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I hate the rain.
Cold, wet, dreary
Going out on a rainy day is the worst.
But for you, I would do anything for you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few days prior you asked if you could meet Alhaitham today, making an excuse of needing his help reading some runes you discovered someplace, something you've done many times before just to spend some time with him. You first met by chance, really. You weren't from Sumeru nor were you studying at the Akademiya, but somehow you always ended up bumping into one another in the middle of your adventures over the past year, be it in the desert, Port Ormos, or his favourite tavern and cafe, and once, the first time in your hometown in Liyue with you having just gone back from a long trip in Inazuma. It happened so often that one day you just decided to strike up a conversation. He easily stood out because of his unique style that you immediately recognized him the second time, until his face was slowly ingrained in your memory and the colour of his eyes haunted your dreams.
One thing you found in common was you both had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. It was what had drawn him to you as well. A small friendship grew from small greetings turned to meetings you insist to him was "all for curiosity" (your words, not his).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here you are.
Finally finding you at your meeting place viewing the port of Sumeru City, I nod a hello as you greeted me a good morning. You look lovely today, I thought.
Well, you always do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You were like sunshine to him amidst the soft raindrops you were earlier admiring. A contrast he found between you, you adored rainy days. Asking if you were ready to go, you agree and set off.
Little did you know, he already knew. He knew about your hopeless crush on him. No matter how convincing you acted, your eyes gave it all away. Every time you froze or flinched at the lightest graze of his skin never went unnoticed by him. It started accidentally, but over time his hands would linger on yours intentionally when you passed him your journal where he wrote translations for you.
Slowly over the past months, he just found himself grow fonder and fonder of you. He wouldn't admit it unless you asked, but he found your antics amusing, your clumsiness endearing, and he admired your endless curiosity for the world around you, and most specifically your interest in him. What made you want to spend so much time with someone as unfriendly as him, he would think.
He nonchalantly fixes your hair as you tripped over roots on the way back out into the dense forest as you exited a cave. "Careful now," he tells you. Your heartbeat picks up as he slid his hand on your wrist, a light grip in an effort to keep you from falling again he says. A common occurrence. The way his hand always finds its way to yours later on though tells you it's half true, but you were always too shy to confront him about it anyway. You'd rather not ruin this peculiar friendship with baseless assumptions.
"The rain is much harder than it was earlier," you said as you made it outside, shielded under the gigantic root of a large tree. You've noticed his dislike for rain after a couple of badly timed trips with him, and so you opted for a small apology for dragging him out into what's gradually become a storm. He lets out an amused hum as he tells you he doesn't mind.
Deciding to wait it out, you both sat side by side in a comfortable silence, a few questions exchanged every once in a while. Hours after, the rain only grew harsher, and you were wondering how you'll make it back to the city before sundown.
"It's getting late. Let's make a run for it?" He raises an eyebrow at your suggestion, eventually coming to terms with the idea. Honestly, he was considering spending the night here with you than get soaked, but then he was open to what new memory indulging in your suggestions would create this time.
You stood up and grasped his hand with both of yours, pulling him to his feet and leading the way as you stepped under the thundery skies, one hand stayed entwined with his, lighthearted laughters drowned out by the strong pitter patters and splashing of your soles against the puddled ground.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cloth clung to Alhaitham's skin uncomfortably, a feeling he detested, but his focus quickly shifts to your mirth despite you being in the same state as he.
I can't seem to love the rain, but when I see you smiling like that, the water glistens like the morning dew in the sunrise.
What a beautiful perspective, he thinks.
When I'm with you, irrational words threaten to slip from my tongue. But I'm not so dense not to know why I'm like this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Overwhelmed by emotions he's been bottling, he stood still. You failed to notice how his gaze softens at you as you came to a sudden halt, slightly jolted back by his steady arm.
He's stopped running?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maybe...
You looked up at me in confusion.
Just maybe one kiss can cure me.
I pulled your face close and..
Your lips feel like home I've never imagined.
I... miscalculated..
The feeling is worse. I want you so much more.
Heat rising, stomach churning. Our kiss grows deeper. My heart is pounding and I crave for you more than ever.
A grave oversight.
Pulling away, your eyes shine with depths of emotions as you breathe for air. Your expression shifts from its initially flustered state and it tears at my self-control.
Again with that sweet smile. Do you know what you do to me?
You buried yourself in my arms.
The silence filled with only the sound of rain as I held you close and I grow self-conscious at how fast my heart is beating for you.
In cold, rainy days like this, your warmth is all I need.
Perhaps the rain isn't so bad.