Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You hadn’t meant to be out at this time of night, really. But living in the middle of nowhere meant gathering materials for yourself, and, well… Sometimes you get distracted while gathering. You hadn’t meant to get distracted, truly! But that little Tanuki was so damn cute, and he’d wanted to play, so of course you had to indulge.

Unfortunately, you hadn’t the foresight to see just where you were being led. The sky had just lost the last few rays of sunlight when you misstepped, tumbling down a cliff. You were lucky – though a long fall, the cliff was more slanted than steep, and you didn’t die. Of course, luck could only go so far – you’d landed on your arm wrong, and swore you heard a rib or two crack. So now you were here, lying at the bottom of a cliff, listening to the gentle sound of water lapping at the shore.

Though the land was cloaked in an ever-present overcast sky, it still allowed the moon and stars to peek through. It was beautiful.

After a few more minutes of lying there, you decided to just bite the bullet. Rolling onto your stomach was painful, but it was when you tried putting weight on your left arm that you screamed.

”Son of a FUCK!”

You winced as your scream echoed around you, gritting your teeth as you again tried to stand. No luck. Looks like you were going to sleep out here for the night.

“Well then, what do we have here?”

Maybe not.

The oddly breathy voice startled you out of your monologue, and you were quick to attempt sitting up. When, yet again, you failed, you heard laughter. Falling back onto your back, you simply glared at the sky, grumbling under your breath.

"Giving up so soon? How boring," the voice, that of a male, grew closer, but you refused to look his way.

"My sincerest apologies for boring you, oh-great-stranger. Shall I make it up with some noodles and hot tea?"

You didn't mean for it to sound so snide, but you were in pain, and this stranger was pushing your buttons. Another laugh, and the sky was suddenly blocked. (E/c) met indigo as a face peered down at you. A faint purple glow cast from his eyes made his pale face look almost… Porcelain. The temptation to touch his skin almost made you lift your arm, but the slightest shift in your other shoulder made you reconsider.

He stared for a few more moments, scanning your features, before he let out a hum.

"I think that would be a fair trade," he states, standing up.

Before you could comment on the absurdity of his assumption, you were lifted up. A hiss left your mouth at his lack of delicacy, causing the man to laugh. Though, thankfully, he did adjust his hold, carrying you bridal-style, while minding your injuries. After a few steps, he paused, as though remembering something, and turned his gaze back to yours.

"... Thank you," you muttered, eyes avoiding his out of embarrassment, "my, uh… My house is that way. It's not far."

As you pointed in the right direction, he said nothing, merely heading that way. His arms, so unnervingly cold, held you loosely, and you couldn't help but be intrigued. Sure, Inazuma wasn't the warmest nation out there, and the ocean breeze certainly didn't help, but there was something… Unnatural. Same with how eerily soft he was.

Throughout the twenty-minute walk, you kept mulling over it, over how strange it all was, but before you could open your mouth to ask, he stopped. Surprised, your eyes went to his face, now clear in the light through your home's windows.

A look of disgust twisted his features.

"You… Live here?"

Putting two and two together, you made a sharp hmpfh! noise, glaring.

"Yeah, and? What, are you some prince?" you snipped.

For a moment more, he continued to stare at the building before letting out a huff.

"Something like that, yes."

"Huh? Wait, what do you mean? Who are you?"

Chapter Text

It had been a few weeks since your incident, and your injuries had healed quite nicely. For that, you had none other than the stranger you met that night. Though he seldom spoke more than a few words to you during his visits, he had brought you medicine and food. Even through them all, he didn’t reveal his name, merely telling you to call him Wanderer. At first, you’d laughed, but when you realized he was serious, well… You resigned yourself to calling him as such.

It was on a particularly stormy day that he appeared again, a scowl on his face once he’d noticed you out of your house.

“What do you think you’re doing, mortal?”

You laughed warmly, waving.

"I’m clearing out weeds, my liege~” you tease, pulling one such nuisance out of the ground and throwing it at him.

Scowl darkening in annoyance, he caught the plant easily.

“How many times must I tell you to stay inside whilst you heal, especially with that Vision of yours,” his voice was harsh, and you merely sighed.

“Y’know, there’s a reason why I’m all the way out here, in the middle of nowhere.”

“I do not care. My point still stands.”

You rolled your eyes, but stood up from your crouching position, regardless. Once he was close enough, you sent a harmless burst of wind his way. The faint shock of Electro caused you to yelp.

“Your games are tiresome, mortal. If you’re not careful, I might just kill you,” as though to emphasize his point he moved even closer, gripping your good arm in a vice.

Yet, even as he did so, he wasn’t actually using any pressure. It was a warning, one you believed to be false. With a smile still on your face, you nodded. For a moment more, he stayed there, delicate hand so cold against your skin, electric eyes staring into your own. Then he pulled away, rolling his eyes, but still keeping ahold of you.

“We’re going inside,” it wasn’t a question, and he gave you no room to argue as he pulled you along.

Once situated in your little home, he pulled the small rucksack from his shoulders. You watched, intrigued as to what he’d brought this time. As he moved, you couldn’t help but admire him; from the way his locks of black-indigo framed his face, to the pale smoothness of his skin, he looked, truly, out of this world. And, while you wouldn’t say it allowed, you were happy to consider him a friend. Perhaps, someday, he’ll tell you his name? You hoped so. Calling him Wanderer didn’t sit right with you. It was why you referred to him with royal terms. Well, that, and the fact he always called you mortal, as though he, himself, was not one.

“Are you going to just stare at me?”

His question snapped you out of your musings, and you flinched before letting out a nervous chuckle.

“Perhaps. Is it such a crime?”

A glare was your only answer.

“I brought some more provisions than last time. I have to pay a my cre- my mother a visit, so I will be gone for a while. Think you can handle yourself in the meantime?” The man’s voice was unusually nervous.

It was something you took note of immediately. From what you had gathered in the short conversations you’d shared, his mother was a sore topic, and he seemed to avoid her as much as possible. So why was he seeking her out?

“I…” you were stunned, “I suppose I can? But when will you return? Is everything okay? I thought you hated your mother-”

A dainty hand waved before your eyes, drawing your attention from your worrying.

“I’ll be fine, (Y/n), I promise. I just… A visit is long overdue, and I intend to reclaim what she stole from me,” the man’s eyes darkened, his voice lowering dangerously, before he blinked, “and once that’s done, I can help you so much more. If it makes you feel better, I’ll even bring you a present.”

For once, the faintest of smiles turned his lips, and you nearly choked on air. Concern briefly flashed in his eyes before his expression returned to the default bored look. This only made you laugh.

“What’s so funny?!”

His voice was demanding, and Electro sparked at his fingertips. Scooching closer to him, you did something, admittedly, dangerous.

“I never knew you had a soft side! Just who are you?” your voice was teasing as you poked his cheek.

Stunned at your bold move, he merely stared for a few moments. When he came to his senses, he merely gave you an eye roll, flicking your forehead in annoyance.

“Shut up, mortal,” he paused, seeming to consider his next words before continuing, “and it's Kunikuzushi.”