The god's last wish (Zhongli/Diluc x OC)

27

"Mama!" Two young boys beamed happily, excitedly running towards their mother. One with vibrant hair so fiery it glows at the dashing strike of the sun, and one with such beautiful steady auburn gaze. 

"Zoran, Yizhong!" The mother called out, accepting both her son's embrace.

"How's training?" She asked in a ge tle tone, caressing both of their chubby cheeks.

"Big brother Xiao has been teaching me how to wield a polearm!" Yizhong replied enthusiastically, his golden brown eyes glimmering with passion.

"Do you enjoy wielding a polearm that much?"

"Yes mother!" The eight year old replied, grinning widely at his mother.

Anthea chuckled, rubbing his son's hair. "Then I shall have one specially made for you. What color would you like?"

"Really? I can pick a color? Can I have it in papa's colors?" He enthusiastically exclaimed.

"Ofcourse, sweetheart. What about you, Zoran? How was your day?"

"I learned a lot about using a claymor with papa. But you don't have to buy one for me, mama! Papa already bought one for me. It looks very much like his, but I still can't use it until I get  strong enough!" Zoran replied with a mature smile on his face. His eyes were intense as his father's, and he also had his reserved and composed characteristic.

"Is that so? Do you want to be like papa?" Anthea asked, stroking his hair. He was a carbon copy of his father.

The boy nodded, and Anthea smiled at the two of them. "You two make us very proud. Now, why don't you boys take a bath with papa, and then I'll cook your favorite food after?"

"Okay mama!" The boys answered in sync, both with the same energy and enthusiasm.

Both of them ran towards the manor, however, Yizhong halted in his tracks and marched back towards his mother. To Anthea's surprise, a rather sullen look was painted in his son's eyes.

"Yizhong, sweetheart, what's wrong?" She asked, kneeling infront of her son to hold his cheecks in her hands.

"Mama?"

"Yes darling?"

"Do you think papa loves me?" Anthea's eyes widened, surprised at his son's question.

"Darling, ofcourse papa loves you! He loves you more than anything else in the world!" Anthea whispered, hugging her son.

"Then perhaps he loves Zoran more? Could it be the color of my hair mama? Would he love me more if had red hair too?" Tears were falling from the little boy's eyes as he grasped on her mother.

"Papa loves you both equally, darling. You don't need red hair. You're perfect the way you are, my love." She whispered as she hugged the boy tighter.

"Then why does he only ever train Zoran? And he even bought him a claymor." 

"Yizhong, baby, It's just that papa isn't very much adept with polearms. But he knows you love them so he sought your big borther xiao to teach you instead. But I assure you, papa loves you." Anthea reassured his crying son. 

Even her broke down, for she did not realize he has been having such feelings.

Zoran and Yizhong were twins, but it is only Zoran who's legitimate. Yizhong was Zhongli and Azalea's unborn child, whom she had carried in her womb with Zoran upon Zhongli's wish. Diluc said he did not mind, and that he would treat Yizhong as his own just like what his father did to Kaeya.

The twins did not resemble one another in any way except from their maturity which they got from their fathers. Perhaps the fact that Zoran looked a lot like Diluc, and Yizhong didn't has been stressing the little boy out.

Yizhong has fallen asleep on her arms,   and as she stood up to carry him to his room, Anthea once again felt the burden of the curse that has been eating her life away. Nine years has already passed, yet her husband still didn't know of her condition. The pain was turning more and more unbearable as time passes, yet the nymph still chose to endure.

"Did anything happen to Yizhong, mama? The water was refreshing I wish he joined. He would have loved it." Zoran, who was waiting on his bed spoke as Anthea carried Yizhong to their room.

"Your brother was just sad with something, what about you, Zoran? How have you been lately?"

"I'm alright mama. But I'm worried about you." the boy answered, his gaze piercing deep into his mother's.

"What are you worried for, dear?"

"Sometimes, when you go to the garden to tend to the plants, you look as if you're in a lot of pain."

Anthea's heart skipped a bit. She forgot that Zoran was as perceptive as his father. And if he managed to notice, has Diluc noticed too?

"You're too sweet to worry about me, my angel, but I assure you, mama's fine." Anthea assured his son with a wide smile on her face. No wonder he could notice, because even at that very moment, her bones and flesh would not cease to throb in pain.

"Then look me in the eye mama. Look me in the eye and tell me that you'll stay with me, Yizhong, and papa forever." He told his mother, his eyes, althougu steady, reflected worry. As if the thought has been in his mind for a long time.

Anthea smiled. Seating on her son's bed, she held his shoulders gently. "I'm not sure with forever, but I will stay with all of you as long as you want me to."