Chapter Text
Chapter 1.
Nahida Pov;
“Come in, the doors unlocked!” After a few moments Zhongli opens the door stepping into the space, another small boy I recognise as being Xiao follows shortly after. “Hello Buer, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Zhongli greets me. “Likewise Morax, would you like to sit down?” I gesture to a nearby table and chairs. He smiles, “Thank you. And I would like to apologise for not notifying you about Xiao, I do hope it’s not too much of an inconvenience.” Xiao crosses his arms looking around the room. “I don’t mind at all! It’s nice to meet you Adeptus Xiao.” He nods. “Nice to meet you as well Buer.” He turns to Zhongli, and quietly whispers something. Zhongli smiles back at him before giving him a hushed response. I turn around to find Wanderer, he should be in his room doing akademiya work. “You two can sit down, I’m going to find Wanderer and inform him we have guests over. Would you two like to meet him?” Zhongli replies, “I wouldn’t mind to meet him, what about you Xiao?” Xiao just nods. I smile turning around to his room.
Xiao Pov;
“Buer is aware of you being Rex Lapis?” I sit down in the seat next to Mora- Zhongli.. “Yes, all gods are aware. She may be the youngest god but she is also the god of wisdom. I see no reason in trying to deceive her.” He replies. I simply nod.
Buer walks out of a nearby room after a few short minutes, a boy not much taller than me following her. Presumably the ‘Wanderer’ person she had mentioned. “Alright, would either of you like some tea?” Buer asks. “That would be lovely thank you.” Zhongli answers. “No thank you Buer.” I also answer. She nods. “Alright. Wanderer could you make us two cups of tea, and one for you if you would like. And Xiao, there is no need to be so formal please call me Nahida.” Wanderer nods starting to walk off. Zhongli starts to speak, “Actually, Xiao would you like to help Wanderer? Our conversation wouldn’t be much of interest to you anyway. Only if thats alright with you Wanderer.” I look at Zhongli slightly confused, but I realise this is probably one of his schemes to try and force me to make friends. “Uhh sure, I guess.” Wanderer seems hesitant, almost annoyed. “Zhongli’s right, we won’t be discussing anything fun. Maybe you too can be friends, Wanderer needs some new friends!” Nahida smiles at me. I nod standing up, Wanderer scowls slightly turning around and walking away. I follow after him.
We walk into the kitchen he shuts the door behind me, walking over to the counter. I stand near the door, watching him start to boil the water. “Are you going to stand there and stare at me? If you have to be here can you at least help?” He snaps at me. I glare at him, “I don’t want to be here either, I came to protect Mor- Zhongli.” He rolls his eyes at my remark. I scoff and walk up to the counter, grabbing 2 cups. “Did you want tea?” I ask. “Yes, but I’m making my tea.” He is very stern about that. I grab a 3rd cup. He finishes boiling the water pouring it into the 3 cups. I grab 2 of the cups and he stands there starting to drink his. I glance over at him, “… Are you coming?” He sighs, putting his cup on the bench. He grabs one of the cups from my hand and grabs my now free hand with his other hand. He walks out the door almost furiously. He walks up to the table, putting down his cup in front of Buer, Nahida, and grabs the cup I was holding and gives it to Zhongli. “Thank you Wanderer. Would you two like to join us for our conversation or you can show Xiao to your room. I’ll have to prepare another room for him to stay in later today.” His grip on my hand tightens. “You never said they would be staying over?” He half yells. “I tried to tell you, but you weren’t listening.” Nahida replies. He rolls his eyes. “As long as no one is staying in my room it’s fine.” He grumbles and turns around. Still holding my hand he drags me away. He walks back into the kitchen, grabbing his cup. He lets go of my hand, and for some reason I feel a bit saddened at the loss of connection, I’m not sure why… I’m not used to this feeling. He takes a big sip of his tea, finishing it and tossing the cup in the sink. “Well, you can go listen to their boring conversation if you want to I’m going to my room. I have work to be doing anyway.” He starts to walk out the kitchen. “Wait, I don’t want to listen to them… can I come with you..?” I reach a hand out to him, not trying to be desperate or anything… but to try and get his attention. “Hmm, alright. Just don’t touch anything.” And with that he grabs my hand. After swiftly walking past Nahida and Zhongli he pulls me into his room practically slamming the door behind him. “Well if it was that much of an inconvenience for me to be here you could’ve just said so…” I mumble, clearly loud enough for him to hear because he glances at me. “It’s not an inconvenience. It’s fine you’re here. I have to do Akademiya work, I’m assuming you don’t know much about aetiology so you can just… do something to entertain yourself.” He sits down at a small desk he has, it’s covered in papers. I sit down in a chair in the corner of the room, close to the door.