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The shimmery, snowy landscape that greeted them was truly one of the most enchanting sights Nova had ever had the pleasure to witness. She’d seen her fair share of breathtaking spectacles in her life, one of which happened to be standing at her side, and many more of which she’d endeavored to reacquaint herself with following the return of her fractured, fragile memories. The fact that there were more incredible places she’d missed visiting just like this one inspired her, reinforced her determination and excitement to explore and experience all the wonders lurking within this cryptic and mysterious world.
This was her first exposure to the majestic mountain, and it would have been a bit of an understatement to say she wasn’t nervous. Not because of any panic or fear she felt towards this particular location, but more so regarding the circumstances of her visit. An independent expedition with the man she’d been in love with for so long…but those intimate details had only recently become apparent to her. It wasn’t like she didn’t get along with him, or that she wasn’t happy to spend time with him like this again. Maybe they’d even get a chance to catch up a little. But the pressure of knowing, of remembering, of having to process every piece of her that’d been present but locked away from her awareness for the past couple of decades…it was kind of a lot.
If she had to be stuck with someone during such a sensitive transition, she knew Zhongli was nothing if not reliable. Not to mention he’d essentially dedicated his every breath to respecting and aiding in her recovery in any way possible. But he had his own wounds that needed mending, and Nova was nothing if not a healer. Her reputation spoke for itself, although there was no denying the type of healing she employed didn’t do much good for incorporeal injuries, the type that scar heart over skin. The kind that she was going to have to be extra careful with.
“Are you prepared for the trek to our first point of interest?” Zhongli inquired as he rested a hand on her back, correcting himself out of reflex and pulling it back to a hover. “All of our equipment should be squared away, and there’s plenty of daylight left. But if you’d rather wander around this area for a while, I have no objections.”
They were on the border at the base of Dragonspine, a mere few footsteps away from the boundary of crystalline snow that veiled the mountain in white. Nova inched forward enough to step in it, ears twitching in delight as she heard and felt the satisfying crunch of frost underfoot. As exciting as it was to see and feel snow in the flesh after such a long time, it seemed the young adventurer still hadn’t developed a suitable tolerance for the cold. Or rather, she didn’t enjoy being pummeled by frigid gusts of wind without proper attire or a reliable heat source to make them tolerable. No matter how inconvenient the cold she faced, though, Nova preferred shivering over sweating any day.
That was the only decision left to her when she had no option but to choose between the two. Ultimately, she preferred neither, and would have been much more content in an environment where she was at no risk of experiencing unpleasant extremes. She was sincerely starting to regret her clearly misinformed assessment that she’d be able to make due with what she’d initially planned and packed. If only they’d brought someone along that happened to wield a pyro Vision; there was no shortage of them in the pool of their acquaintances. There was also no need to divert her thoughts towards such dramatic alternatives as a fitting resolution chivalrously presented itself.
“Are you cold?” he asked in that soft, velvety baritone of his that made her heart melt and knees weak, memory or no. Slipping out of his coat, he draped it over her shoulders and pulled her flush against him. For warmth, obviously, but she just couldn’t stop thinking about how fucking close he was. “I apologize, I genuinely thought the equipment I procured for you would be sufficient--”
“It probably will be when we’re not, like, out in a blizzard,” Nova mumbled against his shirt. Her thoughts were a bit nonsensical at the moment, her confusing irrationality stemming from not knowing where to look when she was pressed against him like this. Turning her head to either side would force her to endure the undoubtedly distracting symphony of life playing out in his chest with every breath. Up or down: definite, unquestionable ‘no’s. So, eyes closed and forehead stubbornly pinned between his pecs it was. “I’m sure the weather will calm down a bit when we move further in. Or just somewhere else. For all we know this little incident is a fluke of the time and place, I guess this is what I get for not researching Dragonspine better before we headed out.”
“Well, if you’re sure…” he replied with pronounced hesitance. “If we really are just moving forward from here, I’d like you to keep my coat until we reach a spot with milder conditions.”
“It’s not that serious, and you’ll just get cold in that case, which doesn’t sound very fair. Or make sense.”
Zhongli contemplated this for a moment. “You could give me my coat back and I’ll just carry you.”
This time Nova actually reacted, reaching up and smushing his cheeks between her palms as she forced him to look down at her.
“Just. Stop. Trying to be perfect,” she begged, she implored…but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. He was just being himself, and he wasn’t doing anything wrong in that regard. It was just that, unfortunately, sometimes dealing with ‘himself’ proved to be quite the handful. That made them a fairly compatible pair, then, considering just how much of a handful Nova knew she could be.
He frowned, almost pouted, as her hands released their tension but remained cradling his face. Nova summoned her strength to prevent herself from being too charmed by his lighthearted yet sullen expression. “But I’m not trying to be anything…at least, not consciously.”
“I know,” she confessed with a sigh, giving his cheeks one more affectionate squeeze. “That’s what makes it worse. But also nice. I like you just the way you are. Even if I make a fuss about it sometimes or I say something stupid, I really do love you just the way you are, Zhongli.”
So long…it’d been so very long since he’d heard her say such pretty words. Now he got to hear them almost every day, any time he wanted, just like old times…but he couldn’t take it for granted. He’d never take any of this for granted again, into infinity, into oblivion. He would never lose sight of the most profound joy there was to be found in the simplest moments, made possible by indulging in happiness with the ones you cherish most.