#ji x reader

Laying down in a makeshift bed in the grotto, (y/n) laid on their stomach, their head in their arms as they watched their husband read up on some scrolls that have just been delivered from Yanlao's district.

"Why do you like physical scrolls so much? You could always just bring it up from the networks' collective library." (y/n) peaked at the contents before looking back at their husband. Ji tilted his head to 'look' down at (y/n) ...but his eyes were closed but the eye on his emerald lace was locked on them.

"I could but, I believe scrolls are much more my style. More my time." Ji shrugged his shoulders.

"Hm, whatever makes you comfortable."

"..."

"..."

A comfortable silence overtook the two, (y/n) laid their head in their crossed arms, eyes closed as Ji looked back to the scroll ...until-

"Better yet, why do you read stuff like this to begin with? You were there when these events occurred, right?"

(y/n) raised themselves from their laying position to sitting on their knees like their husband, looking to him with a curious tilt of their head.

"I remember it all, down to the minutiae detail." Ji gave a small smile, "I just find it interesting how these scrolls can sway people's viewpoints and opinions with blatant bias. Sympathizing and victimizing one side while condemning and demonizing the other, completely abandoning any morale complexity."

"Oh, this is your form of humor?"

"I suppose you can say that." Ji's small smile wasn't so joyful, "Not many things faze me anymore."

(y/n) didn't have to be a genius to know that he was troubled by his gifts but, he didn't need empty assurances it'll be okay, he would prefer to be confronted with reality and solutions.

"That's a shame. Maybe you should take a break from your hexagrams and live in the unknown, for a day at least." (y/n) raised their hand and placed it on his scroll, lowering it a bit as he 'looked' at them.

"I could do that but knowing that disaster will befall the Solarian race soon, it is best to know in advance to guarantee your safety."

(y/n) gave a small hum as they gave comforting rubs to his paw. 

"Are you tired, darling?" Ji asked, seemingly taking notice of the little waver in their posture and very faint bags under their eyes.

"Just a little."

"Would you like to rest in our bed?"

"Nope. I'm perfectly fine here."

"If you say so, beloved."

A comfortable silence overtook them again as they basked in each other's company. Ji had placed the scroll on the ground as he guided his beloved to lay beside him. The sleek of the slabs and humid air added to the scenery and peaceful vibe. Nothing could truly ruin this moment-

"Pardon me, Prophet!"

A lowly informant stood at the entrance of the Grotto's inner chamber, a scroll held in their hands as they made their way towards Ji and (y/n).

"Please excuse my impudence but an urgent message has addressed your presence...!"

"Hm, thank you. You can take your leave." Ji didn't sound annoyed or even surprised by the sudden appearance... he probably saw it coming.

Ji took the deep red scroll into his hands, opening to read the contents inside. (y/n) looked over and the first thing their eyes caught was the Jie Kingdom sigil at the bottom. No one was allowed to engrave such a thing except-

"It appears General Jiequan requests my presence."

Ji looked from the scroll to his beloved,

"Would you like to come, dearest?"

"Eh, sure. Got nothing better to do anyways."

Ji raised himself from his sitting position and offered a hand to (y/n) to which they took without hesitance. He quickly took his signature veil and grew into his more... bigger form. Keeping their hand in his, in a flash, they disappeared from the Grotto and found themselves in Jiequan's quarters, behind a faint golden screen that only showed their outlines.

Quickly taking refuge to the ground on their knees, (y/n) hid their shadowy silhouette as they listened in... all the while, they eyed Ji's bigger form.

"Fellow Prophet, happy you could join me this fine evening. I was expecting you to be here a second earlier, but I digress." Jiequan was slouched on a golden chair...nude, as he sipped away at his concoction in his kettle, "Has my destiny changed?"

"No." Ji gave a simple reply as he moved his clawed hands to his waist. "Really? You didn't do a hexagram." Based off of Jiequan's sudden posture adjustment through the tan screen, no longer laying down but sitting with his legs on one side of the seat, (y/n) could guess an eyebrow was raised.

"I did an earlier hexagram before you summoned me." 

(y/n) gave side eye-

"Is that so? You must've seen my summoning in advance, Prophet." Jiequan gave a creepy giggle, "Your ability continues to impress me." 

Ji gives a shake of his head, "If that is all, and I know it is, I shall take my leave." Ji beckoned for (y/n) to take his hand and they do so, the silhouette being seen through the screen-

"Oh, before you go-"

"The answer is no." and like that, Ji and (y/n) were back in the Grotto. 

(y/n) looked at Ji for a second, "I'm guessing you already knew what he was going to ask?" Ji gave a light chuckle to which (y/n) raised an eyebrow.

"Do I want to know?"

"We've already discussed children, no." 

"I write that paragraph right here, Ji?"

"Yes, be mindful not to press too hard, the stone slab is durable but not indestructible."

"eheh, yeah, I know."

I began writing the latest of Ji's visions and observations on a stone slab in the Taoist Grotto. I looked from the stone slab to an open scroll by my legs, back to the slab. The scroll held information outlined by Ji as he knew I would forget the important details. 

All the while, Ji sat beside me, humming to himself. His eyes were closed but the eye adorned in his head in an emerald lace looked at me. I found it a bit unnerving, but it was Ji, there was no need to be on edge with him. I often wondered if he could see from that eye.

His humming was alluring, I found myself swaying to the melody. Of course, I was doing it slightly, as I was still writing. 

"I fear the Empyrean District shall face disaster soon. I would prefer it if you stayed here for the time being." 

"Was that also in one of visions?"

"I don't need to see a vision to foresee the obvious."

"The obvious?"

"With Fuxi gone, that only leaves Nuwa to oversee the people which isn't good."

"I see, well, I trust your judgement, Ji!"

I found myself smiling at him, although I wasn't sure if he even could see my smile as his eyes were still closed. 

Finally finishing up the paragraph, I put the pen in the scroll and looked towards Ji. 

"Is there anything else you would like me to do?"

"...Actually, yes. I have something to confess."

?

Ji stood up from his siting position and stood at eye level with me. 

"Time is a fickle and fleeting thing to most. It always passes me by. If I were to so much as blink, you may very well be a corpse."

"Wow, that's quite a morbid thought, Ji."

He places a finger to my lips, shutting me up.

"Allow me to continue."

I didn't say anything as Ji took a deep breath, preparing what he wants to say.

"I never age, and I am unable to die, an immortal. I can peer into the future as nothing is never unknown to me. Time alludes me and yet I am always planted in the present, disconnected. However, with you, I find myself anchored and harness a sense of familiarity." 

"Um, Ji?" 

Is this his way of some love confession?!

He moved much closer to me; any semblance of personal space was thrown out of the window. To my absolute shock, his eyes opened to reveal pure white eyes, as if he was blind and yet they peered into my eyes.

"These stone slabs will never erode, and I shall never face oblivion however, you are exempt from that. You will face oblivion like any mortal, and I find myself loathing that reality."

He placed his hand on my cheek, tiling my head up to him.

"Perhaps when the end comes for you, I could join you."

Finding my voice,

"I thought you were an immortal...unkillable, eternally youthful...?"

"I am able to remove my immortality however, I have lacked the courage to allow myself sweet release for countless decades. But with you, I could brave such a thing as I wouldn't be alone."

He let a smile grace his lips,

"Oblivion comes for everyone and everything, (y/n). It is just a matter of when. I wouldn't wish for my overdue existence to continue without you there by my side."

And with that, I felt his lips upon mine. It was a light kiss, as light as a feather. 

he pulled back,

"I have spent my whole life a mere spectator, watching as the world moves on without me. I've borne witness to kingdoms rising and falling. Even armed with knowledge ahead of time, I never went against fate."

Another kiss,

"However, I feel confident to take initiative when it comes to you."

Another kiss, this time it was a bit harder, more passionate,

"(y/n), what do you say? Will you stay by my side, not as mere companion or assistant, but as my lover, my significant other?"

I found myself completely breathless from the onslaught of kisses and knowledge that was just dumped on me...I'm not going to lie to myself or Ji, I really did want to be with him but I'm not sure how to convey that without sounding reluctant or desperate.

"...Very."

Well, crap, that didn't sound needy at all!!

Ji let out a chuckle as he placed a kiss on my forehead.

"For the record, I never looked into the future. I wanted to know what you would say without any knowledge ahead of time.

A look of joy came across his face,

"The thrill of the unknown, the gamble of acceptance or rejection is almost as thrilling as knowing you reciprocate."

He looked me in the eyes with his white eyes,

"I am glad you have accepted me as your lover, (y/n)."

"...Vice versa, Ji."

I honestly don't know what to say or do in this situation except hold onto his robe. However, Ji seemed to know what to do,

"Allow us to consummate our newfound standards, our boundaries shall bleed into one."

Oh

...

.....

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This is shorter than most of my works, but I can only draw this out for so long, especially when I made Ji straightforward in this.