+ zhongli x reader long fic!
[ prologue + notes here! ] [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ]
+ general notes: hey remember when i said there’s plot? there’s plot in this chapter for real!!! but also fluffy zhongli because i love this man to death and back.
6 inazuman history
Zhongli was going to be late to work, but you didn’t care. You’d wrapped your hand around the silver piece and stepped out of the bedroom, morning sunlight filtering over Zhongli in the next room as he fastened his jacket over his broad chest. When he looked up, you were standing before him, innocent eyes staring into his own. You held the hairpin with both hands, and you lifted it to draw his attention, “Zhongli, would you… ?”
“It would be my honor.” Zhongli picked up the piece with gentle fingers, his hands still ungloved so that you could see every vein under his skin. A simple yes would’ve sufficed, but it seemed that would’ve been too cold and concise.
You turned around so that he could take up your hair, breath already hitching in the back of your throat. You let your eyes fall closed as he drew every lock behind your shoulders, the slightest touch of a finger accidentally grazing your neck. You shivered, but you forced yourself to remain still. There was no need to act so dramatically, even if you’d felt the flare of a burning on the place he’d touched, the burn the most pleasant burn you’d ever felt. He took his time parting locks of your hair and brushing flat the stray flyaways with his lithe fingers. Then, you felt the twist and the slight pressure of your hair knotting at the back of your head. In one fluid motion, he set the pin through it, and you let out a breath you didn’t even realize you’d been holding when he took an audible step back. You turned back around to face him, but Zhongli was staring at the hairpin.
For a long moment, you simmered under his gaze, and neither of you said anything. The sunlight made the golden thread on his jacket glimmer, so you watched the erratic light dance. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see his eyes drifting over you like he was reading the pages of a book, and once you’d gathered some courage, you cleared your throat.
“Aren’t you going to be late for work?”
“A trivial matter,” he breathed, but your words had broken the moment. Zhongli seemed to come to his own senses himself, and he squared his shoulders just a bit more. “I shall see you tonight, then.”
“Have a good day at work,” you offered as he departed through the front door.
“Have a wonderful day, as well,” his voice grew faint with the door closing behind him, and when it soundly shut, you let out another even harder breath.
You could feel the weight of the pin and hear the slightest clink of the diamond tassels. You went first to the mirror to admire the pin and your hair, and you were sitting on the edge of the bed, awed yet again at how simply flawless you looked. As if that were not enough, you had an excuse to interact with Zhongli each morning before work‒not that you had wanted that, of course. But, you weren’t complaining. Each subsequent manner in which he treated you like the rarest beauty to walk the same ground as him, the more you whole-heartedly trusted him.
It made what you planned to do that very day sticky at best. Zhongli would have a word or two, or two-hundred, to say about it, but you’d decided you weren’t going to let him dictate you so thoroughly. It wasn’t like there couldn’t be a middle-ground reached between the two of you.
You picked through your clothes, trying to find something that didn’t look so plain compared to the hairpin. The silk dress to match it hung in the closet, and you feared even wearing it beyond the front door. Any tear or dirt would ruin it completely, and it was simply too much to threaten with your work for the day.
In a last hope to make yourself more presentable than not, you stepped onto Zhongli’s side of the bedroom. It had collected the finest layer of dust on his bedside stand, lamp off and the teacup once there long removed. He hadn’t imposed on you or even suggested such a thing ever since you’d entered his home, and you two had just slept separately for weeks now. Perhaps it was becoming a bit rude of you as you were sure Zhongli had proved he’d never cross any lines you drew, but it was debatable at best. It was a conversation best left for another time.
You pulled open one of his own drawers, and rich, black silk embroidered with the slightest golden accents greeted you. Each of Zhongli’s dress shirts was neatly tucked away, and you carefully picked one up. For a moment, you doubted that this was really the best idea for the fabric was nearly as fine as your new dress, but Zhongli wore them daily. Surely, you could get away wearing one.
In plain, straight trousers and Zhongli’s shirt, you finally seemed… put together. Not overdressed, not painfully underdressed. Just right. The silk shirt was a bit baggy on you, but you’d tucked it in and rolled up the sleeves to your elbows. With the pin to top it all off, you thought you looked as expensive as Zhongli treated you like you were.
Once you’d managed to make yourself presentable, you collected a small bit of mora, and you were ready. It wouldn’t be a light discussion later with Zhongli, but you were going to the adventurer’s guild, and you were getting some sort of work. Liyue was ripe with opportunity, opportunity you could’ve only dreamed about once upon a time. Zhongli might very well never let you pick up a sword again, but if he at least let you have some room to work with, you could live with that.
At the doors to the guild hall, you took a deep breath. This was it. You would have to tell Zhongli later what you’d done, and you kind of dreaded it. Still, you took the steps inside, and large doors creaked closed behind you. Guards were posted in their stations, a few groups of what looked to be other travelers heading to and from different hallways.
“Are you here to join the adventurer’s guild?”
Your attention was drawn to the woman who’d seemed to pick up on your hesitance. “Um… well… yes, but…”
“Great! Allow me to introduce you to some of the work we have available‒”
“Is there anything I can do that would just require me to stay here in Liyue? I-I’m not… really suited for going out of the city, you see. I’m‒” you were floundering like an idiot, scrambling for excuses you definitely should’ve thought of ahead of time, “I’m a scholar of, uh… In-Inazuman history! I c-can’t really… fight… things.” Lies. Lies. All of it, lies. Your life was turning into one big web of lies. You weren’t even from Liyue. You did know how to wield a sword. You could handle your own against just about anything except the power of an archon. You were no scholar. At heart, you were a warrior. Your vision alone would’ve proven that if it were not such a danger to carry it.
“Of course! You can still help the guild with any work required here in the city. Actually, you are a scholar? There has been a family looking for a mentor for their daughter. Would you be interested?”
Finally. A job, work, and even someone you could help. “Where do I sign up?”
/
The second the door made any noise, you tensed. You’d been sorting through Zhongli’s novels, trying to find any that may have to do with your new ‘scholar’ position or mentoring. However, you sat upright, and Zhongli looked for your presence before even removing his shoes or undoing the clasps of his jacket. You let out a breath, but you stood, catching his eye. Relief flooded him first, and then his eyes lingered on the shirt you wore: his shirt.
“How was work?” you weakly greeted.
“Nothing different,” he answered. “Are… you wearing my shirt?” he slowly inquired. His undone jacket was still on, hands frozen in the motion of taking it off.
“I went somewhere today,” you began to explain, fingering the rolled-up sleeve on one side. “I wanted to look… well, professional.”
“Oh? Where is this that you went?”
“I went to the adventurer’s guild.”
Zhongli hung up his jacket, but when his eyes turned back to you, you felt like you were dead right then and there. The air had completely changed, cool drafts making your hair stand on end. Zhongli’s expression changed only in the very, very slightest, eyebrows drawing a bit together and lips pursing a little more. It was almost scarier than if he had just bluntly exploded with anger at such news.
He approached, arms crossing over his chest, and came so close you had to crane your neck to look at him. “There is‒”
“Zhongli, I took a mentoring job from the guild,” you blurted just to end it all before it became one big argument. “It requires little more than me mentoring a young girl at the guild hall during the week,” you continued in a smaller voice. “Okay? I didn’t want to upset you, but I don’t want to do nothing for the rest of my life.”
He seemed to relax at the news of safe work, tight arms loosening and eyebrows smoothing back into place. “Thank goodness.” He stepped back, pressing his knuckles to his forehead and closing his eyes. “I ask that you simply try to understand what I fear when you suggested taking on dangerous work. I truly care too much to idly sit by when I know you could be in danger or harmed.”
“I know,” you reassured. “So, I took the mentoring job. Okay? I’ll be safe.”
Zhongli unfolded his arms and lifted his chin, relief flooding out of him. “Thank you.”
You nodded just once. It was the least you could do after everything he’d done for you.
“Do be mindful there is still the wedding to navigate, and you will need to take time away from your work to travel to Mondstadt when we consult the winery.”
Truthfully, you’d been so beside yourself over… well, him, and the lack of a real purpose that you’d nearly forgotten. The word wedding hit you like whiplash, but you did vividly remember Zhongli’s decision that you would visit Mondstadt soon to begin planning the very event.
“I had thought we could leave sooner rather than later, but with your news, it will simply have to be delayed. There is, too, something I hadn’t gotten the chance to tell you of yet; tomorrow evening, we are headed to dinner hosted by the Tianquan, Ningguang. There are some rather important matters she wished for me to hear and discuss, but of course, you will come, too.”
“Important matters?” you repeated. “Did something happen?” Don’t say‒
“I believe it is to do with the Vision Hunt Decree affecting Liyue soon. It is nothing you need to worry yourself with. The electro vision holders in the city are the ones truly in great peril should the vision hunters make it ashore here.”
Your stomach plummeted like a rock. Already? They were already pushing across the borders to confiscate every last vision? You couldn’t even escape them here? Well, technically, you could, but it would be by making yourself as unknown as possible. The worst part was that Zhongli didn’t know, either. You hadn’t told him of the vision. At this point, you weren’t sure you could admit everything you had lied to him about.
“There is no need to be nervous, about the dinner or otherwise. I am here to protect you, and I bear no shame in taking you alongside me to dinner with the Tianquan.”
Guilt was finally tearing at you inside. Zhongli’s fingers reached for your hair, sliding out the hairpin and letting your hair fall back to your shoulders. He pushed your hair back from your face and over your shoulders as you stared down at the ends of his trousers. Then, he allowed you your space in order to properly put the pin away in the box in the bedroom. You watched his form turn into a silhouette in the moonlight, trying to stomach the rising tension. You didn’t deserve a fraction of this after the lies you’d spun, but you were in far, far too deep, and the chaotic floundering of your heart in his presence only assured you of that. There was no turning back now.
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