Chapter Text
It had been a peaceful day. He and Jean were taking a walk through Windrise doubling as a patrol for the area.
Lisa had come to him to remind him that it was time to make Jean take a break. Typically, Jean and Kaeya were good about reminding each other to not overwork, but when they both forget, it’s Lisa to the rescue.
It should’ve been a nice walk with nothing to worry about because Kaeya already cleared the area a day before, they had their planed break at Vanessa’s Tree before followed the ridge back to the city.
They had been enjoying the breeze when they encountered a group of monsters. A handful of Hilichurls, some armed with Pyro and Electro crossbows, a Mitachurl, and a Hydro Abyss Mage.
And to top it all off it started raining on them as the winds carried in a storm off the ocean.
The rain was helpful so Kaeya couldn’t complain too much as he took the advantage of his wet opponents. Between his ice and Jean swirling everything around them, the fact they were grossly outnumbered didn’t matter much.
But it didn’t make the fighting any easier.
The grass was slippery and the monsters didn’t stay frozen for as long as he’d like, especially the Mage.
The crossbow Hilichurls kept themselves back, while the Pryo one was practically just a regular in the rain, the Electro one was ten times more problematic. Even if it misses them with its bolt, the lighting still arches around the area.
One wrong slip can lead them to being stunned while Electro-charges.
Kaeya rolled out of the way of another water bubble. That Mage was really getting on his nerves now.
“Freeze!”
Kaeya let his Cryo energy burst forward from the end of his sword, freezing the Mitachurl in the middle of swinging its axe. His foot slipped as he moved out of the way of another charged arrowhead.
Quickly taking a glance at Jean as she fought the other two Shooters, he could see she was having no problem blasting them away with her Anemo cover sword.
All he had to do was stall the rest of them for her.
Focusing his energy he released his Glacier Waltz, re-freezing the Mitachurl just as it shattered his ice and tried to get the Mage as well, only for it to teleport away from him.
He closed the distance again, this time his floating shards of ice managed to catch the Mage’s shield, freezing it in place.
Kaeya’s knee twisted as his foot once again slipped on the wet grass. His ice melts, needing time to recharge the next attempt.
Man he was getting tired. He really hates rain.
That's when he noticed it. Just as Jean was finishing off the two Shooters and was turning her attention to the Mitachurl, the Electro Shooter had a charge shot lined up and she didn’t notice.
Scrambling on the wet ground to get to his feet, Kaeya raced forward, ignoring the twinge in his twisted knee. He closed the distance rather quickly.
“Watch out!”
Kaeya shoved Jean with all his strength, sending her sliding across the grass in a roll. He froze the Mitachurl again to stop its attack and then, he hesitated himself.
The arrow was sent flying as he brain tried to come up with the next move. He watched almost in slow motion as it soared toward him. Managing to take a step to the side he avoids the bolt, but not the area it lands in.
Lighting arches around, surging through him, he had to bite back a scream. It was hard to move as he tried to move away but each step sent waves of pain as his muscles contracted and tensed, refusing to listen to his commands.
He could hear Jean calling his name but he was focused on the smell of iron filling his nose, was he bleeding?
Another step sent him sideways as his Electro-charge muscles couldn’t keep balance and slipped, falling onto the wet grass.
Gritting his teeth hard enough to probably crack them he forced his eyes open. Only to see a bubble of water heading right for him!
Kicking his spazzing legs he tried to move out of the way, freeze it, pop it, anything! But nothing worked and he was surrounded by the water.
Holding his breath while Electro energy is coursing through you is difficult, as Kaeya finds out. He writhed suspended in the water, struggling between breaking the bubble and his own body. His lungs scream for air, as small bubbles escape his lips.
He was so tired.
He can feel his movement getting weaker the longer he’s trapped, shadows start dancing at the edge of his vision.
Was Jean okay?
The darkening of his sight did little to help him grind Jean as he kept trying to struggle. Water slipped into his mouth as more air escaped. Something bright and red flared through the water. Was it the Mitachurl? Did it somehow get its axe ignited despite the rain? Or was it something else?
No longer feeling the Electro-charged effects he quickly got control of his limbs and tried to swim out of the bubble, but it was too late. His legs weakly kicked, feeling like lead as they moved through the water. He tried grabbing towards the edge, or where he thought the edges were but he wasn’t moving.
Was he going to die? He asked himself… If he does then he at least kept his promise to Jean.
Choking on the water now he stopped fighting. He was so tired now… it was dark.
He hopes Jean was alright…
Trying to open his eyes again to try and get a potential final glance as his best friend, he was met with sudden and cold white light… and then nothing...
It was so cold as he heard a crack before something shattered.
A numb feeling buzzed over him as he felt something hitting his chest. At some point he realized he was blankly staring at grey clouds, high above him in the clouds.
Was someone kissing him?
Lips were warm on his own before the pounding in his chest started again, and that’s when he realized he wasn’t breathing.
A particularly hard compression on his chest caused him to cough, Kaeya struggled onto his side, coughing up water and vomit as his body and lungs gasped for the sweet taste of air.
He shivered as someone, Jean, rubbed his back. It was so cold… and everything hurt, but at the same time, numb.
Pressing his face into the ground he tried forcing his brain to rationalize what happened, but shadows edged up along his vision again, this time he couldn’t fight it.
The last thing he registered was something very, very warm getting placed on him and strong arms moving him.