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It was noon approaching in Mondstadt, Dahlia and Barbara, the young Deacon and Deaconess of the Church of Favonius decided to take a leisurely stroll after a hard day's work at the cathedral
As they passed by the Angel's Share tavern, a familiar voice called out to them. Turning, they saw Rosaria and Kaeya lounging outside of Angel Share like they owned the place. Their gazes locked onto the pair with interest.
Kaeya flashed a grin, "Barbara, Dahlia, what a pleasant surprise to see you both here. Why don't you join us for a double date?" He suggested, like the smooth talker he is, Kaeya declared it a double date in the making. Rosaria suddenly scoffed at Kaeya's words, attempting to divert attention away from her rather flustered reaction.
Barbara's cheeks had also flushed a soft pink, and she glanced shyly at Dahlia, who was trying to suppress a wavering smirk of interest. He shifted on his feet, feeling a flutter of nerves mixed with excitement at the unexpected turn of events. "Sounds like fun, so why not~?" Dahlia accepted the proposal for their double date without hesitation.
Barbara felt a little stunned as she realized she would be going on a 'date' alongside her fellow deacon of the church, Dahlia, who she hadn't realized she had feelings for until that moment. Her heart raced, unable to hide her nervousness about the situation.
Dahlia took her hand gently, as if reading her mind. "Hey, don't worry about it, we're only going to pick some flowers~" he said softly. Barbara blushed, feeling embarrassed by her sudden reaction. Dahlia gave her a small smile before they were ready to travel to the lush meadows around Mondstadt.
The quartet sets off to pick flowers outside of Mondstadt's gates, with romantic tension falling between icy-cool Rosaria and Kaeya. Rosaria kept averting her gaze from him, avoiding his charms as if they were a plague. Were sparks flying or was it just the wind playing tricks?
While the other two were busy with a game of wits and cold stares, Barbara and Dahlia found themselves caught in adorably awkward moments. They began stumbling over words and blushing like Mondstadt's very own cherubs.
Barbara and Dahlia, the first couple, were like a blossoming flower in the early morning light—innocent, sweet, and filled with the promise of new beginnings. Their interactions were tender and gentle, marked by shy smiles and soft laughter. Their connection was pure and heartwarming, like a delicate melody played on a harp.
On the other hand, Rosaria and Kaeya, the second couple, exuded a different kind of energy. Their dynamic was charged with tension and mystery, Rosaria's icy demeanor clashed with Kaeya's charismatic charm, Their interactions were filled with sharp retorts and sly looks, hinting at a deeper, more complex relationship beneath the surface.
The two couples brought a unique essence to the double date, it was a special and rare sight to see. Barbara and Dahlia's laughter mingled with the sweet scent of flowers blooming all around them.
Barbara reached out to pick a delicate daisy, "I... I found a flower for you, Deacon Dahlia!" She stammered as her face turned redder than a tomato. She looked up nervously at him, still blushing over the whole 'double date' thing.
Dahlia paused briefly, looking surprised. His lips curled upwards into an amused smile, "Oh, really? Thank you, Deaconess, now let me offer you my gift~" his tone was teasing, as if he wanted to tease her. He held out an array of pastel flowers clasped together in hand forming a bouquet, Barbara's eyes widened and she began to blush furiously.
"Uh.. th...tha...thank you..!" She mumbled, holding out the daisy she picked earlier for him to hold, her face still red with embarrassment. "Thank you," he giggled in response, taking the offered daisy.
As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the meadows, the air was filled with the soft hum of insects and the gentle rustle of the grass. Barbara and Dahlia stood amidst the sea of flowers, their cheeks still tinged with a rosy hue.
Kaeya, ever the observant one, couldn't resist but notice the sweet interaction between Barbara and Dahlia. With a playful hum, he turned towards Rosaria, who was busy pretending to be indifferent to the romantic atmosphere surrounding them. "Seems like love is in the air, Rosaria. Are you feeling left out?" he teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
Rosaria shot Kaeya a withering glare, her icy facade cracking just a tad as a faint blush dusted her cheeks. "I have no interest in such frivolities," she retorted, crossing her arms and looking away, trying to mask the faint flutter in her chest that she couldn't quite explain.
Kaeya chuckled, enjoying the rare sight of Rosaria being flustered. "Oh, come now, Rosaria. Even you can't deny the allure of a little romance in the air. Who knows, perhaps even your heart might thaw in this lovely setting." he teased, his voice light and flirty.
Rosaria's gaze flickered towards Barbara and Dahlia, who were now exchanging shy smiles and playful banter. Despite her best efforts to remain aloof, a small part of Rosaria couldn't help but feel a twinge of longing, a desire for that same innocent joy that seemed to envelop the young couple.
As the evening descended, casting a soft, ethereal light over the meadows, the two couples found themselves caught in a moment of quiet. The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
And amidst it all, Rosaria couldn't help but steal a glance at Kaeya, her heart fluttering with a strange mix of emotions she couldn't quite decipher. Perhaps, in this moment of unexpected romance and camaraderie, even the icy-hearted nun might find a spark of warmth in her own heart.
Rosaria's jaw clenched as she watched Kaeya's playful teasing, the corners of her lips twitching in a mixture of annoyance and something she couldn't quite place. Without a word, she bent down to pluck a solitary flower from the ground, its petals as dark and enigmatic as her own demeanor.
In one swift movement, Rosaria straightened up and approached Kaeya, her steps deliberate as she held out the lily towards him. The air filled with tension as she pushed the flower into his surprised hands, her gaze unwavering.
Kaeya's charming facade faltered for a brief moment, taken aback by the unexpected gesture from the usually stoic nun. "...Just take it" Rosaria said. The two didn't move an inch, as Kaeya's eyes widened slightly.
Rosaria's expression remained impassive, her gaze fixed on Kaeya as she spoke in a tone that held a hint of vulnerability beneath its icy surface.
Kaeya's gaze softened as he met Rosaria's intense stare, a gentle smile formed on his lips as he brought the lily to his nose, inhaling its scent. "Why thank you, Rosaria. I appreciate the sentiment," he replied, his voice tinged with amusement.
As the two were having their moment, Dahlia had managed to nick his hand on a rogue rose thorn. Though it was a minor mishap, Barbara immediately proposed they head back. Rosaria and Kaeya, nodding in agreement, and they made it back inside the gates of Mondstadt holding the flowers they collected in hand.
Dahlia was enthusiastic as ever, as if the minor cut on his hand didn't hurt even in the slightest. "Thanks for inviting us to pick flowers together, you two!" Dahlia grinned. Barbara nodded, "You two certainly did a nice job picking the perfect flowers, you collected such colorful ones as well!" Her eyes shimmered with warmth as she looked at the bouquet in their hands.
Both Rosaria and Kaeya could see the glimmer of genuine fondness in the young couple's eyes. "It was... surprisingly relaxing, actually," Rosaria muttered under her breath, though neither of the deacons could hear. Kaeya sighed in a confident tone, "Why don't you say we stay over at the tavern a little while longer, Rosaria?"
"If you insist..." she murmured, not wanting to sound too eager in case the other two would get suspicious. Barbara smiled softly at the couple. "Thank you for out time together! I will stop by the cathedral and treat the scratch on Dahlia's hand, goodbye then..!" Barbara waved politely, as her and Dahlia hurried off to the cathedral.
Barbara led Dahlia through the grand doors of the cathedral, the air inside cool and serene. The scent of incense hung in the air, mingling with the fragrance of the flowers they carried.
Barbara couldn't help but steal glances at Dahlia, as she guided him to a wooden bench and gestured for him to sit. She moved gracefully around the room, gathering supplies to tend to his wound.
Dahlia watched her with a warm smile, his eyes filled with admiration for the kind-hearted deaconess who always cared for others. As Barbara cleaned and bandaged his hand, he couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude towards her.
Once she finished, Barbara looked up to meet Dahlia's gaze, her own eyes holding compassion and care. "There, all done," she said softly, showing a gentle smile. Dahlia's hand felt cool and comforted, a stark contrast to the initial sting of the thorn.
In that moment, Dahlia shared a long stare with Barbara, causing her heart to beat faster with ever passing second. "Thank you, Deaconess Barbara..." He could feel his heartbeat quicken, his cheeks flush pink with anxiety as if a kiss was about to happen.
Before either of them knew it, the familiar sound of someone's approaching footsteps caused both of them to break their gaze. Barbara suddenly stood up from where she sat on the bench beside Dahlia, her cheeks turning bright red. "That's it! All better now, hehe...!"
The young priest frowned, confused, "W-wait, Deaconess Barbara-" he suddenly was interrupted by the awkward silence between Sister Victoria and them.
"Hmph, are you both alright? You look rather flushed, dears," the nun remarked. Both of them blinked in surprise, "Well, yes, we're fine! It was only a thorn!" Barbara exclaimed quickly, her blush growing deeper. Sister Victoria gave them a knowing smile, "So I heard you two went on a date today?" She inquired teasingly at the couple.
They stared dumbfounded at each other before looking towards Sister Victoria. "What do you mean, 'date'?!" Barbara exclaimed, her face burning even more than before, the tips of her ears reddening as she struggled to formulate her words. Barbara and Dahlia turned away from the nun to sort their thoughts.
"How can we lie Deaconess Barbara? it WAS a date!" He whispered. Barbara let out a worried sigh, "Well, yes it WAS, but how exactly could we possibly explain that?!" They continued whispering to each other while Victoria shook her head in disapproval with a knowing smile.
Sister Victoria placed a tender hand on the both of their shoulders as she laughed gently. "I am only just teasing," she reassured them kindly. The couple nodded gratefully, the blush on their cheeks subsiding somewhat. As Sister Victoria walked away, the two exchanged a nervous glance, unable to tell whether or not the sisters were aware of their relationship.
Barbara and Dahlia couldn't help but smile as they shared a single glance after the other nun left, the pair sharing a silent promise to tell her everything later. "Goodnight, Deacon Dahlia!" Barbara called softly, "Goodnight, Deaconess." He replied in a low voice.
The two waved as she and him parted ways, their hearts racing with excitement as a slight sense of unease settled over them. They couldn't help but wonder what they were really feeing for eachother, and yet, as they parted ways in opposite directions, they had no doubt that this feeling of anticipation they felt within themselves was being in love.