Chapter Text
“I hate that we have to do this,” she sighs.
They sit on a couple of rocks scattered about on the cliffsides that overlook the whole of Liyue Harbor; Beidou nurses a bottle of rum in her hands – best she could get on a pirate’s salary – as she gazes towards the sea, past the horizon, at the trail of a thousand bright burning lanterns floating in the sky. It’s the best view of Lantern Rite she’s had in a long, long time – from here, she could count each lantern individually almost, instead of seeing it as one big yellow blob from her ship…
In most places, the world gets quiet after dark. Under a moonless night, the world gross still as she’s blanketed under darkness, with not even an ounce of starlight to guide her way; and as she rests her head on tattered sheets and groaning wood, she hears the waves softly break against the side of her hull and the distant sound of a cricket’s song. But not in Liyue Harbor – not by a long shot! In Liyue Harbor, the party has only just begin, beyond the large gate that marks the entrance to the city, with dark wooden beams and green tiles.
In Liyue Harbor, the city streets are full of people and lights and sounds and the crackling pop of the fireworks that shoot up into the sky.
She can see it now – little food stalls that line the edges of the stone pathways along the docks, shouting out with gusto that they have food and drink aplenty, advertising dishes specifically made for the festive season. Xinyan is probably out there, someone in Chihu Rock, on a small stage; with a mouth full of fire and spit, she plays for her small yet loyal crowd who come to see her rock out every night. The little kids are playing pretend pirate on a makeshift raft, while the sailors sing their sea shanties drinking their beers, and the Yuheng is probably running around like a headless chicken while Ningguang sits in her fancy palace in the sky…
The world is set alight, and yet…
Ganyu isn’t there.
Ganyu isn’t there. She’s not sitting at her humble little perch in Yujing terrace, surrounded by her co-workers as they enjoy a cup of tea and a nice meal together as they watch the fireworks together. She’s not in a beautiful, dazzling stunning dress that hugs her perfect figure and matches her eyes and definitely would have taken Beidou’s breath away if she saw her in it – in fact, Ganyu isn’t even wearing shoes right now! She kicked them off a little while ago when they reached this spot and sat down, seemingly content to take a break, but…
And she’s not drinking tea that perfectly suits her tastes either – as she’s sure Ningguang would have it – instead, she’s nursing the same rum Beidou holds in her hands. Just a small cup, since she knows Ganyu doesn’t really like to drink all that much – and that she only ever really drinks when it’s with her.
And it’s all her fault.
It’s all her damn fault, just like it always is – and even if a big part of tries to reason with her, tries to say, if she didn’t want to be here, she would have told you already…
She admits a larger part of her just feels… guilty.
You’re causing her trouble again. Couldn’t you go drink with someone else? Anyone else?
“Hate that we have to do what?” Ganyu tilts her head, as she takes a sip of her drink.
“You know – about this whole thing,” she explains. “I’m sorry, Ganyu. You should be in Liyue Harbor, sitting at a nice restaurant, and laughing at some bad joke Keqing made because she doesn’t get humor. You should be working the fireworks from the terrace where you work at – in the city you love so much and work so hard for.”
“Instead, we’re – well, we’re here, like a bunch of outlaws,” Beidou sighs, and then, she chuckles a bit. “Well, I’m the outlaw here. Not you.”
“Beidou…” Ganyu frowns.
“….I just feel so terrible about it, you know?” She tells her as she stares off into the sea. “There’s so much you’ve done for me – so much time and work you’ve sacrificed, just so we can see each other. I could ruin you – for the stupidest reasons – and you’re still here.
“It really means a lot,” she says quietly. “And I just hate that I feel like I can’t give enough back. That I’m just some big inconvenience to you. You don’t deserve that.”
“Beidou…” Ganyu says quietly as she sets down her cup on the grass. “I…. I know I’m terrible at saying the things I want to say. I know I’m not as bold as others when I need to be, and I hesitate a lot, but…”
“I promise you,” she says as she takes her hands in hers. “I’m here because I want to be. I don’t care about fancy teas or fancy restaurants or not being able to see the fireworks as well. I’m here…. because of you.”
“And if people really think I’m such a terrible person for just being in love with you… well, fuck it!” She says with a laugh and a grin. “I’m a terrible person then! And I’m happy to be one, if it means I get to be with you.”
Beidou can’t kiss the woman fast enough.