#Zhongli series

[monstat]

GENSHIN IMPACT

Plot: Zhongli, who’s held a dislike towards Fontaine’s hydro ‘Archon’ from the moment that his hatchling gripped tight to tales of a water dragon, rather than Rex Lapis. Not that Neuvillette cares - visiting for the holidays past his regions

Pairing: Zhongli x reader - Neuvillette x reader

+ Zhen (baby #1) (Jealousy)

Zhongli's drunken stupor sharpens to alertness at the mention of that preening popinjay Neuvillette darkening Liyue's shores. Here? Now? The impertinence! Comes to poach his mate and corrupt his heir, no doubt.

Well, Zhongli’s not cowering.

Lurching upright with a growl, he sways unsteadily after you and Zhen towards the gilded interloper. The crowds part around his weaving bulk, murmuring anxiously at the thunderous scowl. Let them gawk.

There, surrounded by fawning sycophants as always, stands the thorn in Zhongli’s side. Smug and poised as a peacock amidst plain fowl. The urge to put the guppy in his place surges hotly. But Zhen's clear admiration gives him pause. As does your glance, silently warning restraint. Very well, he shall hold his temper…for now.

But his glower promises a reckoning long overdue. Drawing himself up, he rumbles low and dangerous, “Neuvillette. An unexpected...pleasure." The last word drips sarcasm. Civility rapidly frays.

The hydro barely spares him a dismissive glance, dilated attention fixed hungrily upon you and Zhen. As though you are prizes to be claimed, not people with wills of your own. The insult fans fury's flames. When Neuvillette deigns to finally acknowledge him, the words drip condescension. "Morax. Still clinging to your titles, I see. Though they ring rather hollow now." His smile turns sly, gaze raking your form. "Perhaps it's time you stepped aside for...younger blood."

The brazen challenge snaps Zhongli's fraying restraint. With a roar, he lunges, only to be caught by Childe and Xiao's combined strength. But he strains against their hold, rage blazing in molten golden eyes. "You overreach, whelp! I yet reign here!" Around them, crowds murmur anxiously, guards converging warily.

Neuvillette watches in cool amusement, unfazed by the Archon's fury. "So the dragon bares his fangs. But words hold more sway than might these days." His smile turns cutting. "Take care you are not...replaced." Zhongli trembles with the urge to rip out that serpent's forked tongue. But reluctantly, he stills at your pleading look, pride warring with wisdom.

This is not the place...but there will be a reckoning. With a last seething glower at his smirking rival, he turns sharply away. "Come. We depart."

[slushy-sash]

my otps 🥹

[bloominflowers]

Archons 🌿🌸🍂☁️

[koinotame]

idolatry

word count: 3.1K content warnings: unhealthy relationship dynamics, half self indulgent reader insert fanfiction half character study, unreality, religious undertones, possession is discussed abstractely, hypothetical harm to reader, the yandere is subtle but it's there

summary: you've somehow been reincarnated into a version of genshin impact where all the playable characters are self aware and seem besmitten with the player. the problem is that they can't make up their minds about whether you're their player or not...

a/n: aether vs your many fake fans

the flow of time has never felt steady to aether. despite how important it was to humans wherever he and his sister have traveled, there has always been a disconnect from it for him. You disappearing for months at a time is nothing out of the ordinary. time flows the same with or without You. like the sea's waves, it recedes and pushes. when he's used as a vessel by You, weeks can pass by in the blink of an eye and hours can feel like years spent in Your embrace. years have passed since You first started possessing them, and yet it's only been a couple of months at most. nothing moves forward in Your presence, nothing stays in stasis in Your absence.

so when he suddenly truly understands how humans experience the passage of time during another one of Your disappearances, aether immediately knows something is wrong. filled with dread and a harrowing heaviness deep in his gut that something has happened he can never take back, he finally understands what it means to be desperate for more time. have You abandoned him at last? has he not been enough, not quick enough to uncover this world's secrets and find his sister as You desired? finding you, clearly not from this world and trying to backtrack when you call him by his name—aether, his name, not Your sacred name he has been passing off as his own ever since Your arrival in teyvat—before any of Your other undeserving, fanatical vessels do seems nothing short of a miracle to him.

overjoyed at not having been abandoned after all, he clings to you and promises to protect and guide you through this foreign world—this time not as Your vessel, but as your first and most devoted follower. he doesn't need to be his own person, not when he can exist within the context of you.

paimon is less convinced. aether has turned even more immoderate and unnerving ever since your appearance, and she's not a fan. she… kind of understands. how important You are to aether, to the many others You've met through them during their journey. but does he—do any of them—really need to devote their entire being to You? she doesn't mind you, as a person, she really doesn't. but she doesn't like what You as a concept do to aether.

these days, she barely feels like she's part of the group, the one she formed with aether what seems so long ago, anymore. your arrival has completely overshadowed her presence. where she was previously part of a duo with her travel companion, she feels like little more than an afterthought now. she misses him. he calls her silly for it. she has only ever known him through Your command, so there isn't anything to miss. he's the same as he has always been. she just doesn't understand because You never graced her with Your embrace, and now that you have seemingly lost that ability perhaps she will never understand.

she says nothing, but she finds herself a little glad. better to never experience Your embrace, whatever that means, than lose herself completely in devotion to someone who clearly wants none of it.

the first archon they approach with you, venti, is apologetic but firm in the notion that aether is simply confused. he can understand how aether came to the conclusion, desperate and unused as he is following Your disappearance, but Your presence is simply unmistakable. he bids the two of you farewell amicably, but you find it impossible not to notice the difference in his demeanour afterwards when you run into him around the city. his smile is deftly crafted and practiced, his voice level and fingers steady as they pluck the strings of his lyre, but something about his eyes betray his own growing desperation.

if even aether is faltering like this, perhaps You really have abandoned them this time…? if he shows You how well mondstadt is faring, how much they've rebuilt and grown and thrived since You helped him quell dvalin's anguish, will You be proud of him and return? even if not to him, at least to the city? will You ever have Your vessels dance in the city square's fountain, or make the hike up the skyfrost nail to gaze upon the beauty of the unabating grey and white landscape again?

over time, even venti wavers and starts seeing what aether has seen in you. it is equal parts acceptance and desperation that drives him to you, to the one Your faithful traveler has placed his belief in, to feel Your embrace again, even if it can never be the same as it once was. he survived thousands of years without Your grace, to fold for it now that he knows what Your benevolence feels like is nothing short of shameful. the thought gnaws at him all the while until it has consumed him whole. in the end, he has not grown at all; still that little wind spirit desperate to not lose another he holds close. somehow, when you hold him, he can't seem to mind.

while the two of them have never discussed the matter of You explicitly, aether is perceptive enough to realise zhongli is one of the most reverent of the whole… of any of Your vessels. you called them cast without thinking the other day, whatever that meant. of Your cast. so he goes to him next, telling him that You've made Your way to this world permanently, that he's found You. his first instinct is anger, anger at your lying, anger that aether, who You have blessed with Your presence more than anyone else, who You picked as Your primary vessel, would fall for such mockery. aether was astute to not bring you along when he announced this, or perhaps you knew and chose not to yourself. it matters not. he knows he has proven himself to You, that the real You would never hesitate to reveal Yourself to him. instead of expression his righteous fury, he does his utmost to reign it in. if anything, this works in his favour. he almost feels sorry for aether, wrapped so tightly around the pinkie of a fraud.

upon meeting you properly, he realises perhaps he misunderstood the situation a little. zhongli isn't a fool (when he's not blinded by momentary rage, at least), he can see how uncomfortable you are with the whole situation. while you are not blameless for continuing this facade, aether has deluded himself and cast You aside entirely on his own—and when You finally grace them with Your real presence, zhongli is certain aether will be the first to fall from Your grace. that drunkard too, falling into temptation out of loneliness like that, will get what's coming to him.

until then, all he needs to do is keep his distance and stay as he is, as Your most loyal and dedicated devotee. until then, all he needs to do is send the two of you off. there is no need for him to get violent, not when Your punishment will hurt aether all the more. he thought he was long past such childish emotions, but he supposes that even now You breathe new vigor into him.

you shy either away from visiting inazuma entirely. seeing how the previous archons have reacted to you, you have little doubt that the raiden shogun would be the first to get violent. it's a dilemma you would rather avoid altogether, if possible. just in case. maybe your worry is misplaced, but… aether, of course, can never deny You, and the raiden shogun, of course, would meet your expectations without a proper thought.

the puppet has learned since, but much of the framework of logic she used to enact the vision hunt decree and rule over inazuma in the past several hundred years remains and is hard to completely make away with in such a short amount of time. imposing ei's will on a whole nation is wrong, but arresting and doing away with someone making a ridicule of You is a completely different thing. ei remains a little more hesitant, but even she cannot bring herself to completely disagree. You are the pinnacle of eternity, of control, of life—for some mere human to be impersonating You is unacceptable. hearing the traveler, Your closest companion, has put his trust in you would give her a bit of pause. he was right last time, so maybe this time as well… but then it was You who was right through him, not him in and of himself.

ultimately, your instincts would have turned out to be correct, and she buries herself in her plane once again, leaving the shogun to continue cleaning up inazuma. on her own, she imagines herself meeting You—the true You—and what it would be like to welcome you to her nation in earnest. she wonders if You would be proud of her.

nahida knows You immediately. she is the archon of wisdom, and weak as she may be, that title is not for nothing. your presence feels a bit differently from how it did when there was much more distance between You and her, but it pushes and pulls in a similar way. she doesn't feel she needs to, but should it come to it, she could always take a quick peek at your thoughts… and she would just get confirmation that she was right from the start. now that she's free—largely by virtue of You and the traveler—her word has much more weight than before. sumeru will always welcome You with open arms. if you prefer to live more privately, she understands that. but know that you can always come to her. for anything. she really, really means it.

it's only a small, selfish part of her, and she doesn't like thinking this way or how the other archons, the ones who should recognise You right away, are treating you, but a tiny part of her deep down finds herself feeling almost proud that she's the only one to recognise your grace. whenever you're around, she finds herself spending all of her free time with you. she wants to hear everything—your thoughts, your opinions, which weather or meal or nation you like better, your experiences, your home world, what it was like handling your vessels, everything and anything you deem fit to share with her. from how you indulge her, she's glad she also seems to bring you a similar comfort to the one You give her.

she wonders if Your embrace feels similar to when she possesses others' bodies. the warmth and absolute serenity that overtakes all of her senses when You control her can't compare to anything else. it's nice to be in at the helm of herself too, of course, especially with her newfound autonomy. but if You were to offer her that comfort permanently, she wouldn't be able to turn down Your offer.

when furina looks at you, she sees a reflection of herself. she might not recognise You, but she cannot bring herself to disdain someone in such a similar position to herself. she cannot imagine that You, kind and benevolent and goodhearted as You are, would want her to be cruel to you. whether that is her genuine belief or an attempt to redeem herself to You, after deceiving not only Your vessel but also You directly, does it matter?

Your presence has been a fairly recent entrance in her life, but she has been hearing about You for hundreds of years. she cannot remember a single conversation she ever had with her mirror self that did not feature You as a point of dialogue, of ambition. with only her and You to cling onto for hope for five hundred years, the only natural outcome was to develop such a strong faith and dependence on You. perhaps not as fervent as some of the other… archons, but not something that should be underestimated. Your presence in fontaine, even if through the traveler, had given her renewed hope at the time. as soon as she saw him for the first time, she knew.

your presence is… completely different. there's hints of You—likely residue You've left in the traveler—but not much else. she cannot believe in false idols, she tells the two of you, but she will see about providing some lodging for you. even if the traveler—even if aether is wrong about this, his service to fontaine deserves some merit, so she's sure this can be overlooked. it's what You would want, she hopes to herself. and if she finds herself seeking you out more and more, what difference does it make? when you smile so sweetly at her and praise her for holding on for so long, that you're proud of her, her resolve cracks.

neuvillette has always known of You. it is only when the traveler shows up in fontaine with Your presence in tow that he understands with certainty that You do exist, that he truly understands how wonderful Your warmth feels even at a distance and in these circumstances. You take Your leave for a while, and he thinks he is alright with that. even just knowing Your comfort so intimately (because this is already so much more than most are permitted), however brief, is enough for him. perhaps his returned authority also has an impact, but he is certain it would not have felt this invigorating without Your help.

and then You return, and he finds himself actually understanding what it means to be embraced. no sooner is he experiencing what it feels like to be whole for the first time before he finds himself in sumeru's desert, where he remains stranded for a week. Your presence fades until his punishment—for what, he remains uncertain—is complete, but Your hold on him does not, and something keeps him in place there the entire time. You do not use him much after that. he cannot deny Your judgement, even if he does not quite understand.

he learns of your arrival in teyvat through chance, by way of some opera gossip which happens to mention that furina has found herself a close friend. when he catches a glimpse of you… he cannot say he feels Your presence. none of you breathe a word about the subject to him, and it is only much later he learns of what you're hiding. if Your every loyal furina and Your first and most important vessel recognised You when he did not even so much as suspect it, where does that leave him?

of course childe would recognise You. that piece of the abyss that clawed its way into him so deeply it will never separate from him again would recognise You anywhere, even should ajax not. long before your current descent, he recognised Your strings of control much earlier than most of Your other vessels did. while he's never really given much thought to whether others have recognised You as well, he noticed the way Your presence lingered on aether in particular right away.

it's part of what drew him to the traveler in the first place—what's so special about him? why not childe? why did this outlander get to be Your vessel and he didn't? has he not proven himself enough for You? his mission aside, he felt a more personal disdain at the traveler. after he embarrassed himself in front of You and the truth came to light, he tries his hardest to redeem himself to the traveler. to You. so, naturally, when Your favourite little traveler comes to him with You in tow, he recognises You right away, as he always has. he's a little bitter, if anything—why did it take aether so long to come to him? does he not trust him? is he controlling You and Your actions? or—and he tries not to think about this too hard—is it You who doesn't trust him?

it doesn't matter. You're here now, and he's here for You now, and he'll do everything in his power to help You. You won't have to be alone any more, he promises, You won't have to hurt any more. nobody will harm You, ever again, not when he's here now. (he ignores how aether has easily stopped any harm from coming Your way so far without his help.)

it is you who thinks to approach albedo. the link is weak, but as soon as aether shows up at his makeshift lab in dragonspine with You in tow, he knows. it's as if he has no other option than to recognise You, however faint Your aura has become, as if there was never another possibility. it makes sense—after all, he was made for You. so were all the others, in a way, as was the whole world of teyvat, but not in the same way his master crafted him for You. to appeal to You. to be used by You. to find out the truth about You, though it's possible she just left him with that mission (to find out the truth about "the world"—You are the world) to keep him busy after she threw him away when he did not yield the results she was searching for. it doesn't matter. he's found You now, and he can't let you slip away. especially not to Your other, faulty vessels, those who couldn't recognise You at first glance.

thankfully, you seem fond of the area of the mountain and don't mind staying. you even take interest in his work, though you seem to not enjoy the constant sketches and pieces of art he produces of You for you as much. it's not the same as when You fill every molecule in his body and bend it to Your whim, but this is also nice.

one day you ask him about alice; she's been to different worlds, so you wonder if he could ask her about her methods. you seem hesitant, and you waited specifically until aether had left to collect some food for the next couple of days. it's a logical choice, Your favourite vessel would not take Your request well. albedo can't find it in himself to either. even if it's you asking, he cannot just let You leave, not after all this time. he promises you he will ask, but is honest when he tells you alice might take a long, long time to pass by mondstadt again, so… in the meantime, let him know if there's anything he could do to make Your stay here in teyvat more comfortable. anything at all. You're going to be here for some time, after all.

[it-happened-one-fic]

Bridal Visions: Photoshoot #2 - Liyue Bridal - Tests

Summary: You weren’t quite sure what you would’ve expected from modeling traditionally-styled bridal clothes with Zhongli, but you really should’ve been prepared for a slew of fun facts about wedding traditions. But even then you wouldn’t have been prepared for the test of will that was seeing Zhongli in a groom's outfit standing next to you while you wore a bride’s clothes.

Type: Female reader/ 800 Followers Event/ series/ sfw/ fluff/ flirtation

Bridal Visions Series Masterlist

Word Count: 1438

I shifted slightly where I stood next to Zhongli, and it was honestly strange to see the man, who was usually dressed from head to toe in shades of brown, gold and black, in a brilliant red color. Though the gold accents were still present.

But then, I had been told that the woman who’d designed the bridal clothes we were currently modeling had designed them with each of the countries' traditions in mind. And, as Zhongli had confirmed, red was a traditional wedding color for Liyue, and these outfits matched that tradition with their brilliant crimson hue that was paired with shiny gold embroidery to make for an incredibly flashy look.

I could only imagine how long it took to complete just one sleeve of my outfit’s jacket, let alone all of it with all of the embroidery, though.

The designer, Chiori, stood next to a young photographer with their heads bent towards one another as the two of them discussed what pose to try next.

Me and Zhongli had already been seated for one image, and then we’d tried it with me sitting and him standing, and now we were apparently going to do one with both of us standing. But, I supposed it would have been ridiculous to even hope that we’d settle on a good image with the first picture.

I glanced down at the paper fan in my hands, idly wondering if it had been purchased from Liyue or made precisely for this photoshoot. At this point, neither option would really surprise me. 

It seemed that Chiori had missed nothing in her preparations for this photoshoot.

And, at the very least, I wasn’t bored while waiting for our next pose to be decided. After all, I had Zhongli to keep a steady stream of both conversation and fun facts flowing.

“One common tradition was that the groom would have to go through a series of tests, or overcome certain barriers, before being allowed to see the bride’s face. Many couples still do this today,” I smiled at both Zhongli's words and his amused expression as I eyed him.

The thought of Zhongli being tested before he could see someone’s face was oddly amusing, though, since I honestly couldn’t think of anything that might be difficult for the man. Save for perhaps having to eat certain types of seafood.

“What were the tests like?” I shifted, looking his way as I spoke so that I could better watch him. And, as expected, he looked perfectly amused by the mere thoughts of the tests the groom might have to undergo to prove his worth.

He hummed at my question, glancing my way with a smile before tilting his head, “It is my understanding that they vary based on what the bride’s attendants and family think will be most difficult or amusing.”

 I almost snorted at the humor in his tone, shaking my head slightly and causing the golden ornaments in my hair to tinkle like tiny bells, “So for you it would be something like eating eel?” 

I grinned at him as I spoke. Watching as a frown crossed his face as he met my gaze, “Only you could think of something so cruel.” 

I snickered at his pout before shaking my head again and lightly tapping his chest with the edge of my fan, “No. It should be properly difficult if you’re having to prove yourself. And anything else would be too easy for you.”

He smiled, his brows arching slightly at me as he pressed one hand to his chest, “You flatter me, but you almost make it sound like you would not wish to wed at all.”

I blinked, my eyes widening slightly at his teasing before I frowned at him. Opening my fan and hiding my pout behind it even as I peered at him over the edge of the paper, “Teasing behavior like that is why you should have to undergo such rigorous testing. It’ll be for the bride’s sake.”

He chuckled at my words before glancing over to where Chiori and the photographer were finishing up.

Chiori walked over, gesturing to me lightly as she spoke, “All of our photographs indicate that we have a shy bride, so we’re going to try leaning into that.”

I blinked at her words, utterly thrilled that I already had the fan covering part of my face, if only to hide my reaction.

But I could hardly help acting shy or embarrassed considering I was with Zhongli, of all people. The man was frustratingly charming even when he was simply dispensing some new fun fact. 

“So here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to hold up your fan just like that, but you need to smile and look that way, away from him.” I obeyed her instructions, and she nodded approvingly before glancing at Zhongli.

But rather than speaking, Chiori just blinked at him for a moment before nodding, “Yes, that expression right there will do.”

The instant she spoke, I glanced back at Zhongli with a frown, whispering as she walked away from us, “What did you do?”

If anything, my suspicious tone merely further amused him, and he shook his head, “I smiled. I was thinking of how this pose would be fitting since brides are supposed to hide their face until the groom passes his tests.”

I blinked, my eyes widening slightly before a smile crossed my face, and I snorted slightly, “And you definitely haven’t passed any tests regarding eating eel.”

At my words, he inclined his head in agreement, an amused smile crossing his face that had me blinking and looking away from him as I awkwardly fluttered my fan. 

But it was just too unfair for him to be able to look that charming when I’d been the one teasing him.

I supposed he was just that good at leaning into his role of an amused groom who wanted to see his bride’s face. And, all at once, I wondered if anyone would ever be able to live up to Zhongli when it came to looking like a picture-perfect husband-to-be.

I could almost feel myself flush at the twisting path my brain had taken to considering Zhongli as a groom rather than just a close friend. Especially since I was definitely considering him as a groom standing next to me just like he was right now. And I could only assume I made some sort of face since the problematic man in question spoke up from beside me in a slightly hushed voice, “What is it?”

His tone wasn’t really one of concern, though. Rather, it was one filled with subtly restrained amusement. Almost like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

I staunchly avoided eye contact, ignoring the slightly giddy smile that wove its way across my face as I looked away from where he leaned slightly towards me, obviously curious about my expression, “Nothing. We’re supposed to be posing anyway.”

No sooner than I’d finished speaking than I heard the camera click and the flash went off. Immediately capturing this moment in time.

Both Zhongli and I twisted over at the same time. Looking towards both Chiori and the photographer, who each had their eyes locked onto the screen of the camera. But even then I could clearly see the smile that spread across Chiori’s face as she nodded approvingly, “Perfect.”

She looked back up at us, her smile disappearing as she took on a more businesslike tone, “Okay, we’ve got what we need. Thank you. I’ll send your payment through the Adventurer’s Guild, so after you change, you’re free to go.”

We both nodded, and I lowered my fan, exhaling a breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding before I glanced over at Zhongli, who was smiling in an oddly pleased manner, “I understand that Fontaine has a great number of culinary delights. Since we are here, we should try some.” 

I felt myself grin at his words, wholly unsurprised by Zhongli’s perpetual need to try food and no doubt critique it.

I tilted my head at him leaning towards him playfully even as I turned to go get changed, “Do you reckon they’ll have eel available?”

His expression flickered, a frown briefly appearing before his expression shifted once more to something more smug, “Even if they do, I’ll have no need of it. After all, I have already seen your face.”

I giggled lightly at his tone, ignoring his pleased expression as I turned and walked away. Determined not to keep picturing Zhongli as the perfect groom he most definitely would be.

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[lvnesart]

4/12!

One of my favorites so far :3

[xoxodiluc]

lapis dei | zhongli ( genshin impact ) x female! reader

— part four.

series genre romance, angst, smut, fantasy mafia! au

summary in your family, being married and giving an heir to a certain man you’re married to is a must. after zhongli lost his wife guizhong — he was devastated. but there’s no time in wasting to find another woman who shall be his wife, and you were chosen.

cw in this chapter mentions of pregnancy, threats, mentions of blood, violence, character death, use of guns, use of sword | please read at your own risk, and please send an ask if i missed any content warnings here. not proofread.

word count 1.5k

notes + at the end this is a reupload!!! since this app wanna act up… epilogue soon :)

one | two | three | four ( you’re here )

You haven’t seen Zhongli much after the incident in the dining room a few days ago. Even if you bump into him, you doubt he would notice you.

“Madam Y/N?” A maid knocked on the door, and you told her to come in. She bowed as she entered. “Breakfast is ready.”

You nodded, thanking her before following her to the dining room, and to your surprise, Zhongli was there drinking tea.

But he didn’t acknowledge you.

It only took moments before he got up and went to his office, much to your disappointment.

He was so confusing.

Lately, you’ve been feeling tired even though you were only always lonely and bored in the mansion, and you’ve been feeling nauseous.

If you were pregnant, you were scared about what Zhongli’s reaction would be. He’ll be glad you finally gave him an heir...

But what about you?

You cursed your family for requiring you to be in an arranged marriage. Because now you were in love with a man who won’t love you back.

“Madam, you called for me?” Arya, one of your trusted maids, showed up in front of your room in no time.

“Yes. Can you keep this a secret, please?” When she nodded, you continued. “Buy me a few pregnancy tests.” She was surprised for a moment but nodded in understanding nonetheless.

“Of course, Madam.” She bowed when you thanked her before walking away, and you sighed as you closed the door.

“And if I am pregnant,” You whispered, looking down at your stomach, “What would I name you?” You scoffed, “Or would Rex Lapis name you instead?”

After Arya bought you pregnancy tests, you went to the bathroom to test them and waited for the results, and you were right.

You were pregnant.

You were elated, finally having a child, but you weren’t happy with your marriage.

Sighing, you walked by the window and noticed a letter sitting there. It was unsettling because there wasn’t any sign of who it was from. Slowly, you opened the letter, and you gasped.

‘Now, you shall perish.’ Written in blood.

“Don’t move.”

Your breath hitched when you sensed someone behind you, “W-Who… How—”

“Don’t speak. Just come with me.”

The person covered your mouth with a cloth, and you lost consciousness.

“What’s up with you these days?”

Xiao’s voice interrupted Zhongli’s thoughts. “…Hm?”

“You’ve been acting… weird.” He crossed his arms. “Is there something wrong?”

“I’d rather not talk about it. It’s not that big of a deal.”

The Yaksha was worried, but he just shrugged it off. “All right. Also, there are still no reports about your superior’s death. We’ve been investigating it for so long…Tch.”

Zhongli sighed, “We just need to try our hardest.”

A few moments later, Ganyu came bursting through the door. “Mr. Zhongli! Madam Y/N is missing! And she has received a suspicious letter… There isn’t any sign of who it’s from!”

“What?” Ganyu gave him the letter, and when he opened it, his eyes widened.

Immediately, he ordered Xiao, Ganyu, and the Millelith — “Find my wife. Now.”

“I told you to kill her, not bring her here…! Have you fucking lost your mind?!”

“I-I’m sorry… I couldn’t bring myself to!”

You slowly gained consciousness. It took a few seconds to realize your hands were tied up as you lay on the ground of an empty warehouse.

“You’re finally awake.” You recognized that voice, Raiden Shogun!

You looked up at her, glaring. “Zhongli will fucking kill you. He’ll come to find me.” You didn’t know why you said that. It slipped out of your mouth.

But you knew he wouldn’t come to find you.

“Oh? When he does come to find you, he’ll also see the woman he actually loves.”

Your eyebrows furrowed. “W-what?” As if on cue, a woman came up behind Raiden.

Lady Guizhong. Zhongli’s former wife, she’s alive?

She gave you a pitiful look, and you looked back at Raiden, a disturbing smile forming on her face. “She’s not dead. She killed Morax’s superior for her beloved husband to be the leader.”

Oh my God.

You were overwhelmed. It was slowly making sense. Raiden Shogun had probably planned this for so long — Lady Guizhong had killed Zhongli’s superior for Zhongli to be the leader, and Raiden Shogun somehow found out who the killer of his superior was, then used her in her plan.

But what would happen to Lady Guizhong now?

“Didn’t I tell you to count your days, Y/N? I’m gonna get rid of you.” Raiden Shogun pointed her gun at you, and you closed your eyes, your heart pounding so loud that you could almost hear it.

‘I’m sorry, my future child.’

You waited for the gunshot, but then Raiden hummed. “Or what if… Guizhong just kills you instead? Wouldn’t that be so fucked up?” She let out a laugh.

You opened your eyes immediately, and Lady Guizhong shook her head. “N-No please, I can’t—”

“I’m ordering you. Kill your former husband’s current wife.”

Guizhong sobbed as Raiden pushed her gun into her hands, and she looked at you. “I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, you heard gunshots outside the empty warehouse.

“How?!” Raiden Shogun angrily exclaimed, and Guizhong took the opportunity to remove the rope tied up around your wrists as soon as the Millelith crashed into the place, shooting Raiden’s soldiers.

“I left the letter you received in your room on purpose so there was evidence you were kidnapped, and I hoped they could come and save you.” Guizhong flashed a sad smile, “I’m sorry once again.”

“Raiden Shogun. I knew you were suspicious ever since you visited Liyue.”

Zhongli… He came.

He ran towards you but slowly stopped once he saw Guizhong.

“You… You’re alive…?”

Guizhong shook her head, “I’m sorry. Please. Save Y/N and forget about me.” He stared at her in shock.

“Ah, my plan is all ruined!” Raiden Shogun spoke up, holding a tachi in her hand. “Guizhong killed your superior for you to become the new leader, Morax. She deserves to perish, doesn’t she?”

Slash!

And just like that, Guizhong was dead. Zhongli’s breath hitched.

Tears formed in your eyes as you grabbed the gun Guizhong was holding and pointed it at Raiden Shogun. You shot her in the shoulder as she cried out in pain. “You…!”

Zhongli immediately grabbed your hand and pulled you towards the door to escape, but you felt Raiden’s sword slashing your back, making you groan and fall. He looked back furiously to shoot her, but she managed to flee the warehouse.

“Go! I’ll take care of this!” Xiao yelled out as he shot Raiden’s soldiers. Zhongli picked you up, starting to panic when he saw you losing consciousness as he ran out of the warehouse. Ganyu then showed up and helped Zhongli carry you.

“Y/N... Live. Please.”

That was the last thing you heard from him before you passed out.

You opened your eyes slowly, attempting to get up, but it hurt like hell. “Ow!”

“Finally.” You heard someone say, then saw Zhongli giving you a small smile. “Don’t try to get up yet. You’re still not well.”

You slowly sat up and looked away from him, making him frown.

Didn’t he tell you to fuck off because you aren’t his real wife? Why is he here?

“Um…” You started, “How did you know where I was?”

“You received a threat, right? Then you went missing. I immediately ordered Xiao to do everything he can to find you. The first person who came to mind is Raiden Shogun, who’s been suspicious ever since she visited Liyue. I was right.” He sighed, “And I was scared… You’d be dead as soon as we got there. I’m glad you weren’t.”

You huffed, “Why would you be scared?”

“Because… I love you.” You looked at him, surprised at his sudden confession. “After Guizhong ‘died’, I was scared of falling in love again. That’s why I said those foolish things and started avoiding you because I realized I was falling in love with you. I’m sorry for that.” Zhongli held your hand, “But trust me, I do love you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” He said, “Fuck the contract. I’m willing to break the contract for you. Only you.”

You swallowed a lump in your throat. “How do I know you’re not lying?”

“I’ll prove it to you. I’ll do anything. Please.” Zhongli — Rex Lapis got on his knees, looking up at you as his hands clasped yours tightly. “I beg of you, believe me when I say I love you.”

Take the risk or lose the chance.

Because even after all the unfortunate events, you still loved him.

You sobbed, pulling him up to his feet and hugging him. “I believe you.”

“We still have a long way to go,” He kissed your forehead, and you saw tears in his eyes as he looked down at your stomach. “We’ll take care of this little one, too.”

“You knew?”

He intertwined his hand with yours. “I saw the test before we came to find you. Thankfully after the incident, our baby is fine. You’re so strong.”

You smiled, and it quickly faltered when you remembered the previous events. “What happened to Raiden Shogun?”

His face suddenly turned serious. “She managed to escape after attacking you, which is unfortunate. Fear not, I made sure you’re completely protected and no one is taking you away from me now. I won’t allow it.”

You laughed. “Noted.”

notes that’s it for zhongli’s series! idk i kinda feel eh about it 😭 but there might be an epilogue :) thank you so much for reading! 💖

taglist @dori-mon @angel-of-requiem @xxshinimakixx @aclairysm @celesther @pluviophilefangirl @eternallyvenus @shrynkk @diachibaby @rimsthebest2 @byundumb @youngpainterpizzalawyer @swirrley @deimmortales99 @whattaweeb @hoanganhduong @kyomihann @puppieee @dancing-hillary @limelightsuperhero @beef-stew @local-mr-frog

xoxodiluc © 2022 | all rights reserved. do not claim as your own, modify, copy or repost.

[wes-laye]

Archon besties at Lantern Rite

[kozapple]

DCKZ magazine edit (an attempt)

my first draft/attempt in this magazine series are below the cut if you want to see how horrible it is─

SHSHDHDHSHDHS *CRINGES* at least it looks like i improved ig??

[paimonial-rage]

Ask meme - 6 and 9 for the dragon men (zhongli and neuvillette) please!

This took so long I am so sorry, but here we go!

[Character Analysis Ask Meme]

What is Neuvillette's biggest insecurity?

Neuvillette’s biggest insecurity is not something he's ever tried to hide. Anyone that has spent enough time with the Iudex has probably heard him mention it before. Simply put, Neuvillette doesn't understand the emotions of humans very well. He never has and sometimes he doubts if he ever will? How many times has this flaw of his costed him dearly in the past? How many mistakes has he made? And how many are there yet to come? How he dreads the thought.

What can’t you trust [Neuvillette] with?

To chase after you - Iudex Neuvillette is many things—polite, kind, intelligent—but he is not a man without faults. Only a few know him well enough to realize he holds many regrets upon his shoulders, majority that were never his burden alone to bear. Should you ever become the source of one of these regrets, you can surely expect to know. With somber eyes and a weight upon his shoulders, he will apologize to you. But don’t expect anymore than that. Not understanding human emotions is not only his weakness, but a prison. He will not attempt to make things up to you nor will he try to make things how they used to be. You’re best off where he can hurt you no more, even if that means he will be left alone to the rain.

What is Zhongli's biggest insecurity?

Who knows lol.

What can’t you trust Zhongli with?

With mora - As knowledgeable and talented Zhongli is with many things, it is a surprise to many to hear that businessmen don’t exactly enjoy making deals with him. How can they when contract discussions always leave them with the [shorter end of the stick]? How many [unforeseen business expenses] do they end up incurring in such a short amount of time? In the end, they always lose more than they gained. What they don’t know is this unfortunate occurrence happens with any Mora dealings with the man. But what can you expect for someone that, by contract, has the Traveler liable for all expenses during his outings with them? It's simply best to leave all matters of mora out of any relationships with him.

With your heart - If there's one thing true about Zhongli, it's that, while he may withhold the truth, he does not lie. So when he speaks of a person warmly, they can very well believe his words to be true. That being said, it is important that one does not mistaken his warmth with depth. One cannot simply entrust their heart to him and expect his in return. How could anyone hope to understand the weight of many a millennia, after all? So while the desire may be cute, it'll never be something he would even consider to reciprocate.

[seelestia]

❝𝐃𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄?❞ — a masterlist.

「 ❝DO YOU LOVE ME?❞ ; A story where you, a mortal and ZHONGLI's love of the present, come to realize that you stand smaller compared to Guizhong, a goddess and his love of the past. 」

☆ PAIRING: Zhongli x GN!Reader.

☆ GENRE: Angst, minimal fluff, established relationship, "loves you but not most" trope.

☆ NOTE: this is a short series that has two endings which you can choose, alongside additional works to expand more on its background lore. thank you for giving this series a read! ♡

[ 🎵 listen to the official playlist here! ]

HOW THE STORY GOES. . . (arranged in chronological order, recommended to be read as such.)

↪ 「 DO YOU LOVE ME? 」 : zhongli never lies; he always says the truth as it is, even if it is a hard pill to swallow. or in which you realize you are not his greatest love and that is alright... right? (3.3k+ words)

↪ 「 HEART TO HEART. 」 : a cracked heart is like a cracked jar; it can only hold so much within before it shatters — what if you've come to terms that you cannot take the pain of the truth any longer? (1.2k+ words)

↪ 「 THE STARRY-EYED MORTAL. 」 : a prequel which tells the story before you and zhongli became lovers, where he was just an ordinary gentleman at the funeral parlor and you were just someone with starry eyes admiring him from afar. [ COMING SOON! ]

ENDING #1: what if the reader can't take it anymore and decides to break up?

↪ 「 MIDNIGHT FAREWELL. 」 : holding on hurts, letting go hurts. regrets just seem to trail after you like a shadow but ultimately, you have made your decision — this is it. (right?) (3.2k+ words)

ENDING #2: what if the reader stays and endures the heartache until the very end?

↪ 「 EYES CLOSED, HEART BLINDED. 」 : saving yourself from this path of heartache at the cost of everything is too much. thus, you decide to shut your eyes and blind your heart from the truth. however, your lover is neither blind nor foolish — but can he save you before it's too late? [ COMING SOON! ]

EPILOGUES (?)

↪ ???

↪ ???

© SEELESTIA (and my friend, jae @medeaheartly for inspiring this entire series!), feb 2023. do not repost, plagiarize, translate nor claim as your own.

[theendisneat]

Set in Stone [Pt.2 (Arranged Marriage Series)]

Pairing: Zhongli x gn!reader

Word Count: 759

Warnings: None

Two years have passed since the joining of you and your husband. It was… blissful, to say the least. Morax was an admirable husband, always vying to take care of you and shower you with meaningful gifts and silent gestures of love.

You couldn’t help but reciprocate.

Falling for your husband was a breeze once you gave up your useless grudge. The way he held you so softly, how he told stories with articulate and imaginative descriptions, or how he would press a beautiful set of intricately carved jade earrings to the palm of your hand saying he saw them in the market and they reminded him of you.

You cooked him meals, needled out what he liked and didn’t, trying to give him what he loved. You rubbed his hands when he got home, listened to him complain about the stressful duties of being an archon, and on days he was particularly moody, you would sunbathe with him in the garden, leaning against the slender, scaly dragon body.

You had your disputes, sure. But as it turns out, neither of you were ill-tempered or irrational and were able to work it out perfectly well (if not a little rocky at times).

It was an easy afternoon, the Liyuen sun shining brightly through the windows of your home when your husband came back from work. You had been reading a short fantasy novel, lounging across the couch when the door opened.

Your eyes lifted to find your husband standing in front of you with a small smile on his pretty, thin lips, arms hiding something behind his back.

“Husband, welcome home.” You offered him a nice smile in return.

“I have a gift for you.” His smile widened and you couldn’t help your heart melting..

“So I see. What is it?” Morax motioned for you to hold your hands out. You followed his instructions and he placed a thin, dark wood box in your palms.

You sighed with exasperated fondness. “Another necklace? Husband-”

“This one is special.” Morax took a seat next to you, his hands on your thighs, watching you. You didn’t think you’d ever seen your husband this excitable.

You opened up the box to reveal a glowing cor lapis on a silver chain. The cor lapis was carved like a precious stone, held in delicate silver prongs as emitted a soft orange glow; a glow that reminded you of the warmth in a sunset. The chain was the perfect length so it would rest at the top of your sternum.

“It’s gorgeous, but why is it glowing?” You dangled the necklace in front of you as you looked at him with confusion in your eyes.

“I never asked you to marry me.” Morax began. You were about to speak but he raised a hand, requesting your silence. “It is the one thing in our marriage that I regret. Over these past few weeks, I have been speaking to my fellow adepti about the creation of a special object.”

You back went ramrod straight as Morax slid to his knees in front of you, cupping your hands. “Morax-”

“I love you. Deeply. And now, I wanted to ask you properly if you wished to spend the years with me.” He took a breath, eyes fluttering as he attempted to gain his bearings. “This necklace, should you choose to wear it, will make you immortal. Not to say that if you do not wish to wear it that I will decide you do not love me nor will I try to force it on you-”

“Morax-”

“I merely mean to ask… would you spend forever with me?”

You gasped and that was when you noticed the tears falling down your cheeks. You gently placed the necklace in your lap, leaning forward to cup your husband’s face, pulling him into a deep kiss. You smiled into his lips and you could feel him doing the same.

“This is how your first proposal should’ve gone.”

You heard his shaky breath. “Is that a yes?”

You pressed your forehead to his. “Yes.”

-

The necklace sat cool against your skin and you couldn’t help but unconsciously smile at the feeling.

“What is it, my love?” Zhongli asked from the dining table, a cup of cooling tea by his paperwork from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

“Nothing.” You said softly, cutting some sunsettia in neat pieces, dropping them in a bowl. You set it down next to the tea and Zhongli thanked you with pretty amber eyes full of years of adoration. “Just reminiscing.”

[welcometoteyvat]

Hello! Do you have any recommendations on Zhongli/Xiao, or Chongyun and Xiao (either romantic or general) fics?

rubs hands together indeed i do. also highly recommend checking out the authors bc a lot of them have other incredible fic for the characters you're looking for!!

zhongxiao

Give me your heart (and I'll show you how to feel) by peredain (M, ongoing, 40k, some dom/sub themes, modern au) i will love modern aus until the end of time and this one has good plot, descriptions, and the feels. also i love that the yaksha group dynamics are fleshed out in this! they're so rare to find

fault lines by viverella (T, 23k, oneshot). scream. the tenderness and tension in this is so gentle. i fell to my knees bc these two old men. zhongli's voice is so nicely written :')

to carve nature at its joints (author commentary) and for services rendered by yelp (oneshots, 1k and 2k) the first is based on xiao's dream eating ability, and the second is about morax's inevitable erosion. the author has such an ability with words and their descriptions of xiao's loyalty, and zhongli's trust. i cherish greatly

bird in a cage by stormyseasons (gen, 33k, complete) i need to finish this but ohhhhhh it is insane,, the tenderness..... it traces xiao and zhongli's past through the archon war. also yaksha dynamics in this are so good

xiaoyun

i linked 4 in this post (please read these they're incredible) but heres more

lonely reflections (complete, 41k, M) and the sequel paper cranes (ongoing, 14k, E) by NocturnalFriend. chongyun's demon hunting expedition in the chasm takes a wrong turn. ive been meaning to read both but have heard v good things

intact by blurredbarcode; oneshot, gen, short and sweet!

reduced to just standing around, how absurd by justafellow04 this one's cute! it's an elaboration of a lantern rite lore bit that says chongyun's yang doesn't actually help xiao and its sweet :-)

also while im here: self promo of my xiaoyun writing exercises lol (v short drabbles of these two in different scenarios)

xiao and chongyun

"I won't let you become me, you'll be so much more" (170k words, ongoing) by snubton, which I think a lotttttt of people are fond of; I haven't read it myself (..writing style turnoff) but I've heard a bunch of good things. chongyun and xiao mentor mentee journey basically

after winter comes spring. 1/5 chapters, unfinished, featuring chongyun's yang energy and a flashback. it's sweet <3

[genshinresource]

Genshin Impact CN: Miyoushe Series - 3rd Anniversary Emote Pack (2/2)

[it-happened-one-fic]

Dancing With Visions - Unwilling to be Parted - Argentine Tango - Zhongli

Author Notes: I was really quite delighted when I spun the wheel of fortune I use to decide who dances what style and Zhongli got the Argentine tango. I must confess that I have always personally loved to watch performances of Argentine tangos, so that possibly shows up a bit in this fic. The performance in this fic was heavily inspired by Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis’s Argentine tango to “Montserrat” by Orquesta Del Plata on Season 18, week 10 of “Dancing With the Stars.” I also listed to "Montserrat" while writing and editing this fic. Just like the rest of this series, reader is female. I hope you enjoy!

If you would like to read more of this series, the fics can be found here: Dancing with Visions Masterlist.

Type: Female reader/ dance/ fluff/ romance implied

Word Count: 1905

Zhongli was respected by everyone and, in the eyes of the populace at large, seemed to know everything there was to know about anything. And perhaps that was why he was asked by an orchestra to perform an Argentine tango while they played, as a part of the overall performance.

After all, it was a song specifically written to be danced to, so they did not want to lose that aspect of the music. Though admittedly, it wasn’t exactly what I had initially expected when I’d heard it was going to be music written for a tango.

But then, it wasn’t music for a ballroom tango, it was music for an Argentine tango, and there was, evidently enough, a distinct difference between the two dances.

The Argentine tango was the more intimate, melancholic sister to the dance known as the ballroom tango. Or at least that was how Zhongli had described it to me when he’d asked me to be his partner for his performance. A request that I had hesitantly accepted only after much reassurance from my current partner.

I couldn’t deny that Zhongli’s description of the dance was accurate, though. While the ballroom tango and the Argentine tango held much in common, there were very distinct differences.

 It honestly felt like there was more connection between the two dancers for the Argentine tango, which was more moody than aggressive, as the ballroom variant so often was.

I glanced over at where Zhongli sat, ever patient in the chair at the table on the opposite from where I stood. 

In many ways, I’d been surprised to learn that the orchestra had set up such a performance area for us. But, as both they and Zhongli had asserted, Argentine tango music was music made for dance. It was only natural that the dance took centerplace as the orchestra performed their moody, careful sounding piece.

The music started and I stepped towards Zhongli, stepping up into the empty chair beside me and then onto the table between us. Adjusting my skirt as he looked towards me, his head turning in perfect time with the plucked strings of the music.

We’d practiced this dance numerous times, but his gaze never failed to startle me. I didn’t know what it was about his amber-colored eyes with slightly inhuman pupils that gave me the slightest of pauses, but it never seemed to fail. I was just lucky that my hesitation matched with the music.

I straightened, pushing myself up and off the chair and pivoting on the foot that rested on the table as I twisted, letting myself fall easily into Zhongli’s arms where he sat.

I looked up at him calmly as I stretched my arms back and over my head in the most languid manner possible. Slowly cartwheeling off his lap as he watched with quiet interest. Holding my hand as I stood just as he turned to look back out at the crowd. 

Still seated, he twirled me across the floor until I stopped in front of him, his hands tracing their way up the side of my legs.

I inhaled slightly at the  motion but let my hands rest over gloved ones, taking a gentle hold of them before pulling them off me and tossing them into the air before I stepped forward and turned. Leading with my head as I faced him and he stood.

I lifted my arms, easily sliding into our dancing hold as he almost immediately began to walk me backwards and across our stage.

Our steps were light, and almost stealthy as he pushed me backwards, pausing only to let me lean back to the lilting of the violins before he turned with me. His posture ever upright and strong as he twisted, placing me at his side and stepping lightly in place with me as we faced each other.

As if we weren’t having to concentrate on our intricate footwork at all and instead one another’s eyes were far more important.

And though I couldn’t speak for him, that certainly was true for me. Zhongli’s eyes were eternally interesting and beautiful.

His gaze was still one of pointed interest that seemed to make it impossible to look away from him.

I forced myself to break our eye contact though, as I turned the side, only to get swung lightly through the air as if I weighed nothing. Landing in a crouched position with one leg extended and my one arm still stretched out so my hand could stay in his.

Almost like it was locked in place, either by his grip or my unwillingness to let go. That was up to our viewers to decide.

The room was perfectly silent save for the music around us as he stepped lightly around behind me and I twisted on my toes. Pulling my legs under me as I looked up at him and he spun. 

My hand left his only for a fraction of a second before he was taking it once more in his firm, but surprisingly gentle grasp.

He tugged lightly and I launched into the air, spinning elegantly so that my back was to his chest as he caught me against him. Wrapping an arm around me and holding me there as my legs curled backwards and split to lock around him as he stepped backwards.

But that was the nature of both this dance and Zhongli himself. Each motion flowed into the next effortlessly. As if each step were a natural progression.

This was a dance that told a story. A romance filled with sophisticated maturity and a sort of nostalgia that could only come with time.

I reached back, my hand brushing against Zhongli’s temple before he swung me forward, my legs kicking up into the air and flaring out my skirt before I touched down. 

Zhongli immediately stepped back and away from me, placing a potent distance between as I turned to look back towards him. Almost as if I were drawn to him while he placed careful distance between us.

But his eyes never left me.

Though separate, we stepped forward together, our arms reaching towards each other in a sweeping, graceful motion.

My hand found his as our other arms wrapped around each other in a loose embrace. Close, but not close. Separate, but never far.

He shifted me so that I was in front of him once more, our gazes holding one another as our steps lagged slightly with the tempo of the music before he began pushing me backwards and across the stage once more.

 Our steps turned fast as we twisted from side to side. Almost like we didn’t have time to waste, but also couldn’t bear to be rushed in this intricate dance that spoke of deep emotions.

We reached the edge of the stage, Zhongli stopping me before twirling me lightly so that we could shift back the other direction. Me still retreating as he pushed and guided me ever backwards.

Trusting me to stop with him just as I relied on him to guide me to halt before it was too late and the edge of the stage was passed.

This time we pivoted, shifting so that we were both technically facing the same direction with our heads turned to look at one another rather than in the direction we moved.

We released on one side, me spinning out as his arm stretched, teasing at letting me go but apparently not quite able to before he pulled me back towards him.

Twirling me in as I lifted my leg for him to catch at the last second, before he lifted me into the air and spinning effortlessly with me.

He paused though, facing the crowd and tossing me into the air lightly. And I spun lightly before landing safely in his arms once more.

He leaned with me, dipping me towards the ground as I extended my arm and looked away from him even as one of my arms remained wrapped around his shoulders.

He swung me down easily, his arm remaining wrapped around me as my feet touched down and I spun to look at him. Finally letting go of him as one hand pressed to my chest. Holding him at a slight distance as I looked up at him once more.

He met my gaze, his stare somehow unshakeable as he reached out with one hand. A silent request that I accepted with my hand slipping carefully into his.

We moved at the same time, him stepping towards me just as my other hand reached towards him, and the distance between us was closed once more.

I swallowed as his hand slipped from behind his back and wrapped around my shoulders as he spun me dramatically to the side. My one leg extended behind me as I looked away from him yet again.

He pulled me back up into an upright position swiftly and we shifted to the side, our footwork speeding up once more as he spun me once more, and I paused. Kicking up one leg  before he spun me out. Letting go of me with one hand that I tugged back and pressed to my chest as we looked towards each other for a fraction of a second. Me leaned back and relying on his support while he gazed at me, supporting me with one arm but also holding me at a careful distance.

He shifted, holding out his free arm as he pulled me towards him and I spun. Launching into the air and landing safely in his embrace. Our sides pressed together with my legs curled under me and his arm wrapped steadfastly around me as our hands remained entwined.

He spun with me that way, my position shifting subtly as we rotated. My hand released his so that I could reach up and cup his face as I curled towards him. One of my legs shifting so it curled around him instead of just under me.

I was no longer pressed merely to his side, but holding onto him in a sort of loose embrace as his other hand cupped my shoulder.

His gaze flickered over to mine and I swallowed, forcing myself to hold eye contact with him as he paused for a moment and I uncurled my legs. Straightening them out so that the toes of my shoes barely touched the ground as he walked backwards. Inclining his head towards mine as my hand slid down the side of his face to rest against his neck.

We were hardly even an inch apart when he came to a stop. Letting me step closer to him before letting go, almost reluctantly and standing off to the side of the stage as he turned and sat. This time in the chair that was on the side of the table closest to me.

Applause erupted around us and I exhaled a breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding. I looked towards Zhongli quietly, half-stunned by the noise around us as he met my gaze and smiled softly.

His stare was no longer one of  intensity now, but I still found my eyes lingering on his before I at last looked away. Smiling awkwardly at the audience as Zhongli stood and joined me. 

His hand finding mine as our fingers entwined themselves together once more. Seemingly unwilling to be parted.

If you would like to read more:

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[elmflowers]

(note: by narrative, I mean from the overarching story perspective. Ex: all of the archon pre quest for Liyue hyped the geo archon up insanely and characterized him as someone easy to get a hold of and then when we meet him his fake corpse falls out of the sky directly in front of us, and then we resist arrest. Objectively hilarious.)