#anyways the zl x dynamic is unstoppable force vs immovable object. and then they both become better for it <3

[welcometoteyvat]

xiao gives zhongli his loyalty, his soul; zhongli has stopped needing it long ago (and even then he requested it firmly, but without harsh demand) but takes it anyways, because xiao needs him to (he doesn’t have anything else to give). “what is freedom if demanded of you by a god?” maybe zhongli has taken a page out of venti’s book and simply decides to treat xiao with kindness, as an equal. if he had mora to spare and if xiao didn’t only prefer almond tofu, he’d take xiao out to dinner every week—liyue harbor has changed so much, and perhaps there are some changes that even the last yaksha would like to experience (silently, in xiao’s quiet way)— except zhongli has no mora and xiao would scowl at a dinner anyways, which would defeat the purpose of enjoying it— so quiet fondness and stopping by wangshu inn will do for now. after all, zhongli has enough time. they have enough time.

xiao has made peace with his karma, and his duty; he was saved by yanwang dijun, and this is his debt to shoulder—liyue needs a protector, and he never shrinks from his responsibilities even when they have been too much to bear. this is the way things are. (but perhaps things are changing. he asks what zhongli is doing; viewing flowers, raising birds—perhaps... but he is a weapon and no matter what his lord has said, there are things that must be done, and he will be the person to do them. there are things that must be done, and his sacrifice would be a better price to pay compared to the sacrifices of the mortals and the not-quite-mortals; and when he is falling, falling, falling—— perhaps this is what bosacius chose and sacrificed, five hundred years ago.

except this time there is no sacrifice, and only warm, golden light, and the gentleness of a hand reaching out to him (saving him, saving him).

the first time, rex lapis saved him.

the second time, zhongli saves him.

perhaps there will be a time when he too can hear “you've finished your duties, go ahead and call it a day.”

I take absolutely no credit for the idea of morax -> zhongli saving xiao. that idea is completely credited to this galaxy brain tweet.

ending has no motivation lmao. this was meant to be a zhongli and xiao love letter but now it’s almost a drabble 🧍‍♀️