𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭 (Zhongli x reader)

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓇

You couldn't say no.
✦

☽✧ ✦ ✧☾

You opened the door for Zhongli to enter, feeling embarrassed that you had some of your belongings lying on the floor. "Excuse the mess, I wasn't expecting guests." You said quickly, cursing at your past self for not cleaning up before leaving.

Zhongli turned around, giving you a soft smile. "It's alright. You weren't expecting to get hurt today either, were you?" You shook your head no, closing the door behind you. "Go and get some bandages. Is it alright for me to grab a bowl and some towels?" Nodding, you told him where the bowls and towels were while going to sit on the couch.

Lifting up your leg, you took a better look at your knee. The wound had a red ring around the gash, dried blood was mixed with the fresh one. Bits and pieces of rocks stuck out of your flesh. The way it looked was making you look away in disgust. Sometimes you would get hurt on your expeditions, but something like this was a rare occurrence.

Zhongli finally returned from the kitchen area, kneeling down in front of you. He put the bowl full of water on the floor beside him, taking a look at your gash before cleaning it up. "This looks pretty bad." He says, running a long slender finger on your skin around it. His touch set off warning signs in your body, They were confused on whether to like the touch, or be terrified of it.

"Please just clean it up." You said. Zhongli peered at you through his eyelashes, not saying a word to you. "Please." You said softer, sinking into your seat. You didn't know how to feel under his gaze either. This man confused you.

With a prompt nod, Zhongli dabbed the white cloth into the water and brought it up to the wound. You watched as the white fabric soaked up the blood and mud, staining the towel. You winced in pain as he dabbed around the wound. He had peered up at you a couple of times to make sure he wasn't causing too much pain.

"Why do you keep looking at me?" You said, feeling a bit uneasy.

"You remind me of a friend I used to have." With that, you kept silent.

Once he was satisfied with his work, Zhongli unfurled some bandages he must've found under the counter. He swiftly unrolled the bandage around your knee, his hand brushing against your leg. As that happened, a memory played in the back of your head.

"Morax." Said a beautiful woman in a hushed voice. "If the others found us like this, they would think we were lovers." She giggled, hiding her smile with a long sleeve that adorned flowers. Zhongli looked up at her through hooded eyes, a gentle smile on his face as a blush made it's way to his cheeks.

"What would be so bad about that?" He said in a gentle tone, finishing the bandaging around the upper part of her thigh, his hand brushing against her skin. "Guizhong, do you..." He paused. "Want to be lovers?" Guizhong thought for a moment, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

You blinked a few times, snapping back to reality. Looking down, your knee was finally bandaged and Zhongli was giving you a worried stare.

"Are you alright?" He said, bringing his hand up to your forehead for a brief moment. "No fever." He said to no one but himself. "But you're face is red." You could feel your cheeks heating up more, thinking about the strange dream like memory from before.

Swatting his hand away, you moved over to the other side of the couch. "I'm fine!" You said quickly, trying to cool off your face. "Just felt warm for a minute." Zhongli nodded, staying where he was. It seemed like he wanted to talk more. You cleared your throat, looking to the tea pot on the table. "So, an Archon."

"I never planned on letting you know." Zhongli admitted, cautiously sitting down on the seat beside you. "Please Y/N, keep this a secret." He stared at you and all you could think about was the memory.

"Who am I going to tell anyways." You laughed, averting his gaze. "But is it alright if I ask a few questions?" After a few moments, Zhongli finally gave you the 'ok'. "Who was the friend I reminded you of." You watched as the archon's eyes widened. "You don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable."

"It's alright." He says, sighing. "She was a companion of mine. We stuck together for many years until she was killed in the war." Memories of her death played in his head like a broken record. "I placed her in glaze lilies as she died." You felt your heart break for him. How hard it must've been to be alone for so many years. You asked him if he had taken any more companions since the friend had passed. "Never." He said, looking up from his lap and to the window. "She was my only one. I plan to keep it that way." His words made your heart sink.

You cleared your throat, placing your hands on your thighs and stood up. "Let's get some tea to lighten up the mood, yeah?" Zhongli looked back to you, a solemn expression plastered across his face. Did he think of his friend every time he looked at you?

"That sounds lovely." Zhongli quietly said, lifting himself off the chair. "Are you going to be alright with your knee?" You nodded, walking over to your equipment bag and taking out a small pouch filled to the brim with mora. Selling good artifacts put quite a bit of money in your pockets. "There is a very pleasant tea place down the road from here. Would you mind going there?" He asked.

Walking to the door, you turned around to face Zhongli. "Of course not, anything to get that sad look off your face." One of Zhongli's hands raised to his face.

"I looked sad?"

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Hope everyone enjoyed!

Who is everyone's favorite genshin character? Mine is Itto and Yae Miko!