Falling Doesn't Feel So Bad (Tartaglia x Reader)

Chapter 8

Y/N found that conversation flowed between her and the man, who's name was Zhongli, fairly easy.

She found out that he was the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. The man was very interesting, unlike anyone else she had ever spoken to. He spoke with the wisdom of an old man, despite only looking like he was in his mid twenties.

Zhongli, of course, already knew who Y/N was. There was hardly anyone in Liyue who didn't know her. He knew many things about her, but he was interested in how she obtained her vision.

The two made plans to get a coffee the following week so Y/N could tell him the story of how she got her vision.

And so, that was how Y/N found herself sitting in Yanshang Teahouse on a Thursday evening, telling her tale of that friendly bard named Venti and the group of hilichurls. Zhongli chuckled once she had finished talking, his curiosity had been quenched for now.

"What an interesting tale. I've never heard one quite like it."

Y/N giggled, taking a sip of her tea.

"I've never met another adventurer in Liyue that has an Anemo vision, maybe someday I will, you never know!" The girl said enthusiastically.

Zhongli nodded in agreement, "The odds of that happening are very low, but it could happen I suppo-"

"Hey, Zhongli I need your help with someth..." Icy eyes widened in surprise as the sentence died on the mans tongue.

Y/N shot out of her chair, her hand immediately going to her daggers.

"Ah, I was afraid this might happen." Zhongli murmured, his amber eyes lazily taking in the scene unfolding in front of him.

Y/N's heart was racing, she thought she was finally in the clear, and now he shows up when she least expects it? It also appeared that Tartaglia and Zhongli were acquaintances. Oh shit, what if Zhongli was a Harbinger too. What would she do?

'I'm so screwed.'

"Well this is a surprising turn of events. I must say Y/N, I never expected to find you here of all places." Tartaglia smirked, his nonchalant attitude covering up the surprise in his voice.

Y/N narrowed her eyes, she wasn't going to let her guard down.

"Zhongli, do you know him?" She asked curiously, the girl finally thought she had found the beginnings of a new friendship, but if the amber eyes man had anything to do with Tartaglia then she wanted no part of it.

"Indeed I do. Tartaglia and I are....well we're business partners, lets put it that way."

'Oh my god, what if Ajax does the killing and then Zhongli makes a profit out of the funerals held for the people that Ajax killed? Why does shit like this always happen to me?' Y/N's thoughts were loud in her mind, she wasn't however, distracted from the current situation. The girl pushed in her chair, not willing to start a fight in a tea parlor. She put away her dagger, but kept her hand on her belt just in case.

"I see. Well then, I'll be taking my leave, thank you for the talk Zhongli." She said coldly, brushing past Tartaglia and making sure to give him her very best death glare.

Y/N spun around when she felt him grab her wrist.

"Can we talk?"

She roughly tugged her wrist out of his grasp and looked him dead in the eyes.

"What is there to talk about? You killed my parents Ajax, unless you're going to magically bring them back then I don't give two shits about what you have to say. Leave me alone."

With that, she turned on her heel and marched out of the parlor, leaving Zhongli and Tartaglia in silence.

"She's quite a stubborn girl I see." Zhongli commented, a small smile on his face because of the flabbergasted look Tartaglia was wearing. The Harbinger turned around to face the man, "I wish she would listen. Ugh...I hate this. She doesn't understand that if I don't do my job then I'll get punished, I wouldn't have killed her parents otherwise."

The older man shook his head, seemingly lost in thought for a moment.

"Why are you telling me this? Is it not her you want to talk to?"

A scowl made its way onto the gingers face, which only broadened Zhongli's smile.

"You know I'm right. Finally, a woman who has you running after her, your childhood friend too, a cliché? Maybe, maybe not."

Zhongli laughed at the sight of the pink tint that now adorned the younger mans face.

"I'm a Harbinger, even if I liked her like that it would never work."

Just like Y/N had moments earlier, Tartaglia turned away and made his way out of the parlor, leaving the black haired man all alone. He shook his head, picking up his tea cup and taking a sip of his now lukewarm drink.

Zhongli had seen plenty of men deny their feelings, Tartaglia may be a Harbinger, cold and threatening, but in this instance he was just as transparent as everyone else.

Even if he didn't know it yet, the Harbinger would come to realize it was true eventually.