A Worthy Replacement

Side Story II - Alexei's Ending

"let's see... i have my jacket that's oversized so if she gets cold it can be used as a blanket, i sprayed cologne so i don't smell bad, and-"

"i swear alexei if you go through this list one more time, i'll take your date out myself," Y/N snapped. "this is the fifth time within ten minutes, you can't tell me that you're this stressed over a date."

"i agree with Y/N here," tartaglia said while he was leaning against the wall, blade in hand as he cleaned it. "it's not like you're in the abyss."

"the abyss seems easier," alexei said, sighing while fixing his hair for the nth time since he began getting ready. "i'd rather fight a horde of abyss lectors than mess up tonight."

"you're overthinking it," Y/N said, then fixed a strand of his hair, brushing it out of the way before her hands were about to straighten out his suit.

tartaglia immediately tugged you aside. "here, let me do it. can't have my wife working."

Y/N and alexei looked at each other with a knowing yet unamused look before refocusing.

"either way, it's clear she likes you," Y/N said, grabbing the letter that she gave alexei two days before.

Alexei,
If you're not too busy, would you want to take a stroll together sometime? It doesn't have to be right now, but I'd love to meet up with you sometime and relax together outside of our short talks at the teahouse.
Just let me know whenever you're free :)

Love,
Yue

"she's totally into you," Y/N remarked after reading the letter again. "look at her handwriting, it's so clean and perfect."

"damn," tartaglia said, looking over at the note and finishing adjusting alexei's suit. "mine looks like chicken scratch compared to that."

"yours is chicken scratch," both you and alexei said at the same time.

"hey now, why am i catching strays?"

Y/N sighed. "look, the point is, don't be nervous. she likes you, so just be you. that's all you need."

alexei took a deep breath. "yeah... i just don't want to mess it up."

"if you focus on that, you will mess it up," tartaglia said, patting him on the shoulder. "just be yourself."

"as if you'd know," alexei deadpanned at the ginger. "you scare people."

"i'm married," tartaglia said, taking off his glove and showing off his ring. "that doesn't work on me anymore."

Y/N sighed at their banter. "you should head out. it's almost 6."

alexei ran a hand through his hair again. "oh shit, really? i'd better go then."

"go have fun," Y/N said. "enjoy yourself."

"not too much," tartaglia chided playfully. "wouldn't want to scare her away now-"

Y/N elbowed him, making the ginger groan before she waved alexei off, who decided to escape now while he had the chance.

alexei walked outside, immediately making his way to the teahouse with hurried steps. even though he knew it was a little early, he wanted to be the one waiting for her, not the other way around.

he made it in record time, taking a second to look around. then he saw her walking out. she was wearing a dark red qipao, one that looked similar to his fatui uniform. her hair was up, two ornate hairpins holding it in place. he couldn't help but stare for a second before snapping out of it and greeting her.

"yue," he said, his voice soft and holding some awe.

she looked at him, seeing his unmasked face once more and blushing a little. "alexei, hi."

he smiled at her, delicately holding her hand in his as if he were holding a flower. "you look beautiful."

"you look handsome too," she said meekly, almost hesitant to look him in the eye. "i wanted to match with you today. did... did i do a good job?"

"it looks like both of us were on the same page," alexei said assuringly, squeezing her hand lovingly. "i wanted to look good for you and match that exact qipao you wear."

"... I guess it was meant to be then," yue said shyly.

alexei kisses the back of her hand, making the young woman's heart jump. little did she know, his hand was trembling ever so slightly from nerves. "yeah. it is."

neither of them were talking about the matching outfits at that point.

the two of them had a pleasant date with a few awkward moments sprinkled in between. at the end of the night, they found themselves on the mountainside while watching the moon and stars. yue was wearing alexei's jacket like a cloak, and she was laying her head on his shoulder. his arm was wrapped around her torso, careful not to drift too low.

"... today was nice," yue said happily. "i've learned a lot about you, alexei."

"same goes for me," alexei said. "you're a very cool person, yue."

she giggled. "thank you. i didn't realize that the stars aligned and you got a few days off from lady Y/N."

"she would have given me the day off if i told her i was on a date with you," alexei assured her. "so, anytime you want to see me, just send me a letter. i'll be there."

"how will i send you a letter fast enough," she asked.

"i'm going to leave a carrier pigeon at your teahouse. he'll be our messenger," alexei said.

"oh, alright," yue said, nodding. "should i name it?"

"up to you. if you want to, i hope you'll share that name with me."

"i will," she said. "it's like co-parenting a pet."

alexei felt his cheeks heat up. "... right."

yue looked over at him and poked his cheek. "you're blushing."

he looked at her when he felt her touch. "... you're oddly bold now. i'm guessing you're more comfortable around me?"

she blushed a little. "... am i being too forward?"

"no. i want you to be comfortable around me," alexei reassured her. "i like this."

i like you.

"alright, as long as it's not scaring you. i don't want to make you feel uneasy around me," yue said.

alexei smiled, cupping her cheek tenderly which she leaned into. "you could never."

"never?"

"never."

omake - in liyue

"how do you think alexei's date is going," Y/N asked her husband as they ate at their usual dessert shop, the same one they ate at all those years ago.

"well, there's a 50/50. it's either going super well, or he'll get shoved off the cliffside," tartaglia said casually as he took a bite of a lotus crisp.

Y/N looked at him with an unamused look. "do you have that little faith in him?"

"no, but there's always that chance," tartaglia laughed. "in all seriousness,  it'd surprise me more if the date didn't work out."

"... i'm happy for him," Y/N said. "he needs to live for someone other than us."

"he's a good man," tartaglia said, taking your hand in his, the metal of your wedding bands rubbing against each other. "would you let him go if he asked to leave our squad?"

"i would. i think he deserves it. what would you say?"

"i don't think he'd leave the fatui completely," tartaglia said. "the man would probably take some extended maternity leave if they ever have kids though."

"you're jumping at least 3 years into the future," Y/N huffed.

"something tells me it'll happen," tartaglia chuckled.

and sure enough, it did.