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It started out so innocently. At least, that’s what Zhongli thought.
For a while, they carried on as usual for the most part. The two met up (perhaps a bit more often), enjoyed the cuisine of each other’s countries (sitting a bit closer), and took long strolls together (fingers brushing every now and then). They had hidden in plain sight for so long now that it seemed second nature to conceal the more intimate parts of their lives. It was only when the lovers parted in the dead of night, with solely the heavens to witness, that they would steal a kiss.
Venti was the first to grab his hand in public, wearing that cutesy smile. Granted, the main witness was Hu Tao, and Zhongli couldn't deny the amusement of her reaction. On a bar excursion sometime later, Zhongli protectively wrapped his hand around Venti's waist when faced with a drunkard flirt. Venti had returned the favor as they'd said goodbye, whispering into his ear, "I do wish you'd hold me like that more often."
Kisses that were a fleeting peck became more needy, longer, deeper, til Venti would pull Zhongli into an alley to make out like lovesick teenagers. He seemed to drop things more often now, making sure Zhongli's eyes were on him when he bent over to retrieve it. And oh, the way he ate. Zhongli made a note to stare hard at his own plate whenever Venti ate chicken-mushroom skewers. Though his little lover would probably find a way to make him look anyway.
On one such day, an idea came to Zhongli. "Would you fancy taking a vacation with me?"
Venti perked up, swallowing the meat he'd stuffed into his cheeks. "Of course I would! When and where?"
"I thought a day trip would be a nice start. There is a secluded hotspring spot not far from my dwelling. I have hardly been disturbed there but once or twice." He chuckled, taking a sip of his tea. "As far as when goes, I feel you would eagerly say 'Now, now!,' so we can depart whenever you'd like."
Venti quickly ate the rest of his food then sprung up from his seat. "Let's go now, then!"
Zhongli laughed fondly, setting down the payment before joining him.
Venti smiled proudly at his boyfriend. "You even remember to bring mora now. So considerate of you." He draped an arm around Zhongli's shoulder as they took off. "Did you seriously have everyone convinced that you had no mora even though you have a well-established job at the funeral parlor?"
Zhongli gave a brief little wink. "Shhh."
"The worst, the absolute worst you are!" Venti laughed and punched his side goodheartedly.
“I learned from the absolute best.”
“Hush, you!”
~~~
Some time later, they reached the hotsprings. As Venti marveled at the beautiful surroundings, Zhongli began to strip. Venti caught sight and quickly turned his head away, cheeks flushed. This wasn't lost on Zhongli, and he arched a finely groomed eyebrow. "Nervous?" he asked with the slightest teasing lilt to his voice.
"Of course not! I've seen plenty of naked people!" Venti huffed and began to undress himself. He fumbled to reach the strings of his corset; it was always a challenge no matter how long he'd worn this outfit, though somehow it felt like even more of a struggle now. Why were his palms sweating?
"Allow me." Zhongli slipped behind him, expertly undoing the bindings and slipping the corset off.
Venti's heart beat faster. "Thank you," he said before quickly stripping nude and hopping into the springs. Zhongli took his time, striding into the water with all the grace of the 6,000 year-old god that he was. He let out a contented sigh.
"How does it feel?" he asked.
"Ahhh...lovely." Venti submerged down to his chin, blowing bubbles into the hot water. Could he get anymore adorable?
Zhongli smiled, focusing his attention on Venti with a certain heat to his amber gaze. "And how do you feel?"
Venti felt himself shrink back ever so slightly. "Good, very good...are you feeling all right? You seem a little...flushed…"
"I could say the same for you," Zhongli retorted, sliding closer til their submerged bodies nearly touched. "Where's that coy Barbatos who I know and love, hm? You're such a frisky thing, always playing games with me." He smirked, breath ghosting the sensitive shell of Venti's ear. "Why don't you show me how you play with yourself, then?"
Venti turned red all the way down his chest. "W-what?! Surely you don't mean--"
"Oh, I do."
"Where anyone could see us?!"
"I don't see anyone else. I took you for the type to be excited by this sort of thing." Zhongli ghosted his palm down Venti's side, and the younger Archon flinched. He withdrew immediately. "Of course, if you are not comfortable…"
"I know how to...play with myself, obviously," Venti muttered. He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled, sputtering, "But I've never been with another." He covered his face. "That's why...I get self conscious, because I know I indeed missed out on so much while I was asleep."
Zhongli paused, mulling over this information. He had suspected as much. As for him, a being who'd lived for 6000 years and had never once left his country's side, pleasure was a rare treat to indulge in. While he was no expert, he was certainly not a novice either.
"You're still every bit as captivating to me." Zhongli gently cupped Venti's cheek, ready to back away if his lover needed. Venti returned the gesture instead, and they shared a deep, reassuring kiss.
They eventually broke away with a trail of saliva still connecting them. Emboldened, Venti brought a hand up to his nipples and began to play with them, gasping softly. Zhongli watched him, spellbound, as his other hand drifted beneath the water to his already excited cock. He bit his lip and whimpered with each stroke. “Is this what you wanted to see…?”
Zhongli responded by gently swatting away Venti’s hand and replacing it with his own, guiding his other hand to his own cock as an invitation that his lover took but a moment to accept. It had been a long time since he’d felt the touch of another, and his body reacted most zealously. He pumped Venti’s arousal hard; the desperate mewl he got in return was absolutely divine.
"Hush now, little songbird,” he teased, wanting anything but for him to stop. “I thought you didn't want anyone to hear."
Venti stared far off as his eyes threatened to roll back in his head, only for him to suddenly jolt.
"C-coming…!"
The wave of possessiveness Zhongli felt steadily climbed towards its climax. Venti--his Venti--so close to euphoria, coming undone by another's hand, his hand, for the first time in his long life. The need to claim him crawled along his veins, straight to his throbbing cock on which Venti's digits trembled. "That's right, go ahead," he whispered with a snarl to his voice. "Come for me--"
"No, I mean someone's coming!" Venti wheezed, prying his heavenly touch away.
Oh.
~~~
After making a narrow getaway, clothes clutched close to their wet bodies, they tumbled onto the grass beneath the cover of several towering trees that curtained the moonlight above. "I'm sorry to leave you hanging as you were so close," said Zhongli.
Venti's impish smirk glinted in the cool light. "I wouldn't say I was that close," he fibbed. "Are you certain your golden touch hasn't grown rusty over the years?"
Zhongli twitched.
That mischievous smile only grew more satisfied. "Why don't you take me home and finish what you started?"
In an instant, Venti found himself pinned beneath Zhongli's large, warm body. His eyes glinted like those of a predator, catching the glow of the fireflies flitting around them. "Right here seems just fine."
"What are you--aah!" Venti threw his head back, squeezing his eyes shut as his lover rutted his bare cock against him whilst grabbing both members in his hand.
"Look at me."
Trying--and failing--to suppress a whine, Venti obeyed. The intense gaze of the god above him made him squirm, not at all in a bad way. Betraying his previous sentiment, he felt embarrassingly close already. His braids had come undone from the water and sweat, cascading wildly down his shoulders and chest. He grabbed Zhongli’s chin and brought him in for another kiss, sloppy and needy.
Zhongli claimed the crevice of Venti’s mouth, nipping at his lip before leaning into the crook of his neck and biting down. Small fangs left his mark, which he licked to soothe the sting. Venti was panting hard. The grass tickling his bare behind, the warmth and strength of the man above him; his nerves were alight with new sensations and overwhelmed by pleasure. All he could do was buck his hips into his lover's grasp, creating more friction that made the larger man gasp and groan.
Zhongli braced himself with one large hand squeezing Venti’s waist. "I'm going to…"
"M-me too…!"
One last jerk of his hand and thrust of his hips, and glistening essence released all over Venti's chest. His toes curled, back arching so sinfully, drool dripping down his chin. They came down slowly, heavy breaths falling into synch. Their eyes drafted down to the sweat and ejaculate painting Venti's lithe form. Before he could utter what a mess he'd made of him, Zhongli leaned down and deftly licked all of the cum from his body.
Bleary-eyed, Venti giggled ever so softly. “You’re...really amazing, you know that?”
Fondness dripped like honey from Zhongli’s gaze. “As are you.”
“I’m not sure I can be applauded for lying there so lewdly and not much else.”
“Last I remembered, bards are beloved for sitting in one place and making beautiful music, little songbird.”
Venti turned cherry red, not having the energy to smack him this time. “You’re utterly debauched, my gem.”
Zhongli gave Venti a moment to come down, as the aftershocks and cooling night air alike made him tremble, before dressing him. He then put his own clothes back on, wrapping Venti in his coat. The encounter left the bard adorably sleepy, yawning and nuzzling up to him as he scooped him into his arms. Zhongli then carried him back to his home, where he tucked his lover in and left him undisturbed til morning.