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Your family ran a stall in Liyue Harbor selling some of the freshest fishes of the nation.
Usually it was up to your brother to do the fishing but today he had to call in sick for work. Your parents were getting old and it would be cruel to make them do the fishing because it would require utilizing waypoints which are confusing advanced technology and that’s not including the unexpected monsters that might come across their paths.
So then the responsibility fell onto your shoulders.
Your role in the family business was to handle the money managing by making sure your family gets paid accordingly to what they deserve (plus tax). Even though you knew how to fish, you never really had to do any of that thanks to your brother who was all physical strength and lacked braincells.
This now led you to a treacherous path as you had plenty of braincells but lacked the physical strength.
You didn’t have to fight hilichurls or any other pesky monsters across your path because you were calculative with your moves. However, now that you found the perfect spot to go fishing, the real struggle began with you attempting to pull the fishes out of the water.
As you grunted and took deep breaths while the sweat dripped down your face and upper back, you kept thinking to yourself how you cannot go home empty handed at all costs.
That’s when you spotted a ship that was stationed nearby your fishing spot.
You didn’t care if the ship was full of monsters because at this point you were willing to receive help from just about anyone. As you surveyed the distance between you and the ship, the best option you could think of was to swim to the ship to climb aboard.
However, you exerted out all your strength with that fishing rod of yours so that would end up with you drowning and you do not need that happening on today of all days.
As you began to ponder on how to go about this dilemma, you didn’t notice that someone was watching you from afar this whole time.
“Need some help babe?” You heard a mysterious yet alluring voice from behind.
You jolted in place. “What the fuck-“
“A pretty face but a vulgar mouth, that’s hot.” They smirked with flirtatious eyes (or eye since one of the eye was covered up with an eyepatch) that trailed over your face and body.
Okay she’s the one that’s hot
You pushed aside those intrusive thoughts while your face began to warm up. Right now what’s important is to be on alert because this potential pirate could potentially rob you in broad daylight (well the sun hasn’t risen yet).
“Excuse me but who might you be?” You spoke calmly as possible trying to not show any fear (or any sense of being hot and bothered by their presence and words).
“The name’s Beidou,” they spoke with a hand out which urged you to shake. You immediately shook their hand and was going to release it but she held your hand in theirs.
“I shake hands with people, but for a beautiful woman like you, I do this instead,” Beidou said as she kissed the top of your hand suavely.
You blushed uncontrollably this time and you feel your ears burning up faster than the spicy stir fried fillet and rice you usually cook for your family.
Beidou chuckled and released your hand leaving you yearning for their touch even though you just met her and still have no idea who this is.
“You see that ship over? That’s mine. It’s called the Alcor.” Beidou pointed her finger to the ship that you were plotting to utilize for your fishing woes.
Relief spread across your body but you also were still on the edge from the kiss you received. You never been kissed before and your first kiss was on your hand of all places.
Focus Y/N, let’s not think about how single you are.
“Do you think you could help me fish? If you have time of course,” you immediately posed the question without a second thought.
“That’s why I asked if you needed some help earlier,” Beidou smirked as she reached for your fishing rod to get straight to work.
You watched eagerly as you see Beidou catch fish after fish nonstop that it was becoming too much for you to carry back in one trip. You were definitely going to have to do at least five trips with the waypoint today to get all these fishes to Liyue Harbor.
“Thank you so much like you don’t understand how much this means to my parents, here’s our business card and feel free to contact us whatever arrangement of payment you want in return, we’ll do our best but we aren’t rich so please don’t expect too much but we can definitely offer you free fish and even fish curries and-“
“I don’t want any of that.”
Beidou interrupted your ramble which left you confused since you were offering a range of generous gifts and services you were readily willing to provide for her hard work today.
“What is it that you’d like then?” You were nervous asking this question because it sounded like you were going to get murdered or kidnapped (but also your anxiety usually gets the best of you).
“I want you.”
There it is.
You knew you were not going to peacefully make it back home safely. Not only did you dox yourself with that business card but you’re all alone in Guyun Stone Forest of all places surrounded by water. This was the perfect place to get kidnapped and murdered.
“Please, we can talk this out, I have a family to take care of,” you started off with shaking voice. “I have to live at least 10 more years because who else is going to take care of them?” You eyes were beginning to tear up.
“Babe why are you crying? I just said I wanted you, I’m not gonna murder or kidnap you or anything.” Beidou gently said as she swiped away the tears that were soon to drop down to your cheeks.
You cleared your throat immediately in embarrassment and pushed your hair behind your ear while avoiding eye contact. “Uhhh, so you were flirting with me or?”
“Yes I was,” Beidou chuckled. “So are you going to let me take you on a date today or tomorrow?”
At this point, you were losing count on how many times you blushed in the presence of a human being.
“I’m free on the weekends, so if you’re free this weekend we should go on a date this weekend.”
You kept your eyes glued to the sandy beach where all the fishes laid nicely on the newspapers you brought for packaging.
“And one more thing, I was lying earlier.”
You heart was about to fall out your ass with the way Beidou’s words put you on edge.
“Lying about what earlier?” You quickly focused your eyes back onto Beidou and smiled nervously.
Beidou simply smirked. “I do want that business card of yours.”
You scuffed a fake laugh which made Beidou grin with mischief.
“Here.” You held out the card with slight annoyance.
“Oo I love seeing you get riled up.” Beidou took the card out of your hand. “I wonder how much more I can get you riled up on our little date.”
And with that, she jumped into the waters and began to swim effortlessly towards the Alcor. You were stagnant to your spot and couldn’t keep your eyes off her even though she invoked fear into you at times but also made you blush like a schoolgirl.
You finally pulled your eyes away from her and turned your attention to the fishes. Now you began to come up with a plan to efficiently take these back with speed and diligence. As you were doing that, Beidou had swiftly come back on a small boat.
“Babe, were you seriously going to take these back by foot?”
You jolted in place again.
“Yes.” You said as you made no effort to turn away to acknowledge Beidou properly.
“Here let me take of this for you babe,” Beidou came behind your back and intervened as she pulled your hand off the fish and carried them into the boat.
Once every fish was placed safely onto the boat, you sat on one end while she sat on the opposite end facing you. Beidou then began to row the boat to her ship while not taking her eyes off you not even for a second.
You were doing your best to avoid eye contact as the sun was finally starting to rise.
“Sooo what do you do for a living?” You mustered up the courage to ask.
“Fight monsters, captain of a ship, exporting and importing goods, as well as evading taxes sometimes.”
Beidou casually slid in that last part.
“How about you? What do you do besides working for your family business and looking pretty?”
You cleared your throat to hold back another blush from reappearing.
“I like travelling even though I don’t get much opportunity for that.”
“This is all the more reason for you to be my girlfriend.”
Damn this woman was determined to woo you quickly before someone else does.
“We’ll see about that,” you unintentionally spoke out your thoughts out loud.
”Ouch babe, we were making so much progress, what’s got your panties in a bunch?” Beidou raised an eyebrow with mischief in her eyes.
“I mean I just met you and yeah you did me a huge favor today but I’m just returning the favor back with a date, nothing special.” Here comes your annoyingly logical side.
”Nothing special you say?”
The way your eyes immediately started avoiding Beidou’s.
“You’re really bad at lying babe.” Beidou grinned at you. “It’s okay though because you look cute.” She reached out and tucked your loose hair strand behind your ear.
Man how are you supposed to handle a date when you can’t even keep yourself composed today?
“Anyways, we’re here,” Beidou said as she got up to secure all the hooks onto the boat as the Alcor gently pulled you both up to the ship’s deck.
You got up to throw the fishes onto the deck while Beidou did the same. After that, you decided you didn’t need to hold Beidou’s hand, which was reaching out for yours, to help you out of the boat.
Instead you thought you could easily climb out of the boat and onto the ship but that’s where you went wrong.
If it wasn’t for Beidou’s reflexes, you would’ve probably fell into the waters by now.
Instead, Beidou’s arms secured around your waist as your face collided into hers. You nervously opened your eyes to see a set of eyes already staring back at you.
“If you wanted to kiss me, you could’ve just asked,” Beidou said as her mouth was so close to yours and her breath left shivers down your spine even on a summer day.
You immediately turned your face away from hers to look at the boat that was the root of your problems. Beidou made no effort to let go off your waist.
“Okay wrap it up lovebirds, the Alcor is going to head back to Liyue Harbor docks now.” You heard someone in maple leaf designed clothing say.
”Wow Kazuha, thanks for ruining the moment.” Hearing Beidou’s annoyance made you want to giggle.
Beidou let go of your waist and started walking towards the short man named Kazuha. “I’ll be back babe, don’t die on me while I’m gone,” she said over her shoulder.
You quickly snapped out of the trance you were in and carefully situated the fish supplies into an empty crate that just so happened to be right near you.
As the Alcor began to move, you leaned against one of the wooden poles for the ship’s sails and while taking in the views of the people on board and the sea.
Nobody approached you but you could tell that the crew mates were cooing and secretly talking about you and the captain.
However, you ignored them because it wasn’t like you’ll be on this ship again so this embarrassment is temporary.
Once the ship arrived in the harbor, you were ready to grab your crate of fish without bidding Beidou goodbye due to your assumption that she’s probably busy doing captain things.
“I got it babe,” was what you heard before the crate of fish immediately disappeared from your reach.
You turned your head to smile gently at Beidou showing your thanks as you led the way to your family’s fish selling stall.
Your family was pleased to see that not only did you manage to get so many fresh fishes but you also brought a prospective customer and potential daughter in law for them.
“I knew you were dating someone!” Your mother said eagerly. “That’s why you sneakily leave the house at night.”
You were ready for plunge into the waters if it meant getting away from your family embarrassing you right now in front of Beidou.
“We are dating but she never snook out to see me, so I wonder who Y/N actually went to see,” Beidou eyed you with jealousy.
“I just wanted to go out to karaoke with my friends,” you defended yourself quickly as possible.
“So how long have you two been dating for?” Your dad’s question made you frantically look at Beidou.
“We just began dating today actually sir, your daughter needed some help with fishing and then she nearly drowned so I helped with that also.”
“Thank Rex Lapis that you were there to save the day,” your dad rejoiced as he vigorously shook his hand with Beidou’s hand.
“It’s no problem at all really!” Beidou got nervous for the first time. “Well, Y/N, I’ll see you tomorrow here at noon then?”
Your mom started to hit your dad’s shoulders in excitement while Beidou looked at you with gentle eyes that drew you in the more you stared back.
“See you then,” you said with a gentle smile back.
Beidou gave a mini salute as she started heading back to the Alcor.