salt's sweeter when you know how to mix it

The first time it happened, Bennett found himself in a daze for days, wondering if perhaps everything had actually been a lie and he was the luckiest boy alive.

He wondered if maybe it had been the tavern he went to that day—though nothing about it particularly stood out, with its worn-down windows and flickering lights, patrons calling out their orders, and chattering over shared gossips and mutterings. Perhaps it had been the clothes he wore, with only a few frayed threads as opposed to the usual ten. Or, maybe two incidents of his bad luck had finally canceled out and created such a positive result that his fortune flipped around for the day.

Whatever the case, Bennett blinked at Kaeya’s form, the man standing in between him and the patron Bennett had considered recruiting.

(He didn’t mind much that the man had slipped in a few pills into the drink that Kaeya currently held, snatched away so suddenly that Bennett and the man had hardly exchanged but a few words when their visions filled with blue. It hadn’t been the first time this had happened, and Bennett had long learned how to wipe his tears and repair his clothes.

But how strange that someone should step in, let alone Kaeya of all people!)

“Oh, hey, Kaeya,” he said, the cheer clear in his voice. “How you’ve been?”

Kaeya turned his head, and Bennett was almost disappointed to see an eyepatch staring back. “Seems you two were having a party,” he said, a sharp cut beneath his words. The patron swallowed hard when Kaeya set the glass down, the soft clink sending the man into a fit of trembles. “Or perhaps,” Kaeya slid the glass closer to the man and leaned forward, whispering in his ear, “You seek a fight? ”

The man leapt from his seat in a hurry, sweat rolling down his face as he gathered his things and ran off. Kaeya faced Bennett—his eye visible this time, to Bennett’s delight—a crease between his brows.

Bennett smiled. Kaeya didn’t.

“You know,” Bennett said after the silence refused to leave, swinging his legs and rocking in his seat, “You reminded me of a hero just now.”

Kaeya snorted. “It would have been a crime to watch you drink such low-quality liquor.” He crossed his arms, shifting his weight as he mumbled, “Hero’s too noble of a praise.”

He watched as Kaeya motioned toward the bartender, offering a small thanks when two glasses slid over, placing the lighter colored one next to him.

Bennett pointed at himself. “For me?”

Kaeya leaned against the counter, already sipping from his wine. “So you won’t forget what quality tastes like.”

Carefully, Bennett lifted the drink to his lips, the smell of apple cider greeting him. He glanced toward Kaeya and laughed softly.  

“Yeah,” he whispered to himself quietly, “Just like a hero.”

The second time it happened, Bennett wondered if the pleasant buzz came from the anticipation of the desired company instead of the one too many pills that would be slipped into his drink.

The man this time had a larger frame, his demeanor more friendly and touchy—truth be told, Bennett had long forgotten his face, having no real interest in the man outside of a momentary use—hands lingering too long on Bennett’s shoulders as he offered the boy a round of drinks. He was courteous enough not to drug the whole lot, but Bennett made sure to slide the fifth drink further back, desiring for the first time in a while to delay the horrid taste of salt sliding down his tongue. 

“Be a pal and down a few!” he said, a barely concealed leer laced through his words. He placed his hand once more on Bennett’s shoulder and squeezed, no doubt an effort to lull the boy into a false peace. “They’re on the house from yours truly,” he ended with a wink, snatching one of the safe drinks and downing half in a sip.

“Oh? That so?”

A smile stretched across Bennett’s face as the man nearly spit the rest of his drink out on the tavern floor. Kaeya leaned against the counter—between them, Bennett thought, heart fluttering like a small bird, ready to jump free from its cage—frost hanging off his words despite his relaxed posture. “Care to prove your sincerity?”

The man wiped the excess alcohol from his mouth, trying to remain dignified. “O-Of course,” he straightened up, a small tremor running through his hands, “I’m a man of my word,” his voice dropped to a mutter, a curt “unlike some people” spoken in between a pause. 

Kaeya laughed and raised his hand. “How nice of you to offer free, unlimited drinks to everyone. And here I thought I misjudged you, for shame.”

Before the man could even process what had been said, Kaeya motioned at the bartender, smile pleasant, “Don’t be shy now, the fellow has spirit to share, bring out the richest ones!” The man seemed aghast, face pale as the whole tavern cheered, a few patrons rushing to him and thanking him for the kind deed. He directed a nasty glare at Kaeya, muttering a threat if Bennett heard right, hauled off into the fray of dancing locals. 

Kaeya waved, taunting. “Bye-bye!” And then he turned to Bennett, brow raised and a sigh on his lips. “Care to explain?”

Bennett swung his legs. “It’s nice to see you, Kaeya! I was just talking with the locals, y’know,” he shrugged his shoulders, “Adventurer stuff.”

Kaeya rolled his eye, “Well, you certainly know how to sell the role.”

“Really?!”

“No.” Kaeya ignored the pout Bennett threw his way. “I thought I told you already; dogs know how to bite.” His voice sharpened, “Especially when they smell meat that’s fresh.”

(Bennett wanted to correct Kaeya. It’s not the first time, he thought, if anything, this meat’s as rotten as it gets.)

Instead, he nodded, folding his arms atop the table. “Thanks for comin’, Kaeya.”

“No need for thanks,” Kaeya said offhandedly, “I was in the area for a mission after all.” 

Bennett wondered out loud, “I guess it’s true that knights can’t lie all that well.”

Kaeya made a face. “Someone’s certainly picked up some snark since last time.”

“Not snark,” Bennett propped his chin with a hand, a glitter in his eyes, “Just luck~!”

By the third time, with glasses littered ’round the table and the chattering of the tavern but a dull noise to accompany the throb in his head, Bennett realized that Kaeya longed for company just as much as he did. 

He wanted a friend just as much as I did, he thought as he downed his glass, long having lost track of what number it was, the man across him this time no more notable than the last. He hiccuped, giggling, and face flushed, “Ya’ aven’t,” he broke off into a fit of laughter, liquor spilling onto the table as he swayed some, “‘aven’t drugged me!” He pointed a finger at the man, “‘ow come? He won’t show if ya,” another hiccup, “If ya don’t.”

A hand brushed back his hair, and Bennett couldn’t help the disappointment show when he connected the arm to the man in front. I bet Kaeya’s got nicer hands. 

“Fear not, boy,” the man continued to pet him, Bennett’s brow furrowed, “Our guest is simply tardy,” he smiled, more teeth than lip. “I’ve sent our other friends to help him out.”

“Eeeh,” Bennett slurred out, leaning back and almost falling out of his chair. “I cou… could’ve gone,” he jabbed a finger at his chest, unable to feel if he was smiling or not. “We’re close friends, me’ n ’im!”

The man covered his mouth, his chuckle a grating accompaniment to the pounding in Bennett’s temples. He wondered if the tavern had any food to help sober him up. He giggled, picturing Kaeya’s remarks when Bennett offered half his plate.

Something shuffled behind him, a muffled, “Job’s done, boss.”

Bennett furrowed his brow. How odd the man knew how to speak without moving his lips. 

“My, how quick! And here I thought knights had better stamina,” he laughed once more, apparently finding himself entertaining. Bennett laid his head on the table as the man stood up, his face shadowed by the overhead light. “I’m afraid it’s time for us to leave now. But perhaps,” he tapped his chin, “Next time, we can all be a part of the fun.”

He left before Bennett could even lift his hand, a delayed and sluggish, “Later,” falling from his mouth. Bennett turned his head over, calling out to the bartender, “Can I ‘et some ‘ater?” 

The muttering from the other patrons blended into a single noise, more indistinguishable than before. He felt the table vibrate, a glass appearing next to him from one blink to the next. With some difficulty, Bennett managed to lift his head and press the glass to his lips, wondering if he should seek out Kaeya as he drank, the water cold and chilling as it ran down his throat.

After a second glass, Bennett’s vision cleared, though he found there was still a stumble in his step as he got up, making his way out the tavern door. He leaned against the doorframe, adjusting the weight of his goggles, “Late, huh?” he hummed to himself. “I’ve been late, haha.”

He stumbled forward and around the corner, the alley crowded and dark in between the buildings. “Usually late ’round ‘ere,” he said as he made his way further in, his foot catching on a lifted stone. Bennett threw his hands to catch himself from falling flat on his face, his palms bearing faint scrapes. “Aaah, maybe I really am lucky now,” the words fumbled out of his mouth.

“Heh, lucky you.”

Bennett’s head shot up, a smile nearly splitting his face in two. “Ah, Kaeya! Thought you weren’t gonna come,” he tried to stand but stumbled, “Haha, thought you ‘eren’t gonna come.” He crawled forward, laying his head on Kaeya’s thigh. The skin was warm, a slight discoloration barely visible in the dim alleyway, the torn fabric tickling Bennett’s nose. 

Kaeya tried to suppress his flinch. Bennett caught sight of the boa on the floor, soaked and dirtied with muddy water.

“Ah, ‘orry,” Bennett said, peering up at him, mind still clouded, “They treated you nicely out here, huh?” He sat back, pulling at the edges of his coat, and started wiping the stains off Kaeya’s thighs. He hummed, the liquid still warm.

White looked nicer on Kaeya when it was in the form of fluffy feathers and magic that glittered like gems. Bennett gently moved Kaeya’s hand when the man tried to cover his exposed crotch, shaking his head. “No worry, no worry, I ‘ow what it’s like to be late with friends,” he smiled, the alcohol still buzzing in his veins. “Never seen you wear white down ‘ere.” Gently, he brushed the coarse hair down, feeling the residual stickiness, “’s a pretty color.”

Kaeya tried to sit up, voice weak. “Don’t plan on it being permanent. Just a temporary,” he collapsed back against the wall, “Temporary favor.”

Bennett giggled, falling forward and leaning heavily against Kaeya’s chest, the man tense. He felt his eyes flutter shut, Kaeya’s body warm. “’m lucky, normally wake up ‘ere alone.” He let go of his jacket, ignoring the white that smeared across it and reached for Kaeya’s hand. “Got you ‘ow.”

Faintly, Bennett felt droplets fall onto his hair, Kaeya’s body trembling. “‘orry,” Bennett mumbled, sleep calling to him now. “Always rain’s for me ‘ere.”

It was quiet, and then a hand began to stroke his hair. Bennett smiled, listening to Kaeya’s soft voice tremble, “Don’t be... Some magic’s stronger in the rain.”