Work Text:
He smiled, sending Qiqi a cheeky glance as he twisted the latch on his bag, raising an eyebrow in her direction before he sighed.
“Are you sure you want to come with me today?” Baizhu asked, fixing his glasses. Qiqi bit her lip, brows furrowing together as she put on her bag. “We can have Gui watch you while I’m gone. We always do that, remember?” he told her, adjusting his bag after he put it on.
Still, Qiqi nodded, moving to his side. “I’m sure I want to come with you, Master Baizhu,” she said, and he smiled at her insistence. “It’s been a long time since I went outside with you, after all.”
Baizhu hummed, waving to Gui as the two stepped out of the shop, side by side as the early morning sun beat down on their heads. It was a warm day in Liyue, most of the patrons in the sheet foregoing normal clothing for the lighter summertime wear that was popular around this time of year.
Of course, Qiqi didn’t need such things, Baizhu mused, patting Changsheng’s head as they made their way out the harbour, glancing behind him every now and then to make sure his little one was following him.
It brought a smile to his face, really, seeing her so blatantly interested in the world around her. She was right about never leaving… because of her condition, Baizhu preferred keeping her indoors. It wasn’t that he enjoyed hiding her, he just rather she wasn’t discriminated against for being a zombie, when in actuality, she was just a very sweet girl who was handed a bad card.
He stopped walking once they reached in the fork in the road, allowing her to pick at the qingxin flowers. Baizhu smiled when she brought him one, stuffing the other in her pocket.
“If you could bend down, Master Baizhu,” she started, and he complied easily, dropping to a squat. Then, she fixed the flower behind his ear, nodding once before patting Changsheng’s head. “It looks good there, Master Baizhu,” Qiqi said, eyes widening slightly. “You should wear flowers with your green hair more often.”
Baizhu laughed, tossing his head back as he stood. They continued on the path, and he smiled down at her. “Do you really think so, my little Qiqi?” he asked, grinning when the girl frowned.
She pondered, holding her chin as she went to fix her talisman. “I do. I think so.”
“So be it then!” Baizhu exclaimed, chuckling when Qiqi jumped. “I’ll let you and Gui pick flowers whenever you need to.” he said, and Qiqi nodded. “However, you must make sure to tell me ahead of time so that I might make the proper arrangements.”
His apprentice hummed, patting her sides. Her shoulders fell. “I’m afraid… I left my notebook back at the pharmacy, Master Baizhu.”
He waved a hand in dismissal, gesturing for her to move along. “It’s quite alright, my dear Qiqi! I’ll remind you when we return home, yes?” he replied, smiling when she nodded in silent agreement.
They took a break once they reached canyons, and Baizhu watched in slight amusement as Qiqi followed Changsheng along the rocks, picking up whatever plants she came across to present to him. Satisfied, they continued on north, their bags slowly filling with whatever herbal supplies Baizhu had decided on for this trip.
He did, however, hold up a hand when the wind began to blow, closing his eyes as the breeze came in a bit stronger than anticipated.
Changsheng was coiling himself around his neck, hiding from the breeze, when Baizhu remembered Qiqi, eyes wide as she clasped the talisman on her head. Her expression was pinched as she braced herself, and Baizhu laughed as he pulled the tiny girl towards him, pressing his palm against her talisman so the wind wouldn’t carry it away.
Once the breeze had settled, he stooped down, smiling softly. “Are you alright, Qiqi?”
The girl pouted. “I… I think so. The wind…” she scowled at the sky. “It almost took my talisman away.”
Baizhu sighed, patting her head as he stood. “I know, I know. And for that, I’m truly sorry. However, there isn’t much we can do until we find a safe place to rest, hm?”
Qiqi humed, and he sighed, turning on his heel to keep walking. Still, he paused again when the girl cleared her throat, her fingers poking at his hand.
“Do you think… just this once… you can hold my hand, Master Baizhu?” she asked, her gaze falling to her feet. He smiled. “Just so that the wind doesn't blow me away,” she added quietly, peeking up at him from under her hair.
“Of course, you can, Qiqi!” he said, taking her hand. He squeezed it once, ensuring she knew he wouldn’t let her go as they kept moving, the afternoon breeze no longer seeming like such a big problem with her hand locked in his.
FIN