Work Text:
“You look lovely today.”
Keqing has just risen from her desk briefly to stretch before returning to work, and her mind is still on the whole stack of documents and blueprints that await her approval. More than half of them don’t have proper livelihood management approval, even though the bylaws clearly state that land use proposals must follow the guidelines outlined by the Urban Areas Sanitation act. Keqing is frowning to herself, wondering if some sort of fine should be levied against those who are lazy enough to submit unapproved documents, and then a hand falls on her shoulder.
Keqing lets out a small yelp that is decidedly unbecoming of a member of the Liyue Qixing. She swings around and her hand instinctively falls on the pommel of her sword, even though this is Yuehai Pavilion, where there is only danger present if a spot on the slick marble floor has been polished a little too well. Still, Keqing has made it clear to her undersecretaries that she does not like to be disturbed when she is working, so she is surprised to see that Ganyu stands behind her, wide-eyed at Keqing’s defensive reaction. She raises her hands to show she means no harm. “Ah! I apologize. I didn't mean to startle you.”
Keqing forces herself to relax. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted so violently.” She offers Ganyu a brief conciliatory smile. “What was it you wanted?”
“Oh, nothing in particular.” Ganyu smiles back with a genuine warmth. “I just wanted to say that you look particularly beautiful today.”
Keqing blinks twice. Then she blinks a third time. “I’m sorry?”
Ganyu’s hands flutter up to lace together. “You look very beautiful this morning. You do on most days, but I’m afraid I usually neglect to tell you, so I didn’t want to let this opportunity pass by.”
Something strange is happening to Keqing. She isn’t sure what it is, but she can locate the nexus of her discomfort in the flush of heat working its way through her chest, blossoming into her cheeks. Ganyu is still watching her with those luminous eyes of hers, tucking a soft lock of blue hair behind her ear. Keqing feels like her Vision is buzzing away in her fingertips for no reason at all, little shocks of electricity bouncing through her bloodstream as she struggles for words.
“Thank you,” she finally manages stiffly. “You look nice as well.”
Ganyu smiles again, slowly and dreamily, and something in her gaze makes Keqing want to duck beneath her desk. But if there is anything more unbefitting of the Yuheng than hide and seek, it is the neglect of her work, so Keqing nods and sinks back into her chair before Ganyu can say anything else.
You look beautiful, you look lovely, singsongs a little voice in the back of her mind long after Ganyu has returned to her own desk, and Keqing fights the urge to knock her head against the table. Instead, she murmurs the words of her documents to herself, hoping her own voice can drown out her thoughts.
Why would Ganyu compliment her? Why today? Focusing is impossible. Keqing rises again and hurries to the bathroom to study herself in the mirror. Her hair is tucked into two neat buns, her clothes are arrayed as always, and she doesn’t appear especially bright-eyed. Nothing at all is extraordinary about the woman who gazes back at her from the mirror, so Keqing exits the bathroom assured in her belief that Ganyu is just in a strange mood today.
The workday passes uneventfully. Keqing has made some headway in her enormous pile of papers, but not nearly enough, so she decides to stay behind for a couple more hours.
“Keqing?”
Keqing recognizes Ganyu’s voice instantly. She glances up to find the secretary standing next to her desk, brow knitted. You look beautiful , the little voice echoes.
“Yes? Did you need something?” Keqing instructs the voice in her head to be silent immediately. She hopes the evening shadows make it too difficult for Ganyu to read the expression on her face.
“I was about to ask you that.” Ganyu’s lips turn up at the corners. “You should take a break sometime, you know.”
Keqing frowns. “I will, as soon as I finish up here.”
Ganyu levels a long look at her. “Can’t that work wait until the morning?”
Keqing opens her mouth to respond that yes, of course, but you should never put off what you can finish today, but before she can launch into her explanation, Ganyu adds, “I’ve noticed that you smile more when you’re well-rested, and your smile is wonderful. It brightens my day.”
Keqing feels the air leave her lungs. Ganyu stands there with her own smile dancing over her lips, eyes sparkling, and if Keqing didn’t know any better, she would say that Ganyu looks mischievous. But Keqing is good at hiding her emotions. She has a poker face of stone. She is unreadable. How could Ganyu possibly recognize the way her words make Keqing’s heart lurch in her chest like a bird trying to take flight?
“Maybe I should rest soon,” she mumbles. Ganyu’s gaze is making her feel a little dizzy, and her cheeks are hot. Perhaps she’s coming down with something.
“Wonderful!” Ganyu offers Keqing her hand. “I can help you sort through your remaining documents tomorrow, if you want.”
“That would be… helpful,” Keqing admits. Ganyu’s hand is warm in her own.
“Not that you need my help, of course.” Ganyu is gentle as she tugs Keqing towards the door. Keqing blinks. She must be more fatigued than she thought, if she needs Ganyu to lead her around. “You are amazing. You inspire me every day.”
Keqing feels the strange warmth surging up in her chest again. As the two of them step outside, the cool night air hits her but doesn’t do anything to counteract the heat that burns through her body, radiating out from where Ganyu’s hand is still holding hers.