Arcane X Reader (Open)

The sun was low in the sky as you waited by the old bar where Claggor had promised to meet you. You were a little early, eager to see him again. The two of you had known each other for a while since the old days with Vander, but this was different. Tonight, he'd asked you out. Well, sort of. He had mentioned going for a walk, maybe grabbing a drink. A simple, quiet evening. At least, that was what you'd thought.

A few minutes passed, and you spotted him rounding the corner, his familiar silhouette growing larger as he approached. He wore his usual, a dark vest with that smirk tugging at his lips.

"You're early" he greeted you, glancing at the bar as if to remind himself of the plan that never quite seemed to go according to script.

"Excited to see you, Claggor" you teased, offering him a playful smile. He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"I've got a bit of a surprise for you tonight" he said, offering you his arm like it was the most natural thing. You laughed but took it. You were used to his unpredictable nature by now.

"Let me guess" you said, eyeing him with suspicion "This is some elaborate scheme to get me caught up in some trouble, isn't it?"

Claggor flashed that cheeky grin "It's not what you think. At least not entirely"

"Uh huh. What's that supposed to mean?"

Before he could respond, a loud noise broke through the air- footsteps. A small group of thugs, one of whom you recognized as a familiar troublemaker, emerged from a nearby alley. Claggor's posture immediately shifted, his hand subtly moving to his side where his weapon rested.

"Looks like the night's taking a turn" he muttered "Stay close"

You barely had time to process it before the group came closer. Claggor turned to you, his face unreadable for a second.

"Remember that surprise I mentioned? Well, this is it. A little impromptu mission"

You raised an eyebrow, your nerves on edge but you trusted Claggor. You had been through enough together to know he had your back. Besides, he always made things fun, no matter the situation.

The leader of the group stepped forward, his smug grin instantly putting you on edge "Well, well. Look who we have here. Claggor and his pretty little friend"

Claggor stood his ground, his hand now resting on the handle of his knife "Don't even think about it. We're just passing through"

"Oh, I don't think so" the thug sneered "I've been waiting for this day"

Before you could even react, Claggor was already moving. He was fast, quicker than most, and with precision, he darted forward, knocking the first thug to the ground. The second one didn't stand a chance, and within moments, Claggor had neutralized most of them, leaving only the leader.

You took a step back, watching as Claggor expertly handled the situation. There was something about the way he fought, smooth, efficient, yet almost playful in his movements that never failed to leave you in awe. His protective instincts were as sharp as ever, but there was a certain joy in the way he did it. You didn't feel scared, not with him by your side.

The leader finally pulled a weapon, aiming for Claggor, but you were already moving. You grabbed a loose pipe from the ground, swinging it with all your strength. The thug never saw it coming. He stumbled backward, crashing into the wall with a thud.

"Nice shot" Claggor said, giving you a wink as he knocked the leader out cold with a swift punch.

You dropped the pipe, a grin spreading across your face "What can I say? You taught me well"

He smirked, dusting his hands off "It's good to know I'm not the only one keeping an eye out for us"

After ensuring the rest of the thugs were unconscious, Claggor finally relaxed. He turned back to you, brushing his hand through his messy hair "Well, that wasn't exactly the plan, but hey, we're both still standing"

You let out a laugh, shaking your head "I can't believe you'd call this a date. I thought we were just grabbing a drink"

"Hey, I never said it would be boring, did I?" He grinned, clearly pleased with himself "And besides, I've got an even better idea. Now that the fun's over, how about we get that drink?"

"I could use one" you agreed, laughing.

As you both made your way to the bar, Claggor kept close, walking with his usual relaxed confidence. You could tell he was still on edge, his eyes darting around, but the tension between you two was light, like it always was. The adrenaline from the fight had passed, and now you could enjoy the calm.

The two of you settled into a booth, drinks in hand. Claggor leaned back, finally letting out a breath "You didn't freak out back there"

You shrugged "Why should I? I trust you"

He gave you a look, his eyes softening just a little "Good to know. Because I'll always have your back. No matter what"

The warmth in his voice made you feel a little lighter "I know"

The conversation drifted from the mission to other things, funny stories from your past, complaints about the city, and idle chatter about the future. It was exactly what you needed, a night filled with laughter and the comforting knowledge that you weren't alone in this.

As the night wore on, you couldn't help but smile. You'd thought this would be a simple evening, but with Claggor, nothing was ever ordinary. And somehow, it always worked out perfectly.

"Well, maybe next time we'll actually get that quiet walk" Claggor said with a smirk.

You laughed "I wouldn't count on it, Claggor. You make everything interesting"