I love the game but you owes your life to Zhonglumi because I will not be here if it wasn't for them /hj (I love the game sm but I love Zhonglumi more)
I present you with my works across the years. (December 2020~ June 2023)
Of early mornings and slumbering dragons: a Zhonglumi oneshot (Genshin Impact)
Summery: After an eventful night spent together, Lumine is intent on enjoying breakfast. Zhongli has other ideas.
Rating: T with some suggestive themes
You can read this on Ao3 - here.
AN: very short, sweet and fluffy oneshot. This idea just attacked me and I wrote it in a stupor.
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The sun had already begun to sluggishly climb into the sky when Lumine lifted her head from the pillow. She gave a yawn, unfurling herself from where she’d slept- wrapped tight around her bedmate in a nest of tangled sheets and sprawled naked limbs. A full-body stretch worked wonders for her grogginess, and she stumbled out of bed more or less as gracefully as a Liyue crane.
A dusty noise rumbled out from beneath the covers. A coaxing, warm sound, as if crooning for her return.
Paying him no mind, Lumine smiled, picking up one of his stray shirts and slipping it on over her head. Her stomach was rumbling far more incessantly than the dragon behind her and she padded toward Zhongli’s bedroom door with every intent to find food. Sunlight was faintly filtering through the swaying curtains and from what she could glimpse it would be a beautiful day. May as well start it-
“Lumine.”
She stopped. Darn. She was unable to ignore the use of her name when it was spoken in those low silken tones. With a sigh, she turned to face the former Geo Archon, arching a brow.
Her lover had poked his head out from beneath the depths of his mountainous covers. His appearance mimicked a mortal man’s now, though last night he’d sprouted impressive golden horns and scales. Lumine mourned them, but couldn’t exactly complain about the alternate view ethier.
“Come back to bed,” he rumbled, eyes closed.
“I’ve had enough time in there, thank you. And I’ve no intention of rejoining you any time soon. It’s a struggle to leave.”
"My dear, you exaggerate…” Zhongli gave a half-smile as if still asleep and dreaming of her. “I wish to remind you of the long term benefits that would result from you returning to our lovely bed."
"Oh? And what would those be?" She humored him, propping her hands on her hips.
Zhongli's eyes slid open languidly, the gold flashing in the sun. He fixed her with a half-lidded stare that coaxed heat into her lower stomach the longer he gazed, dragging hungry attention down her body to where his shirt stopped mid-thigh.
"You- oh-" Lumine waved a hand, blushing furiously as laughter bubbled up her throat. "I find it hard to believe you're not satisfied after last night."
"Never underestimate a Dragon's greed," he gave a smile that exposed his sharp canines, those eyes twinkling.
With his cheek nestled against a pillow and disheveled bed hair scattered about the covers, and tempting bare skin gleaming in the morning sun; he certainly made a compelling argument.
"A-anything aside from the obvious…'benefits' I should know about regarding my returning to bed? Because breakfast is looking very tempting, no offense," navigating the conversation back to safer waters lest she be swayed, Lumine focused on the rafters above their heads.
"Breakfast can always be brought to us," he paused, becoming thoughtful. "Oh…now that I think about it…Zhongli of the Wangshen Funeral Parlor doesn't have servants to order around. Pity. There are some things about Godhood I do miss from time to time."
"You don't seem like the type to employ servants even with all the power in the world. You had the yaksha out of necessity," Lumine murmured, glancing at him. His gently furrowed brows pulled her back toward him like a moth to the flame, and she rubbed her thumb at the crinkle on his forehead, smoothing it away. She swept an absent hand through his silky bangs, cupping his cheek. "Besides, I don't need someone to make breakfast for me. I'll cook something up for us-"
Too late did she realise her mistake. His soft confusion had been a means to lure her closer. Golden arms caught her about the waist, the covers fluttering white above her head as the world spun and she landed atop a strong body. The covers came fluttering down atop Zhongli's triumphant expression.
"Of all the dirty tricks," Lumine huffed, cheek smashed against his firm chest. His heart beat strong and sure beneath her ear. "This does nothing to solve the hunger issue."
"I happen to have prepared a trayful of goods right here," his voice rumbled smoothly. What sounded like a bedside drawer sliding open could be heard and Zhongli shifted, putting a tray of something beside them.
Ah, so he'd planned this. What a crafty man she'd entangled herself with. Lumine settled closer, breathing him in by the lungful; Earth and metal masked by his natural masculine scent.
"Breakfast in bed with my favourite travel companion sounded too good to pass up," he continued, lifting the covers gently off her head as if it were a veil. Lumine glanced at the offering of food. Fresh fruits and packaged meals awaited her, wrapped in Wanmin restaurant's signature paper.
Take-out food. It clashed horribly with the fruit yet even that felt perfect in its imperfection.
She couldn't hide her fond smile. Sometimes Zhongli struggled with mortal gestures but others he stumbled into them by accident, much like now. In all honesty, she'd felt too sore and tired to cook. Perhaps he'd anticipated that.
She leaned up from his chest until they were nose to nose, bridging the distance with a light peck.
"I'll share a secret with you…you're my favourite too," she whispered in the space between them. "Don't let Paimon know I said that."
"I promise. Our contract is sealed."
She reeled back. "Contract? Wait, what are the terms here?"
"I uphold my end by not telling Paimon she has been replaced as the Traveler's best companion and you simply remain here in my humble abode until we both finish breakfast. Preferably; we do so while overlooking the harbor together and snuggling, but I am very open to other suggestions."
"I see," Lumine straddled his hips nonchalantly, reaching over to drag their food closer. "Then I agree too, despite the massive oversight your nebulous phrasing will lead to."
"It is not an oversight on your part if you willingly stepped into my trap. You surely know I don't intended to finish my breakfast for quite some time…yet you entered a contract with unspecified terms of fulfillment anyway? I shall have to revise our lessons thoroughly."
Lumine fed him a slice of apple to shut him up, smiling to herself.
He seemed mollified while chewing, eyeing her within his arms.
"You look very good in my clothes."
"I feel very good in your clothes."
Claws tickled her thigh, the sharp points dragging up in a lazy caress. They dipped beneath the hem. "Despite how they become you so….I prefer you bare."
She bit her lip, suppressing a shiver. "The food, Zhongli…"
He tugged her abused lip free with his teeth, brushing his tongue against her mouth to soothe the bite. "Shh, who's to say we cannot enjoy both at the same time? Eat if you wish- but my hunger is primarily focused on the nectar gathering between your legs."
Lumine sucked in a hard breath. Sometimes the God of contracts drove a hard bargain. She looped her arms around his neck, fighting the urge to react as his voice turned cajoling and his kisses turned sultry, peppering her neck.
"You wouldn't make a God starve a second longer than needed, would you?" he purred, lifting his head to look at her, and- Lumine stopped. Zhongli in the morning was certainly something to behold. It was like he’d been made for early mornings. Made to bask in the glow of sunrises.
"That depends which God is asking,” Lumine gave a breathy laugh, urging him on with the faintest rock of her hips against his. “I only feed one. He's quite the handful."
His eyes glittered. "Sounds like a catch."
"Oh he is,” she nodded, leaning in and capturing his lips with a fond kiss. “I think I'll keep him for a long time coming."