Sakura hummed to herself as she moved about the small healer's shop, arranging ointment jars and hanging herbs to dry.
Wiping her hand on the apron she wore over her pine-green Liyuean dress, she moved to the small desk right beside the window. Nestled in a corner between Master Zhang's smithy and the warehouses, Madame Bao's apothecary shop had a lovely view of the less crowded part of Liyue's harbor.
The position of the sun indicated that it was late afternoon and she imagined she'd be closing for the day soon if no other customers came looking for assistance. While Madame Bao was a kind soul who had taken Sakura in when she first arrived in Liyue with nothing but a small bundle of personal belongings and no place to stay, the childless widow was quite strict when it came to working hours. Over the course of the two years Sakura had been living with her and taking care of both the shop and Madame Bao herself, the elderly woman had come to realize that her brilliant younger companion was a workaholic with criminal disregard for her own well-being.
Chuckling to herself at the thought of the woman who reminded her so much of her late grandmother, Sakura sat to finish noting down a few more ingredients she'd have to stock up on the next day. Some of them were not native to Liyue and would have to be brought in from Mondstadt but she supposed she could send a messenger hawk to Diluc and ask him to include them in his next wine shipment.
She smiled fondly at the thought of the stoic redhead, catching herself missing her friends in the City of Freedom. It'd been a little over half a year since her last visit so perhaps she should consider making arrangements. While she was no longer a citizen, Mondstadt would always remain the place that took her in and helped her when she first stepped foot in Teyvat a little over three years ago. Diluc, Lumine, Kaeya, Jean, Lisa, Amber…They were the closest thing she had to a family aside from Madame Bao and she missed them terribly.
It's been too long indeed…
Taking a sip from her now lukewarm tea, she turned her attention to her notes again, and pulled out a sheet of paper, eager to pen her letter to Diluc. She had no doubt that the Pyro Vision user would indulge her.
Dear Diluc,
I hope you haven't killed Kaeya yet. I reserve the right to do that myself-
The sound of the little bell above the door rang in the shop, and Sakura hummed, looking up to welcome her next costumer. Her gaze softened as it landed on the pale youth, her eyes straying to the diamond in the middle of his forehead that so resembled her own as they always did.
"Xiao, welcome. What can I help you with?"
His hard eyes stared back at her and he crossed his arms across his chest. "I am not the one in need of help."
Sighing heavily, Sakura stood, making a beeline for her medical pouch. "Again? That man…How much time till he arrives?"
"Five minutes"
"I see. Let me get ready then."
"Tell him to stop doing this. He doesn't listen to me."
Brow furrowed in confusion, she glanced at him over her shoulder. "Stop doing what?"
"Getting hurt on purpose."
Sakura's eyes widened. "Eh? What is that supposed to mean-"
She twirled around to face the young man, but she found his spot empty, the door slightly ajar.
What…?
Unable to stop herself from chuckling at the absurdity of the situation, the young woman set about preparing her materials, pulling out bandages, washing rags, and disinfectant. She hummed a tune under her breath, vaguely registering the fact that Xiao hadn't answered her question. It was no surprise; he never stayed for long, always choosing to make himself scarce after delivering his message.
Gathering her hair in a side ponytail, she had just finished filling a bowl with clean water when the bell chimed again. Her lips lifted in a smile almost immediately as she turned to watch her patient walk in.
Despite the obvious gash on his arm, Zhongli's presence was as regal and soothing at it always was. His stride was long and relaxed as he entered, clearing his throat and bowing his head in greeting.
"Sakura. I apologize for intruding at this time of day. I'm afraid I am in need of your services."
"Xiao was gracious enough to inform me of your impending arrival, Master Zhongli," she replied, adding the title to his name just to tease him a bit, and motioned to the chair near her desk. "Take a seat and hold out your arm, please."
He followed her instructions with a small smile, taking off the jacket of his well-tailored suit and pulling the sleeve of his shirt up.
She hummed thoughtfully as she examined the wound, reaching for the disinfectant and a cleaning rag. "How did you get this?"
"I went in search of some items upon a client's request. Apparently, the Guili Ruins have become home to a new Ruin Guard. I was caught…slightly unawares."
Sighing, Sakura raised her gaze to meet his and frowned. "You need to be more careful, Zhongli. I do not particularly enjoy patching you up three times a week."
"I apologize for the inconvenience-"
"Oi," she cut him off, bumping his knee with hers, "you know that's not what I mean. I don't like seeing you hurt, you silly man."
Even seated, he still towered over her, and as his eyes bore into hers, Sakura couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine. He had that effect on her. Ever since that fateful day, a little over a year ago when he'd walked in the shop looking for Madame Bao only to find her instead…Sakura couldn't deny the magnetic pull, the elusive feeling that there was something equal parts dangerous and oh-so-wonderfully right about this man.
After a few seconds of heavy silence, he finally smiled, his deep voice washing over her as he spoke. "Apologies. It was not my intention to upset you."
Returning his smile, Sakura's fingers skimmed the skin of his wrist reassuringly. "I'm worried, not upset. There's a difference, you know." Tearing her gaze away, her eyes shifted around, making sure that no bystanders were anywhere near the door or the window, and sent a burst of healing chakra to Zhongli's wound.
His golden eyes widened, and he made to pull his hand away, but she held him firmly, continuing to pour a small amount of her chakra into him.
"Sakura, no. Someone might see-"
"Hush," she insisted. "It'll only take a moment."
He remained silent as she worked but she could feel his displeasure rolling off him in waves. He shifted his chair, using his body to shield her from potential prying eyes that might think it a good idea to spy on Madame Bao's pretty pink-haired assistant. Archons knew, when she'd first started running the shop on her own, there had been no shortage of curious bystanders awfully interested in catching a glimpse of the foreigner.
The green light from around her fingers went out and she smiled, pulling his sleeve down and buttoning the cuff for him. She smiled, eyes crinkling.
"There, all better."
The man regarded her with a disapproving frown, though the worry in his golden gaze was palpable. "Do you make it a habit to willingly put yourself in jeopardy in broad daylight?"
She giggled, patting his arm. "Come now, Zhongli. I was not going to allow you to suffer real stiches. After all, I trust you."
Zhongli sighed deeply, slipping his jacket back on and not paying any mind to the sizeable tear on his sleeve. "While it brings me joy to know my presence does not burden you, I wish you were more mindful. You are aware they have their eyes on you."
"Let us not talk about that here," she said slowly, eyeing the door.
He straightened his back as he stood, nodding. "Very well. Would you be interested in a walk?"
Putting her unfished letter to Diluc in a drawer, Sakura grabbed her medical pouch and her soft, beige shawl. "Let me close up here and we are good to go."
Zhongli waited patiently outside the shop as she secured the windows and locked the door, offering her his arm the moment she slipped her keys in her pouch.
Linking her arm through his, Sakura allowed him to lead her, kindly greeting people that waved at her on the street, though her mind was more focused on her escort and his uncharacteristic silence.
She peered at him in the corner of her eye, trying to decipher his thoughts, but Zhongli's face was schooled in a perfect mask of dignified composure. He was unnervingly well at it, she could tell. It was moments like these when his silence spoke louder than his lips that Sakura caught glimpses of what hid behind those penetrating golden eyes. Those were the moments that made her feel like she should be afraid of Zhongli, though those thoughts never lingered for long; not with the way he usually looked at her, with a gentle gaze and all too ready to share interesting tidbits about Liyue's history.
Sakura waved at Katheryne manning the Adventurer's Guild's front desk as they crossed the small wooden bridge that led to the fields, though her escort didn't stop until they were a fair distance from any curious ears.
Not letting go of her arm, Zhongli turned his body to face her. "Have they been bothering you?"
Sakura shrugged. "Not openly, no. Childe drops by every now and then. Sometimes he needs treatment, others he just brings me tea. Trying to befriend me is a clever tactic, to be sure, but one I'm familiar with. I can handle Tartaglia. La Signora is the one that worries me."
Zhongli's eyes hardened for just a second, but Sakura still saw it; that warlike fire in his gaze.
"Did she threaten you?"
The woman shook her head, sighing deeply. "No, not me. She came to the shop looking for me a few weeks ago, but I was absent at the time, shopping for ingredients. She found Madame Bao. Scared the poor woman half to death. She hasn't made an appearance since then, but I see her cronies lurking around the warehouses every now and then."
With her free hand, she undid her ponytail, letting her hair fall freely around her shoulders. Liyue's breeze was almost always pleasant and fragrant. She could use its gentle touch to alleviate some of her worries.
"I don't even know why the Fatui have taken such an interest in me," she mused, fiddling with the golden trimming of her shawl. "I simply run an apothecary's shop and take care of an elderly lady."
Zhongli chuckled, the deep notes of his voice causing heat to rush to her face.
"You're an oddity. A foreigner who appeared out of nowhere and made a home for herself in territory they wish to control." His expression darkened. "It would not come as a surprise if we were to discover that they already know of your unique abilities. The Tsaritsa's greedy hand reaches far and wide. It would explain why they appear so determined to keep an eye on you."
Sakura hummed audibly, tightening her grip on his arm reassuringly. "Well, if the Tsaritsa wishes to meet me, she can come pay me a visit. I happen to make excellent tea. She can ask her little Harbinger what he thinks of my snacks," she said playfully, hoping to wipe the frown off his handsome face.
"Sakura, the Tsaritsa is ruthless, even more so than her Harbingers," he replied, mouth set in a straight line. "If she decides that it's in her best interests to…remove you, she will."
Heart clenching at the sight of his shadowed expression, she looked up at him. "I don't know what kind of dealings you have with the Fatui-" she started, raising her hand to stop him when he made to speak, "-and it's none of my business. I trust you and I have faith in your judgement so please, don't feel the need to explain yourself to me. But Zhongli," she said, tilting her head to the side, "I ask that you have faith in me too. I may look unremarkable and mundane, but I am no damsel, I can assure you of that."
His amber gaze bore into hers for a few seconds, and Sakura was certain he could see the flush coloring her cheeks.
Without a word, he bent down and cut one of the glaze lilies around their feet, the pale blue flower's petals swaying in the breeze. Holding it gently in his gloved hand, he placed it behind her ear along with a few locks of her hair, making her breathing hitch.
"That is not quite right."
"Hm? What isn't?" she asked, hoping against hope that he hadn't noticed the darkening blush on her face.
His fingers traced her jawline, thumb brushing her chin before he cupped her cheek. "There is nothing mundane about you. You are exquisite."
Her eyes widened at his words, heart pounding in her chest under the intensity of his amber gaze. Her lips parted in stunned silence, hardly believing what she was hearing.
Likely interpreting her silence as rejection, Zhongli cleared his throat. "I apologize. I overstepped my bounds-"
"No!" she said suddenly, grabbing his wrist before he could pull his hand away. "No. I…I like it…when you overstep your bounds," she said bashfully, averting her gaze with burning cheeks.
She kept her eyes on the flowers at her feet, his lack of response making her drop his hand and feel that perhaps she'd read more into his behavior than there really was.
Oh no…Oh no, Haruno. You ruined everything-
She gasped when she felt fingers on her skin, nudging her chin up. His face was close to hers; so close she could feel his breathing fan across her lips as he dipped his head forward and pressed his mouth to hers in a gentle, chaste kiss.
It was simple, a mere soft caress of their lips but it made warmth spread through her, and she sighed happily, making her partner smile against her mouth. Always the perfect gentleman, Zhongli pulled back, slipping his fingers between hers and pulling her closer to his body.
Unable to contain her joy, Sakura threw her arms around his middle, pressing herself to his side, enjoying his warmth. He chuckled, leaning down to press an affectionate kiss to her forehead where her diamond was.
"Sakura."
"Hm?"
His amber eyes were gentle as he regarded her. "Come what may, be it La Signora or the Tsarista herself, I will protect you."
Her expression softened, and she nodded, burying herself deeper in his embrace. "I know."
…
…
…
"Zhongli?"
"Yes?"
"I officially give you permission to come see me whenever you wish. You can abandon your schemes."
"As much joy as that brings me, I do not follow-"
"Xiao told me what you've been up to."
"How very…conversational of him. If I may ask, what exactly did he tell you?"
"Please stop getting hurt on purpose just as an excuse to come visit me."
…
"Ah, about that…"
TBC
Ah, my dear Zhongli. You're right up there with Kaeya. The only reason he's #1 and you're #1.5 is the eyepatch. That's it.
Heya guys!
Hope you're all doing well.
A bit of romance with our favorite dragon Archon here, and who can blame our girl? This is Zhongli we're talking about. Him and his wonderful, deep voice that I just can't get enough of.
Liyue is currently my favorite region in the game so expect to see quite a few chapters taking place there. It's sooo beautiful!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this! Don't know who's coming next, likely Childe.
Reading your thoughts always makes my day so drop me a review if you have a minute to spare.
Until next time,
Lots of love!
