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Beidou sighed as Ningguang let out a puff from her pipe, growing more and more irritated by the silence between the two of them. They both sat in an empty room in the jade chamber, all three of the Tianquan's workers gone.
"Is there a problem, Beidou?"
"I don't know, you tell me. You're the one calling me up here." She crossed her arms.
The sun was steadily going down, its light shining through the windows of the floating building, shining down on Ningguang and the gold accents of her clothes. Beidou would have thought she looked beautiful- no, ethereal if it wasn't for the circumstances they were in.
"I heard some... rumors, that you were heading to Inazuma, am I correct?"
"Depends, why are you asking?"
Ningguang scoffs, putting down her pipe as she leans forward from her chair, "considering that there were also some rumors that you were hosting a fighting tournament there, i think it would be a cause for concern for your employer and partner." She said with furrowed brows.
Beidou nearly laughs at her, but not in amusement, but in the shear audacity. "You seriously put me as your worker first than your girlfriend?" she says, "I can't believe this."
Ningguang's face doesn't falter as she continues. "I will not allow you to step a foot in Inazuma, you've surely heard of the Sakoku Decree! They are rounding up al-"
"All the Visions because they should be in the hands of a God, yeah, so what?"
"What if they round up you and your crew's Visions? What then? You can't do all the things you've been able to do before." Ningguang's voice gradually became louder as she stood up from her chair, hair flowing as she did so.
Something was off about Ningguang's attitude, Beidou thought. She didn't particularly care about the use of a Vision when Mora was right there, but right now..
"You won't be able to fight and work without your vision."
As much as she'd hate to admit it, Ningguang was right. She wouldn't be able to go adventuring with her crew, fight monsters and protect the Crux. But her tone and words were.. off.
"You'll be stuck in Inazuma, trying to get your Vision back and ultimately failing." All formalities Ningguang had fell, as she steps forward to Beidou, heels clicking on the floor. "You won't be able to return to me, do you want that?"
Taking in some air, Beidou's lip twitched, "Of course not!"
Ningguang smiled as she rests her hand on her shoulder, "Then don't go," she whispered, hugging her.
About to return the hug, Beidou pulled away last minute with a frown, "But what about the people there? The ones with their visions actually being taken away?"
"I.."
"You can't stop me, babe." Beidou winked- or, blinked, Ningguang didn't bother questioning it. She only sighed, pursing her lips, "No, I can't. But I can help you."
"Huh?"
Ningguang turned around and rummaged through the drawers of her desk, pulling out a piece of paper, writing on it. "Here," she says, handing it over, and Beidou reads it.
"Pay Beidou, the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean, one mi- Ningguang I-"
"Just take it, it's nothing but mere pocket change to me," Ningguang sighed, crossing her arms as she leaned against her desk, "Like I said, I can't stop you, but I'll support you, just.."
Beidou raised a brow, taking a step forward towards her, curiosity peaking at her mind- even having dated Ningguang for a year or two, she sometimes still couldn't read her.
"Just come home safe, alright?"
Smiling, Beidou laughed. "Yeah, I won't let Inazuma take my Vision and freedom." She kissed her cheek.
"As if they'd stand a chance against you," Ningguang chuckled, pulling the dark-haired woman into a kiss.
At the of the day, the Crux left Liyue Harbor, all their supplies ready and of quality- courtesy of the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, with their captain looking over the seas. "Next stop, Inazuma!" She called, with the crew yelling in unison, and then they sailed off.
There, in the Jade Chamber, stood Ningguang, looking out the window with a worried look on her face. "Stay safe, love."
Weeks and months had passed when Beidou returned back in Ningguang's arms, happily unscathed carrying stories and anecdotes along with her. And also a teenager with platinum blond hair and a red streak, wielding an Anemo Vision.
"Beidou, did you adopt a child?"