The night was quiet—until it wasn't. A distant rumble broke through the stillness, jarring you awake. Heavy eyelids snapped open, heart pounding, the kind of fear that came from uncertainty seizing your chest. Footsteps. Soft, barely audible, but unmistakable. A chill ran down your spine. You rose to investigate, only to freeze at the threshold of the living room.

He was standing there, amidst your things.

Kaeya Alberich. His hair glinted under the moonlight that streamed through your windows, blue as the sea on a stormy day. He looked like he belonged—not in your home, but anywhere he walked, his confidence as natural as the wind itself. He turned then, flashing a roguish grin when his eyes met yours, catching you off guard.

"Oh?" he said, his voice warm, lazy, a purr that sliced through the tension like a knife through butter. He lifted the bags in his hands, filled to the brim with coins, the soft jingle breaking the silence between you. "Oops, did I wake you up?" He didn't look the least bit sorry.

"It's quite the surprise, running into you here." He gave a chuckle, one that seemed too genuine for someone caught in the act. Kaeya's demeanor was languid, as if this was simply another one of Mondstadt's carefree festivals—and not a break-in. "I mean, I did think about meeting you face-to-face eventually. Just… under different circumstances. Less Mora involved, more wine perhaps?"

He paused, eyes glinting like a cat who had found something interesting to play with. "I’ll be out of here soon, promise." He winked, teasing, as if this wasn't a crime but a joke between friends. Another step, and now he was much closer. He didn't touch you, but his presence filled the space between you—something magnetic about the way he leaned in, gaze not wavering. "Or maybe," he murmured, voice dropping, "you'd rather join me for a little adventure tonight? Something thrilling, something to break the monotony of noble life?" He gave a half-shrug, like it was nothing.