Quinn's Totally Realistic Oneshots (Genshin Impact & Honkai: Star Rail)

You'd always protect Navia.

As leader of the Spina di Rosula's official bodyguard group, and unofficial Navia Protection Squad, it was kinda your job. You were left as her sole bodyguard when the primordial seawater took your best friends, Silver and Melus. Navia had always been closer to the two of them than you. Despite being around the same age as Navia, and having gone to school with her in Poisson and everything; you had rose to the rank you were at. You were Master Callas's personal guard. You and Navia had been close when you were young and in school, then you dropped out and that was that. You hadn't spoken to her properly since. Whatever relation you had now was way too formal for you. That might've been skewed by your tiny crush on her, but you were never gonna act on that! You were standing outside her office now, waiting for her to emerge. There was business in the Court of Fontaine, and you were accompanying Navia as usual.

It had been seven minutes too long. Navia was never tardy.

You knocked, "Miss Navia?"

No response.

Contemplating the correctness of what you were doing, you opened the door. You weren't supposed to enter unless Navia let you in, but this could've been a security breach. What you found was certainly not that.

It was Navia, taking a nap on her desk. She looked so... unstressed. She was always stressed, since everything went down. Since the primordial sea was supressed and Monsieur Neuvillette took up the throne of Fontaine. That was way oversimplified, but hey. You weren't really briefed, and Navia hadn't let you get involved after Silver and Melus. As much as you wanted her to catch up on her sleep, this case was important. You lightly tapped the wooden table a few centimeters away from Navia's face.

"Damoiselle?"

"Huh, ah!" Navia woke with a small shriek.

"It's just me, Miss Navia."

"Oh, Y/N. What are you doing here?"

Heat rose to your cheeks, "I'm sorry, I know I'm not supposed to come in here, but you weren't responding, and I thought it might be an emergency, so-"

Navia laughed, "God, no, Y/N, I meant, do I need to be somewhere? Calm down."

"Yeah, uh, the Auclair case?"

"Shit, shit shit shit shit. Let's go!" Navia hurriedly grabbed her things and ran out, leaving you to follow.

You sat on the empty aquabus together, and Navia let out a sigh.

"Are you okay, Damoiselle? I hope you're getting enough sleep."

When Navia responded after a long minute, it was not what you expected.

"You don't have to call me that, ya know? Damosielle. Just 'cause Melus used to. You're my age, for gods sake! We used to be friends. I used to- never mind. Point is, you don't need to be so formal with me."

"But-"

Navia put a finger to your lips, "Shh, let me finish. I'm saying, Y/N, I don't need sleep. I need a friend."

You remained silent, dumbstruck.

Navia removed her finger from your mouth, "Oh, sorry. You can... uh, you can speak now."

"Okay..." You once again contemplated the correctness of what you were about to say, "Nav."

Navia chuckled again, but the smile was brighter than you'd seen from her in years. "Nav, Nav. Nav. You haven't called me that in years!" Then, calming herself down, looking at her feet, "I like it."

The Melusine, who'd been uncharacteristically silent all this time, suddenly spoke, "We're here! Welcome to the Court of Fontaine!"

You mumbled a 'thank you' and got up, suddenly realizing you were almost a foot closer to Navia than you had been at the start of the ride. Navia apparently had this realization as well, and moved away from you as she got up. It broke your heart. You made your way through the city, and Navia was at your side today, as opposed to in front of you. She was still leading the way, but insisted on walking alongside you. You could bring yourself to refuse. For the third time that day, you were forced to consider the correctness of your actions. What happened next hurt your heart even more. For absolutely no discernible raison, Aether the Traveler appeared. Navia ran up to him and gave him a hug.