#cassianappreciation

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A Better Idea (Cassian x Reader) Cassian Week Day 1

A little short for @cassianappreciationweek Cassian week Day 1 for the prompt 'Flying'! Stumbled across this just today, glad I discovered it just on day one:)

Summary: When you return from a disastrous date you just want to drown your frustration and sorrow in wine. And more wine. But Cassian has a better idea...

Tags: Cassian x reader, short, fluff, secret feelings

Length: 1.5k

Cassian Week Day 1: Flying

Enjoy <3

Masterlist

With admittedly too much force than you intended to, you kick off your shoes by the entrance and trot towards the living room of the townhouse you reside in with your friends. Today, you are not in the mood for talking at all and you wish you would have found a new apartment by now.

You could not bear another painful conversation about your failed dating attempts by Cassian, Az and Mor. But somehow, everytime you return home from them, they seem to be lurking around the house.

Tonight though, it seemed like Urd is in your favor for once. You tiptoe into the living room, wincing at the pain that shoots up in your feet. Never would you wear these high heels again.

Especially not for such an idiot like the fae male you had the displeasure of meeting before. The audacity some males possess is a mystery to you.

Letting out a huge sigh, you fall down onto the soft cushions of the sofa beside the fireplace and reach for the drinks table. Grabbing a fresh glass you manage to pour yourself some of the old Wine Rhys stores here for guests.

That means it is the good stuff. Just what you need.

"Home early, hm?" A dark voice sounds from behind you, making you startle.

"Oh my", you exclaim and turn around to be met with Cassian standing in the doorway. "Oh you, hey. Yeah, I am home. And no, I don't want to talk about it."

"That bad, huh?" He asks and sits down on the sofa opposite yours.

"What part of I don't want to talk about it was hard to understand?" You hiss but immediately regret your snappy tone.

"Alcohol won't make your problems go away, though", he remarks and points to the full to the brim glass in your hand.

"It won't but it will make me forget for just this evening. So, if you could see yourself out I am doing fine, thank you."

You never understood the fixation Cassian had on your failed dates. When Mor and Az were concerned, he seemed to have a heightened interest in who you were meeting up with. But tonight, you are having none of it, therefore, you bring the glass to your lips.

Or are trying to because Cassian stands up and grabs the glass right out of your hand.

"The fuck you are", he responds to your admittedly rude dismissal.

"What do you want?"

"I have a better idea than getting shitfaced at 7pm. Get your coat and some shoes. We are going out", he orders.

You want to protest but he stands there, waiting for you to get into motion.

"Fine", you huff and get up.

Minutes later, you stand outside the townhouse covered in a coat against the cold of this November night.

"Now what?" You ask.

Cassian grins and answers. "I thought you'd never ask."

Next thing you know he is scooping you up into his arms and states: "We're going for a ride."

You want to protest, again, but cannot formulate your thoughts quickly enough because Cassian already leapt into the air.

And you with him.

Instinctively, you grasp onto him and pull yourself to his strong chest. It is not like you have never flown with any of the guys before but it usually came with a little more preparation than now.

You open your eyes and the first thing you see is Cassian staring at you, smiling. You look around and see Velaris painted in the lights of the city beneath you. Snow has begun falling around you, coating the streets in white powder.

"Sorry if I scared you. Should have warned you before leaping into the sky."

"It's okay. Where are we going?"

"Just flying around a little, helping you clear your head. If you have a place in mind I can take you there", he offers.

You shake your head. "No, this is fine. If you get exhausted we can..."

He tsks. "Do I look like I get exhausted carrying you around? I think not. Now tell me about your evening. If you want to."

You let out a pained sigh. "There is not a lot to say, to be honest. Guy was a douche. He arrived late which should have been a red flag to begin with. But his whole demeanour was super uncomfortable. I was glad when it ended."

Cassian hums in response.

"I guess I'll stop looking for my mate. Maybe not everyone has one? I mean it could be possible that you never meet your match."

"Don't say that. Everyone has a match out there. What do you mean with uncomfortable? He wasn't inappropriate, was he? Otherwise, I'd have to pay him a visit later."

You chuckle and push playfully against his hard chest. Gods, he must work out constantly for being built like this. Having such a body and face should be illegal. You never would admit in a hundred years that you have crushed on Cassian since the day you met him and the other guys. But he would never let you hear the end of it. And despite your attraction to him, you were looking for a relationship while he had a certain reputation among the friend circle. Not exactly relationship material. So, wanting to preserve your friendship you never talked about your crush on him with anyone.

"It wasn't like that. You know, I just didn't feel at ease like with the others or you. I don't feel the need to disguise myself as someone I am not", you explain.

You both stay silent for a while, taking in the scenery around you. Eventually, Cassian seems to spot a hill on the outskirts of the city and lands atop of it. From where you stand, you have a breathtaking view over the city. You cannot help to just gape at the beauty of your hometown.

Your breath visible in the air you notice how the temperatures have dropped on the hill in comparison to the city. You start shaking a little but almost immediately, you feel the soft weight of silk envelop your back. You look to your side and see Cassian spreading one of his wings around you.

You smile at him and stand closer. "Thanks. For the flight as well, I guess. It really is better than getting shitfaced."

"I figured as much. What I don't understand though..." He begins but stops, staring into the city.

"What is it?"

"Tell me something. If you feel so comfortable with me, as you said. And you also said it is important to you to feel comfortable. Why is it that you always go on these horrible dates when they make you feel like you have to change yourself?"

You huff out a laugh. "Cassian, I mean, isn't it obvious? We are friends. I am looking for a relationship, I don't get what you are getting at."

"Who says I am not looking for a relationship?" He asks and turns to face you.

You try to grasp the words but you are speechless.

So he continues. "It is like you meet all these guys that have nothing on you by the way. And it seems like..." He rakes his fingers through the long strands of his hair.

"And it seems like what?" You ask astounded.

"It seems like I am invisible to you. And I don't know why."

Now you are completely at a loss of words. Him, invisible to you? In what kind of askew reality was he living? Has he looked in the mirror?

"I...you...I always assumed you were just having fun. And I would have never assumed that you...me?" You point towards yourself.

"That I fancied you?"

Now that he labels it so plainly your breath hitches and you feel your cheeks going warm.

"Yeah, that."

"Well, now you have it. I made a fool out of myself because I just couldn't bear see you return from yet another awful date."

"You haven't made a fool out of yourself", you say and reach out to touch his cheek. Not breaking eye contact you both just stand there for a while.

"It wasn't ever on my radar that you had an interest in me. Except for friendship."

"I guess I have to work on my flirting skills. They seem to not work on the one woman I am interested in", he sighs but a smile is creeping up on his lips.

Relief washes over you.

"If you feel better I had a crush on you ever since I stumbled right in front of you the day we met. I was so embarrassed."

He laughs. "That was cute as Hel."

"So, what do we do now?" You ask.

"I mean, now that the cat's out the bag. Will you go out on a date with me? I mean, technically, this can count as a date, too. It will be our second date then, just to ease the pressure of first dates.", he proposes, smirking.

"Oh, so you take girls on a flight for the first date?" You joke.

Cassian shakes his head and wraps his arms around you. "No. Just you."

You smile. Maybe this really has been a better idea than getting drunk.

I hope you enjoyed this short that I have written for Cassian week! I had so much fun and hope I can contribute to the other days as well. Lots of love <3

And if you have requests for Acotar or Baldurs Gate imagjnes, feel free to use the askbox!