#oh to sit down with zhongli and listen to his stories over tea and perhaps getting a cuddle..... ahhhh

[enden-k]

Rushed as hell as I have to head out but, I hope you feel better soon. Hopefully this can help even if only a little.

i was about to start crying like how do you know zhongli is my comfort character but then remembered i told when i did the same with u when you had a bad day and doodled him to help bc hes also your cc, i feel so incredibly touched rn thank you so much 💙

[constellarations]

with a s/o that has a short attention span

pairings: albedo, kaeya, zhongli, scaramouche (separate) x gn!reader

warnings: not proofread

notes: hi

ALBEDO ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

when it comes to topics that don't interest him, albedo has a rather short attention span too

though, when it comes to stuff like diplomatic meetings with the knight of favonius... albedo, unfortunately, must lend an ear if he doesn't want to get scolded by jean

so when he notices you dazing off? he doesn't mind, honestly. he'll listen in so you don't have to

albedo isn't one to make a big deal out of things. though, he won't let you get away with dazing off when he had to listen in. don't expect free answers from him!

"[Name]," Albedo repeated for the nth time, yet to you, it was the first.

"Huh, yes?" You blinked, snapping out of your daydream before glancing up and directly at the alchemist, confused once he was the only one sitting at the table.

"Everyone left, the meeting is over," Albedo answered, practically reading your mind.

"Ah..." You gulped, "what happened?"

The blonde's lips curved up in amusement, feigning ignorance to your embarrassed expression.

"Hm, many things did. What do you think about the proposal Lisa brought up?"

"Eh?"

albedo will tease you about things he knows you don't know, only to watch your face become absolutely baffled.

he thinks of it as an equation. in this moment, his reactants are his words and the product is your confused stutters

of course, after all of that is over and you finally fess up that you did not listen at all (which he already knew long before you told him), he'll dutifully inform you of the events that had just transpired in this now-empty meeting room

at least now, you'll listen in right?

nope!

KAEYA ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

like albedo, kaeya also listens in on your behalf

—but unlike albedo, kaeya won't tell you about what happened. only because he likes to tease you

Tapping the wooden table with his index and middle finger, Kaeya's signature smirk was plastered onto his face once you blinked up at him in confusion.

"Oh? Back on Teyvat now, are you?" He spoke with mirth, his visible eye twinkling under the lights of the tavern.

"What?" You echoed, confused at his display of behavior as he quickly held a hand over his heart, mocked pain and agony twisting onto his previously-smiling face as he closed his eyes.

"You wound me, darling. I was just telling you about a very important job I must do an—"

Kaeya noticed you zoning out again, observing the mischievous smirk that was donned upon your lips.

now, kaeya's secret weapon: calling you dumb pet names to make you respond to him!

"Sweetie? Pumpkin cakes? Honey boo?" Slurring his words as if he were talking to a baby, it was Kaeya's turn to smirk in amusement, clearly enjoying himself as he toyed with your reluctance.

Watching you finally glare up to meet his eyes, the Cavalry Captain shrugs coolly, voice dipping to a whisper.

"So now you pay attention?"

ZHONGLI ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

zhongli probably doesn't notice you've zoned out until he's done talking

usually, people would be offended when they catch you flickering off. but with the consultant? he finds it endearing, especially once you apologize for something that's out of your control

yes. even zhongli admits that discussing about how mora was made can be boring sometimes, so he isn't very surprised when you drift off to another nation. this makes him feel much better during times when you listen in intently, for he's happy he managed to grab your attention like how you grabbed his.

Pausing his story about bamboo stalks, Zhongli was slow quick to notice your absence in such a conversation; something that he had grown accustomed to ever since the two of you started dating.

"Would you perhaps like to talk about another topic?" The consultant smiled warmly, putting his cup of tea down, the man was quick to reel your eyes onto him.

"Huh? Oh, I'm so sorry!" Cheeks feeling hot, Zhongli merely chuckles, his hands rid of his usual gloves as he reaches out for yours.

"It's okay, love. What story would you like to hear?"

His fingers intertwined with yours, squeezing your palms delicately as a subtle way to ground you back to this reality in Liyue.

This reality that he had fallen head over heels for you.

SCARAMOUCHE ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

unlike the others, scaramouche is not gentle when bringing you back down to earth

well, actually, compared to others, scaramouche is far, far kinder to you.

but. that does not mean he is kind. scaramouche's 'kind' means 'not killing you when you piss him off'

"Hey," The sound of Scaramouche's voice prompted a quick and hard flick to your forehead, eyes flickering back to reality and out of the trainwreck you called 'your mind'.

"What was that for?" You pouted, already used to the Harbinger's cold glare and light scoff.

"Not paying attention."

"Oh," you rubbed your forehead, "oops?"

A tick mark appeared on the indigo-eyed man's forehead. To someone like him, deceit was easy to pick up.

—Yet you didn't even try to hide your half-heartedness in that 'apology', so was that skill really needed?

He sighed, 'fed up' with your antics before resting a hand on his waist.

"I'll say it one more time. You better listen now or else you'll be left to freeze in this next Dragonspine expedition."

You grinned.

Though you may have dazed off for most (if not, all) of what the male was saying, you paid enough attention to realize that Scaramouche had already repeated what he had to say.

He repeated it two times prior, to be exact.

[heraldofcomingdawn]

Leaving Immortality Behind

It turns out, Rex Lapis wasn’t really dead.

Xiao wants answers.

(A missing scene of sorts, for that first confrontation.)

WC: 4,006

General Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Father-Son Relationship, Xiao Centric, Xiao Needs A Hug, Adepti Found Family, Xiao's Karmic Debt Causes Him Pain, Minor Childe/Zhongli,

happy birthday, to my baby yaskha! i almost didn’t finish this in time, but i did it for him!

It took three days to find him.

It wasn’t that the man in question was difficult to find. How could it be, when the Conqueror of Demons had spent millennia by the man’s side, had witnessed his many human forms over the years and could spot the minute differences between him and the other mortals? When he could feel the charge in the air whenever the Geo Archon was near?

No, it was more like a small - yet still significant - part of the younger Adeptus had been purposely avoiding looking too hard. 

Well, he found him.

Part of him wanted to pretend he hadn’t seen him, wanted to turn the other way just long enough for the ex-Archon (and wasn’t that a punch to the gut Xiao hadn’t fully processed yet) to make his leave, so he could spend yet another night pretending his emotions weren’t currently battling inside of him, conflicting and confusing. 

He’d thought he’d be relieved.

He was relieved.

But Xiao was also angry and betrayed and confused and upset, and it was such a whirlwind of unexpected emotion that he wanted nothing more than to manifest his jade spear and tear it all to shreds. He scoffed at himself; emotions were so insignificant to someone who had lived as long - and through as much - as someone like him. They were trivial matters he thought himself to be above, yet here he was, feeling like he was drowning. 

“Eager to leave, Conqueror of Demons?” Moon Carver’s words still echoed in his head, as he settled into a sitting position amongst the green tiles that made up his current perch. 

Very much so. 

Perhaps it had been the wrong thing to do, to leave without ensuring Liyue Harbor was truly safe, but how was he supposed to face the other adepti and pretend like something sharp wasn’t sitting in his throat after the Tianquan regaled them all with the details of her dream with Rex Lapis? 

Rex Lapis, who until that very moment, they all believed to be dead. 

The very same Rex Lapis who was currently enjoying dinner at the table below him -  very much alive - and sitting across from a red-haired man that set his nerve endings on fire with the strange energy that radiated off of him. Energy that wasn’t so unlike the miasma that dripped off monsters and demons sent from the Abyss. 

His eyes narrowed as he took in the details of his Archon’s companion and tried to ascertain whether he was a threat to his Lord or not. The red-haired man laughed loudly, blue eyes crinkling in delight at something Xiao hadn’t heard. He waved a hand towards a young, blue-haired allogene and requested something in Liyuen that would have confused Xiao even if the other man’s accent hadn’t been so atrocious. 

Come and get what?

His train of thought went no further as he heard Morax gently correcting the other man’s pronunciation, and oh Celestia above, his heart clenched. 

He was alive.

Xiao had spent several days believing that the man who saved him, who was the closest thing he had to family in this strange new world, was dead. He had also blamed himself for a brief moment - and anger had coursed through him when it was the traveler who came and delivered the news, rather than his own keen senses realizing something was amiss - because what good was a Vigilant Yaksha, a sworn protector of Liyue, if he couldn’t even protect the very Archon he owed his life to. If he hadn’t even known until it was too late. 

Tendrils of pain snaked around his wrists and brushed at his temples. 

He clenched his hands into fists, willing the burden of his karmic debt to stay away for just a moment longer, but it persisted. Perhaps this was a manifestation of his guilt, an all-consuming wave of bitterness and regret at not being there when the Exuvia fell. Perhaps it was his senses warning him that the man sitting across from Rex Lapis - Childe, his Lord had called him - wasn’t as innocent as his pink-dusted cheeks portrayed him to be. His fingers wrapped around the phurba dagger he wore around his neck as he watched them interact.

Whatever apprehensions he held toward Childe were slowly abated as they both listened to Rex Lapis regale them with the story behind the name of their meal (and oh! Come and Get It was the rice bowl they were consuming. 

How absurd - why can’t mortals just call it what it is?)

It was familiar territory, however, to listen to the man’s long-winded stories of his nation’s history and its people that he clearly loved, and it soothed the sharp edges of Xiao’s grief as leaned back and let the former Geo Archon’s soft lilt and smokey timbre wash over him.

Rex Lapis was alive.

Despite his warring emotions over it - and the betrayal he could taste like iron on his tongue - it would have to be enough. He could find a measure of comfort in the scene before him. 

The sun was nearly set now, the sky a rich twilight blue. 

There were a few stars out, pale white and barely visible, but still present enough to make out the constellations he had long ago memorized. The bustle of Chihu Rock was beginning to die down as merchants packed up their wares and bid each other goodnight. Soft laughter to the right of him crescendoed as the doors to the Third Round Knockout were pushed open and people filtered out, their faces warm and bellies full of whatever food and spirit they had indulged in. 

Lanterns were being lit now, their warm yellow light casting away the shadows that threatened the corners of Liyue’s streets. The smoke that had been gently billowing from an opening on the blue-shingled restaurant across from him had died down, as the owners - the blue-haired allogene and an older man - began to close up for the night. 

“Xiangling, take this to Granny Shan before she goes home for the night, will you?” the older man asked his daughter, handing over a takeout container. 

“You got it!” the blue-haired allogene returned, her voice young and full of life. She hurried out the door and paused at the only occupied table left, smiling down at the seated patrons who were finishing their meal. “No rush, you guys! I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Rex Lapis poured himself another cup of tea in response.

“What’s in the bag?” Childe asked, as he tried to fish out the last piece of meat in his bowl with the chopsticks he was gripping entirely wrong. Xiao’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

“Leftover pork and spring onion dumplings!” Xiangling replied, already walking away. “Dad doesn’t like food to go to waste and Granny Shan is such a sweet lady,  don’t you think? Who else better to give them to?”

“I couldn’t agree more.” 

This was Liyue at it’s finest, safe and full of warmth. 

For a second he can almost pretend he doesn’t hear the harrowing voices screaming for death or feel the pain that’s thrumming up to his forearms now. He can almost ignore the memories that threaten to overtake him every time he allows himself a moment of peace. 

The few days he thought Rex Lapis to be dead had blurred together. There had only been the steady weight of his spear in his hands and the familiar darkness that surrounded him whenever he donned his yaksha mask, as he lunged tirelessly and with a fervor that had worried the other adepti, as he seeked out every last demon and monster that dared to cross Dihua Marsh. 

If any of them had been responsible for his Lord’s death. . .

He should have been better.

Eventually, Cloud Retainer had caught up with him and all but pecked the jade spear out of his hand. He had scowled at her, hands shaking with exhaustion as he held the tip to her long neck and dared her to come closer. 

“One has been searching for you, Vigilant Yaksha.”

“One has found me.” Xiao returned, his voice sharp and mocking. 

“Put down your spear.” she commanded, looking down at him. “Rex Lapis’ death weighs heavily on us all, but one does not leave behind a trail of bodies like you have been doing.”

They stared at each other for a moment longer before he allowed the weapon to disappear in a flicker of light that reminded him of tiny crystalflies dispersing into the sky, but otherwise remained silent. 

“We must head to Liyue Harbor and seek council with the Qixing.” Cloud Retainer informed him, eyes narrowed as she studied him intensely. “It would be wise of you to come with. Their disrespect for Rex Lapis has gone too far - one should quash them for allowing such a thing to befall our Archon, but for them to sit idly by and do nothing while the Exuvia is stowed away. . .” 

Xiao hadn’t been able to withhold a wince at the words. 

Cloud Retainer’s voice softened at that. “If Rex Lapis has indeed been assassinated, then Liyue is in great peril, Baby Yaksha.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“We must not allow further disaster to bestow itself upon the land Morax loved - one promised to keep it safe, did we not? Rest for now, tomorrow we shall leave for the harbor.”

She hadn’t left him, but instead guided him to the top of Mt. Aozang where she dwelled, and left him to his own devices after gently pecking the top of his head. He had sat in a stone chair for the rest of the night, staring at Rex Lapis’ name carved into the table, and mourned the end of an era. 

His grief - his pain - had been for naught, hadn’t it?

“I have to get going now, xiansheng.” Childe’s voice cut through his thoughts. He straightened up a little and watched as the red-haired man stood up and smoothed out his grey jacket. 

“I understand.” Rex Lapis replied, his voice solemn. 

Childe grinned down at the man and reached into his pocket, pulling out a pouch Xiao could only assume was filled with mora. “Oh, don’t look so grim! I’d love to stay and chat a little longer, but there’s some business I need to take care of, before I leave.”

“Business that requires the stars to keep watch?” his Lord returned, and Xiao could detect a hint of knowing bemusement. “Very well.”

“Oh, sneaky! You know I can’t disclose Fatui business to you, Zhongli. The walls have ears, after all.” Childe laughed and Xiao’s annoyance at this man’s audacity for speaking to his Lord in such a way was derailed when he spoke Rex Lapis’ other name.

Zhongli.

So this was the name he’d chosen to introduce himself as, this time around. It wasn’t a new name, by any means, but it had also been a very long time since Xiao had heard Rex Lapis - Zhongli - refer to himself as such. Not since Guizhong was still alive. 

He watched as Childe paid for the meal and bid Zhongli goodnight, before making his leave towards Feiyun Slope. His crimson scarf flared out behind him and the metal grommets that decorated the fabric glinted in the lantern light. He thought he could make out the faint trails of wispy black smoke that followed him, almost caressing him like a soft breeze. 

There was something dangerous about that man and he thought to follow him, if only because Xiao had vowed to never allow demons to walk amongst the people of Liyue. Childe was most certainly mortal, but Xiao would never again allow his failure to dictate the future of the harbor.

Except he hadn’t failed, had he?

Because Rex Lapis was very much alive, with his chin resting on his hands as he watched the retreating form of Childe with a solemn look on his face, his abandoned cup of tea no longer producing steam. 

His grief had been for naught indeed. 

And the relief that had followed had been short-lived, almost immediately giving way to his anger. The same anger that curled in his stomach now as he thought of how Zhongli had been silent ever since the big reveal. There was a part of him that had hoped the Archon would seek him out first, to explain just why he had faked his death without letting the yaksha - or any of the adepti, for that matter - know beforehand. 

Yet three days had already passed and still nothing. 

“You might as well come down now.” Zhongli’s voice cut through the silence, his back still to him, and Xiao startled. “I think we’ve both put off this conversation long enough.”

Xiao stood up slowly and stared down at the other man. Zhongli had yet to turn around and truly acknowledge him, still staring in the direction of Feiyun Slope and his departed friend. He jumped down from the rooftop, landing on his feet with the lightest thud, and approached the table.

Zhongli looked up at him once he had taken Childe's place. 

This was a new mortal form Xiao had yet to see, but the locks of amber-tipped hair that framed his face and the eyes that shone like Cor Lapis that were present in every form Rex Lapis had taken, were the same. He eyed him warily, debating with himself whether he should speak first or not - whether he would even be able to produce the right words. 

“Hello, Xiao.”

“My Lord.” he whispered back, bowing his head.

“There’s no need for any of that anymore.” Rex Lapis smiled gently. “I am simply Zhongli now.”

Something inside of Xiao crumbled. “Zhongli.”

“It is nice to see you well.” 

The sharp feeling in his throat was back and he forced himself to swallow it down. He tried to take a breath, but it came out broken and staggered. Shame burned on his face at his unintentional show of weakness and he bowed his head lower. 

“Oh, Xiao.” Zhongli breathed out and his eyes were sad. “Let us take a walk, it has been a while since I’ve traversed the streets of Liyue with you by my side.” 

Their walk was directionless as far as Xiao was concerned. He trailed half a step behind Zhongli, eyes downcast, as he tried to compose himself. Anger was an easy enough emotion to grab onto, justified enough for the situation, and didn’t leave him floundering and vulnerable the way addressing his hurt did. 

He stopped suddenly and clenched his hands into fists again. The tendrils of pain were growing in intensity and he used them as a way to ground himself. Despite his anger, despite Zhongli’s desire to give up his throne, he was still the Prime Adepti, still his Lord, and still deserving of respect. Yelling at him, as cathartic as it would be, was pointless. “Why,” he began, then stopped to clear his throat, “why didn’t you tell me. Tell us.”

“I couldn’t.” 

Xiao raised an eyebrow and stared him down, refusing to accept that as an answer. 

Zhongli sighed. “I fear my answer won't satisfy you." 

"All I ask for is the truth." 

"I suppose I can give you that." Zhongli mused, but his expression was pained. He looked towards Mt. Tianheng and gestured to the other side of the bridge they were on. "Indulge me, first? I would like to finish our walk."

Xiao nodded.

They reached the peak soon enough. Zhongli stood at the edge of the mountain and took in the sight of Liyue Harbor. The outline of the wharf stood proud against the backdrop of the black sea, bathed in silver moonlight that reflected shapeless patterns on the rolling waves. The wharf was the pride of Liyue, the reason the land prospered as it had. 

It was a beautiful sight, even dark as it was with all the workers and merchants gone for the night, the last of the lanterns burned out. The Golden House glimmered to the right, that same silver light glinting off the metal finials that adorned its roof. In the far distance, the rock formations of Guyun Stone Forest loomed over the water. 

He shivered at the sight. 

The horizon was a beautiful one, carefully cultivated over millennia of hard work and bloodshed. The tendrils of pain wrapped themselves around him now and he held back a wince by sheer will alone, as he took in the stone spears placed by Rex Lapis himself. They kept the fallen gods pinned in place but the cost of their defeat still raged on as demons spawned. 

It was his duty to take care of them, one he did with honor, for he would give all he had in service of the man who’d freed him. Even if the Archon had passed before him, for this was the land Zhongli loved - fought for and created - and Xiao refused to let harm come to the only home he had ever known.

Behind them and to the left, the mountain peaks and ruins stretched on, crumbling rock structures that had been formed by hand long ago, now weathered and eroded into an open book that spoke of the nation’s history. 

Eventually the silence was broken when Zhongli decided to speak. "I think, if given the chance, there are many things I would do over," he began, "but I do not regret any of them, for when you've lived a life as long as I have, regret is something that can consume you.” He looked over to the ruins. “Even stone will eventually erode away."

Xiao stayed silent. 

"Saving you, however, is something I would do again and again."

"My Lord -" Xiao cut himself off. "Zhongli." he tried again, but it felt wrong to address him as such. Either way, he didn’t have words. 

Zhongli turned to look at him and gestured for him to step closer. He obliged and stiffened when the Archon placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently. "I am sorry for the grief I put you through. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it's also something I would do again."

Xiao winced. 

"The truth is, Xiao, I'm tired."

"I don't understand."

"I have watched over Liyue for nearly four thousand years. I've been alive for much longer than that. Eventually, you start to wonder when it's going to end. I have seen Liyue grow and prosper in ways I hadn't thought possible. I have watched Guili Plains crumble into the ruins they are today when once. . .once, they were home. Now it is a place no one else remembers." Zhongli's grip slackened. "Liyue doesn't need me anymore."

"Zhongli-" Xiao began, alarmed. 

"Breathe, my baby yaksha, breathe." Zhongli chuckled lightly. "It is not as you think - Liyue has simply grown past the need for Archons. It is ready to stand on its own two feet."

“I’m not -” he began, but gave up. “So you faked your death.”

“I believe that if I had simply stepped down, the Qixing would never truly step up. No, I needed to kill off the idea of Rex Lapis for good. The people of Liyue needed to understand that this was truly the end of an era.”

Xiao couldn’t stop the anger that laced his tone. “You felt this wasn’t something I - we - deserved to know?”

Zhongli’s smile turned bitter at the edges. “Before I could truly step down, I decided a test was in order, to see if Liyue was truly ready. I must admit, I did it simply to quell my own anxieties.”

“A test?”

“I wanted to see if the Adepti of Jueyun Karst and the Qixing could work together to protect the land, if the time ever called for it, or if the adepti would simply decide their contract with Liyue - their promise to protect it - would end with my death.”

“Osial?”

“Unexpected.” Zhongli admitted, and he looked towards Guyun with amusement. “Still, I had forced Childe’s hand and I expected something grandiose from him - that he was able to lift the seals that kept Osial imprisoned is impressive.”

“Your dinner companion did all of this?” Xiao asked, warily. “And you asked him too?”

“A bit more nuanced than that, but yes.”

“I see.”

Silence fell over them again as Xiao mulled over everything. “Speaking of your dinner companion. . .” he began, remembering the traces of miasma that had clung to the man like wisps of smoke. Zhongli’s expression turned downcast at the mention of his friend and Xiao faltered. 

“He will be gone tomorrow.”

“Pardon?”

“I am pleased he indulged me in one last meal.” Zhongli smiled grimly. “Even after I used him as a pawn, he still dined with me. I have no doubt the betrayal stings him, but tomorrow he’ll leave for Snezhnaya and I do not know if he’ll return.”

Xiao let the conversation drop. There was no point if the threat would be gone tomorrow. He would simply keep an eye on his potential return and wait till then. He wondered if Zhongli could not sense the darkness that surrounded the man, or if he simply chose to ignore it. Neither would surprise him. He was cursed - blessed, some would say - with the ability to sense demonic energy and the stench of the Abyss. 

It was the same for the other Yakshas, was the reason Rex Lapis had tasked them with fighting the demons that formed from the anger and hatred of the fallen gods, but now only he remained. If Rex Lapis - Zhongli, now - could not sense the darkness, Xiao would watch it for him.

The pain heightened and this time, he couldn’t keep silent. 

“You are in pain.” Zhongli said matter-of-factly, for this was nothing new to them. Eventually the pain would overtake him to the point where he could no longer see and all he could do was persevere and wait for it to end.

“It is manageable.”

“Do you still have pain medicine?”

“No.”

“Do you wish for me to get you more?”

“Yes.” Xiao lied, because even after all these years, he still couldn’t find it in him to tell Rex Lapis the truth: that the pain medication he so laboriously made for him never seemed to work. The pain in the Archon’s eyes, as he watched the younger Adeptus suffer as a result of his own victories, hurt worse than the karmic debt that burrowed itself into his flesh and demanded retribution. “I would like that.”

Zhongli hummed. “I will prepare it in the morning. For now, when was the last time you slept?”

I don’t need to sleep.”

“Perhaps not as much as a mortal does.” the ex-Archon mused. “But it is still something one can indulge in.”

“It can wait another night.” Xiao deflected. “I still have questions.”

Zhongli shook his head and exhaled lightly. He sat down on the grass and adjusted his coat, so he wouldn’t sit on the embroidered fabric and patted the spot beside him. “If it’s any consolation, I won’t go anywhere.” He locked eyes with Xiao and smiled when the yaksha laid down with an annoyed huff. “You can ask me in the morning.”

“I’m still angry at you.”

“I know.” Zhongli murmured, shifting a little so he could place his hand on Xiao’s head. Gloved fingers carded through strands of teal hair gently; rhythmically. “I know we still have much to talk about, but we have all the time in the world. Sleep, my baby yaksha, and know I’ll be here for as long as I am able.”

Sleep would not cause the pain to abate - if only it was that easy - but for the moment, it became manageable. For the moment, his anger dwindled and took a backseat to the contentment that bloomed in his chest. For the moment, the world was safe. 

If only because Rex Lapis was still here with him.

Tomorrow could wait. 

--

a/n: maybe one day ill write the full length chili fic i set up in here.

[meabd]

Tricks of the Trade

Chapter 1: Just a Little Murder

You vaulted over the high rail of the pavilion, feeling the jerk of wind catching your glider. There was a commotion behind you as the guards yelled to each other from their posts. You knew you wouldn’t have long, so you had to make the most of the head start you got. As you neared the closely pack buildings of the harbor you withdrew your wings, catching yourself on the edge of a pagoda roof. You fell the last ten or so feet to the ground, cushioning your drop with a side roll.

Hastily, you stood. With one hand you ripped off your mask, the other loosening the pins that held your hair. It tumbled down your back in soft waves and you fluffed it out. You stripped out of your black jacket, leaving yourself in only a thin silk undershirt and your shorts. You tied the jacket around your waist, hoping that in the darkness it would be mistaken for a skirt. Satisfied with your disguise, you peeked out of the alleyway. The yelling was getting closer. Across the way stood a lone man, about your age, perhaps a bit older, under the old tree near the fountain center. His face was upturned, and the moonlight bathed his form in shades of blue and grey. You sprinted to him.

“I need your help,” you were out of breath. The man startled at your presence, eyes wide.

“Ah, are you okay, miss?” You shushed him, backing further into the shadow of the great tree, your hand gripping his wrist tightly. He frowned, but did not fight as you pulled him along. Over his shoulder you spied the first of the guards entering the open area near the fountain. Without a moment's hesitation you yanked the young man forward by the collar of his jacket, slamming him against you in a bruising kiss. He reached out with both hands, bracing himself against the tree so he didn’t over balance.

He made a startled sound in the back of his throat, and you felt your heart skip a beat as he lowered one hand— this was it… he’s going to push you away and the jig is up . When you felt the slight pressure on your waist as he leaned into the kiss you whimpered in your relief, melting into him.

“Hey, you there!” One of the Millelith guards barked, and the young man pulled away just enough to glance over his shoulder. “You see a man in a black mask come through here?” The young man snorted.

“No, we haven’t. Now if you excuse us,” he let the hand at your waist wrap around your back as he walked you both back in the direction of the financial district; he was careful to keep his body between you and the guards. You held your breath as you walked together, leaning into this odd young man and trying your best to modulate your breathing. When the two of you reached the stairs to Northland Bank he tugged you into an alcove just under them.

“So, wanna tell me what that was about, girlie?” He did not let go of you and you began to worry. Had you just traded one danger for another? You gulped, eyes wide as you stared up at him. The silence was deafening.

“I…” you began, an idea coalescing in your mind. “I’m so sorry,” you let your voice hitch as tears welled in your eyes. “My husband, he—I had to run, he—”  sob escaped you as you buried your face in your hands. For a very long moment the young man said nothing. Just as you were beginning to think your plan had worked he started laughing !

“Okay, okay, I don’t need to know just stop with the crocodile tears, alright?” Your hands fell away from your face and you frowned up at him. You found yourself in a position rarely occupied by your sort; you had no idea what to do.

“Listen,” you began, but stopped when he held a hand up.

“Nope. No. No thank you, I’ll mind my own business and be on my way,” he put a bit of distance between the two of you then paused mid-turn. “One for the road?” You frowned, but before you could vocalize a protest you found his lips on yours again, one hand on your neck to gently tilt your head up, the other sliding down your bare arm in a caress that was entirely too sensual for how chaste it was.

As suddenly as the kiss began it was over, and he tossed a cheeky wink your way before disappearing into the frigid Liyue night.

______________________________________________________________

It was a beautiful day in Liyue Harbor, and you had the great pleasure of spending it with the peerless consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. The sun was high and hot as the two of you sat, side by side, sipping tea and observing the goings-on of the people below.

“There was a lot of commotion at the Parlor today, thank you for making time to come out with me,” you smiled at him.

“Not at all [y/n]. The best time for tea with a friend is when the mundane threatens to overcome you,” he nodded sagely.

“What is going on, Master Zhongli?” You asked, the very portrait of innocence.

“Terrible business my dear. That young upstart merchant from Inazuma passed in his sleep. Horrible tragedy, that, for someone with so much life left to live,” Zhongli’s smile was restrained, his obvious sympathy for the man evident. You restrained your own smile, forcing a look of compassion over your features.

“That’s awful! What happened to him, if you don’t mind my asking?” The consultant looked pensive for a moment before answering.

“I haven’t the faintest idea, truth be told. I’ve been quite busy with sourcing the Inazuman Incense for the rite tomorrow,” you breathed deeply through your nose as you sipped your tea, trying very hard not to look put out. Zhongli was a very valuable asset… most of the time. His single-mindedness unfortunately came with the territory; for every sliver of useful information you eked out of him a torrent of miscellaneous and unrelated business came with it.

“Of course, I understand. When is the rite?” He opened his mouth to speak, but a flash of recognition came to his eyes. Curious, you followed his gaze over to where a tall, slim man dressed in grey and red was waving. Your heart skipped a beat as you recognized the young man from the night before. You felt an uncharacteristic surge of panic as his eyes landed on you and his smile widened.

As he got closer you noticed the vision on his hip and the mask askew on his head. Tartaglia; the eleventh Harbinger , your mind helpfully supplied, immediately turning your thoughts to the dossier you’d received on the Tsaritza’s highest agents. He was… much younger than you’d expected. And you’d kissed him. You kissed an enemy agent. And what’s worse you’d done it as a distraction, and he knew there was something fishy about it. You wanted to groan. You wanted to bury your face in your hands and disappear under the table.

“Childe, good afternoon. Why don’t you join us?” Zhongli’s expression was fond.

“I’d be happy to!” He laughed, a clear, sincere chuckle. He slid easily into the seat in front of you. “And who might you be?” He leaned forward on the table, elbows propped on the fine silk of the tablecloth. You raised a brow at his behavior. He wouldn’t out you now (most likely) since that would cause trouble for him too… but that didn’t mean that you were safe.

“I am [y/n],” you nodded your head demurely in acknowledgement.

“[Y/n]? How interesting, you’re not from Liyue then are you?” His grin was at once flirtatious and predatory and you wondered how Zhongli did not notice. When you did not respond to his dig he turned to the older man, “It’s good to see you out with someone other than me—or a corpse! I didn’t know you had friends,” he slapped Zhongli’s shoulder, a friendly gesture.

“You wound me, Childe. I am sitting here with two of my closest friends, now aren’t I?” He did not rise to the bait (or didn’t realize that it was bait—you could never tell with him). “I will go and order, your usual?”

“Yes please!”

“Yes, thank you.” Both you and Childe answered in unison. You turned to look at each other, him with an expression of interest, you with one of surprise. Zhongli grinned ( grinned! He never does that! ) and made his way over to the door.

“And how long have you known our esteemed Master Zhongli?” Childe asked you as he leaned back in his seat. His lazy posture and relaxed expression did nothing to hide the glint of suspicion in his blue eyes.

“A number of years now,” you answered vaguely. “How did the two of you meet?” You counter his question with one of your own.

“Funny story actually, he’d forgotten his wallet and I offered to pay for him—the rest is history!” That was Zhongli through and through , you mused.

“How very kind of you,” you smiled at him, showing a little too much teeth.

“It will be ready shortly,” Zhongli thankfully interrupted the tense conversation. He deposited the extra teacup beside your pot as he sat back down next to you (which, perhaps immaturely, you counted as a victory.)

“Good, I’m starving,” the Harbinger grinned as he helped himself to the tea.

Faster than you’ve ever seen service, dish after dish was brought out to your shared table, enough that you were concerned for the structural stability of the poor thing. The Harbinger stifled a laugh at the look on your face.

“I tip really well,” he winked at you, that same Archon’s damned cheeky wink he’d tossed you the night before.

There, in the quiet of the evening and with adrenaline pulsing through your veins you’d somewhat enjoyed it, thought him charming ! You couldn’t believe you hadn’t put two and two together then, how you hadn’t recognized him… especially when a gaff such as this could mean death in your line of work.

“You mustn't let Childe’s… quirks bother you,” Zhongli leaned over to nab a piece of Childe’s sweet and salty pork, misreading your expression as one of insult.

“Oh come on Zhongli, she’s fine. Just having a bit of fun, aren't we [y/n]?” He shook a lock of reddish brown hair out of his eyes and grinned in a roguish manner. If he weren’t one of the highest ranked agents for a government actively seeking out the extermination of your head of state you might have thought him handsome. As it was, you only saw the threat in his actions.

“Of course, sir.” Your overly formal language gave him pause, though it didn’t seem to phase Zhongli at all.

“That is good to hear; I had been wanting to introduce the two of you for a while now,” the older man smiled at you both. “[Y/n], Childe here has developed a great appreciation for Liyue cuisine and culture, and I know you are the preeminent expert on many classical arts,” you grit your teeth behind the tight smile you gave. Childe looked at you with one brow raised in askance.

“Master Zhongli is too kind; I am merely a cultural consultant,” you bowed your head in false modesty at the mention of your Cover.

“She is too humble,” Zhongli presses on, “she works closely with both the Feiyun Commerce Guilde as well as the Qixing, not to mention her involvement in the rites and performances of all Liyue’s festivals.” He beamed at you, the expression one of familial fondness, as if he were a proud father listing off his daughter's achievements. The smile you returned this time was far more genuine.

“Such an accomplished woman, and so young too!” Childe took a sip from his tea, slurping it in a horribly uncouth manner. “It makes me wonder, what would someone like you be doing—”

“Goodness gracious , Master Zhongli look at the time! You were needed back at the Funeral Parlor thirty minutes ago!” Your exclamation cut the Harbinger off, and you hoped he’d leave it alone until the two of you could speak more privately. Zhongli was the ideal Floater, and you could not afford to lose him at this crucial moment in your mission.

“You are right as always, [y/n]. I don’t know what I would do without you,” he stood gracefully, flicking his coattails out as he did. “I will see you tomorrow then—if you are still assisting Master Shizhuong, that is,” you nodded your assent and the consultant left without another word.

You stared awkwardly across the heavily laden table at the Fatui agent, whose smile had turned a shade too sharp for comfort.

“You’re much prettier in the light of day, you know,” he remarked, leaning back in his seat.

“And you’re a Harbinger,” you ignored his compliment.

“Yes, and?” He stared hard at you, and you forced yourself to maintain eye contact.

“Just an observation,” your back was ramrod straight, the antithesis to his lazy posture.

“So we’re just… not gonna talk about it, huh?” You shrugged. It felt as if your heart was thudding out of your chest and you were sure he could see the pulse of it from across the table.

“I don’t see why we would. I’m grateful for your help, of course, but—”

“Well if you’re so grateful where’s my payback, hmm?” You gaped at him. Payback? What could he possibly want, state secrets? Your codebook? This was bad, so so bad.

“I… am sure that we can come to an equitable agreement,” you stammered as he held one hand up for the check. You’d give him some chicken feed and be done with it. Your handler wouldn’t be happy, but with your cover blown they’d need to extract you anyway.

“I’m happy to find you so agreeable,” he laid down a sum of mora so obscene you nearly gagged. “How about Heyu Teahouse, five o’clock tomorrow? Ought to give us plenty of time to get to Master Shizhuong’s banquet.”

“...Excuse me?”

“Wear something slinky. As much as I enjoyed your jacket skirt thing from last night we wouldn’t want anyone recognizing it, now would we?” You’d been rendered speechless. The Harbinger stood with the innate grace of a man hardened by battle. He made to brush past you, but was stopped by the iron grip of your fingers on his wrist.

“ What is this? ” You hissed under your breath. You didn’t know what he was playing at but you didn’t like it.

“It’s a date , [y/n],” you dropped his wrist in shock. As you watched him walk away you began to formulate your debrief in your head. How on Teyvat would you explain this to your handler?