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Zhongli knew many things, but he could not predict how much the trio hailing from Mondstadt needed him on their journeys as much as they did. They were a bit of a reckless bunch, heading into situations often under-prepared yet still emerging victorious in their endeavors. It was a bit admirable, if he were to be honest.
Still, having little to no protection while pursuing said endeavors was what shocked him somewhat.
He first noticed it with the boy, Bennett. The white haired boy wielded a pyro vision, and was often seen using it to heal his two teammates. He was a ball of positive energy, and Zhongli doesn’t think he’s seen him frown a single time. With his healing abilities, he would assume there wouldn’t be as much of a problem, seeing as the boy seemed rather durable himself. Though, there were a few things that caused him to pause.
For one, Bennett had horrible luck. It was something he talked about frequently, whenever him or one of his teammates would be nicked by lightning or anything oddly inconvenient happened. The other two were always reassuring the pyro user that it wasn’t his fault, and that those sort of things just happened to adventurers sometimes. Bennett usually didn’t buy it.
Another thing was how he wielded his vision. The white-haired boy could swiftly apply pyro to cryo enemies, melting their shields so the rest of the team could get around to doing damage. Usually Kaeya, seeing as the captain’s own cryo vision was not very useful against cryo shields. If Bennett focused enough, Zhongli found he could channel increased pyro energy for more output. Similar to how the electro girl, Fischl, could aim her familiar if she focused in a similar way. Unfortunately, this came with mild worry. Whenever Bennett would focus this energy for too long, it would send him flying back into trees, rocks, or sometimes other enemies. The fall itself rarely damaged the boy, but Zhongli felt a spike of worry at seeing him so vulnerable to attacks and unable to defend himself after using his own ability.
He brought this up to the boy one day, while Kaeya bandaged up his scratched elbows and knees. “Is there any way we can remedy your knockback when you focus your vision?” He sat next to him, handing Kaeya a damp cloth to clean the dirt near Bennett’s wounds.
The boy shook his head. “Not that I can think of, except for when something crystallizes nearby! But, those two usually don’t line up when I need them to. I’m really unlucky.”
Crystallize? Zhongli knew of that, of course. It was the geo elemental reaction. But if crystallize shields prevented Bennett from getting knocked into the air, perhaps...
Standing a good ways away, Zhongli focused his geo energy. He didn’t need to use a vision, but focusing still produced greater effects either way. A pillar came to stand, as well as the trademark jade shield around him and his companions. “Bennett, try your focused skill again.” Kaeya gave him a look, to which Zhongli blinked slowly back at him. “If this doesn’t work, I’ll be sure to catch you.” He stood behind the boy who dusted off his shorts and pulled out his sword. He closed his eyes, focusing his vision and Zhongli saw the sword light up with pyro energy. Bennett did his series of strikes with a leap into the air, slamming his sword onto the ground in the final strike. Zhongli let out a satisfied chuckle, a smile crossing his face when Bennett safely landed, not flying into the air like the ex-archon had seen him do before.
“Woah! How’d you do that, Mr. Zhongli?” Bennett looked excited, a bright shimmer in his eyes as he put his sword away.
“I keep telling you, Zhongli is fine. And it was because my shield applies the same protective properties that the crystallize ones do. I suppose I need to have it up more often, so your attacks don’t leave you vulnerable.” He gave the boy a pat on his shoulder, narrowly missing the fond expression Kaeya was wearing a few feet away.
“That’s awesome! Just wait until I tell Fischl. Fischl!” The boy exclaimed, running off to where the young electro wielder was scouting with her familiar.
Zhongli did his best to keep the jade shield up for as long as the boy needed to show off to his friend.
...
Speaking of Fischl, she was the one causing Zhongli the most concern after Bennett. While none of her attacks left her particularly vulnerable, it was her constitution to begin with that made him pause.
Bennett could take hits rather well, as could Kaeya. They were both durable, something that put Zhongli at ease. Fischl was a powerful young lady; her and Oz together dealt powerful electro attacks that greatly benefitted the team’s synergy. Her and Kaeya worked well together, with their consistent superconduct allowing the captain to deal heavy physical blows. Something which the young man greatly enjoyed. All of these were positive, and Zhongli wouldn’t have worried if it weren’t for the fact that after one hit from an enemy, Fischl looked nearly ready to collapse. It wasn’t very often, since Kaeya was their main field attacker; but the instances it did happen, Zhongli was ready to rush to her side and provide aid.
He could internally compare her to a powerful cannon that was made out of glass. Occasionally, even the blast from an explosive barrel she were to stand a little too close to while shooting at it would leave her swaying on her feet while huffing about insubordination. As per usual, Kaeya would patch her up and tend to her wounds as he did with Bennett, often under the cool shade of a large tree.
Zhongli listened in one time while Kaeya wiped soot and dirt from Fischl’s face and arms, combing through her tousled blonde hair with his fingers. “Tsk. You need to be more careful. What am I going to tell the Adventurers’ Guild if they lose one of their best on my account?” His words were scolding, but Zhongli could tell that Kaeya was concerned for the girl in a way an older sibling would be. He held this attitude for both of them.
“No such thing could happen to the Prinzessin der Verurteilung! By my royal blood, I can foresee that none shall- ow! Kaeya!” She huffed as the cryo user applied medicine to a scrape on her elbow.
Zhongli hummed, tending to the meal they packed for their outing today. He made sure to separate everyone’s portions according to what they liked or disliked. He wasn’t very picky himself, the only type of food giving him the chills being seafood. It had been like that for millenia, now. Thinking about it made him grimace. Pushing that thought aside, he looked upon the two of them with a gentle gaze. Bennett was quickly rounding the corner as well, sliding to sit on the dirt next to Fischl with a cheery greeting. “Shall I be more vigilant in my application of my shield?” He offered it as a suggestion, but he had every intent of doing so no matter what they replied with. Fischl insisted she was completely fine, but the sideways glance Kaeya gave him told him all that he needed to know.
The next time Fischl was about to enter combat, Zhongli made sure the jade shield was reapplied so there would be no chance of her getting hit. Sure enough, when the enemy tried to land an attack on her, it collided with his durable shield and she was able to return back unscathed. It was easier said than done, considering how chaotic combat could be and how some enemies could blast and shatter his shield unpredictably. A powerful hit broke through and knocked Kaeya to his knees, but he was able to get up with ease and looked much better off than their archer friend would be. The unique sword that rejuvenated his heath certainly helped as well.
When they returned from the battlefield, finding a moment of reprieve near a bundle of windwheel asters, Zhongli looked to Fischl and checked her for any injuries he didn't see earlier. Usually it was Kaeya who did this, but he was occupied with their other accident prone adventuring partner. "Are you alright, Fischl?" He asked, not seeing anything of concern.
"Indeed! I have never felt better under the circumstances of battle! It was no problem for I, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, as no such enemies stand a chance against my companions and me." She confidently put her fists on her hips, lifting her nose into the air with a trained laugh he'd heard so many times at this point. He couldn't help but chuckle affectionately at the display, glad that she was unharmed. Maybe he was really feeling his age, but he almost felt a fatherly instinct towards the two younger members.
She ran off shortly after, watching the asters spin and bringing one to Bennett. Kaeya had finished bandaging the boy up, wiping a splatter of blood and slime from his cheek.
Maybe he felt a paternal instinct towards Bennett and Fischl, but Mondstadt's cavalry captain was a different case entirely. Kaeya flashed him a tired smile, approaching him while brushing soot covered gloves on his pants. Zhongli felt the tips of his ears warm, and he cleared his throat before wetting a cloth in some water so Kaeya could properly clean up a little.
Yes, definitely a different feeling entirely.
...
He'd seen his fair share of attractive mortals, they seemed to blend together after so long, but he'd never seen anyone quite like Kaeya. Experienced would be a better word, really.
His visible eye was sharp, a familiar diamond shape for his pupil that he tried not to think too hard about. His mind was sharp, too, and Zhongli found himself enjoying his company more than he thought he would. His skills were sharp, and he wielded a blade with excellence beyond his years. Everything about Kaeya radiated honed elegance, and the care he put into looking after the two younger adventurers wasn't to be overlooked either.
If only he directed some of that care towards himself. He could take the brunt of attacks quite well, and even managed to conjure his own shield in critical condition, but Zhongli could not stress enough how often he'd kept himself front and center in a crowd of enemies when he didn't have to. Even when he had tried to go near enough to apply his shield in a way that would protect him, Kaeya would either dive out of the way or shove him before lunging towards the next opponent. Stubborn, he was.
If it weren't for the constant injuries he tried to hide, Zhongli might find amusement in how much he doted on the rest of their little group while doing the exact opposite for himself. Which, fine, if Kaeya wanted to be stubborn, Zhongli would have to take matters into his own hands. He was used to dealing with stubborn fighters, after all. Even if Kaeya would twist away from every attempt at help with sugary sweet words, or if he assured that he was fine with an overconfident laugh while adjusting his furred collar to cover a gash in his shoulder. Zhongli wouldn't be so easy to deter.
Some days after making his mind up on this, to take care of such a careless captain, he found Kaeya resting with his back to a sturdy rock observing Bennett and Fischl training several feet away. There was sweat at his temple, and he was clutching at his side in a way that wasn't noticeable if one wasn't looking for anything. Luckily, or maybe unluckily for Kaeya, Zhongli had an eye for these types of things.
He sat next to Kaeya, allowing the silence to settle over them for a few moments before speaking. "Is it bleeding?"
Kaeya blinked at him. "What?" He wrinkled his nose. Some part in the back of Zhongli's mind found it cute.
"Your wound, is it bleeding?" He gestured to where Kaeya's palm was resting over his side, fingertips pinching the fabric.
"No." He said easily with a smile. Zhongli knew that smile by now. It was pretty, and it was a lie.
"May I see?" Even if he knew, he still wanted Kaeya's permission before messing with his injury. Kaeya's face fell, pinched much like his fingertips over torn fabric. Zhongli repeated his question, a bit softer this time with no room for sternness in his voice. This was about trust, after all.
Gingerly, Kaeya inched his hand away from his side. His bare fingertips were licked by blood. He never understood why Kaeya didn't simply wear gloves that covered his entire hand. He moved closer, grabbing medical supplies from their travel bag and watching the young pair out of the corner of his eye. He didn't want to ignite worry in them. "I'm fine, you know." He heard that airy, easy voice again.
"Fine or not, we can't leave your injury untreated. It's irresponsible." That wasn't quite what he wanted to say. It was what he had to say, though, for more reasons than he could count. He kept that to himself, peering at the wound and moving the torn fabric aside so he could see it better. It wasn't grave by any means; a sluggishly bleeding gash torn right above Kaeya's hip, ice creeping at the edges no doubt from Kaeya lazily trying to treat it with his vision instead of proper medical supplies.
He heard a quiet scoff come from the man, and glanced up to see him wince when Zhongli prodded at his wound to gauge the severity. "Such a gentleman, sticking his hand in my open wound." He teased, and Zhongli fought the urge to roll his eyes. He wiped any drying blood away with a damp cloth, cleaning it the best he could before wrapping clean bandages over it. Kaeya's protests about being fine without it fell on deaf ears, and he reminded Zhongli a little bit of Fischl in that moment.
"Is it too tight?"
"No. It's perfect."
Zhongli stared up at him. Perfect. That was a word he could use to describe Kaeya. The man was far from it, in all actuality, but all of his imperfections only further served to make him more desirable in Zhongli's eyes. Before, he would insist that it wouldn't ever work out. That their paths were too different to ever intertwine in a way that was more than brief. But now, watching as the sun made Kaeya's hair shine and dappled his eyes with light, he decided he didn't care much for how he would've thought before.
After all, he was only a civilian now.
He felt a hand rest atop his, a partially gloved hand dazzled with gold adornments and nails colored black with polish. Kaeya's face had come so close to his without him noticing. His visible eye spoke so much despite neither of them saying a word. Zhongli felt a light squeeze on his hand.
He didn't even think to ask before leaning in and pressing a chaste kiss to the side of his mouth. Kaeya smiled, a real one this time, and left a more direct kiss on the center of his lips.
Everything was silent for a moment. Only for a moment, because Zhongli's peaceful silence was broken by the screeching of two teenagers who were jumping about how they'd been calling 'it' for weeks now. He couldn't even bring himself to be irritated with them, he didn't exactly do a great job of hiding it, after all.
Kaeya chuckled, a soft quiet sound, and twined his fingers together with his. "Thank you for taking care of that nasty gash. And for kissing me, I suppose."
Zhongli rubbed his fully gloved thumb over the back of Kaeya's hand. "I can't have Teyvat's most beautiful disappearing on me, now can I?" He wasn't from Teyvat. They could pretend. Kaeya seemed okay with pretending, because he smiled again and kissed Zhongli on the tip of his nose.
"You flatter me. But we should get moving, it's going to get dark soon." He attempted to get up from where he was seated, gasping sharply and clutching his side at the sudden pain. Zhongli wordlessly assisted him in standing. There was no shame in needing help, not when you've worked so hard.
When Kaeya was able to stand on his own, he heard Bennett tumble and Fischl shriek as they both ran over. Yet another injury. Small, but his point still stood. "You all need to rest tonight." He sighed, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "Especially you, captain." He didn't miss the amused look from the other man.
As they moved on into the evening, finding somewhere dry and warm to rest, Zhongli wondered to himself again how the three of them had managed this far the way they were. He felt glad to have encountered them. Not only for their own safety, he thought to himself when Kaeya had tapped his pinky against his, but because there truly were none quite like them. He didn't quite have the words for any of it, for what he was feeling on these travels, but he knew it to be a warmth settling in his chest that he had not felt for many, many years.
He hoped to keep it for a while. Especially when he saw the adoring look Kaeya would give him as he reapplied his shield to protect him, and how he allowed him in close to keep him from harm's way. He could feel it in the way Kaeya leaned on him, or heard it in the way he said his name. It bled into him with every touch, to the point where he would hold Kaeya's hand when shielding him even though it wasn't necessary.
The captain seemed a lot better off, too. Less occurrences of mottled bruises and bleeding cuts, and the ones that managed to snag him didn't go unattended. He made sure of that when stealing a kiss under a large tree while treating any stray injuries.
Seeing the three of them in better health brought a smile to his face. He realized, in a way, that his job as a protector was not done. It had only shifted, but he was quite content with that. There was comfort found in knowing he could still protect the ones he cared about. He would stand by that to the rest of his days, he decided, no matter what his role in this world would take.