𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭 (Zhongli x reader)

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝓌𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓎 𝓉𝓌𝑜

A smirk made it's way to your face. "did you miss me Ayato?"

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Ayato stood beside the door to make an opening. "Please, come inside." He said, making a motion with his arms. You adjusted your bag in on your back and stepped inside the building. It hasn't changed at all since you had left. There was swords and ancient armor displayed on the wall. A large sitting table known as a chabudai was on the ground, numerous Inazuman plates sitting on the table. "It looks like you were about to eat some breakfast. If you show me to my room I can let you eat in peace." Ayato shook his head, taking your things from your arms and placing them down on a side table.

"It would be an honor to eat with you dear Y/N." A small blush made it's way to your cheeks. All the feelings that you had long forgotten came rushing back to you in an instant. "Please, sit next to me." Ayato put a hand on your back, softly leading you to a seat. He sat down on the cushion next to you. You put some of your favorite breakfast food on your plate and waited until Ayato was done filling up his plate. Finally, you could dig in.

Before you could eat any more food, Ayato started talking to you. "How is Liyue treating you?" He asked, cutting up a fluffy pancake and putting a slice into his mouth. You immediately thought of Zhongli and the time you spent together.

"It's been going okay." You said, putting down your fork beside your plate. Suddenly, you didn't feel very hungry. "I've been selling some of my artifacts at the local adventures guild. They raised my pay recently which is nice. It makes me want to put more effort into my work."

"That's wonderful news." He said, placing his eating utensils down beside his plate as well. "Do you know when you'll be returning for good?" Ayato asked, turning his head to you so you could have his full attention. Honestly, you had no idea. You were now making good money where you were now, and you had planned on going to Sumeru after you were done with Liyue. Since Sumeru was so close, you planned on heading straight there.

"Probably not for another year or so. I was thinking about going to Sumeru for a while after this." You said while staring down at your plate. "So I'm not sure when I'm going to return home." Ayato placed his hand on top of yours, taking you by suprise.

"Will you let me know when you go? I would love to meet you there. Maybe I would be able to help you." Your eyes widened at his words. Was Ayato willing to stay with you for work? Why would he do such a thing? That would mean he would have to abandon his duties in Inazuma, or at least be working far from home.

"I mean, sure." You said quietly, not very sure how to feel about what he just said. "Why would you want to do that though. That means leaving Inazuma." Before Ayato could open his mouth, Ayaka opened up the door with a wide smile on her face.

"I see that you've already caught up with Ayato." She said, walking over and standing between the two of you. "No it's my time to catch up with Miss Y/N." Ayaka was already dragging you away before you could protest. All Ayato did was laugh and shake his head, gazing at the two of you. You gave him a sheepish smile as Ayaka dragged you down the hallway and into her room.

"You could of asked me to just walk with you." You laughed, taking a look around her room. Ayaka just rolled her eyes and placed herself on her bed, patting beside her. You obediently sat down on the bed, a goofy smile on your face. On the outside, Ayaka was polished and elegant, but around you she tended to actually act like a teenage girl. It was a nice to see every once and a while.

Ayaka grabbed your hands. "Tell me everything that went on." And so you did. You told her about on your first day coming into Inazuma.

"So, there I was sitting at the table right? There was somebody who was just sitting behind me, just staring at me. He didn't say a word until I said something, I turned around and you know who it was?" She didn't say anything, but the way her eyes twinkled said it all. "The geo archon." Ayaka let out a dramatic gasp.

"No way." You nodded.

"He started talking to me but we had to part ways. That same day I went out into the plains of Liyue and a ruin guard almost tried to kill me, but then the geo archon saved me. It was so scary but amazing at the same time. After that he tended to a wound that I had." There was something that you left out of this conversation, and that was the visons that you've been having. Ayaka might of been your best friend, but this was something that you wanted to keep to yourself.

"That sounds so romantic!" Romantic? You didn't think there was anything romantic about that. It was just a coincidence that Zhongli was out there. It was true that he didn't have to tend your wound, but maybe he was feeling extra nice that day. You just got lucky, that was it. "Speaking of romace." Ayaka said again, leaning over and nudging you. "What about you an my brother? I know that you like him Y/N, it's not hard to see." Dammit.

"Ayato?" You laughed nervously and then sighed. "It's true, I do like him." You paused.

"But." Akaya said, finishing your sentence for you. You knew she was right, there was other things to factor out now.

"But I don't see myself being with Ayato at all." You said. Ayaka nodded, saying that she understood where you were coming from. "I think I'm going to head to bed now." While you and your friend were talking, one of the helpers around the estate took your things to where you were going to stay. Ayaka walked you to your room, talking to you before you went inside.

"I forgot to mention, but Aether is going to be staying with us as well. We are all going out tomorrow so sleep well." With a nod, you went inside your room.

You sat on the bed, laying down on the soft cot. Hopefully, you'll forget about Zhongli while you stayed here.

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Hope everyone enjoys and has a wonderful week!