A Worthy Replacement

Chapter 4 - Evening with Alexei

"hello? are you here?"

you opened your door, seeing alexei at your door. it was the next evening, and you were tired from another long day of practice, but you didn't want to be rude.

"hi alexei," you said with a small smile.

he held up a small basket filled with some foods, "i came here to repay you for your help. thank you so much!"

"of course," you smiled at him. "come on in, why don't we share?"

"i wouldn't dare impose," he said, holding the basket out to you. "these are for you."

"food tastes better when shared with friends," you said and took the basket from him. "let's share it!"

"i wouldn't want to be a nuisance," he muttered.

"i insist," you replied, feeling curious about the young male.

"if you really want to," he said shyly. "i won't stay for long though. curfew is at 10 and i got in trouble last time for sneaking out."

"how could you get in trouble for sneaking out to get medical help," you asked him as he walked inside and you closed the door. "that's a little unreasonable."

"not when you're a fatui agent," he sighed sadly and sat on a wooden chair that was near your table. "life here is a dog fight."

"ah," you hummed, placing the snacks on the table and sitting down. "is it really as bad?"

"you don't know? aren't you a trainee?"

"ah," you pondered. "i... i'm just an assistant."

"an assistant? really? whose assistant?"

"well," you began to get a little nervous at his direct question. "i can't say. sorry."

"i get it, sorry that question was probably very pointed."

huh?! he doesn't even try to pry or anything?

then you heard him laugh. "you seem surprised that i'm not trying to push for more information."

you blushed, "was i that obvious?"

"yeah," he said. "you're definitely new here. as fatui agents, we simply follow orders without much questioning. that's why i don't want to pry, it's simply not my place."

"oh," you said. "well... thanks for respecting that."

"of course," he replied. "now let's dig in!"

he removed his mask, and you had to stop and take in his actual appearance. he had raven black hair that was tossled from the long hours spent underneath a hood, his cat-like eyes gleaming a pale yellow. there were a few bandaids on his face, most likely from the fight before. he's really pretty...

"uhm... thank you...?"

"oh shit did i say that out loud," you asked, embarrassed. "i am so sorry if i made you uncomfortable..."

"no worries," he replied with a chuckle. "i'm just a little taken aback, i'm not uncomfortable or anything. it's just that this is the first time i was referred to as 'pretty'."

"but you are," you blurted. agh! stop talking Y/N you're digging a bigger hole for yourself- this is so embarrassing...

"thank you though," he said shyly.

"mhm!" after grabbing some items from the basket, you pulled down your mask to eat them. you hummed happily, "yum! these are delicious!"

"i'm glad you like them," he grinned and also began to eat.

"did you make all this?"

"i did," he replied.

"wow! you have some serious talent with cooking. you should consider a career in the food industry."

he laughed freely, dimples on full display. "trust me, i have plenty of times. however, this organization comes with a lot of benefits that i can't ignore."

"i see," you hummed. "i guess with a job as dangerous as this there are a lot of benefits."

"yeah," he agreed. "i get to go around teyvat for absolutely free."

"REALLY?! wow!! that's so cool," you said in awe. "what's your favorite place that you've been to?"

"a personal favorite is mondstadt," he said, eyes glittering with happiness and nostalgia. "i enjoy the weather there, and it brings a sense of home and familiarity to me."

"i can understand that," you replied. "i haven't been there myself, so hopefully one day i will."

"if you're an assistant, i'm sure whoever is bossing you around will take you at some point," alexei replied. "that place has a really busy port, and we also own a hotel there thanks to pantalone, so we stay there for free."

"damn," you said. "now i really want to go."

the rest of the time before alexei's curfew and your bedtime flew by, both of you bonding and laughing over stories that you shared. turns out, alexei was only a year older than you - only being 17 - and was going to be taking a trip to inazuma on a mission. you were sad that you wouldn't be able to spend time with him for a little while he was away, but it would only be a matter of time before you'd see him again, right?

"that was a lot of fun," he said. "but... unfortunately as it's 9:54, i should get going."

"oh right right," you remembered. "curfew. thanks for humoring me."

"it was a pleasure to get to know you Y/N. since i'll probably be busy for the rest of this week or so, i'll see you next week?"

"i think i might be out by then," you said. "just knock and if i don't answer, i'm likely out."

"alright," he said, standing up and grabbing his cloak and mask. "goodnight then, Y/N. see you later."

"goodnight! sleep well alexei," you said, standing at the door watching him leave with a small wave. as soon as he disappeared down the hall, you closed the door and went to get ready for bed.

"Y/N," jester called you as you finished your 10th set of burpees.

"yes sir?"

"in one week, i have to be out on a mission," he replied. "depending on the severity, i'll bring you along. are you alright with that?"

"that sounds alright," you replied. not like you had much of a choice anyways.

"good. i'll summon you if you're needed."

your mind began to wander as you drifted off to sleep. what type of mission would this be?