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Sometimes, Lumine forgets that Zhongli can change his appearance at will, so it never crossed her mind how the cat she picked up the other day—because his fur and eye color remind her of Zhongli—is actually the retired Archon himself.
A visit to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor with Paimon and the said cat (because she wants to show him to Zhongli) gets her told by Hu Tao that the consultant is away for a business trip.
"He'll be back soon, no worries!" the young director says with a grin.
Yeah, but three days have passed and there is still no news about him. Hu Tao and Ferrylady are not too concerned about that, but Lumine cannot just shake away the worry. He is, or was, an Archon; he will not get himself into trouble. But he always forgets his wallet and she knows how it can stir quite the trouble for those who do not know him.
So here she is, back in her room after having dinner with Paimon, watching as the cat she picked up days ago licking his paw after a good dinner of boiled fish and crab meat. The way he moves elegantly makes her wonder if he is a lost cat prince or royalty from some unknown cat kingdom.
Surely it is just her imagination getting too much, but whenever Lumine sees him, she cannot help but be reminded of the man in search. The bright amber-colored eyes, the dark orange fur coat, and the sharp but gentle unblinking stare really remind her of Zhongli. Is she missing him so much that she starts wishing this cat was him?
Lumine scoots over on her bed, tapping the space and see if the cat gets the idea behind it. And sure, he does get it. One swift jump from the floor to the bed and the cat is now within her arm’s reach. She smiles, giggling lightly as she reaches out to pet him. The audible purr from him makes her sigh.
"You do resemble him," she muses as the cat blinks his eyes slowly. "Quiet but refined."
"Paimon thinks so too," floating behind the cat, Paimon agrees. "Paimon is sure that Mister Zhongli will return soon and once we show this cat, we'll hear stories about Liyuen cat, maybe."
"Maybe," Lumine laughs.
Perhaps Paimon senses the dejected tone she tries to mask with that laugh so she floats to Lumine and nudges her. "We can visit the funeral parlor again tomorrow after finishing the commissions. Maybe Mister Zhongli will be there tomorrow."
"I hope so," she nods. "Well, it's late now. We better sleep."
"Okay, good night, Lumine." And with that, Paimon poofs away.
One last scratch under the cat's chin, then Lumine stands to turn off the light. As she walks back to the bed, she notices the way the cat's eyes following her movement. An eyebrow rises then Lumine lays on the bed facing him.
"It's between us," she whispers eventually with a small smile, "showing you to Zhongli is just an excuse."
Lumine just needs an excuse to see him.
The cat moves closer to her, licking her finger that reaches out for him to stroke his chin again. He curls next to her, searching for the warmth around her chest, and Lumine circles her arm around him. The subtle purr he gives out makes her relaxed, perhaps further pushing her to sleep.
"You look a lot like him, but you're not him."
(Oh, if only you know, Lumine.)
The cat meows softly, staring at her, and Lumine bumps her head with his.
"I miss him."
It is just right after she closes her eyes, brain too woozy with drowsiness to notice how her arm no longer encircles the curling cat but is draped over something bigger. Something pulls her in, warmth engulfs her, and a familiar scent fills her.
"Zhongli..."
Calling his name will not hurt, right?
"What is it, Lumine?"
Her eyes fly open the moment a deep voice registered in her head. What transpires once the blur fades away is the man she has been trying to meet these past days, lying next to her with one hand on her back and the other brushing away a stray loose hair over her face. Lumine blinks slowly, wondering if this was a dream.
"It is not a dream," he says as if seeing through her.
Lips parted uncertainly, the only word that manages to escape is "Zhongli?"
He nods, lips tugged into a smile and a thumb brushes her cheek. The warmth from his hand feels real.
"How?"
A smile. "You must have heard about stories where Rex Lapis appears as a woman or a child."
Ah, yes. He can change his appearance at will, but now a cat? Really?
Lumine is ready to question his choice of appearance this time and his reason for doing so, but they all fade away as realization sinks in slowly but surely. Heat creeps to her face, turning it red, and she hears a gentle chuckle from Zhongli.
Zhongli was the cat. The cat.
Lumine tries her best to put everything in order but fails miserably. Memories of what happened in the past few days the cat—Zhongli—staying with her come to the surface of her mind at such alarming speed.
Zhongli, during his stay as the cat, must have seen her in the most... shameful way. Her waking up with bed hair, walking around the room dressed only in a towel after taking a shower, hugging, cooing, and making all those embarrassing sounds at the cat— at him like a cat-crazed person...
The list can really go on long.
Archons, she needs a hole to hide, but covering her face with hands is the most she can do. Amidst internal scream and trying to escape reality, her ears catch another chuckle from him and feel his hand trying to peel her hands away from her tomato-red face. Golden eyes peek through the gaps of her fingers to see Zhongli peering at her in mild amusement.
"There is no need to feel embarrassed, Lumine," he says. Lumine would have felt relieved, but then he adds, "It was such an... interesting experience, I assure you."
Thank Archons she did not take him to shower with her even though cat Zhongli did not shy away from water when she first tried to clean him. Lumine does not need more embarrassment than she already has now.
Swallowing thickly, she then asked, "So, what did you get from this... experience?"
Zhongli brushes her hair, takes one of her hands covering her face, brings it to him, and places a soft kiss there. Lumine holds back a sharp gasp at the gesture.
"If I can make a conclusion from this experience," he smiles gently, "then I would love to live with you, Lumine."