Chapter Text
In the tales that Jean used to read so passionately, with much attentive eyes, and with the distinctive curiosity of youth, stories about grandiose heroes and adventures accompanied by loved ones, had always fascinated her. She would spend night, days, weeks reading books over books, dreaming about a world where, she, could too experience what the protagonists did. Love, the most, intrigued her, as she simply didn't understand how that unique and gentle bond could be created.
Those questions always bothered the little Jean, especially, since the love described in her books was nothing like the one that her parents manifested, a cold and harsh love, where little to no affection was there.
Jean didn't know love, and for many years, she thought that the kind of love Ningguang gave her was, right, perhaps, it was just like the one her parents had. So, there were no problems, were there? Ningguang would treat Jean badly, and her, with the little knowledge she had, couldn't do much if not "try" to love Ningguang back, and it worked, for a while.
Jean didn't know love, not until, as a miracled gifted from some merciful God, Lisa walked in her life, emanating the purest light she had ever seen, so bright that, for a moment, Jean had to look away. But, as the days passed, Jean learned to see that light, she learned that (strangely enough) her sight was not blinded, in fact, she felt warmth, safe, and reborn. The light was helping her, Lisa, was.
How could she remain there, surrounded by darkness, surrounded by those who had, forcefully, made her believe something that was totally, completely different? And so she did, her heart raced, but she had done it. She was now free, no other chains kept her in a cage. She was free, surrounded by light.
Some time had passed since Jean had stopped Lisa from flying away, since their heartwarming reunion at the airport where Jean feared no more, where she had finally opened up, to save what was so dear to her. It was now a sweet memory that, maybe, could be told to someone one day, in a near future.
"Jean, Lisa! I'll get going! Xinyan's waiting for me and I don't want to be late!" Barbara cheerfully yelled, enthusiasm flowed in her veins, making her movements quicker than usual, legs ready, on the go.
"That's fine dear, will you be back for dinner?" Lisa asked, as a smirk appeared on her lips, probably, she knew something was definitely up.
"Uh, no, I-" her cheeks suddenly turned rosy, and oh, how Lisa's smile grew even further, "I will be staying at Xinyan's place."
"What?! Where, where does she live?!" Jean's voice echoed through the walls of the apartment, her hearing, sharper as ever, managed to listen to that conversation, even if she was in a different room. And, quite immediately, she had gotten up from the chair as she began to run to where them both were.
"Don't worry, Barbara. I'll take care of her," Lisa quickly opened the door and Barbara rapidly rushed out while waving at the other woman, a mischievous grin printed on the lips of Barbara.
Jean soon appeared, right next to Lisa, after the fastest walk she had ever done. Barbara wasn't there and so, she stared at Lisa, who was visibly smiling in amusement.
"Did you let her go?"
"Aw, come on! She's young, let her have a lil' girlfriend," a giggle came out of her mouth, a sweet sound to Jean's ears as, suddenly, she too began to smile brightly.
"Perhaps you're right, I should worry less."
"That's right dear and, also," the brunette got closer to her, arms wrapped around her neck, their bodies were so close to one another, "it's been a while since we were alone, should we do something fun?"
Jean's cheeks had lively colours, red mixed to a rosy tonality, as her eyes met hers, words seemed to meaningless, unnecessary. Her lips fused with Lisa's, hands running down her whole body, the sound of heavy breaths soon arrived, and Jean wanted more, she desired more. And so, with a sudden speed, they walked over their room, clothes stripping off each step they took. The door closed.
///
The light of the moon caressed Jean's skin, as the celestial being gently guided her into a sweet awakening. She quickly turned around, Lisa was there, it was not a dream, she was free and Lisa was there, and she looked magnificent, even in her sleep. Jean smiled while putting a blanket on the naked body of Lisa, as she wished for her to not catch a cold.
But quite abruptly, Lisa had opened her eyes and Jean leapt back, surprised to see her awake, heart jumping out of the chest.
"Lisa, I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?"
"You didn't, don't worry," she smiled, while getting close to her, as she pulled the other woman in for a kiss, that lasted for quite a while, until both were out of breath. Soon air was needed, and a thread of saliva formed, unifying their lips, as they rested to catch a breath.
"You were amazing before," Lisa said, using the softest tone of voice, capable of bewitching the strongest of minds, Jean was no exception and, at that compliment, she couldn't help but blush like crazy.
"N-no, that's nothing, really I-"
"Oh? So you can do more? My, who knew you were such an expert?"
"Lisa..." Jean's whole face was now totally, undoubtedly, red. She couldn't hide how flustered Lisa's statements made her be, but probably, it was extremely funny to the greenish eyes.
"Ahah! All right, I'll stop," her head rested on Jean's shoulder, as a light sigh hurried to leave her mouth.
"By the way, Jean, why did you wake up? Dreamt about something bad, perhaps?"
"Oh no, uhm, I thought that, all of what happened, was just a dream. I got scared, I thought I lost you, everything."
Lisa gently caressed the soft cheek of her lover, then, she quickly kissed it, only to stare at Jean's eyes soon after, with a loving gaze. And she couldn't help but look at Lisa, wandering in her eyes.
"Jean, you fought so hard for what you have now. No one will ever take that from you and I'll stay by you side, until time permits it. I'm not going anywhere, Barbara's not going anywhere, we're here.
At hearing that, her heart had been freed, lighter and free, of a burden that was never really hers. As she took a deep breath, her eyes went on Lisa's ones.
"Thank you, I'm so lucky to have you."
"Mh, yes, you indeed are," a vivacious laugh soon followed by a satisfied smile, all in a few seconds.
"Oh, I just remembered, we do have work tomorrow."
"That's true, but, you look the cutest right now, I'd hate seeing such beauty going wasted. Care to go for another round?" Lisa, fastly enough, positioned herself over Jean's thighs, as she gazed upon her lover's whole body, dreaming of the things she wanted to do, "I'll take the lead this time, shall we?"
"I wonder if you'll be able to stay awake during the day. I won't make you coffee in the morning."
"I don't mind, coffee doesn't taste like your lips do."
And, yet again, they lost themselves in the sounds of thousands kisses, loud sighs and divine pleasure.
///
"I'm so nervous, Diluc, Kaeya, is this place the right one? Isn't here a little too cold?"
"I would probably cry if someone proposed here, the sea is amazing and so is the sky, do not worry," Kaeya reassured with a grandiose smile on the lips, "I didn't know you were such a romantic, proposing at Liyue's port?! In the evening?! Wow!"
"I hope she'll like it, but, aside that, why do you have a camera with you?"
"Er- Isn't that Lisa?!"
"Where?!" Jean rapidly hid the box, who had a precious ring inside of it, behind her; heart beating as loud as ever.
"Stop it, Kaeya," Diluc punched the head of his brother, with a brute force, hoping for him to cease the tease.
"No, I'm serious!"
Both Jean and Diluc lifted their head up and, unbelievably, she was walking towards her, Jean, and that meant one thing: the brothers had to hide. Soon. And so they did, Jean was now alone, but not for long.
"Hi darling, why did you call me here? If you wanted to do a fancy date, we should've gone somewhere else," Lisa got closer to her, smiling as usual, while curiousity began to grow in those feline eyes of hers, "what are you hiding?"
"Ah! Uhm- Lisa. Please, listen carefully," she tighten the hold on the box, praying for it not to break. But it wouldn't have broke, it was just Jean's paranoia.
"I'm all ears for you, always."
She took a deep breath, then, she got down on one knee, arms forward while in her hands was a tiny box, now, the words had to arrived and Jean thought hard about what to say, what she truly felt.
"Jean, is that? Aha- Jean!"
"Lisa, some years passed since we got together and, when I'm with you, I feel good, protected, I feel invincible. And with you, I want to spend as many years as possible, a life time, with you, us. So, Lisa," the little box opened and the most extraordinary, fabulous, astonishing ring immediately caught Lisa's attention, "would you marry me?"
"Of course! Oh my," tears appeared in her eyes, as she kneeled down to hug Jean, the hold was tight yet incredibly soft, "I'm so, so happy! I love you so much, you have no idea!"
"I do, I do have an idea," a kiss was now shared by them both, and the taste of a life together was fully tangible, as if, the future could be seen by their lips united. Life awaited them, opportunities and experiences (bad and good ones).
"I got everything on video!" Kaeya screamed happily, waving the camera he had in his hand.
"Kaeya..." Diluc sighed in frustration, wondering just how dumb could his brother get.
"You guys are here too?!" Lisa laughed loudly, as she tried to refrain herself from giggle like crazy. But just the view she had, of the two brothers there, of a satisfied Kaeya and an irritated Diluc, it resembled a comedy.
"Sorry Lisa. They gave me reassurance for, you know, proposing."
"I don't mind, you did great so, their help is much rewarded," Lisa kissed her whole face, cheeks, forehead, nose and her lips, lastly.
"Congratulations!" Diluc and Kaeya clapped their hands, while smiles grew.
"Thank you," the two lovers replied while their eyes met, laughing from happiness, as they held eachother tight.
As bright as the moon was, Jean's (and Lisa) future would've have had the same exact light. Grandiose, bright enough to blind and cast darkness far away. A future that they would've built together. A future where sufferings did not exist, where the two of them could finally live in peace.