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solsolace · 3 years ago

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✧ Smitten ✧

✧ synopsis: [fluff] in honor of 2.4 (and xiao coming home!), some headcanons and drabbles of how the following characters act when they’re crushing on you ✧ ft. ganyu, shenhe, xiao, zhongli x gender neutral reader [separate] ✧ warnings: spoilers for 2.4 and all of Liyue’s archon quests, spoilers for Shenhe’s backstory, possibly ooc Ganyu (and definitely ooc for Ningguang and Hu Tao) ✧ a/n: i have finally risen from my writing slump... this isn’t my best work but i’m a sucker for pining <3 all interactions welcome!

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Ganyu -

✧ what do you MEAN she has a crush on you??? she can’t deal with that, she’s so busy! :(!

✧ extremely obvious; like, there isn’t a soul in liyue who doesn’t know about ganyu’s feelings for you. she won’t say a word about it, oh no, that’s too embarrassing- but from the way she shyly plays with her hair or blushes intensely whenever you’re near… yeah, girl is down bad.

✧gets a bit jumpy whenever your name is mentioned. Ningguang finds this very amusing.

“Thank you, for all your hard work these past few days, Ganyu.” Ningguang breathes out a cloud of smoke from her pipe, watching the plume dissipate to reveal her secretary.

Ganyu offers her a gentle smile. The warm glow of candlelight would almost make the qilin look peaceful, if not for the dark circles beneath her eyes. “You don’t have to thank me, Lady Ningguang. I know you’ve been busy with rebuilding the Jade Chamber in time for the Lantern Rite festival, so it’s my honor to help out where I can.”

She sets to focus on an assortment of financial files, and a smirk pulls at Ningguang’s lips. “Oh, yes. This will certainly be a Lantern Rite to remember- Liyue’s first festival without an archon. If all goes well, it should solidify our future of human prosperity.” Ganyu hums softly at her boss’s ambition with a nod. “In fact, I want all of Liyue’s citizens, human or not, to enjoy themselves that night. I’ve heard that y/n has been looking for a date, actually, perhaps you could…?”

Ganyu immediately jolts upright, bright crimson pooling in her cheeks. “Uh-h, oh, no, Lady Ningguang, it seems that I-I forgot to… collect a statement from the Northland Bank this month! Silly me, aha.” She stands abruptly and gracelessly bows to the tianquan. “P-please excuse me, I’ll… I’ll get right on that.”

As she rushes out with her hands covering her mouth, Ningguang can’t help but chuckle, twirling her pipe in bejeweled fingers. On the table before her, she can clearly see the document her secretary forgot having given to her a week ago.

✧ ganyu wouldn’t avoid you on purpose- she really is just very busy! but in her sparse moments of peace, she would find herself wishing you were with her. would you mind sitting beside her, still and silent as a stone as the sun sets? maybe, you would even allow her to intertwine her pinky with yours? oh, and if she’s feeling really bold, would you let her rest her head upon your shoulder, would you not be bothered by the way her hair tickles your cheek, or how her horns lay heavy on your skin?

✧ though it is a rare occurrence, it’s painfully easy to tell when ganyu allows her mind to wander- and even easier to tell exactly what she’s thinking about. her eyelashes set against her pink cheeks, a small smile adorning her face as she sighs dreamily.

And, while Keqing is never one to tease, she’s gotten a bit tired of seeing Ganyu walk around the qixing with a lovesick look on her face while doing nothing about it.

“I don’t understand why you won’t just tell y/n that you like them. I mean, I’m pretty sure even they’ve caught wind of your crush. What good will holding your tongue get you?” Keqing announced to her qilin coworker one day. Ganyu’s face splits into one of embarrassment and guilt.

“I can’t just do that, Keqing! I mean, what if they reject me?”

Keqing snorts- you? reject Ganyu? Oh please- as if you’re not head over heels for her as well. Ganyu’s eyes widen at the other girl’s reaction, and the yuheng quickly shakes her head to reassure her.

“So, what if they do? Wouldn’t you rather know it will never happen than spend your time worrying about it?”

… Reassurance is not Keqing’s strong suit. The qilin’s head drops to her hands, tight fists clutching the hem of her clothes. Her throat feels swollen. It will never happen, huh?

“I don’t want to ruin what we have…” Ganyu speaks shakily. “It’s… fine like this.”

✧oh yes, no matter how openly obvious Ganyu is about her feelings, she has an impressive amount of self restraint… and a severe lack of self confidence. the idea of you not being in her life due to her own selfish desires is too painful to bear. you are a reprieve from her countless hours of work, a relief from expectations and convention, a breath of fresh air when her lungs feel stifled… she’s lost those she loved before, she could not handle losing you, too.

✧ ah, but it seems ganyu’s selflessness will never go unnoticed by those she has sacrificed for; if she will not take action on her own, then leave it to the members of the qixing to help her. Ningguang, in her infinite wisdom about all that goes on in her nation, has certainly memorized your schedule and habits- which she relayed to Keqing, who then in turn devises a plan to have Ganyu “accidentally” cross paths with you. it may mean that the qixing will be a bit less organized for a few hours, but it’s well worth it to have their beloved secretary at last have a chance at what she deserves.

Though, as powerful and thorough as they may be, the qixing cannot control the weather. As Ganyu traveled across the fields of Guili Plains in search of a lost relic Ningguang needed for this year’s Lantern Rite- “an urgent matter that only Ganyu could handle” Keqing had assured her- the sky broke into a dismal gray and rain began to sprinkle down. The sound of the light downpour was rather calming, the qilin halted to admire the land around her briefly, before she began to worry about how the mud will certainly obscure the roads for travelers, and how it will slow business down until it clears, oh, and not to mention all of the decorum for the festival that will now have to be dried or replaced… Ganyu wants to chide herself for even allowing a moment to stop when she has so much left to do, but before she can, she hears her name.

“Ganyu! What are you doing out here in the rain?”

She perks up immediately at your voice, turning to see you walking toward her with an open umbrella. She feels like her heart might beat out of her chest, and she prays to Rex Lapis that you don’t hear it over the sound of the storm.

Oh, you asked her a question, right! “Y/N, I’m, umm… There’s this relic I need to find for Ningguang- it’s something she wants for the upcoming Lantern Rite, I think…” Ganyu trails off, feeling a bit silly for stumbling over her words so much. Unconsciously, she moves to nervously twist a damp lock of her hair. You hum, tilting your umbrella so that it’s covering the both of you. You’re so close…

“So, they sent you out in the rain to look for it? The festival is a week away, surely they could have waited to send you until the weather is better.”

Ganyu’s eyes widen and she shakes her head in a panic, accidentally flicking water from her horns onto you. “No, no, it’s not like that, I promise! They didn’t know it would rain…”

You smile softly. Now is as good a time as any, right? “Here, why don’t we head back to the city, and I’ll even help you look for this relic once the storm passes? I doubt you’ll have much luck in weather like this, and I’ll keep you dry, too!”

“W-what? Oh, I don’t want you to trouble yourself- really, I’m sure you’re busy, and I’ll be alright. I can’t just return empty handed, either, so-”

Before Ganyu can thank you for your offer and run off, you wrap your palm around hers. “You won’t be returning empty handed, see!” You giggle, waving your conjoined hands. Ganyu stares at you with wide eyes, and though she feels like she might combust, she can’t seem to move from this spot. Rex Lapis, if you’re listening…

“Besides, I was heading that way, anyways. I was going to see you, actually!” You begin to walk back towards Liyue City, and Ganyu follows along as if entranced. There are a million things she wants to say, and yet nothing will come out. You continue, “It’s been too long since we’ve had time to catch up, and… There’s something I want to ask you, uh, about the festival…”

✧ by the time of your arrival, keqing is practically pulling her hair out. Ah, her perfectly coordinated plan, brought to a halt by the damn rain! knowing her overworked coworker well by now, Ganyu will be out all night searching for some relic that Ningguang made up on the spot. She didn’t even tell Ganyu to take an umbrella, what if she’s stuck in the downpour, cold and alone?! Keqing is about to just drop everything and go search for her, until a quiet chuckle from Ningguang breaks her out of her frenzy. confused, she follows Ningguang’s line of sight, and…

✧ Ganyu thanks you for accompanying her back to the qixing, still holding onto your hand. you lean over to kiss her cheek, before promising to see her for your festival date. Ganyu watches you go, one hand over her chest and a dreamy look on her face.

✧ huh. seems everything worked out after all. »»————-　 ✦ 　————-««

Shenhe -

✧ does not deny what she’s feeling, just, ah… genuinely doesn’t know what to do about it. like, the word ‘love’ isn’t in her vocabulary, not because she purposefully wants to be cold and cruel, but because it simply wasn’t an important concept to her until she met you.

✧ doesn’t even realize it’s something she has to explain to you, just assumes you’ll know.

✧ and honestly? you should know- once she feels safe with you, she isn’t going to be one to hold back her thoughts. Shenhe says a lot of out-of-pocket shit that could be considered extremely flirtatious if it weren’t for her straight face and monotone manner of speaking. (“You want my opinion of your coat? Hmm. It covers too much of you, take it off.”)

✧ she starts to realize something is amiss when the title of your friend just… didn’t feel right anymore.

The exorcist clan in Liyue is still not exactly well acquainted with Shenhe, but they do make a point to be polite when they see her. “Oh, greetings Lady Shenhe and…” The clan member trails off as their eyes shift to you. They offer you a small apologetic bow, “Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.”

You open your mouth to introduce yourself to the exorcist, but Shenhe beats you to the punch. “This is Y/N. They are my…” friend. The word wouldn’t come out. Her eyebrows furrowed together. The word once filled her with such joy (well, as much joy as she could muster against the binds of her soul) but now, saying it out loud makes her feel numb- no, not numb… empty? Hollow?

You glance over at Shenhe and worry at her pause. Is she- no, no, maybe she just forgot the word? It has happened before. “I’m Y/N, Shenhe’s friend.” You finish for her, sending her a bright smile, as if to reassure her of your companionship. She casts her eyes downward.

“Yes… They are my friend.”

Somehow, the word feels weighted on her tongue.

✧ you are probably one of the few-if only- mortals that can calm her down. Shenhe really appreciates your presence, especially in crowded areas. whenever you notice her stiffening and glancing around, fingers twitching as she attempts to fight back the urge to conjure her polearm, you softly call for her attention. when her eyes meet yours, you take the liberty of intertwining your fingers with hers. you can feel her tension slowly evaporate as she takes in a slow, calming breath- though, you both note, her fingers are still twitching in your grasp.

✧ and then, cloud retainer points out how often shenhe speaks about you to her. “One has noticed that one’s disciple certainly does mention that y/n quite a bit. Do not misunderstand, one is most proud of the progress you have made in seeking out friends of your kind, Shenhe, but… is there something more going on?” which makes shenhe suddenly feel very… self-conscious. Not the typical sort of exhausting self-consciousness that comes from visiting the city, nor the intense self-awareness she has when meditating- it’s an almost overwhelming emotion that makes her entire body feel uncomfortably warm. does she really talk about you so much that even the adepti have recognized this? do you notice it? if so, why have you not mentioned this to her? what did cloud retainer mean by “more going on”- is there more going on?

✧ shenhe will excuse herself to meditate, not exactly used to this strong surge of nonviolent emotions, but her mind is clouded by you. even if she wants to be frustrated, she just feels… lonely, without you here. she tries to remember the humanity she once held and lost, did it feel anything like this? when her mother died, when her father abandoned her, when she was sacrificed and left to die, was she lonely?

✧ ah, but- you are still alive, you have not cast her away, you have never even been wary of the curse that swells within her… why does she miss you so ardently, then?

✧ perhaps this is a sign of some sort, a mark of progress in her attempts to reconnect with humanity. this is not an issue she can solve with a blade or intimidation- perhaps, she wonders, as someone more well-versed in “human problems”, would you know of a better solution to her woes?

✧ you have mentioned to her that she can rely on you whenever she needs, and the idea of sharing this burden, to no longer be so isolated, is… tempting. yes, shenhe decides, there is no need to sit around and wait for an explanation to fall from the sky- when she sees you again, she will tell you about these confusing and powerful emotions, and, if she dares to hope, you will stay with her to help her through it.

✧ the thought alone makes her smile. »»————-　 ✦ 　————-««

Xiao -

✧ no. xiao does not have a “crush” on you, nor is he in “love” with you, nor does he have any “feelings” for you. those are all pointless mortal emotions that have no place in the heart of the conqueror of demons.

✧ okay, fine, he does tolerate you more than most. he’s made it a habit to always appear when you leave him an offering of almond tofu, and maybe for some reason, he thinks it tastes better when you make it yourself (even when you somehow managed to burn the syrup?) and, alright, so what if he keeps an eye on you when you’re out traveling- that’s- that’s his job, isn’t it? and! ugh! whatever! who cares if he secretly wants to keep you close to him at all times, to wrap his arms around you and listen to your beating heart? why does it matter if the mere thought of something bad happening to you is enough to send him into a sickening spiral of worry? what- why- how-

✧ ...ah shit.

✧ he’d gotten careless, allowed himself to relax in your presence, and perhaps you’d thought of this as a good sign! he’s slowly begun to open up and trust you, and while he still maintains his reserved demeanor, you can easily notice the lingering softness in his eyes when he glances at you.

✧ xiao straight up avoids you once he realizes it, hoping that the distance will quell the stirrings in his chest. at least, that’s what he intends to do- but more often than not, the adeptus finds himself acting as your shadow while you are exploring, blissfully unaware of his presence. to ensure your safety, of course, and to fulfill the pact he made to Rex Lapis all those years ago. that’s all.

✧ he almost manages to convince himself.

✧ until he overhears a conversation between you and Verr Goldlet one night.

The plate of almond tofu had long since gone too cold to eat, the sounds of people at the inn fading alongside the sun. Another week, and still no appearance from Xiao. You were seriously considering calling out his name just to see him again, though you decided against it, knowing a false call could not only be annoying, but potentially dangerous for anyone in actual need of help. You couldn’t help the growing worry that settled in the pit of your stomach- what if something had happened to him? He’d always been rather cagey about his own issues, was he in trouble? Did it have to do with that karmic debt he had mentioned? Sure, he was an adeptus, he could handle himself- but he shouldn’t have to do that alone!

“Mx. Y/N, you’ve been up here pacing for hours. Should I get a room ready for you?” The innkeeper’s voice broke the dusken silence. You let out a deep sigh and turn toward the woman. Her face is kind, welcoming, but her warmth only serves to make you feel colder.

“Thank you, but… It’s alright. I’ll be on my way shortly…” You didn’t want to go, didn’t want to spend one more night restless and worried about your friend… Verr Goldlet hums gently, crossing the balcony to stand beside you. She glances toward the cold dish behind you, untouched, and she moves it back to sit against the railing.

“Don’t worry too much about our dear yaksha,” She speaks slowly- and, almost a bit too loudly? You’re literally right in front of her- “His path is a difficult one, something we as people cannot ever begin to understand… But, if there’s one thing I know well, it’s that Xiao will always come back to those he cares for.”

Her gaze doesn’t quite meet yours, her head angled toward the sky, but it’s comforting all the same. You nod your head and offer her a small thanks before turning to descend the path back home.

Verr Goldlet’s smile widens at the pair of golden eyes peering down at her from the inn’s roof.

“You wouldn’t want to make me into a liar, now, would you, Xiao?”

✧ the next time you’re at the inn, you don’t even get to place a plate of almond tofu down before you feel a sharp gust of wind behind you.

✧ xiao is… ugh, he is not nervous, but he definitely didn’t think this through. what is he supposed to say to you? “sorry for hiding”? yeah, right, as if he would ever stoop low enough to apologize to a mortal for something so- wait, no, he wasn’t hiding! he doesn’t owe you an explanation, either, he’s an adeptus, he can come and go when he damn well pleases! and, good god, does he want to go anywhere else when you turn to face him.

✧ he doesn’t have time to come up with an excuse, nor does it seem that he has to. to his surprise (and relief), you’re just… happy to see him? to know that he’s okay?? what???

✧ Xiao is still a bit dumbfounded as you begin to talk about anything and everything that’s happened in your life during his absence, chattering merrily about adventures he witnessed you go through in the past few weeks. this is confusing and new for him, yes, but even moreso, he feels… content.

“Gosh, and then- oh, Xiao, are you alright? You haven’t even touched your food.” Xiao blinks at you. He hadn’t moved since you sat him down and shoved the plate of almond tofu in his lap- he was still holding the fork midair just, watching you talk. He didn’t realize how heavy the days of silence had been to him, and now, getting to hear your voice, having your attention toward him, it felt as if you’d shoved that weight off in a matter of seconds.

His grip on the fork tightens as he pushes it down to scoop up a bite, turning away from you. “I’m fine. Continue on, the treasure hoarder pleaded for his life, and then?”

You tilt your head with a baffled grin. “Um, Xiao, I haven’t gotten to that part yet, how did you know?”

If he wanted to vanish before, he really wants to now. He groans inwardly, dipping further away from your prying gaze as heat rises to the tips of his ears. He shoved the forkful into his mouth hastily, a pointed signal meaning he is not going to answer you.

✧ so, Xiao stops avoiding you… mostly. he will still appear when you visit the inn, sometimes even offer to join you on an expedition in the more dangerous terrains, and you have an inkling that even if you can’t see him, he’s with you. and, wow, he’s even begun to bring you offerings- talismans made of leaves, crystalfly cores to decorate your hair, qingxing petals and mint braided together to make a wristband - all to ward off evil and keep you protected, he says.

✧ but his behavior has shifted; now, it seems that he can never look at you directly, gaze always pinned just a bit to the side of your face or toward your lap (he doesn’t mean to imply anything risque, and if you mention it, he will grumble about how you have no respect for the adepti, before immediately walking away from you to hide his burning face, too flustered to remember to keep up his stoic act) and while he’s always kept a respectful amount of distance from you, the space has grown wider and more intentional.

✧ Xiao is forever stuck in a battle with himself, and he never wants you to get caught in the crossfire. he knows he should stop involving himself with you, that you’re distracting him, that you deserve so much more than anything he could ever offer and that he couldn’t possibly be worth your time- but, damn it, he really likes being around you. getting to see the brilliant smile you don whenever the two of you cross paths, listening to the harmonics of your voice as you rant about whatever is on your mind, the way your hands accentuate every tale you tell…

✧ and yet, he wants more, and he despises himself for wanting at all.

✧ so, xiao attempts to be satisfied with what he is given, all while trying to convince himself that he deserves even less; if anything is to progress, it would have to be on your part.

✧ slow and steady, as if handling a particularly skittish cat; he might stiffen at a casual touch, but he will not push you away, eyes trained on your fingers grazing against his arm. if you ask him to help put on an amulet he’d made you, he’ll oblige, tentative and clumsy with such a gentle gesture. and if you were to close the gap he’d wedged between you two, leaning your head on his shoulder as you speak drowsily beneath the stars, you may just hear his breath hitch. Still, he will not leave you.

✧ you are much too kind to someone like him, he thinks. maybe one day, he will allow himself to grow comfortable with it. maybe one day, he will voice this to you. maybe one day, he will reciprocate it. until then, he will learn over and over how to accept your kindness, and try as best as he can to return it to you. »»————-　 ✦ 　————-««

Zhongli -

✧ at last, the most sensible man in the world. (though, in the world of teyvat, “sensibility” may be a… loose term.)

✧ he’s not obvious per se, but he is extremely open about how he feels. he’s definitely not embarrassed about having a crush on you- and damn if he isn’t going to try to court you the way you deserve.

✧ you’ll notice that he starts to talk… ever so slightly less. of course, if you ask him something, he’s going to give you as much information as he possibly can- and he still likes to throw out his random tidbits and fun facts when he sees something interesting. but if you begin to speak, you have his full, undivided attention. he adores getting to hear your perspective on things, and it’s ridiculously noticeable with how he leans in ever so slightly when you talk, eyes full of fondness.

✧ if you question him on this, he’s sure to quell your worries with that stupidly sweet, rich voice of his; “I’m just more interested in you and the things you have to say than my own opinion, y/n. Now, as you were saying?”

✧ also, whenever you’re around, he seems to forget that he has other… responsibilities.

Like the time you decided to visit the Wansheng Funeral Parlor while Zhongli was at work. Regardless of what you originally came for, you’d find yourself caught up in a long conversation with the man, both of you too invested in each other to notice that the director herself had been clearing her throat behind you. A bit miffed, Hu Tao decided to sneak up and jump between the two of you with a shout, causing you to stumble back.

“Hehe, so sorry to interrupt, but, Zhongli, we’ve got some promoting to get to, and you’ve been sitting here talking to y/n for ages!” To emphasize her point, she stretches out her arms and waves them around like a wraith. “And as much as I like you, y/n, if you aren’t here to talk business during business-hours, then…” Archons, had you really been here for this long? You’re about to apologize and excuse yourself, but then Zhongli speaks, “Surely you can spare us a few moments more? Y/N was just relaying the fascinating story of-”

“Zhongli! Don’t even try to haggle with me!” Hu Tao practically yanks the man by his coat sleeve, as if he were an unruly toddler being put in time-out by his mother. Or maybe it’s more like an unbothered parent being dragged around by an excited child? “You can ask them out on your own time, old man, but we’re losing daylight as it stands! Oh, see ya later, Y/N, come again soon!”

And with that, you’re left standing dumbfounded in the funeral parlor as the pair take their leave. Ah, it seems you didn’t get to do what you came for, perhaps you will be visiting again.

✧ as serious as Hu Tao is about her funeral parlor, she does love to tease Zhongli about his crush on you every waking moment of her life; only, he isn’t even bothered by it! he’s like yes, i do really like y/n, you’re right, i should take them out on a date. it would be rather boring if he wasn’t so earnest about it.

✧ and trust me, his openness does not go unnoticed; while he’s been quite convincing in his persona as an every-day person, he's still a bit out of touch with how quickly the society around him has evolved, especially in terms of social propriety. he holds you in such high regard, after all, so he doesn’t want to disrespect you! um, but, if you have friends and a family, he’s going to try and meet them to ask for their permission to pursue you romantically. like, setting up a meeting over tea and everything to cover all his bases. it’s also a good time to get an idea of what you want out of a partnership and what sort of things you like- he’s killing two birds with one stone, it’s a win-win!

✧ there’s honestly no way you don’t have at least a clue of what zhongli is trying to do, whether you found out from your inner circle or from the wildfire rumors spreading amongst liyue civilians (Ying’Er particularly was very invested in the development of your relationship with him, even offering a discount on some “perfume of temptation”...)

✧ yet, when you bring it up to zhongli himself, he finds a way to give you half of a response, seamlessly changing the subject and leading you through a verbal maze for so long that you forget to press him for the other half of his answer.

✧ it’s not so much so that he wishes to deceive you or lead you on, rather, he’s simply treating the subject as if it’s an important business matter; he wants the timing to not only be right, but perfect- you deserve nothing less in his mind.

✧ sigh. But he’s so slow, it’s agonizing. You wonder if he has somehow mapped out a one hundred step plan with the measured leisure he takes in the progression of your relationship (and honestly, you wouldn’t be wrong. Zhongli may have grown too comfortable with the fact that he has all the time in the world to enjoy you, so he sees no need to rush.) so, if you grow impatient, you’ll have to be the one to initiate more and show him exactly what you want him to do.

While you didn’t specify that this was a date, it’s certainly far from just a friendly outing- not that either you or Zhongli could complain. Though, the man must admit, he hadn’t expected nor prepared for how bold you were being today, and it was quite a welcome surprise.

When the two of you had set out for lunch at the pavilion, you immediately offered to pay for both of your meals, “my treat!” you had said with a wink- he did feel a bit sheepish, knowing that you likely only made that offer because you knew that he would have forgotten to bring his wallet once again-and he did but that’s not the point. He made sure to thank you genuinely, promising to pay for the next meal you two share, but you shook your head with a laugh.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s truly my pleasure, Zhongli.”

Ah, he never can decide which he loves more; the sound of your laughter or the way you say his name. He didn’t get to ruminate on it for too long, as your food is served. Before he can make a comment, you’d raised your chopsticks toward him, exclaiming how he absolutely has to try a bite of your dish. Yet, when he reached his hand to take your utensil from you, you had shaken your head again and moved closer toward his mouth.

O-Oh, you want to feed it to him?

Having you treat such an intimate gesture-in public, no less- so casually made his heart pound wildly. However, he would never dare to decline you, no matter how brazen or timid you were. So, he accepted gracefully and hummed in approval. If he were being honest, the dish wasn’t exceptional by any means, but you could have fed him mud and he would still send you the world’s most sterling smile because he was sharing a moment with you.

Then, as the two of you went on a stroll a bit further from town, you had taken the liberty of linking your arm with his, resting your other palm on his bicep as you gazed up at him. Sometimes, you’d stop to point out the scenery, leaning into him as you pointed at a flowing brook or a rather beautiful flower, before returning to your previous position. You’d wait for him to go on his usual lengthy informative rambles, but instead, you got a simple affirmation of agreement or a short remark. Zhongli didn’t even realize how quiet he had become, but in all fairness, he was in something similar to a stunned state.

He surprisingly didn’t mind this sudden change of pace, but he wasn’t ready for how intense it was; he had gotten so used to the steady crawl of time wearing down on him, and now you were surging through barriers he had thought he would cross much, much later… It was nice. Like, really nice. So don’t mistake his silence for discomfort, he’s just trying to find his footing as you chip away the rust a millennia left on him.

After a while, Zhongli would regain his bearings enough to be a bit more vocal and proactive on your outing. His free arm stretches across to catch you when you nearly trip over a small ditch, pointing out a nice spot to sit and rest while the sun sets, sitting closer than he normally would have…

You look ethereal in the golden glow of the setting sun, he thinks. More divine than any angel he’d ever seen, by far. Ever so cautiously, Zhongli reaches out to brush a lock of hair behind your ear, a warm grin donning his face when you lean into his palm.

“Thank you for coming out with me today, Zhongli. I’m having a really nice time.” You say softly, as if this is a secret only the two of you can know.

“I am as well, Y/N…” Ah, there’s so much he wants to say- surely this is an appropriate time, right? Or should he wait a bit longer? But if he waits too long, then…

Before he can make a decision, you lean in and kiss him on the cheek. His amber eyes widen, but you don’t seem to pay any mind to his shock. Instead, you chuckle and drop your head to rest upon his shoulder, lacing your fingers with his.

✧ it seems he doesn’t have to say anything at all. what a relief.

#.sol writes #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin imagines #ganyu x reader #ganyu fluff #ganyu headcanons #shenhe x reader #shenhe fluff #shenhe headcanons #xiao x reader #xiao fluff #xiao headcanons #zhongli x reader #zhongli fluff #zhongli headcanons

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