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#father figure zhongli
hiraya-rawr · 1 year
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dear osmanthus — zhongli .
synopsis !! after a traumatizing experience with treasure hoarders in your little rural teahouse, you find comfort in your regular customer and dear friend, Zhongli.
contains !! gn reader, preferably minors dni, tw // recovery from s.a., trauma response, intimacy, hurt/comfort!! some brief mature scenes but general sfw. father figure/familial zhongli! "darling" as pet name! protective zhongli out for vengeance. READ WITH CAUTION even if this is milder than other dark contents :>
note !! this is definitely one of the heavier works ill be posting here, but i did try to steer away from descriptive scenes. this has lotsa platonic intimacy tho! enough to make lovers jealous but you can take it as romantic too i guess?
Tossing, turning, the sheets tangled with your form. It's hot. It's cold—
It's closing time in the teahouse. The counters have been wiped and the floors have been swept, you only need to lock up. Perhaps if you had locked the doors first then you could have prevented everything.
You remember this scene. A crash, a bang, a group entering -rowdy and intimidating- pushing you back behind the counter. Then a rope, some laughter (not yours), mora being taken out of the register. It clinks and clanks into their pockets and pouches.
You're compliant— quiet and trying your best to be calm. You knew the odds of you, a rural teahouse owner, winning against a group of treasure hoarders and you didn't want to try your luck. Let them take the mora, the pretty wall decor, your best tea set— and tomorrow, you'll make a report to the Millelith. That was the plan you conjured as you tried not to shake in fear.
Then—
"Hey boss–" A skinny treasure hoarder tugs at the older, larger man. Leaning close to mutter something, "—The owner looks kinda cute."
The boss turns to you, eyes staring you down. Your stomach drops at the grin that spreads on his face.
"Aye, they do, don't they?"
"No!—"
"—No!"
You jolt up from bed, a scream at the tip of your tongue. Breath stuck. You choke from nothing. The dream felt so real. Their gazes, looking down on you.
Your blanket pooled around your waist from when you sat up. It felt heavy, like it was holding you down- holding you down- holding you down- You quickly shoved it away, kicking it off your legs and feet until it hanged on the edge of your bed.
The lost of a blanket made the room feel colder.
You stared at it, for archon's sake! it's just a blanket!
A sob echoed in the room. You realize it's your own noise. It's your despair that has repeatedly climbed up your throat over and over again, causing so much noise in the quiet of your room. Bringing your knees closer to your chest and hiding your eyes behind your palms, you give yourself a moment to cry.
A bird chirps by the window and little rays of morning sun peeks through the blinds. Time to start the day.
The teahouse was always busy during brunch. Today was no different— with groups of grandparents huddling in after their morning tai chi, merchants and their goods parked outside, little kids sent to buy some bread and maybe a sweet bao for themselves— the teahouse might as well be blessed by Rex Lapis himself.
It's comforting. You love mornings like these, accustomed to the early rush, but the talking grows noisier, their gazes are on you, you hear footsteps, you feel the crowd, calm down, calm down—
"Good morning, mister Zhongli. The usual?"
You greet the gentleman as he settles in his usual spot. A small table and tall chair by a corner, windows overlooking the mountains of Liyue.
"Good morning, darling. That would be most appreciated." He smiles back, a warm smile and you can't help but think how much it resembles the sweet grandparents on the next table. Honestly, Zhongli should value his youth more. What bachelor would spend his mornings in a rural teahouse with an old traditional book?
You come back with a pot of osmanthus tea and a plate of steamed buns. He's turning the pages of his book.
"Here you are."
"Hm? Is this the usual serving for baozi?"
"The extra baozi is a treat for being a regular customer, but don't tell the other customers that." You grin with a wink and he chuckles deeply.
"Of course, it's only because the tea here is exceptional that I keep coming back."
"Then I'll leave you to enjoy the meal. Ring the bell should you need anything."
"Uh three mantou, one congee–"
"Make that two congee."
"—Two congee, the pickled vegetable kind, not the meat, and umm shrimp dumplings—"
You're trying to be polite. You're nodding your head, listing down the orders. There's nothing wrong with the group, really, it's just that the group of men are taking too long. Their orders are repetitive and your list is full of erasures, they're a little robust, a little too loud, but it's nothing new in the service industry.
Then—
"How many pieces of mantou did I order again?" One of them stands up, slightly, from his seat. He's taller than the rest, he looms over you. You're sure he doesn't mean to, he looks kind, but his hand grabs at your upper arm, pulling you towards him, peeking at your list of their orders.
He grabbed you. He's grabbing you. His hand is on you and he pulled you and you went along with the force all too easily, so pliant to a show of strength, and all of a sudden—
"Hey, hey, hold 'em down,"
"Stop struggling–"
There's an arm around you. A hand on you. Another hand. Someone's knee presses on your thigh. You're struggling but you're not moving and it's surreal how futile your efforts are.
"Cutie's a little feisty." One says and it scares you how casually it's said; Like a passing comment on the road; Like a joke, but you're not laughing.
Before you knew it, you've shoved your customer away, his expression a mix of shock and confusion as you turn to the back door of the teahouse.
Some people turn their heads but most continued to eat, unfazed by the odd commotion, with the exception of a pair of amber eyes following your form out the door.
"Did I do something wrong?" The customer mumbles aloud, his friends shrug to themselves, "I think I should go after them-"
"Please allow me." Zhongli approaches the group, "I happen to be a friend of theirs. They haven't been feeling well lately, having a customer check up on them would only make them feel conflicted."
"I suppose you're right. . . I leave it to you, then."
You're heaving, hunched over the grass and trying to keep back what you had for breakfast down your throat. It's dizzying and you can't seem to stop the spontaneous shivers wracking through your body.
What have you done? To shove aside a customer over- over this? You have to turn back and apologize— did they notice? Did the whole restaurant have their eyes on you? You can't bare the thought of being so overly exposed.
You hear your name from a familiar voice behind you.
"There, there, it's alright, child."
The voice is grounding, gentle and calm. Not at all like the obnoxious laughter of those men, their disgusting suggestions and—
"You're alright now, there, there."
"Oh, mister Zhongli," You didn't mean to sob his name but it escapes you anyway, your arms reach out to wrap around his middle. His presence grounds you, like an unwavering rock when the water currents try to drown you. He reciprocates your hug, gently laying his arms around you, rubbing your back. "It's– it's not always like this," You stutter out, "Most days, I barely think of it. Most days, I don't mind this."
He nods along in understanding. Nevermind that you could be referring to anything else, he just understands.
"It's alright to feel this way," He holds you with a slight sway to his movements, comforting, calming, "You have every reason to break down, my dear. You didn't deserve what happened to you—"
He continues his soft reassurances, lulling you with his voice, wrapping you in arms that feel safe.
A soft bed, the quiet atmosphere of Bubu Pharmacy surrounds you.
"Are you alright?"
"Mister Zhongli. . .? What happened. . ."
He sits back, worried, "What was the last thing you remember, dear?"
"I was. . . closing the teahouse and then–" the men. You remember the men. You're breathing harder now, holding back the overwhelming feelings of disgust and helplessness and–
Zhongli is calm as he comforts you. He goes over the events carefully, how the Millelith came and apprehended the situation, how he just so happened to be there, lucky enough to accompany you to the Pharmacy Clinic. It's unfortunate but some of the men escaped. He holds your hand as he says this.
You don't remember the whirlwind of events (neither do you wish to remember). A fight happened, perhaps. You can imagine the Millelith storming in, the panic of your assailants, the dark of the night sky as you're whisked away for first aid, and Zhongli staying by your side the entire time.
"Thank you. . . for comforting me." You tell him, finally parting slowly from the embrace, "I think I'm feeling okay now. I have to apologize to the customer."
"I told them that you're feeling unwell today, they would understand if you take a leave for now and let your employees handle the rest."
"Should I?" You glance up worriedly, he nods in assurance.
"Yes, just take a rest for now." He smiles, it's warm and again, grounding.
"It seems you're always here when I need you to, mister Zhongli."
There's a flicker in his eyes. A sad look, almost regretful, "If I had arrived with the Millelith a little sooner. . . "
You sigh quietly, not out of disappointment towards him, but in the face of reality, "You did what you can and I'm more than grateful. After all, we are not gods. . . we are simply humans," Turning your head away from him, you stare up at the sky, "I can only hope that the gods would take care of the rest of them."
"I hope so as well. . ."
note !! *looks at upcoming works* yup, lots of platonic intimacy there. i joined the Zhongli fandom for hot daddy— ended up staying for wholesome grandpa <3
do tell me what you think of this fic! I tried a different writing process for it so :>
masterlist 2 // commissions // ko-fi
bonus scene —
zhongli doesn't mean to worry you. he really didn't plan on it, but he can't exactly explain to the millelith what happened to the remaining treasure hoarders, right? the stone forests of liyue are the perfect hideout for wanted criminals, not even moonlight could filter through the thick trees. mortals would find it difficult to traverse the rocky and rich terrain, hence why the millelith would avoid the place.
It's the geo archon's territory after all.
"Ah, so here's the rest of you." Zhongli says, a calm smile on his face, "I must say, you're rather unlucky compared to your friends who were caught. They must be sitting peacefully in their cells right now."
The group turns to him in confusion, the dark of the night makes it difficult to see the gentleman dressed in brown, but his piercing amber eyes strikes them like a predator watching their prey.
"Hey! Who are you?" One of them calls out, annoyed.
"Unimportant. But I suggest you run."
"What?"
Pupils turn to slits. Amber eyes glow brighter. And for a split second, if you focus really hard, the face of a dragon stares back.
"Run."
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averaillisa · 1 year
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wangsheng slimess
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hii! could i maybe get found family headcanons for zhongli as a father figure or xiao as a brother figure? (s/i is like the travelers companion/sidekick, if it matters)
thank you, you’re doing the gods work as an aro selfship writer <33
omgg I'm happy to write this! I also see Zhongli as a father figure and Xiao is one of my fav characters so this will be comforting to write about. and yes, the details about the s/i help a lot, actually! thank you so much for this request!
Zhongli as your father figure + Xiao as your brother figure
¡! s/i is Traveler's sidekick
Zhongli
He was thankful of how both Traveler and you were helping in Liyue, defeating enemies and helping citizens in daily life stuff, so he got used to the sight of your little group wandering around. If you agreed to accompany him when he asked, he'd smile and thank you for your asistence.
So be prepared. He's gonna drag you through several shops, infodump about history of cuisine and architecture and maybe even buy some toys made for kids that caught his attention because he "had never seen anything like that before". It usually gets to a point where Traveler leaves you alone with him and he ends up handing said toys to you as a gift.
Somehow, when he's walking around with you he feels the peace of having a young person beside him that will listen to his words and continue living with them in their heart. So he becomes even more interested in commenting random facts with you, as well as asking about your opinion and smile when his stories bring you memories of your own experiences.
That would make him a great listener. Even though Paimon would find it hard to believe that Zhongli would so attentively listen to someone talk about trivial matters, you found yourself going to him for advice over time. It just happened, and he prioritizes your wellbeing over anything else when putting his thoughts into words in his answers.
Taken how your friend seems to have had their life influenced by the war thousands of years ago, he may feel like he could have done better for you, that the person he was in the past doesn't deserve the admiration you seem to feel towards him in the present.
Therefore he would try his best to help you on your adventure with anything he can. The Traveler and Paimon will easily notice it: how he sometimes appears out of nowhere when you get yourselves into trouble, the invitations to dinner after some days out of the city, receiving some gifts and advice from him from time to time... Paimon will joke that they have your father's protection in this quest.
But Traveler needs to go to another nation no matter how nice your stay in Liyue could have been, and seeing you go leaves him with a bittersweet feeling. He's proud to see you'll visit new places as you wish to, but at the same time it's like an important presence in his days is going away. In any case, he'll say goodbye with a smile and a hug if you'd let him.
He would secretly give you some food for your trip to the next nation. Food from Liyue, of course, incluiding some of the new favorite meals you found while visiting restaurants with him. And if you need to ever write to him to continue receiving his advice and support, he'll be more than happy to answer.
Xiao
Your first meeting was probably sort of awkward. If you had told him back then that he would end up wanting to protect you as if you were family to him, he wouldn't had believed you. How fool of him.
You start to appear in his life rather often because of missions, requests and any other necessary affairs the Traveler lends you. At first it was because of the convenience to split up the work, but they slowly start to realise that Xiao's easier to convince when you are the one who goes to him for help.
Maybe it was in the way you talked, in the anecdotes you tried to mention during your silences together or the way you always waved goodbye only to make, once again, the effort to go up the mountain the day after. He started to seriously wonder and even worry about about your days, so he once offered to walk you to Liyue himself.
In the way back, your curiosity about the unknown nation got the best of you and Xiao started to answer some of your many questions. Teaching you the uses of some flowers and giving you instructions to get to specific mountains, especially the ones with the most snow during winter. When he realised what he was doing, he had already spoken much more than he had expected to. Not that it was a lot, but enough to surprise him.
So when you got busier with the Traveler and Paimon, he started to wonder when you'd go see him again. Just as if he expected your human presence and enjoyment to accompany him at least for part of the day, to show you his favorite tofu and hear about what you had been up to.
He decides to stay a bit closer to Liyue for some time, and one of those nights he finds you wandering around. The situation you were dealing with at the city could have started to feel overwhelming because of how importantant it was, and he doesn't think it twice before approaching you after seeing you in this state.
Were you hurt? Had something happened? Was what he last gave you not enough for the request you had to fulfill? He may sound a bit harsh when trying to know what he has to deal with, but it's just that he hates to see you hurting when he's right there and willing to stop it.
Would quietly listen to you if you ask him to do so. He'll feel fulfilled knowing that he is helping somehow. Because he feels as if you were part of him now, and your wellbeing is a new motivation for him to continue fighting for every day. If your adventure continues, then his must too as you are like siblings sharing this path in life.
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firein-thesky · 9 months
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are you guys gonna boo me off stage if the dynamic in this zhongli fic gets weird as hell
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l0reenthusiast · 1 year
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"Thank You for Staying"
IT IS DAY 7 OF VENTOBER EVERYBODY AND THE PROPOSAL AUDIO CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH
Word count: 751
(also a continuation of this here post)
A small white dove landed on the windowsill to watch the seen before it unfold.
"Relax cutie, you'll be fine. Honestly, you remind me of Jean when we got married." Lisa said with a smile as you paced around the room. You had chosen Lisa to be your maid of honor for your wedding, and she had helped you with everything from the decorations to getting dressed in your attire. It was only as you finally finished dressing that reality set in.
"Well, I mean go figure. Anyone's going to be like this on their wedding day, right? I'm really excited because holy shit I'm going to be marrying the love of my life, but I'm still so nervous even though I know that he proposed in the first placed and he put his heart and soul into this-" You spit out at record speed. Lisa could only shake her head with a grin in amusement. A knock at the door quickly shut you up. "Come in!" You shouted nervously. Zhongli walked into the room, adorned in a suit of his own.
"I hate to interrupt any conversation but, it's time." Zhongli said with a warm smile. You inhaled sharply as Lisa giggled, handing you your bouquet of Cecilias.
"You'll do great. I can tell he truly loves you." Lisa spoke, bidding you a farewell as she walked down the hall. You held the bouquet in your dominant hand as you linked your remaining arm with Zhongli's.
"I never thought that Barbatos would get married before I did." Zhongli spoke fondly, shaking his head.
"Perhaps it's because you're dating a ginger." You said, trying to calm your nerves. Zhongli rolled his eyes in amusement as you reached the chapel, the door and walk being the only thing to separate you and your soon to be husband. You looked down to Klee who was iggiling in her sweet attire.
"You remember what to do, right young one?" Zhongli asked her. Klee nodded her head excitedly as you took a deep breath before speaking; "Alright, here we go." Zhongli opened the door, and Barbara began to play the music of your choice on the organ while you walked down the aisle with Zhongli. Klee put her small hand into the basket of flower petals and spread them over floor you walked on. All eyes were on you as you looked straight ahead to your fiancé, who was looking directly back at you. I didn't take long for tears to fall down Venti's as he looked at you. All he could think about in that moment was your beauty and how lucky he was that you loved him. Before you knew it, Zhongli let go of your arm and sat amidst everyone in the pews, and you were standing in front of your fiancé. As you locked hands with Venti, your eyes drifted to the same dove that was on the windowsill earlier land on the frame of one of the open windows. It seemed as if it was almost looking at you and your lover specifically.
"You're beautiful." He whispered, astonished, bringing your attention back to him. He never thought you could get any more radiant than you already were, but here you are. You replied with a soft 'Thank you', then letting Seamus Pegg speak.
================================================
Venti slipped the ring onto your finger, his vision once again becoming blurry as he looked into your eyes. Both of your hearts began to beat faster than they already were.
"And now, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and partner. You may now-" Seamus was cut off, a look of surprise as he watched you kiss, finalizing your marriage. Cheers erupted from the crowd as Venti spun you around, the both of you filling the air with unadulterated laughter. When your husband finally put you down, he cupped your cheeks and looked into your eyes lovingly, that same shine from the moment you walked into the room still there.
"Thank you for staying."
The dove that sat on the window changed its form as it watched the church fill with joy. The dove now had the appearance of transparent bard with clothes that would make him stick out like a sore thumb among the modern-day people of Mondstadt. He smiled fondly at the two of you, but especially at your husband. The braids of the bard flowed in the wind as he felt is presence fade away.
"I'm proud of you, Venti."
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punk-academian-witch · 4 months
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as promised!! also it's all under a read more bc by the gods did it get long oof i always get introspective with ajax hehe
Ajax loves training in the rain.
Hydro is his element, after all, and there's something about rain pitter-pattering on his skin while he lets his senses go and expand, feeling the familiar thrum of his Vision against him, letting tendrils of his Abyssal corruption dance freely around him as he repeats the polearm forms he's learned from his father and Xiao...
It calms him, and it's what he needs after the chaos those knights from Mondstadt have brought with them.
Their Captain is a young red-headed boy, always shadowed by his brother. That's enough to let him know that it's the Ragnvindr brothers, though one was born with another name, that Venti is so fond of.
He knows that the blue-haired brother is someone with secrets, his energy, though impressively kept under lock and key despite the haze surrounding him, is enough to let him know that.
He thinks about this and more as he trains, imagining countless battle scenarios, coming up with new ways to defeat his opponents in each one. Everything is different, the terrain, the enemies, the number, the directions they attack from, their abilities.
And still, of course he notices a stanger's thrumming, midnight blue energy reaching out to his, reacting to something with its same source.
Ajax can feel the way their energies dance together, recognizing their Abyssal nature. And he lets this new one guide him to the person it belongs to.
He presses his polearm against the blue-haired brother's throat. "Who are you?"
A lazy grin, likely meant to be charming, splits Blue's face before a honeyed lie falls from his lips. "I’m just a wanderer. I always wanted to see what Liyue is like in the rain, and happened upon you."
But Ajax knows how to recognize lies. "You’re not. You’re one of the knights staying at Wangshu. Now be honest. Why were you here?" He demands, pressing his blade more firmly against Blue's throat, ready to end him if he were to reveal himself a threat to his people.
And Blue... Doesn't seem to fear him, to fear the knowledge that a wrong answer would cost him his life. "Really, I just wanted to get out of the Inn and noticed you. Your fighting style is too beautiful to not watch. May I know your name, fair stranger?"
Ajax huffs. What is it about Mondstadt that makes everyone like this? "No need for sweet-talking. I already suffer from enough of it at the hands of Barbatos."
Blue's eyes light up at Venti's Archon name. "Barbatos? Ah, you must be one of the Adepti living at the Inn, then."
Here we go... "I’m not." Ajax frowns. "I’m human. Yes, they took me in, but…" He sighs frustratedly. "You live with Adepti, and suddenly you’re an Adeptus too."
"This doesn’t answer my question, though. May I know your name?" Blue asks, persistent. But Ajax is stubborn, and-
He notices Blue's star-shaped pupils. The Abyssal energy coming lazily from him, still trying to unconsciously call out to Ajax's. His age, too...
Everything makes sense, now. Ajax's face softens, realizing Blue is no threat. "You’re the boy my fathers talked about."
"Pardon me?"
"The Khaenri'ahn one that lives in Mondstadt, that was sighted... Eight years ago, give or take." Ajax says in a soft whisper. He closes his eyes and focuses, water slowly trickling into his hand and in the form of a sigil. "I need your name for it to work."
He's surprised by how easily the name he needs is given. "Kaeya Alberich."
Alberich...? Ajax thinks. So he's the nephew Master Skirk told me about... He closes his eyes again, imbuing more of his energy into the sigil to charge it, the way Xiao taught him, only opening them when he knows the sigil is glowing a vibrant blue. Unbeknownst to Kaeya, he's turning it into a promise of saving him if he ever is in mortal danger.
Kaeya takes the sigil reverently, as if he understands its weight, its importance.
Seeing that care, Ajax decides to come clean. "It’s imbued with my power, and will last even a lifetime, unless you’re in mortal danger. In that case, it will explode and shield you. When that happens, I’ll know immediately and will be by your side."
Kaeya smiles softly, realizing the gift Ajax has given him. "Can I know your name, now? I want to properly thank the one that has given me such a precious object. You have said you’re not an Adeptus, but… Do you take offerings?"
"I'm Ajax," he concedes with a light smile, "and seeing you safe and dry at the Inn is all the thanks I need."
Ajax doesn't need to turn to know Kaeya has followed him into the portal.
As soon as they're on the other side, the red-haired brother is on Kaeya, fretting. "Kaeya! Barbatos’s sake, where were you?" He takes one look at Kaeya’s rainsoaked clothes. "You were outside?!"
Ajax calls the water on Kaeya's clothes to himself. "He was in safe hands, I assure you. I’m Ajax, one of the two Guardian Yakshas living here at the Inn. I would never allow evil to befall anyone in my presence."
There's something about the red-haired that... Sets him off, almost. Like he needs to watch him carefully. He can't help but look over at Kaeya as if making sure he's safe. He can feel the familiar thrum of his own energy from the boy's pocket.
Ajax is already near Dawn Winery, having felt the energies clashing earlier in the day. Regretting not being able to get there fast enough to save Master Crepus, he keeps patrolling the area.
So, when a tug he hoped he'd never feel points him to Dawn Winery, a quick sprint is all that it takes for him to arrive on the scene.
He's almost horrified. The remnants of Diluc's Dawn charred the grass under the pouring rain, some parts of it frosted by the frozen shield around Kaeya.
He can't help but feel enraged, attacking the redhead viciously, giving the fight his all. Finally, Diluc retreats.
He's shaking as he gently gathers Kaeya in his arms, checking his pulse. Thank the Archons, he's alive... He thinks in relief.
In the following days, he mostly keeps watch over an unconscious Kaeya, looking at his closed eyes day and night, slowly, carefully pushing energy over to him to help speed up the healing process.
Ajax can't help the desperation and care with which he hugs Kaeya, when the other wakes, his face opening in hope, relief, sorrow, happiness. Kaeya starts crying.
"You’re safe here. I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe." He repeats over and over, his hand running through midnight colored waves as he gently caresses hair.
Zhongli and Osial, who had been passing by, can recognize themselves in the tender love Ajax holds Kaeya with.
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the-gayest-sky-kid · 10 months
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:' )
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Just realized that if Zhongli is my father figure f/o and childe is my rival f/o then there can be a realization where midfight with childe i just yell, “YOU’RE DATING MY DAD??????”
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maripr · 2 years
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hot single dads in your area
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asukamood · 2 years
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SPOILER ALERT FOR PERILOUS TRAIL’S LAST PART
HELP I JUST NOTICED AUTOCORRECT CHANGED MY KARMATIC DEBT TO K E R M I T
TW: Xiao’S Kermatic debt, do I have to say anything else-
“Xiao-“ Yelan reached out her hand to him but before they could touch, she disappeared in a green and black mist along with the others. Teleporting the others out of this place was the last thing he could have done, he didn’t have any more energy now.
Without any way of maintaining the Fantastic Compass going, the platform broke and let Xiao fall backward into the darkness.
He didn’t make any attempt to turn into his real form and fly, he knew it would be pointless. The Conqueror of Demons didn’t value his life and never did. When he signed the contract with his deity, Rex Lapis, he was prepared to die for the sake of others. Hell, he was even happy to do so.
In his eyes, dying to make sure others lived was a way of atoning for the eons of slaughter he performed before and after he had met the deity. Plus, death would free him for the karmic ties that made him suffer everyday, threatening to make him lose his mind.
And yet, falling in that empty void felt wrong.
What could be making him doubt that dying would be good?
He closed his eyes and emptied his mind. He was going to succumb to this darkness anyways, there was no need to wonder about that.
Unknown to him, a trail of golden magic coming from the surface dived down and split up into multiple parts. They surrounded him and he felt… warmth enveloping him. Before he knew it, he was kneeling on solid ground, the rays of the sun illuminating him and the people he saved rushing towards him.
***
It has been a few weeks since Chasm's accident took place.
Life had gone back to normal for everyone. Itto and Shinobu left Liyue for their mother country after spending some time with the others, Yanfei restarted to take cases, Yelan went back to inspecting the depths of the Chasm and as for Xiao, he resumed defending Liyue from the phantomatic wrath of the fallen gods.
Dozens of hillichurls’ corpses lay lifeless on the ground as black mist evaporated in the air. In the middle of this corpse display. A short dark-haired man stood, bloody spear in hand. The very same mist from the hillichurls was leaving his body and he found that he had a hard time breathing.
Karmic debt.
Xiao was used to the pain, he had lived with it for as long as he could remember after all. Yet today, the ache that shook his entire body was simply unbearable. The pain seemed to have increased in strength, so much that it got Xiao collapsing and miserably gasping for air as he tried to keep his screams and other noises as quiet as possible.
If someone heard him, they would approach and get hurt. He couldn’t let that happen.
The sky in front of him started to wobble and turn a crimson red, his eyes closed a few seconds before opening back again, each time becoming harder to keep them open. The pain grew and he felt like the earth was going to split open and let the fallen deities devour him whole, similarly to how he ate dreams of mortals in the past. Something pressed his stomach and churned it, twisting it into an awkward angle. He accidentally let out a scream before gritting his teeth and holding onto dear life on the ground with his shaky free hand.
Just as he thought that would be it, the end of his story, he felt himself being picked up from the ground by a strong pair of arms. The area around him stabilized and the crimson color that covered the entirety of the place faded away, making place for the usual relaxing blue sky and green grass. Even the nausea and pain he felt disappeared with them, a sigh of relief escaping his mouth. Yet he was so tired…
“Rest.” The voice didn’t leave any place for questions or objections, the order was clear. Despite that, the boy still fought against exhaustion, fearing that it would actually have the opposing effect of resting. Besides, he didn’t want to go, not yet.
A hand brushed his forehead gently and placed a rebellious strand of hair back in place. “Do not fret,” That voice he knew so well was soothing, it was starting to lull him to sleep. “I will be here when you wake up. Just go to sleep.”
At the edge of passing out, the boy turned his head to look at the man’s face. The last thing he saw was a pair of golden and orange irises, pupils similar to a reptile, staring back at him.
Xiao’s head fell to the side again and slow breathing could be heard if silent enough. Zhongli, who was still holding him in his arms, sighed and pet his hair, earning an appreciative noise from the sleeping man.
The old dragon cracked a smile. “Maybe I should ask the Director for more vacation.”
***
The smell of brewing tea was what Xiao woke up to. His vision being a bit blurry and memory foggy, he started to wonder where he was. Wasn’t he out dealing with demons? That’s when it hit him. Red, karma, pain, scream, relief, Rex Lapis.
Rex Lapis.
Xiao jerked his body upward, eyes as wide as planets. His body didn’t like the sudden movement if the way nausea suddenly hit him like a truck was of any indication, he slumped back down, wincing.
Footsteps echoed near him and the smell of the tea got closer.
“You should take it easy. That episode you had was way more painful than usual, your body is still recovering from it.” Zhongli didn’t look at Xiao when he said that since he was busy placing the steaming cup of tea on the table besides his bed. He sat down on the wooden chair he moved earlier as Xiao watched with a wide open jaw.
When he told him he was going to stay, he didn’t think he actually would stay.
Zhongli noticed the stare Xiao was giving him and chuckled. “What is that look for? Surprised I was actually here when you woke up?” The Yaksha could nod dumbly, unable to form comprehensible words.
“Well I told you I would and as the God of Contracts, that would be quite out of character not to.” Zhongli briefly glanced at the cup before turning back to Xiao. “How are you feeling?”
“Uh…” Xiao frowned. “Better.”
The deity nodded. “Would you like some tea? You were quite cold when I found you back there.” Xiao accepted and drinking it did make him feel warmer, he didn’t even notice how cold he felt.
Zhongli flashed him a smile. “I bought you some sweet tofu as well in case you were hungry.”
“… Whose money was it?”
“We don’t speak of that.” Xiao snickered, feeling more relaxed than he had done in years- No, centuries. Was it because Rex Lapix was beside him? It could be an explanation. The fact he was babying him too was quite enjoyable if he were honest.
“Sure dad.” Silence.
Once the weight of what he just called the geo archon dawned on him, his cheeks flared up with blush. “MY LORD. I MEANT TO SAY MY LORD!”
‘Oh no, what if he gets weirded out and doesn’t want to see me anymo-‘
The sound of genuine laughter interrupted his thoughts.
“You shouldn’t be ashamed, I’m glad you see me as a father figure.” Zhongli beamed at him while he patted his hair.
The reason why it felt so wrong to die back in the Chasm was right here after all.
He wanted to stay by Rex Lapix’s side forever and death would make them part ways, that’s why he didn’t want to die.
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adversaryss · 1 year
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( Me when I realize I write so many muses they technically make up my own version of canon in my head, which means I can make their relationships with each other whatever I want: 😈 )
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almond-tofu-enjoyer · 2 years
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hey are there any zhongli fictives/kins/whatever out there looking for a free son (xiao fictive)
i miss my fucking dad, man
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hydrachea · 1 year
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Zhongxiao for the ship ask?
ship opinion bingo
Oh, we're getting into ships I've never talked about! I like that.
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I personally don't ship them. Xiao is down so bad but it stops there to me! It's a funky pairing though, my full and enthusiastic support to the shippers.
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I thought of this out of the blue earlier and then talking to a friend of mine reminded me about it, but
I can’t tell if it’s fitting or ironic that the character i latched onto as a familial figure while I was grieving is the same guy whose nation’s quests are, to at least some extent, about helping him set up what could technically be called his own funeral
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amberstarthecat · 2 years
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so uh
Xiao's just hanging out near the Azhdaha domain bc I still haven't finished Ganyu's story quest.....
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Zhongli: "If you call my son short one more time......."
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l0reenthusiast · 1 year
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my brother just started the liyue archon quest last night and he wanted each of us to make a tier list on our favroite characters and the top 10 characters we find attractive.
His favorites:
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his most attractive:
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my favorites:
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my most attractive:
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