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Tartaglia was a blood thirsty harbinger belonging to the lofty snow empress of Snezhnaya. He was a man of many names and a master of many weapons.
At a young age he had achieved what would take most all their life to get to. Glory in his homeland. A high status befitting a skilled warrior. And most importantly the undeserved love of a gentle god.
‘Zhongli’
His voice was always one of reverence. But currently it was distorted by a more machine like quality. Big clawed hands of an armoured beast softly hold the god’s cheeks, pulling him into a tender embrace.
If anyone of Liyue were to witness the scene they would cry out for help in concern for a respectable gentleman of society.
It would definitely be unsightly to see someone so admired caught up in the hands of an abyss beast.
They would be even more indignant if they were to find out said gentleman was actually in fact their beloved ex archon referred to as Rex Lapis.
The blue orb looks down at the god returning his embrace. Smiling so warmly that it almost feels like a sin itself to be the one which it’s directed towards.
But Tartaglia could care less. He could care less that no matter what he does in this lifetime he’ll never be worthy of Zhongli’s affections. Will never hope to be good enough for such a divine being.
He’s fully blackened by the time in his abyss, only a very small part of him remaining even the slightest bit pure. Meanwhile Zhongli is golden, he belongs in the light, he’s the sun of this nation.
He’s the sun of Tartaglia’s life.
“Mr Zhongli you shouldn’t get caught up with a monster like me,”
A machine voice can also be full of emotion. Full of doubt. But despite how much he sounds like a machine he isn’t one.
Zhongli stretches his arms to pull the harbinger into his embrace, his heart aching at the man who calls himself a monster.
“Ajax you’re not a monster,”
Tartaglia is still a mortal. A lovely mortal in his eyes even if he wields many elements, along with the powers of the abyss long hidden from the surface of Teyvat.
In the eyes of the people their love would be whispered about. A topic of gossip. Of dirty assumptions like gold digging, blackmail or coercion.
In the eyes of Celestia their love would be treacherous. A symbol of betrayal from the celestial being known as Morax.
But here in the confines of their home the sinner and the god are just lovers. Their affections just as sweet as any other who has given their hearts to one another. Maybe even sweeter.
Tartaglia will be an equal to Zhongli. His worship of another archon would mean his religious devotion will never be directed at Zhongli. The only devotion will be the one shared amongst lovers.
In the times to come their love would be told in tapestries. And in songs belonging to the anemo archon barbatos. A sweet story of an undying love between a sinning mortal and a divine god.
Their tale will be one of faith and unwavering affection.