Work Text:
“Scara, dear, you need to relax,” Kazuha said gently, increasing the pressure of his hand on his boyfriend’s. “You’re going to work yourself up.”
“I know that,” Scara snaps back, immediately feeling guilty for yelling. “…I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize, love,” Kazuha replies. The two of them were wandering through Sumeru City, trying to boost Scara’s confidence in being seen in public together. The older was, to put it lightly, extremely stressed. He seemed to be expecting to be attacked at any moment, and it made Kazuha’s heart ache; what had he been through to make him so scared?
“Has something happened in the past to make you so afraid, my love?” Kazuha asked, deciding to voice the thought. He knew that if Scara didn’t feel like answering, then he would say so. They were very good at establishing boundaries with each other, and Kazuha knew that Scara wasn’t shy.
“…A lot, yeah,” Scara replied, squeezing Kazuha’s hand back. “I got a lot of shit for being a crossdresser. I used to help out with kabuki performances, and I’m sure you know how those could get. I think they were illegal for a while. The men always seemed to think that I was just one of the props, and… well. I was a lot more naïve back then. Not to mention…” He trailed off, and Kazuha gently kissed his cheek. He knew that Scara wasn’t exactly human, and that he was a lot older than he appeared. It was clear sometimes, in the way he spoke about his past on the rare occasions that he did. Kabuki hadn’t been popular in Inazuma for nearly two hundred years. And the way he trailed off sometimes, a distant look in his eyes like he was remembering things that nobody else was around to remember. And his Inazuman was so elegant, but extremely dated. The only people who spoke Inazuman the way that Scara did were old samurai and haughty officials trying to fluff their feathers. Kazuha could only wonder who Scara used to be.
“Anyway,” Scara said, shaking his head. The ornaments on his hat jingled as he did so. “Moral of the story is, I was attacked a lot for being nyūhāfu. ” There he went again.
“You’re safe now, darling,” Kazuha told him. “Sumeru is a lot different than Inazuma and Old Inazuma, from what I can see. I’ve seen many same-sex couples just today while we’ve walked.” Scara just sighed.
“I know. It’s still nerve-wracking though.”
“I know,” Kazuha sympathized. “I understand. You may find this surprising, but there was a time when I was afraid to be openly gay for fear of my safety. The one who convinced me that it was okay died shortly after the fact, and only since meeting ane-gime have I felt comfortable in my identity again.” Scara looked at him, seeming to contemplate something before leaning in and mirroring Kazuha’s own action earlier. His lips were cool and smooth, as always.
“…Let’s tell your oneesan first.”
Kazuha smiled at him. “Okay, my dear. Shall I lead the way?”
Scara rolled his eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’re the only one between the two of us who knows where she’s docked right now.” Kazuha smiled and tugged on Scara’s hand.
“Follow me, then.”
“Now, remember, she knows that I’m gay,” Kazuha reminds Scara for about the hundredth time. “So while I haven’t flat-out told her that I have a boyfriend, it’s a bit of a given. I’ve told her about you, but not your name or identity. And-”
“Kaz, shut up,” Scara tells him, squeezing his hand. “You’re more anxious than I am at this point. Your oneesan sounds like she’s a very relaxed person, I’m sure I can handle myself.” Kazuha nodded sheepishly. “Right.”
They stop in front of a rather impressive ship, and Scara let out a low whistle. It was a nice model, vintage Liyuean. This woman certainly had good taste.
“Ane-gime!” Kazuha called, releasing Scara’s hand so he could cup his own around his mouth. “I brought someone for you to meet!”
“Hah?” A woman stepped up to the railing, and Scara took in what he could of her appearance from this distance. She had long brown hair, nearly chocolate colored, and several Liyue-style ornaments adorning her hair and clothes. She certainly looked the part of a renowned pirate. “Oh, Kaz! Hang on, I’ll be right there.”
A few minutes pass, and Kazuha gives Scara a slightly nervous smile. “She’s wonderful,” Kazuha reassures him once again.
“Look out, kids!” Kazuha pulled Scara a few steps back as the woman vaulted herself over the bow and landed on the deck gracefully, and Scara nodded in respect for the action being completed in heels, no less. He liked this woman already. She gave the two of them a warm smile and dusted off her hands.
“Hello,” she greeted brightly. “Who’s this, Kaz?”
Kazuha cleared his throat and gestured to Scara, bowing slightly. “Ane-gimi, this is Scaramouche of Vahumana and a fellow Inazuman wanderer. Scara, dear, this is Beidou-san, Captain of the Crux Fleet and slayer of the leviathan Haishan.”
Scara bowed as well, and Kazuha couldn’t help but notice the elegance with which he completed the action. Not for the first time, he wondered if Scara was of noble blood.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, oneesan. Kazuha has told me much about you.”
Beidou seemed taken aback, looking between Scara and Kazuha for a moment before grinning. “So you’re the guy Kaz’s always yapping about, huh? No need to be so formal, really.” Scara straightened and nodded to her. “He didn’t mention you were Inazuman too. It’s a pleasure to finally meet ya, kid.”
“Likewise,” Scara replied. “Yes, I originate from Inazuma. Kazuha failed to mention as well that you were Liyuean, so I apologize for my native formalities.” Beidou blinked.
“Wow, you’re a real charmer, huh?” She smiled at him. “He’s good to you, I hope?”
Kazuha looked slightly indignant and looked to Scara with a slight pout, and Scara had to suppress a smirk. “He’s very doting, I can confirm that.”
“Good,” Beidou replied. “I expect no less from my dear Kazuha.”
The man in question cleared his throat, his cheeks slightly pinked from the conversation regarding himself. “Well, ane-gimi, we have another place to be right now. You can tease me all you want later.”
“Oh? Where are you off too so suddenly?”
Scara replied this time. “We have plans to meet with my ane-ue. She’s expecting us, and it’s best not to keep her waiting too long or else she might come to look for us. Again, it was a pleasure to finally meet you, oneesan, and I look forward to future meetings.”
Beidou grinned. “Same, kiddo. Go on, I won’t keep ya. Have a good time!”
Scara sighed in relief as he lead Kazuha away and towards the Sanctuary. “You’re ridiculous,” he informs Kazuha, cheeks reddened slightly. “Did you really need to introduce me like that?”
Kazuha just smiled innocently. “I was simply giving your title. It’s polite.”
“Polite, my ass,” he grouched. “You did it just to fluster me. You’re a brat.”
“Whatever you say, dear.” Kazuha carefully leaned his head down to rest it on Scara’s shoulder as they walked. “What’s your oneesan like? You don’t talk about her much.” Scara sighed.
“She’s not exactly my sister, more like… anego hada .” Kazuha hummed. “She’s… something, that’s for sure. Kawatta. She’ll like you, I’m sure, I just… haven’t exactly told her I’m seeing anyone. Or that you’re a man. She knows that I’ve been hanging around a guy, but I’m pretty sure she’s thinking of that desert kid who’s been floating around the city… I digress.” Scara reached his free hand up to play with Kazuha’s hair. He had worn it down today. “I’m sure she’ll love you. I’m just warning you that she’s a bit… much.”
Kazuha smiled straightened out, pressing a kiss to Scara’s cheek. “I’ll be alright. After all, you saw how ane-gimi was; she’s as eccentric as they come. Speaking of, what did you think of her?”
“She seems like a very respectable woman,” Scara replies. “And she clearly has excellent taste. Her ship and ornaments were in astounding condition for her line of work. I can see why you respect her as much as you do.” Kazuha grinned. He knew that Scara was impressed, that was high praise coming from the wanderer. He looked up, raising an eyebrow when he saw where they were.
“Is your oneesan meeting with the God of Wisdom?” he asked, and Scara stopped to look at him.
“I- Did I seriously not tell you? Gods, I never thought myself to be scatter-brained. She’s not meeting with Buer, she-”
“ Raiden Scaramouche !”
Scara seemed to pale. “ Chikushô .”
A small woman emerged from the Sanctuary of Surasthana, stopping at the top of the stairs and placing her hands on her hips. “How many times do I have to tell you that if you’re going to leave before I’m awake, you must leave a note! You-” She cut herself off, blinking when she realized Kazuha was there. He bowed respectfully.
“You brought a friend!” She exclaimed, a smile splitting her face. “Scara dear, I didn’t know you had made another friend! Why didn’t you tell me about them?”
Scara sighed and dropped Kazuha’s hand in favor of crossing his arms. “Because I didn’t need you harassing him,” he replied, and Kazuha straightened, looking at him in bewilderment. There was no chance that… Right…?
“Well, introduce me to him!” The God of Wisdom made her way down the stairs, her bare feet making small slapping sounds as the ornaments on her clothes jingled. She grinned up at Kazuha, who bowed again. The girl blinked, then smiled and bowed back.
Scara looked between the two of them and sighed. “Don’t humor her,” he told Kazuha, tugging on his sleeve to pull him back up. “Buer, this is Kaedehara Kazuha of the Crux Fleet and wielder of the Vision that dared oppose the Raiden Shogun . Kazuha, meet Buer, Goddess of Wisdom and Tevyat’s best anego hada .”
Buer gave Kazuha an odd look when Scara mentioned the Shogun , and he realized that she had called Scara ‘ Raiden .’ She smiled after, though.
“A Kaedehara... No need for such formalities, please just call me Nahida! And Scara, I’m looking that up later. Stop calling me Inazuman names that I don’t know.” Scara rolled his eyes. Nahida stuck her hand out, and Kazuha took it carefully and knelt to press a kiss to her knuckle. She seemed taken aback, and gave a tinkling laugh that reminded Kazuha of a wind chime in the rain. “Wow, he really is Inazuman, huh?”
Scara gave Kazuha an exasperated look. “I told you not to humor her,” he berated, and Kazuha shrugged. “I’m just being polite,” he protested. Scara sighed.
“Anyway.” Scara gestured to Kazuha. “Buer, this is my… Kazuha.” Kazuha raised an eyebrow.
“Your Kazuha, huh?” Scara whacked him in the arm. “Nahida-sama, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’d like to say that Scara here has told me about you, but he sadly hasn’t. I’m his boyfriend.”
Nahida gasped and looked between the two of them. “Scaramouche! How could you keep this from me? So mean, keeping me away from your boyfriend . You know there’s no need to be embarrassed, right? It’s a normal thing to-”
“Buer!” Scara cuts her off, and Kazuha takes a moment to commend his audacity. “We were waiting until he was actually staying in the Port for a longer period of time. Like I said, he’s with the Crux Fleet. We just came from telling his oneesan.”
Nahida made an ohh face. “I better get to meet her someday! Well then, would you boys like to join me for tea? I just tried this new cake recipe from Fontaine, I think…”
As Nahida led them up the steps to the Sanctuary, Kazuha took Scara’s hand again and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Scara looked at him, then smiled.
Kazuha blinked, and Scara huffed.
“What? I’m not allowed to be happy?”
Kazuha rolled his eyes. “No, I’m just not used to you being so soft. At least, not in public.” Scara just rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips.
The sun was shining.