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“My dear, it’s not a good idea.”
“It’s okay, Zhongli. Don’t be a worrywart. It’s not my first time being pregnant.”
“Even so, the proposition is with risk-”
“I said, it’s okay. I will be okay. Should I explain the reasons one by one again, Dear Husband?”
Zhongli, the famed consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and secretly the retired Archon of Liyue, immediately shuts his mouth. The slight change of tone on how he’s regarded tells enough that his partner is upset , to say the least. Learning from experience, it’s best to comply with his wife’s choice. Otherwise, he shall meet the dread of his wife’s wrath.
He has earned his lesson not to anger his wife especially when he’s heavy with their child.
“It’s a child's whim, Baobei. She will forget after a nap.”
However, for this one, Zhongli steps forward, trying his luck. He has a valid reason to worry about his dearest’s condition. His wife, Ajax, is only passing through the early semester and supposedly recovering from the unforgiving nausea. He should be resting instead of agreeing with their daughter’s request to go camping near Yaoguang Shoal for the upcoming new year. More so, the proposal is for them to have a walk through Guili Plains which Ajax also agrees on. Guili Plains is already a long distance from Liyue Harbor. Yaoguang Shoal will give a strain.
“A child's whim? You do know your daughter, right?”
Ajax gives him that look . Razor sharp, pointing. Zhongli closes his mouth for the second time. Calling their daughter, Xia, requests a child's whim is indeed an understatement. She's headstrong when she is set on something. That little one will make it happen.
Last time, she insisted on going to Mountain Tianheng for sightseeing but they were both occupied with work. The little girl ended up going to the mountain alone. Thankfully, Xiao was around to take her home with a body full of scars from falling and climbing.
“See? You get my point!” Ajax huffs. He puts a hand over his gravid figure. “Besides, our baby here is excited with their big sister's idea. Now, stop being a worrywart and make haste to pack. It’s going to take us half the day to travel. Plus, you must tour her when we reach the Guili Plains, that’s half the day too. Our schedule is packed, no time to waste.”
Zhongli still has some reservations left. While the second pregnancy doesn't look as bad as the first does, it's never wrong to be careful. That aside, knowing his wife’s antics and considering the track taken, there’s a high chance they must subdue some enemies. Ajax will not miss that chance for a light sparring.
“Let's visit Doctor Bai-”
“Dearest Husband, Zhongli-Xiangsheng. I told you already, Doctor Baizhu already approves of this. He already gives me an extra concoction to drink during the outing and a long list of forbidden activities I need to avoid. I have consulted that light sparring is possible. No more argument, pack.”
This time, Zhongli dejectedly nods as his wife turns to pack for their little outing.
Ten years into his retirement, that drizzly day is still fresh in his memory. A merchant telling one of his workers that they have finished their duties for the day and they should call it a day. Among the workers, he remembers asking himself, ‘ Have I already finished my duties?’ , which later led to his retirement.
As an archon, his main duty was to protect Liyue, but Liyue no longer needed protection. The people have grown strong on their own feet. They flourished just like his deceased friend trusted them to be. At that moment, as he oversaw the harbor, he realized it. While the prayers for Rex Lapis are solemn and earnest from day to night, the existence of Rex Lapis itself is no longer what they need. It’s simply his presence they need and his presence is already embodied within the core of Liyue culture and people.
And as he looked around (with no familiar face to hold him back), he paved that new path, for himself and for Liyue.
“Hmm, so it’s like the base camp here? This place must be spacious!”
Zhongli looks at the little girl holding his hand. Within her eyes are glimmer, then twinkle. It sends a spark of warmth despite the cold wind on this desolate remains of once a great fort.
“I bet it is, have you checked this ballista, A-Xia? This fort was equipped with advanced weaponry and some are surviving the test of time.”
Like a chick to the mother hen, she immediately runs to Ajax. Her small step makes a chitter against the tall grasses. In front of the rusty ballista, the two quickly become engrossed by it. His wife tells their daughter of his observation while the little one listens with rapt attention; nodding and questioning.
“Since the adepti makes it, is the use limited to adepti? Can people with elemental power use it? How about normal-ordinary people? And how about a child like me?”
“Well, your mama here is not an adeptus so I cannot vouch for them. However, I do need to know why my little girl here wants to use it, care to tell?”
The theatric sternness catches the little girl off guard. She stands her ground though, firm on her toes.
“I want to know… mhm, so I can protect Mama, Baba, and Baby Sibling. Also, if I happen to be here alone, I can use it to defend myself!”
He strides toward their direction. A low rumble of chuckle just escapes as Ajax’s probing eyes become visibly sharper. Their daughter can be careless when she’s into something that piques her interest. Curiosity killed the cat, the said is. He fears that’s the case for this little one.
“Unfortunately, a child cannot wield the ballista. Thus, you must resort to a different method should you wish to protect us. To utilize the ballista, one must possess great physical strength and high elemental control, it takes decades to cultivate such level of proficiency. That is also to answer whether elemental users can operate the ballista.” Zhongli squats to be the same height as his daughter. “We shall talk about that ‘happen to be here alone’ later at home, alright?”
“Alright Baba.” She nods. Apology is no doubt at the tip of her tongue, catching quickly on their concern about her small ventures alone. He swipes her up off the ground and carries her on his shoulder. Xia giggles at the sudden lift and Ajax too makes a merry sound with them.
“Let's check to the frontier before we make a turn to the Yaoguang Shoal.”
Zhongli takes Ajax's hand into his hold, rubbing a circle at the back of his hand. His wife puts their tangled hand over his curving belly. A small poke touches his palm. A kick. He caresses the small movement with affection.
After his retirement plan was executed, Zhongli found himself wandering, dwelling the world with no destination. It's liberating on one side, but it's also unsettling. Being Rex Lapis, his goal was clear. At the beginning of fully being Zhongli, his goal was hanging, an open end. He's living the life, making bonds, mimicking humans, and blending into their society.
It didn't fulfill him.
It was not until he (belatedly) recognized the unusual attachment to the young harbinger sent for his mission, that the goal was found. Their growing relationship cemented it.
Their marriage establishes it.
For the rest of his life, his goal is to be with Ajax.
“Is there something on my face?”
The retired archon glances to his side, catching his wife's stare. They’re nearing the Yaoguang Shoal now, already covering the historical tale of the fort frontier. Xia is walking free along the shore, ten to twelve steps ahead of them. She stops in between to wave her new starconch find.
“You’ve been smiling, Xiansheng. The whole trip. Usually, you're half a stone and half a human.” His wife says. Ajax’s smile is bright. The hue of red penetrates the sky making it more vibrant and picturesque. “It's good though, you look extra handsome smiling.”
“Is that so?”
“Hm-hm. See, this trip is good! We can avoid Xia getting lost in the wild. I have my exercise and get to let off the extra energy. You get to enjoy the day and have the stroll you deviate. Lesson for the day, do listen to your wife.” Ajax scoffs playfully, pinching the side of his arm. “Stop being a worrywart.”
To Rex Lapis and Morax, this moment may seem trivial; household quarrels, a child’s whim, and daily little things. Its importance is confounding. For Zhongli, it’s the spectrum that constitutes his life. The consultant hums, agreeing. He brings his wife closer and places an endearing kiss on his temple and his lips.
Ajax’s chuckle is a lovely sound welcoming the ripple of water touching the shore.
“Baba, Mama!!”
From afar, their daughter's voice is loud. She’s waving at them, already finding the flat surface for their camping.
Ajax waves back at her, signaling her to stay there and wait for them
“Now let’s go, we can’t make our little girl wait, no?”
Like that, his wife walks in their child’s direction. Zhongli follows suit, walking side by side with him. However, midway, Ajax halts his step. With a hand supporting his back and another hand holding Zhongli’s arm, he sighs deeply.
“Wait- I have leg cramps- let me rest a while.”
The cramp is no doubt a result of their encounter with a group of treasure hoarders by the end of their Guili Plains tour. Ajax blasts the group into shambles; no elemental power only a dagger and physical agility. Fierce his wife is, pregnant or not pregnant. He hurriedly checks on him, performing the medical arts he knows.
“Baby is fine. I am fine too. It’s because I lacked warm-up and exercises.”
“Now, don’t you need to adhere to your husband's worries, my dear?”
“Oh shut up! You are the one who put me on house arrest when I was in the early stage of pregnancy. It’s your fault.”
Ajax hits Zhongli’s lapel hard as the older swipes him off the ground in a bridal carry. The retired archon smiles. He presses a deep kiss over Ajax’s rosy lips.
“Baba, here is a gift for you from me and Mama.”
When the camp is set and the fire is ready to warm up their food, Xia waddles to him. She’s wrapped in a second layer of outer that makes her look extra puffed. He gently brings her to his lap, cocooning her in his arms as he accepts the giftbox.
“What is this?”
“Well, open it. It’s your birthday gift.”
Ajax joins them, snuggling to his side. The aroma of Bamboo Shoot Soup is thick and mouth-watering from the pot. He opens the box and finds two items inside. A coin lucky charm with a dragon craft tied to gold silk and a sheet of vermillion Xuan paper with auspicious character written on it. He pulls out the Xuan paper and reads it loud.
“Auspicious life, as bright as the sun, as gentle as the moon. ”
The strokes are crooked in some parts, a novice sign, but it’s easily overlooked by the smooth glide from one character to the next.
The warmth from the campfire permeates the skin, spreading all around. Zhongli kisses the little girl’s crown when she peaks through his chin.
“Do you like it, Baba? ”
On second thought, perhaps the warmth comes from this little one and his beautiful wife.
“I love it.”
“Happy birthday, Xiansheng. May we have a blessed year ahead.”
With the little one coming along, Zhongli does not doubt that in the upcoming year, their family will be blessed.
“Alright, now for the celebratory dinner, who will help me?”
Xia raises his hand, jumping from his lap, ready for duty. He too raises along with their daughter to prepare dinner. Soon, three bowls of steaming bamboo shoot soup are ready and three of them circle together to eat their fill.
“Mama, let's go fishing tomorrow yes? If you're tired I will help you carry baby sibling.”
“How are you going to do that?”
The little girl thinks for a moment before she moves to Ajax’s side and hugs the side of his belly. “Like this!”
Ajax raises a playful brow and hugs her back. “Okay, I can partially feel that. You need to find another way though if you want me fishing with you.”
“Hmm, it will be easier if I can detach baby sibling from Mama, so I can carry them full in my arms and Mama can go fishing!”
“That’s a wild idea you have. Your baby sibling can't just detach from me, you know that right?”
Zhongli ceases the fire once their dinner is finished while Ajax and their daughter take care of the sleeping mat, planning for their activities tomorrow. As they lay down to rest from a long day, the sky above is in clear display. The stars are pouring, spreading, like a special show of fireworks ー exclusive for them.