Work Text:
Kuni had quickly put on his winter boots and coat to rush to his headquarters in Central Snezhnaya. He had gotten an urgent call from his boss, ‘The Captain.’
It was a new target after he just finished his last mission. He hadn’t even cleaned his coat yet.
He rushed into the meeting room and sat down in his seat, next to The Rooster.
“Alright, now that we’re all here, let us get started, shall we.” He said, more of a statement than a request.
“Let’s start with Tartaglia— your mission: Lin Meixiu from Chenyu Vale, Liyue. Here’s your plane ticket.” He hands the ginger a ticket engraved with Upper Vale; CHY on it.
“And you, Balladeer, your target is Kaedehara Kazuha from Inazuma. Your boat ticket to Inazuma is right here.” The boss explains, handing him a ticket.
The assignments go as:
The Knave: Inoue Mizuki from Inazuma City, Inazuma
The Damsellette: Lucien Marceau from Petrichor Island, Fontaine
The Regrator: Adeline Marlow from Springvale, Mondstadt
But Kuni just stares at his boss and then the ticket in disbelief.
“You do realize that he’s my friend, right?” He snaps as he finishes the list. Forget calling Kazuha his boyfriend.
“He’s indebted to us for being an accomplice in the murder of our passed co-worker, La Signora. So, either you accept this mission, or you leave.” The Captain continues coldly.
“Fine. I accept.” Bad decision.
“Great, now, good luck on your missions, and that concludes our meeting. You all are dismissed.”
~☂️🍁~
Kuni was, regretfully, on a ferry to Inazuma. He was planning something, something that was not killing Kazuha. Before calling him to tell him about his mission, he planned a preamble. He had a day left before he got to Inazuma.
The Snezhnayan company he has been working for— the Snezhnayan company that raised and trained him— turned out to be an assassin company, and he’d been falling for their lies and killing innocent people. Now though, he won’t tolerate this death.
The death of his first and only love.
The electric ocean wind had been a harsh reminder of his past there, his mother and his home life, but a welcoming and nostalgic reminder of his past memories with Kazuha and Niwa.
That day though was not as he expected it. What he originally planned to get work done on his laptop turned into him buying a few drinks and FaceTiming Kazuha.
As he’s probably half-sober, he accidentally tells Kazuha about his mission. He doesn’t just tell him about the mission, but he rants about how pissed he is at the Fatui. He rants about his mother, his life, and how horrible he feels for having to put this onto Kazuha.
And Kazuha just listens attentively.
But then as he’s on his bed and the lights are dimmed, Kuni falls asleep, next to the one person he loves the most.
~☂️🍁~
The ferry docks at the port of Ritou, where Kuni goes through ID and passport processing. After passing through the nearby islands, he takes a taxi to Inazuma City.
The streets of Inazuma City were unusually quiet, the glow of lanterns reflecting off the damp cobblestones. His steps were steady, his focus locked on the path ahead. A faint breeze tugged at his scarf, carrying with it the scent of the sea.
He passed familiar landmarks—a small bridge beneath a blooming sakura tree, the market stall where Kazuha and him had exchanged Christmas gifts. Each place whispered memories of shared laughter and quiet conversations, vivid even in the stillness of the night.
The gravel crunched softly underfoot as he reached their spot. Hidden behind a grove of maple trees, it was a world of their own. Kuni brushed his fingers against the rough bark of the tree they had once carved into. He lingered, the air thick with anticipation, and waited for Kazuha to appear, as he always had—like the first breath of autumn wind.
“Kuni.” A calm voice called out, steady and familiar. Kuni froze, phone in hand, his thumb hovering over the screen as he turned. He had been seconds away from dialing, but there was no need.
Kazuha stood there, framed by the soft glow of lantern light filtering through the trees. His presence was quiet yet grounding, just as it had always been.
“Kazuha,” Kuni breathed, a small smile blooming on his face.
“You made it here just in time.” Kazuha chuckles, tilting his head to the side.
“The ferry did, not me.” He says in a challenging manner.
“Oh yeah? Hush.” Kazuha rolls his eyes, chuckling. “Want me to help you with bags?”
“I’m alright, I got this.” He says, sticking out his tongue. He places his backpack on his two shoulders and lugs his luggage with him to Kazuha’s place. The walk home was quiet, yet…comforting. Soft crunches of leaves under their feet broke the silence a couple of times yet no one cared.
It was like Kuni’s assignment didn’t even exist.
But…the Fatui wouldn’t allow that type of mind for Kuni. After all they raised him, trained him, and employed him. Against his own will. And if they were to find out? They’d both end up dead.
~☂️🍁~
“Ahh, home sweet home.” Kazuha mumbles to himself. “Need help? Or are you capable of handling three million bags by yourself?” He muses, poking at Kuni with small jokes and exasperations.
“First, no I don’t need help, and second, it’s two bags.” He responds flatly, sticking the tip of his tongue out in a mocking manner. He tugs at the dark blue luggage and hauls it in through the doorway.
“Whatever you say, Kuni.” Kazuha says, going straight to his study. “By the way, I’ll be in the office writing.”
“More poems?” Kuni inquires, dragging his bag to his room to open up. He shrugs off the backpack from his shoulders and places it on the couch, careful not to break the laptop and picture frame in it.
“Yes. Haiku’s again, if you’re wondering.” Kazuha calls back, softly sliding the glass door shut.
Kuni chuckles softly, opening up his backpack to remove the contents of it. His laptop goes back on his desk and his pictures go back onto the shelf. He takes the rest of his items and rearranges them onto his shelf to be used in the far future. His luggage, mostly filled with clothing and self-care products which Kazuha insisted on bringing, is opened to unpack for later.
Later that night, The Captain calls him, questioning his location and demanding an update on his progress, especially since he’s so close with the target. With a sharp and icy tone, he asks, “What progress have you made with the distraction?” The words cut through Kuni’s morals like a blade.
“Distraction? You mean Kaedehara?” Kuni responds, his voice calculated and emotionless, masking any spill of vulnerability.
“Precisely. I understand you two are acquaintances, but you are the only one fit for this assignment.” The Captain says, words heartfelt though lacking any real sense of emotion.
“I understand.” He says, lying through his teeth. Bullshit. Absolute raw bullshit. There were five other members in that room other than him and those assigned missions. He sighs, abruptly getting up from his chair as the call is hung up on, moving to the kitchen where he smells food being prepped.
“You look pissed.” Kazuha states matter-of-factly. He looks up from his stove, making direct eye contact with the stressed out raven in front of him, the one otherwise known to him as his love.
“Very observant, mister poet.” He grumbles, staring right back at the pale haired male. The stark red streak in his hair contrasting his personality, almost like a flash or rebellion compared to his calm and collected personality.
“Was it because of your task?” He asks calmly.
“Why do you sound like you’re not scared for your life?” Kuni shoots back at him, disregarding the previous question with a new one. He glares into the red eyes, swirling with emotion yet seemingly relaxed.
“I am.” He replies simply. “I just don’t want to think about it.” He mumbles. He returns to stirring whatever he is making, eyes softening.
“Kazuha, you think I want to do this?” He snaps, tone lowering ever so slightly. “Let’s just drop this conversation, okay?”
Kazuha nods in return, pouring out the contents of the pot into two bowls. “I made udon by the way.” He says, switching the topic quickly. He ties his hair back, his turtleneck being exposed more.
“Thanks.” Kuni says, placing two mats on the table to eat. He bites the inside of his cheek, debating whether or not to speak up. His thoughts win. “Kazuha, I’m aware I don’t show it often, but I really care about you. I will find some loophole to this.” He quietly promises.
“I know.” Kazuha says, smiling softly to his partner.
~☂️🍁~
Three weeks. Three goddamn weeks pass and The Fatui have heard nothing of The Balladeer so far.
Three weeks and The Balladeer has been enjoying his time in his homeland with the target for the time remaining.
That’s why they decided to send over The Knave to go check on him.
She boarded the same ferry three days ago, and is on the search for a specific purple-haired male. Arlecchino then sees them.
Two males, a pale haired one and dark haired, one laughing over something while the other grumbles as a hat is shoved onto his head. The pale haired one is not of any concern anymore. It’s all about him. The Balladeer.
“Kazuha. Please, take this off of my head.” Kuni grumbles, looking like an angry stray cat with the bunny hat shoved onto his head.
“No, you’re so cute in it!” He says, swooning over the shorter male. He grasps the cloth coming out of the hat and squeezes the bottom, the ears flapping up. He chuckles, squeezing it a few more times for good measure.
So this is what The Balladeer has become. A plaything for his ‘friend.’
“Ahem.” Arlecchino says, stepping forward. Kuni freezes upon hearing the voice, blood running faster.
“Excuse me, do I know you?” Kazuha asks politely, facing The Knave.
“I believe not, but The Ba— Mister Kunikuzushi here and I are co-workers. Now if you may excuse me, I must speak with him for a moment.” She says, more of a demand than an offer. Kuni grimaces at the sound of his full name being used, especially by someone of her title.
“That would be fine.” He says, following her into a small alleyway. Kazuha knows that he has a shady job, but this is straight up sketchy. He knows something is wrong, but for now, he stays in his place.
“Balladeer, it has been three weeks and you are here, with the target, buying hats.” The Knave states simply.
“I am aware of my situation and I have it under control.” Kuni speaks urgently, staring intently with his eyes at the woman before him. She has always had an upper hand in their job, but he never expected it to be like this.
“I do not think you do.” She says. “Kaedehara, come here.” She calls. The pale haired male pokes his head through upon hearing his name being called.
“What are you doing?!” Kuni hisses, his voice barely a whisper, panic clawing at him. But before he can react further, his eyes catch the glint of a gun being cocked, aimed directly at Kazuha. His heart races, a cold dread flooding him, but there's no time to think. Instinct takes over. Without hesitation, he throws himself in front of Kazuha, the bullet slamming into his chest with a sickening force. He stumbles back, his body jerking, as the world tilts and spins.
The sharp click of The Knave’s disapproval cuts through the chaos, but it feels distant, as if the world has slowed down around him. The weight of his own blood begins to pull him down, a dark stain spreading across his shirt. He crashes into Kazuha’s arms, his breath shallow and ragged. The pain is a dull roar in his chest, but all he can think about is Kazuha.
“Kuni!” Kazuha’s voice cracks, filled with desperation, his wide eyes shimmering with fear. Tears well up, spilling over as he cradles Kuni closer, unable to hide his terror.
Kuni’s vision blurs, his grip on Kazuha tightening as much as his weakening body allows. He tries to speak, to reassure him, but the words are lost in the blood and pain—his breath slowing, growing faint.
Blood emerges from his mouth as he coughs violently. “Sorry I broke my promise…” he croaks as his vision fades to darkness. Kazuha sobs into Kuni’s shoulder, holding on desperately.