• 𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝙸𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝙾𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝𝚜 •

Zhongli • Gnosis

The Geo Archon's Gnosis appeared in his hand, and you didn't believe you own ears.

The man you loved, was so quick to give up something so incredibly valuable to someone who would use it for the wronger deeds. Not to mention the Fatui stole Venti's Gnosis, it wouldn't be too much longer until they'd head Inazuma's way for the Electro Archon.

You understood he has his own reasons, but what reason is a good enough excuse for a Gnosis?

Your head couldn't take it, you spun on your foot and left the room. The entire atmosphere extremely tense and dead quiet, Zhongli watching you exit the room. His expressions turned grim, and without another word, he handed over the Gnosis to the Fatui.

—

You had been overlooking Liyue's Harbor, watching the boats go by and people loading their goods onto the decks of their ships. A hot bowl of ramen had been sitting in front of you, untouched. Along with a cup of tea sitting beside the bowl. But you knew very well that no restaurant could make better tea than Zhongli.

You poked at the noodles with your chopsticks, your face resting in the palm of your hand. You felt too disappointed to eat, but you honestly just ordered something so the waitress wouldn't kick you out.

You didn't feel like going home and facing Zhongli, you needed a moment to gather your thoughts.

You understood that Zhongli always felt very iffy with his status of being 'The God of Contracts.' But to give up his own Gnosis? You narrowed your eyes at your own thoughts, what could possibly be worth a Gnosis?

You swirled around your noodles in the bowl, playing with your food. A part of you felt terrible for judging how Zhongli also had feelings as well, not just yourself. It was his Gnosis. He can do whatever he wants with it, and nobody can tell him otherwise.

Even if you were his significant other, you still didn't have a say. Zhongli was over 6,000 years old, and the two of you had been together for such a short amount of time. Three years had nothing on 6,000 years of his lifetime, even if the two of you treasured each other more than life itself.

"Your noodles will get cold if you don't eat them." A deep, soothing voice said from behind you.

"I'm not hungry." You said softly, still swirling the noodles around in the bowl. You heard his chuckle, and Zhongli sat beside you. His eyes fixed on the tea cup in front of you and he gasped.

"You haven't even touched your tea!" He said dramatically, and he succeeded in getting you to smile. "You make better tea anyways." You told him, which he agreed to.

You wrapped the noodles around your chopsticks and held them up to Zhongli, who took the bite. You laughed at him and his cuteness.

Zhongli took the chopsticks from your hand and did the same thing you did for him, wrapping the noodles around the chopsticks and put his hand underneath the food so it wouldn't drip.

"Say, 'Ahhhh!'" Zhongli said to you with a smile, and you rolled your eyes at him. "Ahhh!" You opened your mouth and chewed the noodles, your face a little red from being embarrassed.

Suddenly, Zhongli's face was inches from yours. "Hold still." He said, and pressed his lips against yours. He got a little cheeky and licked the top of your lip after your kiss.

"Sorry, you had a little something on your lip." Zhongli winked at you, he was lucky the both of you were in public or it'd be an all out make out session currently. Suddenly, Zhongli stood up.

"Come with me, I'd like to take you someplace."
He said, and held his hand out.

You took it and the both of you began to venture down towards the harbor. Your hands were joined together, his thumb rubbing the top of your hand.

The two of you walked down the boardwalk like a normal couple, a vendor selling flowers had called out to the two of you. "A flower for the lovely couple?" He smiled and handed Zhongli a stunning Glaze Lilly.

Zhongli tossed him a mora coin, and handed the flower to you. You grinned up at him and said, "What a charmer."

"Anything to get my favorite person to forgive me." The Geo Archon said after reminding you of what happened a few hours ago, your smile was soon replaced by a frown.

Zhongli sighed at your reaction and the both of you stopped at the end of the board walk, he sat down on the dock and patted the space between his legs which you sat down in.

His arms wrapped around your torso, his breath tickling your ear. "A fair trade, is a fair trade. I didn't just give it away." Zhongli said, and you didn't have the right words for him. You were afraid to say something you might have regretted.

"After all, I am-" Zhongli paused and corrected himself, "I was the God of Contracts. The Fatui will fulfill their part of the deal."

You took in a deep breath before letting it go, you leaned back in Zhongli's embrace.

"No matter what I said, my opinion shouldn't matter. Your Gnosis only belongs to you and only you, and you should only have full rights over it." You said, narrowing your eyes. As much as you hated to admit it, you were right.

You continued, "After all, you've been alive for about 6,000 years. I'm just a mortal who has been in your life for such a short time. You've seen far worse than what I could ever imagine." Zhongli put his lips to your temple, and smiled to himself.

"I'd do those 6,000 years all over again just you meet you, Y/N." Your heart stopped and you tilted your head up to him to kiss the bottom of his jaw. "Such a sweet talker." You said, Zhongli was known for his smooth words.

You may have still been a little upset at him for giving away something so precious, but you wouldn't and couldn't let that come between the two of you.

The two of you continued to watch the boats rock back and forth in the water, and sail in and out of the harbor for the rest of the night. You never left each other's sight for the rest of the night, enjoying the company of one another.

—