#thankfully he was awake again and standing up (bruh.) by the time we got back

[onthebirdroads]

grateful that today I DIDN'T have to do CPR

[amethystroselilith]

Intertwined Fates - Chapter 6

Can be read in ao3 here

Uni is killing me bruh T^T

SUMMARY: “Just know that whatever decision you’ll make, I’ll accept it.”

Beeping noises surround him again, that familiar smell of medicine fills his sense of smell.

He opened his eyes…

A pair of shocked golden eyes met his own, a smile forming on the person’s lips as the figure ran to him with happiness, he reminds Zhongli of a happy kitten.

He blinks…

Another pair of wide golden eyes met him, the person was accompanied by a woman with purple twintails, looking at him with her sympathetic eyes as she holds on to the blonde with long braids.

He blinks again…

This time his heart stopped, it was the blonde woman who had been haunting his dreams. Her teary eyes looking at him with emotions Zhongli couldn’t quite tell. His hands weakly tried to reach out to her.

She broke down, and that’s when Zhongli realised they weren’t alone, a flash of orange was the last thing he saw before tiredness hit him again.

~~~

Ajax sighed as he gently laid Lumine down the sofa. She had fallen asleep crying again and he doesn’t really know how to handle the situation himself.

It was two days ago that everything changed.

Him and Lumine fooling around as they wait for Qiqi, and the next thing he knew, his supposedly dead best friend came through the bakery’s door.

Everything was fast when they all met eyes. Zhongli clutched his head in pain before dropping to the floor which scared Qiqi to the point of crying.

Ajax was the one who snapped out of it when Qiqi was tugging on his clothes with her arms up. Lumine was frozen on her spot, trembling in shock. He immediately called for emergency, pushing aside his own flurry of emotions for Qiqi and Lumine.

He couldn’t keep up though, by the time help came and took care of Zhongli and Lumine, Ajax immediately called for Aether and Xiao.

It was when they all arrived at the hospital when Ajax could finally breathe, Qiqi was taken by her Aunt Keqing, Aether and Xiao started bombarding him with questions, but all they got was an exhausted man passing out in their arms.

It was when Ajax woke up again that he managed to explain what happened, Xiao and Aether had done their own digging and contacted Granny Shan. They managed to conclude what had happened to Zhongli for the past few years; Zhongli had been alive and was in a coma being taken care of by Granny Shan.

Xiao is overjoyed, he had been by his brother’s side ever since their reunion, only going out to buy food for everyone.

Aether, while being happy that Zhongli is alive, can’t help but worry how it will affect his sister and their family. Lumine is already a mess and he knows Ajax isn’t doing that well either. Keqing is trying her best to help, giving Aether all the support she could give.

Ajax took a deep breath before sitting down beside Lumine’s sleeping form. He rubbed his face in frustration, trying to control the overwhelming feeling of vomiting as he assessed their situation.

His phone began ringing before he could dwell on it more.

‘Aether’, the contact name displayed.

“Hey, Aeth?” Ajax greeted, tiredness in his voice.

“Papa?”

Ajax perked up at the little girl’s voice, clearing his throat to disguise the exhaustion from his voice, “Qiqi? What’s wrong, princess?”

“When are you and Mama coming home? Qiqi misses you.”

The sadness in her voice broke her heart.

“Mama and Papa are just taking care of something, okay? We’ll be home soon, don’t worry.” Ajax weakly laughed, “Isn’t sleeping over at Uncle Aether and Aunt Keqing fun? I heard your Aunt Xiangling joined too.”

“Yeah, Auntie Xiangling and Guoba came over. We baked a lot of sweets.”

“Yeah? What did you make?”

“We made lots of cupcakes, and cookies, and cakes. Qiqi also made Guoba a big cake, he ate it in one big bite, Papa!”

The giggle in her voice brought a smile to Ajax’s face, “It must be delicious then? Since my little Qiqi did it.”

As Qiqi talks about what she did, Ajax can’t help but feel slightly better.

However, as the call ends, a heavy realisation hits him.

Now that Zhongli is back in their lives, where does he stand in theirs?

A bitter chuckle escapes him as he leaned back and stared at the unconscious man in the hospital bed.

Looks like he’s going back to being alone, staring longingly at the family he wished he has.

“Was that Qiqi?” a timid voice made him jump.

“Yeah, she says she misses us and bribed us cupcakes if we can go back home as soon as possible.”

He received a quiet chuckle, “I wonder where she learned that from…”

Ajax laughed lightly as well.

There was a quiet moment that passed by.

“How are you feeling?” Ajax asked.

Lumine hummed, “I still can’t believe it...”

“Well, he’s right there, in the flesh.” Ajax joked, slight bitterness laced in his voice.

“Yeah… he is.” was the only response he got.

Silence filled them again, and Ajax had another urge to vomit due to his anxiousness.

He wants to know what Lumine is thinking, how Lumine is feeling, what Lumine will do.

If he still has a place in her heart.

He was about to ask, but soft snores from beside him caught his attention.

His insecurities began taunting him again. Mocking him as flashbacks of him watching his best friend get married to the girl he couldn’t reach resurface again.

He guessed Lumine and him are just never meant to be together.

Ajax wanted to curse the gods who gave them this fate.

The thoughts are getting louder and louder.

His face began to pale, sweat beads began to form as he slowly loses to the overwhelming feeling of the future he had been dreaming of, slowly burn and fade away.

And then silence.

He looked at Lumine sleeping form, her hand softly clutching his pants.

Ajax smiled softly, before intertwining his fingers with hers.

~~~

It was the next day when Zhongli finally had enough energy to stay awake.

Xiao was holding his hand, asleep beside him, only to be woken up by Zhongli getting startled by him.

It was a funny sight, they startled each other awake. They stared at each other for a whole minute before they burst out laughing.

He’s Zhongli’s brother, his little brother that he raised, of course, it wouldn’t take long for him to remember those golden cat-like eyes.

Xiao couldn’t help but ask him questions about what he could remember, and Zhongli had told him what he could. It was only then that Xiao realised he should tell everyone.

Aether was the first one to show up, bringing in food with him as well as his girlfriend. It took Zhongli a few pictures to remind him who he was, but once it triggered his memory, information about Aether started flowing easily in his brain.

He felt embarrassed when he can’t remember Keqing, but Aether explained they never met before and Zhongli felt at ease knowing that.

The room was filled with catching up conversation, a doctor coming in to check on Zhongli and happily announced that Zhongli’s showing much more improvement than they expected.

His last visitors finally arrived.

Zhongli can’t help but got his breath taken away when the blonde goddess that had been haunting his dreams finally walked through the door.

“Lumine…” her name unconsciously escaped his lips.

As if her name was the answer to it all, memories of her and their lives flash before him.

“Z-Zhongli…” she shakily called back, before her feet moved on their own.

Zhongli felt his heart burst when he wrapped his arms around her.

How he had longed to feel her warmth.

They held each other for a long time, they had forgotten about everyone else in the room.

Only being pulled back to reality when they heard a click of the door closing.

“Ajax.” Zhongli smiled at him.

The man smiled back, “Glad to see you alive, Zhongli.”

There was tension in the air that only Zhongli is oblivious to.

“Uhm, Aeth, I think we should go ahead and buy those medications Zhongli needs,” Keqing said wanting to leave the room as she felt like she’s intruding on someone’s privacy.

“Ah… yes, of course.” Aether cleared his throat as he grabbed Keqing’s hand, “You guys go ahead and… talk…” he excused himself to the door, giving Ajax a sympathetic smile.

“I… should also talk to the doctor about how long Zhongli will have to stay here.” Xiao excused himself, surprising Ajax when he hugged him, “I hope you’re alright.” he whispered before leaving the three alone in the room.

“Lumine, my love…” Zhongli smiled as he raised her chin to meet his before sealing their lips together.

Lumine tensed, but Zhongli couldn’t notice it, so lost to the feeling of remembering how much he missed kissing her.

Ajax turned away, pretending to be busy with fixing whatever he could find to distract himself from the sharp stab in his heart.

When Zhongli pulled away, he noticed the shock on Lumine’s face, he frowned, “I apologise… I couldn’t help myself, I should’ve considered how you would’ve felt kissing a man you haven’t seen in years.” he teased lightly.

Lumine laughed it off, watching Ajax from the corner of her eyes.

She and Ajax didn’t talk about what to do yet, yesterday they decided to visit Qiqi. It was difficult trying to pretend that everything’s fine in front of Qiqi. Thankfully the child didn’t notice how her Papa isn’t holding and kissing her Mama as much, nor did she notice how her Mama isn’t talking about how pretty Qiqi will be in her dress during the wedding.

They slept over Aether’s house.

Lumine and Qiqi staying over at the guest’s room while Ajax helped himself in Aether’s fully stocked bar before passing out on the sofa nearby.

The whole car ride wasn’t easy either as the two stayed silent, not quite sure how to approach the subject as well.

“Ajax, I heard about your work, I knew you’d reach high places.” Zhongli chuckled as he recalled what Xiao told him earlier.

Ajax smiled and talked as if nothing’s wrong, as if watching his beloved wrapped around someone’s arms isn’t hurting him.

Lumine isn’t feeling any better, on one hand, she’s still Zhongli’s wife in the brunette’s eyes, and there is still a part of Lumine that missed being wrapped around him, but on the other hand, she had already built something with Ajax, and not being able to support him right now is killing her.

But she couldn’t do anything, as much as she wants to, her feelings are confused as well, her head is filled with emotions that are making her sick that she spent her morning leaning against a toilet, even the smell of food is making her sick.

So now she just stayed there, trying the best she could to join in the conversation when Zhongli asks her some questions.

~~~

“I don’t see why I couldn’t go home with Lumine?” Zhongli frowned as Xiao informed him of their arrangement.

The doctors had given Zhongli the clearance to go home, the brunette is elated with the news, he can finally go home.

However, there seemed to be an uneasiness surrounding the room after the doctor left and Xiao explaining they will be staying together.

“The doctor said I would have a better recovery when I’m with my family, right?” Zhongli asked confused.

“It’s just…” Xiao trailed off, not sure how to explain to his brother about Lumine’s current life.

No one was able to explain it, Zhongli was too happy to be reunited with his wife.

“Your old home was sold,” Ajax said after no one is saying anything.

It stunned Zhongli, “Oh… Where have you been staying?” he asked Lumine who shifted uncomfortably.

“With me,” Ajax answered again.

Zhongli smiled, “Then I’m glad you didn’t have problems with that, I was worried I left you in a bad place. Thank you, Ajax, for watching over her. I hope we can stay there until we can find our own home then?”

Now everyone is uncomfortable, Keqing whispering to Aether to do something, Aether trying to do so, Xiao trying to come up with an excuse, Lumine was looking at Ajax and he knows what it means.

However, he also knows that Lumine isn’t ready, hell Zhongli probably isn’t ready to find out that his best friend is in an intimate relationship with his wife.

“Text Xiangling to clean the place, remove any pictures of us together and bring Qiqi to her place for now,” Ajax whispered.

Lumine nodded before fishing her phone.

“I don’t mind. It should give us time to talk about things.”

The other three people were stunned, Xiao protesting, “I think Zhongli should take a rest first, don’t you think so?”

Aether nodded, “It may be a bit overwhelming for him.”

Zhongli sighed, “I appreciate that you worry about me, but I would really like nothing than to go home with my wife.” the tone in his voice put an end to the discussion.

~~~

“Are you sure about this, Ajax?” Aether asked while they’re waiting outside of the room, “I kinda agree with Xiao that it’s a bit early.

“Lumine was about to blurt out our relationship earlier.” Ajax sighed, “We can at least talk about it at our place, Xiangling should be able to clean up all pictures of Lumine and me being together, and Qiqi will stay with her while we figure something out.”

“But can Zhongli handle it?” the blonde asked.

“The more we wait the more things will be difficult for us. Lumine’s already getting sick from anxiousness. I myself just want this to get it over with.” Ajax murmured the last part.

Aether eyes softened, “I’m really sorry that you guys are in this situation. I can’t imagine the pain you guys are going to but if you need to ransack my mini-bar, I’ll have it stocked up for you.” he tried to brighten up the mood.

“I’ll hold you to that, comrade.” Ajax chuckled, accepting the hug Aether gave him before he was left with a wish of luck and a pat at the back.

Another pair of arms were wrapped around him, “I’m scared.” she said quietly.

Ajax took a deep breath before hugging her close, “Just know that whatever decision you’ll make, I’ll accept it.”

Lumine looked up at him, “I don’t want to make such decision.” a tear rolled down her face, “I couldn’t.”

Ajax smiled sadly, wiping a tear from her cheeks, “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and nothing will ever change that. Even if you have to leave me, I’ll treasure all the memories we made.”

He leaned closer until their lips sealed.

It felt like a goodbye kiss.

Lumine didn’t like it.

~~~

The ride home was quiet, Zhongli was at the back with Lumine while Ajax drives. The two tries to keep up with Zhongli’s questions about what happened. Thankfully, they are more about the places he used to know instead of about their lives.

When they reached the door, something was terribly wrong, Ajax senses.

It started when he saw a rather familiar car in their driveway, and when they reached the door, there wasn’t silence at the other side of it.

He cursed.

“Is something wrong?” Zhongli asked.

“Uhm, I just forgot I haven’t done groceries and maybe we should eat out-” before Ajax could finish his excuse, the door flew wide open.

“Mama, Papa, you’re finally home! Qiqi missed you!”