Work Text:
Kazuha was, to put it simply, not having a good day.
He had woken up a few hours earlier with saltwater in his lungs and seaweed in his hair, lying on a sandy shore he did not recognize. After a coughing fit that had left him sweating and wheezing, he had taken a few moments to gather himself; his head was pounding and his memories were fuzzy. Once the fog cleared, though, he could only groan. Right, a particularly fierce storm had surprised the Alcor as they left Inazuman waters. Kazuha had climbed on the main mast to let down the sails, but a sudden gust of wind had made him lose his balance and fall, his head hitting something solid as he went down. After that, nothing.
He had spent some time keeping watch for the Alcor's familiar red sails, but they were nowhere to be seen. Though to be fair, the weather certainly didn't help; although the sky directly above him was clear, there were heavy storm clouds circling the place as far as the eye could see, a thick fog hanging low over the sea. Suffice it to say that it seemed unlikely the Alcor would simply stumble across his location, which was... distressing, to say the least. Still, there was no point in sitting around and twiddling his thumbs, so Kazuha had done what he knew best: he had gone exploring.
He'd spent a few hours walking around the place, and he was slowly piecing together a mental map. The sandy beaches quickly gave way to a dense forest, but if he looked closely enough there were signs of cobblestone paths and small statues, worn away by time and choked by the undergrowth; he even came across the remains of a torii gate, although the paint had completely chipped away and the entire left side was missing. He followed these small traces of civilization, making his way through the forest and up a slight incline.
He eventually reached what looked like a small crater that had been partially filled by crystalline waters, dyed red by the few dying rays of the sun that managed to pierce the heavy storm clouds. On the other side of the lake was an abandoned shrine, surrounded by old sakura trees that shed their petals as if they were tears, hunched over the shine's roof and the lake itself.
And then there was movement, and Kazuha realized he wasn't alone.
He ducked behind a rock, then slowly peeked out from behind it as he rested a hand on his sword's hilt. There, in the middle of the lake, was a figure, their dark hair spilling from their shoulders and into the water like ink. They briefly dipped under the surface, spreading the water along their arms as they emerged–
Oh. They were bathing. Kazuha flushed, swiftly turning his back on them and starting to step away, careful not to alert them...
But then a weight crashed against his back without warning, sending him sprawling to the ground. He barely managed to get his hands under him to protect his face, but they were immediately grabbed and moved behind his back with unsettling strength.
He felt the person who attacked him move closer, their long hair tickling his neck. "Who the hell are you?" They – he? – hissed, low and menacing against his ear.
Just as Kazuha was preparing to answer, he paused. There was... something about this person. Something electrifying, and it wasn't just a metaphor. He swore he could feel electricity lightly jumping across his skin, eventually settling across his neck. And the pressure on his back... it wasn't just physical; it was akin to the calm before a storm in the way it rendered the air nearly unbreathable with its oppressiveness.
The electrical grip around Kazuha's neck tightened, making him gasp out in pain. "Answer me," the person ordered. "If you insist on not using your tongue, I may just have to rip it out of your throat."
This person... was not human.
"I... am Kaedehara Kazuha," he forced out, struggling to speak against the sharp sparks burning his throat. "I was on a ship... leaving Inazuma... but I fell overboard during a storm and e-ended up here."
The person – youkai? God? – hummed as he let the grip around Kazuha's neck slacken slightly, and if he weren't trying to keep his guard up Kazuha would have sighed in relief. "And why, exactly, were you spying on me?"
"I wasn't."
"Don't lie to me."
"I am not," Kazuha reassured him, doing everything in his power not to tense up as he felt a knee painfully dig into his back. "I was simply exploring this place by following what little traces of civilization I could find, and I ended up here. I did not notice you at first, but when I did I immediately averted my eyes and attempted to leave. I am terribly sorry for my mistake, and I swear I had no ill intentions, my Lord."
The stranger paused, then grabbed Kazuha by the hair and forced him to turn his head to the side. He squinted in pain when the sudden movement caused his headache to flare up again, blinking away a few tears to meet a pair of bright indigo eyes. "Why did you call me that?" the stranger questioned firmly.
Kazuha swallowed. There was a dormant power in those eyes. "You are a God, are you not?"
Those eyes remained unperturbed, though one of his eyebrows did rise slightly. He studied Kazuha for a moment more, curiously tilting his head at him, expression unreadable. Then, finally, a small smirk curved his rosy lips. "So you do have a brain somewhere in there."
Kazuha didn't know how to reply, so he simply held that dark gaze. Or would it be more appropriate to avert his eyes? Uncertain, he ended up briefly glancing to the side before returning to the God's face, his gaze falling on his dark eyelashes, pressed together by the water still clinging to them.
The God scoffed, then moved behind Kazuha as he rose to his feet. "You may turn."
Kazuha did so, sitting up before turning around to face the God. He craned his head upwards and tensed as he realized the God was still nude; he immediately wrenched his eyes away to look at him in the face, though he couldn't help but catch a glimpse of the dark markings all over the deity's body.
"On your knees."
Kazuha swallowed back a wave of indignation at being ordered around and did as the God asked. He knelt, fingers digging into his thighs when slim, pale fingers grabbed him by the chin.
"Obedient... good for you," the God remarked lightly, and Kazuha couldn't quite hold back a frown. The God laughed, nails digging into Kazuha's skin. "I am Belial, and as you've already gathered I am a God. I expect you to act accordingly, Kazuha."
"Yes, Lord Belial," Kazuha said through gritted teeth.
Belial rolled his eyes. "Your attitude could use some work, but no matter. You at least seem to know when to keep your head down. You may rise."
Kazuha got up, unsure where to rest his eyes. He eventually settled for the mole under Belial's right eye. He seemed to be slightly shorter than Kazuha, which in another situation may have been amusing.
Belial shifted his weight to one leg and brought a hand to his lips, giving Kazuha a slow once-over. "What to do with you... hmm, what do you have to offer me, Kazuha?"
Kazuha blinked at him. "Uh, I'm... not sure?"
Belial rolled his eyes, muttering something about "useless little humans" under his breath. Although Kazuha was not a particularly pious man, he still racked his brain for an answer; he had the feeling that Belial could be as harsh and unpredictable as the Electro he controlled, and he didn't want to risk angering him. "I could start by fetching your clothes, perhaps?"
Belial sent him a curious glance. "I don't have any."
"Um... Really?"
Belial crossed his arms over his chest. If he didn't know any better, Kazuha would say he seemed defensive. "My robes became tattered beyond repair a long time ago. I don't feel cold and normally there's no one around, so I really don't have any use for clothes anyway."
Something about that didn't sit right with Kazuha. "Could I... offer you some of my own, then?"
"...What?"
"Well, it just... doesn't seem comfortable to move among this wilderness without any sort of protection, I suppose."
Belial waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, who cares? I'm used to it, and it's not like there's anyone around to see me walking around naked on this deserted island."
"Well, if I may... as I currently have no way to return to my ship, I'm afraid I will be here for a while, Lord Belial."
Kazuha had meant it as a simple statement of fact, but Belial's pause as he parted his lips made him wonder. Was the God truly alone on this island? What was the significance of Kazuha's arrival? And Belial still hadn't spoken – had Kazuha offended him somehow? He mentally backtracked on his words. Had he implied something without meaning to? "It is not that your nudity makes me uncomfortable, Lord Belial, and my opinion wouldn't matter either way, I was just genuinely wondering if–"
"Fine."
Kazuha blinked as Belial reached out a hand. Alright then. He shrugged off his haori, then handed it to the deity. He briefly averted his gaze as Belial slipped it on, patting down the fabric to make sure it sat properly on his slim body. Thankfully, they seemed to be about the same size; the sleeves were perhaps slightly long, but other than that the haori fit the God nicely, reaching slightly below his knees.
"This is... acceptable," Belial declared, studying the maple leaves depicted on the sleeves. "I will allow you to remain on this island, Kazuha. Do what you will, I don't care what you get up to as long as you don't bother me or damage anything."
Kazuha allowed himself a sigh of relief. He didn't know what he would have done had Belial decided not to allow him to stay. "Thank you, Lord Belial, for your understanding and your generosity," he said with a deep bow. "I will not disappoint you."
Belial raised his chin to look down on Kazuha with piercing eyes. "You better."
---
The next few days went by smoothly enough. Kazuha settled at the edge between woods and beach, in order to keep an eye on the sea at all times while still having some amount of shelter. As there didn't seem to be much of a wildlife population on the island he had to resort to fishing with his Vision, literally blowing chunks of water into the air and letting the fish fall onto the shore. Not the most humane way of getting food, perhaps, but he had to eat somehow, and the small berries scattered all over and occasional lavender melon tree wouldn't be enough to sustain him for longer periods of time.
As for shelter, he used a few fallen trees that he had chipped away at with his sword to build a shack of sorts, with a few leafy branches serving as a roof. It was small and unstable but it was something, especially since the weather all around still looked so menacing. It hadn't rained yet, and to be honest the clouds didn't look like they were advancing on the island, but one could never be too sure.
As for Belial he initially kept to himself, only occasionally stopping by Kazuha's camp to comment on the state of his shack or raise an eyebrow at his fishing techniques. Kazuha had tried offering him some food, but the God had declined saying that he had no need for sustenance and Kazuha should keep it for himself. Kazuha had worried about needing to make offerings to him in order to remain in his good graces, but that may not be a problem after all.
As the days went by, though, Belial started visiting more and more often. It was strange; he didn't stand too close and dodged most of Kazuha's attempts at polite conversation, but Kazuha could constantly feel his eyes on the back of his neck, studying his every move. Belial reminded him of a cat, in a way: always keeping an eye on you and basking in your company from afar, but skirting away as soon as you try to really interact with it. He didn't mind it, though: after a full loop around the island's sandy beach he had come to the conclusion that the island really was deserted, so he appreciated the company, quiet and distant though it may have been.
...Speaking of which, could a God feel lonely?
---
"What are you doing?"
Kazuha straightened up, groaning when his back protested after staying bent forward for too long. He wiped away a few beads of sweat from his forehead as he turned to face the deity, who was standing a few feet behind him with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a hand idly playing with the haori's sleeve. "I am attempting to build a canoe." He gestured to the large tree trunk he was in the process of hollowing.
Belial narrowed his eyes at him, nodding at the storm clouds in the distance. "Do you seriously think a canoe will survive that storm?"
"I suppose not," Kazuha admitted with a sigh, "but I don't have many other options. I may just have to take the risk."
Belial frowned at that, and if he weren't a God Kazuha would have said he was pouting. "What, do you hate being here that much?"
"No no, absolutely not," Kazuha hurried to correct him, "it's just that... well, the crew I am a part of is like family to me. They must be worried sick... and to be honest, I am starting to miss them as well."
"Family, huh..."
Kazuha nodded, and Belial fell quiet. After a few moments of simply standing around in silence, Kazuha awkwardly bowed his head and turned back to his tree trunk–
"Is that why you've been so gloomy lately?"
Kazuha paused halfway through raising his sword, shooting Belial a confused look from over his shoulder. "Gloomy...?"
"Gloomy." Belial huffed, shifting his weight to one leg. "Gazing into the horizon, sighing, muttering to yourself, barely getting any sleep, sighing, looking like your pet cat just died... have I mentioned sighing?"
Kazuha turned to face the God fully, unsure what to say. It was true that he... was not feeling great about the situation. It wasn't the lack of company that bothered him – he was no stranger to being alone with nature – but he was not used to being trapped in one place, not since his clan had collapsed once and for all and he had found himself free to go wherever he wanted. But the island was small, and there wasn't much to see or do...
"I suppose I haven't been feeling great lately," he answered quietly, briefly meeting Belial's gaze but averting his own when faced with those piercing eyes. "I apologize for bringing the mood down, Lord Belial, I just... I'm feeling a little discouraged, I suppose."
"...There's a village."
Kazuha blinked at the non sequitur. "Oh, really? I must have missed it."
"That's because there's a ward hiding it," Belial answered bluntly. "I can deactivate it for you. The village was abandoned a while ago, but the ward has kept it frozen in time – everything will still be intact. Most of the buildings are made of wood, so you should be able to disassemble some of them to get the materials for a proper raft. There's also bound to be enough cloth for a sail, as well as various tools to make your job easier."
A ward to protect a village... even though it was abandoned? And on a deserted island, no less? Kazuha wasn't sure he understood, but he still smiled gratefully as he bowed to the God. "Thank you, Lord Belial."
"Yeah, whatever," Belial muttered. He turned to leave, but paused after taking a couple of steps. "Kazuha... if there's anything I've learned about humans it's that you persevere. As a species, you've overcome endless challenges with determination alone, and you as a person are resilient... for a human, at least. So don't let such trifling problems dim your fire. You will see this through."
"I..." Kazuha was surprised to feel tears building in his eyes, and he blinked rapidly to chase them away. He took a moment to breathe, momentarily choked by a surge of surprise and gratefulness alike. "Thank you, that was... very kind of you."
Belial didn't answer, simply hummed quietly, clutched the haori closer to his body and disappeared in a surge of sparks.
---
Kazuha stepped through the empty houses, footsteps echoing loudly on the stone streets. As Belial said, the village was in near perfect condition – the only indications that something may have happened were the fields being completely devoid of verdure and the occasional fallen pot or open door. Other than that, it looked as if someone could have stepped out from around the corner at any second – if it weren't for the silence, of course. Overall, the pristine conditions made this place more unsettling than any amount of damage ever could, but Kazuha wasn't about to complain. He was here to do something, and he would.
...Still, it was a bit of a shame. As he stepped into one house after another, he couldn't help but notice little signs of forgotten lives. A colorful carpet, a flower arrangement, an abandoned toy, a sketchy portrait hung on the wall... and in nearly every house, there was a shrine to Belial.
Right, of course... the inhabitants of this village must've been his people. He paused in front of an impressive charcoal rendition of the God, dressed in flowing robes and a delicate veil, his visage serious but not unkind. There were still half-melted candles in front of the drawing, as well as a rough-looking wooden carving that vaguely resembled a cat... probably the handiwork of a child, if he had to guess.
The more he roamed the village, the more he realized just how much its inhabitants must have adored Belial. It wasn't simple devotion from a follower to their protector, it was something more; it was in the dozens of depictions, of varying quality and mediums but all created with the same care; it was in the pages and pages of poetry that Kazuha found himself poring over, all of them singing praises about their God's strength and benevolence; it was in a child's doodle, crudely depicting Belial hugging two children close to his chest, a wide smile coloring his face.
...What had happened here? Why was this place abandoned? There were no signs of illnesses or famine or any sort of natural disasters. It looked as if the people had been happy, so clearly their leaving couldn't have been due to a discontent with their God. Something else must have happened. If he asked Belial, would he answer? Or would he simply keep his distance, as always? The second option seemed far more likely, but still, Kazuha would try.
And as for the materials... Perhaps he could find an unused shed.
---
It was about to storm.
Kazuha squinted at the sky as he dragged what would soon become his sail back inside one of the houses, carefully spreading it over the floor before reaching for some flint and lighting a candle. Belial had allowed him to move to the small village instead of staying in his sorry excuse for a shack, which he was extremely grateful for, in part because as much as he enjoyed camping outdoors he was so incredibly relieved to sleep on a mattress again, and in part because...
...Well, if Belial had chosen to freeze this village in time, hide it away, and only allow Kazuha access to it after nearly two weeks of knowing him... it must have meant a lot to him, and Kazuha could see why.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by a firm knock on the door. He went to open it and immediately bowed once he met Belial's eyes. "It's about to storm," the God announced.
"I had a feeling," Kazuha replied, "but thank you for informing me, Lord Belial. Honestly, I was surprised it still hadn't rained despite the weather surrounding us."
Belial scoffed, adjusting the collar of the haori. "It hasn't rained yet because I haven't allowed it. But still, some rain once in a while is good for the island's survival. It can't be sunny all of the time."
Kazuha was about to agree with him, but was cut off by a loud roar as the heavens finally let loose. Belial flinched, hastily ducking under the house's awning. "So eager," he grumbled under his breath, followed by an even quieter "fucking asshole."
Kazuha barely held in a startled laugh at the God's swearing, although he wasn't sure who exactly this "asshole" was. Instead, he simply bowed his head and stepped to the side. "Please, come in."
Belial shook his head at him. "No need, I will return to the shrine."
"But it's already pouring..."
"And? Do you really think I'm afraid of a little rain?"
It was more of a deluge than a "little rain", but Kazuha held his tongue. "Of course not, but–"
Another clap of thunder, and Belial tensed for a moment before sighing. "...Fine," he grumbled reluctantly as he stepped inside and closed the door behind them. "Since I'm already here."
Kazuha smiled at him, grateful for this small victory, and Belial hesitated for a split second before heading further inside. He glanced curiously at the sail as he stepped around it, lightly skimmed his fingers over a wooden table...
And then he reached a drawing, and paused. It was that same childish doodle that had caught Kazuha's attention a few days before, the one with Belial hugging two children. "This is..." He trailed off, lightly tracing the drawing's uncertain lines with pale fingers. "I've never seen this one before..."
Something twisted in Kazuha's heart at the sorrowful look that overtook Belial's features. He stepped a little closer, and if Belial weren't a God Kazuha may have hugged him. "Your people really loved you," he said instead, softly, warmly, and Belial nodded without a word.
It was only several minutes later that Belial drew in a deep breath. "Do you worship anyone, Kazuha?"
Kazuha shook his head with a small smile. "Only the ground I walk on, the air I breathe and the food and water I consume."
Belial scoffed lightly and rolled his eyes, but he seemed amused. "What I meant was whether you followed a God, but I suppose the answer is no."
"That would be correct."
"Not even the Raiden Shogun?"
"Not even her. I respect her for what she's done for Inazuma, but that doesn't mean she's some infallible, perfect being... as we've recently had the occasion to see. In a way, she's just as human as the rest of us."
Belial hummed quietly. "Do you look down on worshipers, then?"
Kazuha paused, looking for the right words. "I wouldn't say that. I find it admirable, in a way, to be able to trust in someone so fully; it's simply not something I agree with on a personal level. Still..." He bit his lip, glancing at the drawing. "I do believe there are some Gods that deserve this trust, even though I wouldn't submit to them so blindly."
"...I see."
"Lord Belial... may I ask you something?"
Belial tilted his head at him. "Go ahead."
"What exactly happened here?"
Belial froze for a second before sighing, his shoulders dropping in defeat. "I thought you might ask that."
"If... Of course, if you'd rather not answer–"
"Just sit, Kazuha. It's a long story."
And so Kazuha sat on the small children's bed, folding his hands in his lap as Belial settled down on the larger bed in front of him. "I've been this island's protector ever since my... creation, about five hundred years ago," he began quietly. "I haven't told you this, but I am known as the God of Wards. I was assigned to this place by Beelzebul herself in order to keep watch over a specific ward... the one trapping the ancient God Vine."
Kazuha shifted forward. "Vine? I don't think I've ever heard of them."
Belial shook his head. "That's not surprising. He was defeated by Beelzebul during the Archon War, more than two thousand years ago; but fearing the impact his death could have on Inazuma, she decided to simply seal him away right below this island. Still, he's not completely powerless; the storm circling this island is his doing, and before I arrived there was a constant stream of youkai that hurried back and forth to keep the seal in check. And now, the only reason this place isn't trapped in an eternal storm is because I'm actively keeping it at bay – except when I want it to rain, like today.
"But anyway... even though this island was supposed to remain deserted due to its dangerous nature, some humans dropped anchor here a few years after I took up my position. I tried to chase them off, but they begged me to let them stay, saying that their hometown had been wiped off the map after the Cataclysm..." He sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And, like an idiot, I caved. They started building a few homes, then a whole village... and although I never imposed myself as their God, they even built me a shrine. Over the course of the generations I became Lord Belial, and... honestly? I was proud of that. It felt good, to gain the people's admiration... to be relied on like that."
"You were close to your people," Kazuha prompted, nodding at the drawing, and Belial sighed, a bittersweet glint to his eyes.
"Yes... I loved them. And that's why they're no longer here."
"For their safety?"
Belial hummed approvingly. "You're sharp. One day, the seal started straining... it had been really quiet for decades, so I thought at the time that Vine must have been giving up, but in truth it's likely that Vine was building up his strength, readying himself for one final gamble. I felt his power building and building and I knew... I knew that my people could never survive his wrath, much less a fight between the two of us..." His eyes closed as he bowed his head.
"And so you sent them away."
"Those idiots wouldn't leave at first," Belial muttered bitterly. "They kept insisting that they wanted to fight by my side... hah, as if they could have done anything against such a foe. You mortals are so foolish, filled with such hubris, such... pigheadedness. I had to downright threaten them, and even then they looked like they would have sooner marched to their death than abandoned me. But in the end I was their God, and if I gave an order, they listened. They left, and even after I managed to push Vine back into the seal... they never returned."
Belial fell silent, head bowed and fists clenched. "How long ago was that?" Kazuha asked gently.
"Three hundred years, give or take."
"And you've been here this whole time?"
"Yes."
"Alone?"
"...Yes."
Kazuha did not know what to say. Three hundred years stuck on a small island? Completely alone? It was... unimaginable. Kazuha did not think he would have been able to bear it. That must have been why Belial had been quietly seeking his company...
But Kazuha would have to leave soon, he couldn't stay here forever.
...Belial would be alone again. The thought filled Kazuha with a sorrow he had not felt in a long time.
Belial looked up at him from the corner of his eye. "Don't look at me like that, Kazuha. I am a God, and things such as human interactions are beneath me. I do not need them."
"I don't believe that's true."
"How shameless, telling a God what to feel..."
"That's not it, Lord Belial," Kazuha corrected him gently, raising a hand to his chest. "I only believe that you should not be afraid to express your emotions openly."
"Afraid? I'm not afraid," Belial snapped, crossing his arms in a way that nearly hid how tightly he clutched the haori's sleeves. "You're but a lowly human, frail and powerless. If you think I care about what you think of me, you're sorely mistaken."
But Belial was lying. It was in the way he refused to meet Kazuha's gaze, in the way his lips were pressed together and his shoulders were tense and raised close to his ears. Kazuha could only smile sadly. "Lord Belial... may I sit by your side?"
Belial's eyes shot to Kazuha's, wide and surprised. He hesitated for several moments before scoffing, turning his head to the side once more. "You may."
Kazuha slowly got up and sat on the bed next to Belial, close enough to feel his warmth but not close enough to touch him. They sat in silence for a few minutes, with the pounding of the rain on the thatched roof as their only company. Kazuha closed his eyes, allowing himself to get lost in the comforting sound and briefly forget the situation they were both in.
"Kazuha."
"Yes?"
"I..." Belial hesitated, clearing his throat. "I don't want you to leave. I-I don't want to be alone again."
There it was. Kazuha breathed out a sigh, and gingerly reached for Belial's hand. Belial's breathing hitched for a moment, but he didn't move away. "I'm sorry," Kazuha whispered. "I don't want to leave you either, but... I can't stay here."
"I know." Belial took a deep breath, his shoulders trembling as he exhaled. "I can tell how much being chained down to one place is hurting you, and... as much as I want your company, a songbird's voice will always be bittersweet if its wings are clipped. I won't stop you from leaving."
Kazuha could only smile at that, and at the gentle warmth Belial ignited with his words. He lightly squeezed the hand in his grasp. "You are a gentle God."
Belial scoffed, but when he turned to look at Kazuha his eyes were soft. "And you are too bold for your own good."
"Can't you come with me?" Kazuha asked, even though he already knew the answer.
Of course, Belial simply shook his head. "Vine is tired and nearly powerless, but he is not dead – this storm is proof enough of that. As long as he lives, I cannot leave. This is my purpose, after all."
He was expecting it, but it was still painful to hear. "I understand."
"Don't look so sad, Kazuha. I'm not unhappy here. I will be fine."
Kazuha wanted to believe him, he really did, but the sorrow carefully hidden deep inside Belial's eyes felt all-consuming. "I truly hope you will."
---
Kazuha's raft was ready a few days after. Belial barely left his side during that time, always sitting nearby as Kazuha worked. They didn't talk much during the day, but at night Kazuha found himself sharing stories of his travels all over Teyvat, with Belial as his small, but eager audience. Kazuha came to the realization that he would miss his quiet presence dearly... Belial may have been a God, but he now felt he could consider him a friend, as well. More than anything, though, Kazuha wanted him to be happy. He had lost so much, accepted so many sacrifices for Inazuma's sake... Kazuha's heart wailed at the idea of abandoning him and etching another scar into his gentle soul. And so, Kazuha quietly came to a decision. It would forever change the trajectory of his life, and perhaps he was being a little impulsive, but... he was ready. He knew what he had to do.
When the day of Kazuha's departure came, Belial was there, gazing at Kazuha with a forced smile. He even tried returning Kazuha's haori, but Kazuha stopped him.
"But this is yours," Belial protested with a frown. "And won't you need it at sea? What if you get wet and catch a cold, huh?"
Kazuha chuckled at Belial's concern. Sometimes, he could be so... cute. "I will be fine, I've had much worse than a cold."
"Pigheaded human..." Belial grumbled, and Kazuha couldn't help but laugh again, letting out the warm, fluttering feeling in his chest. But then he remembered his decision and sobered, taking a deep breath.
"Lord Belial... There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Oh?" Belial tilted his head at him as he adjusted the haori's collar. "Do tell."
"How likely is it that Vine will reawaken?"
Belial paused and frowned at the question, his eyes briefly darting to the ground in consideration. "Extremely unlikely, at this point. That last outburst three hundred years ago took a lot out of him, and his powers have greatly weakened since then... erosion is still a potential problem, of course, but I could always call her since it seems she's left the Plane..."
Kazuha wasn't sure he completely understood that, but still... "What I mean is, is the island safe now?"
Belial hummed under his breath. "I suppose so. There's still a chance things may go south, but as long as I keep an eye on things it should be easy enough to nip any potential trouble in the bud before things get too serious."
"I see..." Alright. This was good. Now on to his question. "Lord Belial... how would you feel about me bringing more people here?"
Belial froze. "Huh?"
"The island is relatively safe, the village could be repopulated easily, and there's a decent amount of natural resources here... with some careful planning, it shouldn't be too difficult to bring this island to life once again."
"I..." Belial bowed his head, bringing a hand to his lips. "I mean... that's..."
"I would also return often to keep an eye on things and–"
"You'll come back?"
Kazuha paused at the surprise, the hope, shining in Belial's eyes. "Of course I will," he answered with a smile. "I'm not sure how long it will take, but I will return as soon as possible, with or without other people."
"But... but you're a traveler," Belial protested weakly. "You said that wandering from one corner of Teyvat to the other is what gives your life meaning... having to return here regularly would be–"
"–A sacrifice I am willing to make," Kazuha completed gently. "Although, to be honest... it really isn't much of a sacrifice, if it means I'll get to see you again."
Belial's jaw dropped. He stared at Kazuha, speechless, for several seconds. And then, whatever was left of his facade crumbled. He was no longer Lord Belial, but rather a human being like any other, eager to cling to whatever form of comfort he could find, and so incredibly relieved at knowing he would not be alone anymore.
Belial lunged forward, throwing his arms around Kazuha's neck. "Thank you," he breathed out into Kazuha's ear. "Thank you, thank you..."
Kazuha laughed quietly at the show of affection, moving to return the hug and rest his hands on Belial's back. "Lord Belial–"
"Belial," he interrupted him, voice dangerously unstable. "Just Belial. Please."
Kazuha came to the startling realization that he wanted to kiss him. He settled for pressing his mouth against Belial's shoulder, closing his eyes with a sigh. "Belial," he began, and Belial trembled in his hold. "I am not a pious man, this much you already know, and I am not one to permanently tie myself down to any one place. But for you... I am willing to return as many times as it is necessary. Please just wait for me, and I promise you will never be alone again, my Lord."
Belial shook his head against Kazuha's neck. "Don't call me that..."
"I won't if you don't want me to, but... that title does reflect how I feel."
"W-what?"
"I am pledging myself to you, Belial."
A beat of silence. Then, Belial grabbed Kazuha by the shoulders, forcing him to take a few steps backwards. His eyes were wide, desperate, as they searched Kazuha's gaze for any trace of dishonesty or hesitation. He would find none.
"Kazuha, I... But you said..."
"That I do not worship anything but the nature around me, and I stand by that. But... well, while I cannot say that I worship you, I do want to stand by your side and support you. Granted, I wouldn't be here all the time and I-I suppose that wouldn't make me a very good follower, but if you're willing to accept that, I–"
"Yes," Belial breathed out, and Kazuha's heart skipped several beats. "Yes, Kazuha, I accept. I... will take you as my follower."
Kazuha smiled in relief, and saw that same expression mirrored in Belial's eyes, but he could then feel himself begin to blush uncontrollably as Belial drew closer and cupped Kazuha's cheeks. "And every loyal follower deserves a blessing," he whispered, making goosebumps erupt on Kazuha's skin. "Right, Kazuha?"
Kazuha swallowed. "Y-Yes, my Lord."
Belial smiled gently, then pressed his lips to Kazuha's brow. Kazuha found himself shivering at the feeling, at the tingling warmth that spread from the spot Belial kissed to the rest of his body, eventually nestling in his chest. "W-What...?"
"I told you I am known as the God of Wards, and that is correct," Belial began as he drew back, hands still firmly on Kazuha's cheeks. "However... it would be more appropriate to say that I am the God of Protection."
"Protection?"
"I have placed a mark on you– don't worry, it's not visible to the naked eye," he added when Kazuha's eyes widened. "It serves a double function. First of all, it will protect you against most ills – it won't make you indestructible, though, so don't you even think about jumping off cliffs or something; think of it as a... very powerful lucky charm, so to speak."
"Understood," Kazuha replied with a small, incredulous laugh.
"As for its other function..." Belial hesitated, wetting his lips. "It's... what binds you to me. You will always know where I am, and I will know where you are in turn; furthermore, other deities or supernatural beings will be able to identify you as someone under my protection... and I can promise you, if they ever did anything to harm you, revenge would come swiftly and mercilessly. But they wouldn't dare; my fight against Vine was felt, of that I am sure. They know who I am," he concluded with a sharp grin.
This was... really happening. Kazuha felt kind of dizzy.
"Kazuha? If that's too much, I can–"
"No," Kazuha interrupted him, resting his hands on Belial's wrists. "No, it's just... a little overwhelming, but I've made my choice and I'm certain of it. Thank you for accepting my proposal... and for protecting me, Belial."
Belial laughed, and the sound briefly turned Kazuha's brain off. "I'm not quite as selfless as you think, Kazuha. I'm choosing to protect you because my soul couldn't stand it if anything happened to you."
"Still... thank you. Truly."
"I'm the one that should be thanking you." Belial gently freed his hands, then pulled Kazuha into a hug once more, his arms wrapping tightly around Kazuha's waist. "You didn't have to promise me this, Kazuha, and yet you did. And I... I'm so, so grateful for it. Really."
Kazuha laughed softly into Belial's hair, melting into the embrace. He didn't want to let go. He wanted to stay here forever, safe in Belial's arms. But he knew he couldn't – his heart wouldn't be able to bear being tied down to one place. And so... this compromise would have to do.
Eventually, Belial sighed. "You... you should go. If you stay longer, I may just change my mind," he said with a little laugh.
Kazuha laughed in turn, reluctantly extricating himself from Belial's embrace. "And so may I," he confessed quietly.
"I will part the storm for you, and I will do the same when I feel you returning," Belial reassured him with a nod. "I'll keep an eye on you during the rest of your journey as well, but still, be careful. I'm powerful, not omnipotent."
"I shall keep that in mind." Kazuha smiled once more, and he saw Belial melt a little. It was enough to make him a little giddy, even as he took a few steps towards his raft.
Before he could board it, though, he was stopped by a hand tugging on his own. He turned, meeting Belial's soulful eyes. "Kazuha," Belial murmured softly. "Please come back to me."
Kazuha raised their intertwined hands, pressing a kiss against Belial's knuckles and delighting in the way his cheeks darkened. "I will," he promised, his gaze never straying from Belial's own. "I will always come back to you, for as many times as it is necessary. I swear it on my life."
Belial took a deep breath, then smiled. "Alright," he whispered, then let go of Kazuha's hand. "Alright," he repeated, this time with more conviction. "I will await your return, then."
Kazuha returned the smile, blinking back tears of both sadness and affection. "And I swear that I will not make you wait for long."