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"Ms. Shenhe, that's not how you use that." A soft chuckle echoes inside the room. The tone of the girl's voice has a hint of amusement to it, but it's completely free of any second intentions—Yun Jin isn't making fun of the other.
The sight before her is hilarious, however. Shenhe is sitting on the floor, in the middle of Yun Jin's dressing room, a lipstick in her hand. The tip has been bitten off and it's nowhere to be seen. Yun Jin wonders if Shenhe swallowed it.
"I know it has a fruity smell, but that's not food, Ms. Shenhe." The opera singer covers her mouth to let out another chuckle.
"Oh. I apologize."
Shenhe lets the object fall to the floor, her expression devoid of any emotions. Yet the way she looks away and avoids Yun Jin's gaze is enough proof that she's embarrassed. Ms. Shenhe... You're adorable.
Yun Jin kneels down in front of the other and gently cups her cheek with one of her hands. Shenhe doesn't flinch at her touches anymore, she's always glad to notice. This time, however, the white haired lady leans in, as if the palm pressing against her skin isn't enough. The singer's heart skips a beat as she lets her fingers caress the girl's ear.
"You're so beautiful, Ms. Shenhe." She mutters softly, under her breath. But of course Shenhe is close enough to hear.
"Am I?" She tilts her head to the side—away from the singer's touch—like one of those puppies Yun Jin often sees around Liyue Harbor.
Yun Jin doesn't reply. She can feel her cheeks burning as she reaches out to grab her lipstick. "Want me to put this on y—" She trails off. It's impossible to apply it if the tip is missing, and Yun Jin strongly believes it is now making its way to Shenhe's stomach. "Well, not this one. I have more in here, you can even choose the col—Ms. Shenhe, you're too close!"
Too absorbed in her own embarrassment, Yun Jin takes too long to notice Shenhe's face slowly getting closer, her gaze fixed on the singer's lips. Before she can ask if anything's wrong, the white haired lady touches her cheeks.
"Why are you so red? Did you put this thing here as well? It matches the color on your lips." Shenhe's voice carries a hint of genuine curiosity. Yun Jin silently stares at her—cheeks still warm—and allows herself to reminisce about the past.
***
Yun Jin was completely drawn to Shenhe right away. She had this mysterious aura around her, something that made her much more interesting than Lumine—despite her being the traveler everyone was talking about. It felt a bit weird at first, wanting to get closer to the expressionless lady, but she couldn't help it.
Shenhe was beautiful and strong. She reminded Yun Jin of the main character of her father's new opera—the hero that defeated a monster by herself to protect her village.
And as if fate itself had brought them together, the singer soon found that the white haired lady was, indeed, said main character. But her story was completely different.
Shenhe had been abandoned by her own father as he tried to save his wife—her mother. She was led to believe her existence was cursed. She didn't fight the monster to save her village; she was forced to fight it so she could survive.
Her story pained Yun Jin's heart, even though Shenhe herself didn't seem to be bothered by it anymore. Her story had Yun Jun change her father's opera, so she could end it differently.
Yun Jin finished her song with hope. She filled it with what the future held for Shenhe. She tried to make her feel welcome to stay in Liyue Harbor and to live with the humans that had once failed her, but wouldn't, not anymore.
Yun Jin herself would make sure of it.
Which was why, around a month after the rise of the new Jade Chamber, Shenhe moved in with Yun Jin: so the singer could teach her the many things she didn't know about the human world; so she could keep an eye on her and make sure she was being treated the way she deserved; and so she could hear Yun Jin perform whenever she wanted.
Before leading Shenhe into her house, Yun Jin stared into the other's eyes. Right then and there, she made a silent promise to the taller woman: I will never abandon you, Ms. Shenhe. I will never let you fight alone again.
***
"... Jin? Yun Jin?" Shenhe's voice brings her back to the present. The white haired lady is still too close, and Yun Jin feels like her heart is about to burst out of her chest.
"H-How can I help you, Ms. Shenhe?" Her voice is barely a whisper.
Shenhe doesn't reply. Instead, she presses her lips against Yun Jin's. It's gentle at first, and although she's caught by surprise, the singer kisses her back. Yun Jin's hands hold onto Shenhe's hips as she closes her eyes, allowing herself to be engulfed in the other's scent and taste.
Much too soon, however, Shenhe pulls back. Her emotionless eyes meet Yun Jin's crimson ones, and both of them are breathing slightly heavier.
"What... What was that, Ms. Shenhe?" Yun Jin asks softly after a while. The other shouldn't have known anything about kissing, unless...
"Lumine told me one should do it if they feel as if they like someone." She says as if it's simple—and in her mind, it most likely is. Shenhe isn't incapable of feeling, she's restrained. Restrained and naive. Yun Jin glances at the ropes around the other's shoulders.
"Ms. Shenhe... You... like me?"
Shenhe follows Yun Jin's gaze and sighs softly. "I think I do. I asked Lumine what it meant to like someone, and the way she described it... It's the way I feel when I'm around you, Yun Jin." She touches Yun Jin's cheeks again. "I want to be by your side all the time. I want to touch you. I want to get to know you, every single thing about you. I can't get enough of your singing. My heart... It tightens when we're not close, and it beats faster when we're like this."
For the second time that night, Shenhe looks away. She's embarrassed. "I can't feel like other humans do. I can't fully devote myself to you, for those ropes restrain my emotions, both bad and good ones. But I like you, Yun Jin. And I'm happy to be with you right now."
Yun Jin is unable to reply at first. Her palms are sweaty, which is very unlike her, and she's sure her heart has stopped working. In one moment, it's beating unhealthily fast. In the next, it seems like it's stopped completely. She feels like she's about to pass out—and she's never been happier.
"Ms. Shenhe, I like you too." Always have, ever since we met.
Shenhe nods. She isn't smiling, her eyes are still empty, but somehow Yun Jin can tell she's ecstatic. Perhaps it's the way she pulls the singer in, slowly but firmly, and kisses her again. Or maybe, just maybe, their connection is strong enough so that she can now understand Shenhe's ways of demonstrating how she feels.
When they pull away again, several minutes later, Yun Jin is breathless—and Shenhe isn't doing much better. She takes a moment to catch her breath, her gaze never leaving Shenhe's face.
"Why are you staring at me so much?"
Yun Jin feels herself blushing, but she lets out a soft chuckle. "Aren't you staring at me just as much?"
"It's because you're beautiful." The way Shenhe states it as if it's a fact, not an opinion, has Yun Jin slowly looking away.
"Ms. Shenhe, if you say it like that... my heart won't last much longer—Ah!" A gasp escapes Yun Jin's lips as Shenhe urgently pulls her into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry. I meant no harm, I'm ju—"
"Ms. Shenhe, that was figurative language! My heart is okay, I promise." Yun Jin always thinks the way Shenhe gets confused with mundane expressions or actions is rather cute. This time, however, the desperation carried by that hug makes her sick to her stomach. "All I wanted to say was that you make me utterly happy. I like you, Ms. Shenhe. And I like being liked by you."
Shenhe looks away. Yun Jin leans in to press her forehead against the other’s cheek, a soft smile on her lips.
"Sleep with me tonight."
***
"Ms. Shenhe?" As her hand gently caresses the other's hair, Yun Jin looks into her eyes. There's a hint of something she can't quite grasp in them, something she knows she won't ever get tired of looking at.
"Yes?" Shenhe's voice sounds slightly sleepy. Yun Jin wonders how many sides of her she'll get to know from now on. She takes a quick glance at the red ropes that keep the other under control—she wants to take them off. Ms. Shenhe should be free.
She doesn't voice these thoughts, however. It's not the right moment. Instead, Yun Jin takes a deep breath and talks about the other thing that's on her mind. "When you first came into my house, I made a silent promise to you. I think it's time to let you know what it was."
Shenhe's eyes widen ever so slightly. She's confused—Yun Jin isn't surprised she didn't even notice the weight of her gaze back then.
"I will never abandon you, Ms. Shenhe." Yun Jin smiles as she continues. "I will never let you fight alone again."
Upon hearing those words, the corner of Shenhe's lips curve up ever so slightly. Yun Jin wouldn't have noticed it if they hadn't laid down so close to each other. It's the most beautiful smile she's ever seen.
And she knows she won't ever get tired of seeing it.