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Zhongli never cared much for New Years. Another year, another autumn leaf in the pile, another snowflake in the drift, another droplet in the lake that was his life. The fact that New Year's Eve was his birthday only solidified that sentiment.
Normally he loved a celebration in Liyue. Seeing his people bustle around, thriving in the time of peace and joy, their faces lighting up like so many fireworks in the sky, made his heart warm. But for an immortal, the significance of the day was lost. Humans’ lives were so short, so fragile, another year was something to celebrate indeed. But a new year, another birthday, what did it mean to a life without foreseeable end? As much as he tried to forget and just enjoy the happiness of his people, he always felt on the outside of it all.
This year changed his life in so many ways. He had laid down his title, duties, and immortality as the geo archon. He had found you. He never thought that twelve little months could flip his whole life around, but now he found himself looking forward to every moment of the time he had left. In comparison to the longstanding history of his life, it was a short span, but it blazed beautifully before him. Outside the window, the people of Liyue carried onward in celebration of the new year, shining as brightly as the many lights illuminating the deepening night of the harbor.
“What’s on your heart and mind, my love?”
He felt it first, your fingers coming to sweep the long fringe of his bangs behind his ear as you took a seat next to him on the couch. He paused at your gaze, sincere and caring and perceptive. You shone brightly too, illuminating every corner of his heart and embracing him wholly. He never dreamed love could be like this.
Your hand came down to trace light circles over the back of his, and he turned his palm over to lace his fingers with yours. Instinctively you two scooched together until you were pressed shoulder to shoulder, your knees tucked up and leaning over his lap. You still watched him, waiting for an answer to the contemplative press in his lips.
“It’s New Year’s Eve.” He said at last.
“And your birthday,” you sing-songed. “Six-thousand, two hundred and forty-six years old.”
“Impressive,” Zhongli chuckled, nuzzling the tip of his nose into your cheek.
You couldn’t help the pride that surged from your chest into your smile. “And it’s your first birthday and New Year’s we’ve spent together. We were merely casual friends last year.”
“Times have changed, that is for certain.” Zhongli lifted your hand to his lips, placing a kiss upon the ring on your finger. His ring.
When he pulled back, he caressed your fingers, his eyes locking with yours in a gaze so loving and thoughtful you found yourself captured by it. You could see the unspoken words there too, so you waited for him to collect his thoughts and emotions.
He took a breath. “I’ve never been able to find enjoyment in New Year’s or my birthday before. It’s our first together. The first of many. As an archon, every day was about ‘them’. The people of Liyue. I didn’t have the freedom to consider such things as what I would want. Now, every day is about ‘us’.” He cupped your cheek, studying the way your eyelashes cast shadows on your skin, how your eyes looked up at him so earnestly, so honest and open. He knew he could share his heart, and it would be safe with you. “Today differed from every year past. For the first time in my extensive existence, I have found myself celebrating another year, and looking forward to what yet awaits us.”
The muscles of your face shifted beneath his hand as you smiled. “That makes me glad that you enjoyed your day.”
“I did,” he nodded sincerely, smiling at the recollection of all the activities you had engaged in throughout the day.
Impulsively you pressed up to place gentle lips on his cheek. “Is there anything else you would like for your day, my love? Xiangling sent us home with plenty of cake. And Tartaglia gave you enough tea to last you until your next birthday. A gift for your birthday and new year’s combined, he said, but I think that was just an excuse to get you every flavor in the shop.”
Zhongli’s chest rumbled with laughter, and his large arms shifted around you until you found yourself being guided into his lap, eliciting a gasp from your lips. “I doubt I could eat another ounce of food. Xiangling quite stuffed me at lunch and I have yet to recover. But thank you for the offer.”
You giggled quietly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, fondling the shorter pieces of hair near the crown of his head, sifting your fingers through the strands at his warm scalp. Zhongli hummed, settling his own arms firmly around your waist. You could feel him gently fingering the hem of your shirt.
“May I?”
When you hummed in consent, his gloveless hand slipped beneath your shirt and gently landed on your waist, stroking his warm thumb comfortingly over your skin. With a contented sigh that made his large frame surge, he rested his head against your chest, and you knew he was listening to your heartbeat.
“No, I need not anything else. This is enough.”
Your heart swelled for your sweet, simple, touch starved man. Rex Lapis was beloved, but never loved on. It was a role you were more than happy to fill. You dipped your head down to rest your cheek against his head as you slipped the jeweled tie from his ponytail and continued playing with his hair.
Eventually he rumbled with another hum, and like the shifting of mighty earth beneath you, he moved to sit straighter, one of his arms coming under your legs and the other shifting tighter around your waist.
“May I transition this to the bedroom, turtle dove?”
“You don’t want to stay up and welcome in the new year?” you questioned.
Zhongli shook his head. “For centuries I have watched the people do such, and I have watched them mill about in a disgruntled and sleep-deprived daze the next day. That is not how I wish to spend the first day of the new year with you.”
“Fair enough,” you chuckled. “Early to bed and early to rise, as always, then.”
With ease he lifted you up and steadily carried you down the hall to the bedroom you shared. Once within the doorway, he paused so you could reach behind him and push the door shut.
Suddenly the dim room lit up with colorful bursts of light from the window. You had been hearing sporadic blasts throughout the evening, but within the main living area of the house the curtains were closed and lamps lit, so these smaller displays were easily dismissed. Even though you knew this was only an impatient precursor for the show the Qixing had organized, the way the colors flashed in the dark expanse of your bedroom made something thrill in your chest.
Zhongli started to step towards the bed, but you squeezed his shoulder.
“Zhongli, go to the window? Please?”
“Alright.”
He changed course, continuing to hold you as he stood before the window gazing out upon the harbor. After a second another firework shot off over the water, a shooting star of emerald followed by a blazing kingfisher blue that spread their arms for the world to see before shimmering towards the gentle waves.
Zhongli watched the world he loved lit up in color. Then his gaze shifted to your face, his world lit up in color, watching you bite your lip and how it did nothing to conceal your smile nor the shining in your eyes. He felt himself smiling too, his heart swelling and beating faster pressed against your side.
You turned then and met his eyes. Another blast, then amber light bloomed through the window. Your face was in such close proximity to his that he could feel the warmth radiating from you.
“Happy birthday, my love,” you whispered, words to grace only his ears. “And happy New Year.”
A hand came to cup his cheek at the same moment as you gently brought your lips to his own.
***
The following morning when Zhongli woke, it was the New Year. He basked in it for a moment. The glow of sunlight bloomed just beyond his eyelids. The sound of birdsong announcing the new day mingled with soft, familiar breathing. And warmth, just next to him where it should be. A new day, a new year, filled with beauty yet to be discovered and blessed moments to be cherished.
He opened his eyes, and there before him was you.