Chapter Text
Whatever happened that day was not brought up the next time they met, nor the next.
After a while, Beidou got used to the idea of casually pretending that whatever moments they had together were simply that- moments of weakness that were to be left on the line that separated the boundaries of their relationship.
However, there were some things that had changed since then. The Crux started cutting down the length of their voyages, scheduling stops at Liyue whenever possible. If her crew asked, Beidou would say that it was more efficient to travel lighter and they could facilitate more trades if they stopped at Liyue more often and they left it as that. However, Kazuha never failed to ask after Ningguang whenever he spotted her returning to the ship.
As for Ningguang, every move she made was always in the spotlight. From shops she frequented to the food she ate, if one listened closely, the whispers around the harbour were easily heard. The rumours made their way to the Alcor, unsurprisingly.
To the rest of Liyue, as Beidou found out, the Tianquan was supposedly harbouring a secret lover. The pirate had actually cackled, the first time she heard the insinuation from one of her men. She dismissed it without hesitation, the next time and the time after that, until even Ying’er called out to her and enquired if she knew anything about the Tianquan’s supposed lover.
At that point, she started digging into the story. Just to be safe, she told herself. It wasn’t because she genuinely suspected the truth of the matter, much less because she was jealous. Captain Beidou didn’t get jealous. If Ningguang really had a secret lover, she would not be the person to leak the secret.
What she found was more amusing than worrying.
Everything stemmed from Ningguang’s recent investments in the construction of the docks, making special orders for furniture and frequent appearances outside the Jade Chamber. A story passed from person to person always ended up with exaggerations and from that, word had spread like wildfire.
No one would have guessed that the Tianquan was actually spending her precious time playing chess with a pirate.
The first visible difference she noticed was that the chairs, specifically, the ones accompanying the table that they used for Liyue Millennial and tea, had been replaced. She didn’t have a clue what happened to the original set, which were probably made to match the table, but she couldn’t complain about the lack of aches after a long discussion.
Ningguang hadn’t said a word about it so neither did she; but nowadays, she finished her tea without complaint.
The other change occurred in a more unexpected manner.
Since their first meeting, Beidou hardly encountered the Yuheng except for the odd occasion here and there. Other than Ganyu as a common factor, they moved in different circles, both in terms of work and social lives. However, she had no doubt that if something needed to be done, she could trust Keqing to complete the job properly and more.
Despite her blunt way of speaking which got on the Qixing’s nerves, her abilities were undoubtably and her morals were hard to question. However, it’s because of this trait that when Keqing spoke, Beidou paid attention.
Hence, when she found herself, not-so-voluntarily seated at a banquet with the Yuheng and the secretary by her side, the event felt less daunting as compared to when she arrived at the venue. It had been intended to be a celebratory event as well as an opportunity for the Qixing to announce their plans for the new year. Why Beidou had to be there, she really had no clue. There were a couple of merchants and foreign representatives in attendance, but for the most part, the banquet seemed to be planned in an official capacity.
“Glad you two made up.”
It took a few seconds for her to realise that the Yuheng was addressing her. After all, the twin tailed girl’s attention was focused on the plate of golden shrimp balls which Xiangling had dutifully served to their table, along with a plate of her favourite spicy dish.
“Pardon?”
The other girl met her gaze for a second, just as her chopsticks lifted a single shrimp ball from the plate.
“Dealing with a moody Tianquan for months isn’t an easy task, mind you.”
Beidou must have looked confused because the Yuheng turned her attention back to her favourite dish. As quickly as one disappeared into her mouth, another shrimp ball was in her hand. If she kept up this pace, they would have to call Xiangling for another plate.
“What are you talking about?” Beidou asked carefully, sneaking a glance at the Tianquan, who was standing at the podium and speaking about the nation’s progress over the year. She was, unfortunately, in a seat where both the podium and VIP table were in her line of sight if she looked.
Things between them had been left in an odd place after the moment on the ship. They weren’t exactly friends, but their relationship couldn’t be said to be strictly business either.
She stared at her skeptically. “Surely you’re aware that the Tianquan has eyes and ears in every port in Teyvat.”
Beidou nodded with a small frown. There was a reason she had docked away from the official ports in order to stay off the Qixing’s radar. It just wasn't worth the trouble explaining herself to the Tianquan, who would likely have many things to say.
The purple haired girl sighed and stuffed another shrimp ball into her mouth.
“What does that have to do with-”
“Ah, this is troublesome. As I’ve told you,” the younger girl stared pointedly at her. The glare she sported was a lot less intimidating due to her cheeks being puffed out from the chewing the shrimp ball. “You give us a lot of paperwork.”
“Lady Yuheng, I think we’ve had enough drinks for tonight.” For once, the soft-spoken secretary’s tone was cold and stern. From the grimace that overtook Keqing’s features and the way her grip on the chopsticks tightened, Beidou knew implicitly that she was missing something.
“What? I’m just saying.” Keqing raised her shoulders in a half shrug, swallowing her food as she did so. “You’ve barely gotten a few hours of rest the past few months, all because someone dropped off the face of the planet.”
The emphasis on the word “someone” made her feel like the comment was directed at her. That only made her more curious.
She turned to Beidou once more. “The next time you two decide to have a cold war, could you tell Lady Ningguang not to take it out on everyone else?”
“What makes you think I have a say in what the Tianquan does?”
That was when Keqing frowned and gave her a genuine look of confusion. “Aren’t you two-“
“Keqing!” Both heads turned towards the red faced Ganyu. Silence fell over the table as Keqing looked down guiltily and Beidou tried to think of something else to say.
“My apologies, Beidou. I forgot that the Yuheng and I have some unfinished paperwork to complete.” She paused. “At the Yuehai Pavilion.”
“What-“ Keqing’s retort was silenced by the stare that Ganyu shot her. Recovering, she cleared her throat. “I mean, yes, we do. It slipped my mind as well. Thank you for reminding me.”
“Right. We should get going.” With a strange sort of forcefulness, the Yuheng was tugged out of her seat and away from the table. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
The whole thing was rather odd, but it wasn’t anything that a few glasses of beer couldn’t put out of her mind. The alcohol was something she sorely needed, especially since her source of distraction had left and there was nothing to hold her attention from drifting towards Ningguang’s table.
Her gaze inadvertently shifted to the Tianquan, who was in the middle of a conversation with a foreign emissary next to her. He was dressed in a formal suit that looked to be made of expensive silk. Ningguang didn’t immediately shift away when he leaned towards her, closer than necessary, to say something. However, she had known Ningguang long enough to notice the stiffness of her posture and the way she used the angle of the seat to tilt away from his advances.
There was an air about Ningguang that made the interaction seem almost practiced.
She didn’t need rescuing, Beidou told herself as she picked up another glass, receiving a stern look from Xiangling as she walked by.
Checking on the Tianquan again was a mistake, she realised, when Ningguang suddenly met her gaze across the room. They were physically far apart, but she felt a familiar warmth burn in her stomach as though Ningguang was right across from her. The white haired girl seemed to smile at her, if only for a second, before someone else called for her attention.
“Captain Beidou,” she faintly registered the sound of conversation picking up around her. “So, what sort of adventures have you been finding yourself on lately?”
Glancing at the merchants she recognized from the docks, she placed the empty glass down on the table and told them about what she had seen on her latest voyage.
~~
“Beidou,” at the sound of her name without a title attached, the brunette looked up.
The Tianquan was sitting with her legs crossed, her tattoo in clear view. It was their first meeting of the year and they had just gone through a list of things to follow up on over the month. Or rather, Ningguang had recited the list to her while Beidou attempted to listen without getting distracted.
It marked the beginning of a new year, and roughly a year of working with Ningguang. She hoped that after a year of working together, they’d understand one another better and things would go differently.
“Would you care for a game of Liyue Millennial?”
Beidou smiled. “Sure, we haven’t played in a while.”
She hadn’t been exaggerating. After her second win, she hadn’t seen the chessboard in its usual position on the next visit, or even the following. She assumed that Ningguang was annoyed that someone had beaten her at her own game and was in the process of reforming some of the rules.
“I’d like to propose a wager.” Ningguang spoke as she set up the board.
The pirate glanced up with a silent question. That was an addition that normally didn’t feature in their games. At times, they would play over mora to make things more interesting.
“The winner gets to ask a question to the other person.” Ningguang continued. “It can be about anything they desire and it has to be answered honestly.”
“Well, what do you think?”
Beidou tilted her head. “You know you can just ask me directly if you have a question right? There’s no need for games. I don’t have anything to hide.”
“Then you should have nothing to worry about.” She replied. “Do we have a deal?”
Beidou wanted to roll her eyes at her stubbornness. The prize didn’t really matter to her, since she didn’t have a burning question in mind and they had played Liyue Millennial dozens of times without a wager like this. However, it seemed to matter to Ningguang. She shrugged. It wasn’t worth arguing over.
“Sure.”
Of all the possible outcomes, she would not have thought that she would emerge the victor again. Yet, Ningguang’s odd behavior that day seemed to have transcended into her playstyle.
Normally, Beidou was the one responding to Ningguang’s steady attacks and strategies when it came to acquiring territory. The other girl knew the game and its rules inside out, so all she had to count on were her reflexes and instincts. After all, if someone had to give up their mora at the end of the game, it was mostly Beidou who found herself in that position.
Ningguang always played as though she had nothing to lose, which was usually the case. However, with the way Ningguang seemed to fixate on each and every move, Beidou could easily believe otherwise.
She took risks she normally didn’t, and despite the game being basically designed to give the Tianquan an advantage, Beidou found herself with more pieces of hers than vice versa.
There was a small rustle as the white haired girl sat back in defeat. “You won. As agreed, I will answer your question.”
Beidou sighed. “I don’t have any questions-“
“Many people would kill for this opportunity. Don’t squander it as though it means nothing.” Ningguang cut her off sharply.
A frown formed on her face. Something wasn’t right about the situation. Had she known things would end up like this, she would have deliberately lost.
“Fine. What was your question for me?”
“That’s not part of the game.” Looking away, the other girl stood; Beidou followed without thinking. “I told you not to waste your question.”
“It’s not a waste since you refuse to tell me.” She argued. “It obviously means something to you.”
The other girl remained unimpressed.
“You’re infringing the rules of the wager so I shall decline to answer.”
“Come on Ningguang, the agreement was that the winner can ask whatever they want.” Ningguang’s eyes darkened like thunderclouds before a storm.
Using Liyue’s principles of upholding agreements against the Tianquan was probably not the wisest idea.
Beidou was preparing herself for an onslaught of verbal jesting when a rapid set of knocks caused them to jerk apart instinctively.
“Lady Ningguang?” Came a timid voice. Beidou recognized her as one of the secretaries.
Ningguang cleared her throat. “Yes, Baishi?”
“The Yuheng announces her arrival for your appointment this afternoon.”
Beidou opened her mouth to speak, but the Tianquan beat her to the chase.
“Please have her come in. The good Captain was just taking her leave.” The glare she shot Beidou dared her to disagree.
Beidou’s breath came out as a sigh as the wary assistant left the room in silence. The papers on the table fluttered as Ningguang gathered a few sheets together, likely preparations for the meeting. She was wearing her usual business expression, the annoyance from before gone without a trace.
She strode across the wooden floor, not caring whether the dirt from her boots left stains on the floor.
She thought she heard a sigh as she crossed the doorway but didn’t stop to think about who it was from.
So much for doing things differently this year.
~~~
Being found by Kazuha while she was wandering, or according to him, pacing, around the ship, wasn’t the worst possible way for her feelings to be confronted.
It was in the dead of night that she got out of bed, restless from the lack of slumber and ironically, eager for the respite of reality. At least in her waking hours, she functioned with the knowledge that Ningguang was still in Liyue and not on her ship. The Tianquan had been haunting her dreams over the past few nights. The worst part was that they weren’t even nightmares, but rather, flashes of things that couldn’t be true. Thoughts that she didn’t want to entertain. Ningguang’s resting expression as she dozed off next to her, her disgruntled yet affectionate sighs whenever Beidou did something to annoy her, all of it was scarier than facing down Haishan. Almost.
She had stared at the moon, her throat burning from the welcome warmth of alcohol that she gulped down before releasing a sigh of frustration.
A few choice words of grumblings, soft enough to not wake the rest of her crew, escaped her lips as her thoughts drifted back to the girl she left behind.
The flash of white, a shade that seemed all too familiar, was coupled with a fluttering of his clothes as Kazuha appeared next to her. Being an anemo user, the samurai was too experienced with the flow and rhythm of solace, which meant that any sound he made was deliberate and likely to announce his presence.
She wasn’t sure how much of her internal monologue he bore witness to, but by his calm and gentle expression, she knew there was no judgement in his gaze.
He stood silently, as though he was waiting for her to speak. Like the wind that tucked into their sails and moved the fleet to their destination, Kazuha’s steady presence was more comforting than intrusive. He had been surviving on his own long before she chanced upon him. Between the two of them, she would probably be the first to feel the urge to fill the gaps of silence.
If it had been a few months back, she would have offered a swig of her alcohol of choice to him. However, she had been with the boy long enough to know that he would turn the offer down.
The burn of alcohol doesn’t quench the desire to be heard, he once said.
It was as good a time as any, she supposed, for her to think about the year that had elapsed without her realising it.
It hadn’t been that long since Kazuha joined up with the fleet. Yet, so many things had happened.
In a way, it was just as well that Kazuha had chosen to approach her. He had a higher chance of being able to understand her feelings whether or not she was able to voice them out.
“You’ve been travelling with us for a while now.” Beidou said, leaning her upper body just slightly over the edge of the deck. “Do you ever think you’ll find a place you belong?”
“Belong.” The boy echoed. His voice carried a sombre, melancholic tone. Beidou just knew he was already thinking of some sort of poetic rhyme.
“A leaf that falls from a tree and gets carried away by the wind, to where does that leaf belong?” As if on cue, a casual breeze brushed past her and seemed to swirl around the Anemo user.
He glanced at her. “Ownership does not guarantee a possession, just as an origin does not make a belonging.”
Beidou gave him a wry smile.
Kazuha and his poetry was certainly a one of a kind combination. “Kid, you know I love having you around, but sometimes you need to speak the common tongue for others to understand you.”
Her crew mate gave her a peaceful smile.
“I was merely expressing the nature of things, Captain.” He inhaled the ocean air, as though it was his first trip out to sea and not months into his voyage with them.
She pressed her lips together. “Is this one of those ‘if you love something, set it free’ kind of conversations?”
A soft chuckle was what she received as a response.
“A fallen leaf can’t return to its branch once it attains freedom, but upon a glance, anyone can recognize its identity and from where it came.” Kazuha mused.
“The question, Captain, is whether you seek to be identified with a specific place.”
He paused. “Or someone.”
Beidou was glad she wasn’t drinking at that moment because whatever air entered her lungs also decided to block her windpipe. Despite her embarrassment, the coughs disguised her red cheeks as part of her body’s natural reaction to choking and not anything more.
“There’s nothing shameful about having feelings for someone, you know.” Kazuha reassured her calmly, as though he was talking about the weather. “She might be the Tianquan, but I’m sure-“
Beidou didn’t like where this conversation was heading.
“Okay okay, enough about that woman.” She mumbled sulkily. “I was asking for your thoughts on the subject.”
The young samurai turned to face the moon, floating above the water’s surface in a way that could only be described as serene.
“I go wherever the wind takes me, but wherever I go, I carry memories, of my homeland, and the many experiences I’ve come to understand as my own.”
It sounded like a farewell, even though she knew that their journey together had yet to reach its end. Like a current, nostalgia of the things and people she lost and parted ways with hit her. Beidou took another drink from her flask.
“Well, if there comes a time when you feel like you need to cast your sights on a different horizon, give me a chance to say goodbye, yeah?” She pat his shoulder lightly. He told her that he would remain with them for the time-being, but she recognized his independent spirit and desire to roam as though the same blood ran in her veins. “You know you’ll always have a place with us right? Whether or not things stay the same.”
The sea was a cruel master that even the bravest of sailors could succumb to. However, the world waiting on dry land was equal in danger and more so, for a lone warrior.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Captain.” Kazuha tilted his head, the light from the moon making him look like the youthful teenager he could have been, before things in Inazuma went south. “It was fate that brought us together, so it would be fated for our paths to cross again.”
Beidou let out a slow exhale. He was right.
“Don’t miss us too much, yeah?”
A brief smile appeared on his face; it carried sentiment along with a quiet acceptance that only Kazuha could manage. “I think that’s a hard promise to make.”
“Captain.” She looked over expectantly.
“Taking a different path from the direction you were going doesn’t make you lost.”
Coming from a person who believed that there was no wrong path in life, only different routes, the words brought her some measure of comfort.
For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.
Then, as though the sea itself was giving her a wake up call, a particularly strong wave splashed into the side of the boat, hitting her with a spray of water.
She heard a muffled snicker from the side and raised her eyebrow at Kazuha’s attempt to hide his laughter. He would have been a suspect had he been a hydro user and not an anemo one.
Somehow, it made her laugh too. Each laugh seemed to expel the pent up tension and worry that had been taking up space in her head. Perhaps Kazuha did have a point there.
“It’s late. The sun will be up soon. You should get some rest before the crew stirs.” She said, turning back towards her chambers. There was still much to consider, but her head felt clearer than when the Alcor had left the harbour. She had some time before the Crux was due to return to Liyue for the festival. Something about additional protection because the Millelith would be spread thin throughout the city.
There was no argument from Kazuha.
“You too, Captain.”
“Oh and Kazuha,” she called out to his retreating figure. “Thanks.”
“Rest well, Captain Beidou.”
With that, the night, and all its conversations came to an end.
~~~~
She had always found the name Yuehai Pavilion rather fitting for its location. In the day, the terrace was filled with clerks and secretaries of the Qixing, rushing back and forth to clear assignments and make the most of the day. The pace was a reminder that she didn't belong there. At night, however, time seemed to stand as still as the tranquil waters the pavilion overlooked. Most of the office workers would have gone home, leaving only the workaholics and the usual Millelith guards, neither of which would bother her.
On a night with clear skies, the glow of the moon on the surface of the ocean would be an exact replica of the one hanging above it. Those were her favourite nights in the city. Alone with her thoughts and the wind calmly sifting through strands of her hair, Beidou would almost forget that she didn’t have a home to call her own or a plan for her next meal.
Things were different now, but the view was largely the same. While as a captain, she found adventure and challenges thrilling, there was a certain comfort in returning to familiarity.
If she looked far enough, she could see the outlines of the Guyun islands, and probably even the Alcor, if it had been docked there. However, the ship was currently sitting at the newly built dock that was reserved for the Crux. She hadn’t wanted to draw attention to their return, but the crew was too excited to finally have a proper place in the harbor.
It had been a while since the last time the Crux docked in Liyue for more than a couple of days and Beidou could tell that the members of her crew were eager to partake in the festivities. She accompanied her crew for a while, before her mind strayed to a certain individual who had disappeared after the opening ceremony. After bidding them a quick farewell, she slipped away to the place she had a feeling the Tianquan had escaped to.
Ningguang’s back facing her as she stood overlooking the view of the harbour brought back memories of the previous Lantern Rite. Despite it having happened a year ago, Beidou recalled a similar feeling of awe when she noticed the Tianquan. She took a moment to drink in the sight of the other girl, her slim figure outlined by the moonlight. Ningguang was dressed in blue, with the ends of her skirt falling to her sides like petals unfurling under the moonlight. It was reminiscent of the glaze lilies she adored so much.
“Well, this is nostalgic.” Beidou commented, walking up beside her.
Ningguang simply hummed in agreement as smoke escaped from her lips. The lack of further movement or comment told Beidou that she had, on some level, been expecting her to show up.
“So, I guess you won’t be releasing lanterns again this year?”
“Actually, I was considering taking part in the event.”
Beidou raised her eyebrows. That was unusual. It was a new year, but she hadn’t expected that development to happen. Perhaps more things had happened while she was away, than she was aware of.
“What happened to not needing wishful thinking?” She teased gently, hoping that her tone conveyed her lack of judgement. If Ningguang had finally found something worth hoping for, she would be happy for her.
Ningguang’s delicate laughter reached her ears. “It seems like you’ve forgotten the second half of my sentence.”
“Oh,” Beidou paused, trying to recall her exact words. “But you’re the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. What is there that you can’t do?”
“That may be true, but as the Tianquan, there are responsibilities to carry out which come with other limitations.” She gave her a look. “I’ve asked for your assistance to bridge some of the gaps.”
“Ningguang, your Jade Chamber is a testimony of what you can do on your own. You’ve got enough mora to probably build an entire kingdom in the sky if you wanted to.” Even after only knowing her for a year, Beidou felt like her conviction to be there for her had only grown stronger. The various dealings she had intercepted on Ningguang’s behalf over the year, along with all the requests for rare items she had made, she would gladly do it all again to make Ningguang happy.
“If there’s anything you want that you can’t get… Well, that’s what I’m here for. You don’t even have to part with your precious mora.”
However, Ningguang shook her head, as though Beidou had gotten the entire situation wrong. Perhaps, she did, because Tianquan was rejecting a proposal that was clearly in her favour.
“No, you don’t understand.” She crossed one arm over the other and looked away. “What I want cannot simply be taken or acquired.”
Ningguang was someone who chose her words carefully. Something that couldn’t be taken or acquired meant that mora wasn’t part of the problem. Not many things would fall under that category. Ningguang had few loves that weren’t the Jade Chamber or one of the items she placed inside it. It probably had something to do with a person, she figured.
Beidou pushed herself away from the railing with a sigh. It felt like she was constantly hitting an invisible wall, despite seeing her goal on the other side. She had dismissed the casual whispers at the dock as baseless rumours, but perhaps there was some truth behind them.
“I can’t understand or help if you don’t tell me anything.” It was just like her past. Ningguang didn’t offer information and Beidou didn’t know where to begin asking. At least this time, she had an advantage. “And if I remember correctly, you still owe me an honest answer.”
The furrow on Ningguang’s brows was the only indication that she had heard her.
“You’re really going to waste your question on something as trivial as this?” She asked finally. Part of Beidou wanted to heed her advice, pause this line of questioning at the warning and consider whether this was information she really wanted to know. She had long since accepted that her feelings were to stay buried and their relationship to remain status quo.
However, if Ningguang really had someone she liked, perhaps this could be the push she needed to finally give up on wanting someone she could never have.
“It’s not a waste to me.” Beidou shrugged. “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Isn’t that what you teach the children at the docks?”
The slight frown on her lips was an indication that Beidou had gotten her point across. “You always pick the worst things to remember.”
“On the contrary, I think there are way worse things to have on my mind than you.” She grinned unabashedly. It was easier to play off her feelings as casual teasing than admit how much of it was true.
Ningguang’s lips thinned. “You know, when you say these kinds of things, it makes my life even more difficult.”
“Difficult? What do you mean?”
“There’s a difference between what you can have and what you want.” She sighed. “You should know this as well- just because you find and acquire a piece of treasure, doesn’t automatically mean it’s yours.”
The wistful tone in her voice, coupled with the melancholy in her eyes, created an expression Beidou had never seen on her. She just knew the Tianquan wasn’t talking about treasure or goods anymore.
She gripped the railing lying beneath her palms. The rumours about Ningguang being in love with someone were true after all. For how long, Beidou couldn’t really tell. Even during the conversations they shared over meals or games, they hadn’t discussed any matters relating to the heart. It was a topic they had skirted around like cowards, only for it to bite her in the ass now.
Breathing felt like she was forcing air into her lungs. It was supposed to hurt, she told herself. After this conversation, she could move on.
“I might be a pirate, but I do know the difference between what I can hope to call mine someday and what I can appreciate from afar. It doesn’t stop me from wanting…” The cool surface of the railing felt warm after holding it so tightly. If she focused hard enough, perhaps even the moonlight on her skin would feel warm. “But I know how to let go of things I can’t have.”
It was out of sheer luck that she managed to stop herself from jumping when she felt a light touch on her arm. It was gentle, lingering, and sent tingles to the base of her neck.
“Ask your question, Captain. What is it that you want to know?”
Her gaze was surprisingly warm.
Unlike the Ningguang she usually saw at business meetings, there was no sign of calculation in her eyes. The tension left her shoulders in a rush. All that was left was exhaustion.
“Honestly, I just want the truth.” The urge to press Ningguang for the question she hadn’t been able to ask had faded. It didn’t really matter anymore.
“Putting aside what you can and can’t have, what is it that you want?”
“That’s a very broad question. If you could narrow down the scope, it would be easier for me to give you a satisfactory answer.”
“It doesn’t need to satisfy me. My question is about you and what you desire most.”
“Okay then, uncrowned Lord of the Ocean, let me ask you this. What happens after you’ve conquered the sea?” The other girl’s offhanded tone puzzled Beidou, more than the use of her colloquial title. “Do you foresee Liyue being a part of your future?”
The easy response would be to tell her that the Alcor would always return to Liyue during their voyages. However, it was too straightforward for that to be the answer to the question Ningguang was actually asking.
Beidou exhaled slowly as her gaze turned back to the view of the city. With such a lovely sight, it was hard not to fall in love.
The vast ocean lay stretched out before her eyes, just over the edge of the lights surrounding the boundaries of the harbour. It was endless, much like her desire to explore it. However, she acknowledged that a different type of desire existed now, and it was linked to the girl standing next to her.
As much as she loved to wake up to the blue sea and fall asleep with the stars, there was a part of her that missed the moments spent on shore with Ningguang, whether it was afternoon games or evening meals.
She would never tire of the ocean; it’s open arms and perilous thrills. Yet, she was beginning to understand why her previous captain had a certain glow whenever the ship was docked in Liyue.
“I wonder.” She smiled to herself. “As a kid, a nobody like me was never welcome in Liyue. As an adult, I still don’t know if I fit in here. The Qixing has never been my biggest fan.”
“Liyue has become more inclusive over the years and you’ve contributed a great deal in terms of building the nation.” Ningguang answered, her head tilted in consideration. “Despite flouting the rules, you’ve aided Liyue in many avenues. Even the Qixing is unable to disagree with that.”
Beidou snorted at the revelation. Perhaps that was also why the Yuheng had been so reticent with her when they met. “So now you finally acknowledge the merit of being a pirate?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Captain.” The Tianquan rolled her eyes, her body instinctively turning away from her for a moment. For someone like Ningguang, who always displayed a certain side of herself to the public, experiencing her candor was a privilege that few had. “You might be an important part of Liyue, but you still bring me more headaches than relief. You could always not break the law, you know?”
“Good to know.” The brunette smirked in response to her verbal jab. “But I’m fine with the way things are.”
It wasn’t the first time Beidou refuted her advice, nor would it be her last. Both of them knew that. Ningguang shrugged as though to say she tried, but the action ended up being cuter than it should have been.
“So what makes you think you can’t find a place to fit in here?”
“Well, it’s not about fitting in, exactly.” Beidou paused, collecting her thoughts. “Anyone can travel to a place but there has to be a reason for them to stay.”
“The reason has to come from within the person themselves. It can be because they like the atmosphere of the city, the food, the experiences, or even a person they met.” Ningguang seemed to frown at that line, which almost made Beidou falter. “But there’s always a reason. A reason for them to feel like they belong.”
At the end of her monologue, Beidou rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. It was unsettling to see Ningguang remain silent throughout her explanation, when the other girl normally had a smart retort at the tip of her tongue.
“And… do you have anything that would make you want to stay?”
Beidou hummed. The only answer she had was right in front of her and she was not about to reveal that piece of information.
“I’m not sure yet.” She said instead.
Perhaps it was due to her own guilt, but her answer seemed to disappoint Ningguang somewhat. With one sentence, the distance between them felt greater than before.
A couple of seconds passed where neither of them spoke. Silence between them normally wasn’t awkward, but Beidou felt as though they had moved into territory that they weren’t prepared to deal with.
“So what about you?” Eager to move the topic to something lighter, Beidou nudged the Tianquan out of her thoughts. “When you’re done with conquering the skies, what’s next on your list?”
Ningguang remained quiet for a while.
“All of us are fallible to mortality. Someday, we will die, and a new generation will take our positions. My hope is for the Jade Chamber to always be floating above Liyue as a reminder of the prosperity and peace of the human world and how it all came to be.” There was a spark in her eyes as she spoke that reminded Beidou of the look in her new recruits’ eyes on their first voyage. Ningguang shifted, the Geo Vision at her side catching enough light to gleam in the moonlight. “Perhaps in the future, even after we pass on, it can be a lingering reminder of my legacy.”
“About what I want to do, though…” She trailed off with a closed lip smile. “Maybe I’ll start by claiming the sea.”
“The sea?” Beidou scoffed despite the bubble of laughter that overtook her. She had to be doing this on purpose, telling her of all people that she wanted to claim the ocean. She leaned her front against the railing, an inch nearer to Ningguang. “Taking both the ocean and the sky for yourself seems a little selfish, doesn’t it?”
“Is it?” The Tianquan asked, as though she had been expecting that retort. “That won’t do. I guess we could come up with a compromise.”
“Would that be enough to satisfy you?” She grinned. “I would hate to have to beat you at Liyue Millennial just so my men can go home to their families.”
“Well, that depends.” The white haired girl turned to her, vulnerability brimming in her eyes. She could hear Ningguang’s inhale before she spoke. “If I win, and claim the ocean you’re so attached to, would you come along with it?”
There was something in Ningguang’s voice that hinted that she wasn’t joking. She couldn’t be. Not even the Tianquan, despite their banter, would take a prank so far. Yet, saying yes to her would be acknowledging that there was something more between them; a bond or a connection that ran deeper than their business relationship.
Beidou felt the breath catch in her throat before it reached her lungs. She swallowed the sudden nervousness, along with the retort that the ocean can’t just be claimed like that.
“If that happens, I would have to keep playing until I win.”
“I admire your confidence.” Ningguang smiled. She turned to lean her back against the railing but maintained eye contact. “But that won’t happen.”
Beidou resisted the urge to correct her, lest she give the other girl more motivation to change the rules whenever she left the harbour. As it was, the game had already undergone more than thirty revisions. Ningguang might call her a headache, but Beidou was certain that the game was a strong competitor for that title.
“Careful Tianquan, I’m beginning to think this was all a scheme to keep me trapped here.” She teased. Beidou expected an immediate refutal to her statement, but Ningguang seemed to be in a particularly thoughtful mood ever since she arrived at the terrace.
“You did say that everyone needs a reason to stay, after all.”
The word for attachment was a composite of the characters representing dependence and love. Put together, it sounded like a desire to connect, which wasn’t far from the truth. There were days where she would wake up missing the sight and sounds of the city over the open water. It could be noisy and harsh at times, but it also was home to the people she cared about.
Although she didn’t have family to go home to, unlike her crew, there were certain things in Liyue that she missed enough to come back for.
Perhaps she was misreading the situation again. It wouldn’t be the first time she felt she was reading too much into their interactions. However, with the way Ningguang was looking at her, it made her think that after all the misunderstandings and missed chances, they might actually be on the same page for once.
She shifted after a second of hesitation, placing her arms on both sides of Ningguang, effectively placing the Tianquan between her and the railing. However, she was careful not to allow their skin to touch, deliberately leaving a couple of inches between her hands and Ningguang’s arms.
Despite their physical closeness, Ningguang didn’t break eye contact or move away.
She took a deep breath. If she was wrong, she would give the order for the Alcor to set sail ahead of schedule and spend the next few months trying to get over Ningguang. It probably wouldn’t work, but the distance and salty air would help to focus her mind on other things.
“Ningguang,” Beidou started. It was a miracle she could even speak. She was relieved that her voice hadn’t wavered despite the undercurrent of nervousness. “You haven’t answered my question.”
There was a resolve present in Ningguang’s eyes when she answered in a quiet voice. It reminded her of a fragment of emotion she witnessed when she brought up Ningguang’s childhood.
“On the contrary, Beidou, I already have.” Steady and certain, much like the element she wielded, those words were the indirect confirmation she needed.
She wasn’t sure which one of them moved first. It could have been her body acting before her mind could catch up to the notion that her feelings were actually reciprocated. Perhaps it was both of them, finally having had enough of being so close yet unable to touch.
The distance between their mouths had already been negligible to begin with, so it didn’t take much to close the gap.
Ningguang’s lips were soft, but she kissed the same way she handled everything in her life- with everything she had. Beidou relished every moment of it, from the way Ningguang seemed intent on leaving no space between their bodies to the small gasp that escaped when Beidou tugged her closer and nipped at her lower lip. In response, Ningguang’s hands slid up to her shoulder blades, leaving trails of heat in their wake.
She could feel her self-control slipping away. It was like she had gotten swept into a storm that was consuming her entire being, but she had no desire to change course. She had spent her growing years struggling against her destiny but if it was her fate to meet and fall for Ningguang, then she would gladly do it again.
She recalled the scent of glaze lilies from the first time she had embraced Ningguang. The Tianquan was probably wearing the same perfume, she thought, but there was an underlying sweetness that Beidou only noticed then. She couldn't figure out what it was, but the fragrance was intoxicating.
Some of her crew members smoked, but the smell was always overpowering and unpleasant to her. Ningguang tasted like the pipe she had been smoking, but instead of feeling the urge to cough and hold her breath, Beidou wanted to breathe deeper. She wanted more; to fill up the spaces in her lungs until Ningguang was all she could sense.
Just then, the dark sky erupted in a sea of colour above them. Beads of light scattered across the night sky, like stars being flung into space.
Beidou loved the sight of fireworks.
The ephemeral and temporary beauty it carried, bringing joy and wonder to its audience for a few minutes, before vanishing. It reminded her of how in the eyes of an archon or adeptus, people were like fireworks. They lived on earth for a short period of time, trying their best to make a lasting impact or create meaning despite their finite lifespans.
Normally, she would watch the lights dance in the sky and listen to the whistle of fireworks as they were released, and the gleeful squeals and gasps of children as they identified all the patterns. However, that night, her mind was focused on the very real and present girl in her arms.
They eventually broke apart, soft laughter and smiles shared between them, and finally acknowledged the fireworks display above them. Despite the enormity of the space around them, Ningguang seemed more than comfortable with their current positions and Beidou didn’t feel like letting go of her.
Ningguang’s arms remained looped around her neck as she tilted her head towards the sky. They didn’t speak for a few moments, basking in the array of colours. Beidou shivered inadvertently when the Tianquan’s fingers lightly brushed against the back of her neck. She wasn’t sure if Ningguang had done it consciously, since her attention was still on the dragon and flower shaped fireworks that had just been released into the air.
“Yoimiya’s outdone herself this time.” Beidou commented. The fireworks were on a different scale this year, with grander and more complex stories told through the fireworks.
It brought her a sense of pride to recognize the legends told through the fireworks, despite her eyes straying back to Ningguang every few seconds.
Part of the reason why she had been on a tight return schedule was due to the not-so-legal shipment of fireworks from Inazuma, which was being used for the festival.
It would probably not be good if the Qixing got involved, she realised. Yet, when she turned towards the girl in her arms to censor herself, Ningguang supplied her with a look of exasperation.
“I hope you realise that regardless of whatever this,” she gestured between their bodies. Instinctively, Beidou caught her hand and intertwined their fingers loosely, giving the Tianquan the option to pull away. She didn’t, although her sentence ended up with a pause midway. “Ends up being, you can’t be flouting the law whenever you please.”
“Not even going to offer clemency or a discount for your beloved?”
Ningguang made a face as though the proposition was so appalling she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Then, her expression shifted into a slow smile that was almost cat-like.
“I might be persuaded by other forms of payment and remuneration.”
“Wha-” Beidou choked out. The mental images that flooded her mind were less than appropriate and judging by the heat in Ningguang’s gaze, she knew exactly what she was implying.
Her flustered expression drew gentle laughter from the Tianquan, which dispelled her from the stunned stupor she was in. She felt like Ningguang’s teapot when the water had finally boiled; the steam leaving her head in a rush, quickly replaced by a wave of fondness. Ningguang could be deceptively cunning when she wanted to be. Instead of feeling annoyed, it only made her fall harder.
A year ago, she would have been appalled and embarrassed by the notion that she would end up feeling this attached to someone. Now, she couldn’t imagine coming back to a Liyue without her in it.
The way her eyes curved into crescents to accompany her smile cemented Beidou’s conclusion that there really wasn’t going to be anyone else that came close.
She stopped herself quickly. It was too soon for that.
“Oh, if you still want to take part in the lantern ceremony, we should get going.” Beidou reminded her. The sky had gotten quiet. The bursts of fireworks had ceased, leaving only lingering traces of smoke that looked like clouds in the night sky.
“Oh…” Ningguang looked almost shy as she shifted slightly to face the city for a brief moment. “There’s no need for that anymore.”
“You don’t want to make a wish?”
“I don’t need anything else.” The other girl spoke resolutely, as though she didn’t know how her answer played with Beidou’s heartstrings. She didn’t need another reason to miss her more than she already did.
“When are you leaving?” It was a familiar question but somehow their new circumstances made it sound unfamiliar.
This would be her first time leaving with the knowledge that she had someone waiting for her to come back. Beidou felt something within her clench. It was bittersweet, to realise that while she could look forward to being reunited, she also had to bear the guilt of leaving someone she cared about.
It was never a question of whether she would be leaving, but rather, when she would leave.
Part of her wondered if Ningguang had resigned herself to the idea that in their relationship, Beidou would rarely be around.
Would being together really bring her happiness?
Suitors from all over Teyvat would move mountains and spend their savings just to earn a few hours of her time. Surely the Tianquan had better options to choose from. She didn’t deserve to settle for a partial relationship.
“Three days from now.” Beidou glanced down, lost in contemplation, missing the look of relief that eclipsed Ningguang’s features.
“I have a lunch meeting with a businessman tomorrow, but you can join me if you’d like.” She offered.
Beidou frowned skeptically. She knew what a lunch meeting meant for Ningguang.
People like her didn’t belong with the kind of crowd who fell over themselves to have a meal with Ningguang, only to use her for her knowledge and advice.
“What would I contribute to that kind of business meeting?”
“They’re paying for the entire meal in exchange for my advice, so it shouldn’t be a problem for me to arrive with another person.” Ningguang reasoned. She seemed to consider something, before her tone changed. “If you’re not keen, I can always cancel-“
The way she spoke so flippantly, as though the meeting meant nothing to her, was a clear trap. It had probably taken one of her secretaries weeks to arrange. Yet, it was obvious that the Tianquan wanted a certain response from her.
“Alright, I get it.” Beidou interrupted. Whether or not she was serious, if the Tianquan cancelled a long awaited business meeting with a prospective merchant, she ran the risk of leaving a bad impression. Beidou didn’t have the conscience to allow that. “I’ll go. You don’t have to force my hand like that.”
“Why Captain, I was merely about to suggest that we cancel the lunch and postpone the meeting.” Ningguang smiled in victory as Beidou resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She knew she was playing directly into her hand but whatever made Ningguang happy, she supposed. “If it were that easy to attain your agreement, I would have asked for something else.”
Despite the teasing expression on her face, Beidou knew there were some things she really couldn't promise. It made her heart feel heavier.
“You know I can’t stay right, Ningguang?” She asked quietly, her thumbs gently brushing the back of Ningguang’s hands.
As much as she left a part of her heart behind every time she sailed away from the harbor, she couldn’t abandon her crew and her responsibilities.
“I don’t need you to stay. I just want you to come back to me each time you leave.” Ningguang spoke as though she had already thought through every comeback Beidou could come up with. Knowing the Tianquan, she probably had done just that.
Her words from before suddenly made sense.
“You should know by now that I’m someone who plans for the future.” She continued. Beidou didn’t doubt her for a second. The Jade Chamber and her entire career were testaments to her personality. “Like you said before, I’m selfish. I don’t just want the present or something short term. That goes for all aspects of my life.”
The last line was said pointedly and Beidou felt a smile forming on her lips. She fell for Ningguang long ago, but hearing those words made her feel as though she was still falling and probably wouldn’t stop.
She already knew what she was getting into when she stopped denying her feelings.
“If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that when I get attached to something, I don’t give up easily.”
Ningguang’s posture relaxed. “Then we’re on the same page.”
“I mean it. I won’t make promises I can’t keep.” Beidou told her seriously, her hand caressing the side of her jaw. To her delight, Ningguang leaned into her touch as though it was only natural for her. If her rapid heartbeat was any indication, she was dangerously close to having a heart attack. Images of people she lost to the sea came into her mind. Mourning them was the easy part.
Facing Little Yue and telling him that his parents won’t be coming home was one of the hardest trials she had ever faced.
The ocean was wild and unpredictable; its depths carrying more secrets than she would ever know. If anything were to happen to her, it wouldn’t just be the crew she left behind. “But I will always try to make it back to you. As long as I’m alive, I’ll find a way.”
She felt the other girl exhale. “Then, those will be the terms of our new contract.”
“Again with the contracts?” Beidou groaned in mock annoyance. “What about my compensation from last time?”
Any further questions were stopped by the kiss that Ningguang left on the corner of her lips. It lasted for less than a second, but it was enough to render her speechless.
From the devious look in her eyes and the way her lips curled into a smirk that seemed very un-Tianquan-like, Beidou could hazard a guess that this situation would be repeating itself in the future.
Frankly, she had no complaints.
Ningguang still hadn’t told her what her side of the bargain was, but she figured that she could put her negotiation skills to the test by showing the Tianquan exactly what kind of remuneration she had in mind.
~~~
It’s Ganyu who finds out first, much to Beidou’s chagrin.
Although the circumstances had been unfortunate, Beidou was glad it was someone she trusted.
Thankfully, a mandatory conversation had taken place regarding the new circumstances and how they were to approach any questions and suspicions.
It had been largely Beidou’s idea, ironically.
She had awoken the morning after the festivities had long since ended, with the rather shocking realisation that the night before hadn’t been a drinking induced hallucination. She wasn’t used to the absence of chattering and hollering, or the waves gently swaying the boat. It was almost unnaturally quiet.
Beidou blinked as she took in her surroundings. Her room on the Alcor was literally the opposite of the spacious and elegant accommodation that she found herself in. Her first thought was to marvel at how the upper class in Liyue lived.
It had personal touches that suggested that this room had sentimental value, but it wasn’t overly decorated or extravagant. Like the rest of the Jade Chamber, the room was spotless. Antiques on the sparsely decorated shelves were the only indication that Ningguang had a deliberate hand in maintaining the place.
Simple, yet refined. The phrase that seemed to contradict yet make so much sense when it came to Ningguang, also described her room. Everything that Beidou failed to appreciate when she first entered the premises reminded her of how different the two of them were. Granted, it wasn’t as though Ningguang had been interested in giving her a tour of anything apart from the bed.
The bedsheets draped over her chest were most likely silk, not that she had ever possessed anything made of such fabric. Her first hand experience was limited to transporting cargos of silk fabrics to other nations.
It may not suit her, but the smooth and soft feeling of the sheets somehow just seemed fitting for someone like Ningguang.
The name stirred her into the second realisation that if the night before wasn’t a dream, then things between them had just become even more complicated.
The space next to her was empty, but she could feel the residual warmth that indicated that the Tianquan had probably just stepped out.
She couldn’t tell what time it was, but considering the sun had already risen, she had spent quite a while sleeping.
The night before, Ningguang had mentioned a lunch appointment. The invitation was extended to her, but the capacity of which she would be attending as wasn’t clear.
If it had been a week ago, she would immediately think of herself as offering protective services. However, after the previous night, she didn’t dare to consider what capacity she was to the Tianquan.
Perhaps she was overthinking.
Ningguang was human after all. Even the Tianquan might have felt lonely in her floating palace.
Maybe a night of companionship was all that she had been looking for; or worse, a regular occurrence without a label.
Whatever Ningguang’s words were, they could have just been the ramblings of someone caught up in the moment. The thought made her stomach clench with acid, but she figured that if she left quickly enough, she could make it back to her ship before anyone noticed. No harm would be done.
It wouldn’t be her first time sneaking out of the Jade Chamber. She had done it a couple of times, running away from the secretaries and their fines after her meetings with the Tianquan. She knew the route like the back of her hand.
She was in the middle of pulling her clothes on when the door clicked. Beidou instantly froze, as though she had been caught stealing. Her first instinct was to dart behind the bed. She only realised that it was a rather foolish decision after having done so, but it was too late to move without her actions being noticed.
She heard Ningguang’s lilting voice, giving instructions to someone at the door, before the door shut with a soft thud.
A single pair of footsteps made its way towards her hiding spot. Somehow, knowing that Ningguang was alone made her relax somewhat.
“I do hope you conduct your stealth missions with more discretion, Captain.” The calm and steady way she spoke, Beidou could almost imagine her holding a pipe in her hand and taking a puff.
She propped her head over the side of the bed, meeting the Tianquan’s slightly amused eyes.
“For your information, I knew it was you.”
The other girl gave her a long glance.
“If you say so.” To her annoyance, the smirk on her face only widened.
It made Beidou want to reach over and wipe it off. Part of her wondered if she even had the right to do that. Compared to the night before, a kiss was probably relatively tame. Yet, the thought of claiming her lips made her flush in embarrassment.
Clearly she needed a drink to process this new situation.
“Well, as nice as this was, I’m gonna head out.” She stood up, trying to maintain her dignity. “There’s preparations we have to do before our next voyage.”
The delicate frown that creased her forehead caught Beidou by surprise, before she felt the tug on her wrist that held her in place.
“So soon? Wasn’t your departure in two days?” The hurt and disappointment evident in her tone was enough to dissuade her from her original plan, such that Beidou took a seat on the bed instead. Part of her was still trying to process the fact that Ningguang actually wanted her around. The other part was feeling guilty for probably ruining her mood by trying to leave.
The girl next to her sighed, the easy atmosphere between them ruined. “I’ve already sent word to the restaurant but I can always bring one of my secretaries if you have other things to attend to.”
Her words sounded more aloof than a few minutes ago, which prompted her to reach over and cover one of Ningguang’s hands with her own.
“I’m sorry.” Beidou said quickly, before Ningguang could pull away on instinct. “I… I don’t really know how to think of this…uh…”
She glanced toward her lap awkwardly, avoiding the Tianquan’s eyes. It would be strange to call what they had a relationship, when technically they weren’t even dating. Nothing was established.
“Have you not been in a relationship prior to this, Beidou?” Ningguang asked, her voice small. She clearly wasn't privy to Beidou’s confusion, much less her poorly disguised shock that Ningguang had said the word so easily. Perhaps she had been the one who misunderstood. “Or are you just not interested in having one with me?”
“No!” She exclaimed, probably a bit too loudly, judging by the widening of Ningguang’s eyes. The brunette cleared her throat. “I mean, I am interested. In you, that is, and a relationship, with you. If that’s what you want?”
This wasn’t going the way she wanted. Judging by Ningguang’s doubtful look, she expected that it hadn’t gone according to her plans either.
It was her turn to sigh.
Whatever courage she had from the night before seemed absent in the light of day, which was terribly inconvenient. It was just like her to screw things up before they even began, Beidou thought.
“Look, Ningguang, I like you. I’m not the perfect girlfriend or the next leader of a nation, nor am I someone who can give up a career on the ocean.” She swallowed. Confessing was that much harder without the solace of night and the encouragement from alcohol. “But, if you’ll have me, I’ll do my best to make you happy.”
“If I say no?” Beidou felt her heart drop at her words, but at the same time, the hand she had been covering flipped to hold hers just as tightly. Ningguang’s gaze was warm and striking, like the Jade Chamber in the sky that always guided her home. It didn’t seem like a rejection.
It gave her the courage to reply with a tilt of her head. Last night, it had been Ningguang who was honest with her. Now, it was up to her to make the next move.
“You won’t.”
Ningguang raised an eyebrow, but Beidou could see the smile threatening to break her neutral look. “What makes you so sure of that?”
“Because… who else would be willing to play chess with you?”
That must have been the correct response because the Tianquan didn’t have any comeback to that. Instead, Beidou found herself noticing that unconsciously, she had shifted towards Ningguang while she spoke. Likewise, the other girl had also leaned towards her in anticipation.
Finally, she closed the distance between them.
Beidou fulfilled her wish of wiping the smile off Ningguang’s face but it must have transference effects, for she was beaming from ear to ear when they pulled apart.
For the first and probably not the last time, the Tianquan was late for lunch.
~
Being in a relationship with the Tianquan of Liyue was no small business agreement. As much as her girlfriend seemed to take maintaining the secrecy of their relationship lightly, she couldn’t do the same.
Despite her distaste for contracts and formalities, Beidou couldn't very well go about her business without taking precautions for them both.
She came to the realisation that they needed to have some rules when on the actual morning of her departure, she found the Tianquan herself preparing to come to the docks to send her off.
Upon reflection, stopping her girlfriend, who was also the most powerful woman in Liyue, from leaving the room by tackling her onto the bed was probably not the best idea. The consequence was that they would get too caught up with one another to discuss the issue at hand.
More importantly, the sound caused one of the secretaries, Beidou recognized the voice as the sulky one who always gave her strange looks whenever she entered the Jade Chamber, to knock on the door in worry.
The situation would have been quelled by Ningguang’s distracted response if not for Ganyu’s arrival.
The Qixing Secretary had arranged for a meeting with more foreboding news from Inazuma. Although news from the locked nation was few and far between, Ganyu seemed to get regular updates from a contact who she refused to name. Whoever it was, Ganyu’s lips were always sealed. Her loyalty was undeniable, be it to Rex Lapis, Adepti, or humans.
That was part of the reason why, when the blue haired qilin burst into the room asking if Ningguang was hurt, neither Beidou nor Ningguang reacted immediately.
Ganyu’s face turned a shade of red Beidou had never witnessed, even when they shared a jug of alcohol, as she sputtered out a “Lady Ningguang?” in disbelief.
She had to give Ningguang credit for holding her composure, because the Tianquan simply stood, straightened her ruffled dress and greeted Ganyu as though she had not just caught Ningguang with Beidou’s mouth on her neck.
How Ningguang could conduct a discussion with a levelheaded mind and steady voice after something like that, was truly a skill Beidou didn’t have. Meanwhile, the brunette had to hold herself back from fumbling or rambling out a nonsensical explanation that would have probably made things worse.
Ganyu’s pointed stare was aimed at her, Beidou knew. She received the instructions readily before announcing that she will prepare the documents and await more explanation in her office. Her friend gave the Tianquan a respectful bow before shooting her another glance which told her that they needed to have a talk as soon as possible.
“You know, we could just tell people.” Ningguang said when the door shut behind her. She had likely sensed her uneasiness, even without Beidou saying anything. They had discussed the ground rules briefly, ever since the lunch meeting where Beidou had been introduced as an important business partner.
“You know why we can’t.” She replied despondently. It hadn’t been a week and someone had already found out. If it had been one of Ningguang’s staff members who discovered them, the entirety of Liyue would know by the time the sun hit its highest point in the sky. She could already imagine the whispers and glances starting again, only they were aimed at Ningguang instead.
“You’re the one that’s worried about my reputation.” The Tianquan pointed out. “I don’t foresee any cause for worry.”
“The Qixing-”
The other girl promptly stepped into her personal space with a level of familiarity she only displayed when they were alone.
“You know you’re dating the Tianquan right?”
With Ningguang so close to her, it was hard for her to think straight, and the other girl definitely knew it. Yet, Beidou forced herself to focus.
“The people of Liyue-”
“Adore you,” she continued. “and the few that don’t, wouldn’t dare to say anything against you either.”
“We should still be careful.” Beidou argued, gently tracing the side of Ningguang’s arm down to her elbow. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you or affect your position.”
There was a pause as Ningguang exhaled in defeat. It wasn’t the first time they were talking about it, nor would it be the last.
Beidou knew that eventually, they would tell people, or at least the ones they cared about. However, there was a part of her that wanted to keep this fragile and precious treasure as safe as she could for now.
“Okay, I should get going. If we keep Ganyu waiting any longer, she might kill me and then my crew will start a riot.”
“Sounds serious.” Ningguang added dryly. “I should make sure that she disposes the body properly then.”
“How hurtful.” Beidou groaned in mock sadness. Ningguang pushed her arm lightly, not entirely displeased with their banter.
“Aren’t you supposed to go?”
“Yes, I will take my leave of you, Lady Tianquan.” Beidou teased, tugging the other girl closer to press a quick kiss onto her cheek. “Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone.”
She received a huff of annoyance in response, even though Ningguang instinctively leaned into her touch. “As if.”
Her hand was reaching for the doorknob when the sound of her name made her turn slightly.
Ningguang was standing near the window. There was no doubt that she would be watching when the Alcor left the harbour in a few hours. The thought made her want to stay just for another day, even though she knew her clients were waiting for her. Hence, she tried to burn the view before her into her memory as best as she could.
“Be safe out there.” It wasn’t an ‘I miss you’, but it was just as genuine. Ningguang would be waiting for her.
“See you soon, Ningguang.”
She had uttered a similar line countless times before she left the shores of Liyue. Yet, this time, she could say the words with certainty.
After all, she now had a home to return to.
~~