered her Friend as he flipped through one of her books.
“That’s just a rumor! General Cyno isn’t interested in me.” She sighed and rubbed her temples. “I don’t even know how that rumor got started...”
“Shall we test it, then?” her Friend snapped the book shut. “Pretend to date one of us. See if it doesn’t actually make things easier. And see if the General doesn’t try making a move.”
“If he thinks I’m dating someone, why would he do anything? Wouldn’t it be too late?”
Kazuha shrugged. “There are some men who start showing more active interest when the person they admire takes a lover. Besides, dating doesn’t have to imply serious intent. It’s not as if you’ll be engaged. If anyone asks, you can say that it’s casual. Or that you’re testing the waters.”
Nilou looked between them both. “I don’t know...I wouldn’t want to lie to people either. Especially not our friends.”
“You can tell them the truth later. They can even help spread the rumors. Really, what do you have to lose aside from a few pesky flies?” Her friend glanced out the window at the sound of rustling leaves. His gaze seemed focused on it, as if there was something just out of sight. He huffed. “Come on, you can decide on the way.”
She left with them once more, back out towards Lambad’s Tavern. Was she really considering this? She would admit, it was sort of nice to be able to get home at a decent time. If it was her Dear Friend or Kazuha, that would draw far less attention from the rumor mill than if it were someone like the General. Besides, it wouldn’t even be for that long! She held her hands out like her body was a scale and stacked each reason for and against the idea on opposite sides. The deciding factor seemed to be the fact that, if she agreed, it would mean more time together.
“Alright. I’ll try it. My Friend, if you seem so sure this is a good idea, then I’ll pick you. But only for a little while, alright?” Her friend practically tripped as she spoke up just outside of the tavern and stared at her, as if mystified. “What? Changed your mind?”
“Huh? No! I just...didn’t think you’d accept. Heh. Though of course you’d choose the best option. Don’t worry, I don’t intend to drag this out either. Let’s say...about two weeks? Or until the General makes a move and asks you out himself.” He leaned in close, his eyes on hers with the electric intensity from earlier, “Unless you’re worried about falling for me for real?”
“Wh-what? No! Definitely not. I’m not letting you fool me like that again.” She stepped back from him and was glad the sun had set so her blush was less obvious.
Kazuha cleared his throat and opened the door to the tavern. “I am glad we’ve settled things. Shall we go inside? I can hear the others already.” He stepped in and Kaveh could be heard over the general chatter of the restaurant, inviting him over. Nilou could see Alhaitham and Tighnari, plus Deyha sitting by Cyno. As she went to follow Kaveh in, her Dear Friend caught her wrist to pull her back.
She looked up at him only for him to tug his hat so it hid their faces. His arm then wound around her waist and tugged her up against his chest like before, though more of her weight rested on him this time. “I have to go check on something for Lord Kusanali. But I’ll make it easier for you to start spreading the rumors.” His voice was a whisper and it sent a thrill down her spine, like a drop of water into a still pond, the ripples bounced and danced in her stomach. “Smear your lipstick a little.”
“What?”
“Do it. Unless you want me to do it for you.” How would he even do that? He had one hand on her, the other on his hat...her eyes flicked down to his lips, then back up. His eyebrows had risen and she flushed even more. Before he could comment on her mistake, she brought a hand up and smudged her lipstick a little. He smirked. “Good girl. I’ll meet you back here in a little while.”
He then pulled away and took off into the night. She stood there, dazed, until a voice snapped her out of it.
“Uh? Nilou?” Deyha had stood up and was looking at her like she’d suddenly grown a real pair of horns. “What was that? Are you and that Hat Guy...?”
“Um! We’re-! It’s-! Uh?!” she looked to Kazuha for support as she floundered. He smiled, serene and gentle as ever, then turned to the others.
“It’s a bit of a recent development, it would seem...but yes, our dear Nilou has gotten herself quite the paramour.”
There was silence. And then an uproar.
As she was crowded into a seat and bombarded with questions, Nilou began to wonder if it was too late to take it back...and if she should be mad at him later for abandoning her to handle this on her own.