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Zhongli was sipping tea under the pavilion on Qingyun Peak, enjoying the calm and quiet atmosphere that had fallen on the land. It was almost sundown and if Zhongli squinted he could see the people of a nearby village gathering up their things and finishing their work so that they could head home for the night.
There was a part of him that longed for the monotony of everyday life. Waking up early to look for any type of work that he could find, working all day to come home to a family and then do it all again the next day. He longed for the disgustingly domestic and loving life of a normal person.
But that was something that was always out of his reach. Something he himself could never obtain.
His thoughts were cut short when he felt a familiar swish of wind behind him.
Already knowing who it was behind him he didn’t bother turning around. Continuing to look at the landscape as he said, “It’s been awhile, Xiao.”
“Indeed it has, Rex Lapis.” Xiao’s voice was coarse, his tone lowered as if he was afraid of disturbing the peace that Zhongli was currently basking in.
Zhongli brought his cup to his lips, taking a sip before setting it back down gracefully on the table in front of him. “What brings you here? You hardly ever come just to visit.”
It took awhile for Xiao to respond, something that Zhongli was used to. He gathered that Xiao was probably debating wether to say the truth of his coming here or not. He didn’t push him or urge him to continue, he knew that Xiao would speak when he was ready.
“I was wondering why you saved me. Back there in the Chasm, I was going to die and yet you…” He paused, his voice uncharacteristically small. What he said next came out in a hushed whisper. “…Why?”
Zhongli had lived long enough to know when someone was suicidal; and one of those people were kneeling behind him, begging to know why he had saved him.
He stood up and turned around, now facing the Yaksha who, in the former Archon’s eyes, was still just a boy who had a lot to learn from the world.
Why did you save me?
The answer was easy. Simply put, Xiao was a person worthy of being saved.
Worthy of living a happy life.
Worthy of being loved.
“Why not?”
Xiao’s head cocked slightly to the side, confusion painting his face as the wind gently tossed his hair. “I am a murderer, my soul is tainted with the blood of those that I have slaughtered. I am not deserving to live.”
“You think I do not have my fair share of blood on my hands? We have both seen the tragedies and horror of war, and yet, you cannot seem to let go of the burden of it.” Zhongli’s voice was calm, steady yet rough with a slight rasp.
Xiao’s face snapped up. Amber eyes with hints of green that reminded Zhongli of jade reflecting off of cor lapis met his own piercing golden ones. There was something in his eyes that made Zhongli want to envelop the Yaksha in a tight embrace and never let go.
But he didn’t. Xiao wasn’t a person that particularly loved physical touch and Zhongli didn’t want to do anything that he was uncomfortable with.
So instead, he knelt down in front of him.
Xiao’s eyes widened. “Rex Lapis, what are you—“
“Zhongli.” He corrected. “Call me Zhongli.”
“…Zhongli,” he said, as if unsure if he should really be calling him by his human name. “What are you doing?”
“What? I can’t sit by my friend now?” Zhongli cracked a smile.
Xiao looked away, choosing to look at the ground. Clearly embarrassed that Zhongli had called them friends. “We are not friends.”
Now it was Zhongli’s turn to lean his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. He brought his hand up where Xiao could see it and started counting on his fingers. “We have known each other for millennia. You know some of my greatest secrets. We’ve fought side by side. We spend quite a bit of time together. What would you call that if not friends?”
“It’s not right. You’re a—“
”A God? And you’re just a measly servant. Is that what you were going to say?”
Xiao shifted uncomfortably before nodding.
“Well I am no God. Not anymore. That means we are on equal grounds.”
All Zhongli heard was a quiet ‘oh’ coming from the Yaksha before he said, “I’m sorry for burdening you with saving me. Friends shouldn’t be a burden to each other.”
“Oh, Xiao, when will you realize that you’re not a burden.”
Xiao didn’t answer so Zhongli looked up into the pink clouds from the setting sun and continued.
“I saved you simply because you deserve to be saved.”
“But the other Yaksha’s- they- they deserved to be saved too.”
Zhongli’s eyes softened upon looking at Xiao’s small figure shaking, his hands over his tan, sun kissed arms as if trapping himself in. His eyes filled with tears as his mind was in a different place, obviously replaying each of the other four Yaksha’s deaths in his head.
The former Geo Archon gently pried away the Yaksha’s hands away from his body to wrap his own around him in a hug. “They did. I regret not being able to save them, but I’m glad I was able to save you.”
He left enough room for Xiao to pull away if he wanted but to his surprise Xiao hugged back.
Xiao hugged him tight, his hands gripping Zhongli’s clothes as he cried into his chest. Zhongli pat his hair with one hand, the other rubbed soothing circles on his back as he whispered soft reassurances.
They stayed like that for a long moment, Zhongli never making any indication that he would push him away. Xiao’s pained cries eventually died down to small sniffles and he slowly lifted his head off of his chest, looking up at Zhongli.
Zhongli brought both his hands up to cup Xiao’s face, wiping away at the fresh tears. Xiao closed his eyes, practically melting into the touch.
He pulled him in again for another embrace, resting his head on the side of Xiao’s head as he buried his in the crook of Zhongli’s neck.
The wind gently whipped their hair and clothes, almost as if it knew the importance of this moment. Zhongli breathed in the crisp air and distinct smell of a rainy day (something that he had come to associate with Xiao) taking in every last detail so that he can remember it forever.
The way the sun set on the horizon, basking all of Liyue, the former Geo Archon and the Vigilant Yaksha in it’s beautiful golden hues. The last chirps of the birds before the insects took over the sounds of night. The slowed breathing of Xiao as he slipped into sleep.
He knew that tomorrow Xiao would go back to how he was before coming to Qingyun Peak, nothing would really change.
But with a little push in the right direction, Xiao could be on his way to finally healing.
Yet healing takes time. Luckily they’ve got all the time in the world.