"Correct me if I'm wrong," Zhongli chuckled as he rounded the corner away from the stone stairs, leading you down a busy red street towards a beautiful entryway leading to a public garden and, what looked like, a large building. "But you're the new crew member of Beidou's ship, right?"
"Was." You corrected quickly, rolling your shoulders slightly beneath the weight of Qiqi, who hummed but voiced no complaints to it. "I was a member, but quickly left due to personal reasons."
The man nodded, humming lowly. "I see. Well, I wish for whatever it is that might be causing you distress in your life to be resolved soon. After all, Liyue is the land of new opportunities and chances."
"You could say that. That and it's got good mora."
"But what is life if bound by mora?"
The man sounded wise, really, but his complex way of speaking cause you to snort at his words. "How interesting. Then how do you live? On the streets?"
"Oh no, the streets are not safe to sleep on." He furrowed his brows, eyes trailing after a certain lilly pad in the small pond in the elegant garden. "You could get trampled, or unintentionally show disrespect to those around you. Not to mention the health factors."
No reply came from you to that, allowing him to lead you both up yet another set of never ending stone stairs to the building. A pharmacy, he mentioned.
"Dr Baizhu, I believe we have a little someone you lost." Zhongli hummed as you both walked in.
A man with long green hair and a rather exotic outfit turned to greet you both, his stiff smile turning relieved as soon as he spotted you picking Qiqi off your shoulders to allow her down onto the ground again. She stretched her legs a little to probably soothe the ache much like you rubbed your neck - stretching it from one side to the other.
"Qiqi! There you are!" He rushed over to her, kneeling on one knee to cup her shoulders. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Where were you?!"
The girl shrugged. "I'm sorry, I don't actually remember..." she paused and then turned slightly, looking up at you. "But they helped me. Qiqi approached them and they helped Qiqi come back."
The man in front of her looked up, meeting your eyes with his own soft gaze. "Is that so? How sweet then, have you thanked them yet?"
"No. Not yet." The girl hummed, walking out of the hold of the man to stand in front of you. Tugging on your sleeve (albeit pointless since you were already looking at her) she smiled. "Thank you for helping Qiqi come back."
You smiled, leaning down to pet her head. "Of course. Any time Qiqi."
"Thank you, really. Qiqi has a habit of often wandering off unintentionally." The Dr Baizhu hummed as he stood back to his feet. "Could I repay you in some way?"
Shaking your head, you waved his offering off. "No need, I didn't do anything too big after all."
"Oh but please accept it! As a thank you."
"There really is no need! I'm pretty well off already-"
" 'Well off'? That's pretty rich coming from you." A new voice hummed - one you didn't recognise.
Turning, you gazed quizzically at the stranger. Tall with ginger hair, piercing blue eyes and an outfit that looked too tight to be on someone of his size.
"Excuse me?" You quizzed, looking him up and down as he chuckled.
The man stepped closer, the air becoming cold with each step he took. "Well, out of all places, I would have never expected to find you in Liyue. That's pretty far from Snezhnaya after all."
Your body froze for a second time in thirty minutes, the hair on your body standing straight. That's it, they found you. Every past insecurity, anxiety, fear came rushing back to you in a monstrous wave - drowning you as the air in your lungs left your mouth and refused to return.
Zhongli and Dr Baizhu looked to the man in a curious manner, the brunette speaking first. "Childe? Are you familiar with Melina here?"
"Melina?" Childe snorted, looking to you with wide eyes as you flinched, instinctively grasping onto Qiqi's hand. The girl looked up and tilted her head at your posture but said nothing on the matter. "Is that the name they told you? Don't make me laugh! The name of your little friend?!"
"Pardon my intrusiveness, but what's going on?" Baizhu furrowed his brows, staring the ginger down.
Childe chuckled, eyes fleeting over you for a second before closing gleefully. "Well, since your little friend over here hasn't seemed to be very honest, I'll catch you both up. 'Melina's' real name is actually y/n, theyre a wanted criminal in Snezhnaya who fled at the news of their hunt."
"Is this true?" Zhongli turned to you, your throat dry as you warily shook your head.
"N-no! Well-!"
"Cat got your tongue?" Childe laughed, picking something out of his pocket as your eyes further widened.
A wanted poster with your name, face and birth on it was held proudly in his grasp. "Well will you look at that? It seems I did see the right person." Two more fatui members appeared behind him from the door, both smirking as Childe spoke up again. "Listen, you can come with me the easy way or the hard way. It's your choice."
As he stepped closer with his two minions you clenched Qiqi's hand tighter, fear crawling up your spine. What could you even do in this situation? You were a wanted criminal in another country, the country you were seconds away from being taken back to.
"If you lay a hand on them you'll be arrested for attempted abduction and harassment under Liyue laws." A voice proudly boomed followed by the clicking of heels against wooden ground.
Childe turned, glaring at Beidou who strutted towards him, crossing her arms when successfully being able to stand between you and the male. "They are now, legally, a Liyue citizen so if you try anything sketchy I'll be obligated to call the officials."
That seemed to stop him, narrowed eyes snapping to you over her shoulder. "A Liyue citizen? Don't make me laugh. Where would you ever have found that much mora in such little time?"
"The Liyue Qixing personally funded for their citizenship." Beidou shot back, causing him to widen his eyes.
"The Qixing? Why would they care for something like this?"
The woman shrugged, only staring him back up. "What matters from this is that serious issues will ensue if you attempt anything, so consider your next moves very wisely."
The tension in the room was almost unbearable.
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