Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦━━━━
"You've done well, my dear" Rex Lapis spoke as he stood before the figure, his cape up to cover his face- but his amber eyes still shone through, soft as he looked down at them. They bowed their head, staring at the dusty floor.
"Are you sure you won't be needing my assistance any further, master?" They echoed, their e/c hues narrowed as they tried their best to let the salty tears leak from them. This was their destiny- this...was their contract. They knew there was going to be a time when their service was no longer needed, but they never imagined that the time would come so soon.
He reached out a hand, placing it on top of their h/c haired head- trying his best to comfort them. Their relationship was an odd one. Their relationship was far more than just a contract, the two deeply cared for each other: even the other adepti commented on this.
"I'm sure, you've served your purpose. You served the terms of your contract. Now, find peace my dear. Find a new purpose" He said softly as he raised their chin up with a gloved finger, looking deep into their eyes.
"I'll be seeing you shortly, (Y/N)"
━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦━━━━
"(Y/N)! Have you swept the floors yet?" Their boss called, and a sigh left their lips. Autumn was always their busiest time of year, the constant flow of customers that streamed from their store proving that. But for some reason...they had been lumped with the boring chores. Instead of brewing tea like they were so good at doing, they were stuck with cleaning.
All the time Rex Lapis spent teaching them how to properly brew the leaves was for nothing.
"Yes, I also dusted the counter and cleaned the teapots" They called back, stretching their back as they awaited their bosses answer. A soft breeze trickled through the shops doors, a gentle glow illuminating all the porcelain inside.
"I need you to deliver this order for me then! There's no point just standing around!" The boss yelled, and they couldn't help but roll their e/c eyes. The boss was harsh as ever, and since when did they do deliveries?
After stalking to the counter, they were presented with a large parcel stacked with cheap teacups and a full teapot- and a sealed letter was tucked inside.
"Take this to the funeral parlor, they've already payed. May Rex Lapis protect you, god knows you need it with how clumsy you are" The boss scoffed as (Y/N) plucked up the parcel, muttering under their breath as they set off towards the funeral parlor. They wanted to scold them for using his name in vain, for using their master to mock them.
But they couldn't. He wasn't their master anymore.
It had been so long since the two had spoken- they counted the years. It had been two thousand years to be exact, and each passing day was painful. After a hundred, they were able to find more work cleaning up some demon populations around Liyue. After a hundred more, they were left with nothing. It was painful, and they almost resented Rex Lapis for abandoning them.
But he was just fulfilling their contract.
Wangsheng funeral parlor came into view, looking as deserted as ever. With another sigh, they made their way up the steps- gently pushing open the door and peering inside. They were quickly greeted with a figure , and they decided to call out.
"Hello, I have a delivery here for you?" They called uncertainly, and a girl was in their face instantly. She had wide crimson eyes and a smirk on her face as she looked them up and down.
"You're from the tea place, right!? I almost died of dehydration whilst waiting for you, good thing we're in a funeral parlor right? I'm kidding!" She exclaimed, jumping backwards and forwards as they stood awkwardly. It was no wonder Wangsheng was going out of business.
"Go through the door at the back, and leave the tea with Zhongli. He's the tea expert around here" The crimson eyed girl grinned as she slowly backed away, rushing off to do whatever strange people like herself do.
'Sounds like someone else I know' (Y/N) smiled to themselves as they entered the door they were instructed towards and as they stepped inside, their heart almost froze. There was a familiar smell to the air, a familiar feeling they felt they would never experience again.
"Hello, you must be-" The man they presumed was Zhongli began, but he cut himself off as he turned around as saw them.
There was no way this was happening.
The same amber eyes that instantly softened as he stared at them, the same gentle touch as he reached out towards them. The lanterns inside the room cloaked his tall figure beautifully, and his mouth gaped open. They quickly placed the box down as their knees buckled, and they fell to the floor with a harsh 'thud'. He feel with them, placing his hands on their shoulders as they stared up at him.
"Master?" They choked as they were pulled towards his chest and engulfed in a tender warmness. Thousands of years...and this is how they meet again? In a funeral parlor?
"Well...isn't it my little helper?" He smiled as he held their h/c haired head, his eyes flickering shut as he melted into the touch. His voice will still smooth and comforting, yet stern when it came to giving orders. They were in heaven.
