Chapter Text
Zhongli wakes up to a stray ray of sunlight filtering through the curtains. Outside his window, the pleasant sound of birdsong can be heard. As he turns he realises his bed is empty, although the crumpled sheets leave no room for doubt about last night’s events having been just a dream.
After quietly getting dressed, he walks through the hallways of their abode, listening carefully for sounds of writing or the whirring of gears.
Instead, he can hear Guizhong humming softly outside, and he finds her sitting on the porch humming contentedly to herself over a cup of tea. Zhongli paused, leaning on the doorway without making any sound.
He loves these moments. When Guizhong sings, with no one there to hear it, to know about it, but him. He’d listen, stopped in the middle of whatever he was doing, listening without walking in because that moment is only hers. He knew that his place was to not do anything but listen, holding that moment knowing he’s infinitely lucky he’s there to hear it, until the humming stops, the world comes back and all he can do is resume his task, suddenly aware of how delicate all of it is.
Guizhong finished her tea and turned to serve herself another cup, but her hand stopped, hovering over the teapot.
“How… How long have you been standing there?”
“Just a little while.”
She patted the spot next to her, inviting him to join her, but instead he chose to sit behind her. She huffed, and laid her back against his chest, shuffling snugly between his arms.
Guizhong leaned back and looked up at him with that signature mischievous smile. Zhongli knew he was about to get teased.
“Did you sleep well? After last night…”
“I must say I did. Rest always comes easy after considerable exertion.”
Guizhong snorted.
“Please, I may not be familiar with the extents of your stamina, yet , but I know for a fact you’re not so old you’d throw your hips out from making love, and… you don’t need to hold back on my account.”
Zhongli wrapped his arms around her, looking suddenly concerned.
“Guizhong?”
“You know you can call me pet names if you want, right?”
“Why would I refer to you as a pet? You are my beloved and respected companion.”
“I… Never mind that, what did you want to ask?”
“Are you hurt, anywhere? Please forgive me if I treated you too roughly, it was not my intention to hurt you.”
Guizhong smiled fondly.
“My love, as I told you last night, you are always gentle with me.”
She turned to kiss him on the cheek.
“Don’t worry, you can be rougher with me. I will simply blame it on you if I can’t walk the next morning and have to miss any meetings. Besides, it would be a shame to not do it again, wouldn’t you agree?”
He swallowed dryly, looking at her with those piercing golden eyes.
“Last night… was wonderful. I should have mustered the courage to find my words sooner, if we could have been doing such things all along.”
Hearing this, Guizhong bubbled with laughter.
“If I knew you were willing to do such things with me, I would have seduced you a long time ago. I may not be experienced at performing the act yet, but I have no doubt even the mighty Rex Lapis would fall to my charms.”
Zhongli hummed an agreement, being otherwise occupied with uncovering her shoulder to kiss it.
Guizhong looked at the ocean of clouds that surrounded their abode, and sighed deeply.
“My love, as much as I’d prefer to stay all day in our bed, I’m afraid we both have duties to tend to. You have the war council with Mountain Shaper and the General of Mingyun village has requested an audience with me again, no doubt to present me with yet another cart of ores or piece of fine jewellery.”
Zhongli’s lips paused over her skin.
“That general is overly fond of your company, I believe. It is not his place to provide for you”
She smiled at him over her shoulder, shoulders rocking with silent laughter.
“Oh dear, is my beloved dragon feeling jealousy, and about an overeager subject, no less?”
Zhongli eyed her seriously, looking annoyingly collected and handsome, like her teasing had had no effect.
“Once I claim something as mine, I have every intention of keeping it to myself.”
Guizhong only had time to blush before he dug his teeth into the crook of her neck, gently but firmly enough to leave a mark. She wriggled under him, hands gripping his legs.
Some seconds later he finally pulled his mouth away, staring at his own work. She reached up with one hand, feeling the dent on her skin under her fingertips. It’d be covered by her hanfu, at least, he had been careful with picking the spot. Even when teasing, he would always pay close attention to every detail, thoroughness being almost second nature to him. It’s one of the things I love about him
She responded to this “gift” by pressing a kiss to his temple and then resignedly got up. There would be time for everything later.
He stood up too, holding her hand to his lips and kissing her palm. She straightened her clothes, feeling the fabric brush over the sensitive skin.
“After the war council I intend to patrol the North border. It will take some time.”
Guizhong’s chest stung with disappointment. She’d hoped he would be back at her side soon, perhaps even long enough to eat at a small establishment in the village that was her favourite. She chided herself for entertaining such childish hopes, as if the war would pause to give them time.
He stepped closer and leaned down to peck her chastely on the lips. Not wanting to let go of him just yet, Guizhong wrapped her arms around him and pressed their foreheads together.
“Come back to me safe.”
“Always. I promised.”
And with this farewell her arms dropped to her side and he took to the skies, slipping into a larger dragon form than the one used for formal descents.
Morax arrived at the war council, prompting the adepti to scramble to their feet and bow when he entered the room. Cloud Retainer approached, at his right side.
“Welcome back, my Lord Rex Lapis. One trusts the humans’ celebrations were acceptable?”
“Correct, they were most adequate. Mountain Shaper, what is your report?”
“Our scouts have reported no movement to the East yet, but one would advise caution with the Chi’s settlement. They might attempt to circle around the Stone Gate and descend through there. Otherwise, nothing of importance to report, only that there were some earthquakes last night around Jueyun Karst, but the surrounding settlements have not been affected.”
Morax leaned back on his throne stealing a look at Cloud Retainer. Has she realised what caused those earthquakes? She had not struck him with that judgemental stare yet, (How a crane managed to look judgemental was still a mystery to him, but she’d been successful so far) so he knew she wouldn’t have made the connection yet, but, if it was to become a more frequent occurrence…
He felt his face flush at the idea.
It was only a matter of time before their adepti found out. Maybe an announcement would be in order.