Work Text:
Ganyu is old. Really old. She had been working with Rex Lapis for three thousand years and continued to honor her contract to serve and protect the people of Liyue until now. But despite living for millennia, she had no experience whatsoever with humanly emotions such as love.
Sure, Ganyu was well loved by Cloud Retainer as a child, but she had no idea about what real romance was. The first time she felt it almost gave her a heart attack, owing to the fact that it was with the person she least expect it to be.
She knew of her differences with Keqing as soon as they met. But with the recent passing of the geo archon, they began to rely on each other more often. It came to a point where Ganyu was constantly craving for the Yuheng's presence. She knew this wasn't something that should be easily dismissed.
Ganyu realized that she had fallen for Keqing when they were strolling along Yujing Terrace after work. The way the orange tinge of the sun illuminated her beautiful face captivated the half-qilin. She was left speechless. Panic coursed through her body as her heart pounded loudly inside her chest.
But she knew it cannot be reciprocated. The Yuheng liked someone else. Someone younger, someone whom Keqing could easily get along well, someone with ...cuter horns.
"These reports are all well-done, Yanfei! As expected from someone with your caliber, you never fail to impress me with your work.", the Yuheng beamed at the legal adviser.
"Thank you, Lady Keqing. I appreciate the compliment. I'm just doing my job."
Ganyu felt her chest clench as she watched the two exchange smiles and compliments. Although it devastated the secretary, she knew there was nothing else she would want more than to see Keqing happy.
----
That day, the Yuehai Pavilion was busier than ever. The meeting with the Qixing just ended and Ganyu was organizing her paper works before leaving the room. Everyone already left except for the general secretary, the Yuheng, and the Tianquan. Once finished, Ganyu picked up her things and excused herself. As she was closing the door behind her, she heard Ningguang speak.
"Until when do you plan on making her wait?", the Tianquan asked.
Ganyu knew that she shouldn't be eavesdropping, but the Tianquan's question was too juicy to ignore. She froze in place as she listened to the conversation on the other side of the door, trying her best to not make a single sound.
"W-What are you talking about?", Keqing muttered.
"Oh please, my dear Yuheng. There's absolutely no need to act clueless. We both know who we're talking about here. Now, when are you going to confess to a certain half-adeptus?"
As Ningguang spoke these words, Ganyu was practically running away from the scene. She shouldn't be hearing this. She wasn't supposed to know about that. She locked herself inside as soon as she reached her office. What was she thinking? She didn't just invade the Yuheng's privacy, she even caused more pain to herself.
What would she do now? Ganyu likes Keqing a lot. But now that she found out that the Yuheng likes Yanfei, what would she do with all of her bottled up feelings?
"It would be best if I just distance myself for now," she whispered to herself.
---
Keqing takes her relationship with other people seriously. As the Yuheng, her contractual obligations allowed her to communicate with almost everyone in the Pavilion. Although taxing, she finds it very rewarding, especially when she would spend her breaks with their general secretary while talking about work and other matters.
She was aware of her feelings for Ganyu. Despite their differences, the blue-haired half-qilin still made her way to Keqing's heart. Seeing how close they are now made her laugh when thinking about the times when they would blatantly ignore each other.
With that said, the Yuheng was wondering why Ganyu was acting weird lately. It's been a week since they last ate lunch together. She would invite Ganyu but would only get politely rejected.
"Apologies, Lady Keqing. I still have some important matters to attend to.", the half-adeptus would always tell her and will quickly leave afterwards.
Keqing was wondering what she did wrong. Did she do anything that would offend Ganyu this much? Even if she retraced her steps for the last few weeks, she couldn't see any reason why Ganyu would ignore her. Is she really that busy?
A week is far too long for Keqing. She decided to confront Ganyu. She wanted to spend more time with their general secretary, and dismissing her current actions would not make that happen.
---
A soft knock echoed across the Yuheng's office, "Lady Keqing, it's me. May I come in?"
Keqing immediately collected herself before answering, "Y-Yes, you may."
She saw Ganyu's blue locks as the door opened. Soon enough, the half-qilin was standing in front of her table, waiting for her instruction.
"Lady Keqing, is there anything wrong? Why did you ask me to come?", Ganyu asked.
Keqing's heart pounded like crazy. How was she going to confront Ganyu? She thought about it for a minute, leaving the room in an awkward silence.
"Ganyu."
"Y-Yes?", Ganyu replied, confused as to why Keqing spoke to her in that tone.
"Why are you ignoring me?", Keqing dropped the bomb, waiting for her red face to explode. It took a lot of guts for her to be able to ask such question.
"Oh, I-I...", she noticed how the half-adeptus struggled to find an answer, "I was just b-busy. I also don't want to ...d-disturb you."
Keqing wasn't satisfied with her reply. She knew she was hiding something else, "Ganyu, I know you wouldn't act like that just because we're both busy. We're way past the stage of ignoring each other. Please tell me what's wrong so I can do something about it."
Ganyu looked down and avoided Keqing's gaze. What was on her mind? The Yuheng needed to find out.
"I-I...", the secretary said in a barely audible voice, "accidentally found out about something."
Keqing raised her brow, "And what is that?"
The half-qilin closed her eyes, "Last week, I overheard your conversation with Lady Ningguang after that one meeting. I-I'm sorry. I got curious and listened from the other side of the door. I should've minded my own business and left."
The Yuheng was now even more confused. Her conversation? With Ningguang? After their meeting last week? Keqing racked her brain for information. The moment she remembered the said conversation, her face was turning into a deep shade of red.
That conversation?! The one about a certain half-adeptus?! Did Ganyu realize that they were talking about her?
Keqing sat there silently, wishing to be swallowed by the ground to hide her embarrassment.
"O-Oh. T-T-That.", Keqing was shaking. She just wanted to make up with Ganyu. She didn't expect this to end up in a confession.
She observed Ganyu and was heartbroken by her expression. Why does she look so devastated? Was Keqing going to get rejected? Was she not comfortable with having an admirer? Was it because Keqing is a girl too? Questions and doubt flooded the Yuheng's mind. She didn't know what to do or what to say.
"G-Ganyu, I-I'm sorry.", she tried to muster enough courage to even speak a word to her, "It must've made you uncomfortable."
"You don't need to apologize, Lady Keqing. I was just shocked, that's all.", Ganyu tried to smile, but Keqing knew that it wasn't real.
---
Ganyu was called to the Yuheng's office. She was nervous, but knowing Keqing, it was probably related to work. But with all of the revelations so far, it might end up in a full blown confession.
"Ganyu, you don't need to make that facade. I know you're not okay with this. I am so sorry for making you feel this way." The way Keqing talked to her made Ganyu's heart ache even more. She was so concerned for her. It made her feel guilty. She shouldn't be worrying about what Ganyu was feeling.
"Don't worry. It's fine. You don't have to think about me. I can't stop you from following your heart's desire.", Ganyu could feel her eyes starting to moist. It was too much. Ganyu was so envious of Yanfei for having someone like Keqing.
"Ganyu, listen to me," the Yuheng's voice was stern, "if it makes you uncomfortable, I'll do my best to forget about it."
Keqing's gaze was fixed on the half-qilin. Ganyu wanted to get away, but she was too weak to even say anything. The pain of finding out that the girl she loved can no longer be hers is excruciating, but knowing that she would throw everything away for Ganyu's selfish wish was far worse. She wanted Keqing to be happy above anything else.
At that moment, tears fell from the half-adeptus' eyes.
---
Ganyu was crying in front of her. Seeing her like that broke Keqing's heart. It was her fault.
"Ganyu, please don't cry." She stood up from her seat and approached the secretary. When she tried to hold her, Ganyu backed off.
"I-I'm s-sorry for acting like this in front of you. I... I j-just," Ganyu struggled to get the words out. "I'm being selfish."
"No, Ganyu please. I'm sorry. I'm the one being selfish. I should've considered what you would feel." Keqing was shaking. She was mad at herself for making Ganyu cry. If it's for the best, she would gladly set aside her personal feelings.
"Listen, Ganyu," Keqing placed her hand on Ganyu's shoulder, "I care about you so much. I'm sorry if this made you uncomfortable. I am so sorry. I am willing to forget my feelings for you if that meant saving our friendship."
Ganyu stopped sobbing and stared at her. "W-What did you say?"
"I said I'm sorry for making you fe–,"
Ganyu interrupted her, "No, the other one."
Keqing was confused. Why was Ganyu making her repeat herself? "I said I was willing to forget my feelings for you."
Ganyu stared at her, "You have feelings for me?"
Keqing stared back at Ganyu, "Yes."
"You mean, as a friend?"
"Wha– wait, NO!", Keqing was trying to compose herself, "Ganyu, I love you. You're more than just a friend to me."
Ganyu looked at her with a bewildered expression, "But I thought you liked Yanfei."
At that point, they were just staring at each other. Was this just a dumb misunderstanding? Did Ganyu really think she liked Yanfei? Is that why she was crying? Wait, does this mean she likes Keqing as well?
"Ganyu, my relationship with Yanfei is nothing but professional. Did you perhaps think that the certain half-adeptus Ningguang mentioned was her?"
Ganyu nodded.
The Yuheng let out a soft laugh, "And you're upset because you thought I like someone else?"
Ganyu averted her gaze but still nodded.
"Why is that?", Keqing was hoping to get an answer she wanted to hear. Based on how the half-qilin was acting, she probably have a good chance.
"Well," Ganyu collected herself and looked at Keqing, "it's because I love you."
Keqing melted into Ganyu's gaze. She held out her arms and wrapped them around the half-qilin to pull her closer, "I love you too, Ganyu. There's only one room for love in my heart, and that is reserved especially for you."
"Are you sure?", Ganyu's eyes were pleading for an answer. It took a lot of self-control for Keqing to not kiss her.
"Of course. Not Yanfei, not anyone else. Just you.", Keqing held her even closer.
"I'm sorry for misunderstading. I apologize for ignoring you.", Ganyu buried her face on Keqing's shoulder.
The Yuheng urged the half-adeptus to look at her. She then raised her hand to her face and caressed her cheeks. "Now, you have to make up for a week's worth of attention."
She smiled at her again before closing the distance between their lips.