Those Willing to Drown | Beiguang x GN! Reader

ARC II-ACT I

Quick on your feet, silver tray laying flat on the palm of your right hand and a flimsy yellow paged notebook being stuffed into the black pocket of your apron - the small restaurant was as busy as ever in the early hours of another lovely Liyue noon. Passing by occupied tables and laughing customers, you smiled at the table of three girls, laying down their drinks before each of them respectively.

"Will that be all today?" You asked sweetly, pulling out your notepad as they hummed and did a one over the menu again.

The smallest one, a brunette with a flower crown decorating her hair spoke up first. "I think we'll just order some crystal shrimp for now, can we keep the menus for later though?"

"Yes of course, coming right up."

After leaving Beidou and Ningguang the last time you had seen them both in the same room, you had managed to land a job at the restaurant of an elderly couple - the food being more than delicious, but the only complaint being the slow serving time. Something you were able to help with easily.

The pay could have been better, however, it was pay nonetheless. And it was closer to a miracle that you managed to find a job that didn't ask about your living situation, past and background. Sure, sometimes accommodation was an issue, hotels and motels being a little on the higher prize range - but sleeping on a wooden bench in Liyue harbour was never too bad!

Plus! How could you complain when Kazuha, Lumine and Paimon visited you so often too?

The doors of the restaurant swung open for the nth time that morning, catching your attention as you turned to politely greet the new customers. However, speaking of the devil, you stopped yourself once spotting the familiar silverette male - his sweet smile making you chuckle.

"Hey," he greeted as he walked towards the counter you stood behind - he often paid visits just to chat, and when you could afford a break, you'd sit with him and catch up. "I didn't catch you at a bad time, did I?"

"Not at all. I'll go check in for my break."

He nodded and brought a thumb up to point over his shoulder at the doors. "I'll be waiting at one of the tables outside, alright?"

"Sure! I'll be out in a bit."

After quickly asking for your break, you rushed out the door with a plate of chilli-mince cornbread buns for you and Kazuha to share. However, the excitement of speaking to the boy again halted to a stop when you skipped outside and caught sight of the two equally as familiar women sitting besides the boy. "Beidou? Ningguang?" You approached cautiously, unsure as to why the pit in your stomach felt all the more prominent.

What was so unnerving about these two?

"Y/n!" Beidou smirked, standing from her seat to walk over and pull you into a hug.

You quickly placed the plate down on the wooden table before wrapping your arms around her waist - not nearly returning the same enthusiasm that she gave you. When she pulled away to keep you at arms length, your hands unintentionally stayed on her hips. "What are you two doing here?"

"We came to apologise." Ningguang hummed, crossing a leg over another as she tapped the table with her nails. "The way we both acted on that night at the Jade Chamber was inappropriate, and highly disrespectful."

As you eyed her up and down, your eyes landed on a paper envelop that she had sat in front of her on the table. A golden stamp of the geo symbol on the center of the brown envelop.

You nodded. "No need to apologise, I took no offence. Plus, Im doing a lot better now so there's no need to fret."

As hummed but didn't verbally reply to that, only waving her hand to the seat beside her and Beidou - opposite to Kazuha. You hesitated, wiping the palms of your hand on your apron (another nervous habit you recently picked up on), before finally agreeing and taking the seat.