Chapter Text
“At least give it a watch” Hu Tao whined, crossing her arms and her face doting an expression of impatience.
“Well,It’s not my usual kind of thing, I doubt I will find much amusement in... this” he waved his hand at his phone.
“But you haven’t even watched one of his streams~ pleaseee I swear you’ll love them, c’mon even Childe watches them” Hu Tao put a hand on her hip, watching as Zhongli tapped through the channel in front of him.
“Perhaps... is it loud?”
“Just watch it old man” and there he was, in a time where he would usually study, watching some dude react to some stupidly written story. He had two braids colored a pretty blue, Zhongli noted that the individual was quite cute. He had a pleasant voice, snorted when he laughed and seemingly covering his mouth when he did so.
Zhongli didn’t mind the streams; in fact, he’d put them on to listen while he took notes to a previous class.
He’d look over once in a while, while this “Barbatos” read out comments from people, specifically those who sent him money.
He pondered on his next move before pressing the donate button, donating an unnatural amount that Childe had originally given him for food.
Barbatos had stopped in the middle of a sentence to look up at the screen, his eyes widened in an almost comical way and he covered his mouth.
“Holy cow.... that’s... a huge amount of money” he seemed to gape.
“T-thank you so much! uhm... sorry if I butcher your name... uh Zhongli?” He said it perfectly, almost too perfectly because Zhongli felt his heart jump.
People in the comments were going wild and Barbatos chuckled “holy shit I don’t think I deserve that, oh my god... please DM so I can repay you somehow” he grinned
“I’ll react to anything you want me too or play anything.” Zhongli leaned back in his desk chair to watch Barbatos slowly move on again, though he noted the pink dusting Barbatos’ cheeks. It was quite cute and seemed to suit him.
He didn’t DM him, he however continued to use his lunch money from Childe (yes, he is a college student, just happens to be bad at keeping his own money) to donate to Barbatos. Every time he did Barbatos would send him such a warm smile.
“There you go Zhongli, giving me something I don’t deserve” He put down the book with an amused hum.
“Next time at least leave me a comment” Barbatos winked and the comments went wild, along with Zhongli’s heart.
The next time he did, he wrote
>>Hello.<<
and Barbatos began to laugh, the characteristic snort coming out.
Zhongli leaned against his desk, watching as Barbatos collected himself.
“Hello.” he said rather punctually and Zhongli felt his lips pull upwards.
“Always so grammar-ely it seems” the comments went off on how that’s not a word and Barbatos waved his hand
“Shush shush it is now~ it is now in the honor of dear Zhongli”
Zhongli smiled weakly before seeing a message incoming from Hu Tao.
>>YOU DID IT?2?/?/!!/<<
Zhongli sighed and ignored it, until the brown haired girl kept spamming him.
>>yes. now leave me alone I am studying. <<
He went back to the livestream and back to sifting through his homework. He was a bit late to today’s stream, due to Ganyu fussing over some group work they had together.
As he joined the stream a weird sight met his eyes, Barbatos was wearing a fluffy hoodie with small round ears on the hood, very unlike the corsets and colorful greens he seemed to sport. “So! now that we all agree, I think I should just get started” he had pulled out a lyre, Zhongli blinked very slowly as he watched Barbatos strum the chords.
He was met with the feeling of melancholy, the feeling of fresh air and free falling. he tilted his head, watched as Barbatos strummed and strummed until his voice seemed to join the symphony. Zhongli felt his one hand drop on his desk from the raised position he had held it in. His eyes widened as the other sung. it sounded amazing, natural even, to hear him sing some lullaby. he read the comments for a moment, most of them commenting on his singing whilst some hinted at him serenading someone.
Zhongli looked back at Barbatos, watched as blue eyes fluttered shut as the music began to hit. he decided to send in the biggest donation yet, and watched as Barbatos opened his eyes to the huge tip lying in wait.
> >I love your singing. << Barbatos stopped, got so flushed and gently lowered his lyre.
“No... No way I cant have that much” he said breathlessly, staring at the comment.
“I’m serious, you shouldn’t have… holy shit... all I do is read funny fics and sing, this is so so much” he said as he fiddled with one of his braids.
Ah, a nervous habit, Zhongli noted more so to himself as he typed out his first comment ever in the chat.
>>you deserve it and so much more. <<
The comments began hollering, spamming with OOOs and AAAs, some people already began speculating who Zhongli even was, who Barbatos was hiding.
Barbatos himself seemed speechless for once and Zhongli decided that he liked the way the others mouth parted, cheeks flushed and eyes filled with unexplained emotion.
“Wow... who are you?” Barbatos had whispered and Zhongli couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled in his chest.
It became routine from then on, donating with a sneaky little comment, watching as Barbatos would flutter about.
>>May I request a song?<<
Zhongli had put down his pen, full focus on the streamer, who had an adorable pout on his face. “Hmm sure~! you always pay so much I feel bad, it would be a small thing to sing a song”
he chuckled.
>>you can choose, I simply enjoy hearing your voice😊<< Barbatos turned red again
“my you are the sweetest aren’t ya?” He seemed to take a moment to collect himself, bringing his familiar and rather iconic lyre into view.
Fingers found their home on rustic strings, gently strumming and gliding across wire in almost mechanical movements.
Fingers found their home on rustic strings, gently strumming and gliding across wire in almost mechanical movements. There was a certain beauty in his movements, in the way that his fingers seemed to know every note, in the way that his eyes fell shut and a peaceful expression grew on his face.
Oh, he was stunning and to Zhongli he was the epitome of freedom.
Like branches of a tree, he seemed to sway with a gentle breeze, each note almost more carefree than the last.
There were no vocals this time, no singing, simply a wind filled melody that tugged at ancient heart strings.
The lyre lowered at the same time as the last note, almost beautifully so, like water gently overflowing in a sink.
It always looks destructive, the humidity and water getting everywhere, but to Zhongli it was organized chaos.
Barbatos took a moment to collect himself, taking a sip of his water before reading some comments, mostly commenting on his skills and praising him for the song.
“Thank you, really I appreciate it so much” Barbatos waved his hand and his cheeks darkened.
“I learnt this from an old friend, though it was his skill, I seemed to have taken over it when he…” He trailed off, an almost blank expression on his face.
Zhongli bought his mug up to his lips, blowing onto the steaming liquid and watching as the air dissipated.
His fingers rushed across the keyboard, choosing an appropriate amount to donate before pressing send.
>>He would be proud of you, thank you for the performance. <<
Barbatos looked overwhelmed, usually bright turquoise eyes now glazed over with unshed tears, it tugged at Zhongli’s heart strings but he watched as Barbatos seemed to hide the emotions under a well-controlled smile.
“Many thanks, I truly appreciate you and your donations.” Unlike the other nights, the stream ended abruptly without warning and it caused Zhongli to worry.
There hadn’t been a stream since, Barbatos had been inactive since the whole ordeal and though he wouldn’t truly admit it, he was worried.
“Awww… Zhongli you’ve barely touched your muffin.” Childe seemed to interrupt the storm cloud in his head, bright smile turned in his direction yet an underlying emotion of concern. “You know Barbatos correct…?” Childes entire expression turned into one of mischief, before hastily nodding to not arise suspicion.
“Oh yea, I watch his videos occasionally, though I heard he’s been rather inactive as of late.” “Why yes, that is exactly why I am concerned.” Childe seemed to mull over the words, getting comfortable in the atmosphere of the café. His coffee mug made a clink when it hit the coaster, a finger tapping at the handle.
“Perhaps look at his other social media pages, making YouTube videos is a lot, he’s probably just on hiatus.”
Zhongli didn’t look convinced, but he spent the rest of his day enjoying his dear friend’s company.
The clock hit 3:42 AM, he had been tossing and turning all night, skin drenched by a layer of sweat.
His phone was incredibly bright as he opened it up. “Instagram…” he mumbled mostly to himself, as he watched the app download in the Appstore.
Making an account wasn’t hard, far from it, it was mostly just tedious coming up with a good username.
He settled with RexLapis221. Barbatos…
He typed it into the search bar and it was the first suggestion that popped up.
Familiar turquoise eyes and smug smile adorned the profile picture, in general the Instagram seemed filled with colorful and funny pictures, carefully saved memories, possibly save for a time where our minds can no longer keep up.
He pressed on the most recent picture; it was of Barbatos sitting on a stone fountain in his home country.
Slowly it dawned on Zhongli that Barbatos was German, not that it mattered much, but it made sense the time of his lives and how he uploaded his videos.
But nothing new seemed to adorn the content creator’s page.
He had considered reaching out, sending some sort of message to Barbatos.
Childe’s smug face seemed to linger in his mind, alongside Hu Tao’s enthusiasm for him to watch Barbatos. Fighting the bounds of sleep, he pressed on the DM button, he expected nothing, certainly not a reply or even to have his message seen, but some part of him yearned to get noticed, yearned to talk to this human being whose spirit seemed so clean and fresh. He wrote a simply message, comprised of a Hello and an introduction to who he was. It was in the most Zhongli style imaginable, proper grammar and punctuation.
As he read over the messages, he seemed to mull over his own words.
Perhaps he came off as too strong, too much grammar and way too formal, yet a part of him itched to press send and so he did. Zhongli found that sleep came easy to him, as if a rock had lifted from his body and allowed him to get a piece of his mind back.
It was a dreamless night, nothing out of the ordinary but he could’ve sworn calloused precious hands stroked his cheek and traced his jaw.
No answer came that day, even though Zhongli checked his phone at every hour, every passing breath felt like a ragged rock on a beach, sea foam adoring its rough surface in cold substance. He had a job, and he had to study.
Life was cruel and controlling, he knew he couldn’t wait for a response, yet along constant worry over someone he barely knew, so he tried not to think of it.
Tried to forget the music that rang in his head like a constant reminder of the beauty that this world holds.
His phone buzzed in class, he scurried to pick it up before dropping it on the floor and causing a ruckus. Zhongli’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
>>Hello!! Thank you for checking up on me, it means the world to me and so do the donations.<< >I am okay, as I hope you are as well, Rex.. Lapis!<<