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Ever since the Osial debacle, Childe has been avoiding a certain incognito former god turned funeral parlor consultant. Though not because of any ill feelings that could’ve possibly carried over from said debacle, as one might assume. Childe was a thick-skinned kinda guy who didn’t tend to take things personally or hold grudges, so even if it stung a bit that Zhongli had purposely kept him in the dark, he could accept that as a natural result of him being wary of the Harbinger who was out for his Gnosis. It was sorta weird that the Tsarista was in on it and they still didn’t tell him shit, but if she didn’t have a problem with him being clueless, he couldn’t complain.
No, the reason why he was now avoiding his kinda-sorta business partner turned friend turned ambiguous relationship was the realization that Zhongli and Rex Lapis are one in the same. This led to worst case of 20/20 hindsight whiplash that Childe has ever experienced.
The really funny but also absolutely not funny part was that Childe had been planning on meeting back up with Zhongli sometime that week, only a couple days after the whole thing had gone down and had time to level back into normality. One second, he’d been thinking of the best way to casually pop into Wangsheng to pretend like nothing had happened. The next, clarity had stricken him. The moment it came upon him caused such a visceral, gut-wrenching reaction, he immediately had to excuse himself from the meeting he’d been having with Ekaterina to retreat into his private room.
He entered the room silently, a man facing the gallows he was sentenced to by his own hand, and promptly fell face first onto the covers. A single arm reached out to pull him his pillow towards his face, and with the proper set up now in place, he wordlessly screamed as loud as his lungs would let him.
This was then followed up with him incoherently screaming at the memory of his past self– “You idiot! Moron! You absolute clown! What the fuck have you done to yourself?! What the fuck?!”
But he had to scream in that moment– he had to, because all his mind could do was replay a highlight reel of all the times he now so deeply regretted…
“Say Zhongli… when looking at one of his statues, don’t you think Morax is probably really hot? Like, he’s absolutely stacked! And that’s only what we can see from the front!”
Zhongli had blinked back at him, somewhat bewildered but not as much as to be expected from someone facing a foreigner dirty talking about the area’s reigning Archon. He responded with equal hesitancy, “I… do not find that idea crossing my thoughts, no.”
Childe had turned away from his gazing up at the Statue of the Seven’s detailed artistic rendering of Morax’s abs to smile sheepishly at his companion. It was probably a sign he had a few screws loose that Childe could look at the visage of the god he was supposed to assasinate and appreciate their attractiveness, but what else could a mortal think when faced with a build like that?
“Ah, I guess you wouldn’t since he’s your god, huh? It’s different when you’re not from around here.” With a bit of mischief in his tone, Childe looked away from Zhongli once again to state, “I think most can’t deny that when they made his statue, the sculptors really made it look like he’d be a good fight. And a good fuck.”
Zhongli cleared his throat in a not-so-subtle attempt to settle the croak in his throat, “Ahem, that is… I’d known you were prone to looking for fights, Childe, but not so much… other forms of activities.”
“Usually I’m not, yeah, but like I said– ” He gestured back up at Morax in all his six-pack glory to prove his point. “ –it’s just the natural thing to think about when someone looks at that!”
“ …Even if you think that way, I’d advise not to say so too close to the statue. It’s rumored the Archons can hear the whispers and prays said around their respective representations.”
“Oh shit.” Childe took a couple large steps away from the statue, conveniently coming up next to Zhongli to sling an arm around in good-will. He patted the other’s shoulder in acknowledgement with a grin. “Thanks for that warning! It’d be awful if the guy heard me waxing poetry about how touchable his chest looked! Aha!”
For the first time since he’d met the stoic consultant, a faint flush of color dusted Zhongli’s cheeks. The smile he returned was almost nervous as he said, “Yes, that would be… something. Though I also wouldn’t describe your words as waxing poetry, either.”
–Stupid. Fucking stupid. Not even a clown but the whole damn circus. Has anyone ever unknowingly humiliated themselves that much in the history of Teyvat? Zhongli would probably tell him no, he won first place in that without even trying–
But it didn’t stop there, oh no. If it had, maybe there could’ve been a chance of recovery. He could play it off as a tasteless joke. But of course Childe hadn’t stopped there, because Childe is now apparently the biggest idiot he knows–
“Morax was basically the strongest god of his time and most of after, right? How much you wanna bet humans and other gods were throwing themselves at his feet just for a chance at a night? Haha! If I was from that time, I might’ve been tempted too!”
“That is… Morax was not particularly known for taking lovers. Even if such a thing occurred, it is unlikely he would succumb to earthly desires that did not afflict him.”
“Hey Xiansheng, don’t know if you’d know this, but the books say Rex Lapis could take on many forms. You think he ever tried to do both male and female at once? That’d be a cool experience to try. In more than one way, if you know what I mean.”
“ …That is likely something only the Geo Archon himself would know. There’s nothing wrong with the idea of such a thing, but as always, your… interpretation leaves much to be desired.”
“Okay, this is probably sorta offensive since you Liyuens consider dragons and qilins to be sacred and all– but I was wondering the other day how much like a regular reptile dragons were like, you know? As in… is the resemblance strong enough that Rex Lapis might have two– ”
“You’re correct in your statement that such inquiries are offensive, Childe. Please cease and desist. Please.”
Childe really should’ve realized something was up when Zhongli was reduced to outright begging him not to be horny whenever talking about the local god, but like Childe had already realized, he was an idiot. And therefore, it went right over his head.
He’s always dismissed those people that criticized his lackadaisical nature throughout the years– He talks too much. He’s too blunt and frank about stuff. He needs to get even an ounce of shame in his body about anything. He has no filter if it’s not required by his work. What did it matter what they thought of him, he’d laughed.
Now, he was the one to be laughed at. A total laughingstock. They were all absolutely right, and the damage had already been irreparably done.
Not only that, but he’d completely ignored the only warning Zhongli had given him about the whole mess. Completely ignored his suggestion not to talk to the Statue of the Seven because he hadn’t been talking about Rex Lapis that time, and did it really matter if Liyue’s Archon knew his thoughts on a certain consultant that lived among his people? He’d heard people not of Snezhnaya sometimes used the statues as a sort of confessional, and his heart had been full enough that he’d wanted to try it himself for some relief.
“ …I know you Archons don’t shape your people the same way you shape your lands, but really… whatever in Celestia does handle that stuff outdid themselves with him.”
Childe sighed as he slid down to sit and lean back against the base of the statue. He gazed not at Morax, but at the much more enticing and heart-wrenching view of the formal chopsticks that had been gifted to him. A reminder of Zhongli.
“It’s not like… I don’t know what this could mean, you know? I did my research before I came here.”
They featured a dragon intertwined with a phoenix as their design. It took every bit of disciplined training his body had not to overly react to it. This kind of item wasn’t always a wedding dowry, he’d reminded himself, but Zhongli was exactly the kind of person to subscribe to traditional rites for important things so what if–
“But– But why would he mean it like that? He couldn’t. And even if he did… I don’t really have the right to accept it. It’s easier if I just pretend to be the ignorant foreigner that can’t recognize an old-fashion Liyuen proposal. And that way… nothing has to change,” Even as he whispered this, though, he clutched the chopsticks closer to his chest. It was like he could feel the dragon and phoenix markings brand themselves against his skin. Childe closed his eyes to shut out the world and just feel. The image of warm amber eyes and a gentle smile was impossible to banish away.
“He didn’t even pay for them, I bought them myself! That’d be the saddest proposal I’d ever heard of! It can’t be right… But… But I wish it was. Oh gods, I can’t help it. He’s everything I never knew I wanted. The most intelligent citizen you have, the most kind, the most beautiful– Archons, he’s so beautiful. I didn’t think men could look like that before I’d met him.”
That deep velvet voice resounded in his head– “To help you learn and fully appreciate the offerings Liyue has to give you” Was it a suggestion in more ways than one? Was he overthinking it? He was probably just projecting his wish fulfillment, right?
Now that the gates had been opened, his heart let out what it had been crying to him all this time, “If– If it was even possible to have a future with him, he’d never have to work another day in his life. I’d take care of everything for him. Give him everything, all the fancy jewels and stones and food he’d ever want. He deserves everything the world has to offer him and more, and I wanna be the one to give it to him. All he’d have to do is just be happy. That’s all I would need.”
Childe had to open his eyes then, though, to stare at the reality before him. The countryside of Liyue was just as beautiful as it’d looked before– a beauty that didn’t belong to him, a hostile foreign agent in a land just a tad too warm for the coldblooded nature of his home nation and work. Just like Zhongli himself.
“But more than that… I’d kill anyone that even thought of touching him. I’d kill myself before I could touch him, so that I don’t ruin him… Ever since I fell into that place that’s just what happens. I can’t be normal, anymore. And with all the political complications on top of it… some dreams are just meant to stay dreams, even if they’re nice to think about.”
Standing up to give a parting pat onto the statue’s pillar, Childe joked with a chuckle, “Don’t tell him I said any of that though, will you? It’s a secret from one warrior to another. Make it a contract if you have to. I swear I’m good to pay my debts– Xiansheng can attest to that much.”
–The circus didn’t even cover it at that point. Sad. Pitiful. Utterly pathetic. He might as well just bury himself six feet deep and wait for death to take him. That would also let him avoid Zhongli in death, too. Childe never thought of the other’s job at the resident funeral parlor as being inconvenient before–
He didn’t know what was worse– the way he uncaringly hyped up Morax’s sex appeal to Zhongli or the way he completely poured out his heart about Zhongli to Morax’s statue. One was a downright embarrassment to humanity while the other was an exposing humiliation on an extremely vulnerable emotional level.
And so here he was almost two months later, having not seen Zhongli since the day Childe saw him hand his Gnosis over to Signora. Zhongli attempted to meet him once, he knows, about a month into Childe never showing his face around him. However, when Ekaterina brought the news the god had showed up at the door of the Northland Bank requesting him, he told her to pretend that we was out and hid in his office like the coward he never knew he could be.
Zhongli hasn’t tried a second time since, and Childe should be pleased by that since it was exactly what he was trying to do, but the fact the other was seemingly giving up on this so easily was just reaffirmation nothing would come out of meeting again anyway. He’d probably tell Childe to never speak the name Morax or Rex Lapis ever again, because clearly he couldn’t be trusted to give the holy respect they deserve, and then he’d kindly let him know that his embarrassingly strong one-sided feelings were unreciprocated. And that if they wanted to stay friends, they’d have to pretend like Childe hadn’t practically confessed his love to him by accident.
And he’d suck it up and pretend like nothing had happened, he would, but it was a double sting to have made a fool of himself so badly while also having to accept the reality of rejection. Despite all his best efforts, on the inside he had still been hoping for more all those nights out dinning Zhongli among the dim night lights of Liyue.
These kinds of thoughts had been circling around in his head for this entire time now. It was during one of those spiraling moments that he was now on his way to the Golden House to face off against the Traveler once again.
Truly, their spars were the only reminder of normality he felt between the constant mental barrage repeating to him how horrible a mess of a human being he was. Childe didn’t mind bribing a few folks to use the former mint as a fighting dojo of sorts. It was close enough to the Harbor while being isolated away from people or monsters that could interrupt their fun. He’d wondered before what Zhongli would think of him essentially renting out the place like this for that kind of thing, before he decided that was the last thing the god would be worried about concerning him.
The last time they’d met to spar, though, the Traveler had brought up what Childe was so desperately trying to avoid. The floating fiend Paimon had innocently questioned why Childe hadn’t gone out to Wanmin with Zhongli like he so often had before. He’d blatantly turned down the question, stating outright he didn’t want anything to do with the Geo Archon currently –conveniently leaving out the reasoning being that he was too embarrassed to show his face to the god. Lumine and Paimon had both looked at him with obvious concern, before taking a glancing look at each other, but they didn’t try following up and that was all he wanted. Childe was glad the tense moment hadn’t led to the other not wanting to spar with him anymore.
Usually Childe was the one to arrive first and have to wait a few minutes before the Traveler showed up, so that day, he was surprised to feel the doorhandle give under his hold without having unlocked it. He brushed it off though, walking in swiftly to make sure the other hadn’t been waiting long on him.
Sitting in the middle of the spacious room was now a wooden table featuring a steaming pot of tea, complete with a set of chairs. One was empty, and the other held the former god of Liyue in its seat.
Zhongli took a short sip from the cup in his grasp, before turning his glowing eyes on him
Childe walked backwards towards the door to grab the handle again.
The sight of his retreat caused Zhongli to pop out of his seat a bit and call out, his cup now on the table and hand stretched out towards him, “Childe, please, wait! I… I want to talk. Please.”
The “please” instantly reminded Childe of the other time Zhongli had pleaded with him, forcing a wince out of him. But Zhongli looked at him with such pleading eyes, furrowed with a concern he’d never seen from the other before. How could Childe ever turn that face down when Zhongli begged him like that, regardless of the shame that heated his veins?
Heaving a fortifying sigh, he made his way to the seat opposite of Zhongli. The cushion was comfy, and now that he was close, he could see the quality of the table and chairs was top of the line– just the kind that Zhongli would prefer. He blinked at it in realization.
“Didn’t I buy this set for you?”
Zhongli, having regained his composure and now sitting back in his seat, blinked back before closing his eyes with a cough in his throat. His tone was slightly abashed, “ …Yes, you did. My thanks again for the generosity. It’s usually featured in my own home, but I wished to have a proper setting for discussion. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all!” Except for the fact that he minded having to discuss anything in the first place. “I’m just glad you’re getting good use out of it. That means it was mora well spent. About this set up, though… should I assume my training partner is a no-show today?”
Zhongli reopened his eyes with an apologetic nod. “They graciously allowed me their timeslot. When it became clear I wouldn’t be running into you on ‘accident’ or purposely anytime soon, they were glad to be of assistance to facilitate our meeting.”
Someone was getting a huge beatdown the next time they fought. “Is that so… Well, your grand plan has worked once again.” Childe leaned back in his chair, holding his hands up to gesture towards himself with feigned confidence. A bitter grin crossed his expression. “I’m caught in your trap and you’ve got me right where you want me. What did you wanna discuss, exactly?”
Zhongli scowled at the sight, before he averted his gaze down to the table. His hands busied themselves collecting the second jade-colored teacup to pour out a share for Childe, and Childe had to force himself not to watch alongside and appreciate how unfairly delicate those strong gloved hands were.
“I suppose one could say that is exactly what I wished to talk about– my ‘grand plan’ as you called it. The one involving Liyue, the Fatui, and yourself.”
At least he was leading into it gently, and not jumping right to all the regrettable moments Childe was trying and failing to block out in that moment. “Oh yeah, what about it?”
“The fact that it was not part of the so-called plan to hurt you.”
Zhongli got directly to his point with such striking honesty, Childe was left off kilter by it. Cor Lapis-hue irises looked back up at him with solemness in the set of them. Childe hardly noticed the teacup had been placed in front of him. “I’ve consulted with some of the wisest that I know, and we came to a consensus on how I must move forward with this. With you. You were not on the side of Liyue, but we had a bond of implied trust which I discarded, and I never wished to do so. It was convenient to my devices to leave you as you were, let things play out for the test of Liyue to come naturally, and such convenience was at the cost of your regard for me. For taking advantage of this and taking advantage of you, and all which you have provided me both purposely and unwittingly, I must give my greatest regrets.”
Zhongli bowed his head towards him at a picture-perfect angle of apology at that, and if Childe had been drinking the tea before him, he would’ve sputtered it at that. The long-winded consultant continued regardless, unknowing of how he was leaving the recipient of his apology absolutely bewildered.
“I realize that wrongs cannot be righted with mere words. I wish to make things up to you, however that may be, so that one day you may be able to once again withstand my presence and perhaps even enjoy our time together as we had before. I understand, though, if you desire to return to our avoidance and not allow our paths in life to cross again. I can only request that you consider my words, and that I will be sure to offer to you in turn equal in value to what I have taken from your kindness– ”
“Xiansheng,” Childe finally had to cut him off. Usually he was fine listening to Zhongli’s never-ending verbal tirades, but what the fuck– “I’m not– I never said I was upset by any of that crap! And I’m not! You don’t need to be apologizing, I swear!”
Taking a few seconds to process those words in his mind, Zhongli righted himself to give Childe a confused look. “You… are not upset with me?”
“No! For Tsarista’s sake, the Fatui lie every damn day as part of their job description! You had your own thing going, I had my own thing going; it’s all fine! Quid Pro Quo!”
“ …If you are not upset, though… then why are you going to such great lengths to break ties with me? You do not need to pretend for my sake, Childe.”
Oh shit, he’s really gonna have to lay it all out himself, huh? Totally walked into that one…
But once again, Childe was entirely too weak to the sight of Zhongli’s sad, pleading golden eyes paired with his pouty frown. Those gorgeous lips looked so fine in a pout, but not because of something like this.
He finally picked the teacup off the table. The warmth he could feel radiating through his gloves was a grounding sensation, and when raised up the object provided a subtle yet pathetic barrier between his face and Zhongli’s piercing gaze. Just the thought of what he was about to say reddened his fair complexion with heat. He was sure that by the end of the conversation, it’d reach up to the tips of his ears and down the length of his chest.
“Xiansheng, come on, I mean… You gotta remember what I’ve said, right?”
Zhongli didn’t take his que, continuing to look perplexed. “What you said? What exactly are you referring to?”
“Everything?! Okay– not everything, but it feels like everything!” Childe hunched in his seat to further hide behind his teacup. “Like, you know… when I talked about Morax sometimes?”
Zhongli blinked once. Then another time. Then his eyes widened slightly and a much fainter red than Childe’s rose up in his cheeks. His expression swiftly switched back to something more neutral, but the blush stayed even with his now flat tone, “ …Ah, yes. I believe I know of what you refer to.”
“We’ve spent almost a year together, Zhongli-xiansheng. A year. And how much have I said straight to your face during all that time? About– about Morax’s chest, and abs, and biceps, and even his dick– I asked you if you have two dicks straight to your face, Zhongli!” The teacup was slammed back onto the tabletop in favor of Childe giving in all at once and burying his face in his hands. There wasn’t enough bravery in the whole of Teyvat for him to look Zhongli in the eye anymore. “Do you not see what the issue is here?!”
“ …You did not seemed bothered in the moment of you asking– ”
“Dear Celestia– that’s because I didn’t know it was you, Zhongli! All this time, I’ve been saying the most awful things about you to you! Without even knowing it! Not even the Tsaritsa or all of Celestia itself could save me from myself and how much of an embarrassment I am to the human race!”
“Come now, Childe, you know that is an exaggeration.” The sound of wood scraping shortly over the floor predated the weight of a hand laying itself upon his shoulder in comfort. Said comfort burned like deadly wildfire through the insufficient barrier that was his jacket and shirt. “It wasn’t that bad, truly.”
Childe peeked an eye out the side to looked in accusation at Zhongli’s now sheepish face. “You cannot be serious. It’s a lie if you try and claim you were okay with me saying that kinda stuff around you, and you know it!”
At that, Zhongli leveled one of those serious looks that he was known for in the face of Childe’s mental flailing. “Those moments were uncomfortable for me, true, but I knew you meant no harm by them. And they are most certainly not worth losing your friendship over. You are so much more precious to me than that type of minor mistake and awkwardness, Childe. There’s no need to be so harsh on yourself.”
That sentiment choked up the next breath that Childe took. His eye retreated back into his hands once more. To his utter embarrassment, he could feel his eyes stinging under the pressure of his palms pressed against them. Like they wanted to cry.
It was too much, the humiliation of it all. Not only Zhongli having seen him at his most crass, but also at his most vulnerable. Bearing his heart out in a way no one had been meant to see. And now Zhongli continues to look at him, continues to see him when Childe is weak and can’t contain the rapid beating of his heart within his chest at every word the god said to him. Zhongli must see how Childe is affected by him, the way his breathing stutters and his blood rushes to his face. If he were a lesser, mortal man, Childe would assume Zhongli was mocking him by prodding and making it worse.
“ …You can’t just say something like that to me.”
“And why not? It is nothing but the truth.”
“You should know why, Xiansheng. You– you heard, didn’t you? Or were you messing with me about the Statue of the Seven thing?”
There was a brief, fleeting second of hope before Zhongli hummed in realization responding, “Ah… Yes, what I said is correct. Therefore, I did hear the time you are referencing.”
Childe was about to whine and press the other into not leading him on, when the grip on his shoulder tightened. He was pulled forward to lean against Zhongli’s chest, the other keeping his one arm firmly in place. The shock it sent through Childe caused his hands to drop and hover awkwardly above his lap, not yet finding the courage to turn his gaze onto the now closer man.
Zhongli’s deep reverberating baritone was quiet in his ear, his lips close enough now Childe could almost feel them brush against the shell of it when they moved, “I’m sorry for having listened in on something not intended for my ears. I wasn’t going to bring it up considering I’d believed you to be displeased with me, and therefore possibly having changed how you feel. But if it’s true that isn’t the case, then… I must tell you, Childe, the way you waxed poetry about me brought me great joy.”
In an impossible feat, Childe’s face got even redder at that. He finally had to turn his gaze up to look upon the utterly fond way Zhongli looked over him. “Xiansheng, you… Really?”
“Most certainly!” Zhongli emphasized with firm insistence. He looked so serious about it, Childe feared the Wrath of the Rock may await him if he voiced his doubt a second time. “You were not overthinking things, Childe. The chopsticks I gave you were meant to be interpreted as a dowry, a proposal– though, I do apologize for it having apparently been the saddest proposal you’d heard of…”
Childe choked on his own spit at that, eyes probably wider than what was healthy for his eyes. “That’s– That’s not, I– ”
“I had been surprised you accepted the gift but not the intent, before I dismissed it as you simply being unaware of the meaning behind the symbolism. Hearing you at my statue brought much clarity and hindsight to our overall situation.” At that turn in the conversation, Zhongli gained another sheepish look.
“You see, while your Archon was supposed to send you over without you being informed of my identity, throughout our time together I’d assumed you must have picked up on it, as I interpreted your perverted statements to be a strong indication of ‘flirting’, as I believe it is called.”
A part inside of Childe instantly died upon hearing those words, but it wasn’t even over–
“ –I could see no other reason why you would be so forward with how the concept of ‘Morax’ was sexually appealing to you without it being subtle confirmation that you were aware of who I was and were interested in pursuing me romantically. Or in the words of a not so wise companion of mine– you were ‘aggressively hitting on me like a catcaller of the streets’– ”
Childe is beyond dead inside, he is deceased . Hu Tao has already looted his bank account to fund the funeral that has already occurred, for sure.
“ –And while I viewed these attempts as being overbearing, my feelings for you were clear to me, and so I sot to reciprocate. It was only after I overheard you that I realized you were still unaware of who I was, but had somehow developed a complex over my Archon persona as well as the mortal one which you knew. Life does work in mysterious ways, I suppose.”
Complex, he called it. That’s one way to put it, yeah.
And what a complex it was. Childe couldn’t bear to even glance away from Zhongli’s piercing gaze as he finished, forcing Childe’s heart to almost beat out of his chest, “I had not thought you’d be open to this now– I apologize for being ill-prepared. I promise to do it properly this time and buy you something with my own earnings, perhaps a ring instead. Please just wait a week so I have time to find something of sufficient quality, and I will ask you again outright.”
Childe was dreaming. He had to be dreaming, right? It wasn’t all in his head this time; Zhongli was telling him straight to his face he wants to get married. Wants a second chance to propose.
Most people would question that sentiment. They hadn’t even started dating after all, and they’d been lying to each other about their true intentions half the time. But Morax the God of Contracts wasn’t most people, and Childe certainly wasn’t either. When he knew what he wanted, there was no need to hesitate. No point in waiting to take it for himself.
He pulled himself away from Zhongli’s half hug to stand before the other. “I’m not waiting a week.”
Zhongli’s face fell slightly at those words, only for it to light back up again in surprise when Childe got down on one knee in front of him. He carefully took both of those slender, graceful hands into his own scarred ones, covered by gloves they might be.
“I don’t have a ring either, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll buy you the whole damn jewelry store. But are you sure about this? I’m not some innocent soul, and I’m not of your land, you know. The Tsaritsa won’t be pleased, and the Qixing probably won’t appreciate one of Liyue getting with the Harbinger that messed with them even if they don’t know who you really are.”
Zhongli beamed at him, his expression more vibrant than anytime Childe could remember. “I do not desire you to be innocent, I desire you as you are. I have already given your Archon what she sot from me, thus the Tsaritsa should have no issue. The opinion of the Qixing is irrelevant. In the slim chance they do not register the marriage as payback of some sort, registering through Snezhnaya’s legal system and the rites of the Adepti are all that is needed.”
Well, that’s that then.
“Then marry me!” Childe proclaimed more than asked, his determination to see this through too strong in his tone for what should be a question, “I’ll get a permanent station here, or you could leave your job and come back with me to Snezhnaya– I don’t care! Just promise to stay by my side! Make it a contract!”
“Marriage is always a contract, my Childe,” Zhongli stated simply. But before he even finished his words, the other had taken his hands back to wrap around Childe’s body, pulling him up to swing to the side in a sweeping embrace.
As he placed Childe back on his feet, Zhongli leaned in for a light touch of the lips. When he made to pull away, Childe grabbed the other by the collar to keep him close and deepened the innocent thing into a ravenous make out session.
The feeling of Zhongli’s tongue and the way he relaxed to let Childe lick into his mouth and smack their lips together obscenely was something he’d kill an entire army to feel, and here Zhongli was just giving it so freely. Childe could spend all the money in the world, and he wouldn’t gain anything this precious.
The make out session, of course, turned into more than a make out session. There was little less than a year’s worth of sexual tension to work out between them after all. But when Childe first slid his hand from its place on Zhongli’s hip down to cup an asset of Morax’s Childe would’ve been sure to rave about if the Statue of the Seven featured the god standing up, his lover tensed. Pulling back revealed the affect of the heat between them streaked across Zhongli’s cheeks, even when he firmly stated the Golden House was no place for ‘illicit acts’.
If Childe wanted to take the god, he’d have to bed Zhongli properly. He should’ve assumed so in the first place.
Childe could hardly remember the trip back to Zhongli’s small yet extravagantly decorated apartment. He’d been too busy looking out to make sure no one would interrupt them on their way and ruin their timing. As was Liyuen custom, the two removed their shoes to leave on the shoe rack at the entrance. After Zhongli shut the front door without bothering to lock it and carefully placed his coat on the rack nearby, Childe realized they’d done quite a lot of things out of order and thought he should fix at least one of them.
“Be at ease, Childe, and make yourself at home– ”
“My birth name’s Ajax,” he interjected before Zhongli could go off. Zhongli turned to give him a heavy stare. “No one really calls me that anymore except my family, but I want you to use it when we’re alone. What name do you want me to call you? You got more than one too.”
A moment of silence, before Zhongli replied without much change in his expression, “Whatever name you wish to refer to me as is sufficient, Ajax. What a bold name– it suits you, though the legend behind it is quite grim.”
Pushing down the sudden giddiness he felt hearing his true name roll off Zhongli’s lips, Childe raised an eyebrow at the other’s response to his question. Following Zhongli’s lead, he removed his own jacket and scarf to hang next to Zhongli’s. And after only a second of hesitation, Childe carefully dislodged the mask on his head to place down on a side table.
“Really? I know it’s all you, technically, but you gotta have a preference or something. Like, I’m fine with it when you call me Childe or if you’d call me Tartaglia, but Ajax just feels special. You don’t feel that kinda attachment to any of your names?”
“What I am referred to says more about what the person saying my name thinks of me than what it says about me myself,” Zhongli stated in a matter-of-fact way, similar to how he spoke all his anecdotes of wisdom, “If they refer to me as Morax, they likely think of me as I am of the Archon Wars –strong in mind and body, unmoving as the mountains, cold as stone, the God that won it all. If they prefer Rex Lapis, it is a sign of worship –reverence to my divinity, God of their land, respected among both mortal and immortal alike. And Zhongli… That is what I named my mortal self, so those who use it speak to me as a person, not as their God, and they likely do not realize I am their God. There is no name that encompasses all these views of me, and therefore, I have no preference.”
After hearing the long-winded explanation, Childe tilted his head back to laugh shortly, but got himself under control to say, “Haha! And you think Ajax encompasses all of me? I don’t think you realize Ajax is who I was before I got messed up, Xiansheng. Before I fell into the Abyss and got recruited by the Fatui. Of my names, I’d say it’s the least like I am right now.”
Those words fell from him mouth without hesitation, and Childe didn’t realize until after he’d spoken them that that was the very first time he’d ever told anyone about the Abyss. Even when he spoke to Morax’s statue, he’d been vague about it. It said something that Zhongli could so easily pull his innermost secrets out into the light without even trying, that Childe was helpless against the need to give him everything.
A forlorn look came upon Zhongli’s face, but he didn’t look surprised. He must’ve been able to sense Childe’s connection with the Abyss. Even still, though, he stepped into Childe’s personal space to gently cup his cheek with his palm. It was a firm gesture of affection even when his touch was light like a butterfly’s wing brushing his skin. His thumb rubbed Childe’s upper cheekbone under his eye ever so softly in a way that forced a sharp, gasping inhale from him.
“You are still the same person you were before you were pulled from your childhood, Ajax. Though your personality is different, the experiences you had remain in your memory. Your heart, your love, your soul still remain. That is not something many who fall into the Abyss can claim– be proud of both who you are and who you once were, for they are both the you that I have come to know and love.”
The heartbeat that had finally had a chance to calm down once again ramped up in speed. Childe was sure it was doing nothing good to his blood pressure, and the fluttering in his stomach almost made it hard to take a breath in, but he couldn’t ever remember feeling this happy before.
Zhongli had heard Childe’s own unintentional confession, but even after confirming he reciprocated, Childe hadn’t heard an outright confession from him. And now, here it was. Zhongli loved him– actually, really loved him.
He forced himself to speak even when he couldn’t keep his voice from cracking, “You’re such a– a sap! W-What am I supposed to say to that? And you totally distracted the conversation from what I was trying to say earlier. Whatever… I’m still calling you Zhongli-xiansheng, but don’t think I’m not talking to all of you, got it! I just think Zhongli as a name is prettier than the others. Perfect for a pretty god… And I love you, too.”
A light flush returned to Zhongli’s cheeks at that, causing the other to glance away in uncharacteristic bashfulness. “And you were so surprised as to how I’d assumed you’ve been flirting with me…”
“I mean– I did flirt with you sometimes, and I’m definitely flirting now, I just hadn’t been for those moments,” Childe chuckled quietly, his nerves resurfacing for a second. However, he quicky steeled himself back up to push forward and take the prize that was Zhongli’s lips once more. He felt the other gasp against his mouth, before relaxing into the motions as easily as he had prior.
Zhongli’s lips were perfect, of course. Soft and supple in a way that made Childe bite into their flesh, but only lightly as to not cause real harm. His tongue moved more in exploration than out of the desperation it’d held before, now that Childe was accepting this was real and not a fleeting moment that’d run away within the blink of an eye. He heard Zhongli groan deep in his throat when Childe took the other’s tongue in between his lips to suck. It spurred him on to maneuver the other further into his home as well as they could without parting.
Only a moment was spared to open the door of the bedroom before Childe guided the other onto a large, plush bed with neutral tan sheets. They ended up with Childe leaning over Zhongli, his weight supported by his forearms and knees framing either side of the god under him. Those radiant golden eyes looked up at him half-lidded in drowsy pleasure. His long hair was still tied back, but the strands were scattered beside his head on the sheets. They glowed softly in the dim light of the room, revealing the man as the god he was.
Childe peeled off his gloves, fully intent on feeling every inch of Zhongli’s skin, slipping his fingers under Zhongli’s gloves to slide them off as well. Zhongli closed his eyes with a furrowed brow and stuttering sigh at the intimate action. It made Childe’s mind run wild with thoughts of how he’d react to Childe sticking his fingers into other, more intimate parts.
“Zhongli… I– I wanna feel you. Wanna make love to you. Is that okay? Or do you want something else?” he finally had to ask. If the god asked him to turn over and get on his knees instead, he’d follow the command in a heartbeat, but the thought of being the one to unravel Zhongli had him aching without a touch. Even if Zhongli only wanted to go a couple bases instead of a full homerun, or stop everything here and just cuddle, Childe will accept anything the other has to offer. Give anything that is asked of him.
Zhongli was nodding his head even before Childe had finished asking. His eyes slit open to gaze over him as he responded, “Of course, Ajax… I would not be so cruel as to lead you on and leave you wanting. I wish to feel you as well. Make love to me.”
Those words were stated plainly, but Childe interpreted them as a strict order. It’s his duty to cater to Zhongli’s faintest whim, leave him fully satiated yet wanting more. They wouldn’t be leaving this bed until Childe has proven his love to the other several times over.
Those strong but delicate hands, now bared to the world in a way Childe had rarely seen prior, reached to start undressing, but Childe stopped them in their tracks. He guided Zhongli into resting them at his sides while he undid the other’s tie, shirt, and vest in his place. Zhongli leaned his head back, baring his neck and moving to help Childe pull the articles of clothing off. At the sight of it, Childe completely lost his patience. His own deep red shirt was torn off without care, buttons easily popping off with his strength. It didn’t matter, he had plenty to replace it with. He pulled off his pants and socks with that same haste, then finally dived into the chest he’d admired from afar.
Zhongli’s breath was loud in his ear as Childe kissed and sucked down the side of his throat, trailing to the meat of his chest. He spent a good moment just sucking at the skin there, leaving a nice, dark mark, then licked at one beautifully pink nipple. He gently took the perky thing into his mouth to lap at and suckle, and was rewarded with a deep moan from the chest he was worshiping. Arms as firm as boulders wrapped around the back of his neck while one large hand carded through his hair, a subtle but clear order to stay close and keep at it. Mindful not to neglect the second one, Childe’s thumb rubbed circles into the tip, occasionally flicking to keep it nice and stiff.
Once Zhongli’s breathing was appropriately ragged and strained, Childe kissed his way across the broad valley to switch places. This time, though, both his hands were preoccupied with stripping his lover of his pants. After unbuttoning and pulling them down as much as he could from his position, Childe had to unlatch his mouth and push back against the arms keeping him locked in place, putting enough space between them so he could pull the offending garment off entirely to reveal tight black underwear. As Zhongli lifted his hips to make Childe’s job easier, he also peeled off his socks, enticing Childe even more with the full view of muscular thighs leading into long, slender legs down to slender feet. It made his need to see the other fully bare even stronger than it already was.
Fingers tightly grasped the sides of the last piece of clothing keeping Zhongli decent, ready to unwrap him like a present, only for his movements to halt when Zhongli’s hands came up to cover his own. There was a pensive look of hesitation that had Childe preparing to crawl back and give Zhongli some space.
However, those same hands that had put everything on pause also didn’t allow him to let go of the other. Childe had to say, “Zhongli, it’s okay if you wanna stop now, really– ”
“That’s not– That’s not it…” Zhongli interrupted with an abrupt, uncharacteristic stutter. Those same worried eyes gazed up at him, before glancing to the side in what Childe thought could be embarrassment. “I simply… don’t wish to alarm you. I thought this might please you, and so I prepared on the way here, but now in the moment I doubt my decision… Just, please, do not mock me if this was not what you had in mind.”
He was immediately alarmed by that, offended on Zhongli’s behalf without even knowing what the fuck the other was talking about. Childe insisted with directionless anger, “I would never mock you or your body– never. I’d kill anyone that’d dare. Has someone treated you like that before? Direct me to their grave, and I’ll dig them back up to desecrate it!”
That was apparently too much fervor, since Zhongli glanced back up at him with a different kind of worry, but at least the other was looking at him again and not avoiding his gaze. “What? No, Ajax, that’s not… Just continue and you’ll understand what I was hesitant about, alright?”
Childe examined Zhongli carefully for signs he was lying. However, he had to go by the other’s word when his hands, still covering Childe’s, gently pulled at them in encouragement. Childe slowly pulled the covering down. Then paused at the knees as he had to take a second to interpret what he was looking at. Blinking a bit, Childe let out a low, “Huh…”
As Zhongli went on to kick the underwear off of him, Childe was given a better view of the smoothness of his lower region. There was no hair, Zhongli’s lightly tanned skin fading into something darker and more textured, almost scale-like without quite being scales. There was a long slit in his body, not exactly like the folds of a vagina and no in-your-face cock and balls. Starting to protrude from the slit were two fleshy nubs.
It was then that Childe was struck with the realization he was staring at… he didn’t even know what it’s called, lizard parts?
His view was cut off when those slender legs pressed together tight in a sign of shyness. He noticed Zhongli was watching his reaction with caution, even when he began to explain in that long-winded lecture format he usually spoke with, “You expressed much interest in my genitalia, specifically desiring both sexes and a pair of hemipenes –or as you put it, two penises. However, such a form is much more feasible by reverting to more reptilian-like features. A cloaca and vent allow for both my hemipenes as well as still providing you with… an opening. And unlike with the usual division of sexes in squamates, as a creature of both dragon and qilin nature, I have the spiritual energy of both, and this can be reflected physically by possessing both inseminating phalluses as well as the organs necessary for egg formation such as ovaries– ”
“You, uh, don’t need to get into that much detail, Xiansheng,” Childe had to cut the other off as the conversation went over his head. He gently grasped both of Zhongli’s thighs to guide apart, demonstrating to the other he wasn’t scared off by his inhuman nature. “I’d ask if your lower half is usually like this, but you mentioned that you changed it on the way over?”
Zhongli allowed his legs to be parted, a bit of tension flowing out of him with the confirmation Childe still wanted to move forward. “Ah, yes. Usually I simply use human male genitalia as my chosen form would suggest. I find having separation of the organs and orifices to be easier to manage. To be frank, after hearing the kind of fantasies you fancied when concerning Morax… I worried whether you might be disappointed to not find anything extraordinarily different about me sexually.”
Childe paused mid movement at that, hand half reached forward to try out exploring the body before him. He wanted to go back in time solely to slap himself across the face, and then slap himself a second time for good measure.
How dare he make Zhongli self-conscious to the point he’d think his body might leave Childe disappointed . This is exactly why he needs to learn how to shut the fuck up…
Childe leaned forward to stare Zhongli straight into his gorgeous eyes. He could feel an unfamiliar serious set in his face. “Don’t ever feel like you need to change yourself to please me. It’s like you were saying before, right? I only want you as you are; I want you to be comfortable with yourself. I love you no matter what kind of form you take, but I don’t want you to make yourself into something you don’t like because of me. Whatever you look like, you could never disappoint me. Everything about you is absolutely radiant.”
Zhongli flushed under the heaviness of his gaze, but didn’t avert his eyes as he replied firmly, “I would not say I find this form uncomfortable– it is how I arrange those parts while in the body of a dragon. I simply wanted to ensure you could enjoy yourself to the fullest.” Zhongli’s arms wrapped around once more to pull him closer, his eyelids falling half-mast as he said in a quiet voice, “And I want to enjoy myself with you, as well. I want to feel how you will please me.”
Childe could feel his cock twitch in his underwear at Zhongli’s seductive words, low in his ear almost like a content purr. Seeing that his lover was eager to move forward, he decided to indulge himself like Zhongli clearly wished. “Well, if you’re sure… I’m honored to play with you to my heart’s content. I’ll make you feel so good you’ll be begging for more, Xiansheng.”
With that being said, Childe leaned down so his face was right beside the enticing treasure that was Zhongli’s… what had he called it, a vent? A mischievous smirk curled on his lips as they parted to lick the flat of his tongue up the entire way, dipping in with no resistance until it swiped over the flesh nubs Childe had noticed peeking out.
Zhongli heaved a loud gasp at that, crying out so sweetly, the most affected he’d been so far. It pushed Childe onward, focusing his efforts and tongue on lapping at the two cocks that were now quickly growing in length. The way they went from almost hiding themselves to completely sticking out of Zhongli’s vent and inflating even further was downright cute. Just like how cute the Archon was now, stuttering his moans while his hips moved on their own to push further against Childe’s mouth. So adorable, Childe wanted to commit the sight to memory.
He had no reference for what lizard genitalia actually looked like despite knowing they packed two instead of one, but Zhongli’s members weren’t as far off from a human’s as he would expect. Likely being something of a hybrid. They had the same basic shape as a regular cock, but their tips were textured with fleshy barbs, along with being attached to each other at their bases with the entire thing originating from the top of the pretty pink vent. They would be interesting to try taking at once, seeing as they spread themselves apart one next to the other rather than being an easy to slip in combo package –but Childe supposed that was something to figure out when he finally got around to riding Zhongli like he’d always wanted.
Now that Zhongli’s manhood –manhoods?– were completely out and fully hard, Childe moved his face downward to lap at the entrance of the vent once more, this time trying to stick his tongue in as far as it would go. One hand held Zhongli’s hip in place while the other tried to take both cocks to hold together, but he quickly found they were much too big to fit his fingers around. So instead, he had one cock in each of his palms, pumping them both and thumbing at their tips. The vent his mouth was preoccupied with became wetter and wetter with a slightly salty slick, and Zhongli was practically whining now as his hips were free to push himself onto Childe’s tongue even further, like he was trying to fuck himself on it.
It clearly wasn’t enough, as Zhongli’s mewling became more desperate, rising in pitch, “A-Ajax! Ajax, please! I– I need more!”
Childe retreated from eating Zhongli out so his gaze could drift up. The esteemed consultant and former reigning god was completely red in the face now, pouting with eyes even tearing up a bit in frustration or pleasure.
Holy fuck. Childe had to groan out, “Oh, Lyubimy~ Don’t worry beautiful, I’ll take care of you. I promise!” And with that, he came back up to suck one interesting looking member into his mouth. That hand was freed up to travel down, sticking a finger inside Zhongli, then two as he quickly felt how loose the other already was. His fingers fucked into his lover gently, feeling around inside the cloaca out of curiosity and in an attempt to help Zhongli feel him better. As he scissored them open and shut, viscous liquid gushed around them and down his wrist with ever movement. He tried to take in the cock in his mouth as far as his gag-reflex would let him, swallowing and curling his tongue around it. His other hand was still busy and now pumping the other cock frantically, precum slicking up the movement to allow an easier slide.
He hadn’t realized how much multitasking this form of Zhongli’s would require. The challenge to keep pace and pleasure everything at once left Childe feeling ravenous and hard, like he was drowning in pleasure himself even when he was the one giving it instead. A third finger was added and yet Zhongli still fit so perfectly around him.
Zhongli cried out anew at the feeling of being filled further. Those hips jerked down on his fingers so hard that if he moved the wrong way, Childe was sure to break them. The arm that didn’t have a vice grip on his shoulders reached out to push Childe’s head fully down on the dick he was pleasuring. He muffed a gag, but obediently stayed in place to continue sucking as Zhongli fell apart.
“Ajax– Ajax! Baobei~ I’m sorry– I need to come! I-I’m coming~ ”
More slick gushed out in time with Childe’s mouth being filled. He swallowed dutifully, making sure not to waste a single drop of his god’s blessed ‘meal’. Only when Zhongli’s hips began to lose pace and the cum stopped flowing, leaving the other heaving with gasping breaths, did Childe retract his head. He closed his lips to swallow down the last of the mess.
To his surprise, the other cock in his hand hadn’t gone off. Zhongli seemed to blink himself back into existence for a second, but noticed Childe’s confusion commenting, “D-Do not worry about that… They function independently of each other.”
Huh… “Oh, well– I guess that just means we can’t move on quite yet~ ”
When his lips wrapped around the poor thing, Zhongli outright screamed. Wailing at a pitch Childe had never heard from him, his body trembling and sensitive to the point where he was no longer baring down on Childe’s fingers or fucking his mouth. Childe was ruthless with his love, though, still fucking hard into Zhongli with his hand while bobbing his head without pause. His other palm cradled the spent cock, though he let it rest a bit, simply rubbing his thumb in soothing ovals up and down the length of it to keep it company.
His beautiful darling didn’t last nearly as long that time, the other cock still having been pent up. This time when Zhongli began to cry at the onset of his orgasm, Childe pulled off to palm it instead and have Zhongli finish all over his face. He had to close his eyes as potent cum got everywhere, leaving a mess to ruin his hair and drip down his chin and neck. But when he wiped them clean to look up through his eyelashes at the recovering Zhongli, the wide eyes and obvious wanton lust they held when thoroughly examining his work made the hassle worth it.
Childe moaned low in the back of his throat as he retracted his fingers from Zhongli’s tightness. Crawling back up the length of Zhongli’s body, he held his face close to the other once more to groan, “Lyubimy… I wanna see you to taste yourself. Will you clean me off with that pretty tongue of yours? Pretty please?”
Zhongli’s expression twitched in a way that made Childe assume he was about decline that particular kink, but then, he opened his mouth wide. Childe’s breath hitched when a long, forked tongue that most certainly hadn’t been present when they made out before practically wrapped around his cheek.
Zhongli licked every inch of his face like a dog freely giving affection, causing Childe to shiver at the wet but warm sensation of it. It then poked itself between Childe’s lips to lick all over the walls of his mouth and tongue, as though he was trying to clean out the cum from that crevice too. The action caused Childe’s face to heat up further and he mewled a pathetic sound, closing his lips over the appendage to suck on properly like it was another dick. It certainly reached near the back of his throat like one.
It distracted him enough that he failed to realize what Zhongli’s hands were now doing until he felt his own underwear being pulled down to his knees. Taking the que, he helped his lover pull it off him entirely. Only then he broke apart their mouth fucking to lean back and take himself in hand to align with Zhongli’s vent, looking back at Zhongli for the final go ahead.
While he’d fallen apart just moments before, the god was already too put back together for Childe’s liking. He gave Childe a curious look as he simply asked, “I am fine with you proceeding, but do you not wish for further foreplay on your part? I can use my mouth on you, as well.”
Childe felt himself twitch almost violently in his hand at those innocently uttered words –Zhongli sure knew how to both intentionally and unintentionally rile him up. “That sounds like a great idea for next time, but not now. To be honest, Xiansheng… it’ll be a miracle if I don’t come in you right away. I’m gonna need all the extra shots I can get…”
He felt his face flush bright with shame, more than a little mortified to have to admit his own ineptitude. But Childe knows himself and he just knows Zhongli’s wet, tight hole is going to ruin him. His entirely too human and mortal dick doesn’t stand a chance.
Despite this, though, strong arms wrapped around him once more to pull him closer, and that deep voice that always reached into the very base of his being whispered right into his ear–
“I want you to come in me, Baobei. I want to feel it fill me up. It will be so good to– to feel you breed me properly. I want you to take me fully and completely. I won’t be satisfied if you only come onc– Ahh~! ”
Zhongli cut himself off with his own cry, head tilted back as Childe entered him abruptly. He couldn’t help it; it was like Zhongli’s words had taken over his body and forced it into action. Childe slowed down after the tip passed the vent, reigning himself back under control to sink in bit by bit until he bottomed out as to avoid hurting his lover.
Fully sheathed, Childe could feel the sensation of Zhongli trembling around him, and had to breathe deep, heavy breaths to take his mind off how hot and wet and perfectly snug Zhongli was. The other was tight, but still loose enough that Childe was able to slip in with ease, like a perfect-fitting glove. Like Zhongli’s body was made for him.
And it was, wasn’t it? Zhongli even said he’d arranged his most private place just for Childe’s tastes, for Childe to indulge in and be pleased with, to take pleasure in.
He didn’t realize his hips had started moving on their own, only giving small, shallow thrusts to relieve the ever-climbing tension. But even just that was so much. The feeling of Zhongli’s walls rubbing up against his cock, parting so willing for it and clinging tight like it didn’t want to let go. Childe gritted his teeth and buried his face into Zhongli’s fair neck. His shaking hands held onto that slim waist tight in fear of letting go. The feeling of Zhongli on his dick and holding onto him tight in turn, soft moans panting in his ear letting him know how pleased his darling was– it was all more overwhelming than anything Childe had experienced before. It was all too much–
Just like Childe had predicted, he came in hardly any time at all once he’d started thrusting. He kept going at it even as he could feel his cum wet Zhongli’s insides further, the tingling and erupting peak that was his orgasm blinding him to everything that wasn’t his pleasure or Zhongli’s body. He could only hear the other’s encouragement, Zhongli rasping as though he were overjoyed, “Yes, yes, yes– You fill me so good, Baobei, so good. So good for me~ ”
One– Two– Three more thrusts and Childe came to a halt fully seated inside Zhongli, just panting trying to blink the stars out of his eyes and catch his breath. Zhongli’s parted legs lifted up to wrap around Childe’s waist, ankles crossed together behind him at the small of his back, and Childe took the hint obediently to settle in and wait it out.
So close to Zhongli now their chests were brushed against one another, Childe leaned forward to kiss one reddened cheek. Then the other, followed by a peppering around the forehead concealed by dimly glowing brunette strands. By the time he moved onto kissing Zhongli’s sweet lips, the other was pouting as though anxious for not having received it at the very start. Cute. Way too cute.
Their kiss stayed light this time, simply enjoying the feeling of each other. Childe hoped that the softness of it conveyed to Zhongli how much he really did love him. It wasn’t about his body, or his status as Morax, or his battle prowess– The thing Childe needed the most was simply holding the other his arms like this. Keeping close together to keep warm through the night and waking up with Zhongli’s face being the first thing he saw. He couldn’t imagine any other future for himself now that he was so close to this piece of Celestia.
They eventually had to part, Childe retracting his head back to fully look at Zhongli again just in time to see a distracting flutter of eyelashes. “Ajax…” the god began with a casual, innocent tone, “when do you believe you’ll be capable of becoming erect again? I have no problem waiting with you inside me, but my body will start to feel more… in need soon.”
Like a dog on a leash, Ajax junior obliged to the pretty Archon’s desire and was promptly turned on, aided by the warmth it was still tucked into. Childe had to wince as he half-hardened a bit too quickly, but he laughed out, “Ha! Xiansheng, you’ve got way too much control over my body! With just a few words, I’m all ready to service you~ ”
“Hmn, is it not preferable this way? I wish to be serviced, and you wish to service me. Whatever aids us in our mutual goal is beneficial by default,” Zhongli’s tone was still matter of fact, but there was a slight lit at the end of it giving away the tease of his words. The smile curled on his lips was only a few degrees off from a smirk, and his ankles dug into Childe’s back in suggestive eagerness.
Somehow, someway, this man just continuously found new ways to get Childe to fall in love with him even further.
“I love you so fucking much– ” he just had to say before he dived back in for a deeper, probing kiss. Zhongli moaned into his open mouth as Childe started up by grinding his hips against the other. The gentle movement and friction helped his still sensitive member to fully harden, filling up Zhongli again once more to reach in deep and further stretch out his loosened walls. Once it no longer hurt to sway back and forth, Childe began to put his back into it.
Zhongli’s lips were forced away when his lover tilted his head back to wail out a pretty, whimpering cry. Childe was making sure to pull all the way out to his tip and slam back in harshly, doing his best to satisfy the needs of this demanding god. As he moved, the lewd mixture of Zhongli’s slick and his cum gushed out and around his dick, surely leaking out in a way Childe would want to see up close.
When probing around with his fingers, he couldn’t find anything like a prostrate, but there was a certain section of the cavern that’d caused Zhongli to mewl with delight when pressed against. And so Childe aimed all of his thrusts up into brushing that spot. The more he fucked into it, the louder Zhongli got, until the stoic and well put together consultant was only a thing of the past. All that was left being Childe’s perfect, beautiful Lyubimy who couldn’t help crying like a whore for him–
“A-Ajax! Ajax– Aja– ahh~ B-Baobei plea– AH!”
A particularly abrupt thrust cut off that pleasing sound. Hands firmly keeping Zhongli’s body in place to hold him steady against the chaotic movement, Childe leaned down to nibble at the delectably solid collarbone that was all for him now. After licking a long streak over the hard lines of Zhongli’s body, Childe mouthed against his skin, entirely too excited to tease, “You need to tell me wha– ah– what you need, Xiansheng. I-I won’t know unless you say it properly. Beg for me, please?”
“T-That’s what I wa– was doing! Y-You won’t– I ca– ah– ahhn~ Mhmm~ ”
Zhongli began in an offended snap, but he fell apart all too quick, not even able to finish his sentences. Childe gazed up to see full tears streaking down from amber eyes that were glowing much too bright to pass as human anymore. Face fully reddened and eyebrows furrowed from overwhelming ecstasy. The two dicks rubbing against his stomach were dripping wet now, easily slipping against the little friction they could steal for themselves.
Childe tried to press in tight to please both of them, anchoring himself down into Zhongli and the bed even more heavily with Zhongli’s feet now digging so deep into his back he was sure there’ll be a bruise for weeks. For the first time, he felt nails scrap roughly into his back, and when he felt the welts bleed it was because he knew he was doing a good job. Such a careful god, so aware and cautious of his strength, could no longer control his reactions and reign himself in. Zhongli could accidently kill him, snap him fully in half as he was lost to sensation, and Childe would come while dying happy. Blessed from being able to die in such an enjoyable way servicing his god.
Everything blurred together, both the heat of his body and blood pumping all too loud in his ears rising. At some point, Childe hissed when Zhongli tightened around his cock, his insides twitching as he got ever so close– “P-Please– Please~ I-I want you to come! I wa– want to feel you– in-inside~ ”
He lost it again. Jackhammering to completion, his cum thoroughly stained Zhongli one more time with Zhongli’s arms and thighs wrapped around him so tight he felt the other’s trembling in his bones. At Ajax’s orgasm, Zhongli gasped a choking breath and his walls fully tightened with slick rushing out yet again. Both cocks against Childe’s abs streaked white cum across and between their two bodies, intertwined fully in the best of ways. Even with his eyes open wide, Childe’s vision went black for a second or two.
The sound of panting breaths was deafening in the otherwise silent room. Closing his eyes in exhaustion, Childe finally was able to pull out of Zhongli, limp and thoroughly spent. He tried to collapse on his side next to Zhongli as to not weigh on his lover, and Zhongli just turned to the side as well to keep Childe tightly tucked against him. His legs had let go of their grip on his waist, and now tangled together with his. It felt like their bodies were still intertwined.
Suddenly, Childe had another moment of hindsight clarity. His eyes shot open as he gave a worrying glance at Zhongli, who just tilted his head cutely in response, a soft, relaxed smile still gracing his features due to satisfaction.
“Uh, Xiansheng… did you say that you’re able to get pregnant? In, uh, this current form?”
Amber eyelashes fluttered in slight bashfulness. “Yes, Ajax. I did indeed say that. My reproductive organs are all fully operational.”
Childe had to take a second to take a deep breath, then let it back out slowly.
He tried to speak as calmly as possible, “ …When you were talking about– about being bred, I thought that was dirty talk.”
“It was what one would refer to as ‘dirty talk’, but I was also being genuine.” It was then a frown came to mar Zhongli’s previously beautiful smile and mood. “You… do not sound like you wish that to be the case. Worry not, though, as like other squamates, I can sequester your semen inside myself to prevent it taking. Usually this is for the purpose of delaying conception, but I can also expel it– ”
“Wait, wait, wait– Just give me a minute!”
After running a hand down his face, Childe pulled himself together enough to push in closer to Zhongli so their faces were only inches apart. He hated to see those fond eyes look at him with so much disappointment.
Childe was quiet when he started again, “I… I don’t mind if you carry my kid– our kid, because of this moment. It’s just that this is all going super fast, you know? Are you sure you’re okay with moving onto that stage already? And that both of us as a couple are ready together? I mean, we’ve only just gotten engaged, and that was without us even dating first. What if we mess up stuff because we’re rushing through the proper order for all this?”
For a few seconds, Zhongli blinked at him with owlish confusion. “Childe… you did not consider our various meetings to be dates? Is that not what they were?”
…Oh dear Celesta, the situation was even worse than he thought–
“Zhongli, both people have to agree they’re dating for their meetings to be dates.”
“Is that how it works? And when were we not in agreement? You enjoyed my company and I yours, and we wished to be romantically involved.”
“Neither of us said that out loud, Xiansheng! It has to be explicit, verbal agreement!”
“Oh… I much like subtle courtship over that sort of brute force approach.” Childe would have rolled his eyes at that, but instead he had to deal with the narrow-eyed look Zhongli sent back his way. “If you did not believe us to be in the process of dating or courting, then why did you agree to my proposal? Most mortals would see that as taking things too fast, would they not?”
He had to turn away to hide his heated cheeks, turning his back to Zhongli to hold his face in his palms. “That– That’s because I just love you too much! I know its too much at once, but I can’t help it! I can’t think straight whenever it comes to you!”
Warm skin enveloped Childe from behind as Zhongli pulled him in so Childe’s back was against his chest, arm draped over Childe’s side to rub soothing circles into his stomach. There was a butterfly of a kiss on the back of his ear before it was interrupted by an entirely too enticing deep chuckle, “Haha! I quite like that I affect you such, Ajax. It is the same for me as well– I never felt the desire for children before, but now I am too eager for it at the thought of having you as their father,” there was a rumbling from that chest similar to a purr, which rolled into Zhongli’s words, “We can wait until after the wedding, and see how things go from there. I do not wish to overwhelm you, and I can wait for as long as you need.”
As was often the case with Zhongli, Childe couldn’t help himself. He rolled back over in Zhongli’s arms to press a firm kiss on those gorgeous lips. Leaning back slightly, he smirked as he teased, “Hey now! I didn’t say we couldn’t rush things, I just wanted to make sure the prim and proper Zhongli-xiansheng was okay with such a scandal~ The esteemed Wangsheng Funeral Parlor consultant getting knocked up before the wedding? What would Liyue Harbor think of such a thing!”
A flush broke through Zhongli’s demeanor at that, making Childe’s smirk go even wider. “I– I suppose most would consider that an embarrassment, but Adepti have different customs than mortals for what is proprietary regardless. To be heavy with your child on the day we forge our bond would just prove it to be true and ensure its strength. Our child would be our devotion to one another in physical form, along with being the promise of our future. That is much more important to me than such judgement.”
It was important to Childe to serve Zhongli’s every need, and thus, he responded to such provocative words as they deserved– by rolling back on top of his soon to be husband. The miraculous recovery that was his slowly hardening cock grinded into Zhongli’s bottom.
“Well then. After hearing all that, I definitely have to make sure it takes tonight…”
Perhaps, in hindsight, Childe would regret his impulsive words and actions come next morning. But with the way Zhongli brightened and made to open himself back up for Childe, he didn’t think it was likely.