"How? How is it that you remind me so much...of what those dark times...denied me?"
The choice and realization that he had to step down had not been an easy one. However being the eldest of the Seven he knew it would come. However that one day he ha...
[A/N: Zhongli's starting to realize his feelings as he helps an injured Lumine. He remembers an incident with Guizhong cause of it.]
.........................................
Thankfully Lumine was safe.
This time...this time he had been able to protect someone that was he now realized had become somebody precious to him. Gangyu had been kind enough to give them some wild glaze lilies she found and even helped them get Lumine to a campsite just outside the harbor. Paimon had meanwhile gone back with Gangyu to take the flowers to where the rest of supplies for the rite was. Said blonde was sitting on a near by rock by the fire as he wringed out a wash cloth he had just dunked into the bowl of spring water. "You must be more careful, Lumine."he scolded taking the cloth to gently clean the wound to her face. It thankfully looked worse then it actually was and wouldn't warrant a visit to Dr.Baizhu. The contact making her hiss in pain but still managed that same star shattering smile.
"I try to, honest I do. But not even I can always come out completely unscathed."Lumine said before realizing. "Wait when did you drop the formalities?"
"It interests me little right now. I'm more concerned about you right at this point in time. You could have been seriously hurt today."Zhongli rebuked as he grabbed some bandages and mended up her arm. His hand went up to caress her cheek with such tender care that Lumine once more smiled. Causing yet again for his memories of Guizhong to overlay with Lumine for but a split moment. This felt all to familiar and it made him recall...
..."Morax!"snapped the the petite adeptus with the dusty brown hair. She looked positively livid with the god of contracts as she tended to his wounds. The worry and distress mixed with protective anger. It made Guizhong one frightening woman as the others watched dumbfounded as this small, weak goddess of dust was making Morax shrink in guilt and fear of her lecture. "I told you to be careful! How many times must you go after him with such....such foolishness!?"
"Hmph, she's at it again?"came the small voice of a very young Yaksha with golden eyes and green hair. Beside him was a little girl with distinct black and red horns.
"One would not worry, little ones, they've always been like this."chuckled the large deer-like adeptus.
"Yes one finds it quite impressive how only Lady Guizhung is capable of such a feet with Lord Morax."chuckled a female crane adeptus.
Guizhung pouted, her cheeks puffing out cutely as she mumbled after finishing patching up Morax's wounds. The Archon war was full of bloodshed but every time Morax jumped in with such reckless abandon it infuriated her...and worried her. "We're at war Guizhong it is expected I'll come out of a battle with injuries."sighed Morax coldly. He was surprised though as the goddess of dust laid her hand on his cheek to tenderly and affectionately stroke it. "Please, Morax...please be more careful. Our contract if null and void if you toss away your life."
"Fine, for you Guizhong I will be more careful in the future."he sighed holding her hand close with a soft hum. Guzhong hearing this ended smiling that star shattering smile in delight...
...Zhongli sighed growing solemn again as he slowly set the cloth back in the bowl and got to his feet and took a few steps away with his back to Lumine. Why did he remember that memory? He had almost word for word said the same thing Guizhong had told him. The way Lumine smiled made his heart race and even skip a few beats. This warmth he felt at her just calling for him or her racing to his side. This content serenity he had lost with Guizhong....Lumine always brought it to the surface. It was like a restless pool finally stilling to become clear as a mirror.
"Zhongli!"Lumine called and to his surprise she had spun around him with a determined but scolding look to her face. "You're hurt too."
"Hn?"He brought his hand to the side of his face to graze a cut a shard of ice had dealt him. He had not noticed do to being so concerned about Lumine. Lumine reached up with the damp cloth he had used prior to clean up her wounds. "You need to be careful too, not just me."she huffed. Zhongli couldn't help but smile and begin to laugh; Lumine really was a lot like her. He couldn't help but once more pat her head making the blonde traveler grow extremely flustered once more. But once more though it was extremely faint his deep amber eyes spotted a ghostly, misty figure watching with a smile as he and Lumine walked back towards his home. The scent of earth and lilies faint on the evening breeze.
"So when are you going to tell her, Morax?"came the faint whisper on the wind.
"Zhongli, are you alright?"Lumine asked staring at him in worry. Zhongli took a deep breath and smiled at Lumine to reassure her. Seeing he was fine Lumine offered an eager smile in kind.
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It was late in the night when Zhongli came out from his study and had been surprised to find Lumine curled up on the couch not far away. She was snoring and mumbling softly as a sudden shiver went up her spine. Liyue's nights were still a little bit cold but they were slowly warming up with summer on the horizon soon. A gentle chuckle escaped him as he walked over to her side. "Now how long have you been out here?"he whispered. It would to do for her to stay on the couch like this when she had the guest room all to herself and Paimon.
His mind made up Zhongli quietly and carefully scooped her up into his arms like a bride on her wedding day. She stirred a little but never woke, nuzzling into him happily as she was comforted by his earthy scent. The simple, unaware action actually surprised him but made him smile as he took her to her room and laid her down on the bed and tucked her in after setting her scarf neatly aside. She looked so small and so fragile while she slept. It brought a strange urge for him to gently stroke her hair and get a few stray hairs back in order.
Realization grew like a sapling as he watched her briefly as she slept. This woman that laughed at the natural order and laws of his world. This same one that smelled of flowers on a starlit night. She had some how worked into his heart. No, it couldn't be! His heart had died with her many centuries ago! But the fact remained before him somebody new had swooped in silent as an owl and sunk their talons into it. Bringing forth emotions and feelings he had long forgotten. A single thought soon took root as he slowly left and closed the door behind him.
