Chapter Text
It’s been years since Thoma last went on a boat trip. And that last trip ended in disaster, so maybe it’s not the best memory. Then again, he never would have met the Kamisatos otherwise, so was it really all that bad?
Things seemed promising back at the docks, when he was waving goodbye to Aether and Ayaka. A clear sky, calm waters, and refreshing breeze. Now? Now the ship is rocky, and Thoma thinks he might be sick.
There’s the rumbling of thunder from dark skies above and the clap of lightning that punctuates the slosh of waves. His hair stands on end from static and the ship pitches to the side, leaning dangerously far before being brought back up by a strong hand. The bow goes up and down and Thoma feels remarkably like rice cake in a boiling hotpot. At the mercy of the soupy sea, clinging on with white knuckles and seeing green onions at the edges of his vision. Joy.
A hand rubs gentle circles on his back as he leans his head over a wooden railing suppressing the urge to hurl. He’s trembling in cold sweat and the fresh ocean air but ridiculously warm. Why the storms are still happening is beyond him.
In the Plane of Euthymia, Ei sighs at her attempt to keep Thomato in Inazuma. Their matchmaking is out of her hands for now. Celestia knows what that ridiculous excuse for an anemo archon is going to do instead. Curse the sailing skills of their foreign ship’s captain.
Back on the ship, Beidou’s electro vision pulses faintly.
“There there. You ought to feel better once we’re out of Inazuman waters.” Thoma’s response is muffled by his arm as he shuts his eyes tightly.
His only travel companion is Ayato, after Aether and Paimon declared they would join them in Mondstadt instead of journeying with them as planned. Ayaka told them she would take care of business in their absence, followed by all of the Yashiro and Kamisato Estate’s staff urging them on a vacation. And the Shuumatsuban. He swears he heard Aether and Ayaka debating whether or not to sneak “bedroom supplies” into their bags too. He stopped them, of course, since extra blankets and pillows would just add to the weight of their luggage. How silly of them both.
Why everyone was so enthusiastic for their leaving, Thoma doesn’t know. All he knows right now is water, waves, and the smell of fish. He distantly wonders if the Raiden Shogun gets seasick and prays that he doesn’t throw up in front of Ayato.
“Perhaps we should go below deck?” Ayato’s fingers brush strands of hair away from his face and he makes a noncommittal noise in response, subconsciously leaning into the touch. Archons, he’s never been so woozy. “We can retire for the night early.”
Ayato leads him away from the railing with a hand at his waist, moving around puddles even though Thoma knows full well he can walk through them fine. There’s a light thud as Kazuha jumps from the quarterdeck, slowing his fall with a spiral of swirling air. Half of Thoma’s consciousness wants to ask where the leaves come from when they’re in the middle of the ocean.
“I’ll show you to your room, Lord Commissioner.” He shuffles his feet, perfectly steady on his sea legs but wary of Ayato’s title. “Though there’s only one bed. I hope that’s okay.”
“Let go of the formalities, Kazuha. It’s perfectly fine, we can share.”
Thoma wants to protest as Kazuha leads them down the steep stairs and around a corner. Mostly for the sake of his lord, because what would people think if he were to share a bed with his servant? But he’s set on the bed and automatically lays down as Ayato thanks their guide and closes the cabin door. Then Ayato is pulling off his muddy shoes too fast for Thoma to stop him, letting them fall to the floor followed by his own. Thoma can feel him haphazardly adjusting the scratchy mattress before he climbs in beside him, pulling a thin blanket over them both.
Thoma thinks he might evaporate. Even more so when Ayato’s arm slips around his waist as he scoots closer and a breath ghosts against his neck. All thoughts of seasickness fall overboard and he’s warm for an entirely different reason.
“We’ll arrive at Liyue Harbor in a few days time. Hopefully you aren’t as nauseous by tomorrow, hm?”
“M-My Lord?“ Thoma’s sure his blush reaches the tips of his ears. “This is highly unorthodox-“
“What, sharing a bed? It’s understandable that a cargo and exploration ship like the Crux has a limited amount of rooms, this is simply convenient. Also, the bed is small.” There’s a pause before he continues, sounding more uncertain. “Though… If I make you uncomfortable, please tell me. We won’t be in Inazuma soon, I think we could also afford to lose the formalities.”
Thoma considers this with the grace and indecisiveness of a fox kit, mind springing between two options. Certainly, it would be terrible if rumors were spread. But they’re on a ship with a trusted crew, and there’s nobody else to see them. They’re alone in a way they never were in Inazuma. (The realization makes his heart speed up.) But is it right of him to accept it in the first place? Ayato is asking for a familiarity that probably wouldn’t be allowed otherwise. And that likely isn’t anywhere near what Thoma wants.
In the end, Thoma shuts off his brain and relaxes against Ayato. He can consider everything some other time. For now, he can pretend.
“Then… It’s okay. Stay. Please.” This is nice, Thoma wants to add.
There’s an odd silence that feels like they’re both waiting for something, stretching like heavy taffy until it snaps.
“As you wish.”
✣ ✣ ✣
“Welcome to Liyue, land of contracts and important people!” Beidou laughs and punches Thoma’s back, unaware of her own strength. Thoma coughs like she flattened a lung. “Speaking of important people, my lovely girlfriend wishes you and your fancy man a nice experience in Liyue and journey to Mondstadt!”
“My what?” Thoma wheezes, still lamenting his bruised spine.
“She asked me to pass on the message since she’ll be too busy with her big old boring important meetings.” She hefts a bag onto the dock and throws a glance at Ayato. “A shame, she’s the one who made that weirdo complicated game you play, Ayato.”
“You have a girlfriend?”
“You like girls?”
“Did I not make it obvious?” Beidou blinks and slings the bag over her shoulder. “Well now you know!”
“If I may ask, who is she?” Ayato inquires as Beidou lifts a cargo crate onto the dock one handed. Suddenly Thoma feels weak. Are her biceps made of stone?
“Ningguang of the Qixing, the Tianquan of Liyue!” She declares proudly, wiping sweat off her forehead. “Man, we have a love story to rival the greats! Though you guys are really giving us a run for our money.”
“What?”
“What?” She laughs again and starts walking off. “Anyway, you guys should hustle if you wanna meet with that serious funeral consultant. Beats me how anyone would be entertained writing letters with mister hottie conductor to six feet under and his submissive traitorous sugar daddy, but have fun!”
Thoma and Ayato are left staring at her back in shocked silence.