Work Text:
------
Xiao ran as fast as he possibly could over the fields of the Tianqiu Valley.
He had no destination in mind, but to return to Liyue Harbor as fast as he possibly could. For someone of his size, speed and stature, he would make it there before the sun could set, which was good enough for Xiao at this moment.
Xiao’s own karmic debt seized him suddenly as he ran, causing him to stumble and fall on the ground, pain shooting through his system as if he had been struck by a spear. Xiao was no foreigner to pain. He had dealt it hundreds of times, seen it thousands of times, and felt it more than both of those numbers combined.
Xiao knew he was a broken shield of Liyue’s, of Rex Lapis’s, but he still pushed on to do his best-to carry out his duties per the contract he swore his life to uphold.
Xiao winced in pain, but he wouldn’t dare cry out-he wouldn’t give his debt the satisfaction of breaking him. He stumbled a little as he tried to clear out his blurry gaze, his head spinning as he felt his entire body on fire. He wanted to scream, he wanted to cry-but he would not, because he did not deserve that luxury.
Liyue’s warrior did not deserve that luxury, just like Rex Lapis’s yaksha did not get it either.
So, Xiao ran once more, seeing the peaks of the buildings in Liyue Harbor in the distance. Just a little while longer, Xiao thought, you can make it, you can make it-
But, Xiao was wrong about his limits. Within just a couple more strides, Xiao’s vision completely gave out. He felt the hard gravel path beneath him and let his head lay back on the path. He pressed his hand up to his chest, his vision faintly glowing underneath the sunlight as his consciousness was beginning to fade.
“Master….Rex Lapis…I’m sorry-”
Then, he blacked out completely.
----
“Aiya, what is even going on here!” Hu Tao, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor director, paced the grounds of Bubu Pharmacy with a confused and stricken look on her face. “How did this happen to him?” Hu Tao looked him over, seeing the young adeptus lying motionless on the hospital bed. “ What’s going on, Baizhu?”
Baizhu, the Bubu Pharmacy’s doctor, let out a sigh. “I do not know what is wrong with him. He’s not…he’s stable, but he’s not…responding to me,” Baizhu shook his head softly. “He’s alive, that much is true, but I cannot tell what else there is to look at.” Baizhu walked over to him and rested a gentle hand on the adeptus’s forehead. Xiao did not stir, nor did he seem to get any calmer. There was a slight tremor from Xiao’s left hand that concerned Baizhu.
He gently placed his hand over Xiao’s, yet the tremor did not stop.
What, truly, was going on here?
“Is…..Xiao….” Qiqi walked up to Baizhu and pulled on his robe. “Is….Xiao…dead?”
Baizhu shook his head. “No, no, Qiqi, he’s…” How did he word it? Unconscious? Would Qiqi even know what that meant?
“He’s fine.” Baizhu ran a hand through his hair as if confused, which he definitely was. “Hu Tao, you should get back to your duties. Thank you for finding him out there.”
“Yeah,” Hu Tao gave a nod. “I mean, who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t been out that way!?”
Baizhu gave a nod. “You’ve done a lot today. Get some rest.”
Hu Tao, with one last glance at Xiao, turned around and exited the room Xiao was held in. Baizhu sighed again (which he was doing a lot of lately) and sat down on a chair next to the adeptus. As far as he knew, Xiao was the last of the yakshas-a group of warriors led by the Geo Archon, Morax, back then to ward off the evil enemies of Liyue’s realm. Baizhu could not imagine the things Xiao had seen, not to mention the things he had done, but Baizhu did not hold any of that to him now. It was for Liyue’s protection, and he knew that the gracious Geo Archon was no cold murderer, so there would be no need for violence to innocents.
Baizhu rested his head in his hands. He was at a loss as to what to do. He knew that yakshas were prone to…what was it? Karmic debt? Baizhu had no clue for sure, nor did he know how to cure it, but he could perhaps surmise that that problem had some hold on him.
However, he had no idea on how to cure such a thing.
After a while of thinking and scrapping ideas he had in his brain, Baizhu stood up and began to walk towards the door. “I need to get some tea…”
As if on cue, Xiao began to stir. His eyes flickered open softly and he looked around, suddenly almost flinching so hard back in the bed that his eyes went from confused to sheer shock. He curled in on himself almost instinctively, raising a hand in front of his face as if someone was going to hit him.
“Stop…stop..” Baizhu heard Xiao mutter and he cautiously walked over to him. This was….definitely unusual, for someone who had just come out of a sort of coma.
“Xiao,” Baizhu’s voice was gentle, or at least, he thought it was. “You’re okay, you’re…safe, in Bubu Pharmacy. Can you hear my voice?”
Xiao flinched back when Baizhu softly lifted a hand to him, so the doctor recoiled his hand. He knew that touching him was going to bring more harm than good, now.
Xiao breathed heavily, his gaze looking around the room wildly, before he whimpered again. “I’m sorry..I’m sorry….Yanwang Dijun..”
Baizhu blinked. Did he think he was talking to the Geo Archon? That was the only person he knew who held such a title. But the Geo Archon was-
“He’s not here, Xiao,” Baizhu blinked. He didn’t want to bring up the archon’s death, since he figured that would only make matters worse. “You’re safe, though, relax.”
Xiao did the opposite, only getting more panicked. “I need….I need to speak to him-”
“You can’t,” Baizhu said, getting close enough to where he could truly see the panic in Xiao’s eyes. “Just rest, okay?”
“No, you don’t understand!” Xiao shook his head, “I need to talk to him, I need to apologize!”
“Okay, okay,” Baizhu looked down at Xiao and placated him for the time being. “Okay, I will go get him, then, all right? But you must rest first.”
This seemed to calm down Xiao for a brief moment, the young adeptus eventually obeying and laying his head back on the bed. Baizhu let out a relieved sigh and gave a satisfied nod. That was…definitely concerning, but what was even more concerning was the fact that Xiao had eventually become so protective of himself, as if someone would hurt him. He had never seen such a reaction like that from anyone coming out of unconsciousness before.
Baizhu walked to his desk and opened a small book, writing his observations in it. He rested his head in his hands once more and let out a frustrated groan. How was he to help this adeptus when he didn’t even know his struggles?
He needed some fresh air. He had been in this stifled room for too long. Calling on Qiqi, he told her to keep watch over Xiao while he went out and just took a couple breaths of air.
Baizhu opened the door and instantly felt a bit of solace as he breathed in the air of home. Liyue Harbor was busy today, bustling with life despite the solemn case taking place inside the Pharmacy.
-----
“Pardon, but you are…Baizhu, correct?”
A rich, deep voice interrupted Baizhu’s thoughts. Baizhu turned to his left and saw the consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli, walking up to him with an interested look in his golden eyes.
“Sir,” Baizhu gave a little respectful nod. “That is me. Are you in need of the pharmacy’s services?”
Zhongli shook his head, the wind softly rustling his dark brown hair, making his golden gaze seem so much more powerful than it really was. “No, I am not. I am merely here to…” Zhongli pondered over his words, as if searching for a way to frame it. “See someone I know. You have been harboring the last of the yaksha, have you?”
“I…yes,” Baizhu gave a little nod. “But, if you have no affiliation to him then I cannot permit you to see him.” Baizhu stepped in front of the door to Bubu Pharmacy and looked at Zhongli. “I’m sorry.”
“I do know him.” Zhongli spoke, his expression looking torn-but for what? “Baizhu,” his voice was sturdy, powerful, even, for such an old man. “I need you to let me see him.”
“No,” Baizhu shook his head. “How do I know you won’t injure my patient?”
“I-” Zhongli let out a sigh. He took a couple of steps forward and stood in front of the doctor, his golden gaze level with Baizhu’s. “I will not. You have my word on that. I just need to see him.”
Baizhu stared at him, seeming to be pondering something but settled on stepping back nonetheless. “All right. Go ahead.”
Zhongli dipped his head softly before walking inside, the dim lights causing the man’s gaze to flicker to adjust to the softness. He looked around before walking into the room Xiao lay, his steps firm and controlled yet seemingly distraught. Baizhu observed the way he stood at the doorstep, his fist just clenched in his hand yet he showed no signs of anger.
“Sir?”
“Baizhu,” Zhongli’s gaze was soft. “Give me a moment, if you would.”
Baizhu sighed, but gave him his space. Zhongli walked a couple of steps forward, looking at the yaksha with the calmest, softest gaze Baizhu had ever seen him wear. He stopped by Xiao’s bedside and let out a sigh, muttering something incomprehensible.
Baizhu ran his hand through his hair again. This was certainly an interesting day.
Zhongli placed a soft hand on his shoulder, all the while shaking his head as if he could not understand such a thing was happening. Baizhu did not know of any connection that Xiao had to this man, so why did Zhongli look like they were friends? Or even family, perhaps?
“He has not woken since early this afternoon,” Baizhu muttered. “If you wish to understand his condition.”
Zhongli gave a soft nod from where he was by Xiao’s side. “I see. When he woke, was he ... .stable?”
“I…” Baizhu did not know how to answer that question. “He still seemed out of it.” In the doctor’s head, he clearly remembered the young adeptus practically screaming to speak with the late-deceased geo archon. For some reason, it bugged at him. What matters did Xiao have with Rex Lapis himself?
“Did he say anything?” Zhongli’s amber gaze tilted towards Baizhu’s.
“He called for the geo archon,” Baizhu whispered, his tone confused. “He said he needed to…apologize for something, but I cannot know what.” Baizhu then continued. “Does he not know that Rex Lapis is dead?”
Zhongli’s gaze flickered for a moment, which interested Baizhu, but it steadied almost as soon as the moment came.
“Perhaps he does not.”
“Perhaps.” Baizhu narrowed his eyes at the man. He seemed to be knowing a lot more than he let on.
Zhongli then sighed. “I am afraid the geo archon himself is not even aware of his predicament, even in Celestia. He always was a fool, it seems.”
Baizhu bristled, as if taken aback by such sharp condemnation of his archon by this old man. “How dare you speak poorly of Rex Lapis,” Baizhu huffed. “He founded this nation, built it with his own hands, cared for his people like no other,” Changsheng, the snake around Baizhu’s neck, hissed softly as if giving him a warning to calm down. Baizhu did. “You have no right to speak poor of him.”
Zhongli’s eyes widened ever so slightly. “Apologies. I did not mean to insult him. I just speak fact.”
“You know nothing,” Baizhu growled as he came to Zhongli’s side, brushing him away from Xiao. “Shut up.”
Zhongli softly laughed at that. “Defensive, hm?”
Why was he laughing? Baizhu found Zhongli most confusing. “I don’t need to explain myself. Now back away from my patient, please.”
Zhongli did as he was told, his robe gently brushing the wooden floor of Bubu Pharmacy with such practiced grace, it seemed otherworldly. Baizhu blinked. “You are a confusing one to figure out, Mr. Zhongli,” Baizhu muttered, catching the man’s attention. “You act not like a Liyuean.”
“Hm?” Zhongli turned his amber gaze to Baizhu once more. The sunlight that draped through the window struck the elder’s face at a particular angle so that he seemed to glow. “I do not?”
“You…” For a moment, Baizhu’s gaze widened. Zhongli looked as he practically bathed in gold, with the way the light flooded over him. He looked….etheral. No citizen could ever pull that off. “You most certainly do not.”
“My apologies for that,” Zhongli chuckled, “I do not mean to frighten you.”
“I am not-”
“Ah, I meant nothing,” he then shook his head and sighed. “I do hail from Liyue, but I have traveled to many places. I have picked up a lot of their customs, you see.”
Baishu let out a hm, but was not convinced. This man looked like every Liyuean, except not so grand and composed as if he was made up of the nation’s local element of geo itself.
“Of course. That must be it.”
Changsheng hissed from where he lay on his neck, but Baizhu ignored him.
Luckily for Baizhu, Xiao stirred beside him, allowing for a distraction from Zhongli. Baizhu turned to Xiao and softly lay a hand on his head. Xiao did not flinch this time, although he was stiff.
Xiao’s eyes softly opened, the amber in them similar to the way Zhongli’s looked.
“You doing all right? Can you see us?” Baizhu waved a hand in front of Xiao’s face, and thankfully the adeptus nodded.
“I…” Xiao’s voice was hoarse, so Baizhu left his side to retrieve some water. Xiao looked around the room and met Zhongli’s gaze, his voice eventually leaving him.
“Master-” Xiao coughed violently, his body shaking, yet his gaze never left Zhongli’s. Zhongli sighed and walked to him, softly placing a hand on his chest and forcing him to lie down.
“It’s all right, lie down now,” he whispered, Baizhu shocked at the level of gentleness in his voice. Xiao whimpered and tried to speak, but Zhongli silenced him again. “It’s all right.”
Baizhu took the cup of water and raised it, allowing Xiao to drink some. As he did, Baizhu turned to Xiao. “He called you his master.”
“He is still disillusioned,” Zhongli said, a little too quickly-as if it was a well performed cover-up story. “He thinks I am someone else.”
Baizhu blinked, but just sighed. Looking back at the adeptus, he saw the conflict in his gaze. On one side, Xiao looked like he was frightened, but somewhere down in his gaze Xiao showed signs of great relief. Xiao’s hand stretched out just slightly to softly brush against the edge of Zhongli’s sleeve.
“You…I….I’m sorry-” Xiao’s voice was coming back to him, but still hoarse. Baizhu offered more water but Xiao pushed it away. “I’m sorry, Rex Lapis, I’m sorry-”
Zhongli blinked a couple of times. “I’m not…Xiao-”
“I’m sorry I failed you,” Xiao whispered again, cutting Zhongli off. “I tried but I just couldn’t-” his sentence was broken off by his coughing again.”
“Save your strength, Xiao,” Zhongli muttered as Baizhu gave him a side glance. What was Xiao saying? “Please, save it. I-” Zhongli stopped as if catching himself- but what for? “-I…believe Rex Lapis wouldn’t want you to use all your strength saying meaningless apologies for nothing you did wrong.”
Xiao blinked, giving him a glance. “It…I failed y-”
“No,” Zhongli shook his head. “You didn’t.” He then added. “He will understand.”
Baizhu sighed, placing a hand on Xiao’s head again. “Zhongli, perhaps it is best you take your leave. He clearly doesn’t know you, or thinks…you are someone else.” The Geo Archon, Baizhu thought, but didn’t say anything of it.
Xiao shook his head. “No-wait!” Xiao sat up immediately, and as soon as he did Zhongli was at his side, with one hand behind his head and one on his chest to push him back down gently into a laying position. “Don’t go..” Xiao grasped Zhongli’s arm-not gently, but enough to let him know he wanted him there.
“I won’t. I won’t, child..” Zhongli whispered, softly placing a hand on Xiao’s head where Baizhu’s had been, instead this time Xiao’s gaze flickered closed and he lay back against Zhongli’s hand on the back of his head.
Baizhu blinked, uncomfortable. It was like he was interrupting something private…ancient, even.
“Rex Lapis,” Xiao whispered, letting go of Zhongli’s arm just slightly to smooth over the cloth. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.” Baizhu swore he heard Zhongli say, and he sighed. What in all of Teyvat-
“Zhongli, sir,” Baizhu spoke up, and Zhongli’s head tilted towards Baizhu. No longer was the soft amber staring back at him; instead, it was a brilliant, dazzling shade of pure gold that did, only resembling the ancient stories about the geo archon himself he had heard many times.
With the piercing gaze of gold did our archon gaze
Across the fields and across the plains
To forever protect our future and land
From ever being ripped out of his gracious hand.
Baizhu’s breath caught in his throat. “I..”
Zhongli stared expectantly at the doctor. “Dr. Baizhu? What is the matter?”
“You’re…Rex Lapis, aren’t you?”
Zhongli stared back at him, his expression practically blank. “It is as you have guessed.”
Baizhu’s heart skipped a beat. What? “You….sir-” He then dropped to his knees on the floor, showing him the proper respect he deserved. He had told Rex Lapis-the founder of Liyue, his archon, a servant of Celestia itself-to shut up. To deny him entry to see his own soldier. What kind of an idiot was he?
Or how smart was Zhongli’s-no, Morax’s- disguise?
“I..I apologize, for not…for not knowing-”
Rex Lapis laughed-he laughed. “It is all right, I never expected you to.” Rex Lapis’s hand softly ran over Xiao’s head, and the adeptus then shut his eyes further, leaning into his touch. Baizhu blinked, shocked at this display, at the trust he had for him.
“Stand up, child.”
Baizhu blinked, arching his neck to look at Rex Lapis. Did he just call him a child? When Rex Lapis said it, it didn’t feel demeaning at all; it felt safe, comforting…right. He was one of Rex Lapis’s own people, after all. Baizhu heard all the stories about how much he loved his people.
Baizhu obeyed and stood up, looking at the archon. How had he not noticed Rex Lapis’s presence? Now that he knew, everything screamed at him that this truly was the geo archon himself.
“Sir.”
“You needn’t call me that,” Rex Lapis smiled warmly. “To you, still, I am Zhongli.”
“No-”
“Ah, but I wish it,” Rex Lapis muttered, and who was Baizhu to object to such a thing from his archon?
“Of course….Zhongli.” Baizhu smiled back at him, and Rex Lapis gave the smallest of nods, as if to say, “thank you.”
“After all, who am I to deny a request from my great archon?”
Zhongli- Morax, Rex Lapis-just smiled.
-----