Chapter Text
Ningguang has been Keqing’s roommate for almost three months now. And honestly? It hasn’t been terrible.
Since Ningguang agreed to stop teasing her, she’s been tolerable. The two now have actual conversations, sometimes about work and something about nothing at all. Ningguang pays half of the rent and buys dinner three nights a week. She forced Keqing to finally go through and organize her many purchases so now that apartment looks lived in.
And over these months Keqing has seen a different side to Ningguang-a more human side. As the Tianquan she seems untouchable, but she becomes much more grounded when Keqing catches her doing mundane things like chores. That, and Ningguang’s been more open. She’s told Keqing stories of her childhood-a past she usually prefers to keep buried-selling starconches she collected on Yaoguang Shoal in Liyue Harbor barefoot. It’s quite amazing how far Ningguang has come, and Keqing has come to admire her resilience and determination.
(Living in close quarters has revealed that Keqing admires many things about Ningguang-including her beauty . . . Keqing tries not to think about it too much.)
Lately, Ningguang has been spending her time drafting up plans for a new Jade Chamber. As Yuheng, Keqing has expertise in architecture and construction and can’t help but give her advice . . . whether she wants it or not.
“You need to put in another support along here,” Keqing says, leaning over Ningguang’s shoulder and pointing to the blueprint laid out on the desk. “Unless you want the roof to collapse on you.”
“I have supports, here and here,” Ningguang insists.
“You need another one for it to be up to regulation,” Keqing says. “I would put it right here, that way it’s not in an awkward spot.”
Ningguang marks the spot Keqing points to and then turns to look over her shoulder. She gives Keqing a small smile as the latter realizes how close the two are, their noses almost touching, “Thank-you, Keqing.”
Keqing feels a blush heat up her cheeks and she quickly steps back, “No problem!” Ningguang smirks and raises one eyebrow-she knows exactly what she’s doing-but Keqing doesn’t let her tease, “Have you thought about my suggestion of adding electro lighting?”
“I have,” Ningguang nods, pausing her work. “Do you really think that this is the next housing innovation?”
“I do,” Keqing nods, focusing on the topic. “Once it’s implemented to lights, I think it can be used elsewhere. May as well stay ahead of the curve and outfit the Jade Chamber for it now than have to do major updates later.”
“Then I’ll need your help, you know more about this than me,” Ningguang says.
“Of course,” Keqing nods.
“But first, we should have dinner,” Ningguang says, standing up. “We can’t work on an empty stomach.”
“Do you want to order from somewhere?” Keqing asks.
“Actually, I was thinking I could cook for you,” Ningguang says, heading into the kitchen.
“You can cook?” Keqing asks. Neither of them have cooked since moving in together-too busy to take the time to buy ingredients and prepare the food-so this is a surprise to Keqing.
“Nothing fancy,” Ningguang says. “But I thought I could make something quick as a thanks for letting me stay here.”
“You don’t have to,” Keqing mumbles as the blush creeps back onto her face.
“I insist,” Ningguang says as she gets to work.
Keqing sits and watches her prepare two servings of Mora Meat-which must be her specialty. Though it’s a simple dish, Ningguang manages to add a bit of extravagance to it in how she makes it. Soon, Keqing has Qiankun Mora Meat before her.
“It’s not much,” Ningguang says as Keqing takes her first bite.
“It’s good,” Keqing insists after she swallows. “It’s a much higher quality than regular Mora Meat, and sweeter too. Thank-you, Ningguang.”
Ningguang smiles at her, brilliantly and genuine, as she says, “It’s no problem, Keqing.”
Keqing knows that her blush is deepening, so she tries to busy herself with finishing her meal. She eats hers before Ningguang, and says, “So, shall we get back to work?”
“No need to rush, Keqing,” Ningguang insists. “At the very least I don’t want to choke.”
When dinner’s done, the two work on the Jade Chamber until they go to bed. Somehow, Keqing and Ningguang keep on ending up almost touching-probably because the blueprint can only be so big. Each time their shoulder touch or hands brush against each other, Keqing has to fight the blush that tries to surface and keep a calm demeanor. Either Ningguang knows exactly what she’s doing, or she doesn’t care, as she keeps a straight face with each accidental touch-and it drives Keqing insane.
Keqing gets about two hours of sleep before she’s rudely awakened by the sound of someone rustling through her kitchen. Her first thought is that it’s a thief, so she launches out of her bed, summons her sword, and kicks her bedroom door open. In the darkness, she can make out a figure looking through her cupboards and prepares for a fight, but then she sees the moonlight reflect off alabaster hair and realizes it’s just Ningguang.
“Yuheng, put away your sword,” Ningguang says over her shoulder. “Or are you just happy to see me?”
Keqing frowns and sets her sword aside, “What the fuck are you doing? It’s 2 AM.”
“Looking for booze,” Ningguang says, like it should be obvious. “Did we have any tequila left over?”
“No,” Keqing says. She poured the rest down the drain. “Why are you looking for alcohol?”
“Because I want to drink?” Ningguang says. “It’s a bit obvious, Yuheng.”
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Keqing sits down at the kitchen table and says, “I don’t believe that’s all. Can’t you tell me the truth, Ningguang?”
Ningguang sighs and sits across from Keqing. She’s silent for a moment, folding her hands in front of her before speaking, “I had a nightmare.”
“Oh,” Keqing says. “But I thought you were sleeping better here.” She wonders if something changed-if she did something wrong-to cause Ningguang to lose sleep.
“I have,” Ningguang nods. “This is the first nightmare I’ve had since coming here. It was bound to happen eventually.”
“Was it about the Jade Chamber?” Keqing asks impulsive.
Ningguang crosses her arms and looks away, “I’d . . . rather not talk about the dream, itself.”
“But it might help,” Keqing suggests. “To get it off your chest.”
Closing her eyes, Ningguang breathes in deep, “It was about you.”
“Me?” Keqing checks.
“I dreamt that I had lost you with the Jade Chamber,” Ningguang clarifies, opening her eyes. Keqing stares into garnet pools and sees fear etched deep in them.
She doesn’t quite understand why such a dream has shaken Ningguang so clearly, but Keqing does her best to comfort her, “Obviously that didn’t happen.”
“Of course, thankfully you’re sitting safe and sound before me,” Ningguang says. “But such rational logic rarely applies to nightmares.”
“Yeah. I would have thought that you’d be happy to get me out of your hair, with how much we argue during Qixing meetings,” Keqing sourly jokes. Though things are better at home, Keqing continues to push back at Ningguang as the Yuheng.
“No. I would miss you terribly,” Ningguang says. For a moment, Keqing thinks she’s teasing her, but when she studies her face, she sees that Ningguang is completely serious.
“Oh,” Keqing says quietly. “I . . . I think that if something were to happen to you . . . I’d miss you too.”
Ningguang smiles, “Thank-you, Keqing. It seems that we’ve both grown fond of each other over these past few months, so, I apologize if this seems forward but . . . may I kiss you?”
Keqing’s throat goes dry. Every little revelation she made about Ningguang and locked away comes crashing down on her as she realizes how much she wants this. But still, she pushes back, “How can you be certain? That I feel the same way?”
“Please, I’ve seen the way you blush when our hands accidentally touch, or we get too close,” Ningguang insists. “I would say it’s a sure bet that you want this too. So, may I?”
There’s no need to argue when she’s right (though part of her still wants to be contrary just because it’s Ningguang). Keqing wants her, so she nods.
Ningguang leans over the table, one hand on the surface to stabilize herself, while the other goes to Keqing’s cheek, tilting her face upwards. She kisses her softly and slowly, and all of Keqing’s senses are drowning in Ningguang. She smells like tobacco and glaze lilies, while her lips and hand are so soft.
When Ningguang’s lips leave hers, it takes a moment for Keqing’s brain to catch up and she opens her eyes a second later. Ningguang is staring at her with a soft smile, “How was that?”
“Good,” Keqing says as she clears her throat. “And I would not be opposed to doing it again.”
Ningguang smiles and kisses her again. And again. And again. Keqing loses track of time in the midst of soft kisses that turn sloppy and hungry, but when she next opens her eyes and glances at the clock, it’s nearly 3:30.
“Oh shit, we should go to bed,” Keqing says.
“Moving a bit fast there, Keqing,” Ningguang teases with a smirk.
“Not like that!” Keqing says. “We just have work in the morning-we can’t spend all night kissing!”
“Can’t we?”
“No teasing!”
“Hey, if we’re going to date you’ve got to be open to a little bit of teasing,” Ningguang leans back.
“At least ask me out on a date before you assume that!” Keqing says.
“Fine. Will you go on a date with me?”
“Yes, tomorrow. Now, let’s sleep.”
“Only if it’s in your bed.”
“What’s wrong with your bed?!”
“Ah, it seems I’ve kissed you senseless,” Ningguang smirks. “I had a nightmare, remember? And I have a good feeling that I’ll sleep peacefully in your bed.”
“Uhg, fine,” Keqing groans, running a hand down her face to try and hide her blush. “But no funny business.”
“Of course not,” Ningguang promises, sealing it with a kiss on her cheek.
Ningguang follows Keqing to her room-and Keqing’s thankful for the darkness because hopefully Ningguang can’t see her blush . . . and the mess of boxes from her latest purchases in the corner.
They climb into bed, and Ningguang instantly wraps herself around Keqing and says, “Good night, Keqing.”
Keqing smiles-she didn’t take Ningguang to be a cuddler-and kisses the top of her head, “Good night, Ningguang.”