This... has been in my drafts... for MONTHS. Enjoy it, please.
SAGAU au where MC is the Creator but everyone in Teyvat has no clue what she looks or sounds like and mistakes the Imposter, who is a guy, as the Creator.
Oh, and MC is a mom too, so let's go!!!
It was never on MC's bucket list to be a single mom before she was even thirty, but life can throw curve balls at you
So, one bad break up, and nine rather rough months later, she had a fussy but adorable baby girl in her arms.
Sylvie, her precious little one, was a surprise, but a good surprise in MC's honest opinion.
However not all surprises are that pleasant, as MC eventually learns.
Case in point... Waking up with in Genshin Impact and learning it's a SAGAU au.
MC used to play Genshin a lot before she had Sylvie but had to cut back entirely as she had to focus on taking care of this little life now.
But when ever she had free time, she lazes around on Tumblr, reading this and that, and learned about the SAGAU part of the Genshin fandom.
She knew of the bases. If one has gold blood, they are the Creator, however in most if not all SAGAU aus, the Creator is immediately dubbed the Imposter, thus chased and usually killed in a brutal manor.
Looking down at her hand, at the finger she just pricked by accident, she sees not red blood, but gold blood come dripping out of the wound.
Adding to the growing panic, Sylvie whimpers, making MC realize that if she gets called the Imposter, Sylvie would suffer too.
MC was all like "Fuck that!", the real Imposter could have the throne for all she cared! But here's the thing... no one seemed to know what the Creator looked like.
MC learns this when she warily approaches Liyue Harbour and sees a newly made statue near the Harbour. It was a man, smiling brightly and looking heroic.
From what she could understand and hear, the Creator himself arrived not too long ago, showing off his true form for the first time.
But all that didn't matter to MC. All that mattered was that she wouldn't be accused of being the Imposter since she didn't look anything like the false Creator.
Add in she was female, and he male, and she knew things would be fine. All MC needed to do now was get settled in her new life with Sylvie and keep her head low.
And of course, make sure she and Sylvie never bled around strangers.
It shouldn't be too hard... right?
Well... fast forward a whole year later, and MC could only stare with fondness as Zhongli sat on the floor of her living room, seemingly in the middle of a story, with Sylvie sitting comfortably on his lap and listening attentively.
How on earth did this even happen?
Let's go back to the beginning...
...Despite her reservations of her current situation, MC somehow quickly manages to land a job at a small tea shop.
It was a hidden, hole-in-the-wall little place that was run by a kindly old woman who took one look at MC and her toddler daughter and hustles the two of them inside, giving the young mother a job on the spot.
She even let MC and Sylvie stay in the small loft upstairs. It was a small but simple apartment, just right size for a family of two.
And that was that. MC would wake early to open the shop, letting the other workers in, and when it was time to close, she would lock up and head upstairs.
MC was even allowed to bring Sylvie with her while she worked. One of the few workers even set up a small playpen for her behind the counter so Sylvie would be close.
A couple of weeks past, and MC was settling in slowly but surely.
With this not being like most stereotypical SAGAU aus, MC could just kick back and relax-
A bell jingles, signaling someone had entered the shop, and MC feels her soul nearly leave her body as she recognizes who it was.
Zhongli?! What the hell was the Geo daddy Archon doing in this part of Liyue?!
Oh no, she read enough SAGAU fics to know he was the worse out of all the characters! He must have-
All he does is ask for a cup of their best tea and a small snack before sitting down to enjoy his treats.
...Ok. She needed to calm down. She was safe. This wasn't a normal SAGAU au. He wasn't going to attack her. Hell, he had no clue who she really was!
After calming herself, MC watches Zhongli leave and thinks it was a one-off thing. He wouldn't come back.
He does come back. Again, and again, and again.
And each time he visits, he starts to chat with MC a little more each time, which makes MC suspicious, but her elderly boss and fellow coworkers think it's something else.
They think he's interested in her!
No! No, he isn't interested in her, he's just talking to her while she got his tea ready, making small talk to make time run faster!
He. Wasn't. Flirting. With. Her!
But the Geo Archon still kept coming back, making MC eventually realize with a flustered blush that, yes, he was flirting with her in his odd, but mysterious way.
It only really hits MC when he brought her not only a bouquet of Glaze Lilies one day, but also a small plush toy for Sylvie, showing he wasn't just showering MC in affection but also her daughter.
The plush toy nearly made her giggle because it was chunky, chibi version of Zhongli's Exuvia form.
Sylvie absolutely loves the toy. She's never seen without as she toddles around the tea shop with it in her arms.
As for MC... she looks up from the bouquet of Glaze Lilies and gazes back Zhongli, who looks at her patiently as he waits for her answer.
Despite knowing it was probably a horrible idea, MC shyly says yes.
That one word seems to unleash a beast as soon MC finds herself under fire of constant gifts and all-around affection from the Geo Archon.
Sylvie was of course not ignored, as Zhongli showered the toddler with affection as well, acting more and more like a father to the little one.
It’s in the little moments; like Zhongli awkwardly bending forward to hold the toddler's hand as they walk, or when he gently coaxes Sylvie to eat another spoonful of mashed peas with a lecture on how it will be good for her health.
And on some nights when Sylvie refuses to sleep despite MC trying everything, they visit Third-Round Knockout where Zhongli will always be.
The toddler quickly falls asleep in Zhongli’s arms, drooling into the expensive material of his suit as they listen to Iron Tongue Tian recount another grand story of Rex Lapis.
Its moments like these that makes MC lower her guard more and more... only to nearly have a heart attack when the false Creator stopped by to talk to Zhongli.
The false Creator was over the top, emulating pure charisma as he spoke to Zhongli, even throwing MC a flirtatious wink, making her skin crawl.
The feeling only grew worse when he comments on how adorable Sylvie was, and it took every ounce of her will not to flinch and run away.
MC didn't want to be near him. What if he learns that she was the real Creator? He'd probably have her executed as some sort of heretic, making up lies and such before she could even show her golden blood, and sweep it all under the rug.
And what about Sylvie? What would happen to her?!
Zhongli coughs then, getting the other man's attention, and saying he needed to get his intended and their daughter home before nightfall.
MC feels relief at Zhongli's actions, and a slight blush forms on her face as she hears the subtle possessiveness in his words.
Really, it was funny. She was with possibly the scariest character to be with in a SAGAU au, and yet she felt the safest with him...
But of course, things happen. Mistakes are made.
One night in her apartment, MC was in the kitchen cooking diner while Zhongli was playing with Sylvie, the toddler squealing happily as she toddles away from the 'dragon' chasing her.
MC smiles as she hears Zhongli growl playfully, acting the part of the dragon as he finally catches a giggling Sylvie.
But in her distracted state, MC accidentally cuts herself with the knife she was holding, causing her to yelp and drop everything.
Clutching her hand, she panics as gold blood drops out and onto the floor besides the gold splattered knife.
No, no! She needs to clean up before Zhongli-
"Dearest? Are you al... right?"
MC freezes, before slowly looking up at Zhongli who stood by the kitchen doorway, his eyes zeroed in on her bleeding hand... and MC just breaks down crying on the spot.
She was crying, begging him not to hurt her and Sylvie, that she didn't mean to lie, that she was scared-
Zhongli, to her shock, just shushes her with gentle words and bandages her hand before taking her to the living room where he tells her sit and wait as he puts Sylvie to bed.
What follows is MC timidly explaining the truth. How she woke up in Teyvat (of course she doesn't mention about Genshin being a game, so-), realizing she now had golden blood, about the so-called Creator already on the throne, etc.
Zhongli stays quiet throughout her whole explanation, only speaking once she finished.
"...So, he lied to us all."
MC shivers in fear as she sees pure, utter rage in the Geo Archon's eyes. By the look alone made MC wonder if he was going to kill the false Creator.
Thankfully, MC somehow manages to coax him put down his polearm and sit down beside her again, letting him pull her into a tight hug.
He was still pissed, that much was sure, but what worried MC now was how he saw their relationship now.
She knew he originally had a deep respect and worship for the false Creator so with the truth now known, would he see her differently?
As it would turn out, not really?
He still treated her the same as he did before. He didn't treat her as the Creator or some higher being. She was still the same lovely, single mother met a year prior in that hole-in-the-wall tea shop.
It brought her relief, but she couldn't help but ask. Why hasn't he told anyone else about her situation yet? Or at least has the truth about false Creator revealed?
Zhongli would just smile that mysterious smile, kissing her gently, and murmurers that he knew she wasn't comfortable with the idea yet as he knew she was worried about Sylvie and how she'll be affected by everything, so he'll wait until their daughter was a bit older.
MC smiles softly at him calling Sylvie their daughter. She really had hit the jackpot with this man, didn't she.
With worries about the future pushed aside for now, MC just kicks back and relaxes with her family. With Sylvie napping between them, MC easily falls asleep in Zhongli's arms...
Extra Notes - A bonus ending of sorts
The temple of the almighty Creator was loud as usual, with worshipers and workers coming and going, hoping to see the Creator in the flesh.
Zhongli easily slips in as he was one of the Creator's most loyal follower along with his fellow Archon's. So, it wasn't uncommon for him to come by to speak with the Creator.
But this wasn't a house visit. This wasn't going to be some friendly chat between friends, or between a worshiper and his God.
Entering the throne room, Zhongli's face darkens for a split second when he hears the booming laughter of the false Creator
Schooling his expression, he walks up to the false Creator, greeting him with a smile and asks if they could speak in private.
The false Creator smiles boyishly, not once noticing Zhongli's lies as he agrees and follows the Geo Archon away from other's sight.
Once alone, Zhongli drops the friendly expression, confusing the false Creator greatly as the element of Geo begins to pulsate around Zhongli in waves.
"I'll make this quick. I know who you are, you liar."
All color drains from the false Creator's face as he stumbles back, clearly very terrified and confused as to how Zhongli found out.
Zhongli only continues talking, his expression only darkening still as he summons his polearm, twirling it lazily in his hands as draconic eyes followed the pathetic form of the false Creator.
"Make a fool of me and my nation? I should smite you where you stand, but... how about this? Let's make a contract..."
Tagging: @platinumrosetail, @arn9tails, @bloodytea, @esthelily, @uniquecutie-puffs
