Chapter Text
Moving to Nod-Krai was not as bad an experience as Varka had initially feared. The weather was rather cold, much colder than back in Mondstadt, and people appeared grumpy at first glance, but given some time and a kind smile, they turned out to be friendly and welcoming. Being the outgoing and thoughtful person he was, always full of energy and ready to look out for others, the locals quickly accepted him into their enclosed circle despite the scary impression he usually made. Due to his rather intimidating height, broad shoulders and overall huge posture, as well as many scars - some of which he was unable to hide well - scattered across his big body, he didn't seem very approachable at first glance. Only after speaking with him would one learn that he was the complete opposite of what he looked like. A perfect embodiment of the old saying that books shouldn't be judged by their covers.
And so, after the initial precaution from the community, he quickly gained everyone's favor.
His strength earned him many kind comments from all the grandmas, who were overjoyed whenever he offered to carry groceries for them. Although at first, they had been eyeing him with suspicion, reluctant to even as much as say their greetings back. Playful and energetic nature made him popular with the kids, who loved to stop to play with him. Especially boys were always eager to hear about the many life-threatening, exciting situations of which he had a lot of stories to tell. The parents had in fact glared at him, wary of the new, foreign face in the neighborhood, but soon learned his gentle and protective attitude towards those who were smaller and weaker, no matter child or adult - which was, quite frankly, almost anyone given his impressive height and strength. Then, of course his handsome face and polite smile was naturally adored by women, while men enjoyed his merry company in the local bar during the evenings. Truly an image of the perfect neighbor, one who was universally beloved.
He's been that way for as long as he could remember. Always happy to make new friends and be around others, couldn't sit still on his ass for a second if he was left alone.
His military career was also going good, although he wasn't keen on the thought of an impending armed conflict with Shneznaya. For now though, there were no military moves in the area and his squad was there only as a precaution, to keep careful watch on the situation.
Overall, he had to admit that his life was good, even if he sometimes missed everyone back in Mondstadt and wondered how they were faring, calling them often or following on social media. His past second in command, Jean, had finally been promoted to a general and took his place in their old team, while he was moved and became responsible for another unit that had already been stationed in Nod-Krai. He settled in quite nicely, as expected, and was also happy for his long time friend's career advancement.
There was just one, simple thing, or rather a person, he could not get out of his mind.
His neighbor.
Out of all things that could worry him, of course it had to be the neighbor next doors, a very secretive man. Usually, Varka would have no reason to complain. The man was not noisy, quite the contrary, actually. It was so quiet, that it almost felt as if no one lived on the other side of the wall that was dividing their lots. He wouldn't have known there was someone there, was it not for the lights that he sometimes noticed being on, when he got caught up with work and came back home late. Also, on several occasions he saw a delivery service waiting outside the flat.
No, the problem was not with bothersome and inconsiderate behavior of his neighbor. There was no loud music, no constant renovations or anything of the such. The problem was that the man was almost like a ghost and Varka hasn't even got a chance to properly meet him, despite the several days that had already passed. Honestly, it shouldn't be much of a problem and no one would care. To each their own, the district was big enough to ensure anonymity. It's not like they lived in a small countryside, but rather in a bigger city, it wasn't surprising for someone to not seek engagement with locals and prefer keeping their privacy. However, to someone as social as Varka, not meeting his nearest neighbor - his other wall shared with the staircase - was somewhat of an inconvenience. By all means, he never intended to make friends with everyone, but would prefer to at least get to know the person next doors, just in case. Especially here, in a foreign land, living alone and with no relatives or close pals nearby.
Unfortunately, no one seemed to know much about his mysterious neighbor either, only that he had moved here some time ago and was rarely seen leaving his apartment.
And, if there was one biggest flaw to Varka, it was his curiosity. Of course he'd be even more intrigued. What was the reason his neighbor seemed to never leave his flat to the point of having everything delivered? Why was it that no one could tell anything more about him, not even as much as his name?
His investigation, that basically came down to casually asking around whenever a chance arouse, didn't get him far. The man was middle-aged, most likely slightly older than Varka. He usually wore all black on the rare occasions he went outside and it was always during late hours, after nightfall. He avoided any contact with others, but whenever it was necessary, like when taking an elevator with others or doing late groceries at the convenience store, he made an impression of a well-mannered person and was very polite, almost excessively so.
That was basically all people could recall about him and obviously, they would talk. Was he some kind of a fantasy creature?
Him being a vampire would explain his refined manners and not going out during the day. Oh, Varka had heard stories like that before. He'd sometimes watch those movies with Rosaria back in Mondstadt, the ones in which a handsome young man from the neighborhood would turn out to be a blood thirsty creature of the night, a vampire, hiding from people's prying eyes, trying to blend into society. He founf the imagination of those teenage girls who were heads over heels for a man like that really wild.
Maybe the man was a ghost? A soul not departed from this world after someone had died in the apartment. That would also align with late hours in which he could usually be seen. It was, however, far too ridiculous to be true. Especially that there was no word of any tragic incident ever happening in this complex.
Or, was he a wanted criminal? Someone who tried to escape the police after committing some unimaginable, atrocious acts... Though, even that seemed farfetched. How could a vile person be this polite and well-mannered? While it wasn't entirely out of question, anyone who has ever interacted with him was pretty sure the man did not seem to have any malicious intentions and was rather tame.
Either way, the most plausible explanation was probably that the man was simply an introvert working night shifts from home. A boring and disappointing assumption, but very likely the correct one.
Obviously, all the speculations and rumors had Varka thinking, his curiosity piqued. He was not, however, as desperate as to simply knock on the doors of someone who clearly wished to be left alone. With others, he had met them organically - around the building, during groceries, jogging sessions in the park or at the local bar. And sadly, for now, he seemed to have no luck running into this closest, secretive neighbor. Even worse, he hadn't even as much as laid eyes on him.
That is until one night.
It was the evening of a lunar eclipse that's been the talk of the town for a while now. Most didn't bother, some decided to watch from a good spot in the park, others simply looked out their windows for a brief moment. Varka chose to go out and stand on his rather modest balcony, despite the chilly night breeze, so different from the gentle, warm winds of Mondstadt. The view was far from perfect with clouds obscuring the moon every once in a while and his apartment was located on the lower floor, so it wasn't even that spectacular. Anyone in his place would probably just give up and go back inside, seeing how there was no chance for a clear image considering the weather. He, however, stayed.
There was nothing much for him to do, his daily chores already finished and as, his work ran late today, he had no appointments or commitments for the evening. It felt too early to go to sleep and he wasn't in the mood to do anything else like reading or watching movies. Whenever he was alone, his thoughts still wandered to those left in Mondstadt. Hopefully, it won't be that long before he can see them again. His stay in Nod-Krai was planned for six-months. Either way, if he was to dwell on his life, he might as well do it on the balcony, while lazily gazing at the sky above.
And oh, Archons, how glad he was that he chose to stay outside. As he scrolled his social media, looking at the latest pictures of his friends and colleagues, he caught a glimpse of a mysterious figure. He looked down to notice a man he'd never seen around before.
The man was elegant, even the way he walked felt like a refined dance, so pleasant to the eyes. He was clad all in black with a long coat, almost reaching his feet, and his hair was just as dark, cascading down his back in thick waves, only their tips slightly brighter, fading into lighter hue of blue. They gently flowed with his smooth movements. His figure was slender, the belt that was holding his overcoat only emphasizing the slim, grabbable waist. His skin was pale, almost sickly so, with darker shades under the tired looking eyes. Speaking of which, the most spectacular thing about him was probably those weary eyes. Alluring and bright yellow irises, almost like the dandelions back in Mondstadt, only brighter, much brighter. They were devoid of shine, yet deep and enticing at the same time, and just simply breathtaking - a stark contrast to his overall gloomy appearance. Varka was only thankful his balcony was not on the higher floor, for he wouldn't be able to see them so clearly.
That guy was just his type. Varka did not shy away from relationships with women and men alike and was not very picky when it came to appearance alone, but if he were to describe his preferences, this person right there would probably hit most marks.
He carried himself with such a refined air to him, such elegance and grace... Almost as if he was a prince from a far away country. Yet he did not look snobbish or arrogant even in the slightest. His face was rather gentle, not only due to its soft features, but the expression as well. He also appeared to be rather delicate and Varka just loved taking care of his romantic interests, protecting them, worshiping and spoiling rotten. While this man in particular seemed to be slightly older, it was not a problem. Most of Varka's partners so far had been younger, but he always found more mature men just as charming and cute. And the one here... Oh, he was nothing but charming and cute. Definitely someone Varka would pursue given the opportunity, even if only for a one time fun.
As he stared, not realizing he'd been leaning on the railing and so obviously checking out the passerby man, their gazes met for the briefest of moments. The stranger did not look frightened, nor alarmed, he was just as curious as Varka, his eyes sparked with interest. Unexpectedly, it was Varka, who quickly looked away feeling shy. And he was never the one to get flustered so easily! Archons, what was happening to him? The second they exchanged their glances, he got this funny feeling in his stomach, like he was a teenage boy all over again, caught doing something naughty. Ridiculous! He hadn't even been doing anything inappropriate, just admiring someone he found attractive. Usually he'd have no problem doing that, his talk was smooth and he held a lot of faith in his charm, yet there he was, his heart skipping a beat, cheeks flushed at just a simple eye contact. And just like a foolish juvenile first time in love, he immediately faked being engrossed in his phone but he pulled it up to his face with such force, that he'd almost lost grip of the damned thing, nearly letting it fall from his hands. Why would he act that way now, of all times?
The more infuriating thing was that the next time he glanced up, the man was smiling. He couldn't be sure given the distance, but the man was no longer looking his way and it seemed as if he was withholding a chuckle, clearly pleased with himself. Oh, the audacity of laughing at his clumsiness... Varka wasn't usually this awkward, had all of his self-confidence disappeared into thin air after moving countries?
There was no way he could just leave it at that. He was braver than this and determined to prove it. Once again, leaning on the balcony railing with all of his weight this time, he looked at the man, a smug grin to his face.
"The moon's beautiful tonight, isn't it?" he called out. They were the only ones in the vicinity and by the way he stared quite openly at the mysterious stranger, it should've been pretty clear who were those daring words addressed to. Varka had heard from one of his colleagues who married an Inazuman that this particular line held a hidden, deeper meaning to it. It was basically something akin to a love confession. He'd long forgot the origins of this saying, but he still found it a cool pick-up line. Even though chances were slim this stranger was aware of the insinuation, he definitely did not look Inazuman.
Varka was pleased to see his strategy had worked and he got the man's attention again, those deliciously pronounced lips curving into one of the gentlest smiles he'd ever seen. The gaze of the weary, dandelion-colored eyes had a charming softness to it now that it met his once again. He was almost melting at the sight, the internal urge to squirm like a teenage girl getting noticed by her crush was overwhelming.
"It is beautiful, indeed." the answer was spoken in a calm tone, just loud enough for it to be clearly heard as it resounded amongst the silence of the night. The voice was melodic with a refined ring to it. Not too deep but not high pitched either. Even though the words themselves were simple, he made them sound as if they were chosen with particular care and consideration.
The man had stopped only for a second, but his eyes lingered on Varka even when he resumed his walk. Their gazes broke apart only slightly later, as he continued his way towards wherever it was he was heading.
The exchange was brief, but Varka could feel the tension in the air, the undeniable pull between them that left him wanting to properly get to know this stranger. However, he wasn't that foolish as to hope it could happen. What were the chances he'd ever see the man again? And most importantly, what could the possibly be doing here this late? Was he visiting his girlfriend? The thought alone made Varka feel slightly disappointed, even though he had no reason to. There would be other opportunities to get laid with someone else, surely, and other cute people to meet and date. And maybe he won't make a fool out of himself next time he finds someone he likes. Besides, he wasn't really the type to commit into serious relationships due to his profession and most of his past experiences had been rather casual. There was no point dwelling on one person he'd barely exchanged a single sentence with.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder which lady - or gentleman - was lucky enough to land such cutie, when he noticed that the mysterious man did in fact eventually enter his block. He was pretty sure he more or less knew everyone living in the building, so the stranger had to be someone's guest and the late hour quite likely suggested him being a visiting partner rather than a friend or relative. Unless... He froze at the sudden realization that there was in fact one single person he hadn't seen yet.
He rushed inside just in time to hear the sound of the doors being closed in the hallway. The apartment was well muted, but some noise from the hallway could still be heard, especially the opening and closing of other lots' front doors. And since this one was particularly loud it could only mean...
Oh Lord Barbatos have mercy on him. The cute man was his mysterious neighbor. Elegant, clad in black and leaving only at night. Everything seemed to fit almost too perfectly.
Varka was so gone. There was no way now he was not meeting this attractive guy, no matter if said guy turned out to be a wanted criminal who would kidnap him, restrain and murder in the most gruesome way, or a vampire, who would suck his blood dry... Oh well, actually Varka wouldn't mind being sucked dry by him in more ways than just this one. And yes, he was gonna take his chances.