Memories of Other Times [g.i One Shots]

Arranged Marriage (pt.1.2)

Zhongli x gn!reader

Warnings - None

Two years have passed since the joining of you and your husband. It was... blissful, to say the least. Morax was an admirable husband, always vying to take care of you and shower you with meaningful gifts and silent gestures of love.

You couldn't help but reciprocate.

Falling for your husband was a breeze once you gave up your useless grudge. The way he held you so softly, how he told stories with articulate and imaginative descriptions, or how he would press a beautiful set of intricately carved jade earrings to the palm of your hand saying he saw them in the market and they reminded him of you.

You cooked him meals, needled out what he liked and didn't, trying to give him what he loved. You rubbed his hands when he got home, listened to him complain about the stressful duties of being an archon, and on days he was particularly moody, you would sunbathe with him in the garden, leaning against the slender, scaly dragon body.

You had your disputes, sure. But as it turns out, neither of you were ill-tempered or irrational and were able to work it out perfectly well (if not a little rocky at times).

It was an easy afternoon, the Liyuen sun shining brightly through the windows of your home when your husband came back from work. You had been reading a short fantasy novel, lounging across the couch when the door opened.

Your eyes lifted to find your husband standing in front of you with a small smile on his pretty, thin lips, arms hiding something behind his back.

"Husband, welcome home." You offered him a nice smile in return.

"I have a gift for you." His smile widened and you couldn't help your heart melting..

"So I see. What is it?" Morax motioned for you to hold your hands out. You followed his instructions and he placed a thin, dark wood box in your palms.

You sighed with exasperated fondness. "Another necklace? Husband-"

"This one is special." Morax took a seat next to you, his hands on your thighs, watching you. You didn't think you'd ever seen your husband this excitable.

You opened up the box to reveal a glowing cor lapis on a silver chain. The cor lapis was carved like a precious stone, held in delicate silver prongs as emitted a soft orange glow; a glow that reminded you of the warmth in a sunset. The chain was the perfect length so it would rest at the top of your sternum.

"It's gorgeous, but why is it glowing?" You dangled the necklace in front of you as you looked at him with confusion in your eyes.

"I never asked you to marry me." Morax began. You were about to speak but he raised a hand, requesting your silence. "It is the one thing in our marriage that I regret. Over these past few weeks, I have been speaking to my fellow adepti about the creation of a special object."

You back went ramrod straight as Morax slid to his knees in front of you, cupping your hands. "Morax-"

"I love you. Deeply. And now, I wanted to ask you properly if you wished to spend the years with me." He took a breath, eyes fluttering as he attempted to gain his bearings. "This necklace, should you choose to wear it, will make you immortal. Not to say that if you do not wish to wear it that I will decide you do not love me nor will I try to force it on you-"

"Morax-"

"I merely mean to ask... would you spend forever with me?"

You gasped and that was when you noticed the tears falling down your cheeks. You gently placed the necklace in your lap, leaning forward to cup your husband's face, pulling him into a deep kiss. You smiled into his lips and you could feel him doing the same.

"This is how your first proposal should've gone."

You heard his shaky breath. "Is that a yes?"

You pressed your forehead to his. "Yes."

-

The necklace sat cool against your skin and you couldn't help but unconsciously smile at the feeling.

"What is it, my love?" Zhongli asked from the dining table, a cup of cooling tea by his paperwork from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

"Nothing." You said softly, cutting some sunsettia in neat pieces, dropping them in a bowl. You set it down next to the tea and Zhongli thanked you with pretty amber eyes full of years of adoration. "Just reminiscing."

Word Count - 759