Chapter Text
Ningguang was always sending out Beidou on trips for supplies, or things that needed to be dealt with. Obviously, Beidou agrees cause who can ever refuse a pretty lady such as the Tianquan? No Captain would. That’s for sure. Surely there’s always compensation for that? Right?
The famously wide Captain of the Crux Fleet had come back to Liyue harbor. She was seen happily greeting everybody in the harbor. And that damned grin on her face, always so smiley and cheerful.
A few days prior, Ningguang had asked Beidou to collect some cargo for her from Fontaine. Of course, she agrees. And now she was unloading the said cargo from her ship. Why does she look so happy while doing it? There’s nothing to be happy about.
Their dear Tianquan looks from above watching that Captain. Closely observing her every movement. But soon grows tired of seeing such a face. She then buries herself in documents, and papers needing to be approved or signed.
A certain..someone barges into her office. “Honey! I’m back!” Beidou interrupts loudly with Baishi’s voice following, “H-hey! I said she was busy!”
Ningguang hadn’t bothered to look up and sighed. “What do you need to require such.. loud appearances?” Ningguang took a quick look at the Captain walking towards her desk. That damned woman still had a frustrating smile on her face. “Cmon Ning! Cheer up a little, yknow ya missed me!” She talking as if they were friends of some sort.
“I do not recall us being acquaintances. So, do refrain from using such names.” Cold as ice. Some may think she has possessed a cryo vision of some sort. “Ouch, that stings a bit” She says in the same nonchalant manner she always uses. But has a slight hurt in her eyes in which Ningguang cannot see.
“Anyways! I want my payment, as per agreement.” She flailing her hands around.
“Ah, yes. Here it is.” She slides the pouch of mora towards Beidou, not looking up from her paperwork. She grabs the mora off the desk, more aggressively than usual which Ningguang takes notice but says nothing.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking for another request.” Ningguang says before Beidou reached the door to leave. “Take care of some treasure hoarders near Dihua Marsh. They’re disturbing the people at wangshu inn. I’ll give you your pay after.”
“Yeah, yeah I hear ya. I’ll be off I assume. Bye bye Darlin’!” She waves with the same grin that irritated her so much. “I said don’t call me..” Her brows furrowed a bit “that..”
She sighed in irritation. How much she hated the brunettes carefree attitude, and how her flamboyant personality always seemed so different from Ningguangs cold demeanor..How she was so attracted to it..The confidence in her voice, the way she goes on and on about her adventures on the Alcor, their beloved chess games..No, she mustn’t get too ahead of herself. A mere pirate and the Tianquan together would surely tarnish her reputation.
Therefore, she made up her mind. She will no longer involve herself with that Captain. She will no more ask to have tea, have chats, or even play the chess games that she recommends playing every week. She made up that it will start being strictly professional..yeah.. only professional..
Beidou made quick work of those treasure hoarders. She looked at the pile of hoarders and wiped the sweat off her forehead. “Ning will be happy with this.” She thought, grinning ear to ear thinking about what she might tease that Tianquan about later.
The Captain arrived back at the Jade chamber the next morning, strutting her way in to the same office she was in the day before.
And again, Ningguang didn’t look up from her desk. She just acknowledged her presence.
“You’re moras on my desk. Take it, and you may leave.” She stated flatly
“Such a lovely Tianquan, laying it out for me already.” Walking to her desk, and sat down in a chair in front of Ningguang. Looking at the beautiful woman ahead of her.
Ningguang took notice to her staring and glanced up at her. “Do I need to repeat myself?” Slightly glaring at the Captain.
“Aww, must I go so soon?” Her tone sounding playfully.
Ningguang glared at her, and slowly slid over a request. “Bring back 4 loads of cor lapis”
Beidou looked a bit dumbfounded. She wanted a conversation, not another request.
“Ning I’m not going to-“ She stopped herself and sighed. “Funny how you’re asking a sailor and not a miner, but whatever you want I suppose, princess. But you owe me.”
Ningguang didn’t give a reply, she was focused on her work and continued to do so, paying no mind to the pirate talking.
Beidou grabbed the mora and the paper, and left. No goodbyes, no nothing. To be honest, how Ningguang was treating Beidou, she felt her heart shatter little by little by each passing minute she sees her.
Beidou had came back from a long journey at sea. She wants to relax as normal. So, usually she goes to the Jade Chamber and rambles on and on with Ningguang. And that’s what she did, or tried to do.
“Hey beautiful, missed me?” The pirate interrupting the peace there was in the Tianquans office.
She slouched in a chair, and right before she opened her mouth, Ningguang spoke.
“Captain Beidou, may I ask why you’re in my office?”
Beidou looks at her quite confused what she means. She always comes here after a long trip, why the sudden change?
”Whatcha talkin’ ‘bout Ning? I’ve alwa-“
Ningguang interrupted the Captain speaking.
“Need to remind you that I’m working. I don’t have quite enough time for idle chatter.” She takes a quick glance at Beidou “And please, I think I’ve said this before, but please stop addressing me in such a manner.”
”W-well jeez..I’m ‘so sorry’ .. that I was a complete fool to think we were actually friends.” Looking down at the floor, embarrassed that her presence wasn’t wanted.
She slowly got up, and looked at Ningguang who paid no mind to her. Seems like everything Beidou said came in one ear, then out the other. The prideful Captain could feel tears starting to form, but left before they had the chance to fall.
A few weeks passed before then. Seeing Beidou every 5 times a week, decreased to about once every other week if not for “business”. Of course, the other party took notice to this, and to say. She was not quite happy with this arrangement.
That same party quickly barged in to the Jade chamber, and into Ningguangs office. (how she gets there is still unknown to this day) Beidou is infuriated. Why is she ignoring her? Why is she being shut out like this? To think they had some sort of bond in between them.
“I swear to the archons, Ning, why the hell have you been ignoring me-“ She sees another person in there other than Ningguang. And also seems to have interrupted a conversation between Ningguang..and? A fatui member? Why would she be in contact with the fatui after last times incident? “It’s none of my business anyways..” she whispered to herself.
Beidou leans on the doorway. Waiting to be acknowledged. “That’s great..once again interrupting Ningguangs shit.” she murmured.
She was barely paying attention on what they were saying, and figured ‘fuck this, I’m leaving’ until she actually starting to leave, Ningguang called out. Which got her a glare.
The Captain was severely irritated and annoyed. Annoyed that she was only called out to right before she was about to leave.
“Oh? Now you want to speak to me. How very thoughtful of you.” She sarcastically remarked.
That fatui member left the room, so it just stood Ningguang and Beidou.
Ningguang was the one to break the silence until Beidou cut her off.
”Look, Beidou I think-“
Beidou’s expression looked like there was some kind of dam that was going to break.
“You think what Ningguang, what ?! I’ve done so much, yet you’re never goddamn satisfied! And all you have to offer is your mora?!” The hurt in her voice was unbearably loud.
Yet, Ningguang had that same cold expression on her face. She was not fazed whatsoever. She just needs her dirty work done, and has someone to do it for her, what more could Beidou need than mora?
“I thought this was something more than a mere business transaction! I-..I thought we had some sort of bond..” She had tears, threatening to fall.
”Then you were wrong. It was a business transaction. Between client and employer. I apologize if you thought it was anything more.” Her arms were crossed throughout this ‘talk’ of theirs.
Whatever that held up Beidou broke. She couldn’t contain her tears from flowing. It felt like acid on her skin. Her heart had shattered to a million pieces. All she wanted from Ningguang was her attention, and that was it. And yet that was too much to give to the pirate.
That irritating grin this Captain used to have on, was now crying in front of her.
”Y-you’re so damn cruel..! I shoulda known all you fucking Qixing..! Gah! Fuck you Ningguang! I fucking hate you dammit.”
Her voice was shaking with hurt. She never expected the person she thought she had formed such a tight bond with will so willingly throw away everything they had together. Well, maybe they had nothing to begin with. (Beidou was more upset then angry, but if you saw her you wouldn’t know the difference)
This was the first time Ningguang had ever seen this fierce Crux Captain Not smile. She was instead sobbing.
Beidou seemed to have enough of it, why should she stay if the only thing she was needed for was doing dirty work?
Her face had looked hurt, disappointed and most of all upset. She couldn’t deal with it and left, slamming the door shut in a fit.
Well, there she was. The Tianquan, with nobody to ever distract her now, nobody that could ever make her reputation fall, nobody.. no company. No..Beidou.. ?
Ningguang feels a tear trickle down her cheek, she wipes it off and scoffs. What does she care for a lowly pirate. A criminal at that.
Surely, she’ll come back, right? Not like the Tianquan of Liyue needs to involve herself with a pirate.
The next 3 months were quiet. Absolutely nothing. The only times she saw that Captain was when she asked Ganyu to fetch for her. And that was hardly if she ever did come. ‘Whatever’ she thought. She can always ask that traveler.
—
Lady Ningguang always took a peek outside above in her Jade chamber. Always looking down at Liyue Harbor looking for a certain someone down there.
She eventually saw her. With another girl? It wasn’t abnormal for her to be with someone else, until they kissed. That left Ningguang seething, but why? She no longer talked to that Captain, so why does her having a close one a bother? Questions even the Tianquan of Liyue couldn’t figure out.
—
“L-lady Ningguang..! There’s a letter for you..!” Ganyu said in a hurried manner.
“Set it on my desk, I’ll read it later” she replied disinterested.
“You might want to now..” The adeptus suggested
“How so?” Now looking at the adeptus with a raised eyebrow.
”It’s from Beidou..she asked me to send it to you. I- I know something happened to you guys bu-“ She was abruptly cut off when the usually composed Ningguang hastily snatched the letter.
“ah..I shouldn’t pry..but what did ever happen between you two?”
Ningguang glanced at Ganyu then to the letter, and sighed.
“Miscommunications, I’d like to say.”
Ganyu was satisfied with this answer and left.
Ningguang tore the letter open, and began reading it.
To the Tianquan,
‘I am sorry. I’m sorry for my outburst. My feelings got the better of me. I apologize for thinking we had more than what we had already had in our agreement or contract you people might say. I write you to this telling you to apologize, and I will agree to only be business partners. It is my fault for being a fool. Whatever requests ya need me to do, I’ll do. Nothing more as you’ve previously told me. Thank you for your hospitality in the last year. I hope I move on from this.’
- The Captain of the Crux.
This is what she wanted right? Push her away for the sake of the reputation of the Tianquan? So why were tears falling? Did she make a mistake? Why did it hurt so much?
‘I was so stupid..’