#rex lapis x y/n | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

4izawas · 2 years

Text

𝐢𝐟 𝐢’𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 ( 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐦 𝐢 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭? ) // 𝐳𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢.

𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬— zhongli abandons the person who loves him most of all without a word her way telling her why.

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠— zhongli/f!reader.

𝐰𝐜— 5.21k.

𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠— nsfw ; minors dni.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬— spoilers for the liyue arc of genshin impact, reader is beyond devoted to zhongli, zhongli doesn’t know how feelings work, he even tries to fuck a baby into the reader so she isn’t lonely when he leaves, the traveller ( male ) makes a couple appearances, angst, quiet abandonment, doggy style, missionary, cock warming, slight blood play, slight god kink, creampie, licking, scratching, biting, kissing, possessiveness, breeding kink, cum play, master kink, nicknames ( pet, treasure, lover ), betrayal.

𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 | 𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐩 𝐣𝐚𝐫.

She’s roused from her deep sleep by the feeling of rough fingertips flitting over the length of the large scar that she’d earned however many years ago ( a number she knew was no doubt in the thousands by now ); she knows who’s touching it so gently and carefully, and because of that she just lays there and relaxes into the comfort of the messy nest of pillows, blankets, and furs that had once been pretty and put together thanks to her own handiwork. As the ever-so-familiar fingers dance across the span of it, she muses over its existence and how it came to be.

It was a large, ugly thing that encompassed the majority of her back and ran from one of her shoulders across her back all the way down to the opposite hip, a mark showing the place she’d been struck by another god defending the blind spot of one she’d sworn to serve for the rest of her life, no matter how short that may be. Receiving it had been the most painful thing she’d ever experienced in her long, long life, but regardless of that she’d take the pain all over again if it meant saving the same deity she’d saved back then. None of the other servants dared step out onto the battlefield, but once she ( a servant herself, and nothing more than a maid! ) had seen the god creeping up behind the one she served she’d started running before she even knew it, her kind and body ignoring the cries of the other servants for her to stay out of the battle and come back.

She chuckles quietly to herself, remembering how her master had been so very upset when he’d turned around in the heat of battle and had locked eyes on her bloody, mangled form and the other god standing over it that had intended to ambush him, not hit her. He’d been enraged, clearly beyond furious, and not even at the god for planning to ambush him but for striking something that he considered his. Servants had come forward and tried to pick her up and rush her away from the danger that came with being in the heat of battle, but he’d roared, “NO! NO ONE TOUCHES HER!” and they’d scattered like muddy beetles under a lifted rock after it rained. Only able to let blood dribble from her lips rather than move on her own, she’d looked up at him where he stood over her crumpled-up form through eyelashes that were sticky with blood and saw him, a fire raging in his eyes, advance on the god that had struck her. As he lifted his weapon and shouted something lost in the vicious wind, she promptly fell unconscious and was so for the rest of the fight between them.

She’d ( shockingly! ) come to in his arms, the god she’d served all her life stronger than anything she’d ever known, but just as strong as she knew him to be. She’d never expected to be carried to safety by the god she’d served for so long, but she’d not complained ( nor did she try to get down, considering she was barely breathing on her own as it was ), and he’d swiftly taken her somewhere he deemed safe, ordering servants she’d grown up and had served with for years to take care of her and not let her die. Once he’d received word from everyone in the room that they’d ensure she lived, he turned to go and walked quickly to the entrance to return to the fight.

“Don’t die, Your Grace,” she’d whispered his way weakly, blood even still tricking from the corners of her mouth, and he’d frozen in the doorway in a way that made her worry that no one had ever asked him specifically to stay safe before rather than keep his power safe. It made her heart ache for him. Then he’d turned his head to the side, never looking at her, and had given a single quick nod before leaving. The next she heard of him she learned that the war was over and that the Master had taken one of the seven divine seats of Celestia for his own and was now known as Morax, the Archon of Geo, and she couldn’t have been prouder.

Once she was able to walk again, she was summoned before her god, which shocked her considering she knew for a fact that he didn’t even know she’d existed before she’d thrown herself between him and that god, and when she’d gotten to him he’d given her only a single order: “Stay close to me, and never stray from my side.” She’d never broken away from the order, not even once in over two thousand years, and now she was here — in his personal chambers with his naked body pressed against her own, his body heat burning into her ever so pleasantly.

“You’ve woken, Master?” she asks tiredly, and she gets a deep hum in return. A warm nose nudges at her neck and she turns into the pillow she had her head on so she can bear it for him as he wanted.

“Mmm, what a perfect little treasure you are,” he rumbles from behind her, and she smiles into the soft fabric of the pillowcase she had her face buried in before gasping as she feels his teeth against her skin. “Untouched by others, clean of their filthy hands…” he nips at her earlobe and she lets out a small moan, one of her hands daringly going back to bury itself in his dark hair and tightly grip a handful of it, earning herself a growl from him. “Yes, you’re all mine…”

“Yes, Master,” she whimpers, pressing back against him, “I’m all yours…”

Hot, rushed hands rush down the length of her body, skimming over the scar she proudly held from protecting him as well as bruises and bite marks he’d left behind only hours before. He always was one to mark her up while taking her, and he considered their couplings unsuccessful if she wasn’t as shaky on her legs as a newborn fawn and riddled with enough bite marks and bruises that it could potentially seem worrisome to outsiders should they lay eyes on them. Only once had the Archon had asked her if she was actually okay with the marks, and upon receiving her affirmative he’d never bothered asking again. No, he just took what he wanted, and she got to enjoy every minute of it.

Such was the life she led as the lover ( really she was nothing more than a concubine, which is what the last servants that had served the Archon alongside her had called her unaware that their Archon himself was standing behind them; he’d done away with them all after that, and ever since it had just been the two of them and eternity ) of the Archon of Geo: sex, feeding, sex, sleeping, the occasional travel, and more sex. Morax never seemed to run out of the urge to pin her down and make her see stars, to use her until he had his fill of her in that specific moment — and as someone who was an immortal god, his moments were much longer than any mortal’s.

Even now, as he bit and licked his way down her body, he was endlessly hungry for her. She’d not had more than five hours of rest for the last three years, which wasn’t normal regardless of Morax’s usual insatiable libido, and more than once she’d heard him murmuring about her ‘having something to keep’ before he got too far away from her to hear whatever he was musing out loud about.

She shivers in both excitement and oversensitivity as he ruts up into her slowly, the hardened length of his cock making its way between her thighs and spreading her pussylips, his tip dipping into her soaking wet entrance before gliding up to gently slide across her engorged clit. Tiny gasps leave her lips with each soft movement and he bites down gently on her shoulder in between slow thrusts in a way of grounding himself; much like his perfect little pet, his thighs were trembling from the feelings coursing through his veins and heating his blood.

Releasing her shoulder from his mouth for just a moment in favor of licking across the teeth marks he’d left behind, he nuzzles into her neck with the gentle affection he knew he enjoyed giving. Both of his hands reach around to her front, one grasping at her breast and the other sliding down from where he had been tightly gripping her hip to rest between her legs, his thick middle finger gathers some of her juices from between his cock and her pussy before retreating upwards ever so slightly so he could circle her clit with it. Her body jerks suddenly at the feeling of him toying with her delicately sensitive pussy, so when he finally presses his length inside her eyes roll back in her head and she lets out a cry — a cry that transforms into a loud screech when he immediately picks up the pace and begins hammering into her.

“Oh — Oh, Master, please!” Y/N moans, her nails digging into his back as he pounds into her unrelenting. Her head falls back and tears of pleasure fill her eyes from the feeling of his thick cock ramming against her sensitive cervix.

“T-Told you, call me M-Morax,” he growls, pulling out and pushing her onto her back, climbing on top of her and pressing his cock deep inside her again, biting down on her neck to prove his point and drawing a shrill shriek from her lips as her head shoots up again. Her legs lock behind his ass and she holds tight to him, easily feeling the way the muscles beneath his skin rippled with each thrust of his hips and relishing the feeling of his fat, heavy balls slapping against her ass.

“M-M-Master M-Morax!” she sobs, burying her face in his neck and throwing her arms around her shoulder as he sighs then picks up the pace again for both of their benefits.

“Good enough,” he mutters, eyes flashing with lust as he looks down at her, eyeing the way her breasts bounced in time with his thrusts and the way her face twisted into various expressions of pleasure as he filled her with his cock over and over again. His eyes flash with a hunger that only she has ever been able to sate, and, “Gonna do it this time,” he growls, “gonna fuck you full, gonna fuck you ‘til you’re leaking with my seed, y’hear that?”

“Ye-es, Master M-Morax!” she shrieks, her eyes wide and her pupils blown as she cums around his length, her pussy clenching around it hard and fast as she tries her hardest to milk him of the cum he’d promised her; she lets out another cry as, suddenly, she’s empty of him all over again as he flips her over onto her stomach. He grabs her roughly by the hips and yanks them so she’s propped up by her knees with her back arched in the perfect way that helps him bury his cock even deeper inside of her than before, pounding ruthlessly into her slick cunt as he chases both of their orgasms, desperate to feel her tighten around his length like a vice before cumming deep inside her. He grabs her by the chin and turns her head towards him so he can look into her eyes as he fucks into her body from behind, his grip strong and almost bruising in the way he knows she likes. “You are mine, and mine alone — do you understand?”

“M-Master-!” she sobs, clenching around the length of him as his heavy balls slap against her with every thrust. Tears roll down her cheeks from the pleasure and the sounds of him snarling behind her with each rut inside of her only gets her wetter.

“Your body is mine, this cunt that I’m fucking full of cum is mine. You belong to me.” he roars, and she wails in response as his cockhead drags against her swollen sweet spot with each vicious roll of his hips against hers.

“C-Can’t, Master, can’t-!” she whines, fresh tears prickling at her eyes, and the sound of her master’s deep, rumbling laugh in her ear makes her cry out again.

“Yes you can, darling,” he purrs, nipping aggressively at her neck, “I know it, so c’mon, lover — cum again for your god!”

Shrill screams leave her lips as her pussy spasms around him all over again, his eyes rolling back in his head as he begins to cum from the feeling of her cunt tightening around him again. He bends down and bites her again, this time on the opposite shoulder than the one he’d bitten originally, and as his sharp teeth slice through flesh blood fills his mouth and a stinging pain envelopes her shoulder. She screams louder, the sudden burning pain intensifying her orgasm by more than she could take, her entire body shaking violently against where he was plastered against her back balls deep inside her, still shooting rope after rope of thick cum inside her.

As she slowly, slowly comes down from her orgasmic high she whimpers when he finally releases her shoulder from his mouth, humming in acknowledgment when he bumps his nose against her cheek in an insistence she knew was him asking for a kiss. His lips and teeth are bloody from biting her, but she accepts the sloppy kiss he wanted to give her anyway, her own blood smearing across her face as his tongue delves into her mouth and explores it messily. After a long moment, he pulls his mouth away from hers, leaving her gasping for air and a long string of saliva connecting their mouths that he doesn’t hesitate to slurp up before finally pulling out of her.

Cum gushes out of her abused hole like water from a geyser, and Morax is quick to gather what he could with his fingers and press it back inside, watching it pour out and repeating the action until he decided to plug her up with his softened cock instead.

They lay there in bed together for what felt like a blissful small eternity, but in all reality, they knew it was only about half an hour. Eventually, the Archon breaks the silence, choosing to remind his little lover of a part of his future plans. “Before long, I must enter the mortal realm to take part in the Rite of Descension,” he murmurs softly into her hair, bumping his nose against the crown of her head in what she knew was another one of his ways of showing affection. She hums in acknowledgment, knowing that as always he’d return before she woke up, and pressed back against him, nudging his softened cock deeper back inside her warmth where it had started to slip out, then smiles tiredly when she feels his lips stretch into a smile of his own against the top of her head. It doesn’t take long for her to ease into a deep sleep, exhaustion overtaking her entirely and demanding that she rest.

Hours later, it’s the uneasy silence that wakes her.

Blinking awake from the longest rest she’d had in three years, Y/N reaches behind her to feel the warmth of her god and is met with cold, empty blankets and bed sheets. She tenses, a strange nervousness and discomfort washing over her that she didn’t understand; why did she feel so alarmed? He was the Archon of Geo, surely nothing had happened.

Plenty of his thick cum still dribbles from her sore cunt and soaks the sheets between her thighs, a blatant reminder that he was here not even a day ago… but the Rite of Descension should have been over hours ago, why wasn’t he home?

She stands, his thick seed dripping down her thighs, and she dresses, intent on seeing where on earth Master Morax had gotten to, and before she knew it, she was setting foot in the mortal realm and on the hunt for her missing love.

Y/N thought she may vomit.

She’d heard whispers as she walked up the place of the Rite of Descension, had heard murmurs of Rex Lapis’ assassination, but she’d refused to believe them and had rushed to the Rite grounds only to be met with the horror that was her Archon’s empty shell of a corpse. Not even a thread of his aura remained, and it crushed her — she had nothing left.

Initially, guards had eyed her suspiciously, but when she fell to her knees and began to quietly sob into her hands their eyes had softened and they’d allowed her the privacy of avoiding their eyes as she mourned. Who could have done this? Who could have killed her master? The only one Y/N believed strong enough was the Archon of Anemo, but she knew that he and Master Morax considered each other friends and that the other Archon was no doubt mourning Master Morax himself, so who?

She can feel eyes on her back, and she straightens up, wiping the tears away and taking a few deep breaths before turning to see a young blonde man and what looks like a very large fairy floating next to him. She looks at him in curiosity, her red-rimmed eyes locking on his golden ones that mimic the mora her god had created and made for centuries.

“Is there something you need, stranger?” she asks quietly, and the boy’s eyes widen almost as if he expected her to call for the guards that weren’t too far away. “Who are you?” There was something about this child…

“I’m… a traveller,” he responds carefully, and she raises an eyebrow in an almost questioning way before letting it fall. There were no traces of Master Morax’s power on this man, he was not the assassin. “And you?”

Y/N looks away from him and back to the body; she ignores the painful twinge in her chest at the sight before her. “I was the highest-ranked servant of Master Morax — or, as you knew of him, his Lordship Rex Lapis,” she answers, picking her words just as carefully as he’d done so when explaining himself to her, and she can see the confusion in his golden eyes.

“You look so young though,” the traveller responds, and Y/N lets out a short laugh.

“Believe me, traveller,” she murmurs in reply, her eyes never straying from the terrible scene before her, “I may look young, but I promise you my mind is well beyond those few years.”

“Paimon isn’t sure if she likes this stranger lady, she’s kind of scary,” the little thing squeaks, clearly trying her hardest to not be heard. Unfortunately for her, the person she was speaking about had more receptive senses than she did, and Y/N sighed.

“It is wise of you to not trust everyone you meet,” she says tiredly, “and I will admit it’s even harder to like them.”

The little fairy creature squeaks in surprise over the fact that she heard her and hides behind her companion, peeping over his shoulder. “The stranger lady heard Paimon, did you hear that?!”

This time Y/N doesn’t bother commenting on what the little creature was saying; instead, she just turns back to the corpse of Rex Lapis lying uselessly in the square and tries her hardest ( successfully ) to fight off the tears threatening to cascade down her cheeks against her will. She could mourn her god later; as for now, she had to search for his killer.

“I’ll be seeing you, traveller — good luck in your endeavors,” she murmurs, standing and turning away from the scene of her Lord’s death in favor of leaving the now accursed grounds.

She wanders for days, searching in vain for the murderer that had taken her lord from her while she slept carelessly in their shared bed. She receives a summons from another god but she ignores it, telling herself that they’ll understand why she didn’t run to them immediately and instead sought after finding the assassin, and if they didn't and they killed her instead then that was more than alright. At least then she’d join her love in Celestia.

It’s during one of her searches through the docks of Liyue that she finds a trail that practically shines with her master’s godly aura and, knowing that the other end must definitely be attached to his killer, proceeds to follow it at a brisk run, keeping her eyes on the trail rather than ahead of herself. Before long she crashes into someone and as she apologizes she freezes; the trail ends with them and even curls around them in an almost familiar, affectionate way.

“You!” she snarls, and the man looks almost stricken with panic, clearly shocked to see her in front of him, and that’s when it slowly begins to click. Why would he be afraid of her? She knew she looked unassuming, and no one in Teyvat knew of her existence aside from the other Archons, whether deceased or living, and Master Morax’s own adepti. Her brows furrow as she looks at him, and slowly her eyes begin to shimmer with unshed tears. “Wait…”

“Please, not here!” the man begs, looking around wildly before dragging her off to a stretch of docks that was beneath the others and abandoned. She allows it, still in complete shock, but eventually, her tongue begins working again.

“So it was all a lie,” she says in disbelief, staring at the man who had abandoned her and led her to believe that he’d been killed.

“No, I didn’t lie to anyone!” Zhongli argues, unused to this side of the woman who had been with him for so long. It honestly frightened him a little; he was only ever used to the version of her who would bend over backward to please him, who would pepper him with endless affection — what was this feeling in his chest when he looked into her eyes and found only betrayal?

“You hide behind a face and body I’ve never seen before, parading around the city of your people as something you are not,” Y/N replies in a shaky whisper. “You are a liar.”

“Please, my love—“ Zhongli pleads desperately, but she refuses to listen, a fury like she’s never known filling her.

“I am not your love!” she snarls angrily, making him flinch, “I am not your love, or your darling, or your treasure, lover, or pet — I am none of the things you claimed me to be, because if I was you never would have left me behind!”

“I tried to give you a piece of me-!” Zhongli shouts, advancing on her with his arms held out in a useless attempt to pacify her.

“I didn’t want just a piece of you, Morax, I wanted all of you!” she snarls, tears welling up as she drops the honorifics she’d always used for him; after what he’d done, did he really deserve them anymore? “I wanted you to let me love you — so how dare you just leave me there?!” Y/N shrieks, pushing him away with her tears sparkling in her eyes. A watery smile makes its way onto her face, startling him even more than he already was, and she laughs bitterly while trying hard to blink away the tears in her eyes. “Gods, I knew this wouldn’t last, but I was so desperate for your attention, so desperate for you to know how much I adored you…”

She trails off, sniffling as tears roll down her cheeks in a constant stream. Thunder roars in the distance, lightning flashing across behind her in a bitterly beautiful backdrop that only echoed the woman’s feelings.

“Why was I even surprised to find that you left me behind?” she whispers bitterly, her heart aching in a way that it had never done before, not even when she’d believed she would die before telling her master how much she cared for him. “I should have listened to the other servants when they told me that I was nothing more than a maid,” she mutters to herself, her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes filled with self loathing.

Zhongli shakes his head wildly as soon as the words leave her lips. “No, you aren’t just a maid — you’re so-!“ he tries, but Y/N just laughs, the sound odd and hollow-sounding and enough to make him stop talking.

“Special?” Her voice is cold, mocking. “If I’m so special, why am I secret?” she asks quietly, and Zhongli freezes. She just continues her questions, empty of the strength to muster up any care for his feelings. “Why does no one know I exist? I saved your life in the Great War, then her Ladyship Baal during an attempted assassination over three hundred years ago, and I’m not mentioned in history books once — or even in oral retellings. Why is that? Haven’t I earned my place in history?” She stares at him for a moment, waiting for him to answer, but as his mouth opens and closes wordlessly and he gazes at her in shock her eyes widen. “…By Celestia, I do believe I’ve just rendered you speechless!” she exclaims, laughing at him. His head is slightly bowed as he takes this all in, and when he looks up at her through his lashes she’s no longer looking at him. Hell, she doesn’t even look mad anymore, just… sad.

“I thought…” she whispers quietly, staring at a group of three colorful birds pecking at the ground, “I thought things with you were different. I tricked myself into thinking that you cared…” she laughs again, wrapping her arms around herself in a vain attempt to comfort herself. “I was a fool.”

“You have to understand, I…” Zhongli worries at his bottom lip for a moment before sighing and continuing, covering his eyes with one hand. “I wanted it all to stop, for the pressure to be over, to live life as peacefully as a mortal man can!” A silence fills the void between them, chilling in a way he’d never experienced with her before, and he fears that he’s just admitted too much.

He has.

“You gave it away, didn’t you.” Her words are very clearly not a question, regardless of how what she said was worded, and with just those six words her entire aura shifts. Zhongli hesitates to reply, but still forces himself to; there was no use delaying the inevitable. She would find out what he’d done, she was always good at finding out things, whether others wanted her to or not.

“Yes,” he whispers, and she’s both silent and still for a moment before her face breaks out into a small smile and she laughs in disbelief.

She closes her eyes and throws a hand over her face, cupping her elbow in her other hand as she backs up ever so slowly. “You idiot,” she whispers, shocking him into silence. “You absolute idiot. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

The silence between them grows thick and heavy, but Zhongli can’t bring himself to tear his eyes from her. A familiar cry of greeting comes from their left, and they look over to see the traveler standing in the distance, her fairy creature waving at them both.

Y/N breaks the silence. “Go on then, mortal,” she mutters coldly, her eyes locking with his and showing no affection or care for him, so different from the usual warmth he received that they make his entire body tense and his eyes widen at her, “join the traveler and take your place as the leader of the Rite of Parting.”

He just stares at her, still surprised by the shift in the way she held herself around him. “Go. I will not say so again,” she growls, and he swallows hard before doing as he was told. After all, who was he to argue with her?

He was no longer her god, nor was he anyone else’s.

She watches him walk away from her for the second time, only this time neither of them are in the same mindset as they were in the past. She turns around and begins to walk away once he joins the traveller and disappears from her sight, only to pause as she passes by people rushing to take their place in the Rite of Parting. Everyone seemed so desperate to say their final goodbyes, not even knowing that they were being led astray by the god that swore to protect them.

She scoffs. Poor idiots don’t even know that their beloved Archon is the one leading the ritual, she thinks bitterly before turning to keep walking away. She stops not long after though and begins thinking again before sighing and shrugging ever so slightly. Oh, what the hell — he’s dead to me now, anyway. It’s only my right that I may also mourn.

She turns around and joins the crowd, taking her place in a far corner where she can see everything but still be away from a more than suffocating crowd. Everything is laid out beautifully, and for a second Y/N’s heart clenches; it’s almost as if the Rite that Zhongli was leading was legitimate rather than a moronic cover-up so he could experience mortality.

A vulgar, poisonous part of her wishes that it was; maybe then her heartache would have been eased.

The ritual is no short thing, but the moment it’s over she makes sure to silently slip away. She knows that he saw her, she’d seen him and his attempts to urge her over to his side from the corner of one eye, she could even tell that he wanted to talk to her, but she’d refused to dignify him with a look and stared straight ahead; if he wanted to be mortal so badly, she’d treat him like one, and if he wanted to leave her behind then she owed him no recognition. She treats him the same as he calls for her softly, trying his hardest to make his way through the throngs all while shaking hands and being congratulated on facilitating a Rite of Parting befitting the beloved Geo Archon. She can hear him calling for her, watches him struggle to get to her, and she just stands there gazing at him — and right as he’s nearly there, she turns her back and begins to walk away, ignoring his cry of her name as well as the new crowd of mourners that she’s forced to walk through due to the surge towards the lit candles. Regardless, she manages to do what she’d planned as she walked up the steps, and she takes a deep breath; it was time for her to do just what he’d wanted: to disappear.

After all, she’d been summoned by the Tsaritsa three days ago, and she had never been one to betray the gods.

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝— @dearbraus, @kaeglia, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 @thetempleofnyx

𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 © { 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 } 𝐛𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧. 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭.

#zhongli x reader #rex lapis x reader #morax x reader #genshin impact x reader #character: zhongli !!#zhongli x you #rex lapis x you #morax x you #genshin impact x you #zhongli x y/n #morax x y/n #rex lapis x y/n #genshin impact x y/n

351 notes · View notes

brwnicons · 2 years

Note

Can I request male reader who challenges Zhongli to a duel for "his hand in marriage" like a complete dumbass? The idea hit me and made me laugh.

☆ I saw the opportunity and kissed it in the lips. Hope you like this as much as I do! ☆

Zhongli x M!Reader: Duel (Pt.1?)

A/N: ☆Got too excited and now this is too long so we'll leave it here but I'll might do a second part someday☆

Summary: You find a way to get the Geo Archon's hand in marriage and you won't waste your opportunity

Tags: Male Reader, Short fic, Royal!Au? Zhongli is some soft of Prince or noble, fluff, age gap? [idk but zhongli calls reader "young man"]

Warnings: This is intended for male readers but don't tag this as yaoi or fetishize mlm relationships or you'll get blocked

Please tell me if you find any mistake!

☆☆☆

"The name's Y/N, from Teyvat-", You started solemnly as you drew your sword out, "And I challenge you to a duel, Mr Zhongli, sir!"

You finished your statement with a dramatic sword movement pointing directly at him with the tip of your weapon all while your vision shines brightly.

Zhongli, who was peacefully sipping on his tea before you interrupted him, quirked an eyebrow at you as he let the cup rest on the table. Then, he proceeded to squint his eyes at you before tilting his head slightly.

"A duel I heard? And what could your reason be, mr Y/N?" This was definetly something new. Maybe you were seeking for praise after defeating a God, maybe you just wanted to gain some mora or fame, maybe you yearned to dethro-

"I'm here to win your hand in marriage, sir".

Zhongli's golden eyes got wider and his hand clenched on the cup handle. His imposing aura dissapeared the moment he heard your words. He remained silent for a few seconds while he analyzed your serious expression, every second more convinced /and astonished/ that those were your honest intentions.

"...I beg your pardon?"

He was sure you were a complete moron but oh, how interested he was in your intentions.

—

The combat was arranged for the day after on a clear field where you were positioned on opposite sides at the ends of it. Zhongli ordered every one of his personal guards to leave and chose one of his prettiest spears. He also gathered his hair on a side, low ponytail.

You, on the other hand, were already holding your best sword in a firm grasp as you looked his way with a serious frown that indicated that you were ready.

"Is it everything to your liking?"

"It is, Mr. Zhongli, sir. Thank you for arranging this battle, Mr. Zhongli, sir."

A pleased, cold shiver ran up his spine at the way you referred to him nonstop.

He had to admit he felt a strong curiosity towards you, the way you acted being something truly uncommon. In fact, Zhongli had started to investigate about you after your exotic proposition, your favourite places to visit, your hobbies, your friends and your fighting abilities. He spent the entire previous day focused on spying you on, he even told his personal bodyguards to peer on you on your walks around the city.

"Shall we start, then?"

"It'll be my pleasure, sir"

And then, with your consent, the battle got initiated. He started by summoning a dark, tall pillar that covered him with a shiny shield.

On the other hand, you began the fight with a fast sword thrust that he quickly repelled with a gracile movement of his spear. The clinking sound of your weapons meeting filled the air around. A small smirk started spreading on the archon's lips when he saw himself being face to face against you, your noses being just mere inches away from touching.

You could feel his hot breaths and he could see through your focused eyes.

"Why is it to marry me your desire, young man?" He said, an aloud spoken thought, more to him than you. His brow furrowed along his words, slightly bothered in case you could mention your deal was a mere joke. He could kill you right then and there if you happened to break your contract with him.

"How could it not be, sir?" You breathed out, exhausted by having to constantly block his quick attacks and now also having to chat with him. "I had fallen into you since the moment I saw you. You are elegant, handsome and gentle, but also a fierce warrior and the eldest archon". You looked away as you began to talk faster and faster and he had trouble understanding some words of what you said. However, he was able to understand very clearly the compliments you gave him and you noticed it by the redness that crept his cheeks.

He was about to say something, but you inhaled deeply and continued, interrupting his thoughts.

"I'm nothing more than a mere Liyue citizen, I know you would never look at me under normal circumstances. That's why I have challenged you, to prove that I'm a strong warrior, too. That I'm worthy, sir".

Your will was as firm as an ancient rock, and he liked /loved/ that. You resumed the battle and it continued for a few more minutes. Your time was mostly spent in dodging his spear attacks, the sharp piece at the end cutting your skin here and there more than once. But, although he was hurting you, you just knew that he was going easy on you and that's not what you wanted. You were growing angrier and angrier at his "soft" attitude with you so, when his spear grazed your neck again, you grabbed it firmly before the archon's astonished expression.

"Excuse my insolence, please, but I do believe that you are not taking myself seriously, sir. I suggest starting again."

You released his spear and Zhongli firmly hit the ground with it.

"I have seen you're not strong enough to fight a God. If I had not gone easy on you, you wouldn't have endured this battle for more than five minutes, boy. You should be grateful I haven't had killed you just yet."

Your breath hitched at his words, "Why are you saving me, then? Why when you have already saw that I'm not worthy?", he was about to answer when you interrupted him again, "Why haven't you killed me already?"

Your eyes pierced his golden ones inquiring answers and as you were about to ask again it was now him who interrupted you with a loud "Silent" that made the rocks beneath your feet shiver.

"If I recall correctly..." He cleared his throat as he made his golden spear vanish before towering over you with firm eyes "It was not stipulated in our contract that your defeat implies, by any mean, your execution"

"Then why haven't you had stopped the battle already? I mean, why are we even fighting now for?"

Zhongli gulped hard. He didn't have any excuse left and your questions were turning more and more aggressive.

-I...- He waited for a moment, thoughtfully thinking his next choice of words -I may have grown a bit too fond of you...

323 notes · View notes

yuutx · 2 months

Text

ೀ ׅ ۫ . 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍 ! (𝒵𝐻𝒪𝒩𝒢𝐿𝐼)

dragon form!zhongli x f!reader . sfw — fluff . established relationship ⟆ waking up with zhongli when he is in his dragon form ! ⟆ not proofread !

this fic is inspired by the dragon!zhongli collection by @dragon-ascent ! ! i absolutely adore her works + i luv reading them ! ♡ + ↻ are rlly appreciated ! !

The soft fur of his tail brushes your nose, the sensation tickling you enough to rouse you from a deep slumber. The scent of glaze lilies floods your senses, and you find yourself inhaling deeply. You nuzzle your face deeper into the softness that smells of glaze lilies and a musk that is uniquely Zhongli, before slowly peeling your eyes open as the feeling of a forked tongue flicking out to lick your cheek forces you into consciousness.

A sleepy giggle bubbles up in your chest, and you raise your hand to stroke the long length of Zhongli's snout. He lets out a deep rumble, shifting in his sleep to wrap his large body tighter around you. You can feel the hard scales of his belly pressing into your back, his thick tail wrapping around your legs. His large, dragon form is curled protectively around you, the soft fur of his tail resting across your face like a blanket. The glowing markings adorning his body pulse in time with his breaths, casting a golden light on the surrounding area.

You smile at the sight, still amazed that this beautiful, powerful creature was yours. You continue petting the length of his snout, trailing your fingers along the hard ridges between his golden eyes. He stirs slightly, his deep breathing stopping, before his large eyelids flutter open to reveal molten pools of liquid gold. They focus on you, and Zhongli releases a purr of satisfaction. He moves his large head closer to you, the tip of his muzzle nuzzling against your own face, before he places a gentle lick to the tip of your nose. The action causes a fit of giggles, and you wrap your arms around his snout, holding it to you. His eyes crinkle with mirth, and you feel him chuckle.

"Good morning, 亲爱的." his deep, velvety voice whispers, his breath ruffling your hair, the strands dancing with movement. You close your eyes and hum happily, contentment filling your soul.

"Good morning, Li.." you reply softly. You release his muzzle, and he pulls back, a small puff of air blowing from his nostrils as he sighs. His head moves down to nudge your neck, before his muzzle comes to rest underneath your chin, his enormous horns framing either side of your face. You run your hands through his mane, reveling in the silky texture and the vibrations of his purrs.

The sun's rays start to filter in through the opening of the cave you reside in, the light reflecting off of his scales and painting the walls in a kaleidoscope of colors. You watch them dance along the stone, and Zhongli lifts his head, watching the light. You take the opportunity to sit up, leaning against his side and running your fingers along the ridges along his spine. The muscles in his body ripple, and you can feel the low rumble of his purrs through the stone. A deep chuckle resonates from his throat, and you feel the muscles flex as he rolls onto his back, exposing his soft underbelly. A grin splits your face, and you quickly take the invitation, sliding down to curl into his warm body. You lay your head on his chest, listening to the strong, steady beating of his heart, the sound like a soothing lullaby. Your fingers absentmindedly stroke the soft fur of his belly, the movement relaxing. His large wing wraps around you, creating a warm cocoon. His long tail moves to lay across your back, and you reach up to wrap your hands around the tuft of fur at the end.

"It seems the sun has decided to make an appearance," Zhongli comments, his voice reverberating through his chest, "Perhaps we should greet the day?"

You groan, snuggling deeper into his body. He laughs, the movement jostling you, and his large paw comes to rest on your shoulder, pulling you closer. His muzzle nudges your hair, and he inhales deeply, humming at the scent.

"Or perhaps we can stay here for a while longer.." he murmurs, his voice a deep rumble. He presses his head into the crook of your neck, his warm breaths caressing your skin. You nod in agreement, your eyes slipping shut as sleep claims you once more.

2K notes · View notes

watatsumiis · 9 months

Text

On The Topic of Dragon Hoards...

Zhongli, no matter how convincingly he may wear his human disguise, is and always has been a dragon at heart.

And he, like most dragons, has a tendency to hoard things.

It's easy not to notice right away, since he tends to keep his belongings tucked away, but once you take note, it's hard to stop seeing them.

Primarily, it's sentimental items, things that have been made for him or gifted to him by those he loves, but once you two have been together a while, you notice that he is definitely giving your gifts preferential treatment.

If you were to look carefully, you'd notice that he's carefully preserved everything you've given him, from letters to meaningless little trinkets, even a scrap piece of paper you drew a diagram on to help get a point across over lunch.

A dragon will hoard things that they deem to be precious and valuable - in this case, the items are all extraordinarily memorable to Zhongli, tied in with the stories of those he cares about. Over time, he adds more and more items relating to you, it's a little sweet, really.

However, if you were to ask Zhongli what the most valuable item in his hoard is, he'll give you a warm, fanged smile and say something along the lines of "Why, it's you, of course, my dear."

#Genshin X reader fluff #Zhongli X reader #Genshin X reader #Morax X reader #Rex lapis X reader #My writing #Zhongli X you #zhongli x y/n #genshin impact x reader #gender neutral reader #gn reader #reader insert #General howls #X reader

1K notes · View notes

whispereons · 8 months

Text

Oracle!Reader Part 14

Masterlist - Part 1, Part 13, Part 15

Warning as usual. There is blood and gore in this chapter!

Staring up at the Archon parading around in human form, you lick your lips and note how even those minor injuries were healed. Your body aches with phantom pain, some wounds healed too rapidly.

"I don't mind answering some questions, can I get your name first?"

A small smile plays at his lips as his hand is held out in front of you. "My name is Zhongli, I'm the Funeral Parlors consultant. It would be a pleasure to hear yours, outlander."

So he is aware of your origin, well at least partly aware. If he's not going to pull any punches then why should you? Besides if it all goes wrong, you can blame it on the bloodloss that you're still recovering from.

"I'm Y/N, and you're correct that I do not originate from this world. You must not be a normal person either, in fact you look identical to this statue. This one portrays Morax the Geo Archon, but I'm sure you know that, Rex Lapis."

Getting a good look at the statue from your proximity, it was obvious that Zhongli was Morax. You could make the excuse of it being game logic on why no one makes the connection, but that wouldn't work anymore. Maybe the statues are imbued with power that prevents anyone from this world to recognize the similarities?

"So it seems you are more knowledgeable than the traveler was when they arrived here. I should have known considering how the Electro and Geo particles surround you with zeal. Perhaps Teyvat is charmed by the features you share with the Holy One."

His step forward and angled head to look you in the eyes have you staring at glowing amber hues. The red eyeliner and outlined iris make it uncomfortably clear how intensely he's examining you.

"The curve of your lips, a stature so familiar, you resemble the creator so much. Teyvat must be bewitched and awed by an individual so alike as you. If only I could see your face in it's full visage, only then would I know for sure..."

Anyone would feel flattered or embarrassed with how seriously Zhongli studies you, but dread is the only thing you feel. You know that behind those honey-coated words is a trap just waiting for you to spring.

Too bad for him; the last thing you plan to be is predictable.

"My, my what a compliment! A devout and faithful follower like yourself is comparing me to the creator? You should pray for forgiveness to the merciful creator. I'm a servant for them, just in a different league than you. My connection with them is strong enough that Teyvat graces me with qualities alike yet inferior to the Everlasting One."

Zhongli returned to his perfect posture at your words, the flash of envy couldn't hide. "Oh?" Narrowed eyes and a lofty tone that encourages you to smile wider. "And what position could an outsider like you hold?"

"Well, as an Oracle of course! Really, just how dumb are you? An outlander that is incredibly knowledgeable of the Creator? It's painfully obvious." There's no reaction to your test insults, which is fine that wasn't the last you had in store.

"I'm from the world that the Creator is recuperating in. It's due to that, that I can speak to them much more freely than everyone here. Even Teyvat pales in comparison. That's why Teyvat is so attached to me, my aura is overwhelmed by the creators."

Honestly, you had Chongyun to thank for that one. You weren't sure how you were supposed to explain the whole Teyvat clinging to you without sounding repetitive. But if Zhongli was that easily fooled, he wouldn't be one of the victors of the Archon war.

"Then enlighten me on why the glorious creator would need an Oracle of your caliber to spread their word. Surely that's the least you can do." He's fully dropped that faux-polite tone in contrast to the technically proper speech.

"Gladly! It's become common knowledge that the elemental monsters and animals have started to act strangely. Add in the leylines that change from out of control to perfectly calm in a matter of minutes or weeks. These are all signs of the Creator's upcoming appearance! They need to be sure of who in this vast land they can properly trust."

"That still doesn't explain why you in particular were chosen. A wily and fresh child like you wouldn't do the best job." Hard like stone, Zhongli refused to even blink at your words. A god like himself would never falter after thousands of years spent perfecting his worship.

But did he really have to insult you at the same time?

"So you refuse to believe it because of my supposed inability to properly carry out any duties assigned to me? You don't even know all that I had done to arrive here! Surely you should know just how rough the waters were..."

The hand that covers your mouth does a poor job of covering the sly smile. Zhongli stares at you in silence, the wind swaying around the floating chunk of rock that you both stand on.

"Just what are you trying to imply?" His voice is as soft as a whisper but cutting like the sharpest steel.

"Why explain it when I can show it?" Silently rejoicing at such a convenient set up, you peer into your bag and grab the item you've been saving.

Shimmering brightly in the harsh glares of the sun is Beisht's scale, still in pristine condition despite your perilous journey since that day you got it from the sea-leviathan.

It feels like ages ago. Just how much time has passed since you arrived on Teyvat? How much more time will you spend in situations like this? Weeks? Months? YEARS?

The existential dread is quickly pushed away by your beaming smile at Zhongli's reaction to the singular item. The rocky exterior finally breaks at the proof of your 'abilities'. His lips part at the bright teal color and he blinks incredulously at it.

Really, how could you pass up the chance to rub it in?

"Surely a human of my caliber would be capable of this much. I mean, a perfectly intact scale from a leviathan that managed to avoid the whole Qixing that isn't dyed in blood? Child's play for a servant specifically chosen by the Creator. I never doubted the creators' choices!"

Holding the scale in front of you, you smirk at the man with as much snark as you hold in your heart. "The same can't be said for you, Mr. 'That still doesn't explain why you in particular were chosen.' Because the Creator is capable of choosing anyone they want, for whatever reason they desire."

Silence envelopes the area as you stare at him, a beat passes with no movement until a gruff chuckle leaves him.

"The more you speak, the closer I come to a conclusion." Recovering quickly, Zhongli's gloved hand rises to tap his mouth contemplatively. "You're either something far worse than I've seen in a long time, or a hope for the Creator's return."

That white outline around his iris seems to spin with the malicious joy that he refuses to show. It's like his body screams that he'll either enjoy your presence or your destruction. Nerves and anxiety grip your heart but ignoring it has always worked better for you.

"Maybe I can say the same thing about you considering your past, but I see you still aren't convinced. And how could I ever let you, one of the longest standing worshippers, have doubts about me? So tell me, were Beisht and her husband devout or sacrilegious beings?"

The answer he'll say is obvious, not only because you hold such a confident stance showing that you know the answer but because of Zhongli himself. A noble dragon that willingly bows to someone would feel ashamed at the thought of resorting to lying to boost his own pride.

Quite ironic how you hold so much trust in his answer due to the acolytes' faith in the creator. The same faith that led you to this position, and the same thing that'll keep you from ever exposing the truth of your identity. A constant force preventing them from meeting their 'beloved' creator.

"You met Beisht in the flesh, there's no doubt that she is solemn and serious in her worship. The same can be said for Osial, it was one of the few things I could agree with the leviathan. Even still, I'm the superior believer. After all, I'm the one who is left after all this time."

"Yet I met Beisht before you."

The scoff and know-it-all tone he used pricked at your nerves long enough to cause an annoyed response to slip out. Unfortunately, that seems to be what Zhongli was baiting for as he laughs, the low sound making the rock platform tremble.

"That's if you're even an Oracle. You may be from that world and even heard about Teyvat from the Creator, but for all I know, you could have been banished here for us acolytes to execute. Whether it be for avenging the Creator or entertaining them."

Damn, it was almost scary how fast he turned the situation around. But how could you falter now? Getting tongue-tied at such a crucial moment would be a pathetic way to lose your life.

"And what will you do if I truly am an Oracle? When the creator's return is delayed months, years or even decades due to your rash actions, what will you tell the creator when confronted with the consequences of your own actions?"

"Then you should work hard enough to prove to skeptics like myself. To put blind faith in whatever is dubbed the creator's is a fool's belief. Temptation and sin ravage Teyvat from the long drought of the Creator's presence."

For a split second, sorrow clouded his eyes. He's hiding something. It’s important and you can feel it in your soul. The only thing that really stains his and Venti's reputation is their war with Khaenri'ah. It must be connected to that.

But it's too early to try digging in for information on that. He doesn't even believe you to be the Oracle, how could you possibly get that out of him? What if he's under a contract and must stay silent on the matter?

Lost in his memories, Zhongli doesn't realize how your face pinches in frustration. You'll have to get his approval as the Oracle before you can even-

Oh.

Oh, why didn't you realize this before?

A grin spreads across your face as you circle in on the heart of the problem and the perfect way to fix it.

It's not that Zhongli doesn't believe you to be the creator's Oracle, he just doesn't want to believe it! He's envious: envious of why a random outlander like you got such a nice position in comparison to him who probably spent most of his life molding himself to the creators standards.

All that's left is to reel him in and you know the perfect way how.

"Prove myself? I've done plenty to prove myself, but what about you?" Mockingly, you tilt your head as your empty gaze peers into Zhongli's eyes, digging deep into him. He focuses back on the conversation at your shift in tone.

"If anyone should have to prove themselves, it should be you." This time it's you who takes the bold step forward. "Let's start at the beginning, shall we? And try to keep in that temper too so that I can finish my words. A dragon your age should know such simple things."

"As Morax you were quite powerful, though a brute to be completely honest. Still, you knew your limits well and paired up with the Lord of Dust before the Archon War, who served as the 'brain'. Tell me, just how did it feel when you found her as nothing more than a statue that day?"

Your words have a strong effect on the imposing man, his fist trembling at the mention of such a beloved god, one whose death still pains him. Paying no mind to his pain you ask the monumental question.

"Just how much resentment do you hold against the Creator for her death?"

A hand slams you against the Statue hard enough to bruise your skin. It doesn't squeeze around your throat but there's no need to as the Geo begins to petrify your legs, locking you in place. The Statue is in a constant state of healing in defense to the bruises on your neck.

"Just what are you trying to imply by saying that?" Cold and apathetic is the voice that flows from the stoic man. It's what you would imagine Morax would sound like before Guizhong taught him how to care for humans.

"C'mon, that's the second time you've asked me that. Don't make me speak the obvious-" A shuddering gasp leaves you as he tightens his grip. But it's gone just as fast; a flock of birds tackle Zhongli.

You can only watch in shock as what was only 4 to 5 birds grow to become at least 15 birds of all kinds attacking him. The throbbing of your neck being healed as the Geo instantly releases you is overshadowed by Zhongli swatting at the birds as he takes continuous steps back.

But that's all it took for Zhongli to fall off the edge as the birds flew away cawing happily. Standing and staring at the spot where Zhongli fell off in shock, you begin to chuckle. It grows to a giggle before you're laughing hysterically as you buckle to the ground. Loud peels of laughter ring around the area as you hold your stomach from the ache of laughing so much.

To think Teyvat took the initiative to help you out for once. Why couldn't it do it sooner? Was it only after gaining some power from activating a new nations statue of the seven that it could? You couldn't focus on the question anymore as the look on Zhongli's face when he fell came to mind again.

The sight of his eyes blown wide and a split second of pure panic sent you straight back into a fit of laughter. The ground far below you shakes as a Geo pillar constructs a bridge high enough to reach the stone you sat on.

The sound of footsteps make you open your eyes and giggle at the sight of a disheveled and annoyed Zhongli. Annoyed is still an improvement compared to his enraged state earlier. With giggles slipping out, you stand back up and laugh louder at his appearance in full view.

His hair was pulled out of his rattail with his earrings nowhere to be seen. Bits and pieces of the weaker cloth of his suit were missing, giving him a poor look that didn't match his flawless posture. The red marks and light cuts only added to the joy you feel at his expense.

"Are you finished laughing, Y/N?"

"For now at least. I would suggest buying a new set of clothes but I don't think you have the mora for it!" Zhongli only lets out a long-suffering sigh as you crack up again.

You would be scolding yourself for not taking the chance to escape while he was away but it was better this way. You didn't need the information about Khaenri'ah, it was nice to know but the information wouldn't help you live.

The main reason you stayed was because running away would prove Zhongli right to be suspicious about you. It would let him know that you're scared and have something to hide. Plus, that would mean having to escape Liyue the same way you did Ei, just in a worse situation.

That's not something you want to repeat.

"Alright I'm done laughing." You say while wiping off the budding tears from the corner of your eyes. Zhongli sends you a look that screams that he doesn't believe you but you shrug it off.

"Really, that question was more of a test if you will. My main job is simply to see who the Creator can trust. Your relationship with the Creator beyond that is between you and them."

The calm and peaceful tone you use is such a contrast to the one you used earlier that Zhongli is clearly apprehensive. Paying it no mind you continue to speak.

"If you truly want a reason to at least try and believe me to be the oracle even if you don't fully believe me, then I'll give you one. I'm sure you still have the stone dumbbell from Guizhong that you've never been able to open. I know how to open it."

Those last words have Zhongli staring at you intensely as you gaze off into the distance. The Dragon-Queller tree is visible through the fog with its glowing blue branches and yellow leaves.

"How?" He breathes out, scared to trust but scared to lose this opportunity too.

"It requires a naturally grown glaze lily cultivated by the Creator. That's because it requires a 'pure' glaze lily and the only one who can grow such a thing at this day and age is the Creator. All the natural glaze lilies have died after all."

Zhongli's shoulders slump at your words. It seems he started to let his guard down after he fell off. He must no longer view you as a threat or, at most, an annoyance. That's okay with you, underestimation is the most useful viewpoint they could have for you.

"Should I even make an attempt to ask you why it can only be unlocked with that? You're only telling me this as a last resort to keep you alive, correct? Even if I told you that I would keep you alive without that information, you wouldn't believe me. As childish as you may be, foolishness does not seem to be a quality you hold."

"That may be true, but if you really want an answer to that first question then I'll tell you." You look over to lock eyes with him and smile. It conceals every sneaky and vicious thought you hold. "I have no clue. The Creator instructed me to use it as a last resort, if you want that answer then try praying. Perhaps you'll get an answer."

You would like to know the answer to the stone dumbbell too. After all, you only made up the solution! Seeing as Zhongli spent all these years after Guizhong's death, failing to unlock it, it's a good bet that it'll never open.

It's silent as you both get lost in your own thoughts. Unlike before it wasn't tense, it was more comparable to the silence you would spend alone in your apartment. The nights you would only be accompanied by the thoughts of the 'what-if' situations. Thoughts that would only stay thoughts just as the past would be just that, the past.

Wanderer learned that the hard way too. You wouldn't let yourself hold so many regrets before your inevitable death. Even in Liyue you weren't truly safe, so wouldn't it be best to speak to Zhongli while you still could?

"I have questions about Khaenri'ah… Well, the better way to put it is that the Creator has questions about them. It's one of the few things that they mourn the most. A whole nation devoted to worshiping solely the creator, destroyed by the Archons that swore their life and loyalty to the creator. So will you explain it to me?"

His eyes fill with the same sorrow you saw in him earlier. It seems you were right in guessing that his line on blindly trusting things labeled with the creator was connected to Khaenri'ah.

"I have spent all my years after that day asking for forgiveness, for some way to atone. It was one of the few contracts that I did not properly balance in equivalent exchange. I regret signing it, not for myself but for my beloved God."

"So it's a no."

"It's an agreement not to speak of it."

"Then don't speak about it." Zhongli seeds you a questioning glance as you mischievously smile at him. "Just listen to my words and don't look away. I'm quite sure nodding and shaking your head doesn't count as breaking your silence."

A huff of amusement leaves him at your solution. His eyes close with his lips curling into a small smile. He nods his head in acceptance, not having the drive to poke holes into your stubbornness.

You were quite confident in the conclusions you've drawn so far. Genshin Impact was nearly the sole reason you were living back on Earth. Family and friends were nonexistent, you had given up hope on making any new connections as well. The only thing you did when you weren't home was work and your work made you be everything but yourself. So combining everything you know from the game with everything of the cult that you've learned thus far shouldn't be too hard.

"When the Archon War broke out, I'm sure most of you were merely looking to keep your people and nation alive. The original design of having the gods powered solely on their people's worship paled in comparison to Celestia's offer of power by obtaining a spot in a group of seven. At the end, you all had a choice. Accept your spot by accepting a Gnosis, or go against them similar to how the Dragon King once did."

Zhongli perks up at the mention of the Dragon King. Not many people know about the original Dragon King. Most people assume it's Azhdaha when in reality, the original was a far greater dragon.

"You all must have been quite against it. The only God you would all bow under would be the Creator who had left before those events to sleep in my world, yet Celestia probably whispered to you all that it was allowed on Teyvat because it was approved by the Creator. That the Gnosis was a reward for all your hard work and as Celestia was the first descender, all of you accepted it.”

The way he begins to stare at you is invasive, like he's just dying to jump you to get every bit of knowledge you hold on the topic. He's starting to suspect you.

"Yet when Khaenri'ah was revealed to exist years afterwards, everything was thrown into confusion. I'm sure you and the other Archons were fine with their presence as Khaenri'ah worshiped the Creator, but was Celestia?"

A sly smile creeps upon your face at the memory of when it was revealed that Khaenri'ah wasn't the first civilization to be turned into hilichurls. No one liked Celestia so you had no problem pinning almost all the blame onto it.

"I'm sure they were enraged, especially as Khaenri'ah grew more and more bold with their inventions. Gold in particular was quite dangerous seeing as she not only created life but also Durin and the Golden Wolflord. And even that was unintentional!"

You laugh cheerfully as Zhongli chuckles in surprise at your words. Had you successfully deterred him? Probably not, but he hasn't stopped you so you'll keep going till the end.

"Celestia ordered you all to aid them in destroying Khaenri'ah but you all refused. How could any of you harm a nation so devoted to the creator even if they refused to worship Celestia or the Seven? But that Gnosis you all accepted comes with a price. A price that serves as leverage and a control device."

The thoughts of what Beisht told you on how Celestia had caused them to forget the original way of worship resurfaced. Celestia was just too suspicious for that to be the only thing they had done. It would take a lot more than that to force the Archons to listen to them.

"That Gnosis was like a drug. It gave you all so much power, tasting and making you feel like you're on top of the world! Just for it to come crashing down when the unpleasant side effects hit you. It corrupted you all like poison forcing you to wage war against Khaenri'ah. My best bet is that it was like mind control. What do you say?"

He looks at you with a blank expression, as if trying to see the secrets you hid in your soul through your eyes. But there's no response from him, not even the occasional nods that he was giving before.

"Well if it was mind control, perhaps it made you believe that Khaenri'ah had plans to overrule the Creator and create their own human god. Or maybe it made them out to be traitors to the creator. Perhaps both? That doesn't really matter, what does matter is that only after the war was in full throttle were you all brought back to your senses."

You didn't have any proof of that last part, it just seemed like something Celestia would do. Not only to prove their superiority but also force the Archons to put their best effort in defeating the people of Khaenri'ah to save their nations.

"After the war ended, you all wanted to get rid of it but Celestia wouldn't allow such a thing. Even if you most likely tried to find some loophole, Celestia doesn't play nice. It would make sense if they threatened to give a punishment similar to what they had done to Khaenri'ah. So long as none of you destroy or throw it away, they'll leave you all be,”

Venti was a god, no matter what fans said, there was no way he would lose to Signora. It made more sense if that was his way of 'handing' it over to the Tsaritsa. There was also Nahida who threatened to break her Gnosis to one-up Dottore. That was always funny, you would kill to have witnessed that in person.

"Of course none of you would actually use it or even desire it in your vicinity. Everyone wins when the Tsaritsa uses her various methods to acquire the gnosis'. And thanks to the traveler appearing during that time, Celestia was probably too busy freaking out over that to pay too much attention. For a while at least."

Finally looking back to Zhongli, you smiled proudly. "I must be pretty close right? At no point did you laugh at me like you did with Alice so I'll take that as a good sign. And even if I'm wrong, everything will be solved when the Creator descends."

Stretching to loosen the tension in your back, you applaud yourself for the brilliant thinking. It's not like anyone can actually fake gold blood for long when even hair dye didn't exist yet. You're basically leaving all these loose ends to the you that would be believed to be the Creator. Which is never going to happen!

"Would the Creator scorn me for asking you once again if you're truly an oracle?"

"I'm sure the glorious creator would be fully justified in doing so, but I'll scorn you in their stead.. And don't get it twisted, it's not because of your feelings concerning Guizhong's death. It's how you, by your own negligence, offended the Creator!"

An utterly baffled expression paints his face at your accusation. Unrelenting, you point your finger at him with a serious face that you haven't shown him till now.

"Did you really believe that the creator wouldn't realize? Just how little you changed from that brute of a dragon that saw humans as plentiful yet insignificant as dust? To think that you believed yourself to be comparable to the primordial dragons."

Zhongli stiffens at the mention of the primordial dragons. After all he is the prime of the Adepti who's exuvia is a dragon, not a primordial dragon. Wouldn't it be fun if he held some sense of inferiority when compared to the primordial ones?

Zhongli sits on the ledge of the rock with his elbows on his legs and his hands covering his face. It was time. He would question just what you were talking about and you'll explain the elemental sacrificing that he forgot. That'll be the end and he'll have no choice but to support you!

Smiling knowingly you approach him and lean down to see behind the shadow casting over his eyes. Your eyes twinkle victoriously as his breath leaves a cloud from the crisp air.

"I should have known that the creator would not forgive me for failing to arrive on time."

What?

"How could I have been beaten to that shooting star by that astrologist? No matter who may have been her master, I failed to arrive on time."

Zhongli sulks there as he continues rambling to himself on 'missing' the shooting star due to his old age. Was he seriously talking about how you lost him the first time to Mona?!

Memories come back of you using the last of your wishes on his banner and being greeted with Mona instead. The first 50/50 you lost and was forced to use nearly all your primogems to get him. A fact that you never let Zhongli forget through your adventures.

Just what would he do if he knew how you always switched to a different character whenever his idle starts to play? Would he sew his lips together in repentance? That must be the difference between a true believer and a fake believer...

Holding back a sigh you begin brainstorming on how you were supposed to bring the conversation back to the sacrificing. Zhongli is too lost in his own head as he begins to continuously blame himself for any mistake he could have made.

"Being unable to answer the travelers' questions must have worsened their view on me too."

"That and how you were willing to let Liyue flood if they couldn't defeat Osial."

"Human life may be precious but they're as numerous as the dust that make up stone. I would rebuild Liyue for the rest of this long life until I cultivate a nation that I could humbly present the creator with."

"Then shouldn't the creator just grind you down and raise a different Adepti to their exact liking? You should work hard to be exactly what they desire to be truly loved."

"Are you saying that the Creator loathes me?" He finally looks away from the sea of clouds to stare at you. Sparing him a glance, you listen to him grow more panicked by your silence.

"Do they wish to see me crumble and be reabsorbed into the earth for my mistakes, for my sins? Was it the way I mechanically went through the motions of worship for the few years after Guizhong's death? Or does my benevolent god crave me and my nation to fall for aiding in the destruction of Kh-?"

Abruptly Zhongli grasps at his chest where his heart lays as he coughs. More out of politeness than concern you rub his back as fluid flies from his lips to his closed fist.

The thick inky plum colored fluid stained his fist with droplets of crimson swirling within it. His coughing fit slows to a halt as his hand slowly releases the clothing over his heart. Harsh breathing and a shallow pained groan is all that can be heard as he cleans himself up.

“Pardon me-”

“Was that a warning from Celestia or a side effect if you get too close to speaking?"

"The implication is the same no matter what it may be from." He whispers as you begin to move back to return his personal space. Yet his now ungloved hand is what wraps around your grass stained sleeve.

"Now answer my question." Determination and a barely concealed unruly emotion simmer beneath his composed surface as he asks. "As an oracle, tell me what I have to do to earn their forgiveness. What must I reap to begin repenting for the sins I sowed?"

Eyes widening at the sight of the disheveled man, you stare at him quietly. The messy hair, cut up clothing and grip tight enough to keep you still all while being careful not to bruise.

Hook, line and sinker.

"Is that a question for me to answer? Am I the god that you wronged? If you wish to communicate with the creator yourself, then there is a way. A method to begin regaining the pebbles that make up the mountain of trust you once shared with them."

You grab the arm that connects to his hand wrapped around your own and pull him up. He obeys the silent command and stands up, his gaze never faltering from your form. Silent and towering like the mountains he's created, he simply listens.

"Celestia has hidden more from you than you originally thought. But I'm sure you already know that. Offer yourself to the merciful creator and they'll surely hear your pleas of forgiveness. Whether they forgive you or not is up to them."

Releasing your hold on him, you turn to survey the area. Now where could you have him perform the sacrifice? His free hand comes to rest on your shoulder for your attention.

"What must I offer of myself? My blood? My body? If need be, I'll even be willing to offer my life. My life is worthless without them. I'm nothing more than a grain of mineral if not for them."

"There's so many things you can offer, but if you want to make the most impact, then you'll offer up your body parts. Your life may be precious but just how much longer do you have left?"

"Then will the private temple I have built for them work? We can head there immediately." He points south to the sole unnamed mountain in Minlin. You vividly remember unlocking the teleport waypoint there.

"The only way I'll know is when I see the interior. I'll meet you there Zhongli!"

Pulling yourself away from his grasp, you close your eyes and calmly imagine what the scenery around the waypoint looks like. The rocky feel of the floating stone changes to a lush green beneath your feet. Opening your eyes you're greeted with a valley of viridescent brustles with degraded stone ruins at the edges.

"To think that the Creator even allowed you access to the waypoints. They must treasure you greatly." He appears at your side in a matter of minutes. His tone has a hint of longing and bitterness.

It's sweet like the flavor of a childhood candy that you would sneak behind your parents backs. Almost sweet enough to make up for the starvation you would face later on as punishment.

"Instead of focusing on that, why don't you show me that private temple you created? As the Geo Archon, I hold high expectations for you."

"This temple is the one I created for me. If you want the glamorous shrine built for the mass and appearance then you're better off viewing the public one that the Qixing now control."

He walks down the hill until the grass is tall enough to cover his calves. You follow behind him and stare blankly at the plain that is covered with a healthy amount of tall marigolds. Just as you're about to repeat the question, the earth begins to rumble.

It starts with just one stone rising from the ground, until it multiplies into a roof like structure. You watch in awe as a temple surges out of the mountain with the slightest bits of dirt falling off it.

Stone of high quality and clearly careful upkeep shines with small cracks from the passage of time. Gold, silver, and bronze layer the nooks and crannies of the pillars that keep a roof over the doorway.

Marveling at it, you follow Zhongli into the temple... He couldn't kill you in it, right? Surely you could still teleport even if he locked you in it… Teleporting without using the map might not work due to the focus and effort it required, but doing it with the map has never failed you yet.

The inside was even more impressive; statues of all kinds surrounded the hallway. It was you, always you, just in different poses, clothing and materials. From thin robes crafted entirely from Cor Lapis, to suits made of Noctilucous Jade.

Arriving at what seemed to be the main room, you're greeted with a huge statue comparable to the public one in Inazuma's plaza. Sunlight bathed your statue from the skylight above it.

Your body was made of Cor Lapis decorated in an Archon-like robe made from Noctilucous Jade. A fresh Glaze Lily sat in your palm as Silk Flowers adorned your head in a crown like structure. You sat on a blue stone throne that seemed to grow brighter as you approached it. The sleek yet dense mineral looked like the magical crystal chunks you would give to the blacksmiths.

"Be careful to not venture too close to that one, the elemental energy may leave it to join you." Zhongli warns as he steps into the middle of the room. Smiling casually to hide your amazement, you head back to him.

"What an impressive statue, the Creator is feeling quite pleased with the display but still wishes to see your true remorse." Digging into your bag, you brought out the ceremonial knife and the handbook you took notes on.

"Go get the softest cloth and lay it on the ground. This ritual is simple, you'll cut off whatever part of your body you wish to offer, pray, and wait for a response. If 10 to 20 minutes pass with no response, then you can leave it at that or offer more in hopes of a response."

Closing the book and shoving it back into your bag you offer the knife to Zhongli. He looks up from where he laid the gilded gold fabric to stare at the knife before letting out a drawl laugh.

"That knife will do little to my scales, Y/N. A ceremonial item is to be bathed in liquid gold to be used so I have more than enough weapons that can actually cut my skin."

Scoffing, you stuff the knife back in as he leaves and returns with a variety of weapons. The largest was an ax that smelled faintly of blood. Was it used to sacrifice someone not too long ago? The thought makes you uncomfortable, yet you're no longer alarmed at the thought.

My, have you changed.

You move to stand away from the center closer to the exit. Zhongli's bare hand turns to a pattern of black and amber hues. Shedding his thick coat, his flexed muscles in draconic form are left in full view.

If you were back on Earth, you would have killed to view this. An Archon’s skin was something the majority of the players wished for, for quite a while. Even now, you would love to see his true Archon form, but the thought of actually living was far more tantalizing.

Rolling up his sleeves, he chooses a sword and examines it carefully. Without fear he raises it high and slices downwards cutting his hand off cleanly. The ruby liquid sprays onto the floor as the droplets drip off his sword and dismembered limb simultaneously.

It doesn't matter how many times you witness or smell blood, it still disgusts you. The only blood you truly cherished in shedding was the one that left that man's body when you stabbed him in that cold alleyway.

His hand lands onto the expensive textile with a wet thud as the ivory bone sticks out. Zhongli lays the sword down gently resisting the urge to groan in pain. Gritting his teeth he returned his attention and gaze back to you. You, who stayed in perfect position ahead of him, clad in gems and minerals carved by his own hand.

Closing his eyes, his lips followed the adored pass time of praying with intensity. Too lost in his regret, joy, and infatuation his words slipped out clear like the perfectly carved jewels he’s crafted for you.

"My god, my god. For I have sinned against you so. The mistakes I cannot fix or change, I pray for your forgiveness." Your unmoving, unchangeable eyes stared at him with an expression so familiar to him, one who worshiped you in this temple for centuries.

"From allowing myself to be tricked, to the lack of devotion I felt to you in Guizhong's death and finally with how I treated a servant of yours with disdain. Envious, I am envious to an extent that I shouldn't hold to my righteous god like you. Even now I still haven't broken the habit of referring to you as 'my' god."

Once again, just like the first time, Teyvat seems to overwhelm you with his feelings. You stare at his back as his lips murmur the words of devotion without an end in sight. Silently, you accept his offering, this first one was only to put the last nail in the coffin of you being an oracle.

The sky darkens as Zhongli's hand crumbles into a pile of primogems that dissolve into the air. Blue and purple stars dance across the sky as a lone gold star makes its way closer.

You didn't plan to always accept his offerings. After all you did lose a 50/50 to him and was forced to put up with his paranoid possessiveness in regards to your creator self. Shouldn't you make him lose a few times to even the score?

The gold star shines brighter and bigger as Zhongli gazes at it with a smile purer than anything he's ever felt since his creation at your hands. It flies through the window enveloping him and the whole room with a beaming light.

--------------

When his eyes open, the skylight shows the sunny sky but he can already feel his connection to you stronger. The brilliance you bore shines beautifully in him like a star he wished to keep hidden for only him to see.

It worked, it worked! There is no need for him to be wary or envious of you for claiming to be so close to the creator anymore. In fact, you were a sign specifically designed for someone like him. A sign that the creator had not grown complacent in simply watching Teyvat, you were now showing interest in coming back soon. And through you, he can find out details about the creator that were kept secret all these millennia.

A wide and joyful grin is bared with obsession tangling within it. He turns his head to where you stood and his smile drops abruptly when all he's greeted with is an empty spot.

He built this temple for him and the creator to enjoy in privacy due to his possessive nature born from his dragon lineage, yet the sight of Y/N who up and vanished after fulfilling their duty struck his core like the abyssal gunk that used to constantly corrupt his body.

You may have left, you may think that he wouldn't treat you, a fellow devoted servant well due to his earlier behavior. And he understands that, he truly does but that simply means he has to rectify his mistake before it's too late. You were a mere human while him, a god.

Finding you before any terrible consequences from his mistakes won't take too long.

-------------------

Unaware of the dragon's changing tune, you eye the Dragon-Queller tree from outside the temple with interest. After all the work you've done thus far, indulging yourself with a nice close up of the magnificent landmark would be a good treat for yourself.

This one took a while and it was edited by the same jerk. I really hope all the work was worth it and that the next part can be done faster. But as my college is starting this early Sep, it might be even longer. Genshin's lore is a hot mess so I tried my best to keep it simple while touching on the important parts. All the lore I put in is almost completely accurate. If you don't include the sagau parts. If your name is italic then that means I couldn't tag you. I manually put everyone so hopefully this fixes the notifications problems. Taglist: @vvyeislazzy, @nikqi, @the-dumber-scaramouche, @etherisy, @yourlocalstranger123, @ra404, @iruiji, @goldenglow149, @haru-tofuu, @lsleepysimpl, @bebobeboben, @yuyuzi-ling, @amidst-the-tempest, @resident-cryptid, @mxd1zzy, @mochicurls21, @nervouseaglelover, @thedevioussmirk, @yumuramma, @kwqsla, @undecidingfate, @ehjane, @game-savvy, @akiramirae, @sielt, @fluffy-koalala, @formacoon, @sxftiebee, @khxii-i, @ursinaw, @chuuya-brainrot, @sweetbills, @kazuchaos, @snowfoxnix, @bluebelony, @conspicuous-mayonnaise, @pencil-of-ashes, @ghostlyintervention, @taiformaifoe, @goaudduck, @carminerin, @maddysflowers, @zenith-of-all-zenith, @crazydreamcat, @leafanonsforest, @grimreapersscythe, @leylanx, @sapphireknown, @help-whatdoimakemyusername, @zhonglisfruityass, @mer0n37, @victoria1676, @mochinessss, @sinnful-darling, @emilymikado, @pix-stuff, @esthelily, @luxie963, @emmbny, @millienolife, @kbar1013, @xxblackroses623xx, @chxrlxtteee, @aludicpoet, @yandematic, @atrcclovsxoxo, @0lshadyl0

#whisp's amateur work #genshin impact #genshin sagau #yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #yandere sagau #genshin impact sagau #sagau oracle au #genshin cult au #sagau cult au #yandere x y/n #yandere x reader #yandere zhongli #sagau #yandere morax #yandere rex lapis

1K notes · View notes

wanderingconstellations · 10 months

Note

500+ FOLLOWER SPECIAL

You requested this, so....

Adept!Reader and Rex Lapis on their wedding night.

FUCK YEAH‼️‼️ SORRY IF THIS WAS RUSHED, BUT ENJOY‼️‼️

gn!adepti!reader, COULD BE OOC!!!

You're an adepti..but you're married to the one who you called your god.

And it was your wedding night, and you've never ever done something like this before...But lucky for you, your husband here is happy to lead you.

"There, there, dear. There's no need to be ashamed."

He cooed, and kiss your left temple— wrapping his muscular arms around your waist and nuzzling himself into the nape of your neck. Despite being ashamed of your own body, Zhongli or Morax here— wants you to reveal your body to him. It's not like he gives a fuck whether you have scars, stretch marks, or anything.

"There's no need to be afraid, dear. You're beautiful no matter what.."

Zhongli soon undo the ties of your outfit— carefully and gently taking it off of you. He was taking care of you like you were fragile glass. He murmured sweet nothings into your ear, telling you of how lucky and how beautiful you are.

And once you were naked and bare in front of him— and he couldn't help but feel his erection and lust growing. You were just ravishing. His hands immediately caresses your waist, feeling the soft skin under his rough hands.

"You're so beautiful..So soft.."

He spoke like he was in awe of you, and apparently he was. He was treating you with such gentleness, it was surprising that he didn't go feral at the sight of you bare and just fuck you right there and now.

But simple actions like him caressing your hips, your hair, your face, or even fondling with your chest turns into something even more intimate and heated.

Now you found yourself in all fours, getting pounded from behind by the one you call your husband.

"Ohh fuck~ You're so tight and warm..You want me to fill you up with my needs, don't you?~"

You were sobbing onto the pillow, gripping onto it tightly and holding on for dear life while he hammered his cock into your sopping hole that was enveloping him.

"You're so good to me... You'll look so good with a swollen belly..~"

Hot and sticky ropes of cum shoots inside of you— but he didn't stop, instead— he continues to pump his cock into you despite how overstimulated you were. Morax wanted you to be knocked up, filled with his seeds. He wanted you to bear his children and doesn't give a fuck whether you're a man— he'll make sure you're bearing his children.

Morax or rather yet Zhongli, doesn't seem to stop. He continues to fuck you senselessly— watching how your ass jiggles with every thrust he makes. Damn right he was gonna make sure you're pregnant after this.

His grip on your hips was starting to sting, but that only sends pleasure rushing to you— making you cum all over his cock once again. He was looking at you with such desire, almost like he wanted to eat you all up...

"Don't cry, dear~ You're taking me so so well.. Your cries and moans are so so adorable..~"

Don't expect him to stop after this round. He'll make sure to mark you as his, to show that you're his one and only, to make sure you're all filled with his seeds until stopping. Either way, just appreciate that your dear husband will take care of you afterwards <33

#genshin imagines #genshin impact x you #smut brainrot #genshin impact scenarios #genshin smut #genshin impact #zhongli x reader #zhongli smut #zhongli x you #morax x reader #morax x y/n #rex lapis

745 notes · View notes

luxthestrange · 5 months

Text

G.I Incorrect Quotes#60 Counseling

I married an ancient dragon deity, Au

When You accidentally Marry the Archon of Liyue, When you thought he was just the most good-looking bachelor in Liyue(You fell in love with his specific facts and storytelling tbh-), Overall it's still your husband ...tho after this idk-

Y/n*Opening Netflix/Disney Plus and gasps*A WHOLE FREAKING SEASON IS WHAT YOU WATCHED WHILE I WAS ON MY BUSSNESS TRIP!

Ganyu*Who is recording the whole kerfuffle, wheezing*

Zhongli:...Damn it the thing told on me

Y/n*Looking at the second season...ALL WATCHED-*YES!SEASON 2 YOU WATCHED A WHOLE SEASON WITHOUT ME!!-You didn't even tell me!

Zhongli: Well, Thats because it was so good I couldn't stop dearest...

Y/n*Pointing at the screen* YOU BEEN CHEATING ON ME!!!

Zhongli*Is smiling while holding own laughter*Yes I have

Y/n: WE NEED MARRIAGE COUNSELING!!!-

Xiao*Coming in about to introduce his Girlfriend Lumine, Sees and hears you two turns around grabs Lumine's hand, and walks away*....

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin #genshin x reader #genshin x y/n #i married an ancient dragon au #zhongli x reader #zhongli x y/n #rex lapis #rex lapis x reader #rex lapis x y/n #genshin morax #morax x reader #morax x y/n #genshin incorrect quotes #incorrect quotes #genshin ganyu #genshin xiao #genshin lumine

624 notes · View notes

moraxsthrone · 1 year

Text

◊ title:: seen

◊ pairing:: zhongli x f!reader

◊ wc:: 1.9k

◊ warnings:: nsfw. mdni. mentions: war, blood.

◊ a/n:: my first nsfw zhongli piece. i love this man fiercely - every. last. inch. of him.

your relationship with zhongli began as one of acquaintances, but quickly and effortlessly turned into a fond friendship. it didn’t take long for both of you to act on your mutual attraction and for months now you’ve had…something…with him.

you’ve spent time together with increasing frequency: taking long walks in the outskirts of liyue when time allows, enjoying long, fascinating conversations that keep you both up until ungodly hours of the night, and sharing moments of physical intimacy. chaste kisses have turned hot and passionate. wandering mouths and hands. you’ve spent him with your hand numerous times, turning the inside of his pants creamy white just as he has done to you. in the beginning, you’d asked him a couple of times to take his gloves off, to touch you skin to skin but he would suddenly withdraw every time, leaving both of you panting and needy with no release.

you didn’t know why - he refused to talk about it. your best guess was that his hands were littered with unsightly scars, about which he was terribly self-conscious. but you stopped bringing it up months ago, deciding that his gloved touch was better than his absent touch. no matter how fiercely the raging fire in your loins burned for him, however, so long as he couldn’t be naked with you, you’d never let him bed you.

the markings on zhongli’s skin have been with him over the millennia, even after stepping down as the geo archon and relinquishing the title of rex lapis. shirking his identity as morax did nothing to rid him of his physical appearance, leaving him with the permanent, heavy reminder of his godship. he just wants to be a man now, to have a human experience; to just be himself, free from stifling decorum and tremendous responsibility.

he longs to show himself to you, to be honest and transparent about who he is but the fear of what you might think of him when you see him - all of him - when you discover who, no, what he was has been holding him back. recently, however, he has given it much thought and reasons that if exposing himself revolts you, it’s better to rip off the bandage, as it were - to get it over with so you can both go your separate ways before either of you get too invested or hurt too badly.

as far as zhongli is concerned, your likely rejection is all but a foregone conclusion, and damage control is the best he can hope for.

a night on the town ends like so many before, on top of your bed, tongues swirling and zhongli’s hips nestled between your open thighs, grinding his clothed erection against your throbbing clit. his slacks are darkened where his girth pushes painfully against the fabric - a sinful mixture of your slick and his prespend. a few feet away, his coat hangs atop yours over the back of your sitting chair; his shoes sit neatly underneath. leave it to zhongli to keep order even as his carnal urges take hold.

pushing himself off you, zhongli kneels between your legs and rids himself of his tie and waistcoat. he watches you carefully to gauge your reaction as he takes his rings off of his thumbs. your heart leaps with anticipation when he begins to loosen the thin, black barrier from his fingers until a couple of deliberate tugs are all that’s needed to free his hands.

rough and battle-worn, they all but glow with a complexion of brilliant gold. the former archon feels naked; revealing his discolored flesh to you is just like being in a state of undress. your eyes widen, making zhongli feel the urge to pull away and cover his skin again. you open your mouth and look up at him, speechlessly searching his eager gaze, but for what? an explanation? confirmation of his suspected identity? so many questions churn through your mind, but there will be time for that later.

it warms your heart to see the man formerly known as morax, once feared by legions of warriors, standing before you, vulnerable and insecure as you admire the same hands that wiped them out long ago. you take both his hands in yours, turning them over before bringing one to your cheek, holding it against your warm skin as you press your lips to his palm.

zhongli releases his bated breath, watching adoration fill your eyes as your curious fingers meander into the long sleeves of his dress shirt. his heart quickens as you expose his wrists, the skin gradually darkening to match the ore of his old namesake. your eyes find his again as you gingerly bring your fingers to the collar of his shirt.

“may i?”

“y-yes,” he says, closing his eyes as you begin to unfasten the buttons, starting at his collar and working your way down at an unhurried pace. the simple act causes his adam’s apple to dip under your touch and his member to twitch inside his slacks. his naked chest rises and falls, the skin there pale and unremarkable save for a small patch of dark hair. it tickles your soft lips as you kiss his flesh, his pectorals flexing at your unexpected but very much welcomed affection.

you finish with the final button, your covetous eyes taking in every ridge and valley of his musculature. zhongli shudders as your hands explore his stomach beneath the beige linen, the heat of his skin seeping into your fingertips as they traverse the length of his torso. reaching up, you slip your hands into his shirt just beneath the collar and begin to push the expensive material away from his shoulders. it falls away, down his perfectly toned arms, uncovering what the lore describes with surprising accuracy.

intricate vein-like lines thread their way upwards along his battle-carved arms, etched into his flesh like the stone he once commanded. from his wrists to his shoulders, the graduation of colors reminds you of the forging of a new weapon in fierce heat. along his forearms of scorching amber and biceps of carbonized iron, geometric patterns glow with the same color and intensity as his bright, golden hands. his shoulders are just this side of black; dark brown like old soil, dense and compacted by the weight of the world and centuries of war pounded into them.

you see him. nearly every human to have existed in the past few thousand years would recognize his distinct markings anywhere. you now know who he used to be, but do you see him as the man who stands before you in this moment, or as the god who greedily ended entire civilizations?

“this changes nothing,” you murmur, sensing his needless worry. “zhongli,” you bring your hand to his face and ghost your lips below his ear, “do you not know by now that i can read you like one of your myriad books?” his breath is warm against your cheek when you press your mouth to the corner of his lips, whispering tenderly. “the color of your skin will not stop me from seeing right through to the core of you. you are a beautiful man, inside and out.”

zhongli’s heart rattles his ribcage, beating so hard like it’s trying to escape his chest to get at you. all the air rushes from his lungs as he turns his head to kiss you properly, devouring the taste of your lips.

you reach back and unzip your dress, letting it fall to expose your flushed breasts before guiding zhongli’s xanthous hands to them, wordlessly encouraging him to touch you. liberated from months of bridled desire, he cups and squeezes your soft flesh, a string of saliva snapping between your lips when he lowers his mouth to your tit. he suckles and swirls his velvety tongue around your pebbled nipple as his hands grab and pull your waist closer. he relishes the soft moan that you reward him with, yearning to hear other sounds he might be able to coax from your pretty mouth.

your wandering hand finds and squeezes his erect cock, aching and jumping at your touch. he sits back on his haunches, his breaths coming hard and fast through open lips. you watch his golden, elegant fingers unbuckle his belt and open his uncomfortably tight trousers before leaning over your body again.

you’re both locked in a desperate kiss when you reach down and slide your fingers inside his waistband, feeling the familiar heat of his impressive length as you free him. the resounding depth of zhongli’s voice when he groans into your mouth has you clenching around nothing. he so urgently removes your dress that the fabric rips in a few places, eliciting a pitiful whine from you at the sudden glimpse of morax’s deep-seated power emerging with his need.

with your fingers indisposed, fisted in his amber-tipped locks, you resort to unsuccessfully pushing his pants down his thighs with your toes. he takes over, making no waste of time working them down his legs, growling in frustration when they briefly get stuck around one of his ankles. you snicker at his plight and he gives up.

“good enough,” he huffs with a smile before settling between your legs, pants long forgotten when his naked cock nestles against your cunt for the first time.

your eyelids slide closed, zhongli taking advantage of your exposed neck when you roll your head back at the feeling of his hardness dragging against your slippery clit. your inner thighs hug his naked hips as he sucks and nips at your pulse point. he hasn’t even entered you and you’re already so close to your climax.

zhongli reaches between your bodies and rubs the throbbing head of his cock along your wet slit before nudging at your entrance, your hips rising off the bed to meet him. your walls spread around him as he pushes inside you, coaxing a long, low moan from his parted lips.

“archons, yes…” you sigh, your mouth hanging open at the exquisite stretch zhongli’s thick girth provides as he fully sheathes himself inside your heat. you paw at his black shoulders, his muscles dimpling under the pressure of your fingertips when he begins to move with slow, shallow thrusts.

the same golden fingers that slayed gods centuries ago now brush stray locks of your hair from your face with tender care. you wrap your arms around his neck, holding him fast to your body as though he might disappear if you let him go.

“i have wanted you like this for so long…” he mutters against the damp skin of your neck, his movements gaining in speed and depth. there are a thousand things you want to say to him, but his sculpting of your insides to fit his shape has left you breathless and unable to form a single coherent thought.

he raises up onto his arms and laces his glowing fingers between yours, gently pressing your hands into the bedding on either side of your beautiful face. watching your body move with his, zhongli is filled with deep satisfaction and the first flutterings of love at the edges of his heart.

you turn your head to press your open lips to the warm, dark skin of his bare arm, quietly gasping his name as his erect length drags sweetly along the wet walls of your core. your soft skin pressed so intimately with his - stained with earth and the blood of many men - confers your approval of his naked form with far more eloquence than any words ever could. your full acceptance of his true self turns his gaze from his lonely past. his focus now lies ahead and all he can see before him is his future with you by his side.

zhongli mlist

i hope you enjoyed reading this as much as i did writing it. 😩😮‍💨 if so, reblogs are greatly appreciated!! 🧡

589 notes · View notes

lexsssu · 4 months

Text

Aeon (Zhongli)

TAGS: Zhongli/F!reader, yandere, obsession, possessive behavior, implied smut Ao3 ver.

“Exquisite, gorgeous, precious...and all MINE ”

Cool amber burned almost golden as they gazed down at you with so much restrained desire that it almost felt like you were being scorched by the intensity of his hunger alone.

Can you blame him though? Zhongli had spent countless nights dreaming of this day. He’d lost count of how many times he only had the company of his own hand to sate his yearning to be one with you both in heart and body.

The former archon was filled with so MUCH love for you that it was an ordeal in itself to keep it all under wraps so that he wouldn’t frighten you away. He KNOWS that you were born to be HIS and as much as he wanted to simply snatch you up and hoard you somewhere dark and isolated...he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if you were to lose your spark should he chain you to him by force.

That is why he bides his time, something he’d never been in short supply of. He befriends you when you first arrive at Liyue Harbor, refraining from crushing you to his body the moment he catches a whiff of your jasmine flower scent as you introduce yourself to him. The smile you bestow upon the dark-haired man reminds him of a single unspoiled bloom atop a mountain’s peak as the ground is bathed in a river of red.

Every cell in his body practically SCREAMS at him to mark you already. To stake his claim before any other presumptuous male decided to show interest in you, because who wouldn’t be interested when you were the rarest gem amongst a sea of filthy swine?

“Don’t worry, my Darling. Tonight...you will be cherished and pampered like the priceless treasure that you are...I will worship you until only your sweet cries fill the night…” He purrs, a deep rumble emanating from his chest as his large hands begin to tug softly at the expensive material of your bright red wedding dress.

It is like opening a neatly wrapped and highly anticipated present, every tug revealing a sight that makes his breath hitch in his throat and for his mouth to go dry, an undeniable hunger roaring within him. Zhongli is a patient man, he’d waited thousands of years before finally meeting you and yet those few seconds before your gorgeous body was revealed to him felt like an eternity.

When your exquisite form in all its beauty is finally bared before his draconic gaze, the male pounces and your delectably debauched cries fill the air throughout the night and until the wee hours of the morning.

#lexsssu writes #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #zhongli x reader #rex lapis x reader #morax x reader #genshin zhongli x reader #zhongli x you #zhongli x y/n #crossposted on ao3 #yandere x reader #zhongli

259 notes · View notes

nubisaureus · 11 months

Text

asking you to sit on their face

character(s): Childe, Zhongli

pairing(s): fem!reader x Childe, Zhongli (separately)

contents: face sitting, praise, domestic scenery, c0ck r1ding, hint of breeding

a/n: hey y'all! sorry for the long absence but I got sick, and a bunch of personal stuff came up plus a bit of writer's block so yk :')

anyways, I am absolutely feral about pussy drunk characters so please enjoy this absolute filthy post (ik you love this stuff ;) it'll be out litte secret)

ps: it's my first time writing for Childe so let me know how it was! <3

pps: not proofread T^T

•┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈•

Childe

It had started with you using your Cryo Vision to freeze him.

You two were sparring: it was no secret that he was your rival, as well as your lover. Rivals in the streets, lovers in the sheets.

He had tried to sweep you off your feet using his Hydro Vision, but what he didn't know is that you had a Hydro delusion: an extreme measure really, but needless to say it was devastating when combined with your Cryo vision.

So you had used your Hydro powers to direct his flood towards him, soaking him from head to toe. And then, with a flick of your finger, you had frozen him from the waist down, freezing his hands to the floor, effectively rendering him powerless at your mercy, laid down in front of you.

«So, looks like I win.» you bragged, looking at him top - down.

He scoffed.

«I reckon it comrade, you won. A Hydro delusion is not something I had expected. Although I don't mind this position at all.» you gave him a smug look, crouching next to him and caressing his face.

«What can I say, I'm full of surprises.»

«Oh, I can see that.» you looked at him, bound in front of you, helpless, at your mercy...

You were horny, very horny. His sexy knowing smile didn't help either. He knew exactly what you were thinking.

«Something wrong, comrade?» he asked, as you got closer to him.

You didn't answer. You simply kept looking at him, a million scenes playing in your mind, distracting you from the present.

As another fantasy started playing in your head, a loud bang startled you: Childe had managed to break free of his hand bonds, although he remained frozen from the waist down.

He grabbed you, making you topple over him, and started voraciously kissing you.

You moaned on his face, and flinched at the contact with the ice, so you melted it with your powers, and could finally feel his hot skin, burning even.

The training room wasn't the best for privacy, so you whispered something in his ear, and soon enough every doorknob was frozen, making it impossible for people to enter.

«You have a wicked mind using our Visions like that, comrade.» he whispered, out of breath.

«Oh, isn't that why all of this is so hot though, comrade?» you didn't particularly like that nickname, so you mocked him.

Soon enough, the floor of the training room became a mess.

An indefinite and tangled mess of clothes ended up all over it, leaving you two with only your underwear.

With skilled hands he undid your bra, which now laid somewhere on the floor.

«Sit on my face.» he suddenly said, his pupils dilated with lust.

«Huh? But I've never done something like that.» you expressed your concern, but were soon bothered by the raging heat between your legs, quickly soaking your underwear.

«Hey, stop using your Vision on me..» you whined, but he didn't stop.

Fuck it. He wanted you to sit on his face? Then so be it.

You took off your underwear and sat on his stupid orange haired face.

You doubted he could last very long..oh.

Oh fuck.

He. was. everywhere.

His tongue was inside you, moving, and moving, and moving.

The wetter you became, the more he'd feed on it.

And the ungodly slurping noises only made things worse. He wasn't eating you out, no. He was drinking you. As if he had an unquenchable thirst. As if he couldn't have enough.

You lifted your hips a bit, worried he didn't have enough air, but you heard him mumble.

«Don't you fucking dare lift up those hips. I'm not done yet, and you'll be here until I'm satisfied, comrade.»

At this point any and all rational thought had left you, and you just let your mind empty, lust taking you over.

«Fuck fuck fuck. Childe I swear, I'm not gonna last long if you kee-ahh..!» you came. Not once, not twice, you had lost count.

His tongue was drinking you up more and more, and you lost track of time, too ecstatic and lust drunk to even notice something as trivial.

When he was satisfied, he lifted you up, making you sit on the floor.

It didn't last long though. Soon enough you were down on all fours, doggy style.

«Baby I need you to take it for me, can you do it?» he asked, and you knew he was drunk. Pussy drunk. He just needed you to clench around him, he just needed to feel you.

You gave him a nod, and then felt his length inside of you, and the arousal mounted again. It was just a never ending marathon when you two got to it. That's why you tried to keep your meetings short, otherwise you'd end up like this, but at that point your mind was too preoccupied with him to think about anything else.

«You're so pretty baby, I love it so much when you clench around me like that..you're so warm, it just feels like you were made for my cock. Take it a little bit more baby, please, won't you? I know you can, you're so good..» he sounded delirious, out of his mind, but you didn't care. His cock just felt so good inside of you..

«So good, baby. I can't get enough of it, I'm sorry. I know you're tired but please, please please hold on just a little bit more for me, okay baby? You take me so well I just can't get enough of you baby. I swear baby I want to make you feel so good every day and every moment, if you'll just let me, I promise I'll take good care of you, baby.»

──────────────────────────────

Zhongli

It had been a long day. Zhongli was tired, sitting in his office at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, exhaustion filling every fiber of his body.

Who would've thought that working for a 19-year-old girl would be so tiring? He almost regretted fighting every day, almost.

Truth be told, he was just being overly dramatic: he hadn't seen his girlfriend all day, and today, of all days, his body decided to make him feel extra horny. Exactly when he had to work overtime.

6000 years and he still suffered from these issues.

He chuckled to himself, almost relieved. At least he still had a semblance of mortality in him.

As he signed the last of his paperwork, he could finally go home to his girlfriend, to you.

He found you on the armchair, reading a book. And you were wearing just one of his shirts. It made him feel..a certain way.

He sneaked his way behind you, his fingers landing on your shoulders, pressing slightly, massaging them.

You sighed happily.

«Oh, you're back, love. What did I do to deserve this special treatment..?» you said, closing your book and leaning forward, giving him more space to massage you.

He made you stand up and sit on his lap, and you instantly knew what was up, his cock pressing against you.

«Oh, I see now..» he continued massaging, and you unbuttoned the shirt a bit, exposing your back to him.

«I'd give you this special treatment regardless, love.» he reached for the shirt, unbuttoning it all the way. Now it was hanging loosely on his lap, your arms still in the sleeves.

He moved your hair from your back, delicately dragging his fingers along, sending shivers down your spine.

He kissed your shoulder, and gripped your hips hard, squishing your flesh.

He then started kissing your neck, making you tilt your head all the way back, until it was resting on his shoulder.

Soon enough his hands moved, now kneading your breasts, which were exposed, since you weren't wearing your bra, just panties.

«Zhongli..» you moaned, kissing his neck, your bodies tangling in a mix of lust, sweat and love.

«Mh..?» his mouth too preoccupied with making you feel good to give you a proper answer.

«In our bedroom. I need to feel your skin, please.»

«Of course, my love. As you wish.» you turned around, now facing him.

He picked you up, carrying you to the bedroom, while you undid his tie, and helped him remove his jacket.

As you two got to the bedroom, the shirt you were wearing was on the floor, and you were completely naked, except for your panties.

You undressed him, taking your time to kiss every inch of his body.

He moaned, a sound that reverberated deep within you, going directly in your pussy, his voice was just that hot.

He kissed you, and you both remained naked, as you jumped on him, crossing your legs behind his back.

He dropped you on the bed, climbing on top of you, and inverted your positions, putting you on top of him.

«I need you to sit on my face, love.» he said, panting because of the lust. How could you deny his request, when he was looking at you like a dying man looked at his savior?

«Are you sure, Zhongli? Won't you run out of air..?» he shook his head, reassuring you.

«It's fine, love. I just need you. You've been on my mind all day, and I need you, so badly. I just need you to sit on me, love.»

You decided to grant his request, curious yourself of how it would feel. He had eaten you out many times, would this time be so different..?

As soon as your pussy made contact with his face, you immediately understood how wrong you were about it feeling the same.

His nostrils got invaded by your scent, your arousal dripping down on his face, intoxicating him.

It was just so addictive. He had been dreaming of doing that all day, his mind unable to tear itself from the thought of having his face buried deep in your pussy.

He started licking away, like his life depended on it.

His hands firmly gripped your thighs, making it impossible to move. You bent down, the pleasure overwhelming you, making your head dizzy: you gripped the bed sheets, your legs trembling under his relentless licking and sucking.

His mouth was on your clit now: he sucked away, never stopping, never ceasing to make you feel good.

«Z-zhongli..» you whined, slamming your forearm on the bed to regain some balance, as he pressed your pussy deeper on his face.

He could feel how you were trembling around him: your pussy clenched on his tongue, as if it wanted to capture him, keeping him inside of you.

He couldn't get enough, he had to have you in every way possible, so when you came all over his face, he didn't hesitate to lick you clean, as your scent enveloped him, making him lightheaded, or rather, pussy drunk.

You didn't even know who you were anymore. All you knew was Zhongli under you, making you see stars with his tongue, making you feel like you were the luckiest woman in all of Teyvat.

As he was satisfied, at least for the time being, he lifted you up, already missing your warmth on his face.

«That was..I..Z-zhongli..» you couldn't speak properly, your whole body was trembling, the orgasm still lingering.

He moved you lower on his body.

«I need you to take me, love. Will you do it for me?» he didn't have to ask twice. You lowered yourself on his massive cock, your pussy stretching around him, making space. He had a massive girth to it, making you feel every inch of his length, driving you crazy.

You sat still on him for a few seconds, wanting to savor the sensation of his cock stretching you out.

«Fuck- love you're so warm and tight around me..!» his voice was an octave higher, the lust completely taking hold of him.

«M-move love..please. I need you to move, please.» he whined, begging you to move.

You grabbed his hands, using them as leverage to rise up, only to bounce back on his cock.

You took your time though, bouncing up and down, your tits following the movement.

You could hear Zhongli moaning like his life depended on it, which compelled you to open your eyes.

You looked down at him, the sight of his face contracted in pleasure, with his cheeks all read, and his mouth open, a small line of drool (or your arousal, you weren't sure), making you feel so powerful, like a Goddess, his Goddess.

You just couldn't believe you were on top of the Geo Archon, and said Archon was feeling so good because of you.

You came at the same time. You could feel his seed dripping down your thighs, and you tried to move a bit, to clean yourself.

He prevented you from doing so, closing your legs instead, as to trap all the seed inside of you.

«I just need to feel you clenching around me a little bit more, love.»

──────────────────────────────

922 notes · View notes

ruisutea · 8 months

Text

Dragon bf/husband watching you be a motherly figure to the eggs, taking good care of it.

Watching you patiently caring for each egg taking off things that could potentially hurt them. (*＾＾*)//

#totally not inspired by that one egg in honkai star rail where your the motherly figure to it #genshin #tiredtealuvr #genshin imagines #genshin x gn reader #genshin x you #genshin x male reader #zhongli x male reader #zhongli x you #rex lapis x reader #hsr dan heng #dan heng x y/n #dan heng x reader #dan heng x male reader #imbibitor lunae #neuvillette x y/n #neuvillette x you #neuvillette x reader #neuvilette x reader

582 notes · View notes

thebomb-thebird-andtheburntbitch · 10 months

Text

Dragonfly

zhongli/f.reader

genre: morax/zhongi, immortal!cursed!reader, miko/shrinemaiden!reader, angst, hurt/comfort(?), slow burn, reunion, traveler is NOT y/n, implied xiao/traveler,

warning(s)!!: mentions of: death/repetitive deaths, war, past suicides, the suffering of immortality in a mortal body, for the sake of this fic dragonflies are semi-common in teyvat/liyue lol, xiao considers zhongli/reader parental figures, things will definitely not follow canon timelines, Xiao is a frequent/important character, characters may be ooc (im sorry)

w.count: 15.6k (i am so sorry)

SYNOPSIS: fate and time are cruel kings ruling over even gods. morax is no exception. the only human he ever fell in love with was twisted by fate to battle him in a brewing war. the image of the burning temple that she resided in rested behind his eyelids and not a day goes by that he does not still mourn and yearn. time had cruelly taken you away from him. or... had it?

“Hello Traveler!” The soft yet chipper voice of the ever-pranking funeral director calls out from behind the blond Outworlder. The day in Liyue was still young and bright as the umber-clad young lady walks up to both them and Paimon who had floated herself bouncily from the Traveler’s right shoulder to the left.

“Oh,” Paimon begrudgingly acknowledges, form bobbing in the air comfortably. “It's Hu Tao.”

“Paimon,” Traveler scolds, crossing their arms over their chest. Paimon just sighs as the blond looks to the funeral director who had come close enough for conversion and unfolds their arms, bringing them down to their sides relaxingly. “Good to see you, Hu Tao,” they greet with a small nod.

“Indeed,” Hu Tao nods back, closing her eyes briefly in glee before reopening them. “It is lovely to see you. Are you here to visit Liyue? Or, perhaps another pressing matter brought you back to this nation once again.”

“It’s nothing drastic,” Traveler dismisses. “We just.... had some time on our hands. So, we’re just visiting.” Partially, that was the truth. However, the full truth was that there was most definitely something the pair could be doing instead of wandering around Liyue. But it was important to take time for yourself sometimes, right?

“Well, feel free to stop by the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor if you’re interested! I’d be happy to host the both of you for a meal.”

“You mean, Zhongli would host us?” Paimon quips up knowing that, as Hu Tao’s consultant, Zhongli’s job descriptions can vary in terms of tasks. However, when Paimon spoke Hu Tao lifted her arms up towards herself. One wrapped around her chest and rested the elbow of her other, resting her curled fingers against her chin in thought.

“Perhaps, not this time. Zhongli has had something on his mind these days.” The woman brought her curled hand and arms back down, now gesturing them softly in front of her as she spoke more. “It would feel distasteful to ask him to host guests at the moment.”

The mention of Zhongli being mentally occupied made the Traveler and Paimon look at each other. They were privy to a lot of information the consultant kept tucked away from public knowledge- for good reason. The staged death of Morax for one. Although Hu Tao had once speculated that Zhongli could possibly be an Adeptus, she surely didn’t know that she wasn’t exactly far off from a bullseye.

Still, the fact that Zhongli, the former Lord of Geo, was distracted so much that Hu Tao had essentially dismissed him of some of his duties was a concerning thought. He never seemed the type to dwell so much on something that it obstructed his work.

“I’ve tried asking him about it before,” Hu Tao continues, “since he gets like this around the same time every year. All he’s ever spoken to me about it is that someone he knew from his past had died around this time. It felt… wrong to pry into his past more for some reason.” It wasn’t an odd statement coming from her. She often took her work very seriously, even if she herself was a spitfire of a young lady.

“Someone from his past died?” Paimon asked, already knowing about his past with the Adepti and The Seven. Perhaps, it had something to do with them? Either way, the concern was planted in the Traveler’s chest, so it felt only natural to find the ex-Archon and try and get some answers out of him. Maybe, since the pair had already known about his identity it would be easier to talk about. Or, that was the hope at least.

Hu Tao and the Traveler spoke briefly for a moment longer with the usual snarky comment from Paimon before going their separate ways. Hu Tao had apparently been on her way out to fulfil a clients few specific requests and her stop for a chat was pushing to make her behind on her work. Paimon didn’t mind if she went on her way sooner rather than later, the dealing with the dead had always been creepy to the floating companion.

Regardless, Hu Tao was a nice lady. Traveler would make sure to stop by and see her more, maybe indulge her hobby of poetry a bit.

The two had walked around the busy streets of Liyue for a while trying to find Zhongli. He wasn’t at the funeral parlor, much to their dismay at making it an easy search, so they just starting wandering hoping to catch him somewhere along the way. Soon enough, they had wandered just far enough to catch a glimpse of his long brown tailcoat at Liyue Harbor.

In retrospect, they should have started their search here if the funeral parlor was a bust.

Zhonglig stood with his hands tucked neatly into each other behind his back, shoulders slack as he looked out over the landscape. He was basking in the solitude at the top arch of the harbor’s bridge when he hear the approaching sounds of footsteps. Turning his chin, he unclasped his hands and let his arms fall from his back before turning to greet the approaching Traveler.

“Ah,” his deep voice reverberates and only the closest to him can detect the faux sound of a choked strain in it. “Greetings, Traveler.”

“Hello, Zhongli!” Paimon greets floating just a fraction ahead of Traveler. “What were you doing?” She already begins to pry with a suspiciously high-strained voice. It just makes Traveler silently sigh and shake their head. She really needed to work on being more conspicuous.

It’s quiet for a moment before Zhongli already catches on. Perhaps he can be a bit dense about certain aspects of the mortal realm, but he was by no means a fool. A smile finds its way on his lips in a moment of mild amusement at Paimon’s grace, or rather lack thereof.

“I was merely lost in thought. Reminiscing about the past, you could say.”

“The past?” She pressed again.

“Paimon,” the Traveler hisses for the second time that day. The floating girl just opened her jaw in mock offense before floating closer to them.

“What? What did Paimon say now!”

Zhongli’s low chuckle was a soft tune that at least showed he wasn’t offended by the blatant attempt at coaxing his thoughts out of his lips.

“Did the Director send you to find me perhaps?” The fact that he was trying to slowly steer the conversation away wasn’t lost to the Traveler. Paimon and them both looked back to Zhongli shaking their heads.

“Not exactly,” Traveler starts.

“We did run into her though,” Paimon tacks on. “She told us you had been down in the dumps, so we came to check on you!” Paimon’s small hands came to her hips and her chest puffed out as if proud of her actions of checking in with a friend.

Zhongli chuckles once again at the way Traveler places their hands on their hips as well,. Though, they were instead sending a playful scowl at the back of Paimon’s head.

“It is quite refreshing to see the two of you bicker,” he chides. “It certainly helps in easing the mind.” Once more, the two’s attention was drawn back to the former god.

“So,” Traveler starts before Paimon could interject with something else, “there is something on your mind?” There was a growing fit of silence between the group of three, no one speaking in fear of shattering something they couldn’t exactly describe. Zhongli seemingly caved with a minuscule sigh kept more to himself than the harbor’s breeze.

“The assumption that I’ve been a bit… preoccupied is correct. Lately, it seems I cannot focus on certain tasks for too long. My mind has a bit of a tendency to wander around this time of year.” Zhongli can already see the look of curiously mixed with concern written into the eyes of both Paimon and Traveler. His own eyes flick around the bridge and beyond the harbor’s main port before returning back to his visitors. “If you’re very interested to know, then I would not mind trying to explain it all over some tea. Though, it would be best if we took the topic of conversation elsewhere.”

The sudden shift in his demeanor was almost palpable. It was like a cloak of grey mist started to waft around his very being at the mention of speaking his mind. Now that the two outsiders got the confirmation that whatever it was that was plaguing him was of the past he doesn’t let others know of, they were ready for a lengthy story.

Zhongli had graciously invited the Traveler and Paimon to his personal abode, a place they had never even set eyes on. Of course, they knew he had to have had a place to stay and sleep, but for some reason it felt like all he ever did was walk around Liyue, do his work at the funeral parlor, or listen to stories at the Third-Round Knockout. It shouldn’t have been a shock to know he had his own home, but all the same, it was.

It was simplistic inside, with the shelves being the only things of high value because of all the collected items he had bought and stored on them. Gesturing them both to a set of chairs between a table, he began brewing tea to serve as promised.

Traveler sat awkwardly at first. Shuffling around in their chair while Paimon floated around the open space of the house being nosier than she should’ve been truthfully. Still, Zhongli didn’t say anything about her snooping so she continued to do so until the homeowner returned with a tray in his hands.

A decorative teapot sat in the middle of the dark, wooden tray atop a plain towel; the steam of the hot, freshly brewed tea wisped out gracefully from its spout. Beside it were three small teacups placed upside down that clattered with the smallest sounds of finely made clay as he set the tray in the center of the table. Along with them was a small dish of cubes of sugar and a small creamer that held milk inside it.

Zhongli skillfully took the teacups and flipped them over, setting them all upright and easily pouring the exact same amount of tea into each. The brew was dark and the steam wafted around the tabletop before dissipating into the air only to be replaced immediately with more. He slid two cups toward Traveler and the other to Paimon once she stopped her floating around and settled once again as the third member of the current party. He offered the milk and sugar to the two of them as well.

“I prefer my tea black, but please help yourselves.” Zhongli settled into his own seat easily. One arm resting on the arm of his perch and the other on the table top to curl his fingers around the cup he had prepared for himself. His legs crossed out of habit and it was then that the Traveler realized he had taken off his tailcoat. It was purely out of habit to take it off when he had arrived to the privacy of his own home, and he didn’t even realize it himself- not that it mattered. It was simply a different look than they were used to.

Paimon began dropping sugar cubes into her cup a bit too clumsily as small droplets splashed on her hand from the objects breaching the liquid causing her to yelp. In turn, the two seated companions offered her chuckles of amusement as she blew on her hand. Of course, it was hardly an injury- it was more a fright than a burn.

“It’s hot,” Zhongli chided.

“Gee, you think!” She then started dropping in cube after cube much more delicately. Or, rather she would drop them from the same height as before but immediately fly away when she let go so the upcoming splash wouldn’t touch her again. The Traveler made their own additions to their tea as well, but much less messily.

The three settle into a comfortable silence filled with small sips of tea and clicks of returning cup to wooden table top. That is, until Zhongli broke it by placing a small wooden box on the table in front of him to join in with the teatray and it’s accessories.

It was an elegant box the size of his fist. Golden edges wrapped in angular designs and a locked latch in the front of it. On the top of the lid was the symbol of a Geo Vision. At first, the two travelers thought that maybe this box is what he stored his fake Vision in when it wasn’t on his person. Pulling a small key from under his long-collared shirt, he unlocked the box and opened the lid. From where the Traveler sat with the lid facing them, they still couldn’t get a peek inside.

The last thing they expected Zhongli to pull out of the cushioned, plush lined box was a hair ornament.

Modeled in the shape of a dragonfly, the piece was carefully handled by the ex-archon and placed so very delicately on the table. The wings of the dragon fly were filled with a crystal that shone green and teal, the colors shifting with the light and angle as which it was gazed upon. The piece itself was designed as a hairstick, acting as an elegant means to pen up locks of hair- the metal rod of the stick seemed well suited for such a job. Matching teal-green crystal beads hung from the bottom tips of each wing as decorative tails.

It was a beautiful piece to gaze at.

Zhongli kept his hand on the table right next to it, his fingertips just a breath away from touching it again. When Paimon got a bit too close while gazing at it, Traveler could see the slightest twitch run through his fingers. As if the ex-Archon was anxious about Paimon getting too close to it. Still, to not be rude he said nothing as she continued to narrowing gawk.

“Paimon, back up a little,” Traveler said, sitting forward a bit to try and act like they were trying to get a better look while simultaneously trying to get Paimon to back off a bit. When Paimon floated back to her place by her teacup, Zhongli’s shoulders loosened like he was relieved at the distance between the reckless floating fairy and this clearly important item.

“You were curious on what has been on my mind, yes? This is a one reason I’ve been rather… absent as of late.”

“You’ve been spacing out over a hairstick?” Paimon asked astonishingly. Zhongli shook his head.

“Not quite.” His fingers uncurled and genly brushed over one of the beaded tails, letting the crystals bump over his fingertips. His eyes softened, yet that cloak of grey melancholy came back to him. “It’s more about who this was going to belong to.”

Traveler and Paimon both had questions, but remained silent. They both settled into their respective places ready to listen to the story he was surely about to unweave. They knew that the tea would grow cold and kettle drank empty by the time it was all finished. Though, the look in his eyes and the way his voice grew softer in a way that pulled at the heart made the eternity of sitting in one place much easier to bare.

“This ornament was going to be a gift to someone I knew a very long time ago. I never had the chance to give it too her, however; so, I keep it here with me where it is safe. I cannot bare to throw it out, even after all this time.”

It seemed crazy, how the two swore his eyes had grown misty just saying those few sentences. How this story is going to start all because of a crystal dragonfly from millenia past.

There were many places that had been tainted and driven to ruin due to the war raging by the Archons. Gods were battling each other for power, others trying to flee from another’s unjustly wrath. Some even tried defending their people instead of taking place in battles or retreating. It was chaos and there were few corners of the old world of Teyvat that wasn’t splattered in a thick muck of bloodshed.

Still, that didn’t mean everywhere had been tainted. No. This fact rang true as Morax had discovered one fateful day a small territory cleansed of blood and impurity.

Hidden behind a barrier he had stumbled upon in the middle of a half dead forest, the invisible viel hid everything beyond it from sight. In fact, if he hadn’t happened to be near it, the Archon probably wouldn't have noticed it in the first place. The barrier itself easily gave and allowed him passage inside which led him to believe it was more of a mask than a shield.

Walking through it led him to a forest of lush floral and trees that thrived surrounding a small section of land that housed no more than 500 people perhaps. A small village with huts scattered around plots of farmland and a rather luxurious palace atop it all. It was a farcry from the near-deathly state of the outside world and the whiplash of it made him momentarily wonder if he was somehow succumbing to some sort of hallucination.

Morax walked through the dirt paths all the way until the thick wall that cut off the eastern styled palace from the rest of the people. Walls tall and made of a stone the God of Geo had to have created at somepoint. The craftsmanshift of it was marvelous he had to admit as there was not the slightest crack between the stacked stone. Easily vaulting himself onto the tall wall, he gazes beyond it’s perimeter.

Inside of the sturdy walls, he could see six different buildings. Along the two side walls of stone stood two houses each. Two west and two east, separate yet built so similar he could easily mistake the four as clones of each other if not for his experienced eyes that had seen such fine details over his life. Connecting these four abodes from west to east were grey, stone paths. The same cobblestone led beyond the front gate he had forwent as he perched atop the wall and led straight forward to a single building that was larger than the rest. Morax assumed that was the main estate just from the grandeur of it compared to the lacking other four.

Though, the final building is harder for the curious immortal to see. It was built directly behind the main estate, no doubt also connected with the same clean stone paths that weaved through the courtyards. All Morax could see of this building was it’s roof, the same tiled and burned color as the high status homes around it.

Morax straightened his body from it’s crouched position and began to gracefully walk along the stone wall. Getting new angles of the buildings inside, he soon grew close enough to the main estate that he easily lept to it’s roof. Landing as if the air lessened his weight, he could now view that one single building he hadn’t yet more clearly.

Immediately, the Archon recognized it as a temple that without a doubt housed priests and priestess alike. Some may be masters at their craft and others may be but small, inexperienced fledgings beyond those sacred walls.

The idea of a temple like that in an uncharted and untainted territory flared his curiosity. So much so, he was hardly in control of his instincts as he once more lept gracefully from the estate’s rooftop onto the stone paths. His barefeet made a sound of collision when his heels touched the man-made path, and continued to make the same shuffling sounds as he walked straight into the temple.

Morax did not run into a single person in the temple, though he could hear matras and practices from around different open training fields. Even the soft plunks of arrows being driven into targets for archery precision and the chiming of bells for cleansing. The open halls of the temple and the roof over his head that kept the sun’s heated glare from his figure felt comforting.

Being in a place so filled with peace and sounds of anything but war was outlandish to the otherwise warrior-type god. Morax had contracts to fulfill and his own principals to protect while fending off other gods trying to level his unnamed throne. Taking out a few of his own violation never did any harm to strengthen his gag between himself and others.

The god had walked so freely that he soon found himself under the sun again. Instead of in the open halls of marble floors and burgundy columns, Morax was standing amidst a field of wild grass, flowers, trees, and bushes. It was like the lush forest outside the stone perimeter allowed a single bit of it’s ecosystem inside the temple just for the mortals to bask in.

A small humming of wings quickly caught Morax’s attention amidst the sounds of the wind’s breeze and dancing leaves. His chin led his head in the direction before coming to see a small dragonfly hovering around him before landing on his shoulder. The view of the insect was neary cut off by the hood he always wore over his head, but the bug itself was peaceful just resting it’s wings on the god’s shoulder for respite.

For a moment, the warrior of countless battles felt relief. For just that moment, the weight of such responsibility with his temperament lifted all because a small insect decided to rest on him.

The dragonfly’s respite did not last. The little critter’s wings began to hum again and soon began to hover off and before Morax could stop his feet, he found himself following it. Bare feet stepping over well worn paths of flattened grass and dirt patches. Not long from where had previously stood, he stopped at seeing where the small insect had flown to in lieu of himself.

The eyes of the archon landed on the first person Morax had seen since entering this temple- although uninvited, presence unknown and undetected. Reaching out a delicate hand with her index finger extended, the dragonfly landed easily on the appendage.

A priestess knelt elegantly in the tall grass, previously inspecting herbs when she heard the familiar buzz of wings. The hakama pants that folded at her legs were neatly pleaded without a crease out of place and her kosode tucked perfectly into the trousers- not a wrinkle to critque. Her hair had been loosing tied back with a red hair ribbon that fluttered in the breeze that kept the tall grass swaying like waves of spring.

The wind picked up when the dragonfly lifted off her fingers and off back towards Morax. It was like the little creature had led him straight to her and was now directing her vision back so they could meet each other’s gaze.

It was all thanks to that one, small bug that Morax and first made eye contact with you.

“Oh,” your small voice of surprise- at seeing such an odd looking man in the overgrown, private gardens of the temple- carried on the same wind that the dragonfly danced in. You stood and dusted off your knees, knocking any sticking dirt off your bottoms before standing up properly. You inspected the man in front of you.

Arms dark as earth with cracks of glowing gold. Clad in a white cloak that split five ways down and encompassed with a golden belt at his waist with a hood pulled over his head. The hair you could see whipping lightly in the wind behind his back was dark in color matching his arms. His trousers were wide open and baggy around his legs, only encasing snuggly around his ankles. His impressive stature gained your attention easily and you could tell he wasn’t exactly something mortal. It would be ridiculous to think just at the sight of his arms alone, not to mention the air around him seemed so… powerful.

“My apologies, I wasn’t aware we were expecting a guest today,” the courteous smile you sent him made him wonder if you weren’t at least a little apprehensive of his unexpected presence.

“You weren’t made aware because no one aside from yourself is aware of my being here.”

“I see,” you muse. “I hope you are aware that qualifies you as a trespasser.”

“Trespasser?” Morax gapped, losing his composure for a moment. His brows dipped in offense under his hood, his pride kicking into his throat through his words. “I am no such being.”

“Ah, but aren’t you just? You said yourself, no one knows you’re here. Yet, you end up in the presence of this temple’s Miko. If that does not mean you’re trespassing, what does?” Morax’s eyes hidden under his hair and flick from your head to your feet and back up again. You were the head shrine maiden? You seemed so young and yet you held such an important position? It planted a pebble of doubt in him.

Then again, if he focused on you properly, he could barely see a small circular arua around your frame. It was like a barrier was placed around you, one protected you from the outside and anything that could taint you. Exactly like the barrier surrounding the territory he had more or less invaded. Honing your spiritual power like that so young, he would’ve perhaps tutted in impressiveness if you hadn’t challenged his very being moments ago.

Still, Miko or not, he still outranked you. Crossing his arms over his chest, their golden geo pulsed with a soft light.

“With such a rank you possess, are you still so unaware when a God stands before you? A pity.”

“On the contrary,” you smile to him and his brow again twitches at your nonchalance. “I’m being quite respectful if you think on it. If you were simply a noble who lives among the palace homes, I would’ve quickly dealt with you since only a select few from outside are allowed entry into the temple. Much less this garden which is private and limited to my attendance only.”

“Are you implying you could force me away at any moment should you please?” His voice grew tight in challenge. His sense of traquilty from before discovering you was dimming and the frigid air of his battle sense were returning even as the wind continued to caress you both.

“I assure you I would do no such thing. I’m simply proving that even in the presence of a God, I will not yield since I do not even know which is in front of me. Not to mention, this land has no God to speak of or for. So, if you think about it that way, I am where one would hypothetically stand.”

Oh.

Morax felt something stir in his chest at the teasing tilt in your voice that spilled over your lips that curled into a smile. Your eyes were so clean and clear, it was like staring into crystals and he had the urge to create a new form of geo just to replicate them. The feeling was foreign to him, but it shocked him greatly when he realized it wasn’t an unwelcome stir.

He finally dropped his crossed arms and began to decrease the distance between you both. Morax came to stand in front of you so he could get an even better look at your features. As such, you could now look easily under his hood as he stood above you. His eyes seemed to glow a lovely shade of amber that complemented his glowing, golden skin and dark hair.

“Address me as, Morax,” he instructed. Your taunting smile turned soft and wide as your eyes closed in the most pleased expression he had seen in years. His amber eyes widened at the innocence and the small bells of laughter that left your throat towards him shook his unshakeable core.

“That’s much better,” you said, now obviously pleased. “I’m, y/n. It’s an honor to meet you, Morax.”

It was his name rolling off your tongue- spreading into the wind that had blown harshly for but a moment- that sent an earthquake that started at his chest and spread through his whole body. It was the sound of his own death sentence and he was once again shocked at how he easily accepted that he would definitely be back to this temple. Be back to this garden of overgrown grass and floral.

Morax would definitely be back to you.

As promised, Morax had been back to that temple several times since the first time he met you. When the weight of the archon war was- ironically- too heavy, or if he needed a place to escape just for a moment he would seek you out. It was quiet ridiculous how you had somehow wormed your way into his very soul and wrapped him around your finger.

The Lord of Geo had come to learn much about you in the time he spent by your side. Your favorite flowers and scents, when you had started your priestess training, when you had progressed to the skill level you possess now and how long you had been the acting miko of the temple. Your favorite type of weather, or time of day, or season. In turn, he had confessed things about himself as well.

How he had been around for as long as the world- or so it sometimes felt that way. How he’s in the middle of a grand and merciless war with other gods presumably because of issues to do with celestia. How he had taken many lives of both mortals and gods alike all for the sake of his own land and people. The very feeling of battle is engraved in his bones like names on a tombstone, yet it didn’t seem to push you away.

It was laughable. The very Being of war and battle was utterly infautated with you, a mortal being of purity and values. Of course, you were alway assure him that what he did was just his own values, especially his strictness with any contract he made. You neved judged him for his sins and the weight they carried, but you never outwardly agreed with him either. You told him what he needed to hear, not what he wanted and he cherished those words so dearly. If he had any less self-restraint, Morax could easily let himself take your very words as law itself.

Yet again, it was another day he had left his duties behind him as he found you kneeling in the fields of grass once again. Leaping from the outerwalls, to the rooftops of the estate, to the roof of the temple, he easily lands like a pebble hitting sand next to you. It was the rush of air beside you that alerted you of his attendance rather than any sound he made- or didn’t make.

“Hello again, Morax,” you greet as you thumb through the herbs and check the petals of nearby wildflowers. Morax kneels at your side before sitting fully in the grass, one of his knees bent up to prop his arm on with the other stretched out in front of him. A rather relaxed position you had insisted he use instead of kneeling for however long he visits would last.

“Good afternoon,” he replies. It’s silent for a while after that. The atmosphere of simply being with you was good enough for Morax. That was until the urge to speak and hear you speak in return hit his throat. “Your people seem more rowdy than usual.” He didn’t need super-enhanced senses to tell that the noise had increased since his last visit.

“You can tell that even though you’ve never properly been inside?”

“I have been inside.”

“No one knew that thought,” you tease with a finger that flicked back and forth a few times. “So, it isn’t a proper stroll in my temple.” Morax playfully chuckles at your antics. “You are correct though.”

“Is there a reason?” He had noticed it since he arrived, but the air around you seemed heavy. “Something seems to be weighing on you.”

“You’re perceptive. I suppose I shouldn’t be shocked about that considering-”

“Y/n.”

You sigh before the hand that had been thumbing at flower petals falls back into the tresses of wild grass and to the ground at your side.

“The monks are gathering in a rush under Master Jiang’s orders.” Morax’s brow furrows at the information. You had mentioned this Master Jiang before. He was apparently a traveling monk that had previously been nomadic. Though, since the archon war had only gotten worse over the course of time, he had settled in the safety of your barrier and subsequently in your temple.

On the rare occasions you let your irritations get the best of you, you spilled your guts to Morax about how he was constantly chanllenging your power and position in the temple. Thinking he was better because he was older with more experience beyond the protective walls of your home. Along with the misguided misogyny of being a man. It was one thing after another, spouting off about anything that irked you until you got all your curses off your lips in the privacy of the archon.

Morax had not met this Jiang- not to mention anyone else outside of you inside the temple sense his visits weren’t exactly documented- but he already strongly disliked him. Now, he was trying to taking charge of your temple?

“For what purpose.” You do no respond to him right away and it sends a jolt through his nervous system. “Y/n. For what purpose,” he repeats with a heavier tone. You let out a sigh that feels as heavy as your aura as you sit in the field of wildgrass and flowers with the closest being to your heart.

“He’s afraid that we’re going to soon be effected by the war as well.” You didn’t need to specify which war, he was more than well aware which you were referring to.

Among the other things he had learned about you, he had come to understand why your people were save from the archon’s destruction so far. It was because of you and your power.

Inside the temple was a specific place for you to practice your skills and keep the barrier around your precious home. That didn’t showcase all you could do, however and Morax knew it. Keeping the living things inside safe and keeping all the taint out. If something did happen to get inside your barrier, you were quickly dispatched to purify it. You could tell the moment something breached your safe haven, all the proof he needed as his first appearance to you.

You had admitted ot him once that the reason you didn’t immediately cast him out was simply because you didn’t feel any hostility from his presence. He had no intention on hurting your people or home, so you allowed him access in. That barrier was an extension of your power; constant proof you were so much stronger than that stupid old monk was trying to plat down.

Morax had only heard the sound of your birch tree bowstring plucked once before, and the air instantly felt cleaner. He’d heard bells in the distant halls while he waited for you in the treetops of your private garden to avoid the chance of being seen. While with you, he had picked up on a masking you placed over him so he couldn’t be detected by others and kept safe from prying eyes. Your power still astonished him even after all this time.

“That’s asinine,” he growled. The whole ordeal of it all just set the message that they didn’t trust you and your abilities. After all you had done since you were a child to protect these people, after everything you’ve sacrificed, and they’re doubting you now? When your powers were in their prime? It was insulting.

“Morax-”

“Do not try and save their value but udnermining your own.”

“I’m not!” You cry in exasperation. You let out another sigh before letting your body lean into his shoulder and against his propped up leg. Morax froze up as your body softly collided with his own. While you had him attached to your very being, hook line and sinker, he had never once touched you. Not a single brush of his fingertips to your body or even allowing your legs to touch as you sat side by side.

The side of his body you rested on felt like a volcano on his geo-ingraved skin.

“Sorry,” you whisper. “Could I stay like this just for a moment longer?”

His arm that you leaned against came to wrap around your shoulder and push your head further against him. The archon lowered his leg to join the other on the ground just so he could have you closer to him. His chin rested by your forehead and he closed his eyes letting you invade every one of his senses. Squeezing your form as he felt the trembles you tried to conceal and force to stay inside, not letting yourself break as much as he wanted you to. Morax wanted you to feel safe and open with him, but he understood all too well how difficult a task that was as someone of your strict upbringing.

“Stay here as long as you need. I will not move.” Morax was geo, the land itself. He created mountains and stone and they all know his name. He was a god of contracts and his words were just as serious as those that he holds so strictly to them. The Lord of Geo would stay your unyielding pillar for as long as you needed him. That he promised to himself as he felt your small drops of tears silently fall onto his chest that he dare not mention. The urge to wipe them away and treasure you like a fragile bell ached within him, but he dare not act on those either.

For but a brief moment, Morax- the Geo Archon- wished for a single second he was mortal. That he was like you.

Morax had no idea how this happened. What had gone wrong? Was it him? Did his sudden intrusion into your life of purity ruin everything? As a god, did his divine hands finally touch something he was never meant to?

Weeks ago you had urgently awaited his normal time of arrival but as soon as he showed, you urgently told him to leave. To leave the temple, the palace, the barrier- all of it- and never come back. You had demanded he return to the world he knew, the one filled with smoke and war and ongoing conquests. His chest filled with thick, black tar as you screamed at him and he did what any sane being would do. Morax screamed back, unable to understand and he was losing his patience bit by bit.

The Archon wanted answers, none of which he demanded for were satisfing. The monks had finally discovered that you had been meeting with an outsider from beyond the barrier; to make matters worse, they knew it was Morax who had been active in the outside war since it begun. They were focring you to make a decision and the best course of action was to push him away before things got too out of hand and would be to a point where you could do nothing.

It made no sense to Morax. He could help, he was certain of it. He’d let you direct him, use him how you like and pull his actions like a puppet on willing strings. He’d follow your every order to the letter if you just wouldn’t force him out and shun him like you were desperately trying to do.

You wouldn’t yield.

Morax hated your stubbornness now more than ever. You finally forced him away with a bracellet you had made yourself that was nothing but clear-ringing, golden bells threaded with red string. The sound they made amplified your power and he knew at just the meresight of them you were trying to make him leave.

With one flick of your wrist, he could feel invisible threads of nothing wrap around his limbs and begin to tug. Once more he tried to reason something- anything- out of you, but was met with nothing but a second ring of bells that yanked his whole being out of your barrier. Forced out and finding himself outside, he was furiously frustated. Summoning his polearm, he let out a cry before thrusting it into and then subsequently through the neearst tree effectively slicing it down.

Your final words to him stay in his ears like a parasite- pounding against his eardrums so violently he was afraid they'd burst if they continued to torment him.

“If you ever return, I will have no choice but to take further actions, Morax.”

Morax had to stay away from you. It’s what you wanted; or maybe it wasn’t your wish- but it’s what you said. What you demanded he do. Still, he didn’t know when this happened. Morax didn’t know when he decided that the last thing he would ever do is stay away.

Therefore, Morax still returned into your barrier and through your territory. Just as you had said, you were true to your words.

The moment you felt his presence trespass inside your barrier, you evacuated the palace and with the same bells you sent him away with, you summoned him back. It was like he was teleported with magic, the same invisble strings that had yanked him out now drew him in. The ringing of your bells reverated in his ears before he was standing in that same overgrown field.

Morax stood in the one spot he first saw you and you took presence in the spot he had found you kneeling. This time, there were no dragonflies humming in the air and something in him knew there never would be again.

“I told you,” you choked.

“I refuse to listen to a moral’s orders,” he bit back. It was a lie. He said he’d listen to your every word, and he meant it. Even when his desperate pleas to stay by you landed him nowhere by alone.

Morax knew there was only one option left as he eyed the staff in your hand. Your grip was so tight around it your hand trembled with the sheer force of it. Your head shook with micro-swivels on your neck as you kept your eyes on the ground.

“You should have.” Morax’s polearm materialized at his side in a moment before he took it’s familiar grip into his palm. He had only ever told you of his weapon, never wanting to show you in case it tainted you somehow. All that silly precaution seemed so pointless now.

The gentle breeze he was accustomed to had become bone chilling as you lifted your chin to finally look at him. Morax almost caved seeing your angry tears, but as you moved to engage in battle, he let his body move on it’s own. The god who was so accustomed to battle just wanted to shut his brain off for this one.

Morax didn’t want to do this.

The battle between you both was a long one. You screamed at each other. Sometimes words, sometimes just sounds of angusih and pain. You knew Morax was holding back on you, you didn’t have the power to fully stop a god and you knew it. Morax knew it. Whether he was holding back because of his affections for you or because he was toying with you, you couldn’t figure it out. The power of your barrier did limit his abilities some, but it was hardly enough to be considered a handicap.

Still, somehow, you had knocked his polearms from his hand before you forced him onto his back into the grass.

His cloack was torn and his arms of geo-glowing beauty seemed dim and dark like the shadow cast over his eyes. His hood had been knocked back while his hair was tosseled and battleworn. Your body and his were covered in cuts and burns and scrapes. Everything hurt from inside your body to the outside.

You had him on his back as you climbed over him. Your legs pinned his arms down and your weight sat on his chest, the bottom of your staff pushing into his throat as your labored breaths shook throughout your whole body. All you had to do with lift your staff just a fraction and slam it back down and you could do some major purifying damage to his body. It probably wouldn’t kill him… but what if it did? Did you have it in your to purify a god? Maybe if you tried, it would take all your strength and you could die together. You almost scoff at yourself-

-wouldn’t that be just poetic.

You could feel his own chest heaving under your weight and you knew he could easily throw you off him if he wanted to. Just like before though, he did nothing. He just lay in the grass beaten and battered as he glared beyond the staff’s pole into your face. You hated the look in his eyes.

“Will you not follow through?” He chastised with so much venom you wanted to vomit. The staff shook once with both of trembling hands holding it above his neck. You had to- it was your duty. You would be betraying your people if you let him live. For your people, for the cowardice monks who forced you here, for your ignorance for thinking you could keep Morax by your side without consequence. For everything you had trained for until now, you had to get rid of him. You had to!

Morax sucked in a breath as he readied his neck to be pulverized. Your staff came away from his throat… and soon your weight was being pushed off his body entirely. Raising to your shaking, exposed legs from your torn trousers, you took staggering steps backward from him. Morax’s glare morphed into shock as he raised to his elbows to watch you retreat.

“What-”

He watched your chest heave with frustrated tears. Choked, uneven sobs tore at your throat as you screamed before throwing your staff far from your grip. You heard it clank against Morax’s discarded polearm and thought for a moment how ironic it was. Your weapon reuinited with his in your moment of weakness- your lowest point of failure. The moment you threw duty away and chose yourself for once.

“I can’t,” you cry, falling to your knees into the singed and destroyed field that once flourished so wonderuflly. “Please, go,” you beg. Morax climbs to his feet, wincing at the wounds on his body before calling for his polearm again. Once it was again in his grip, he looked at the dried blood of yours that litered the blade. The Lord of Geo immedately dismissed it, watching it disapate into the air from whence he summoned it. He simply stood there, looking down at your crumbling frame.

What were you doing? You were going against your practices and willingly letting a supposed threat escape. He took one step in your diection, still so woefully attached to you. Watching you tear at the seams and keep unraveling in front of his very eyes. He was at a loss; what could he do to even begin to ease your suffering when he himself was part of it?

“No.” You could feel his eyes on you and his want to approach you burnt the top of your head at which he gazed. “Be gone.” You demand once again like the first day you chased him off. You didn’t hear him move and in a fit of nothing left, you tore off your bell bracellet and threw it in his direction. “Go back to where you belong!” And in a mere moment, his presence vanished and you broke completely. The eyes of the monks watched as you sobbed in the gardens, the battle they made you wage concluding with no victor.

“Zhongli…” the story behind the hairpiece and his grief was heavier than either Paimon or Traveler was expecting.

“I had planned to gift this to y/n during one of our meetings. I knew she wouldn’t be allowed to wear it of course,” he chuckled bitterly to himself. “For a great many of reasons. Still,” it would’ve proven to myself she was mine. Zhongli cleared his throat. “Regardless, I think I’ve spoken enough for once. The tea has run out and you both surely have other arrangements as the day is waning.”

“Paimon doesn’t think-”

“Then, we’ll be off,” Traveler interjects. Zhongli was just being polite but what he was really saying was that he wanted to be alone. “Thank you for telling us. Y/n sounded like a wonderful person.”

“Tis but a story.” The way he replied made it sound like he was trying to convince himself more than them. The two left his home, leaving him still sitting at the table with an empty teacup and still holding that crystal winged dragonfly like it was Teyvat’s most precious treasure.

It was quiet between Paimon and the Traveler as they walked aimlessly around Liyue. The Traveler’s mind boggled at the information they had been told and grew curious to any they hadn’t. They were almost certain that there was more to your story, but Zhongli couldn’t bare to say anymore.

“Wait,” Traveler stopped in the middle of the path, bringing their hand to cup around their mouth in thought. “That all happened during the Archon War, right?”

“Paimon thinks she remembers him mentioning that. Why?”

“Do you think Xiao would know anything about it?” Traveler thought about it, but if memory served Morax was the one who granted Xiao his name. As Paimon looked at the blond with wonder, a voice spoke behind them.

“You called?”

Paimon’s screech echoed into the air as the Traveler spun around, not expecting the very apedtus to show up. Xiao sure took the calling of his name seriously.

“Paimon never-” the floating companion looked to the blonde. “Oh, yeah. I guess we kinda did.” Xiao crosses his arms as he stands expectantly. The daytime hours were few in remaints and the streets began to slowly thin in populous, so he was less reserved about being around people, Though, he still didn’t want to linger either. Regardless of his wants, he noticed the air of tensity around you both.

“Did something happen.” It wasn’t a question, it hardly was when Xiao was involved.

“Do you know anything about a woman named y/n?” Xiao’s body when frigid as he dropped his arms and quickly stepped up to the both of you. Coming nearly toe to toe as the Traveler squeaked and took a half step back.

“How do you know that name.” Once again, Xiao wasn’t asking. Traveler looked around and decided that standing in the middle of the road wasn’t the best place for this conversation.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

The newly formed trio had migrated outside the city and out into the wilderness by a river. Xiao and Traveler took to sitting among stones, Xiao crossing his legs and Traveler letting their’s dangle. Paimon’s ever floating presence never going too far from the two. They sat and listened to the sound of the bable of running water, trying to find a way to reopen the previously halted conversation.

“Did Rex Lapis tell you about y/n?” Xiao ripped the bandage off first, something Traveler was almost thankful for. “That’s the only possible conclusion I can think of if you know her name since she wasn’t memorialized during her lifetime.”

“Yeah, he did. I’m pretty sure he chased us out before he could tell us everything though.” Xiao nodded. Earnest understanding shone in his eyes but there was something else behind those irises of his, but the Traveler couldn’t figure out what it was. “Did you knew her too, Xiao?” He nodded again.

“Not long after Morax found me and gave me my name, I found out that he was frequently paying visitation to a mortal woman. I thought he was being reckless, so he took me to meet her one day.”

“He took you himself?” Paimon questioned.

“Yes. He wanted to prove a point.”

Xiao could still remember his first impression of you. You had scolded Morax as soon as he landed in the familiar garden, arms crossed and mouth opening in reprimands. Calling him foolish for bringing a highly detectable entity beyond your barrier- one he didn’t even realize he had breached with his archon- and that if you hadn’t masked his spiritual signal just like how you did with his own, he’d be in a world of trouble.

Seeing Morax take your scolding as he stood there bemused, Xiao’s first thought was that he did not like you. He distrusted you. What kind of mortal argues with a god on what they can and cannot do like you did? It was ludicrous. Still, the moment Morax introduced him as his newest comrade named Xiao, you smiled at him. You sent along with that smile a warm welcome and he suddenly felt awkward.

“Xiao,” you called to his back before he was to leave with Morax at the need to return back outside your walls. He did not turn around to face you, but he did not move until you spoke again. “Feel free to come back and visit anytime. I’ll keep you covered.”

“Rex Lapis- Morax- was the one who saved me and gave me the name Xiao. I respect him and owe him a great deal- a debt I may not truly be able to ever repay in full. In mortal terms, some may say he’s like a father to me.” Xiao’s chin lifted up to the darkening sky. The day had felt so long, the Traveler hadn’t realized just how late it was beginning to get. “If Morax was a father, then y/n was my mother."

The yaksha can still remember the first time he had sought you out for himself without Morax with him he was recoiling from karmic debt. It didn’t take a genius to know that he felt lighter in your presence- your purifying light helping ease his burdensn whether you did so purposely or not.

It was late into the night when you had awoken abruptly from your sleep to the sensation of Xiao passing through the barrier. You sprung up from your futon, quickly focusing on his approach and cloaking him the best you could. His energy was rough, dark and pulsing and it worried you. You quickly made your way out to the garden where you knew he’d be and unshockingly enough was when you arrived.

Curled into himself on his knees, his arms wrapped around his torso as black smoke engulfed him like vines. Gasping and sweating, he weakly stay collapsed in the grass as you ran to his side.

“Xiao!” You whispered in anxiety as you knelt next to him, your eyes teary in fright. “What’s happening to you?” He didn’t answer, just shook his head with heavy, labored breaths. The moment, your hand came to rest on his back, his eyes rolled back with a fraction of his burden easing off his shoulders. Xiao slumped into you, his shoulder and neck pushing into your legs as his head rested partially on your stomach. His sudden collison knocked you back into the grass, your previously kneeling form now firmly planted on the ground.

“Please,” he gasped as your other hand had come to his shoulder that wasn’t pushing into your lap. “Please, could you… sing.” In truth, he wasn’t sure why he asked that of you. He didn’t know what possessed him to request something so odd, but regardless of the oddity, you did. Your mouth had opened and you slowly and softly began to sing him a lullaby he had never heard before that night.

It was like a blanket of early morning mist started to coat his burning, heavy body. His aching came to a slow stop as his mind became clearer. You sang the lullaby over and over again until the effects of his karmic debt had disappeared into the evening air. Even when he went completely lax on your lap and your hands had moved to run through his hair and across his back, you kept singing until early that next morning Morax had come to retrieve his missing Adeptus.

As Xiao in the present looked at the stars, tracing constellations, he once again was reminded of your lullaby. You sang that to him many times after that and he remembered every single instance. It wasn’t far-fetched to say that the reason Barbarto’s song’s calmed him so is because he’s reminded of you in those moments and tunes.

Yes, Xiao came to revere you just as much as his Archon- even though you were just a mere mortal.

“So,” Traveler spoke up softly, trying to gently pull him from his obvious reminiscing. “What happened to y/n? Zhongli mentioned that he had fought her, but what happened then? Did they ever see each other again?”

“No,” Xiao’s face contorted into a grimmance as his fist’s balled in his lap. “Y/n was executed before Morax could ever see her again.” His fists were so tightly balled they shook, clearly he still resented the fate you had been subjected to.

“Executed?!” Paimon exclaimed. “But- but why?!”

“Because she let Morax live.” The yaksha’s eyes narrowed as he gnashed his teeth. “Those filthy monks that poisoned her temple confined her to a dungeon cell where they starved and deprived her of anything. Letting her suffer for days before placinig a curse and executing her all because she refused kill an Archon.”

“Did those people really not like Archons that much?” Paimon asked.

“They were monsters!” He exclaimed. “Y/n had been raised to choose the people over her own desires, but the moment she wanted something for herself they-”

“Xiao,” Traveler interrupted, reaching out their hand to place it on his folded knee.

“She didn’t deserve the fate they gave her.” Traveler only nodded at his solemn tone. “When her execution was carried out, Morax… he reacted to an extreme.”

“An extreme?” Paimon inquires. Xiao nodded, lifting his head back up from where it had been tucked towards his chest in anger.

“The moment y/n’s barrier disappeared Morax stormed inside. He destroyed everything he could get his hands on. I… I was with him.” Xiao was enraged at the news of your demise, but he knew as he watched the back of his Archon as took the lives of the lowly monks who dared try to outrank you that the grief and emotions Morax felt course through him far outweighed his own.

By day's end, the entire palace, surrounding village, and temple were all up in flames or crushed into rubble. Standing among the burning wreckage that stunk of ash, blood and death Morax plunged his polearm into the earth and screamed with no one left to witness him aside from Xiao. Instead of trying to approach his archon, he instead kept his eyes on the remains of buildings going up in flames like a personal pyre in remembrance of you.

“After that, Morax stopped talking about her to anyone. It was like he pushed her into the recesses of his mind and tried to erase her altogether. With the meeting of other Archons and the assembly of Liyue, it seemed like he was trying to move forward.”

“Poor Zhongli,” Paimon whined. “Star crossed lovers sure are sad to think about.”

“To this day, there’s no one y/n has cared for as deeply as Morax.” At Xiao’s confession, Traveler’s ears perked. Did they hear that right?

“Hold on,” they started, “what do you mean ‘to this day’?” Xiao’s body stiffened. He cleared his throat before he looked away, hoping that silence would push past his slip up. “Xiao!”

“It meant nothing.”

“Liar.”

“I am not.”

“Paimon thinks so too!”

“Your input does not encourage much.”

“Hey!”

“Xiao,” Traveler tries again, arms crossing over their chest as they straighten their sitting posture on the stone they still sat on. Xiao cursed himself at deflating so easily in the face of the blond’s pressure.

The Adeptus took after his Archon in that sense it would seem.

“If you can keep it a secret,” he hesitated, “then I have somewhere to take you.” Xiao’s face turned back and looked the Traveler into the eyes. They could see just house uneasy his gaze was, yet still under it was a stern ‘this is important’ before everything else. They nodded deeply towards him and force another sigh from his lips. The two of them jump from their stone seats as Xiao points in a direction. “Then follow me.”

“Paimon can keep a secret too!”

“Somehow, I doubt that.” Still, Xiao let her follow him too. The more the merrier you’d say- or at least he hopes.

“I had no idea there was a place like this in Liyue!” Paimon exclaims after Xiao had taken both her and the Traveler along a path through the forests and into a clearing. After approaching what appeared to be nothing, his figured seemed to pass through something. The two who accompanied him both gawked at his sudden disappearance into thin air before he was reappearing from nowhere. ‘Hurry up,’ he had told them as they cautiously followed his once again disappearing back.

Beyond the boundary of nothingness was a fairly large home that was longer than the clearing thy where previously in. The path forward was lined with trees and during the daytime they provided comfortable shade for any who walked under them. Now though, they just casted nighttime shadows of moonlight. The air felt different from the forest’s air as well. As if it had been filtered through something and made even cleaner than normal.

Xiao walked with confidence through the path of trees and up the steps of the elongated home like he had done it a million times before. He didn’t even stop to check and make sure that both Traveler and Paimon were still behind him and hadn’t instead wandered off. The lanterns that lit the halls cast moving shadows along the walls and they danced off Xiao’s back as they continued to trail after his heels.

Soon, he came to a stop outside a set of doors before looking at Traveler briefly then back again. He knocked twice around the hardened sides of the doorframe and didn’t wait for any signs of noise before taking further action. Sliding them open, he stepped inside and the Traveler and Paimon naturally followed.

It was a large room, a small floor desk tucked away on one side littered with papers, books and ink. Another set of doors opposite from the ones he had just walked through led out to an open terrace that further pushed out into a stone garden. On the opposite side of the room was an unfurled, messy futon that lacked a body to rest inside it.

Xiao sighed at seeing the empty futon and made his way out the doors to the wooden terrace. Apparently he had found who he was looking for since he began to speak and it wasn’t to the Traveler.

“Why are you not resting?”

“How could I when I have visitors?” A voice answered him and it made the skin on the Traveler’s face flush. It sounded clear like bells and was as soft as a gentle stream. Holding such composure- it reminded them of Zhongli’s voice and how aged it was. Xiao backed up into the room again as someone had came inside.

The dark hour left the woman mostly unseen, but Xiao was quick to start lighting a lantern for light.

“Thank you, Xiao,” she commented as the wick began to burn with a flickering flame. Traveler’s face remained flush at the woman in front of them. She didn’t just sound wise, she looked it. Like she had seen many years and experienced many things- but still looked so young. Xiao moved to her side and Traveler didn’t need to ask if the woman in front of them was who they thought she was. “Are you friends of Xiao’s?”

“Yes,” Traveler whispered before they cleared their throat and answered again. “Yes, we are.”

“I see.” Xiao cleared his own throat, turning his head away at the gaze the woman sent him. Luckily the lantern didn’t light the room the greatest so his tinted cheeks stayed between the duo and didn’t reach the Traveler’s eyes. Looking back, she smiled warmly and it seemed exactly like how Zhongli explained. “It’s lovely to meet you both. My name is y/n.”

“WHAT?!” Paimon exclaimed before slapping her hands over her mouth. Both at the discourtesy and the late hour she had yelled into.

“I assume you have a great deal of questions,” you tell them, “but, for now I think we should table all that for tomorrow. You’re both more than welcome to stay here for the night. Xiao can lead the way for you.”

With that, somehow the two travel companions ended up in a guest room with two futons and Xiao telling them to get some rest before leaving and presumably going back to your side.

You had once again left your room to sit on the terrace and Xiao joined you. Sitting beside you, his head coming up to your shoulder in height as you both looked and focused on nothing.

“Are you upset with me?” He asked.

“Not particularly, no. Shocked, maybe. I wasn’t expecting someone else to follow in behind you from the forest.”

“I apologize.”

“There’s no need.” You slowly bring your hand up to rest on the back of Xiao’s head, a comfort to both him and you. Just like how Xiao described you as a mother, you didn’t ever think of him as anything less than what you assumed a son would be like. “It’s actually helped me with something that’s been on my mind lately.”

Xiao just grabbed onto the sleeve of the robe you wore, not saying anything but conveying enough for you to understand.

“I’ll explain it tomorrow. For now, how about a lullaby?” Even from the guest room and with Paimon already asleep, the Traveler could hear a faint song in the air before drifting to sleep.

“Sooo, how old are you?”

“Paimon!” Traveler yelled. “That’s rude!”

“I was just asking a question!”

“Ask a different one!”

The small squabble that earned a sigh from Xiao the next morning led you into a small laughing fit. The group of you were gathered in a drawing room used for when Xiao would visit you during your days. You’d spend time listening to things Xiao would encounter outside, and while it was a good way to pass the time you would otherwise spend alone, it felt better with more lively guests like this.

“Xiao’s older than I am, so please rest assured I’m younger than you think.”

“Xiao’s older?!”

“Ahem,” the Yaksha interrupts by clearing his throat, “age matters aside, don’t you think now would be a good time for an explanation. If we’re gone from Liyue too long, Zhon- er- Rex Lapis could get suspicious.”

“Why’d you correct yourself like that Xiao?” Paimon asks before you answer for him.

“He feels like Morax’s mortal name makes me uncomfortable. I’ve told him time and time again that it doesn’t bother me, but he insists on using his other titles. Feel free to keep referring to him as you’re used to, I won’t get confused.”

“How considerate of him,” Paimon dryly says, pulling another chuckle from you.

“In any case, Xiao is right. I assume he told you about me, seeing as he brought you here himself.”

“Sort of,” Traveler starts. “Zhongli is actually the one who told us about you. Xiao just told us more.” A shocked look passes over your features when you hear that the former Archon had opened up about you at all. “He said that someone from his past died around this time and we were worried about him. We kind of… pressured him into telling us.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Xiao said as he crossed his arms. “If Rex Lapis truly didn’t wish to speak about it, he wouldn't have. Believe me. He’s too stubborn.”

“Be nice,” you lightly chide him. “Still, it’s a shock. I thought he would’ve buried his memories of me long ago.”

“I’ve told you,” Xiao spoke up again, “Rex Lapis- he still-”

“Xiao.” Your voice was stern for a moment before he clammed up.

“Sorry,” he spoke defeatedly. Instead of staying quiet and letting the awkward air cloud up the room, he started up the discussion of why he had brought outsiders here in the first place. “Traveler, do you remember when I told you that Lady y/n had been executed?” Traveler nodded and was shocked at his use of a title. He didn’t use one at all when he was talking about you yesterday? Did he always address you personally like that? “Do you also recall how I mentioned how before she was killed, she was cursed.”

“Oh yeah,” Paimon acknowledges. “Paimon remembers you saying something like that.”

“It’s because of that curse that she’s still alive.”

“They cursed her not to die? Doesn’t that seem kinda dumb since they apparently executed her for not defeating Zhongli?” Paimon’s face scrunched before her entire being deflated. “Paimon doesn’t get it.”

“That isn’t quite correct. I can die,” you inform them. Xiao’s fist twitched as his gently grasped the fabric of his pants in his palms. “In fact, I have died several times. The curse i bare is that I cannot stay dead.”

“Isn’t that still contradictory to what the monk’s were trying to accomplish?” Traveler asks.

“Not necessarily. Back in my original life, I had broken a vow I had been raised on: placing my people above myself and never being selfish. That one sacred vow being broken was enough for Jiang to label me a treasonous traitor. This eternal life of mine is punishment for that crime.”

“That’s so dumb!” Paimon exclaims. You continue to explain after she’s finished huffing. Her puffy face was quite amusing to look at as she crossed her small arms like she was offended on your behalf.

“My curse resets my life to the point in time I was killed. Therefore, any injuries or illnesses I received in previous lives have all but vanished. I can still starve and freeze to death. I can become ill and contract diseases just like a normal mortal. I’ll die if I'm stabbed and I’ll scar if I’m burned. Still, even after all that, I’ll simply wake up again like none of it happened. This prolonged suffering is what Jiang and his acolytes were after.”

“That’s terrible,” Traveler whispers. “Have you died many times?”

“I’ve lost count.” You raise your hand to look at your palm that has been the same as the first time you woke up from death. In the ruins of your destroyed temple you were foggy minded and confused before your entire being filled with dread. “I’ve lived so many lives I cannot remember them all, but I know I’ve touched on every type. I’ve gone mad, harming people around me and myself. I’ve given in to every sin in hopes that they would allow me to die and not come back. I’ve even tried ending the cycle myself, but all to no avail.”

You took a deep breath before dropping your hand back to your lap.

“As stained as I am now, I’m hardly the priestess I used to be. I can never be that pure original version of me, but I’ve long accepted that. I’m quite… content with my life right now.”

“Content my foot,” Xiao huffed. “You were planning to stay alone for a lot longer if I hadn’t found you.”

“Wait,” Paimon piques, “found you?”

“It was purely by chance,” you explain. “Sometimes, I’ll venture into Liyue but under a cloaked disguise so I’m not recognized or detected. Some years ago, I accidentally ran into Xiao near Wangshuu Inn and spoke his name purely out of reflex. He heard me and well, it was safe to say he wasn’t exactly pleased as he tracked me down.”

“I was frustrated,” he corrected. “I came to find out you were alive and hiding for eons after thinking you were long dead.”

“I know.”

“Imagine how Morax would feel if he knew!”

“I know, Xiao,” you repeat. “That’s something I actually want to talk to you about.” Xiao stills in his rampage before his arms slowly uncurl and his posture takes on something uncomfortable. “You’ve kept my life a secret for some time now, omnienting the truth from the Archon you respect so much. I’m sorry for asking such a selfish request.” You turn to look at the slack faced boy before bringing your hand to cup his chin affectionately. Traveler felt like they were impeding on a parental moment as they tried to look anywhere but you both. “If you want to, you can tell him the truth now.”

Xiao’s hand comes to quickly clasp around your wirst that started to fall away from his face. His mouth opens before it closes again. He was torn between what he’s been wanting to do for so long and the open permission to actually do it.

“Are you… for certain?”

“Yes,” you swallow a lump in your throat. “I’m certain.” Xiao quickly takes your wrist out of his grip before he’s rushing to stand up. He stands with such a force he teeters on his feet before going to the door. He didn’t want to wait a single moment longer. “Xiao!” He stops momentarily and he’s reminded just for a brief moment how you spoke his name like that to his back the first day he ever met you milinia ago. This time though, he spun to look you in the eyes. “Take this with you,” you had gotten up from your place and placed your hand out of a nearby window. Bringing it back in not longer after, an insect of glimmering colors hummed through the space and landed on his shoulder.

“A dragonfly!” Paimon exclaims as Traveler also rose to their feet ready to follow Xiao out. Xiao just nods before dashing out of the door. Being inside your barrier always made it hard for him to teleport between locations, so he had to get outside first. “Traveler, lets catch up with Xiao!” Paimon says, pointing after him.

“Yeah,” they agree before looking back to you as you stay by at the window.

“Get going now,” you urge before Traveler was awkwardly bowing to you and running out, calling Xiao’s name to try and get him to ‘slow down and wait up!’

Once alone again, you felt a coil settle in your chest. It was the same tightness you felt when Xiao had found you. Found out you were alive as you confessed everything to his insistent pleading after following you into your barrier. You braced your hands on the window pane before swallowing a lump in your throat.

You never got the proper chance to tell Morax how you felt about him in your original life. It was wrong for a mortal like you to fall in love with a god- much less in the middle of a world altering war. You would’ve been far more foolish to confess your feelings than you were when you let him go.

The tight coil only grows barbed spikes as you remember the last time you ever saw him. Laying beneath you as you pinned him down. Standing before you as you demanded him away. Feeling the empty air as he vanished right before you eyes.

Xiao had told you that he was the one responsible for destroying your home. Burning it all down and destroying everything in his sight all because you had died. He was so filled with anguish and you didn’t know if you fully believed it. Xiao insisted that Morax hasn’t cared for a single soul as much as he cared for you. Even know as he lived as Zhongli you still hadn’t been replaced. You didn’t know if you believed that either.

“I won’t regret this… will I?” You ask no one as you feel yourself start to pathetically cry. “Weak,” you call yourself as you stand alone in the empty home you constructed for yourself long ago.

“Did you find him yet?” Traveler asks Xiao as they met back up in the middle of Liyue. Zhongli wasn’t at the funeral parlor and Hu Tao didn’t know where he had meandered off to before they came looking for him. He wasn’t at his home nor was he listening to that storyteller at Three-Round Knockout like usual. “Last place is the harbor. He was at the bridge when we found him, so let’s go look.”

They made haste to the bridge, but with crestfallen faces it was devoid of any kind of descended Archon. They were about to recollect their thoughts and try and figure out if there was any other place he frequented they could try when someone spoke up behind them.

“You all seem troubled,” the familiar voice of Zhongli startled all three of them as they all whipped around to look at him. He looked as composed as usual, maybe even a bit better than yesterday. Maybe airing some of his grievances helped him out a bit after all. Still, who knows how the news Xiao had for him would effect his mental well being.

“Rex- ahem- Zhongli, I need to speak with you.” In the heat of the moment, Xiao almost addressed him as Rex Lapis. Calling him that in the middle of the busy day would be a mistake, so it was good he caught himself. Zhongli looked at Xiao’s steadfast gaze and let it travel over to the blond and their companion who’s always had an issue keeping quiet.

“You all look stiff, like something has happened.”

“That’s Zhongli for you,” Paimon remarks. “Always perceptive.”

“So, it’s as I surmised.”

“I’ll explain everything, but it can’t be here.” Xiao stepped in.

“I understand,” Zhongli sighs. “Come with me. We can talk outside the city away from any possible prying ears. I would prefer to not be cooped up indoors.”

Just like the day before, Zhongli took the group out to the same river Xiao did; it was far from the people and now he stood cross-armed and ready for any sort of explanation. Traveler stayed quiet, knowing it was Xiao’s wish to say something first and made sure Paimon stayed quiet too. If anything, they were there to make sure nothing got out of hand- this was truly between them.

“On behalf of someone else’s word, I’ve been keeping something from you. It’s about… It’s about, y/n.”

“Xiao,” Zhongli bit and Xiao felt the words get stuck in his throat the moment your name left his mouth. Zhongli’s tone was already on edge. Just the mention of your name was enough to make the Archon nearly growl. The former divine being had been feeling the blanket of grief hold him down more this year than previous ones, the fact that he opened up about you just the day prior to the Traveler made old wounds throb. The last thing he wanted was to talk about you and make everything hurt all over again for another time.

“I understand you don’t want to talk about her, but please hear me out.”

“I will not entertain whatever thoughts you think you need to say. Y/n died a long time ago, you should leave her in the past.” His words were ironic since he himself couldn’t even do that.

“You don’t understand.”

“Xiao.”

“Please, she-”

“Enough!”

“She’s still alive!” Xiao, fed up with his god not letting him get a word in, blurted it out. He inwardly recoiled, not wanting to just say it like that. He wanted to ease into it, try and slowly explain it so Zhongli would accept it easier. “Y/n, she’s… she’s alive.”

There was silence so heavy it kept Xiao’s head down with an invisible force. His eyes stayed locked onto the boots of the one person who he respected the most. If he had never felt fear before this very moment, now would be the perfect introduction to it as he felt the burning gaze of Zhongli on his skull.

“Is that an attempt at a ill-advised jest,” Zhongli’s voice put on a dangerous tone. It was understandable and justified however. Who would just believe that the one mortal an Archon fell in love with thousands of years ago was alive? It sounded ludacris and Zhongli did not enjoy feeling like a fool.

“He’s telling the truth!” Paimon defended. Her mental restraint on not talking snapped at seeing Xiao look so meak under Zhongli’s overwhelming stature. Zhongli’s gaze shifted from Xiao to Paimon who squealed at the intensity before flying to hide behind the Traveler’s shoulder. His gaze was hard, stern, and angry.

“What could you possibly know? You only just learned about who she was through me- without my telling you so, y/n would be only a memory shared between Xiao and myself alone.”

“We know because we met her,” Traveler tell him. His fists clench and his jaw locks.

Zhongli couldn't stand lies or liars, and yet he wanted everything the group in front of him said to be bold face lies. Zhongli trusted the Traveler and Xiao the most out of almost anyone he knew presently. He trusted them with his secret and they always tried their best in their own duties and goal to find their sibling. He respected them and trusted them with his life as both Zhongli and Rex Lapis.

But did he trust them with your life?

With the promise of you being alive coming from Xiao and backed up by the Traveler, the former Archon was notably torn. He didn’t want to get his hopes up and have this all be some sort of illusion. A trick of the mind that will leave him crumbling just like the day he first lost you. He didn’t thinking he could take that kind of anguish again.

The Traveler stepped up and took Xiao’s hand in one of theirs and the other took hold of Zhongli’s. Paimon floated out from behind them as the blond made both of the immortal being bring their gazes up to them.

“Xiao can take you to her just like he did with us. Y/n is waiting.” The curled fist of Zhongli’s lessened enough to wrap around the Traveler’s comforting touch. He looked back at Xiao who had been looking at the blond with such gratefulness for salvaging the situation before calling his attention back. His amber gaze had loosened up, but they weren’t the normal eyes of Zhongli. Morax was peeking around the irises of the tallest among the group.

“This is no lie?”

“I would never lie to you.”

“Yes,” he breathed out, “I know.” He took a breath, feeling so embarrassingly out of character. It was then that he noticed the small insect that had been on Xiao this whole time. The trio had seemed to forget you sent them back with the dragonfly, but Zhongli knew. He sucked in a breath as he looked at it. “Take me to see her at once,” he commanded. Xiao wasted no time in teleporting all three of his companions to the edge of your barrier he had memorized the location of.

Zhongli’s hand was dropped by the Outworlder as he walked to the edge of it. He could sense the familiar power from years past and reached his hand up to place his palm on it. It bent with his palm like a bubble before it pushed through, rippling the distorted view of cloaked foliage behind it. He hesitated, but a slight push at his back had him walking in- well, stumbling in.

His face mirrored the Traveler’s when they had first seen the area behind the barrier. He could feel you everywhere and his body started moving before he could stop. Xiao and Traveler called after him as he took off into a sprint towards the house under the tree’s shadows. It felt like a ribbon had tied itself around his wrist and was yanking him forward. The dragonfly that had sat perched and patient on Xiao had taken off with Zhongli, acting as a guide as it flew in front of him.

“Take me to her,” he pleaded with the buzzing bug. “Like last time,” he remembered how a similar bug had led him to you that first time. He felt so vulnerable as he ran into the house, barging through the doors and dashing through halls with abandon. Zhongli felt mortal with his emotions controlling his actions and his desperation oozing out of his very core. He should be in better control of himself, but he can’t control his body no matter how much he tries. “Take me to her!”

The dragonfly had flown to a corridor that led into a vast open space. Stairs of three steps led out into an open garden with bushes, flowers, and carefully created paths to walk. It was a far cry from the overgrown, wild garden of the past. A stone canopy held up with four strong pillars covered the peaceful place from the sun and a small stone table sat among the paths intersection.

His breath was labored, chest heaving as the dragonfly continued out into the garden and his pace slowed down until the insect had taken a turn just outside the cover of the canopy. The dragonfly stopped, perching itself on an outstretched finger and Zhongli almost collapsed.

“Thank you,” you said to the dragonfly before it lifted off your finger and took off in a random direction, its job fulfilled. The sun bathed you in a golden light Zhongli could remember from eon’s ago and as he stared at you, a tear fell heavily and unstrained from his eye.

You weren’t sure what to say as you looked at him, but when you saw that tear fall you were ready to immediately apologzie. You never got the chance. Instead you were frozen in surprise when he had somehow appeared directly in front of you and encased you to himself.

Sealing his body to yours, his arm wrapped around your lower back and one of his hands pushed your head against his neck. His back curled inwards, bending you backward enough so that your back arched and he could form you to him even further. You were so warm and he felt himself choke as his nose took in your scent from atop your head. It was different from before, but he could still smell you in it- altered or not. It proved that you weren’t some fake, you were real.

Zhongli nuzzled into the top of your head, greedily taking in everything of you he could. You had placed your hands on his sides before sliding them up to his back. One of your hands snagged into the fabric of his coat and the other stayed wound around his back. He could feel you start to shake and he felt a bit better than he wasn’t the only one overly-emotional.

“You’re alive,” he whispers into your hair, voice cracking enough the wind could easily pick it up and take it somewhere far away. You just nodded into his chest as he somehow gripped you to him tighter, closer. “You’re alive,” he repeats like he’s trying to convince himself this isn’t a dream.

“Yes,” you sob. “Yes.”

As the two of you stood under the sun in a garden different from the one in his memories, he took no notice of the three other figures who had finally caught up to him after taking off on his own. Xiao felt a weight lift off his chest at seeing you two finally reunited and Traveler gently took his head in comfort. He had no chance to get embarrassed at the action, instead he just squeezed it back as he watched his long-seperated family cling to each other.

Xiao felt whole again for this one moment and he knew that you both did too.

“I’ve missed you so,” Zhongli confesses into your locks and you almost laugh if it wasn’t choked up on your dying sobs turned to sad sniffles. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.”

“I’m sorry,” you sniff as you let your arms slowly start to retract from him. He knew that things needed to be discussed and explanations needed to start somewhere, but he was reluctant to let go. His arms released you, but his palms were quick to gently cup your cheeks instead to tilt your face up to him. Your eyes were swollen and the whites of them irritated due to your tears. He looked no better.

Zhongli ran his gloved thumbs over your cheeks and across your eyes when you closed them when he got too close with his touch. He planted his feet between yours before pushing his forehead on yours and choosing to bask in your sun bathed body before anything close to closure ensues.

“Um,” you break the silence, but like last time, nothing else gets out before your interrupted.

“Call me by my name.”

“What?”

“My name,” he repeats. “Please.” He didn’t want to hear his mortal name or any of his other countless name and titles he’s collected over the years. No. His ears yearned for the name you knew him by. After all this time, he just wanted you to call him-

“Morax.”

Zhongli collapsed at last. His hands that cupped your cheeks dropped as did he. He came to his knees in front of you, his empty hands easily latching onto yours in lieu of your cheeks. His head hung as he sat- kneeled- at your feet. You shuffled in astonishment and shock as he took your hands and pushed them against his forehead pleadingly.

“Again.”

“Morax,” you whispered and he could hear the embarrassment in your tone. He chuckled as a shiver ran through his entire being.

“Once more.”

“You’re being spoiled.”

“I think I’m more than qualified.” He hears you chuckle and he could perish right here in this very instant without regret at the sound. It was just as he remembered.

“Morax.”

“This time,” he starts speaking as he feels you slowly start to join him on the ground. Your hands had twisted in his grasp to hold them back. “This time,” he starts again, “you’ll stay with me, won’t you?”

You pull both of your encased hands to your lips, kissing his gloves and he wishes he took them off. His wish must’ve been yours as well since you slowly started to remove his gloves and revealed the dark, golden imbedded skin he kept hidden to the public eye. Your eyes remained closed as you worked, like you had dreamed of doing this so many times you didn’t need your sight. Once again, you placed your lips on his knuckles and it was like his skin was alight with lava.

Reopening your eyes, you adjusted your hands so that your fingers were now interlaced, fingertips resting on top of each other’s hands as your palms were on the warm ground to lean closer to him. You push your forehead back against his, breathing in his air that became tangled with your own. Smiling so softly at him that he released one of your intertwined hands to push his fingers into your hair behind your ear and pull you even closer to him. He wondered if he could meld your very existence into his own and become the earth itself among the garden.

“I’ll stay until you don’t want me,” you declare.

“I’ll never not want you, my dear. We have too much time to make up for and many stories to share, should time continue to allow it.”

“Time is nothing but a concept to me now,” you chuckle bitterly. You would tell him about it all later, but now wasn’t the time. It would dampen the mood too bitterly for your tastes.

A contract was made under the sun behind a barrier that had kept you concealed and hidden from his faze. Your intertwined hands were the signatures finalizing that contract. Zhongli wasn’t ever going to let you slip through his fingers again- he promised himself that as he held tighter onto your warmth and you to his.

Zhongli couldn’t wait to finally give you the hairstick he had held onto for a millenia in your memory. Even more, he couldn’t wait to see it glimmer under your locks of hair since there was nothing and no one holding you back anymore.

a/n: pls god like/reblog/tell me your thoughts. this is babies first genshin fic and it's got so many words im so anxious i could throw up. i only edited this like one and a half times bc words became mushy and my eyeballs started melting. pls excuse the shift between past and present tense, my eyeballs - as aforementioned- are melting

if @scara7102 sees this it wouldn't let me tag you uh oh

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #zhongli x reader #zhongli x y/n #zhongli x you #zhongli hurt/comfort #zhongli angst #zhongli fluff #zhongli #rex lapis #morax x reader #morax #zhongli fic #genshin impact x reader

533 notes · View notes