platonic relationship >:(
artwork by: @kurattes on twitter
"Hey Zhongli, are you scared of death?"
Zhongli looked over at Hutao, surprised at the sudden question
He pondered for a moment, hands behind his back, looking up at the sky. Hutao's curious eyes glistened, looking at her employee.
"Hehe, I thought so," Hutao smirked mischievously, "You don't really accept death, now do you?"
Zhongli pondered.
"I mean- you are the god of geo... The archon of contracts... Morax... Rex lapis..." Zhongli shot an annoyed look at Hutao, in which Hutao replied with a giggle.
"I am neither afraid nor am I accepting of death." Zhongli finally replied. "It has taken the smile of many, it has cursed families, it has brought humanity fear. How should I accept that?"
Hutao sighed. "It's because we can't do anything about it, thus we accept it. We can't be afraid of something for a lifetime, that'd be wasteful, hmph." She picks up a fallen branch and held it out for Zhongli to see. "It's pretty isn't it?" Hutao examined the leaves and the flowers on the branch. "Yes, it truly is beautiful," Zhongli replies. "The colour of the flower is a common one, but not one to be overlooked."
"Nope, that's not why is beautiful. At least not to me." Hutao spun the branch in her hand. "Its because it has a future, that's why."
Zhongli looks at her, curious.
"The branch falls from its mother tree, the flower will not bear fruits nor seeds. The leaves are left only for decoration, not for salvaging growth. It is cruel, but it is beautiful." Hutao sighed. "There is beauty in living, there is beauty in death. Mr. Zhongli, do you understand now?" She giggled. Zhongli doesn't speak, instead watches the blue sky, and pondered.
Hutao watches the sky with him and points at some birds "Is that an eagle, Mr. Zhongli? It's huge!" Hutao giggles, trying to shift the subject.
"Hutao, when you're alive, live well," Zhongli says out of the blue, "so that when you leave this world, you will leave without regrets, without sadness."
Hutao stared at Zhongli's tall figure.
"And always remember who you are, and do what you want to do."
.
.
.
"Are my eyes deceiving me, or do you, Mr. Zhongli, still look as young and lively half a century ago?"
Hutao's hunched over figure chuckled. Indeed, fifty years has passed, Hutao's cheerful, energetic figure has turned into an old lady with silver hair covered by the same hat that she had always wore.
Zhongli was smiling, years has carved away at Hutao until she needed help to walk. "Is that so?" Zhongli laughed.
"You know what, Mr, Zhongli?" Hutao looks over at him with the same energetic eyes, "If I were to leave the world at this moment, I would leave happily."
~This one is a short one, I hope you enjoyed!~
