Work Text:
“Who’s Varka’s new friend?”
“Hm?” Frederica interrupted her valued time spent reading to turn her and look at where Eroch’s gaze was focused. Varka was currently chatting things up with Crepus, the sight now as common as clouds in the sky, “You mean Crepus Ragnvindr?”
“That’s Crepus?” Eroch sounded to be in disbelief as his neutral expression dropped, “I thought you said he was miserable all the time! He looks at Varka like he’s his entire world.”
Frederica sighed, focusing back on the book she was reading. She clearly wasn’t, and never was, in the mood to deal with shenanigans involving others, especially if one of those individuals was Varka. Eroch didn’t take the hint, eyes narrowing as he glared at Varka and Crepus before once again dropping words Frederica could care less about.
“I don’t get what Varka sees in that guy? If he wants to make the knights he needs to get his head out of the clouds like we do.”
“You’re asking the impossible, and don’t compare my work to yours.” Frederica snapped her book shut and made a move to get up, “If you’re so bothered by Varka acting all buddy-buddy with Crepus, why don’t go tell him that? I’m off to read somewhere away from your disturbances.”
For once, Eroch didn’t taunt back, still caught up in his people watching. Of course he KNEW who Crepus was, everyone knew about the noble families of Mondstadt and Frederica had mentioned him occasionally, yet he only just recently became Varka’s favorite subject to talk about. It was always “Crepus and I did this” or “Sorry, I’m doing something with Crepus today!” Eroch was certain he was beginning to hate Crepus Ragnvindr.
Of course, this hate was purely out of the liabilities that Varka was costing himself, taking time off where he should be TRAINING to hang around someone who couldn’t make it into the knights if he tried, even if Varka kept insisting he and Crepus would join the knights together. The whole thing made Eroch feel sick, Varka had promised HIM that he was going to join alongside Frederica and himself, not some guy he met a month or so ago! If he was replacing him he should have at least told him to his face, but Eroch knew Varka would rather avoid facing any conflict between people head-on.
So, naturally, he would just have to do it for him.
Eroch wasted no time in standing up and marching towards Varka like he was on a mission, forcing his lips into a sweet smile sharp enough to cut through steel.
“Varka”
The blonde perked up, swiftly turning on his heel and grinning at Eroch like he was the most valuable thing in the world. Oh, how he wished he was.
“Eroch! I didn’t know you took today off from training! You’re always so strict about the whole thing, same as Frederica…” Varka trailed off before seeming to remember Crepus was also there, “Oh wait, you remember Crepus, right?”
“No” Eroch coldly remarked, the action earning a look of surprise from Varka. Crepus had already caught onto Eroch’s attitude, crossing his arms and looking away.
“Seriously? Crepus Ragnvindr.” Varka spoke as if Crepus were a celebrity, which wasn’t far from the truth at all, “My friend?”
“Nope, don’t remember, it’s nice to meet you regardless, Crepus. I’m Eroch, future Knight of Favonious,” Eroch’s smile widened as he held out a hand to the redhead. Crepus only raised an eyebrow, making no move to return the gesture as he only nodded.
“Yes… a future knight, I plan to take the prep exam in the future too.” Crepus was soft spoken, yet a hint of edge could be detected in his voice.
“A knight? You? A breeze could take you out!” was what Eroch wanted to say, instead he opted for playing his chivalry card.
“Oh? I can’t believe a Ragnvindr doesn’t know how to shake hands. Perhaps nobles aren’t as well-mannered as I thought.”
“Eroch come on, not now! You’re always on this chivalry stuff! This isn’t some fancy ball where you’re meeting royalty!” Varka facepalmed and turned to look at Crepus, “Sorry about him, honestly with the way he acts you’d think he’d be more happy to meet a “noble”
“It’s fine, I don’t mind.” Though it was clear that was anything but the case, Crepus’s face was in a scowl up as he refused to make eye contact with neither Varka nor Eroch.
“You can’t blame me for keeping knightly virtues!” Eroch rolled his eyes, dropping the fancy act at Varka’s insistence, “Then I’ll be as honest as possible, he’s not fit to be in the knights if he’s running the winery, what would Mondstadt be without its biggest business? He should know his duty for the city!”
“Are you serious? A person can do two things at once, Eroch!” Varka practically yelled as he jabbed a finger in Eroch’s face, eyes burning with annoyance. Eroch knew he needed to shut up, but each word from Varka only served to fire him up.
“What? I’m simply stating what would benefit the nation! You know how business is, right Crepus? You should prioritize our city’s economy that only YOU can help over the safety anyone can protect.”
But Crepus didn’t fire back an insult as Varka did, in fact, his eyes were soft and sad as reluctantly finally made eye contact with Eroch. He opened his mouth as if to speak, Varka immediately taking notice and putting a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t listen to him! He’s trying to antagonize you, it’s his way of communication-“
“No, he’s right,” Crepus finally replied in a small and shaky voice, “I should focus on the winery, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try out for knighthood. You’re welcome to make all the assumptions you want, Eroch, but just know that you were right, I’m not expendable like you are”
Eroch swore the temperature dropped, almost as if Crepus had a cryo vision he decided to mess around with. His hands shook, whatever composure he had left breaking at the sight of Varka holding back a laugh at Crepus’ words. Of course he thought it was funny when Crepus said it, of course he would think ANYTHING Crepus did was perfect, of course.
“If you two are just going to praise each other instead of actually making good points then you should both abandon your plans of knighthood and leave the job to someone who would benefit the Ordo!” Eroch yelled, apparently not realizing just how ludicrous he sounded. However, Varka and Crepus certainly did, their eyes widening at the charade before Varka broke out into laughter.
“Yeah- yeah I’ll take your advice, Eroch. Hey, Crepus, wanna go on a date around the city? Then we can ride into the sunset on some horses as Eroch serenades us with a love ballad! Maybe Frederica will come to the wedding!”
Unlike Varka, Crepus flushed a deep red as he pulled his arms into himself and looked away, not wanting to interject into the conversation.
“You’re insufferable! I understand why Frederica doesn’t put up with you!” Eroch huffed before starting to stride away, turning back only to repeat his points “INSUFFERABLE!”
The whole situation had Varka unable to stop laughing, the absurdity of Eroch’s insistence compared to how far it was from what went down brought tears to his eyes.
“Man, did you see the look on his face? Priceless! Honestly I don’t know where he got that idea from but- Crepus?”
Crepus didn’t say anything, eyes watery as he hunched over in a way that seemed so small. Varka’s face fell and he suddenly felt like the most awful guy in Mondstadt.
“Hey, I’m sorry if the whole joke-flirting was weird, uh, I didn’t really know how to defuse the situation. Eroch can be extremely persistent if he’s not knocked off his high horse, so I just went for whatever I could think of..” Varka bit his lip as the words seemed to have little to no effect on Crepus, who decided to speak up.
“Do you really think a date with me would be a joke to someone? That the thought of dating me would be funny enough to laugh about? Am I really that much of a joke to you, Varka?” Crepus’ words turned bitter as he spoke on and on, Varka growing more and more anxious as his friend thought he saw him as a joke. One of the many things Crepus hated being seen as was superficial.
“I didn’t think about that, and I didn’t mean it like that at all! I just thought the idea of us dating when he probably hates you and can’t stand me half the time would be a good way to shut him up! You’re not a joke to me, Crepus.”
“Eroch thinks I am!” Crepus sniffed, a tear going down his cheek. It was unusual to see someone who took chides so well crumbling, “A-and Frederica definitely thinks I’m a failure to the noble families when I don’t even want to run the winery! At this point she’s probably right! Why do I keep getting my hopes up that they’ll even let me take the exam?”
Varka had no time to reassure Crepus as he suddenly sobbed into his hands, the pressure and insults finally taking a toll on him. The sight was beyond unusual, Crepus never so much as shed a tear, yet here he was crying over a few remarks that seemed to spill his patience over. Varka almost winced at the sight before his senses kicked in and he pulled Crepus into a hug, running his fingers through his hair.
“Hey, don’t let Eroch and Frederica influence you, you’re considering the opinions of a guy who critiques everyone like that and FREDERICA. And anyone else repeating their junk probably doesn’t even see you past your last name! They make assumptions because they don’t know you, Crepus, but I do. I know you’re not a joke and the kind of pressure you’re dealing with, I don’t think I could do what you do, and in some ways that makes me a joke too!”
That remark made Crepus tense in Varka’s arms, it wasn’t like Varka to downright bully himself for his sake, though he said nothing as he returned Varka’s embrace, sobs quieting down to sniffles.
“Crepus, you’re probably the most important person in my life,” It was Varka’s turn for his voice to grow shaky, “I just- I hate seeing you agree with people like that-” People like your parents went unspoken, “You’re strong, smart, talented, so many things they could never be!”
The compliments made Crepus pull away from Varka, his eyes red as tearstains covered his cheeks. He studied Varka’s face like it was a puzzle.
“...you think I’m talented?”
It was barely above a whisper, yet the words held more weight than anything Crepus had said before.
“Wha- of course, Crepus! You’re the best painter I’ve ever seen, you’re a crazy fast learner, according to the senior knights you’re good at mixing cocktails…I think talented is the first word that comes to people’s minds when they think of you!” Varka’s all-too-honest rambling went on without a second thought, Crepus’ hands shaking as his face once again bloomed red.
“I mean- I- thank you? That’s- that’s really sweet, Varka…” Crepus replied and wiped what remained of his tears away, a small yet warm and loving smile on his face. “I don’t think most people mean it when they compliment me but you- I know you.”
Now it was Varka’s turn to blush as he looked to the side, coughing into his hand to hide it, though it had no effect on Crepus, whose smile grew seeing Varka so flustered for once.
“Well then, maybe you should take my compliments to heart.”