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"Huh? Do they really need this much alcohol?"
It was ridiculous, Keqing thought. Did the citizens of Mondstadt love to drink their livers off or was there an error in the numbers? No way would she supply a single person with enough grog to potentially flood an entire town.
"And what's with this reasoning, anyway? 'I need this much to wipe that stupid redhead wine owner off the map'?"
What.
Keqing stared at the document again. It was signed with the image of a cat's head and tail.
Mondstadt was a weird place.
The businesswoman inside her nagged. The deal did sound fishy, but also oh so very lucrative. Mondstadt's annual Ludi Harpastum festival was coming up in a few months, and as Liyue was it's closest neighbor, it presented a golden opportunity for trade between the two countries. Keqing simply could NOT pass it up.
Thus, she had arranged for the Liyue Qixing to help sponsor the festival in good faith. Stormterror was no more, and fostering better relations between the countries would be a huge step forward in the new era of Liyue— all thanks to one Traveler.
"...Still way too much alcohol."
She would need to meet this 'Wine Industry Slayer' in person first before she could agree to the terms. Then, there was also that charity 'live show' the Church of Barbatos wanted to host sometime soon. Someone would have to go meet with their deaconess, too. Were there any vacancies left in her schedule?
None, probably. Keqing sighed.
Racking her brain for ideas, Keqing wandered into the empty meeting hall in Yuehai Pavillion. Maybe the quiet would help her think.
"Let's see…" she pondered to herself, shutting her eyes. "I'm meeting with Ganyu later, so maybe I could ask her to visit the Dawn Winery for me. There, she needs to talk to Diluc, the owner, and—"
Something caught on her foot.
People always said cats and catlike persons tended to land on their feet. That was mere superstition. Stumbling forward, Keqing managed to balance herself using her inherent reflex and agility, gracefully planting her other foot forward to stop herself from falling.
Unfortunately, though, she also happened to step on what felt like a loose piece of cloth.
"Wah— !"
The cloth slipped from underneath her, the forward momentum driving her face-first into the ground with a crash. The stack of papers she was holding scattered with the wind and floated gently atop her head.
Her brow twitched. Keqing pouted indignantly, outright refusing to rub her nose out of spite. Whoever left the thing that tripped her would be getting an earful later on.
*Snore*
"Hm?"
Not a thing: a person. It was someone she was ever glad to see, but not right now.
Keqing gawked at Aether's sleeping face, already feeling the migraine gnawing at her. What the heck was he doing nodding off here, of all places? This was a -very- important public meeting room— not some random bench out on the street a homeless person could crash to. And where was Paimon, anyway? That fairy was usually the one responsible for leashing this idiot.
Apparently, what she had tripped on was his cape. She didn't know whether that knowledge made it worse or what, but for the umpteenth time today, Keqing sighed. She didn't have the patience to deal with him at the moment.
She tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey… Wake up."
Nothing.
She called out his name and shook him hard. "Aether, rise and shine…"
Nope.
"If you're gonna sleep, at least do it on a bed, seriously…"
The carpet was nice. Fuzzy and warm, but hardly mattress material. She could have the finest room prepared for him— if he just opened his goddamn eyes.
"What do I do with you…"
Technically, she could just leave him be. If he was out cold like this, it probably meant he was exhausted. Or rather, mentally exhausted. His body didn't actually need rest or sleep as he once told her.
Being a god was so unfair.
She stared at Aether's sleeping face again, and a smile crept up her lips. She said it once before, but having that cute and feminine of a face was criminal. He was even wearing that hair clip she bought for him. The deep and enchanting color of the emerald really did suit his exotic looks.
He looked… peaceful.
She poked his cheek.
"Ngh…"
His hand came up to swat hers away. A reaction. Keqing poked him again.
Poke, poke, poke.
Every time his cheek squished, he would stir, ever so slightly. Still no sign of waking up, however.
Well… if that's how you want to play it Aether, then…
Glancing around to make sure they were alone, Keqing leaned closer to him and poked harder, twisting her finger around to elicit a better response. Aether swatted at her again, but she dodged it easily.
She giggled. Could she be a bit more daring, perhaps?
Leaning even closer, she blew on his ear.
He moaned.
"What are you dreaming there, you pervert~?" Keqing whispered. She blew again, grinning when she saw him squirm as if asking for more. Tickling his nose with her hair, Aether sniffed at it greedily, like a babe craving for his mother's scent.
She could get used to this.
"Wake up~" she sang, intentionally letting her breathe caress his exposed neck. His face scrunched up in a shivering grimace— one that tugged chills down her spine.
Minutes ticked by and the teasing continued. Aether's vulnerable form. His erratic movements dictated to her musing. The feeling of absolute control in her hands. With all this combined, Keqing felt her cheeks flush in excitement. Her heart thumped out of her chest. She bit on her finger to stop herself from panting.
Time for the coup de grace.
She moved her head the closest she could, their foreheads touching as they shared each other's warmth. Just a bit more and their lips would once again mesh, becoming one in a sloppy wet mess of passion. She would not allow it, however— not yet. There was a process to this, and she had always been a stickler for the rules. Taking his hand in hers, Keqing interlocked their fingers in a mock embrace. She crossed her legs over his torso so she was straddling his lap, pinning him down with no intention of letting go.
Now? Perhaps. She would have preferred it if he were awake and complimented her beauty— to notice the carnal desire she had in her eyes. But alas, some things were never meant to be. It would have to do.
Whispering his name, Keqing licked her lips before finally letting all her inhibition go. She leaned in for the kiss-- slowly, alluringly, as if waiting for him to wake up and be the one to close the distance.
He did so in a way she was not expecting.
Aether's other arm came up to hug her, clamping on her like an iron vise. Given the situation, she would have allowed it. But…
"Ow, ow, ow, OW!"
It really, really hurt.
"Aether— you're crushing me— !" she yelled. In response, Aether tightened his grip and mumbled something incoherent in his sleep.
Her absolute control was lost, and she fell under the mercy of a god that, frankly, did not know his own strength. Keqing realized how uncomfortably awkward she was on top of his lap. She tried to push herself off, yet the more she pushed, the more her spine creaked in protest. "OW!"
Rendered helpless, she flopped down on his chest, limp and livid, glaring in exasperation at how quickly the tables have turned. She only hoped that nobody could see her now in this… compromising position.
A pained expression flashed on Aether's face and he spoke a name Keqing wished she hadn't heard.
"...Lumine…"
Her heart sank.
Aether hugged her tighter. "Don't go… please…"
...How shameful.
Here she was taking advantage of him when all this time he was longing for someone else. She would sometimes forget that underneath his stoic facade was a broken man. A homesick wanderer whose only possession was forcibly taken from him, never knowing if she was even alive.
Yet, Aether marched onward, relentlessly. Pursuing whatever lead he could find so that someday they would be reunited— plastering a cruelly pleasant smile on his face while helping as many people he could along the way.
She knew it was just that: an act. Aether was happier than he has ever been — happier than when Keqing first met him, especially when they were alone together. But... his heart was never truly there. Never truly whole. Not without his sister by his side.
How could she ever hope to fill that void?
...
"...No. I can't. I never will, however…"
She smiled.
"...It won't stop me from trying to do my best."
Her tenacity was what she was most proud of, after all.
She remembered a poem she read a while back. She couldn't figure out where— but the words had resonated deep within her heart.
"I want to be your love for ever and ever,
Like eternal jade, without break, without decay.
When the mountains are all flat,
When the rivers turn to soil,
When thunder claps in winter,
When snowflakes drift in summer,
The day when heaven and earth mingle,
Not till then will I depart from you."
"I know I can never replace her…" Keqing said, finding the resoluteness once more in her voice. "But, I swear. Let it be bound by a contract in Rex Lapis' name: I will be yours. For as long as I breathe, in sickness and in health, I devote my heart and my soul to you, forever."
She kissed him, unhesitatingly. "I love you."
...Did that sound cool enough? She looked at Aether for some validation.
He was still asleep. Typical.
Oh well, probably for the best. If he— or anyone really— heard her just now, she'd die of embarrassment. She was here anyway too, so…
Before their lips could touch again, something, someone, interrupted them.
"Truly a work of art," the deep, masculine voice commented. "It is said that the author wrote the poem as a confession to her lover whom she believed to be Rex Lapis in secret. History has long forgotten their identities, but miraculously, their poem survived as a rather antiquated means to profess one's fealty to a lord they hold dear."
Keqing craned her neck to see, and sure enough, two people were standing at the doorway, gazing at her with fond smiles.
Her words had died in her throat, but she managed to croak them out, regardless. "M-Mr. Zhongli…"
The woman beside Zhongli perked up, hand to cheek as if she remembered something incredible. "Oh~ So that's why it sounded so familiar!"
Ganyu closed her eyes in warm recollection. "Ahhh… it's been so long since I heard that poem. It really is beautiful~."
"G-G-Ganyu— ?"
Zhongli addressed Keqing first with a curious quirk of his brow. "Still, to recite the entire verse verbatim from heart… Shall I assume you have been reading up on old stories of Morax, my dear Yuheng?"
"Oh, she has, Mr. Zhongli," Ganyu answered. "Whenever she finds the time for it, Lady Keqing holes up in the archives and immerses herself in the various tales and parables of Rex Lapis. She believes that if she studied hard enough, she would come to understand how he governed Liyue and seek to mold her methods in the same way."
Keqing almost sputtered. "G-Ganyu, w-what did I tell you about holding your tongue?"
"My, I didn't mean to offend, Lady Keqing!" Ganyu said, sincerity clear in her voice. "I simply find that aspect of yours admirable and had wished to share it with others."
"That's not the point! And more importantly…" Keqing craned her head farther, still struggling to move her body under Aether's grasp. She shouted, her cheeks beet-red. "H-h-how long have you two been there?!"
Ganyu smiled a wide and innocent smile. She answered truthfully— in a manner that didn't seem to answer the question at all.
"We've been here the whole time!"
...
"This isn't what you think— !"
Zhongli, ever the calm and stoic gentleman, intervened. "Well, it seems we have chanced upon a rather awkward situation. Ms. Ganyu, shall we discuss our matters in a separate room? I believe these two desire a bit of privacy."
Nodding, Ganyu led him outside, her expression motherly and understanding. "Of course. Right this way, Mr. Zhongli."
"Get back here!" Keqing screamed. "Ganyu! I DEMAND you get back here!"
Ganyu only smiled wider and waved as she closed the door. "Take your time~"
It locked behind her.
Take our time with WHAT?!
Desperation set in and Keqing clawed at the arms binding her. She pleaded, flustered tears stinging her eyes as Aether's grip seemed to tighten even more.
No matter what, she HAD to explain the situation to Ganyu properly. If left alone, the cloud-minded secretary would go on to tell Ningguang. And if Ningguang knows, everybody will know.
She'll never hear the end of it. Ever.
"Wake up!"
Still nothing. Aether kept snoring. Peaceful. Happily dreaming of things to come— and blissfully unaware of the extremely dangerous bolts of electricity that started to form around him.
Like Driving Thunder, Keqing roared. "WAKE UP!"