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Childe twisted the engagement ring on his finger, pressing the slight grooves of the filligree and willing the flight along faster. Platinum and blue diamond, soldered painstakingly by hand and microscope. His love had long finished crafting this piece and yet he would never tire of running the pad of his thumb over the grooves. Childe felt he would rub the metal smooth before he was able to commit every ornate intricacy to memory.
A grey cashmere silk suit and maroon red pocket square. Childe thought he straightened out a lot since being the utterly uncontrollable prodigal son, perhaps marriage really did change a man... Though he wasn't even married yet.
He glanced out the jet's window and remembered it was a morning just like this gliding over the metropolis of Shanghai.
-
Early November, cold but not too cold, not enough to warrant more than a good coat and scarf. Last year he was flying in from St. Petersburg for an appointment with the hardest man to reach in all of China. They called the craftsman 'Rex lapis'- Childe had scoffed at that then, even with a layman's handle on Latin he found 'King of Rock' an utterly crude title. He was mysterious and elusive, only taking one job at a time and chosen at his own whim, a private consultation with the man may as well be an audience with the emperor. Not just anyone may move the king with sentiment or money. If not for name dropping his godmother Childe doubted the jeweller's secretary would have even sent him a rejection letter, he stood before an inconspicuous but elegant black wooden door, a golden plaque on the side read 'Liyue' above some characters Childe couldn't read. The alcove felt somewhat misplaced in the city of Shanghai and more fitting to be in Central London.
A mellow voices answered him upon the buzzer, 'Welcome to Liyue, how may I help you?'
Childe's gaze drifted for an inconspicuous camera, else why would the secretary answer in English? 'Hi, Tartaglia here for a pre-booked appointment.'
A brief silence before the door opened for him. 'Please come in, we have been expecting you.' Childe half expected to walk straight into a mythical realm but was pleasantly surprised by a mild woman in a ruffled duck-egg blouse. He smiled and crossed the threshold into a hallway of dark chocolate wood, the proprietor must have been very fond of wainscoting as it reached the high ceiling. The stretch of the hall was lit by wall sconces, circular and depicting scenes of guohua fine enough to appear hand-painted. 'The flight from Russia must have been tiring at this time of day.'
Childe turned back to the secretary upon entering what appeared to be a display room, 'Not too bad, you get used to flying-' His head whipped back to the center of the room so fast he almost got whiplash.
All the fine artisan jewelleries, artefact chinas, antique vases and hanging wall scrolls no matter how exquisite could have arrested the attention in the room from the man before him.
The king cut a figure sharper than diamonds in a three piece suit dark as midnight, embellished with flashes of gold on the lapel, cufflinks and a single dangling earring like the coy blink of stars. The jeweller's eyes were even brighter, more intense, heated in their vibrancy. Fuck. Childe felt like he was struck by the thunderbolt- Zeus himself may as well have emptied his quiver on his pathetic little heart.
'Tartaglia.' He held out a long slender hand.
Fuck! Even his voice was hot. The beauty blinked at him (Very cute).
I said that out loud! 'Ahem- Yes!' Childe internally winced at the un-reigned enthusiasm. 'Please call me Childe, it's what my family and friends call me.' He took the outstretched palm with both hands and squeezed lightly. Just one thumb ring. Ring-finger bare. Left-handed. 'Zhongli-xiansheng, I'm so glad to finally meet you. My godmother talked much about your work.'
Zhongli chuckled with a shadow exasperation, 'My old acquaintance must have had much more to say about me than my work.' He turned to his side and gestured for another tall door. 'Let us continue in my office then, Childe. Ganyu please bring our guest some refreshments. Have you eaten? Your flight must have been tiring.'
Childe bit his lip upon that ass when the jeweller turned, he could bounce a quarter off that peach- No, he could ricochet a bullet off an ass that perky, fuck, imagine being held down by an ass like that. Childe had come for a brooch to match his godmother's favourite pair of earrings for her birthday. He had recently happened upon a a fat boulder opal (whose original owner he had timely dispatched) and saw it would compliment the pale gems his godmother adored but fuck that, the Tsaritsa had never said that the old master was gorgeous. Definitely older than himself but Childe wasn't very old to begin with, he'd have just graduated college if he didn't enter the family business instead. In contrast, diplomas and certificates crowded Zhongli's back wall, it would have been more correct to call him Dr. Zhongli considering how many PhDs the man hoarded for the fun of it.
The first time Childe visited the exclusive Zhongli-Xiansheng's Atelier he was offered caviar on bread and premium vintage champagne, perhaps out of respect for his heritage. He peered over the rim of the crystal as the jeweller rotated 3D models and showed him mock ups of his boss's brooch. This little appointment in Zhongli's immaculate office was finer than any soiree he had ever attended, but perhaps that was due to the sole company of the one very good-looking man. Listening to him chatter on about Art Nouveau and Australian Opals had to be Childe's new favourite thing, and Childe had never enjoyed listening to people talk before. 'Whatever the artist thinks is best.' He supplied the same simple answer to watch those soft lips keep moving. Zhongli studied him for a moment before seeming to nod in understanding, 'Very well.'
The second time he visited a month later he was offered goldfish crackers and orange juice from concentrate (though in Waterford Crystal glassware).
'You're early.' He had noted with some amusement. 'Xiao will retrieve the brooch from the workshop, do take a seat and help yourself while you wait.' Zhongli gestured to the stately vessel of aquatic-themed cheddar snacks. So, Zhongli-xiansheng was more worldly than expected... Childe watched him elegantly sample a fish biscuit.
Childe shrugged to himself and scooped a handful of crackers popping them into his mouth and munched without reservation, earning himself a pleased smile from the lovely jeweller.
'Zhongli-laoshi is a very talented man who's attentions cannot be captured by trifling matters you see.' Ganyu explained to him as she poured him a whiskey glass of OJ. 'Once he sees something he deems valuable, it is his regardless of the price tag- But as I said, the mundane matters escape him and, well. Budget goes awry at times...'
'Ahem.' Zhongli cleared his throat, a blush dusted the tops of his ears like a gentle powder on sugared donuts.
Childe decided he should marry this man.
'Ah, here we are.' Zhongli lit up as a stoic teenager appeared with a fine wooden case. 'My apprentice, Xiao.' He gestured to the fierce looking young man, many dark rings adorned his slim fingers as he set the box on the low table. A black t-shirt and ripped jeans would have suited him and his piercings more than the pressed shirt and chinos. 'I believe you two are of the same age.'
Childe raised his eyebrows, they briefly met each other's eyes. Both inwardly shivered in disgust.
Xiao's touch was gingerly as he unlidded the box and presented the brooch. It really was sublime. 'Wow.' Child blurted out thoughtfully. 'A bee.'
Zhongli's lip crooked. 'A queen.' An asymmetric piece, a little art nouveau , a little classic and a little camp. An insect almost lifelike in construction reared against the black velvet. Under one glorious spread wing was a dripping royal blue constellation making Childe think of home, celestials, and the macabre woman herself.
'All the other gemstones, I didn't cover enough for them-' Childe reached for his checkbook, Zhongli gestured for him to stop.
'Consider it a gift for an old friend.' Was his easy reply.
Childe couldn't just let this fine specimen of a man eat nothing but goldfish cracker's at his expense, 'Then let me take you out for a meal to show my appreciation.' He didn't miss the twisted scowl on the apprentice's face, the secretary hummed.
Zhongli considered him with a mild expression, 'Sure.'
Childe felt like he killed just to see a smile like that.
-
Childe flicked through his emails halfheartedly before moving to his album.
For a man who loved jewellery so much, Zhongli had only worn one earring. Until Childe gifted him a new one, black Tahitian pearl. His first present to Zhongli in their relationship. He didn't put it on right away though he did show his appreciation by settling between Childe's legs and blew him wet and dirty then and there in the restaurant's private room, scuffing his own fine suit trousers in the process. Being sucked off by a gentleman on his knees semi-public while drinking Death After Noon? Then being kissed filthily by the same mouth covered in the taste of his own cum? If that wasn't love then Childe didn't know what was.
The next time they saw each other Zhongli had pierced his other ear. It wasn't what he had in mind but whatever, Childe thought it was adorable. He had taken hundreds of photos of the man despite the complaints and flicked through them all fondly remembering.
Some time later from Geneva, Childe sent Zhongli a black and gold watch, after all he was in the watch capital of the world. They were long distance, Childe travelled the world for his job and sometimes for months at a time. As did Zhongli at times for certain grand events and conventions, but most of the time the craftsman was bound to his atelier. Though Childe was sure to not let the distance between them water down any of his affections with the amount of money and expensive trinkets sent Zhongli's way. He sent a pair of yellow topaz earrings with the watch and hoped to see Zhongli's jewellery match the next time they saw each other.
Well, they did match when he returned to Zhongli's new Childe-funded penthouse in Shanghai. These photos were in the hidden section of his albums.
-
'You can't touch them yet.' Zhongli stopped the hands wandering up his chest to his freshly pierced nipples. Sure enough it was the same set of droplet topaz fashioned to drip between the gold barbels of the piercings. The jeweller lay on his back as the contract killer slowly grinded their clothed crotches together. His new rolex rested on his nightstand.
'But I love touching them.' Childe made a pathetic face with his big puppy-dog eyes.
'There are plenty more places to touch...' Zhongli dragged his hands downwards.
-
'Sir?' Yekatarina leaned down to whisper something into his ear before he climbed into his behemoth of a car. Childe grunted and waved his hand at such trivial matters, his secretary nodded and the Maybach sped off.
There was some rapt fascination and childish curiosity each time Childe sent Zhongli jewellery, he anticipated everything Zhongli would do next as creative as the artist was. The last installment had been a naval ring pretty between his abs.
He had been away for almost a month in the Americas playing the long con with some old associates, a damned big score collapsing an entire human trafficking ring bathed in swimming pools of blood and cash, cash, cash. Childe's fingers twitched as if he was eager for his gun in the elevator up to their sky loft. It's been too long, he missed his fiancé, his voice, his fingers, the touch of his skin and the hot inside of his mouth...
Did Zhongli miss him as badly as he did? Could he have a surprise waiting for him? Home-cooked food? Sex? A bath together? Food then bath sex? Any combination was good, fuck. What could Zhongli be wearing today? Perhaps... A cheeky thought... Lingerie from a Parisian Boutique? Childe wondered if he sent enough silks and negligees lately.
The elevator door opened and the key card almost slipped out his hand in anticipation.
'Welcome home, qin.' Dearest, beloved, precious. Childe wanted to cry every time Zhongli said the word.
His love was reclined easy on the couch reading some hefty tome on whatever interested him at the moment, fully in white- only his hands, face and bare feet visible. How modest... Well, it was the beginning of winter and he was never good with the cold. Zhongli wore a high, thick turtleneck and snowy slacks, their rug must be soft under his naked toes.
'Zhongli.' He rounded the long couch and held his face between his hands. 'Kotik.' Zhongli laughed, oh yes, his kitten spoke almost all the languages of the world. 'Zaichik.' Childe rubbed his bunny cheek with the pad of his thumb. 'New earrings?' Riviera pearls. Surprising, Zhongli had never changed his earrings for him before...
He hummed, 'Not so new, just a new form.'
-
‘He gave her a string of pearls valued at three hundred and fifty thousand dollars…’
They were facetiming, 8am in New York and 8pm in Shenzhen. Between Zhongli's fingers ran streams and streams of stringed pearls, fine and soft like running water and still there were lengths left to it in its box.
‘I knew that quote.’
‘Commendable reading level Childe.’ Zhongli flashed a smirk at the camera but the adoring blush was high on his cheek all the same.
‘But, you know with inflation, 350 thousand turns into 5 million so easily…' Childe swirled his coffee mug with nonchalance, he peered into the empty cup and batted his long lashes. 'I bought it for 9 million.’
Zhongli made a sound over the phone that sounded very much like a moan.
-
'My love is so talented...' Childe leaned down and nipped at Zhongli's ears and lids.
'Hm...' He peered into Zhongli's clear amber eyes. 'What's wrong, lyubimiy?'
The jeweller looked bashful, 'I... Maxed out your card...' Childe snickered, 'That's not new. I've already been told.'
Zhongli's expression still didn't ease. 'I want to buy something...' Childe blinked. 'Now... It's a standing order...' Childe guffawed, so Zhongli was struggling against the clock over whatever caught his eye. Childe wanted to tease a little.
'So, Zhongli wants...' Childe looked to the side in thought. 'This?' He whipped out a black card from who knows where, it glinted in the sunlight filtered through their glass panel walls. Zhongli's eyes twinkled.
'Ah, ah.' Childe held it out of reach. 'How well behaved have you been lately?' He pouted, feigning disappointment. 'Spending all my hard earned money and then hardly sparing a phone call my way, hm?' He smoothed his thumb over the seam of Zhongli's lips with his other hand. Zhongli opened his mouth to object, Childe took the opening to slide his thumb into Zhongli's mouth and pressed his tongue. 'Open.'
Zhongli caught Childe by surprise with a tongue piercing. Childe's eyebrows raised and his dick jumped. A little pearl on his tongue, from the same string as his earrings. Zhongli moved slowly from his seat to kneel on the living room rug to show his sincerity.
Childe swore under his breath, 'Don't move...' Zhongli blinked in acknowledgment. The younger man made quick work of his belt and freed his cock, he slid it soft into Zhongli's mouth with little ceremony and the jeweller closed around it invitingly. Zhongli's eyes were wide, focused on the black card held high above his head, Childe's cock hardened in his mouth. His fiancé kissed his cock before he kissed his lips after a month of separation... Childe thought he was the luckiest idiot in the world. He thrusted shallowly and Zhongli stayed still, attention focused on his prize, even when a hand wound tight into his long hair.
Zhongli doesn't gag, he maintained eye contact even as Childe face-fucked him and tugged his hair, his hands at his side hidden in his sleeves. When Childe's cock grew to full mast and stuffed into the back of his throat the muscles fluttered under the strain, Zhongli's eyes watered slightly but otherwise he obediently stays still. Fuck, Childe wondered who was in control here. He groaned as Zhongli pressed his tongue up the underside of his shaft, digging the smooth pearl along the vein. Childe pulled out until only the head remained in Zhongli's sinful mouth, he suckled the head and licked, occasionally dipping the piercing into the slit. Childe took a ragged breath, 'Did you plan this? Got your tongue done just after I left just to suck me off when I returned?' Zhongli gave him an innocent look and slurped on his precum.
Childe dropped the hand holding the card about to take two fistfuls of Zhongli hair and fuck his throat until he found himself pressed onto the couch, card no longer in his hands but between Zhongli's fingers. His cock twitched, still wet and very much hanging out as Zhongli straddled him. The older man held the card between his lips and lifted to shimmy out of his trousers. No underwear, Childe mused. Zhongli weighed down on his lap like it was where he belonged and dragged the fabric of his thick sweater up revealing strings and strings of a pearl body chain. His earrings weren't the only things Zhongli changed as his nipples and naval piercing were changed to pearls too. His hard pretty cock was drooling beads of precum like pearls too...
'I love you so fucking much...' Childe immediately lathed attention to Zhongli's chest and tongued the rings, occasionally nipping. Zhongli hummed and dragged a hand between his spread legs, past his balls and taint to... Something solid and compact at his hole. 'Fuck.' Childe almost ripped the thick plug out of Zhongli earning a hiss, Childe showered his skin between pearls with kisses in apology and dragged Zhongli's hips down towards his throbbing cock. There was a blue gem embedded into the bottom of the toy, unimportant as Childe tossed it somewhere.
Zhongli lifted his dripping hole when Childe tried to buck up, one hand supporting himself on Childe's shoulder, the other rucking up his sweater, between his teeth was still the bank card. Zhongli sheathed himself on the thick cock, even with all the lube, saliva and toy stretching him, his eyelashes fluttered and he moaned at the deep stretch of his fiancé's impressive length. He shook his head when Childe tried to thrust and dropped himself up and down in his lap. 'Missed you...' He murmured around the card in his mouth right into Childe's ears. The cock inside him twitched. Zhongli rode him with nothing less than passion, the jewellery rustled, bounced and glinted against his flushed skin, somehow making him appear more scandalous than when Zhongli was naked and Childe moaned at the sight.
Childe snaked a hand between them to stroke Zhongli in tandem, a grip on his wrist stopped him and pressed his hand into the back of the couch. Zhongli liked to come untouched. Such expensive taste.
Too fucking sexy.
Zhongli made a sound like a snort. Childe spoke aloud again.
Zhongli bounced erratically in his lap, pace dissolving when they both neared their peaks. Zhongli fell forward and the card dropped from between his teeth as he gasped on a particularly well aimed thrust at his prostate. 'Ajax!' Childe immediately gripped Zhongli's ass and slammed him down, Zhongli wailed but didn't stop him. They moved against each other rutting hard, Zhongli bit hard where Childe's shoulder met neck through his shirt and came in spurts over his suit. Childe groaned and grinded hard into Zhongli's pulsing hole and filled him deep with his release.
They didn't separate for the duration of some heavy breathing until Zhongli pushed off Childe's chest. 'I ran a bath, and there's also soup cooking on the stove for later.'
'You're so fucking perfect.' Childe hugged him tight and kissed his fingers, a thick antique gold band Childe presented him for his engagement ring glinted in the light. Not as fine as Zhongli's own creations but he couldn't ask his fiancé to craft his own ring, it was an extravagant antique (And Zhongli did like antiques) worth a pretty penny and a mansion soldered with dragons and phoenixes like a traditional bride's wedding bangle.
'How about we bring the wedding forward? A spring wedding.'
'During Lunar New Years? That's too daring.'
'A winter wedding then? How about Christmas, how audacious is that?'
Zhongli laughed, his eye's crinkled and pet Childe's unruly hair, 'Carry me to the bath please.'
'I'll carry you anywhere, lyubimiy.'