- zhongli wasn’t particularly interested in relationships. when you’re the longest living archon in teyvat and have had the ones you loved slip through your fingers as they succumbed to death as well as having to make sure the region of liyue has no harm come to it and the people, you’ll find it difficult to indulge in romances.
- however, that doesn’t mean he knows nothing about the language of love. he loves learning the traditions and nuances of love among mortals and he finds it interesting what people do for one another when they love each other.
- that being said, zhongli is a fine partner in a relationship; he cares for you deeply and shows it. there isn’t any moment in the relationship where you’ll ever feel insignificant to him in the slightest.
- he knows human life is fragile, that they could be taken away from the realm of the living at any given moment. humans, although fiery in spirit, could fall to a simple illness or from a wound that was deeper than their bodies could heal.
- so, zhongli dotes on you, but never to the point where it’s unbearable. he cares for you in the most gentle ways; each act warming your entire body and filling you with the comfort of being loved and cared for.
- “here’s a cup of tea, dear. you’ve been up for a while, are you sure you aren’t getting tired from work? come to bed soon. you’ll need your rest if you want to work more efficiently.”
- if you refuse to come to bed despite it being so late, he would reach out to hold onto your hand and press a gentle kiss onto it. his thumb rubs gentle circles against the back of your hand and urges you to get the rest that you need.
- you practically melt seeing the tender look he gives you. the feeling of his other hand gently cupping the side of your face, fingers coming to brush at the dark circles forming under your eyes, nearly sends you into cardiac arrest.
- he tells you once more to come to bed with him so that you can rest your eyes, and who were you to deny him of your wellbeing?
- zhongli has an extremely good memory, meaning anything and everything you say or slightly even hint at will quickly be noted. it’s hard to surprise him because of it, but he loves surprising you with the little things that you have expressed interest in.
- oh? you’ve been craving jade parcels yesterday? expect zhongli to invite you out to dinner the next day to the restaurant that serves the best jade parcels. there were a pair of earrings at the jewelry shop you passed by yesterday that you gasped at the sight of? zhongli presents it to you in a small, ornate box the next evening with a warm smile on his face.
- although, because he holds so much history in his memory, some of his gifts may seem arbitrary and unusual to someone who isn’t used to liyuen culture and history.
- beautiful, handcrafted ornate combs and jade pendants are gifts that you would find given to you by the geo archon of liyue. you would be confused, to say the least, as pendants and combs aren’t necessarily things you find any interest in.
- but they’re gifts lovers would give to one another. he would explain ancient liyue’s culture to you; how lovers would gift a comb to signify that they would be together until they both grew old and a pendant to simply carry around and remind each other of them.
- your heart melts away at the meaning behind the gifts and you find yourself tearing up, shocking zhongli. he cups your jaw in his palm and wipes away your tears, asking if you’re okay and if you didn’t enjoy his gifts. but you shake your head, telling him that you love them and that you love him.
- his lips find yours in a kiss, gentle like the waves washing up on the shores of liyue harbor. you can feel the love emanating from his kiss and from the way he’s holding you, warming your entire being and making your heart race against your chest.
- it isn’t uncommon to find zhongli strolling down the streets of liyue harbor in the evenings. it’s calming to him and he enjoys the atmosphere of the usual bustling streets of liyue quieting down as the sun sets below the horizon.
- he especially enjoys it when you tag along with him for those evening strolls around liyue harbor. you don’t need to talk much if you’re not feeling up to it, zhongli just enjoys your company and being with you.
- he isn’t much of a person to hold hands in public, but if he feels your fingers brush against him more often than usual, he’ll take the initiative to gently grasp your hand and interlock your fingers together. he smiles hearing your noise of surprise and seeing your head turn away so he wouldn’t see your flustered expression.
- he finds it cute you get flustered when you finally get something that you were hinting at. you wanted to hold his hand, and yet you get flustered when his hands find yours. he brings your hand up to his lips where he places a gentle kiss on your knuckles before letting them fall between the two of you again.
- “come, my love. let’s continue our walk, shall we?”
- zhongli is a wonderful lover who has had many chances to experience love, and yet chose to experience this love with you. he’s still learning about mortal life and the traditions of love, so forgive him if he ever does something that seems unusual to you. his heart is always in the right place and is always with you.