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It’s only minutes before the famed Lantern Rite Festival in Liyue starts, and you’ve just reached the Golden House from a last minute commission quest from the Adventure Guild. Despite your tight schedule, it’s hard not to accept when Katheryne promised a huge sum of Mora that can feed you for months.
With a sigh, you search for your team’s rendezvous point, a terrace located at the far side of the building that is said to have the best view of the lanterns. Carefully, while concealing yourself from the Millelith making rounds in the area, you release a pulse of Elemental Sight. A small yet noticeable spark of Anemo energy catches your eye. Bingo!
The climb along the Golden House isn’t tough, heck you’ve been through worse when scaling the freezing summit of Dragonspine. But keeping your presence hidden from both the Millelith and a certain consultant, especially the consultant, adds a bit more difficulty.
A grimace makes way to your face.
Even though you’re close friends with him , it doesn’t change the fact that you are currently trespassing over his temple, and he has every right to turn you over to the authorities if caught.
Despite the tight secrecy of your plan, he still manages to snag the confidential information after overhearing your little chit chat with Mr. Mao. Seeing his frown back then made you feel guilty and he warns you not to go through it.
However knowing him, a little pout over here and a freshly made slow-cooked bamboo shoot will free you from an imminent arrest from the Archon himself.
The place is heavily guarded after all and it’s his sacred shrine.
Jumping over the ledge of the roof, you spot the familiar shadows of your team. However, a cold breeze passes over your figure and you suddenly feel a shiver crawl over your skin, as if someone is watching you closely. You look around and find nothing. With a shrug, you continue your way.
“Traveler!”
“Finally! We thought you’d never come!”
Your team approaches you excitedly, waving their hands. You greet them back and notice a couple of blankets arranged by the cliffside. They gesture you to hurry however, a familiar, low, velvety voice halts you in your tracks.
“ Traveler... ”
There’s a halt in your footsteps as your gaze instantly snaps in his direction, shock written all over your features. How did he —
One of your teammates scratches his head. “Zhongli-san wonders if he can join us.”
He explains with a sheepish smile, answering your muted question. He shoots you an apologetic look, as he watches the Geo Archon now taking a stroll in your direction, your teammates-slash-trespassers completely forgotten.
There’s a strong urge to scold your team for not abandoning your plans the moment he appeared. But there’s nothing you can do now, especially when his figure is looming over you, amber eyes watching you in a curious regard.
Though anxious at getting caught red-handed by the very person you are meant to avoid, his enigmatic presence simply renders you breathless.
Taking a deep breath to calm your thundering heart rate, you finally acknowledge him. “Z-zhongli!”
He does a small tilt of his head, awaiting your next words.
Your stare avert from the grassy plain to the star filled sky, purposely avoiding his face because your team is clearly trespassing his sacred grounds. And you’re afraid that he will turn you over the authorities.
“I’m sorry…” You fidget over your dangling vision, “I know this is illegal but — “ you steal a glimpse of him and a blush crawls on your cheek because he’s looking at you with a heart stopping intensity, your voice devolving into a shy mumble. “I heard from Childe that the Golden House has a great spot for watching the festival…”
Your shoulders drop when he sighs, suddenly feeling a wave guilt wash over you.
“It’s alright…” His words take you by surprise and you can’t help but look up at him in anticipation. His gaze lingers for a second longer and your stomach flutters, before he observes the night sky.
“I’ve been meaning to watch the rite festival with you. ” He reveals quietly, the usual conviction in his tone wavering.
Your eyes widen. With me?
“I — ” Your face grows hot, further stunned by his response that you fail to come up with anything sensible to say. Your heart drums.
Stealing a glance at the tall, dark-haired consultant, you notice a tinge of pink coloring his high cheekbones and his inability to return your startled gaze. The Geo Archon, although a well-kept secret to many outside of his circle, is flustered. A huge contradiction to his usual calm nature. However, the fact that wants to spend the Lantern right with you, the adventurer who openly teased him for being penniless despite his omnipotence but covertly likes him, leaves you dumbfounded.
You convince your mind that he’s only being a good friend, a gentleman.
However, as his words echo you can’t help but think of all the instances —with him— that left you a ball of squealing mess when alone or in the confines of your room.
Desperately, you try to think nothing of it but your heart screams otherwise. Flashes of the times where his hand never ceases to touch yours; when he passes over a material, a cup of tea or simply walking side by side, that you are sometimes tempted to link your hands together to get over the teasing feeling.
Or those moments where he tries not to invade your personal space but keeps a close distance beside you. It’s the reason why, more often than not you accidentally bump into him. While the sudden contact isn’t entirely unwelcome, it’s the momentary daze, which always follows, that brings dismay. Because you have to quickly fix your composure before he gets a hint of his effects on you.
And then finally, his gaze on you.
It’s always a second longer than everyone else’s. Without fail, it’s you he seeks out first amongst the crowd, even in the presence of more significant people around. However, it’s the tender spark dancing behind his amber eyes that reels you in. You called him out once, playfully and he becomes embarrassed yet he never stops, and you feel your heart somersault inside your chest when his stare is accompanied with a soft smile.
“It’s about to start!” Your team exclaims.
Your thoughts immediately disperse but Zhongli still stands before you, looking more handsome as he glows beneath the moonlight.
He tilts his head to the side. “Traveler?”
Blinking twice, you shake off the unwanted assumptions. There’s too much going on in your head right now, and it’s not the perfect time to think of romance when you’re unsure of his true feelings. Maybe he’s only feeling lonely tonight that’s why he’s inviting you, right?
“Y-yes, sure!” With a nervous smile, you nod in his direction, unable to trust yourself completely to say anything more coherent than an approval.
Thinking that’s the end of it, you’re about to turn around when he speaks again, his tone sounding a little bashful.
“I know a better place.”
“You do ?”
“That is…” He offers a gloved hand. “If you would like to come with me.”
Your attention switches from his outstretched hand to his face, his golden eyes aglow with softness, beckoning you to accept his proposal. Opening your mouth to answer, heart and mind pushing you say ‘Yes, I would love to’ in unison, you end up blushing instead, overwhelmed by the assault of butterflies deep in your belly.
The heat rising in your cheeks seem to become apparent because you hear him chuckle, enjoying your current flushed form. Staring at his hand, there’s a trace of hesitation, a twitch in your hand and a frantic beating inside your chest, because you know that the moment you accept his hand, he’s a step closer to reaching your heart.
But you want to.
Letting out a scoff, an attempt to gather back your wits, you slide your hand on top of his. As nonchalantly as you could. Quick as lightning, his warmth immediately encloses your hand, his grip firm but gentle sending your heartbeat to plummet.
He leads the way, drawing you closely beside him. Your teammates are all unaware of your planned escape as they gaze at Liyue’s colorful skyline. With your gaze glued by your entwined hands, you miss the way his lips quirk upright.