Chapter Text
Guizhong watched Rex Lapis' footsteps, syncing hers with his. Cautiously, her hand found his, their fingers interlacing. She squeezed his hand in what she hoped was a reassuring gesture.
They had recently started dating, and so far only the other Liyue Adepti knew. After the meeting, that circle would expand to the other Archons. Hopefully they took it well.
They were among the last to arrive. Somehow Barbatos was already there, drinking from a bottle of wine. Egeria was perched beside them, long blue hair cascading down over the back of her chair. Neuvillette, the youngest one there and the only dragon besides Rex, was on her lap. The small dragon had turned fifty-two recently.
Guizhong smiled, turning to the other Archons in turn. Murata twirled a dagger on her finger, glancing up as Rex and Guizhong entered hand in hand.
She let out a low whistle, mouthing, "Lovebirds," then in an audible tone she called, "Cryo lady ain't gonna be here today. Something with 'Snezhnayan politics' and all that." The Pyro Archon scoffed. "Boring!"
Guizhong giggled, glancing over at where Makoto sat, talking with Rukhadevata. The soft-spoken, purple-haired woman had managed to convince Ei to join them this time. A young kitsune with pink fur sat in the other's lap. Yae Miko, if Guizhong remembered correctly. Ei had introduced her the last time.
Egeria tapped the table. "It seems all that will be here have arrived, shall we begin?"
Rukhadevata nodded, going from her spot beside Makoto to the wisdom divinement's own chair in a flash of green. She was one of the younger Archons, barely cresting two thousand. Guizhong didn’t know Murata’s age, only that she hadn’t been there for the War so she was young too. The Pyro archons always were. Guizhong was a few hundred years older than Rukhadevata but still a couple centuries behind Makoto and her sister. Egeria and Rex were among the oldest at around six thousand. Only Snezhnaya's own archon beat them by a few hundred. That put Barbatos in the middle, under Rex but over Makoto, though sometimes the embodiment of freedom seemed more like the youngest.
Speaking of them. Barbatos swung around in their seat, casting the bottle of wine away as they did. Ei lifted her arms, allowing Yae to hop off her lap. The kitsune landed, morphing into the form of a young woman as she did. Guizhong smiled as Neuvillette gaped, turning to Egeria, eyes wide.
The Hydro archon laughed, patting him on the head. Neuvillette crossed his arms, looking away from her.
"So." Barbatos punctuated the words by slamming their hands against the table. "Who's going to address the elephant in the room? Which is that Guizhong and Rex are totally dating now."
Makoto shot up, looking at them. "Good job," she whispered.
Ei glanced up as well, then returned to leaning against Yae. Rukhadevata just smiled. Egeria smiled too, seeming more smug than pleased. Neuvillette glanced around the room, eventually hopping off Egeria's lap in favour of sitting on the ground.
"So Rex finally called it?" Murata asked, smiling when both the dragon in question and Guizhong jumped. She gave the latter a flat-stare. "He's been crushing on you since the War, we thought he would never confess," she explained, making Guizhong blush.
Rex had liked her that long? They had barely known each other during the War, nothing more than accomplices. Yet he had liked her? She'd just promised to not turn on him, unlike his other partners. Was that all that it had took?
She glanced over at her new boyfriend, noting his blush. He was so stupid sometimes. She still loved him. Stupidity and all.
~o~
Rukhadevata was late, that was a first. 'Cryo Lady' as Murata had dubbed her, or 'that Snezhnayan Bi-' according to Barbatos was never present but Rukhadevata? She was more than often the first there.
Still, they carried on like normal, Neuvillette occasionally asking where Rukhadevata, or 'Vata as he called her, was. It was sweet to see him so worried about one of them, though the fifty-eight year old was slowly beginning to wear on Guizhong's nerves.
"Egeria, do you know when 'Vata is going to arrive?" he asked for the fourth time in the hour. Guizhing sighed, leaning into Rex. He froze then pulled her closer.
At least Egeria seemed equally done with the young dragon. She sighed. "We don't know, Neuvi'. She's safe though, we just need to be patient."
He nodded, settling back on her lap.
Rukhadevata made it half an hour later. She appeared in a flash of green light, hair and clothes in disarray. Taking a few steps forward, she wiped her mouth and smiled sheepishly, face red.
"Apologies," she mumbled, dipping her head. "Something came up and w-I lost track of time."
Murata nodded, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Guizhong tilted her head. Out of all of them Murata was the best at reading others. Barbatos would be if they paid any attention. In anycase, if Murata thought something was up something was.
Guizhong turned back to Rukhadevata, who was still flushed. Her dress did seem rather haphazardly thrown on, and there was something with how she pulled at the coller. The grey-haired divine narrowed her eyes, focusing in on the other's neck. It should be… There!
Guizhong caught Murata's eye, sending a mischievous smile toward the war divinement. Barbatos looked between the two of them, then back up at Rukhadevata.
Their bright eyes widened a second later and they bit down on their thumb, smile showing. Eventually, they broke.
"So, Rukha'. Who's the lucky man? Getting laid by an archon is no joke. How'd he manage it?" they asked loudly, leaning over on the table.
Egeria covered Neuvillette's ears, shooting a look at Barbatos. They ignored it, smiling.
Rukhadevata was even more red. It tinged her ears as well as her face.
"N-no one," she stammered, hiding the red mark on her neck with a hand before tugging her dress up.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of," Makoto stated, speaking softly. "I've considered it and I assume we've all walked in to Guizhong and Rex getting in on it before."
She looked up at the silence and Guizhong wondered if it was possible to be embarrassed enough to disappear.
"Um, 'Koto, love, nobody here's walked in on Guizhong and Rex 'getting in on it'," Murata added.
Makoto blushed. "Oh, sorry. Guess it was only me then."
Rex looked at her and managed, "When?" Something Guizhong could only mentally repeat as she nodded.
The Electro Archon giggled. "The group after you told 'Rita in the bathroom."
"This is getting off topic," Barbatos called out. "Rukha', please, just tell us who. Doesn't even need to be a name, I want to know what god you get busy with."
Rukhadevata went red all over again. "Well, he's, um, he's a powerful ruler."
"And?" Barbatos prompted.
"He's a, a, uhh, he's, um-" She paused, stammering. "He's a mortal," she eventually whispered.
Barbatos waved a hand. "If he can make you blush like that, he must be something."
"He really is, we've done it before and-" She glanced over at Neuvillette. "We can finish this later."
"Can I hear again?" Neuvillette asked.
Egeria laughed, removing her hand from his ears. "Yes, we just had to talk about-"
"Grown up stuff, I know," Neuvillette answered, slipping off her lap and walking over to Rukhadevata. He pulled on her dress, staring up at her. "Can we play chess?"
The Dendro Archon laughed, still flushed. If experience was anything, that wouldn't be fading anytime soon.
"Sure," she said, taking his hand.
"Well," Murata began. "That was interesting."
They all broke out in laughter.
"It sure was," Guizhong replied, smiling up at Rex. She'd gotten so lucky with him, and was glad her friends were finding equally good people.
~o~
Something urged Guizhong to stay behind a few meetings later. It had been a difficult few weeks. The Abyss was making advances and something was happening in Khaenri’ah. Also Rukhadevata kept detecting disturbances in Irminsul. Guizhong wouldn’t admit it to the others, but she was scared for Teyvat’s future.
Convincing Rex to go without her was difficult. He’d been clingy recently. Eventually, she’d convinced him to wait by the exit and let her linger.
That proved to be a good choice when she slipped into the main room and was met with sobbing. The sound was quiet, hard to locate in the now dark room. Even the windows had gone dim.
She didn’t turn the lights on, instead slowly tracing the room, searching for whoever else stayed back.
Murata wasn’t who she expected.
The typically showy archon was curled on the floor, her hair bursting into small flames every few moments. That wasn’t too new, but usually she was better at controlling it.
Guizhong hovered a moment before crouching and opening her arms. Murata looked up, bright, tear filled eyes large before she took the invitation.
It was strange. Having Murata cry into her. It went against most of what Guizhong knew of the Pyro archon. But she stayed silent, and tried to reassure her without getting burnt.
Eventually Murata quieted enough that Guizhong felt comfortable to ask. “What happened?”
Murata was silent for a moment, then she mumbled, “You know how the Pyro Archons always die so quickly?”
Guizhong nodded.
“It’s not because Natlan’s that dangerous. They just retired. Like any other human. My predecessor did it with a smile even. He was an inspiration.” She sniffled.
“So, you’re mortal?”
“Was,” Murata corrected. “I was mortal. Now, I guess I’m dead or finally a real archon. I put my soul in a flame. As long as it burns I’ll live. And Natlan flames are special. I’ll outlive my entire family.” She took a breath like she was trying not to cry again.
“Do they know?” Guizhong asked quietly.
Murata nodded. “Mom and Hine supported me. Dad wasn’t there. It was for the best. There’s been rumours but more concrete. A prophecy almost. Natlan will fall five hundred years from now, or it nearly will. I can’t burden over five generations with that knowledge. This way only those who I recruit for help and I will suffer. Plus.” She smiled. “I can plan to stop it for five hundred years instead of generations of incomplete notes. It’s for the best.”
“Maybe,” Guizhong agreed. “But that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. What do you think of Rukhadevata dating Deshret then?”
Murata choked out a laugh. “You think she’s realised we know exactly who she’s talking about?”
“Probably.”
Murata laughed again. “I’m not going to get in her way. She has some plan, and I trust her. But if it doesn’t work, I hope Deshret dies righteously.”
Guizhong nodded. Rukhadevata did always have a plan. “Still, want me to call you Murata?”
“Yeah, I’ve never been mortal here and I don’t want to start.”
“So don’t tell then?” Guizhong guessed. If Murata didn’t want to start being mortal then the knowledge that she was once shouldn’t be common gossip.
Murata nodded. “Maybe Rex, or Rukha'. I know you’re really close to him and don’t want secrets to ruin your relationship. Besides, if this all goes wrong, he has the best chance of surviving. Someone should know.”
Guizhong nodded back. “Alright then, ready to go?” She stood up and offered a hand. Murata took it, wiping her eyes.
“As I’ll ever be.”
Guizhong forced a smile, marching out of the room with Murata holding her hand. She had something to tell Rex and things to figure out on her own.
~o~
Venti slammed their hands against the table, standing up. "Announcement," they declared, waiting for everyone to turn. "I can, with confidence, say that Ei, also known as Raiden Shogun, sister of the late Makoto, had gotten with somebody." They grinned. "I caught her making out with Yae in the bathroom." Applause broke out among the older Archons.
Zhongli chuckled from where he leaned against the wall. He still remembered when that was him. Murata laughed harder, drawing a strange look from the newer additions. Kusanali and Focalors. Neuvillette worked for the latter, though he hadn't visited since they lost the others. He would be over a hundred by now, mature. Zhongli would like to see what the reserved child had grown up to become. Maybe he could drag stories from Focalors.
"Do you have anything to say against the evidence?" Venti asked Ei.
She jumped, then shook her head. Yae wasn't there to speak, so that was all they got.
"Alright then," Venti began. "I hereby proclaim you, Ei, sister of Makoto, the first lesbian among the Archons."
Murata and Focalors laughed and applauded more. Zhongli smiled. Kusanali managed a small giggle. She was so young compared to the rest of them. Or maybe it was just her physical appearance. After all, Zhongli was over six thousand, and still appeared to be in his late twenties. Age was weird when you were immortal.
He mourned those that they had lost for the two to be here. To exist. It felt wrong to wish that others had never existed but he did. He wished he could look up and see Bar-Venti badgering Rukhadevata about her boyfriend. Listen to Murata and Ergeria's banter as Neuvillette fidgeted on her lap. Hear Makoto's soft, fleeting laugh. Ei was silent now too, like she had died alongside her sister. He wished he could feel the warmth of another's body against his, the assurance of another hand. Warm and real and solid instead of the phantoms he had haunting his mind.
Their chairs were cold and empty. He wasn't ready to sit there without her. Ready to move on without her. Xiao was quieter than ever now, mourning the loss of all of them. His siblings and her. Zhongli longed to join him. To pull him close and cry together until someone else intervened. He had to act though. Had to pretend. The other Adepti were silent now too, withdrawing into their own abodes. Madam Ping was the only one who bothered with human contact anymore. He had to keep the worlds together as much as he could. Help the humans rebuild. It was his duty as an Archon. He just wished she was there beside him through it all.
This form was the one he'd met her in and the one he'd held her in as she disintegrated. Before the War, he'd danced between bodies, never in one for more than two days. Then he'd met her in the form of a man and picked it as his primary form. But all she'd say when he came home with long flowing hair and breasts and hips like hers was, "Is it my turn?" She'd loved him whether he picked to wear male, female, something in between, or nothing at all. It had been an itch that she'd soothed as, for all that stone was never changing, he hadn't been. She'd held him down and now that she was gone the form he was wearing felt like a memorial. It was the first form she'd seen him and the last. Changing now felt wrong. Even if it hurt a little not to.
Cold metal pressed up against his skin and all of a sudden it was too much. He had just been working up the courage to propose. Immortals didn't usually marry but he couldn't see any other way to go. 'Until Death do us part' that was the vow humans gave each other when they were wed. He wanted to tell her the same thing, instead of whispered oaths of love until the stars burnt out.
Venti's voice was a buzz in the background. Ghosts of what was and could have been. Green flashes of power. Blue and white hair nearly floating. Small purrs between dragons. Hands held. Quiet secrets. Laughter. So much laughter.
He shook his head, looking up at the current layout. Kusanali hadn't yet taken Rukhadevata's chair yet, and Fochalor's neither. Instead, the Hydro Archon was sitting on a blob of water and Kusanali a swing. Ei by another wall. Venti was loud as they retold a story of their own, badly hiding winces everytime old names came up. Murata was in the window, silent.
Quietly, Zhongli pushed off the wall and joined her. A few moments after he swung his legs over the ledge, feet dangling through the bars, she dropped her head into his shoulder. He didn't do anything, staring out into the blankness that surrounded the area. It changed, shifted. Usually a white void, sometimes the true outside. They could control it. No one wanted to.
They sat there as Venti blabbered on and Murata cried and Zhongli let her, a single tear slipping down his own cheek. Invisible dust painted his body.