Stay Forever
Chapter 2
He was startled awake when he felt the soft pillowy mattress suddenly shifted beneath him. He hadn't heard an alarm or anything. But Zhongli was definitely awakening.
He stared at the human quietly as Zhongli looked over at him and smiled. "So, you're still here after all? Nice to see you, little one. Did you sleep well?"
The kitten nodded absently and yawned. He was not ready to get up yet. He could already tell that his side was no longer bleeding, but his ribs were still very sore.
Zhongli reached over slowly, allowing him a moment to decide if he would like to be touched or not. He couldn't help brushing his whiskers up against the man's hand, enjoying the scent of his rescuer. "You're a very sweet kitty, aren't you?"
He sighed contentedly as Zhongli gently stroked his head. He closed his eyes and arched into his hand. But it wasn't long before the human sighed and sat up in bed. "I think I better take a shower so I can take you to the vet as promised. I want to make sure you are healthy before I get even more attached to you."
Curious, he snuck into the spacious bathroom with Zhongli. He hid under the sink while the gorgeous human prepared for the shower.
"I see," Zhongli grinned when he noticed him. "You want to follow me around? I guess that's alright. Teucer is going to adore you. Ajax ought to be arriving with him in about an hour."
His eyes widened but then he just snorted unhappily. Great, his lover was returning? And what in the world was a Teucer?
Still, he sighed. He remembered there had been a scent in the apartment that he recognized when he first arrived. In hindsight, he supposed it would be silly to assume that anyone as gorgeous as his rescuer would be single.
"Don't worry though, little one. Ajax is going to adore you too," The human said as he took off his boxer shorts. "He has a soft spot for children and animals. I've been trying to get him to adopt another pet since our dog passed away a few months ago."
He snorted again. The thought of staying here with this man warmed his heart. But that was only until he said the word adopt. He was an adeptus! He didn't need someone to look after him- or at least he hadn't until last night!
Waking up in a trash heap bleeding and confused was unexpected though. So at least for the moment he decided he shouldn't complain.
His rescuer definitely had the body of an athlete. He was tall and lean but sleek and very toned. He had a broad back and impressive shoulders with nice abs and lean hips to go with those long legs.
He was also very well endowed. He probably shouldn't stare, but the human was busy washing his hair. He wasn't paying attention to him anyway.
That was when he realized that the man had a very long slim ponytail draping down his back. Something about it seemed very familiar too… The man's hair was somehow carelessly stylish and in the morning light it was dark brown but tipped in a deep reddish gold at the ends. His hair was very striking with his golden eyes.
The human just kept feeling more and more perfect for him. He sighed wishing he could stay for a while or at least truly thank this man for feeding and taking care of him so gently while he was injured.
But that seemed like a bad idea given that Zhongli rescued him thinking he was a small, helpless kitten lost in the storm. If he suddenly changed into his true form or his human form there was no telling how the human would react… So it was better not to take any chances; better to let him think he was no one at all.
The human finished his shower relatively quickly, and it was annoying to have him cover up that beautiful body in a big fluffy towel.
Honestly, he would have been more than happy to lick the water off of Zhongli. He purred for a second but then he looked away. Woah. That thought was most definitely inappropriate. Even his thoughts last night hadn't been this horny. He sighed again. Stupid heat cycles…
He followed Zhongli out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom where he hopped back onto the bed.
The human milled around sorting out some clothes from the wide selection in his massive closet- which he hadn't even noticed last night. The closet was filled with rows of fine dress shirts and suits like the man had worn last night.
There was even a second closet that was just as large beside Zhongli's, but there wasn't much in that one at all. Mostly t-shirts and jeans along with some suit jackets and slacks with very few dress shirts to go under them.
Before he knew it, Zhongli was dressed in perfectly tailored dark slacks and a matching button down shirt. But he didn't put on a jacket with it. He put on some expensive shoes and came over to where he lay on the bed. "Well, little one. I promised to take you to the vet. We should go now before Ajax and Teucer get here."
He wasn't looking forward to leaving the warm bed or Zhongli's arms for that matter. But he supposed that if this seemed natural to the human, he could put up with it. After all, he'd only be here for a few days. How bad could it be?
He allowed the human to pick him up and settled quickly into his arms. He liked this, his scent was so nice and he felt safe held to his chest.
"You like this, little one?" Zhongli smiled and gently rubbed his head. "You're purring, your injuries must not be bothering you as much today, huh? I'm glad. But if you are going to stay, I suppose I should try to think of a name for you, right?"
Stay? He sighed. He wished that was possible. But he wasn't a cat, much less a mindless pet. How was he going to find out who he was and find a way home if he stayed in this fancy apartment and hid here?
Still, he kept purring. He was happy to be held and cuddled by this particular human. Perhaps pretending to be a pet wouldn't be so bad for a while longer.
Besides, he had to find a way to pay back all of the kindness that Zhongli had shown him. It isn't everyday that one comes across someone who is this kind and gentle. After all, it was his duty to fight and protect people from evil-
Wait- where had that thought come from? But he didn't have time to ponder the question.
Zhongli had carried him a few blocks and then entered a small building on the corner of a busy street. Unfortunately, this place smelled like wet dogs and he shuddered.
"Hello, Mr. Zhongli! It's been a long time! How have you been?"
"I'm fine, thank you. Since Gorou died I haven't had the heart to drop by. But last night I found this little guy huddling up against my apartment building in the rain. He doesn't have any tags or anything, but I thought he might belong to someone since he's actually really friendly even though he was injured and bleeding."
"Ah, you poor thing," The receptionist said, then she smiled. "I see. Well, you do have a way with animals, but you came to the right place. If you can take a seat, I will tell Dr. Baizhu that you're here. It was quite busy yesterday but no one has come in yet today. We should be able to get you right in."
"Thank you," Zhongli said, sitting in a chair beside a large window looking out into the street. Another thing he liked about this human was his politeness. But Zhongli's hands were so gentle as he stroked his fur absently that he dozed off in the warm sunlight from the window almost immediately.
"Alright," A cute girl with warm brown eyes and a bright smile said, leading them into another room. "You're Mr. Zhongli, right? I'm Yaoyao. I'll be your vet tech for today! So, what's your name, little guy?"
"I just found him last night. I am not sure what to call him. But he's badly hurt, so he's really been through a lot. I think maybe I'd like to call him Xiao."
"That's a pretty name," The girl said. "Okay, Xiao, how about I take you over here and we see how much you weigh?"
Xiao? Well, he sighed, he supposed he kind of liked that name. It was certainly better than nothing. He didn't like the strange girl reaching over to pick him up so suddenly, but at least she was gentle when she touched him. So he held still when she put him in a small white bin with uneven sides on the counter between her and Zhongli.
"Alright, you're a very good boy, Xiao," She said, stroking his head. "Looks like you weigh seven pounds and three ounces. I won't touch the bandages on his belly, Dr. Baizhu does that. We'll be back in a minute."
"Thank you," Zhongli said and stayed at the counter and stroked his head. Xiao began purring again even though he was still sitting in the scale's basket. "So, what do you think of your new name, Xiao?"
Xiao nodded and yawned, but Yaoyao came right back in.
A tall man with long green hair followed her in and Xiao tensed up immediately.
The man wasn't outwardly threatening, but Xiao could tell from his scent that he wasn't human. Or at least he wasn't a normal human. And the small white snake that was lazily draped around the man's neck was literally overflowing with adeptal energy.
"What's the matter, Xiao?" Zhongli asked, apparently surprised to see him balk so suddenly.
Dr. Baizhu only smiled. "It's alright. You just have a very special kitty. He is very sensitive and intelligent. So, little one, may I look you over?"
Xiao looked around nervously, but he took a deep breath as he looked at the snake and sighed. The reptile was definitely not normal. It whispered into his mind as they locked eyes.
"It's alright. My name is Chengsheng. Dr. Baizhu will not give away your secret. I have been with him for many lifetimes, he is an especially kind soul. You are safe here. I see that your wounds have mostly healed. But where did you come from?"
Xiao shook his head. "I… don't know. I don't even know my name or where I am…"
"It's alright," Chengsheng said. "I always thought I was the last adeptal spirit left… After all, I could not survive without Dr. Baizhu. He and I have been bound to the same fate for centuries. But you are stronger and yet also older than me. You are special, a yaksha- a true warrior even among the adepti. You were summoned here to protect him."
"Him, who?"
"Zhongli. This is probably the last incarnation of our great lord, Rex Lapis. The humans have forgotten us just as he wished. But the adepti have continued to quietly surround and guard him since his retirement back in ancient times. Because of his first passing due to erosion, he does not know who he was. And it is probably better that we do not stir the memories or the power sleeping inside him. It would be best to let it go when he passes away this time. So, it is the honor of all adepti who survive to see that he remains safe to enjoy his retirement as a humble human."
"What?" Xiao was speechless. "Then… you mean I'm not lost?"
"No. You and I met a few times in the past. You must be the one that Cloud Retainer spoke of on her deathbed. She feared our lord and thus his power was in danger. So she was going to summon one last guardian for him- someone from his days as the Geo Archon. But I didn't think that she had succeeded because it has been six months since she died and no one has bothered him yet."
"Why do you think this is his last incarnation?"
"His human vessels are more fragile now than in centuries past. They die of diseases and injuries that would not have affected him even two hundred years ago. This vessel is still young, but very wise and drawn to folktales, ancient places and antiques. He is a historian, currently the curator of the biggest museum in modern Liyue. Cloud Retainer was worried about something in the collection at the museum."
"Why what is it?"
"The heart stones of most of the adepti were safely hidden away for milenia. But recently an archeologist found four of them in the shadow of the ancient Wangshu Inn. And Zhongli asked the Qixing for permission to display them at the museum along with some other artifacts and the ancient weapons of the adepti. The exhibit will open very soon according to the news on TV."
Xiao felt poleaxed. "They are going to display the heart stones of the fallen Adepti?"
"Yes. I was shocked too. But at the same time, whether he knows it or not, Rex Lapis is the Prime of the Adepti. If this is his wish I will not argue with him. Neither did Cloud Retainer."
"I agree but an adeptus' heart stone is dangerous in the wrong hands. They are meant to be bound into a statue of their likeness in life because they are the last traces of the adeptus' memories and their will and thus their power."
"I know. I believe Cloud Retainer summoned you here using yours."
"If that is still possible in this world, then my presence proves it's too dangerous to draw attention to them. They should remain forgotten forever. It was Rex Lapis who said that the world had no further need of our kind even before my passing- while he was still alive."
"And yet here you stand; that's fate. Obviously Cloud Retainer thought he needed you specifically and maybe you need him too?"
"What?" Xiao snorted. A needle poked him between his shoulder blades. "I-"
"It's okay, Xiao," Zhongli interrupted, stroking Xiao on the head gently. Clearly, the two humans were completely unaware of the significance of the very important conversation they were having.
"You can't be serious," Xiao grunted. "This is ridiculous."
"Are you sure?" Chengsheng looked highly amused. "He even remembered your name even though he didn't know it."
"Well, Xiao," Zhongli smiled, picking him up gently. "Apparently you are healthy enough to come home with me. But he said you should still rest until your ribs feel better. You flinched in pain while he examined you."
"Oh," Chengsheng smirked. " It looks like our lord is done talking to my human. We all know how much you loved him. Stay with him this time- for as long as you can. Bye, Xiao!"
Stay with him? Xiao blushed and snorted again. It wasn't like he wanted to be in this mess to begin with. But since he was here, he might as well try to figure out how to keep his human lord safe.
But why would there have been any heart stones in Wangshu Inn to begin with? He sighed, the last time he remembered the whereabouts of the heart stones was in Madam Ping's teapot awaiting statues… But who knows where they went from there after her death or perhaps after Zhongli's, in the past…
Xiao tried to remember exactly how or when he died but he had no idea. Thinking about the past like this only made his head hurt worse than last night. He barely knew anything about what had happened to bring him here in the first place…
Zhongli was carrying Xiao in one arm and a pair of shopping bags with a few small toys and some cat food in one and a box with some cat litter in the other. Where had he found those things?
Oh well. By the time they got back to the apartment building, Xiao was hungry again. But, eww. He hated the smell of the cat food already, and the bag wasn't even open yet!
There was no way he was going to eat that. Nope. He shuddered. He would rather starve.
Once again, cradled in Zhongli's arms, Xiao found himself back in the glass elevator again. He sighed as the thing silently ascended back to the top floor. But as they approached the door to the penthouse, he caught another scent- nope, two scents. Two more humans were inside.
Great.
He was not looking forward to the younger one. One of them was Zhongli's lover. The other was obviously a child, but it must be the name he had mentioned earlier, Teucer.
Great.
Xiao wasn't fond of children, but he didn't hate them either. He just hadn't known very many of them. Dusky Ming, Qiqi, Yaoyao, Shenhe and Little Luo were the only ones he could remember and the latter three kids would be grownups if they were still alive now.
Xiao sighed, bracing himself for the moment the door opened.
Immediately, a little boy with red hair and blue eyes jumped up off of the sofa near the TV and thundered across the room to stare up at Zhongli curiously. "Big brother says you were bringing home a surprise! Is it burgers and fries, Zhongli?"
Zhongli only smiled and put down the two bags he carried to reveal Xiao to the child.
The boy looked as if he might cry for a moment and then he smiled. "Really? You got a cat? For keeps? Can I hold it?"
A tall human male with red hair and blue eyes exactly like the kid's smiled and ruffled the younger boy's hair fondly. "Yes, he's staying. But no, we can't crowd around him just yet. Zhongli's text said that he was just at the vet and Xiao has very sore ribs. So we shouldn't play with him too much right now. Help me carry the bags in and get things ready for the kitty, alright, Teucer?"
"Yeah!" The boy cried happily following his big brother with the two bags into the kitchen. "I still miss Gorou greeting me at the door. But the little kitty is so cute! Where did you buy him, Zhongli?"
"I have no idea how he healed so fast, but I found him all alone in the rain last night. He was right by the front door. If I hadn't dropped my keycard I would never have noticed him. He was cold and wet and hungry, but he let me bring him inside. So, I decided I wanted to keep him. I mean, as long as you don't mind giving him a chance."
"Thanks, Ajax." Zhongli smiled, still holding Xiao in his arms.
The taller of the two redheads smiled and paused in filling the box of cat litter to lean over and gently pecked Zhongli on the lips with a kiss.
Xiao growled.
"Xiao?" Zhongli gaped at him worriedly. "What's wrong? Did I squeeze you too hard?"
Xiao snorted.
But Ajax laughed and kissed his lover again. "Nope. He's jealous."
Zhongli rolled his eyes. "He's a cat!"
"Yeah. I know, but I'm serious. He's telling me that he likes you the best. But, don't worry, Xiao you're going to fall in love with me too."
"And me too!" Teucer crowed happily.
Xiao snorted. He was glad that he wasn't in his human form right now or he would have literally already died of embarrassment. As a cat, it was still close- he wanted to crawl under the bed and never come out.
