Chapter Text
Chapter 1 - How to Fall in Love with Your Best Friend
Step 1: Meet Your Friend (create a bond)
Step 2: Get Caught up in an Unfortunate Situation
Step 3: Start to Develop an Interest
Step 4: Get Caught up in Other Unfortunate Situations (a total of three situations is preferable)
Step 5: Have Best Friend comfort you, in which you Realize Your Feelings for Them
~
Bennett had always felt something pulling him towards Razor.
They’d actually first met in the city, of all places, when they’d (quite literally) ran into each other in the town square. Whether one can blame it on Bennett’s bad luck, they’d knocked into each other harshly, falling in a heap of limbs and weapons. For a second, Bennett had been winded, but he quickly pulled himself back up and dusted himself off, offering a hand to the other who still sat on the ground.
“I’m so sorry, are you alright?”
The stranger hummed in response, looking at his hand for a second before grabbing ahold of it and standing up. Bennett was relieved to see the other hadn’t gotten severely hurt when he fell over - he would have been upset with himself otherwise.
“Say, I haven’t seen you around before! I’m Bennett!”
The other looked at him for a while, confusion marred on his face as he seemed to try to decipher what he was told. There was a point where it seemed to click, as he blinked once and answered in succession, “I’m Razor.”
Hm. An interesting name.
“Nice to meet ya Razor! Where you from?”
Razor seemed to be more familiar with this question, as he perked up, turned, and pointed in a random direction. Bennett wasn’t sure what to make of it, but assumed he meant that he lived in one of the houses in that part of the city. Just as he was about to ask another question, a voice shouted in their direction, causing Razor to turn his head. Lisa, the librarian of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, ran up to them, huffing as she stopped.
“Razor, you can’t just run off like that. Oh stars, how am I supposed to teach you proper Mond etiquette when you can’t even stay seated?” Her attention then turned to Bennett. “Oh, hello there, sweetie, are you from the Adventurer’s Guild? I’m sorry my charge has burdened you so much, he’s not used to the city that much.”
“Oh, it’s no problem! It was my fault anyways, running into him and all that,” Bennett laughs.
“Well, it’s a relief to hear he wasn’t too naughty. Now if you don’t mind, we’ll be going now~ stay safe, won’t you dear?”
“Um, yes Miss Lisa! Have a good day!”
And just like that, their first encounter ended. Bennett never thought too much of it until he saw Razor again a few days later, when the boy walked up to him as he sat at Good Hunter. He was silent for a good while, but seemed to be very focused on something in his mind, so Bennet patiently (yet awkwardly) sat there, waiting for the other to speak when he wished. When he finally came to, Razor looked up to meet eyes with Bennett.
“I’m Razor.” He repeats from last time. “I’m from Wolvendom.”
“Oh! That’s what you meant when you pointed! But Wolvendom isn’t a human-populated area?”
“Was raised by lupical, not humans.”
“Lupical?” Did he mean the wolves? Bennett wasn’t really sure, but he didn’t mind getting to know if it meant actually making a friend his age. He ended up inviting Razor to sit down with him, which was the kickstart to their friendship.
For a while after that, they would see each other every other day, chatting a bit before Bennett would cook a meal for them (with meat, of course) and Razor would teach him about the wolves. All in all, it was an easy-going friendship, and even though his bad luck would act up every once in a while, it was never too bad that Razor seemed to mind it.
When Bennett started to fall, it occurred to him in three parts.
The first part occurred during the Windblume festival, when Bennett had got caught in a mechanism while trying to help Razor escape his own trap. It hadn’t necessarily been his fault, but Bennett had felt so guilty about failing at his rescue mission that he promised that the rest of the meals for the day would be on him. Razor, being the simple and kind person he was, agreed easily, and so they spent the rest of their time simply talking to each other. At some point, Bennett brought out the poem he’d been writing for the Windblume festival, intent on finishing it with the spare time they had on their hands. He was almost done - he just needed to finish up the last few lines.
“Hey - Razor?”
“Hm.”
“What do you think the Windblume is?”
“Windblume?”
“Yeah, it’s the flower we give to Lord Barbatos during this festival to show our dedication and love to him and our nation. We also give one to the person or people we love as a declaration that we care for them. Every person gives a different flower, but I actually don’t know much about flowers…”
“Hm,” Razor responded, before settling for silence. At this point in time, Bennett had learned all of Razor’s different faces/ques; right now, the other was in deep thought, thinking of an answer to give Bennett. Really, the other was too sweet. When he finally settled on an answer, he said, “Wolfhooks.”
“Huh? Wolfhooks? Why?”
“Windblume is given to loved ones… My loved ones are my lupical… I eat wolfhook with lupical… I give wolfhook to lupical to show love. Very happy…”
Razor wasn’t one to talk, and Bennett knew that today had been somewhat of a challenge, having to say so many words. But it made him happy to see his friend trying so hard, every word considered carefully and said with absolute sincerity. In the fading light of the sun, his red eyes were ablaze, and the harsh lines of his face were somehow softer, making him look the age he was supposed to be. For some reason, looking at Razor now made Bennett’s heart flutter in his chest and stole his breath away. He was magnetic, and Bennett couldn’t help but be pulled in.
With a tender smile, he nodded and said, “Wolfhook it is then.”
Later, when they were freed from the mechanisms, they went exploring as promised to finish the (rather eventful) day off. As the sun began to set once more, Bennett pulled Razor along the flowing hills, searching for a certain place. When he found it, he excitedly brought his friend over, talking excitedly.
“Here we are! Sorry it took me so long to get here, Dad!”
He sat down, Razor sitting along with him albeit being very confused.
“This is Razor, he’s my friend! He lives with wolves and is super cool! I know you’d love him.” He then turns to the other. “Razor, this is my Dad, the one who died when he brought me home to Mondstadt.”
Reaching over, Bennett clears off the vines that had started to block off the words on the tombstone. They added a nice sort of look, but if he saw so much as a crack appear in the stone, they were gone. Cheerfully, he pulled out the poem and a dandelion puff from his pocket. They were slightly crumpled from all the movement, but he’d done his best to make sure they were as pristine as possible! He places them gently at the base of the tombstone, tucking them in so that it wouldn’t be moved by the wind or by other animals.
“Here’s a poem I wrote today! It’s my first poem I’ve ever written during the Windblume festival, but I wanted to give it to you, Dad. If it weren’t for you, I can’t imagine what would have happened to me out there in the Mare Jivari… No matter what happens, I’ll do my best to cherish the life you gave me.”
Gently, he presses a soft kiss to the tombstone, as if the father he’d never remember were there to receive his affection. Sometimes, Bennett thought he really was, smiling and cheering his little son on as he grew up. It always comforted him when he needed it. Ah, he was getting teary-eyed.
Silently wiping his eyes, he looks back to Razor and smiles. “Sorry to drag you out here like this, I just wanted you to meet him.”
Razor, as always, was quiet, but he was contemplative, staring at the tombstone in front of him. Then, out of his bag, he pulled out two Wolfhook berries, large and luscious as he held one in each palm. Razor must have picked them up when he wasn’t paying attention, as they’d crossed through Wolvendom for a short while to explore. He sticks one out to Bennett.
“Wolfhook… for lupical.”
Shocked and very touched by this gesture, Bennett takes the Wolfhook outstretched towards him, looking at the strange berry in his hand. As he was about to say his thanks for the offer, he paused to watch as the other placed the second wolfhook down near the tombstone, offering it with the poem. Razor nodded approvingly when he was done, chest humming as if to imitate a soft growl, then looked up expectantly at Bennett. It was quiet for a while as Bennett attempted to figure out what those imploring eyes meant, stunned by those mesmerizing red eyes before he remembered the berry in his hand. Oh, right, he should eat this now too.
As he took the first bite, he could see the faintest smile light up Razor’s face, and for the time being, the world had never looked so beautiful. He smiled back.
“Happy Windblume, Razor.”
The second time Bennett felt like this was when they were tucked into a small cave, finding cold shelter in the midst of a freak downpour that had begun when they’d gone out on an adventure. It had started off as a decent day, and planning to meet up with Razor, Bennett had been looking forward to what could await them. Maybe he could impress his friend with his cool swordsmanship, or find some worthwhile treasure to give to the other! However, as the day went on, none of those things happened. In fact, Bennett had found more ways to embarrass himself than anything else: he’d slipped a total of five times on nothing, tripped once and caused Razor to fall with him, had found no chests at all, and even worse, had been talking about how lovely the day was when it suddenly started to pour out of nowhere, drenching them almost immediately.
Bennett had tried his best to stay optimistic, but he couldn’t help but be in a bad mood once the rain began to settle in, permanently ruining their plans. To make it worse, he could see lightning flash from the mouth of the cave, meaning it would probably be a long and dangerous shower, and no way would he leave this place if it meant putting Razor in danger. Frustration built in the ridges of his mind, and as Razor tended to a fire and placed meat over the rising flames, Bennett felt himself break a bit.
“I’m so sorry, Razor. This rain is all my fault, and now we’re stranded here until it dissipates. Knowing my luck, it won’t be for another couple of hours.”
“Razor don’t mind.” He replied, short yet simple.
“B-But aren’t you worried? With my bad luck and all, I could really get you hurt!”
Razor simply tilted his head at him.
“Bennett is Bennett. Bennett is nice. Does not matter if good or bad day, I am happy with my friend.”
Such kind and honest words both tore and built up the young pyro user’s heart, and he was almost moved to tears, his vision going blurry before he blinked them away, doing his best not to burst dramatically in front of his (best) friend. Instead, he shuffled closer to lean his head on the other’s shoulder, to which Razor gladly accepted, rubbing his check atop Bennett’s blonde hair. Recently, things have been like this. They’d gotten a lot closer since the festival, and Razor visited the city more often just to see him. During adventures, they often sat closer and huddled together more, comfortable in each other’s presence as they were now on this rainy evening. They ended up staying in that small cave the whole night, the sound of rain and thunder lolling them to sleep. When they woke, the sky had finally cleared and the sun was high in the sky, letting them know it was safe to leave. Bennett wasn’t sure if it was just him or not, but a part of him didn’t want to go, rather content leaning on his friend in a cool cave while munching on meat skewers. Alas, he could not control life or time, so with a wistful sigh, he followed Razor out and back to the city, chest and mind feeling light.
The third occurrence happened months later, on a particularly bad day, may Bennett even say the worst day of his life thus far. None of his missions had been going well, several of his father’s old injuries were coming back up, and to top it off, he’d ran into Royce in his last adventure. It wouldn’t be so bad to see an old friend if said old friend didn’t hate you with a passion, and it was just his luck that they were attacked by an entire village of hilichurls, even more than Bennett could usually handle when he was trying to protect himself and someone else.
In the end, he was able to fend them off, but not without a few injuries taken. Royce wasn’t too happy about them; in fact, he didn’t seem to be too happy with anything. Which was why he ended up scolding (harassing) Bennett in the middle of the forest. He wasn’t particularly feeling that good already, but it had struck a different chord when the older had finished his rant.
“You shouldn’t even be out here in the first place, girls trying to act like men will only drag others down!”
And with that advice, Royce had parted from him, stomping away in the other direction. He hadn’t realized that he’d left a shaking Bennett who had been on the verge of tears, which poured down his face as soon as the man was gone. Bennett didn’t know how long he stayed in that one spot crying for, but eventually he had squatted down to curl up, gloved hands scratching needlessly at his scarred skin for some sort of relief. His tears had all but stopped running, but his eyes were crusty and his throat was dry from heaving. The forest was silent; for once his bad luck didn’t seem to want anything to do with him, but then again, he was already suffering.
He simply sat there, lost and detached, uncomfortable with his body and the forest floor until a certain noise registered. Footsteps. Was it Royce coming back to yell at him again? Or was it the footfall of a hilichurl? He wasn’t really looking forward to either option…
Before he could distinguish the exact weight of the footsteps, the figure appeared from between the bushes, shaking it’s head to rid of stray leaves before stepping into the light. Razor had looked incredibly weary and exhausted, but there was relief in his eyes and an immediate drop of tense shoulders upon finding his friend. With no hesitation, he rushed over to the hunched boy.
“Bennett okay!” Is the first thing he says. “Been looking everywhere for you. Everyone worried.”
“Huh?” Bennett could barely make a sound as he tried to register and focus on his friend.
“Is night time, Bennett. You gone for whole day.” Razor then tilts his head, a look of confusion on his face as he sniffs the air. “Bennett…sad?”
The one in question laughs, although it sounds raspy and falls short as he closes his eyes. “What gave it away?”
Razor frowns.
“Who hurt you?”
“No one, Razor, it’s just - ”
“Who. Hurt. You.”
The boy’s red eyes were now ablaze, and Bennett could sense the air changing as an electric current rippled through it, ready to go off at a moment’s notice. Although still disheveled, it woke Bennett up enough to grab onto Razor and hold his face, having the other stare directly into his own bright green eyes.
“Razor, that doesn’t matter right now, it’s just - I’m having a rough day, as usual.” He sighs, letting go of his friend’s face and looking away. “Can you just - I don’t know, stay here? With me? Please.”
There was silence for a single second before Razor dropped himself down right next to Bennett, letting out a huff of resignation before unconsciously pulling Bennett over, leaning on him as he dropped his head on his shoulder. Bennett sighed as familiarity began to sink in, his body feeling a little bit like it should feel as his cheek smooshed up against Razor’s permanent bedhead. His breath tickled a few strands out of place, and he giggled as he slightly raised his hand to play with the silver hair. Every day was an adventure, but Razor always made him feel at home.
Despite that, the lingering insecurities sat idly in his mind, nipping at his brain ever so slightly, so that there was an itch that he still couldn’t quite reach. It continued to nag him until he couldn’t handle it anymore, turning in the silence to address his best friend.
“Razor, can I ask you something?”
“Hm?”
“Do you…Do I make you uncomfortable with what I am?”
Razor didn’t seem to understand the question. “Bennett is Bennett.”
“Ugh, Razor, that’s not - ” Bennett pulls away, slightly irked by his friend’s simplistic answer. “Like, do you ever get upset that I’m a guy? Especially when other people…say I shouldn’t be?”
Razor scrunched up his face at that, seemingly trying to understand what exactly Bennett was trying to ask of him. He had to think of more words to say in order to get his point across, it seems. After a brief silence where Bennett patiently waited for Razor to string his words together, Razor took a deep breath, ruby eyes staring imploringly, begging to be understood.
“Does not matter if guy or girl or wolf pup! Bennett is Bennett, and I like Bennett the way he is. Bennett is my lupical. ”
And there he was again, with those honest words, said with such conviction. It was short and sweet, but it felt like it was all the recognition Bennett ever needed. Finally, he breaks down again, new tears rolling down his cheeks as he barrel’s back into Razor’s shoulder, which quickly changes to his arms as the other reaches around to embrace him fully. He says nothing, simply acts as the support that Bennett needs as the boy cries, staying still for what feels like hours when in reality, it’s only a couple minutes. He finally calms down then, unravelling himself from his best friend’s arms and looking up at him. Bennett smiles, and it feels like something clicks then.
Ah , he thinks. I’m in love with him.