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& when he said goodbye, he meant he would see me again (tartali, 1/1)

summary: Zhongli is home in Liyue for his birthday. Childe comes to visit. rating: E notes: Happy birthday Zhongli! My first 5* and main, and dearly beloved still.

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Ajax got in on a late ship, surviving off naps and still smelling like gunpowder, and was briefly tempted to collapse at the sight of Zhongli waiting for him on the docks. Instead he stiffened his spine and jumped off the ship, taking long strides up to Zhongli only to come to a short stop before him. He would like to embrace him, but they had to be gentlemen about these things.

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” he said, “you look well.”

Zhongli did. Of course he did, because he always did. Zhongli smiled, inclining his head slightly.

“Are you hungry?” Zhongli asked. “Or wish you to bathe, and rest?”

That meant Ajax must not look very good at all. Understandable; he was in dire need of a haircut and a shave and hadn’t had a chance to wash these clothes in a few weeks. He was squeezing this visit in, and had needed to rush.

“A bath, I think,” Ajax said. “Thank you.”

Zhongli turned, and Ajax fell into step with him, giving his shoulder a weary roll. His things were on route to Snezhnaya, so he’d have to rely on whatever he had left behind at Zhongli’s and Zhongli’s generosity. It wasn’t so scary a thought as it might have once been.

“Things have been good?”

“Yes -- I was invited to join a brief archaeological expedition to the submerged caves along the Strait of Dragons, and only returned from this last week myself …”

Zhongli spoke warmly of this trip, and Ajax was happy to listen. They soon reached Zhongli’s humble home in the Rock, where Zhongli set about preparing tea as Ajax headed upstairs to run the bath and do a quick shave, considering himself in the mirror. A haircut, yes. Ekaterina would help with that. He should look presentable at Zhongli’s side.

Fresh-faced once more, he sank into the hot bath with a relieved sigh; Zhongli entered soon after with a tray bearing a teapot and cup.

“A new white tea blend from the south,” Zhongli said, setting it down on the bath stool so Ajax could reach it, picking up the pot to pour it elegantly. “I find it most refreshing, a gentle relief to a tired mind.”

Ajax smiled. Zhongli made everything sound so beautiful and cared for, and it was because he cared so much, and found all these things genuinely beautiful. He reached a wet arm out, touching his fingers to Zhongli’s wrist, hooking in his cuff.

“Thank you,” he said. “Will you join me in drinking it?”

Zhongli understood, and smiled, nodding as he set the pot down. He undressed without any frills, a simple display that made Ajax’s smile grow slowly, and then he sank into the water with Ajax, leaning back against him. Ajax wrapped an arm around him, dropping a kiss to Zhongli’s shoulder.

“So any birthday plans?”

“I have none at this time,” Zhongli replied. “You will be here for it?”

“Of course. I think I can spare a whole week, maybe two. Her Majesty can scold me later.”

“This is the ethos of ‘better to ask for forgiveness than permission’?”

“Hahaha … yeah, it is.”

Ajax reached for the cup, offering Zhongli a sip first before he carefully maneuvered to take a sip himself, making sure not to drip on his dear husband-to-be. They idled in the bath, chatting and drinking tea, washing up in a way that became more lazy groping, before they decided to retreat to bed. Ajax toweled his hair into a frenzy to make Zhongli smile, then used that towel to loop about Zhongli’s neck and tug him into a kiss. Still a little damp they collapsed into a tangling of limbs on Zhongli’s antique gate bed. It always felt cloistered, tucked into its wooden canopy, like it was just their little private world. Ajax had missed it, as he had missed Zhongli, deeply.

“Missed me?” he teased into the crook of Zhongli’s neck, layering kisses against it, and Zhongli shifted beneath him.

“Yes,” Zhongli said, maybe too seriously; it made Ajax’s smile soften as he reached down to curl a hand around Zhongli’s cock, thumb sweeping firmly until Zhongli was lifting his hips into the touch. His little sounds, resonant, primal; they made Ajax want to devour him completely.

“I suppose I owe you a whole night of lovemaking …” Ajax said, and Zhongli let out a long breath, trembling on the edges.

“I would think it not owed, but deeply appreciated.”

“Heh, is that so …”

It wasn’t to be. One round had Ajax thinking of sleep. It wasn’t really the physical tiredness -- he’d pushed through worse. It was that gentle relief, a chance at rest with someone he trusted, his mind more than his body asking to set everything down for now. Ajax listened, because Zhongli would want him to, rubbing circles into Zhongli’s hip as they lay on their sides, trading slow kisses in the afterglow.

“Will you forgive me if I sleep now?” he asked with a grin, nipping at Zhongli’s lower lip, and Zhongli hummed.

“You forsake a promise …”

“Hush,” Ajax laughed. “I never actually promised, and you know it.”

Zhongli pulled back, smile gentle as he regarded Ajax with those warm eyes.

“Then forgiveness need not be asked for.”

“I am letting down expectations …”

“One’s expectations for others should be well-tempered.”

“Hah! Strict old man …” Ajax chased after Zhongli, kissing him again before murmuring against his smiling lips. “I mean, you don’t need to sleep -- if you want you could ride me all night long. I bet it’d be nice to wake up knowing you never stopped being full of me …”

Zhongli breathed a little deeper at that, shifting against Ajax as he grabbed at Ajax’s waist as he tried to draw him closer.

“I would disturb your sleep,” Zhongli said lowly.

“Disturb away.”

“Ever a tease.”

“Who’s teasing?”

Zhongli was quiet a moment, squeezing Ajax’s waist, forehead kissing Ajax’s own.

“You give me new things to dream of …”

“Dream, hm?”

“When you are not here, I try to touch myself as you would,” Zhongli said, now almost hushed, and boy if that didn’t wake Ajax up, “but true satisfaction cannot be found … they are dreams without release, for it is best with you. Asleep -- I would not have your eyes on me, the comforting weight of recognition … that is what I want right now.”

Ajax hated to think of Zhongli lonely as Ajax did as he had to, though it was a thing they had discussed in all kinds of ways as they’d slowly settled into a relationship. They both knew the value of duty more than most people would, it just didn’t change how a heart could feel. Ajax kissed Zhongli, deepening it with twists of his tongue until he had Zhongli was so open and wet for him, hand sliding down to press his fingers back inside Zhongli, slow and steady.

“One more,” Ajax said, and it was a promise. “Sit on me, let me watch you, and I’ll dream about you too.”

There was a frazzled, weary edge to his thoughts, like a poor bit of knitting going loose at the edges, but Ajax drew Zhongli into the twists of them and drew it tight, hoping he would see him in his sleep. He didn’t dream much, not since the Abyss, but he liked to think Zhongli never left his mind.

“Your sleep --”

“Can wait a little longer.”

Zhongli wasn’t a man to waste a chance; he was shifting, a rising wave rolling Ajax onto his back and then reaching down to stroke Ajax back to hardness so he could sink onto him again. Ajax gripped his hips and watched him as promised, letting Zhongli adjust with an easy rocking pace before Ajax was planting his heels against the bed and snapping his hips to fuck up into him properly. Zhongli’s moans were punched out of him as he bounced; it seemed he was struggling to keep his own eyes open, gaze two molten slits of gold as he met Ajax’s. The world fell away; Ajax was nothing but the tight heat around him and Zhongli’s focused look, and maybe in a way it did go on all night, for eternity, but also no time at all --

Zhongli came without being touched, gasping breathlessly, and fell forward, face burying into the pillow next to Ajax’s head as Ajax continued to fuck into him.

“You --” Zhongli managed, the words a muffled hot wash against Ajax’s ear that made his hands tighten on Zhongli’s hips. “You dream of me --”

Zhongli knew Ajax didn’t actually, couldn’t actually, but the words were bigger than facts.

“Always,” Ajax vowed, hips pressing up to a slow, twisting grind, knocking a high sound out of Zhongli, “forever -- fuck -- tighten up a little -- there you go, sweetheart --”

Nowadays when Ajax came he saw gold more than white; he buried his face against Zhongli’s shoulder as he seared by its light. The come down was slow, Ajax resisting the urge to go boneless as he carefully lowered his hips and straightened out his legs, hands sweeping over what skin he could reach, kissing words he didn’t have the energy for right then into Zhongli’s skin. Zhongli was lax against him, and so warm, and solid, and Ajax just couldn’t imagine moving much now.

He fell asleep not long after, Zhongli breathing against his ear; Zhongli maybe said something, and maybe they parted, but Ajax couldn’t remember.

--

The next morning Ajax woke from a dreamless sleep feeling immeasurably well-rested, and rolled into easy morning sex with Zhongli with a smile. The winter sunlight wasn’t so strong as it shone through the window, but the day felt bright all the same.

“So what do you want to do today?” he asked afterwards, and Zhongli sat up, always with such elegant posture even in bed like this.

“Do you have plans yourself?” Zhongli asked, and Ajax sat up as well, amused at the question. “You have many who would gladly invite a social visit from you, not the least of which being Ms. Ekaterina.”

Ajax should see Ekaterina, for her company, a haircut, and to give her a chance to spy on him a little for Pantalone. There were also people who were practically family and he’d be a sorry son of Snezhnaya if he didn’t drop by, and all the parties he was no doubt going to receive an invitation to any be playfully scolded if he didn’t attend. He knew all this, but still shook his head as he ducked to kiss Zhongli’s shoulder.

“I’m in Liyue to see you,” he said. “The rest I leave up to chance.”

“Then we may do some shopping --” off Ajax’s laugh, Zhongli persisted with, “-- the director has given me a list --”

“And some money? Or will I have to stop by the bank?”

“She gave me funds, yes.”

“Then if you let this fishwife’s son do the haggling, we’ll have no problems.”

“I trust in you,” Zhongli said, which made Ajax fondly shoulder check him.

“Then let’s wash up,” Ajax said, “and I’ll make breakfast, and then you can show me this list.”

Zhongli lent him some clean clothes for the day, which were exquisitely tailored to his perfect form and were therefore alternatingly too tight and too baggy at various points on Ajax’s body, but it still warmed him to see himself in them in Zhongli’s tall mirror. For breakfast he put on a record, smiling to see one of his favourites near the front of Zhongli’s collection as if Zhongli had been listening to it in his absence, and when Zhongli joined him from putting on his many layers Ajax pulled him into a silly, lopsided dance that didn’t keep time to the crescendoing strings at all.

An invitation to the great lady Marguerite’s fabulously glitzy parties for new year’s sounded nice right about then -- Ajax would like an excuse to dance with Zhongli properly.

After they’d settled down and had their breakfast, Zhongli tugging on an excessively heavy coat like he wasn’t immune to the weather while Ajax settled for something lighter -- winter here was springtime at home -- they left the house. Here Zhongli pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket, neatly snapping it out to its full length -- and what a length it was -- before handing it to Ajax.

“Director Hu’s requests.”

Ajax took one look at this list and laughed. “I thought you said you had no birthday plans?”

“Hmm. No plans, as such they could be named.”

“This is her idea of a surprise? That’s bold of her.”

“Could one call a simple list of requests bold?”

Ajax shook his head. He had long since decided that if the question was ‘Is Zhongli messing with me?’ the answer was generally ‘Yes’, unless the subject in question was human emotion. If he had to guess though, this was less about Zhongli’s habit of idle misdirection and more wanting to preserve Hu Tao’s own deliberately playful misdirection of a party planning attempt. Those two were a well-matched pair, that was for sure.

“One could,” Ajax said drily, giving the list another look over. “Hmm … fish. We oughta get that day of, but everything else we can get today.”

“As it is considered auspicious to eat fish on the new year, inviting abundance and wealth into one’s home, fish the day of will sell out quickly. It is better to pay in advance, in order to reserve your order.”

“Ah. Smart. We’ll do that, then. To the docks, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

It was an easy wander through the city, taking it in as everyone prepared for the festivities and the new year. Furniture and columns being waxed, carpets beaten, brass polished to a shine, city employees checking on decorations and launch sites for fireworks. Zhongli was greeted as they went, and the brisk air felt warm with excitement and anticipation.

“They must outdo themselves every year,” Ajax said as what had to be a test firework went off, whizzing up and into the air and going off with a bang, its golden splendour undercut by it being early in the day, little more than a shimmering spray against the flat blue of the winter sky.

“They try, though with well-cautioned restraint,” Zhongli said. “Some time ago, a new type of poorly-tested and ultimately dangerous firework became popular. When dozens set them off on the new year it resulted in numerous fires. A youth by the name of Dongyang died, as well as a dozen horses who were trapped in a burning stable. After this, Rex Lapis advised that only those expert craftsmen whose qualifications had been verified by the Qixing be permitted to sell fireworks, and on advisement himself by a friend, that the Qixing should take on the lion’s share of duties as it came to organizing the displays. The logic was that others would be less tempted to create and set off their own unregulated fireworks if they were suitably awed each year, and it did prove mostly effective as a solution.”

All these memories Zhongli had … a mountain to carry, or an ocean to sink into, but they were also what made him him, because he could bear that weight. Sometimes it was hard, Ajax knew, for Zhongli had said as much, but Ajax could only hope then that giving Zhongli the chance to share those memories would help.

“There’s no need to steal what you get for free … ah, Zhongli-xiansheng, tell me what the best firework display you’ve ever seen was.”

“Hmm. Many spring to mind, but one which I hold particularly dear was a display of ten thousand miniature fireworks, each a perfect golden flower as they bloomed across the sky …”

Ajax slowed their already casual pace to a proper amble to give Zhongli time to paint his pretty pictures of the past, and the docks were busy with early morning shoppers when they arrived. Ajax set his sights on a fellow who had the look of a hard sell, and went to battle.

“Ten thousand Mora, and that’s the best deal you’ll get this time of year!”

“Hah. Ten thousand? Brother, you’d starve a mother and her children …”

Ajax really had learned to haggle from his mother, and it was proven effective. After some dickering a good deal was struck, the order slip entrusted to Zhongli, and then they were free to see about everything else on the list. This included, but was not limited to, other meats and various vegetables, snacks, a bunch of ‘very hot’ chilis (Ajax debated on this one -- it sounded suspiciously like a prankster’s request), fireworks, sparklers, lanterns, kites, and streamers. Honestly, Hu Tao had probably asked Zhongli to get all this because she wanted everything to be up to his standards -- a true man of taste wouldn’t skimp on any of these things.

“You know, Xiansheng,” Ajax said as they left the docks, “thinking of fish --” he smiled at Zhongli’s wary glance flicking his way “-- there’s another thing I ought to get you.”

“Yes?”

“A -- ah, what’s the word in Trade? A knife for gutting fish.”

“A fillet knife.”

“Yes, that. You don’t own one!”

“Indeed.”

Ajax grinned at Zhongli’s dry tone. “It’ll be just for me. I’ll make mincemeat of every poor little fishie that crosses my cutting board, and because you like me an awful lot, you’ll eat whatever tasty, not-fishy-at-all stew I make with it.”

Zhongli smiled a little at this. “There is no need to overexert yourself on my behalf.”

“I’d say there’s every need.”

“You do it quite often,” Zhongli said, surprising him by shifting the conversation’s tone back to something a little more serious, thoughtful. “A thing you have a natural talent for, perhaps, and I would not wish you to think me ungrateful.”

“Ungrateful? Of course not.”

“Yet if I do not reciprocate as naturally …”

“So tit-for-tat …” this was something Ajax knew Zhongli struggled with. Take a God of Contracts who had lived a life of either exact exchange or deep, unending generosity for his people, and it was hard for him to understand simply accepting things with nothing in return. Ajax stopped them, giving Zhongli’s coat sleeve a gentle tug as he waited for a moment of privacy on the busy street. “Look, it’s simple, really. It makes me happy. I can’t always be here, but when I am, I want to make your meals, and keep your house, and do everything I can to make you happy too.”

Zhongli sometimes reacted to statements like these with a totally blank face. Sometimes, a ripple of unidentifiable emotion would cross his face, what Ajax considered Zhongli’s private little earthquakes. And sometimes, like now, he would smile in a way that was so genuine and gentle it made Ajax almost embarrassed to witness. He bravely faced it, however, and continued on, voice softer.

“Because, you know … an engagement is a promise so it’s really just a vow. I know we’re not actually married yet, but to me, you already are my husband.”

Zhongli reached up, hand pressing to Ajax’s chest. His fingers dug in a little, smile fading but gaze sharp; Ajax knew that look, but decorum was decorum. He curled his hand over Zhongli’s hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Now come on,” Ajax said. “It’s a long list.”

Zhongli nodded, but they stood there a little longer before they parted and continued on walking, pinkies brushing.

--

They shopped, and dropped their bags of purchases off with Hu Tao. She hardly said a Hello, how do you do? before she was grabbing Ajax’s ear to tug him down and inform him she expected him to ‘check in’ with her about ‘matters of business’, which meant either a recent Fatui mass death incident or Zhongli birthday party planning. Ajax nodded but made no promises, and then he and Zhongli went to go get lunch at Wanmin’s.

“Here you go,” Xiangling said, setting down some extra appetizers they hadn’t ordered, Zhongli helping Guoba as the little bear pushed his platter onto the table. “On the house!”

“Thank you,” Ajax said. “Is this an early birthday gift?”

“Yep!” Xiangling beamed. “Zhongli-xiansheng, you’re our best customer. We look forward to another year of you enjoying our food, and giving your amazing feedback!”

Zhongli smiled. “As I look forward to enjoying the continued development of your unique style, this symbol of Liyue’s eternal growth.”

“Hehe …” Xiangling pressed a hand to her cheek, smiling. “Thank you -- you’re way too nice- oh, Childe! You’ve been to Inazuma, right? I just got back from a culinary adventure there. You’ll have to tell me what you think of that there -- I was really inspired by udon!”

“It looks amazing,” Ajax assured her. “Say, are you going to be at the party? We’ll catch up then.”

“What party?” Xiangling asked guilelessly, eyes big. “I don’t know anything about that. But if there was a party … yes, totally!”

Guoba chortled, and Ajax smiled ruefully. Alright, alright, he could play along. He tossed Guoba some shrimp and ruffled his little bear head.

“I must be mistaken,” he said, noting Zhongli’s own smile out of the corner of his eye. “Well, maybe we’ll get lucky.”

“Mm-hmm!” Xiangling backed up, grinning, Guoba . “Enjoy your lunch, guys!”

Ajax watched her and Guoba go, thinking he had even more people in Liyue to check in on than Zhongli had originally estimated. Friends the world over … hah. That boy in that seaside village could only have dreamed of a life like this … and never could have imagined sharing a meal with someone like Zhongli, ready to spend his life with him. He slid his foot over to press against Zhongli’s, and thought warmly of all the meals they’d ever shared.

After lunch they stretched their legs on a nice long walk, Zhongli pointing out some things that had changed in Ajax’s year away. He kept careful track of all the developments in Liyue, and could be as pleased about a new dumpling stall as he was about some grand new house. That was familiar; newer was this way he kept stopping to exchange words with various people. Not that Zhongli wasn’t always friendly, but maybe Ajax’s presence had scared people off in the past, because he didn’t remember so many people calling Zhongli over when he was there. Had Ajax’s reputation finally been forgotten in town? Had Zhongli formed bonds not easily shaken by Ajax’s presence? Or was this just evidence of Zhongli finally finding his place in mortal society, in a way he hadn’t back then when he was still so new to it?

“Yes,” Zhongli was saying to a little grandmother whose groceries they’d detoured to help carry home, “I did see him. He has developed remarkable form -- he shaped a rooster quite deftly for me.”

“Ah, good …” the grandmother wheezed, “he was all trouble, but now …”

“He is well on his way to being a true craftsman,” Zhongli said. “I look forward to seeing him come into his own as an artist.”

Ajax was glad. As much as he missed Zhongli while he was gone, and as much as he believed Zhongli missed him as well, at least Zhongli would never be alone in Liyue.

“That boy …” the grandmother sighed. “That boy …”

They said their goodbyes to her after helping tuck her groceries away, and continued to angle their way up into the upper reaches of the city, Zhongli speaking broadly on the art of glassblowing as a whole as they went. Ajax was distracted from idle thoughts of how Zhongli would look glassblowing (very, very good) by the sight of a distinct group standing under what was, according to Zhongli, the oldest sandbearer in Liyue Harbour. Old lady Ping, Yanfei, and a tall woman Ajax didn’t know but decided to safely bet by her striking appearance and present company must be an adeptus as well. Ping spotted them as well, raising a gnarled hand, and he and Zhongli veered towards the trio.

“Hello,” Ping said. “How long it’s been, young master.”

“Almost a whole year,” Ajax agreed. “Hello, Ping-laolao, Yanfei-nushi --” Yanfei did smile, which was nice “-- and hello to your new company here, whom I don’t believe I’ve been introduced to.”

From the look she sent him, they either had met and he had failed to impress her, or she had never wanted to meet him. Maybe it was Cloud Retainer; they’d had a bit of a run in once, and that haughty look was pretty much identical.

“This is Xianyun,” Ping said, “an old friend, come to live in the city.”

Xianyun adjusted her glasses. “We were about to get tea,” she said shortly. Ah. The voice was unmistakable. Definitely Cloud Retainer. “Will you join us?”

The question was directed to Zhongli, who looked to Ajax, as if Ajax would or should say no. Ajax nodded with a smile.

“Sounds nice,” he said. “The usual place, Ping-laolao?”

“Yes,” Ping said, eyes creasing gently. “With the new year so close, it is an excellent time to spend time with friends and family. Let us enjoy some warm tea, and catch up.”

“Alright,” Ajax said, “but fair warning, I haven’t been to the bank, so I don’t have any Mora, before anyone expects me to foot the bill.”

Ping smiled so innocently and Zhongli blinked as if this was an unheard of concept. Xianyun sniffed and Yanfei lifted a wry brow.

“Some of us are employed,” Yanfei said. “It’ll be fine, Master Childe.”

Ajax smiled at her tone, and their fivesome made tracks for the discreet and elegant teahouse that he’d gone to a few times with Ping and Zhongli both, on top of some other matters of diplomatic or financial interest to Snezhnaya. Being a place for such meetings meant you could people watch wealthy merchants and other members of Liyue’s elite here, but he knew that for Zhongli and Ping it was really more about the quality and diversity of the teas. They got a table, ordered some snacks and a few blends as Ajax answered questions about his time away.

“They make the dough from corn, and they stuff it with all sorts of things, and steam it in plant leaves -- really, it’s so good. I think everyone should try it at least once!”

“I know what you’re talking about,” Yanfei said. “My dad used adeptal arts to keep one fresh and mailed it to me …” she shook her head, but in a fond way, as if she couldn’t totally approve of this frivolous use of magic but also couldn’t deny the result.

“That one carries himself like a judge, but acts like a child when his stomach is concerned,” Xianyun sighed.

“He knows the things to be serious about,” Yanfei said diplomatically. “But I think travel’s been good for him. Mother says he smiles more.”

Xianyun sighed again. “Rushing to travel, before such times …”

“Times come, and times pass,” Ping said sagely. “As things have settled, even I myself have thought of travelling.”

“Oh!” Yanfei turned to her. “You should join me in Fontaine, then.”

“Having an old woman about may not be fun,” Ping chuckled, and Yanfei shook her head.

“I’ll always want you around,” she promised, and Ping pat her hand. “Besides, I’m renting a flat, so I’ll have plenty of room.”

“A whole flat?” Ajax asked. “That’ll be a long case.”

“Teaching an exchange course at the law school,” Yanfei corrected. “Students who take courses like that get a certificate which lets them practise in whatever nation the teacher came from.”

“A nation may grow best alone,” Zhongli said, smiling, “but people will benefit from growing together. Friendships between nations are an admirable thing.”

“Yes,” Xianyun agreed, “and she will impress them all.” She turned her gaze on Ajax, as if he’d ever suggest Yanfei capable of being anything less than excellent. “For one so young, she is very bright. Her parents are proud to have such a daughter.”

The tone was aloof but the words were like an adoring auntie’s. Of course, they were all family, weren’t they? That’s how it seemed to an outsider like him, at least, but outsider or not he could recognize the fond way Zhongli watched them. All the adepti he knew, all the ones he had lost, and all the ones he still had …

Definitely never alone, Ajax decided, and gave Zhongli’s thigh an affectionate squeeze under the table. Zhongli reached down to cover Ajax’s hand, holding it there as his left hand deftly picked his cup back up to continue enjoying his tea. Their hands stayed so layered as the conversation moved on, and it maybe wasn’t entirely subtle, but hey, their relationship was well past the state of secrecy now. Something Ping herself very boldly commented on, smiling knowingly at them.

“But is it the festivities that have brought you to Liyue, or do you two have plans?”

“Plans? Hm?”

“Marriage,” Xianyun said, unimpressed. “Are you two not betrothed?”

“We are, yes.”

“Then marriage is the natural result.”

“People can take their time with these things,” Yanfei said, unexpectedly coming to their defense. Maybe she had a lover people were asking her about. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“It’s not about time,” Ajax said, not wanting them to think this was a matter he was thinking over or something. Underneath his hand, Zhongli’s thigh shifted. “Or it is, but not that way. It’s only that no Snezhnayan ever gets married without their whole extended family there, and I have a very big extended family -- and no time to plan that sort of thing.”

“A traditional Snezhnayan wedding, with all its celebrations, may last an entire week,” Zhongli said mildly. “It is not a thing undertaken lightly.”

“And then coordinating with the Liyuen side of things …”

“Two ceremonies?” Yanfei asked. “One for here, one for there?”

“Ideally,” Ajax agreed. “I’d say both our invitation lists are a little too rooted in their homelands to ask to meet in one place for one ceremony.”

“Though I would prefer the Liyuen ceremony to be a small, private affair,” Zhongli said, which surprised Ajax, glancing at him. He’d have thought Zhongli would want to pull out all the stops -- he did like having the best of everything. Ajax would know. He’d been the one to foot the bill for Rex Lapis’s extravagant state funeral.

“Too many ceremonies and rituals, old friend?” Ping asked kindly, and Zhongli inclined his head. Yanfei glanced curiously at Ping. Xianyun set her cup down with firm authority.

“It is a good idea,” she declared. “Celebrations are too noisy. Do as you wish, and know that no matter what wind lifts you, you have our support, eternally.”

Zhongli murmured his thanks, but Ajax was distracted by Yanfei, because he could see the exact moment it clicked for her. Her eyes widened, lips parting a little before she schooled her face back into its usual placid calm. She’d once told him she wanted to learn Zhongli’s secret, and now it seemed she finally had. She looked from Zhongli to the other two adepti wonderingly, then to Ajax, who smiled understandingly. Yanfei blinked slowly, then buried her face in her tea, taking a long drink of it.

The afternoon faded away, Yanfei’s gaze lingering on Zhongli throughout, thoughtfully. The tea was drunk, the snacks eaten, and countless stories shared, but it eventually came to an end. Xianyun covered the bill, and huffed out her nose when Ajax thanked her. Outside they stepped into the brisk, though not really that cold at all, winter air.

“So do you three have new year’s plans?”

“There are always ways to while away the hours,” Ping said whimsically.

“I’ve gotten a few invitations,” Yanfei said vaguely.

“It is a surprise,” Xianyun said bluntly, and Ajax grinned.

“Alright, I see.” Hu Tao must be inviting just about everyone Zhongli knew. Where exactly was she planning on hosting this thing? Her apartment above the funeral parlour wasn’t that big. Was she renting a space? “Then best wishes for the new year.”

They all shared their well wishes and goodbyes -- Yanfei adding a deep head bob to Zhongli that bordered on a bow -- and he and Zhongli peeled away, ambling vaguely in the direction of Ajax’s favourite Liyuen hotel. It was a path they’d taken many times together, so it was natural for their feet to lead them that way without any other real plans.

“I think Yanfei just sussed you out, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

“It is past the time for real secrecy,” Zhongli replied, unbothered. “New paths have been forged, free of Rex Lapis’s guidance, and so there is little fear of retreading old footsteps.”

“A bit of a if rowing upstream, don’t stop advancing thing?”

“I think more the current favours the rower,” Zhongli said, letting out a quiet sigh of what might be called relief. “As it should favour the fallen leaf, or the migrating fish.”

“Right …” Ajax nudged him. “But the guidance is still there, you know. It’s just a legacy, not a helping hand. And I think it’s nice, that I see Rex Lapis everywhere around us.”

Zhongli leaned into him briefly, their arms flush, and smiled to himself. Ajax’s gaze traced that familiar regal profile, the warmth of that smile, pace slowing.

“So what now?” he asked. “Any construction projects you’d like to admire? More shopping? Or maybe to the cliffs, wait and watch the stars come out?”

Zhongli stopped walking, looked at Ajax seriously enough that it made Ajax blink, and said,

“I would like to have sex.”

There was a pause, and then Ajax was laughing so sincerely it took him a few moments to gather himself, jostling Zhongli affectionately as Zhongli watched him with one of those head-cocked smiles that meant Ajax was puzzling him. How could Ajax help it though? Zhongli could be blunt about everything, sex included, but he normally led in with some poeticism first, at least.

“What’s that?” he said, giggles trailing off. “Where’s the fancy words? No ‘the flower quivers for the long-legged bee’ or whatever?”

Zhongli’s smile grew, raising a knuckle to rest against his bottom lip. Ah, he was cute. Ajax resisted an impulse to kiss him.

“Evocative imagery,” he said. “Perhaps you have potential as an erotic poet in you.”

“Oh, sure, sure,” Ajax said, fighting to keep his voice down. The street wasn’t so busy, but still. “I think I’ve heard enough of the Liyuen kind by now to try my hand.”

Zhongli, smile quite wide now, gestured in silent invitation, and Ajax wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. He straightened, clearing his throat.

“Hmm … ‘In day, the flower quivers for the long-legged bee. / At night, the moon covers the mating ducks. / No matter the hour, the jade stems grow / and the forgotten candle burns low.’ Heh.”

“A fine attempt,” Zhongli said, and Ajax gave a little half-bow of thanks, “if somewhat derivative.”

“An amateur foreigner’s best attempt, I’m afraid.”

“An attempt deeply appreciated,” Zhongli assured him, “though I fear it has misled us from my initial request …”

That Zhongli, persistent as ever. Not that Ajax was mad about it. He wrapped a hand around Zhongli’s wrist, giving a quick squeeze.

“The Lily’s close by,” he said. “Maybe we should relive some past memories.”

“I imagine that they will be fully booked, unfortunately.”

“Ahh, true … big holiday …” for the end of the year and Morax’s birthday, Liyuens from all over came to the heart of the nation to fill temples and shrines with offerings for their lord. Even three years out from Rex Lapis’s death, it seemed that hadn’t changed. “Then I guess I have no choice but to drag you into some bushes like a wild animal …”

His teasing smile was met by a flicker of interest from Zhongli -- oh, Ajax bet he liked that idea -- but instead of engaging in some more playful banter that would eventually lead them back to Zhongli’s cosy home and nice, warm bed, Zhongli stepped close and murmured,

“The leaves have dropped, but I believe I may find us a private corner to screen us all the same.”

And how did Ajax say no to that? He let the person who knew Liyue best lead away, and soon they were tucked away in what looked like a storage shed for whatever business whose back lot they were in. Like most back areas in Liyue it was narrow and cramped, and the shed hardly big enough for more than a few stacked crates, some tools, and two grown men. It was a tight fit. Ajax hummed as he turned Zhongli around with lingering hands, the effort bumping him back against the shut door behind him, which rattled in its frame, before he could plaster himself comfortably against Zhongli’s back, tugging his gloves off and tucking them into Zhongli’s front pocket.

“Why, Zhongli-xiansheng,” he said lowly, “you’ve lured me into such a suspicious location … what could you possibly have planned …?”

Zhongli shifted against him, until Ajax gave his hips a pointed squeeze. He stilled, letting out a long breath.

“Reckless abandon,” he replied on the tail end of that breath, and Ajax wasn’t sure he had enough room to work for complete and total abandon, but he’d do his best all the same.

“What a threat!” He pulled off Zhongli’s scarf, winding it about Zhongli’s arms and tying his wrists together with an exaggerated tug, leaving Zhongli’s bound arms resting atop a crate. “But it seems I have you at my mercy, now …”

Ajax slid his hands into the folds of Zhongli’s really very unnecessarily heavy jacket, parting layers like they were an army between him and his goal. (Cutting down an army for Zhongli -- now that made his dick twitch.) If Zhongli wanted to pretend the cold bothered him, Ajax would just have to warm him up … work his hand up under Zhongli’s shirt layers, find one of those cute nipples to toy with, let his other hand work at Zhongli’s fly …

No, he decided, taking Zhongli in hand and tracing a light circle with his thumb, watching Zhongli bow his head forehead with a heavy exhales, that wouldn’t do at all. Ajax wanted to kiss his neck, to breathe him in, to feel the jump of his pulse against his tongue. He dragged his hand back down Zhongli’s torso, flicking light touches along the tensing muscles, only to work his way back up above the clothes to bury his hand in Zhongli’s hair. With a gently firm grip he towed Zhongli straight again, pressing his face against Zhongli’s neck with satisfaction.

“Like this?” he teased, thumb still working idly as Zhongli hardened beautifully against his palm. “Or more?”

Zhongli didn’t dignify that with a response, trying to fuck into Ajax’s loose fist, and Ajax chuckled, working his hand in light strokes until a stutter to Zhongli’s hips indicated impatience. Only then did he tighten his grip, fisting Zhongli’s cock firmly and giving his hair a short, stern tug at the same time. Zhongli hissed, and Ajax rewarded him by starting to stroke him properly.

“I like it when it’s like this,” Ajax murmured. “Just you and my hand … so easy to please …”

“You please me,” Zhongli said lowly around staggered breaths, “I must be easy for it.”

Ajax kissed his neck fondly. He couldn’t see Zhongli’s pretty cock like this, but he could definitely picture it, how dark it flushed and how much it dripped, the way it pulsed and twitched at Ajax’s toying with it. He tightened his fist, jerking a little faster, and Zhongli’s breathless response made Ajax tighten his grip in Zhongli’s hair. The way Zhongli moaned at that … Ajax was grinding against him, biting at his neck, contemplating the logistics of getting his own clothes out of the way so he could push inside --

Footsteps, outside. Ajax’s hand dropped from Zhongli’s hair in a flash to plaster against his mouth, muffling his sounds.

“Shh,” Ajax breathed against Zhongli’s ear, thumb rubbing right under the head and earning a helpless jerk of Zhongli’s hips for it. “Don’t get us caught …”

Zhongli’s hot, wet mouth burning against his hand, panting sounds not stilling at all, Ajax working his hand faster. The person reached the shed, but when he tried the door, he found that it wouldn’t open -- Ajax had slipped a firm bit of Hydro construct into the handle to stop that. It wasn’t as good as a lock; the door bounced and rattled as the person jerked on the handle, grunting in frustration.

“He sure seems upset … should I let him in?”

Zhongli shuddered in his arms at that, exhibitionist that he was. Ajax dropped the hand covering Zhongli’s mouth as he flicked his wrist, and Zhongli came with a sound that seemed to echo off the walls of the shed. Outside, the fumbling sounds stopped, and Ajax chuckled.

“Uh-oh …”

“Who’s there?” the man demanded, hammering a fist against the door, but that was all Ajax heard because Zhongli whisked them away, and a blink of distortion later they stood by the Anchor near Zhongli’s house. Luckily the courtyard it was housed in was empty, or that might have given someone a real shock twice over. Ajax smiled as he kissed Zhongli’s neck, carefully working to tuck him away.

“He’s going to think his shed is haunted now,” he said. “Maybe Hu Tao will get some new business.”

Zhongli chuckled in an absurdly husky, sexy way, leaning his weight back against Ajax heavily as Ajax gladly unwound the scarf from his wrists.

“She will find it a nuisance,” he said.

“So you get a little revenge for your birthday! How nice.”

Zhongli hummed, head lolling a little against Ajax’s shoulder. Ajax liked this, these moments where Zhongli was so unusually lax and boneless. A private side of him, one that others may not guess at. Ajax turned his face against Zhongli’s hair and breathed him in, idly rubbing a slow circle against Zhongli’s belly under his coat until Zhongli straightened into perfect posture once more.

“Home, I think,” he said with a deep intent and a hot gaze turned on Ajax, and Ajax tempered an impulse to inform Zhongli he would follow Zhongli through any pain or misery and also kill every last person in the world for him. Such things went without saying, really.

“Yes,” Ajax said instead. “Let’s.”

--

Here was the trick for getting Zhongli to sleep as mortals did instead of passing the night in an enlightened meditative reverie: a good dinner, a hot bath, an orgasm, and an hour-long massage. As far as bedtime routines went it was about as far as you could get from Ajax, who could sleep just by closing his eyes and telling himself it was time to rest, but he didn’t mind. Even in the little time they’d lived together it had been far from habit, but even if it was happening nightly, Ajax still wouldn’t mind.

Lying next to Zhongli, seeing genuine rest on his face … it was nice. Ajax liked being able to give him something like that.

Ajax maybe stayed up a little too late that night, just watching Zhongli, enjoying his peace, but also thinking about what Zhongli had said at tea. Ceremonies, big and small, and all those compromises that made relationships work. Ajax had never wanted to be a detriment to Zhongli’s life, but it was hard to judge if he’d done real damage when Zhongli welcomed him with open arms and an easy softness. You could sink into that and forget how to look around you, it felt so right.

Zhongli shifted in his sleep, let out a soft, slightly hitched breath. Sex and sleep -- the only times his breathing was less than perfectly steady. Ajax loved him very, very much, and almost ached for it, right then.

Enough, he told himself, and shut his eyes, and slept.

--

The next morning passed lazily, slow sex and slipping out of bed just to use the facilities or forage for winter fruits from the kitchen to eat in bed, juice-sticky fingers wandering between bites. Outside, a dusting of snow had fallen in the night, but Ajax only spared it a glance out the window before returning to Zhongli’s warmth. By the time they finally rolled out of bed, it had melted.

“You will give me an hour?” Zhongli asked, tugging his cuffs straight. “I have something I must collect.”

“Last-minute gift shopping, Zhongli-xiansheng? How shocking.”

“More an old gift, recovered,” Zhongli said. “But please, take the time to do your visits. If you do not, I fear the director may track you down here.”

Hu Tao had so far had displayed enough tact and wisdom to not try one of her classic frog-in-bed style pranks on poor Zhongli while she knew Ajax was in residence, but maybe that lucky streak would come to an end and she would see something she shouldn’t. Ajax nodded.

“Good idea,” he said. “How about we meet at Third-Round for lunch?”

Zhongli nodded, and Ajax drew him into a deep kiss before they said their goodbyes. He tugged on his clothes that he’d washed the evening before, actually kind of missing Zhongli’s too-tight shirts in a silly way, and then went to see Ekaterinaa at the bank. She was busy, but still found a few minutes for him in her office.

“Permission to speak freely, sir?”

“Permission denied.”

“Your hair is too long. You look disreputable.”

They held eye contact for a moment then broke into laughter. Ahh. No matter how much time passed, they could always fall right back into it.

“Your court martial is pending,” he informed her, and she nodded.

“Of course, sir. Can it just wait until after the new year?”

“Got plans?”

Maybe Hu Tao had invited Ekaterina to this not-a-surprise party too.

“Maybe,” Ekaterina said coyly. Oh, Hu Tao had. Were Zhongli and Ekaterina even close, or had Ekaterina been meant to act like a representative on Ajax’s behalf? “Oh, sir. It’s very nice to see you again. How long are you here?”

“Not long enough.”

“Missing your fiancé?” she asked, not without sympathy; Ajax nodded and heaved a sigh.

“The cat’s out of the bag a dozen times over, so of course you can tell Pantalone I’m pathetically in love and pining … say, is he the reason I’ve gotten so much scut work recently? Whispering in Her Majesty’s ear in some ploy against me?”

“You are definitely overestimating how much time Lord Pantalone spends thinking about you, sir.”

“Kick the poor man when he’s down, I see how it is …”

“Would you want him to think about you?”

“Actually? No.” Ajax suddenly leaned forward. “Ms. Ekaterina, my sharp-eyed friend, how would you say Mr. Zhongli has been doing while I’ve been gone? Well enough?”

“Well enough,” she confirmed. “He keeps himself busy. It used to be he’d turn away plenty of work offers that came his way, but now he accepts at least a quarter. He eats out with friends often throughout the week -- and never seems to pay, naturally -- and there’s always theatre and exhibits and performances and so on for him to attend. And everywhere he goes, he has someone to talk to. People love him. If you could vote for a new archon, I’m sure his name would be top of the list.”

“Hah … yes, that sounds right …”

“He did ask me if I was spying on him for you once, you know.”

“And what did you say?”

“No, of course. What kind of Fatuus do you think I am?”

“I mean … you weren’t. I didn’t ask you to.”

“Yet here we are all the same.” Ekaterina smiled. “But we can call them observances of a friend --”

“Which is what they are.”

“-- and you are going to make me some scissors, so I can fix that hair.”

Ajax shook his head at her spurious accusations -- he’d spied on Zhongli plenty, for gnosis-getting plans, but that was well in the past, and he was a good husband-to-be who wouldn’t do such a thing now -- but created some Hydro construct scissors, handing them over before he removed his mask.

“Go extra short around the ears -- it’s been driving me crazy …”

After his haircut, Ajax left Ekaterina to her work and went to see Hu Tao at hers. She was saying goodbye to some patrons, and the way she switched between her light solemnity to her usual air of conniving mischief the moment the clients backs were turned was impressive to witness. She beckoned him over, and he followed her to her office in the back, a small, stuffy old room of antique furniture and overflowing cabinets that always smelled faintly of incense. He and Zhongli may or may not have gotten a little handsy in here, once or twice.

“So,” she said, once the door was shut and she’d drawn the curtains on the window with unnecessary, but appreciated, drama, “I have something to say that will shock you terribly.”

“Shock away.”

“The truth is … I’m planning a surprise party for my dear consultant.”

“Oh my,” Ajax said, hand to his chest. “Oh dear. Who could have thought?”

“I know, I know.” Hu Tao laced her hands together, tucking them beneath her chin as she regarded him with twinkling eyes. “But gather yourself, because I have your marching orders, soldier.”

Ajax saluted. “Fire away, sergeant.”

“They’re really very simple -- just keep him out of his house on his birthday until about six o’clock in the evening.”

“His house? Didn’t want to rent a banquet hall?”

“I want something cosier than that,” she said, shaking her head. “You know …”

“Yes?”

“He keeps a brave face on about it, but he does miss you,” she said. Ajax was too controlled for a flinch, but he didn’t like hearing her say it. “And I think he’s gotten too used to thinking of his home as a place for you and nobody else. I just want to remind him it’s more than a love nest, and he can open it up to others too.”

Ajax raised his brows. Was that an accurate assessment? Hu Tao did know Zhongli very well, but it just sounded so … irrational. Love was irrational, sure, but Zhongli liked to spend time with people, didn’t he?

“He is a grown man,” Ajax reminded her. “It’s his choice who he opens his home to.”

“And he can make that choice,” she said, “after my little reminder. So. Tomorrow, until six o’clock, and not a minute early.”

Ajax shrugged. It wasn’t really a terrible plan on the surface. A party in Zhongli’s home sounded nice and, well, homey. He’d just make no extra effort to hide his intentions in luring Zhongli away … though honestly, with how much Zhongli clearly knew already, he probably also knew what Hu Tao had planned.

“Alright,” he said, “but if I get into bed and there’s a frog there, I’m going to show you the kind of pranks only someone with six siblings could know.”

Hu Tao shut her eyes and heaved a lofty sigh, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Frogs in beds are a child’s game,” she announced. “I have moved on to far more elegant and mature things, my foolish Fatuus.”

“Snakes, huh?”

“Only non-venemous ones,” she promised, and then flapped her hands. “Now shoo. Some of us are gainfully employed.”

Ajax gave her hat a flick before she could duck out of the way, sending it askew, and grinned as she pushed him out of her office with exaggerated huffs. A glance at the lobby’s grandfather clock on the way out told him he still had some time before meeting Zhongli, so he took the Mora he’d picked up at the bank to a stall where he’d eyed something on the other day’s shopping trip he thought Zhongli might like. It wouldn’t go down as his most incredible gift (of which he would not so humbly say he had given Zhongli plenty over the years) but sometimes you just wanted a little something to say you were thinking of a person. The shopkeep agreed to deliver it to the bank, and Ajax made his way to Third-Round. Zhongli was already there, at the corner table he liked when inclement weather forced him off his beloved people-watching outside terrace. Ajax wove his way through the lunch crowd packed into the tiny space to settle across from Zhongli, shifting his stool a little closer.

“Not waiting long, I hope.”

Zhongli shook his head with a smile. “No. I have only recently arrived myself.”

“Got your errand done?”

“Yes.” Zhongli’s lashes lowered. “Did you see Ms. Ekaterina? She did well with your hair.”

“Calling me handsome, Zhongli-xiansheng?”

“All that, and more,” Zhongli said, and Ajax curled his hand around Zhongli’s, shifting his grip so the ring Zhongli had made for him kissed Zhongli’s thumb ring, enjoying the smooth resistance as they rubbed together. When he’d first noted Zhongli had an archer’s ring, he’d wondered if it was just an antique status symbol for style or if it meant Zhongli had some skills. Zhongli did; he’d demonstrated such excellent form and accuracy it had made Ajax immediately realize how wrong he was handling the bow. How talented Zhongli was; how he never stopped surprising Ajax.

“I think …”

Zhongli tilted his head, regarding Ajax curiously, but Ajax didn’t actually have an end to that thought. He shrugged, smiled, and tugged Zhongli’s hand off the table to keep hold of it as the waiter approached with tea.

Tian did not let any season or location stop his storytelling, today regaling them with a tale of Rex Lapis realizing a mountain cast too aggressive a shade on fertile farmland and so relocating it for his people’s benefit. It ended on a cliffhanger note of an evil beast attacking while Rex Lapis had the mountain in the air.

“And what did our lord do? That, my friends, is a story for another time …”

Ajax smiled. Sometimes those words had driven him a little crazy, because when he and Zhongli would go the next day it would always be a different story. Now, it was pleasantly nostalgic.

“So, Zhongli-xiansheng …” he smiled at Zhongli. “What happened next?”

Zhongli wouldn’t tell him. Zhongli never did. He respected the storyteller’s craft too much.

“Hmm. If such a thing once truly happened,” Zhongli said, smiling into his teacup, “it would be a situation requiring some imagination.”

“Just drop the mountain on the beast. Easy.”

“That may create a rather unfortunate situation for the common people nearby.”

“Heh … then I guess he should learn how to juggle.”

Zhongli chuckled, lowering his cup and gaze creasing fondly at Ajax, who beamed back, giving Zhongli’s palm a slow rub with his thumb. Honestly, he was sure they were an absolute embarrassment to witness sometimes. He’d have to remember to find his shame, some day.

“There is a forgotten story, of Rex Lapis being challenged by a canny juggler … would you like to hear it?”

“Absolutely.”

“It began on a rainy day, at a roadside shrine …”

It was easy to lose track of time when Zhongli spoke. His voice had been one of the first things that had caught Ajax’s attention, all those years ago, hitting him like lightning out of the blue. They’d talked about something he would never remember, and he hadn’t known how to handle the reaction it had brought over on him. It’ll fade, he’d assure himself, this strange fascination with the mysterious consultant, but Zhongli was not a person who was ever anything less than extraordinary.

The lunch rush passed; their own food was eaten, idling through cups of tea until a need for the bathroom knocked Ajax out of his almost dreamlike state.

“Let me powder my nose,” he said, “and then let’s get out of here. Yeah?”

Zhongli nodded his agreement. A refreshed Ajax soon paid for their meal and they took back to the streets. A wind had picked up, with heavy clouds rolling in from the ocean. It wasn’t cold enough for a snowstorm, but maybe icy rains? Ajax figured that was a good excuse as any to cuddle up at home, which was nice, but he hoped it wouldn’t be raining into tomorrow. That meant no fireworks, and though he was sure it had rained through many of Zhongli’s birthdays and he’d survived it, Ajax still wanted the best for him.

“Rain,” he observed. “Should we head home now?”

“I would like to walk a little longer,” Zhongli demurred. “I do not mind rain.”

“Hey, I don’t either. Actually, I didn’t tell you, did I, about the storm that kicked up on the ship ride over -- then this huge thing starts breaking out of the water …”

Ajax’s tale of attempted monster slaying veering into polite awkwardness upon realizing the monster in question was actually trying to help their ship carried them into the quieter southern reaches of the city where residential homes and small specialty shops lined the streets. The busy city slowly eased into wilderness beyond here, back lots turning grassier and grassier until you had fields and the ever-present mountains that cradled the Harbour on all sides. Though they’d undoubtedly walked every street of this city together at least once, this wasn’t a direction they often went, Zhongli preferring areas with more activity.

His energetic old man, so full of life …

The skies opened up. The first drops struck like little cold needles, and Ajax smiled, tipping his head back to appreciate the chill even as he thought a construct umbrella into existence. When he raised it he made sure Zhongli was fully covered. Maybe Zhongli couldn’t catch a cold, but no need for him to be uncomfortable.

“Sorry -- as I was saying, you wouldn’t believe the size of these pearls. Can’t hate the ocean when it gives us such pretty things, eh?”

“I would not say I hate the ocean …”

“Hehe, I know … hmm.” Ajax’s gaze was drawn to a distinct building set next to a small rock garden, approaching on the left. It was a temple, on the more modest end of things, though still plenty nice due to its existence in the seat of Rex Lapis’s power. The rain dripped off the eaves, pattering off the little statues out front, quiet and peaceful looking. “Say, Zhongli-xiansehng …”

“Yes?”

“Want to get married?”

Zhongli’s reply came after a brief pause. “Is this not something you already said yes to?”

“I meant right now. At that temple there.”

They stopped before the temple, the rain falling harder. Ajax peered through the half-open door; there was a priest in there, but it seemed not much else in the way of people. Ajax could just hear the sound of the priest’s broom scratching the ground under the rain.

“I … do not wish for you to feel rushed,” Zhongli finally said. “Your family --”

“I figure we can always hold a ceremony later,” Ajax said with a shrug, looking back to Zhongli. “And so long as we don’t tell my grandmother the truth, I probably won’t be disowned.”

“Childe …”

“What’s the point of waiting?” Ajax continued, shrugging again, feeling a little helpless for how silly it all was to explain. “Because if you don’t want to make a big fuss out of it … you’re just waiting on me, aren’t you?”

Zhongli didn’t quite frown, but there was a firm set to his brows that suggested he wasn’t thrilled.

“I would wait,” he said. “There would be no end to the waiting I would do for you.”

That Zhongli would do -- had done -- will do? Ajax’s free hand gently cupped Zhongli’s face, thinking that if he could do all that waiting on Zhongli’s behalf, he would.

“That’s sweet of you,” Ajax said, “but let’s not get ahead of ourselves … we’re both here, and I know what I want. Alright?”

Zhongli studied Ajax’s face a little longer, and must have found Ajax’s sincerity, because his brow relaxed and he slightly turned his face to press more into Ajax’s palm, nodding.

“Yes,” he said. “I will marry you.”

A year ago, it had been Ajax saying those words. He brushed a thumb against Zhongli’s cheek, and then they turned to enter the temple.

--

The ceremony was short, but precious, like a little gem that would only ever belong to them, witnessed only by that nameless officiating priest. Maybe Ajax had lied a little; there was something different about knowing things between them were this real.

“Hah … I didn’t think about the auspicious dates … sorry about that.”

“Worry not. I trust in you to make your own fortune.”

“Heh. Thank you. I’d say you’re pretty lucky too … but tell me, what do you want to do for our honeymoon?”

Ajax smiled at his husband, who smiled back, eyes crinkling softly. The rain pattered heavily on their umbrella, the streets were empty, and it seemed there was no one else in the world right then.

“We will take a trip after the new year -- for now, let us go home, and celebrate.”

“Hmm. I like the sound of that.”

Ajax took Zhongli’s arm in his own, tugging him closer, and they strode off into the rain.

--

The rain turned into a proper storm, then to flurries as the night drew its chill on. Ajax watched the light snow dance beyond the bedroom window, and the homesickness didn’t cut so deeply; having another home now must help with that.

“I wished to elope,” Zhongli confessed, from where he lay on Ajax’s chest. Ajax hummed, giving Zhongli’s hair another slow stroke. “This is a gift you have given me.”

“So that means I can return that other birthday gift I got you?”

Zhongli huffed a short, soft sound of amusement, hand sliding down to Ajax’s, lacing their fingers together.

“Do as you wish,” Zhongli said. “I expect nothing from you.”

“I can think of a few things you can expect …”

“Hmm.” Zhongli let out a pleased sound as Ajax scratched lightly at his nape. “Childe …”

“Yes?”

“I do wish to celebrate with your family. That is still true.”

“We will.” Right then, Ajax didn’t want to think too deeply on a family that continued to grow apart into their own lives, a family he had not seen in far too long now. Maybe a wedding would unite them again; maybe Ajax would seem so normal in their eyes for the first time in years, if they saw him in love, as any other man could be in love. Hah. Maybes -- not a thing to torment yourself over, especially when you were safe in bed with someone you loved. “There’s no rush. And hey.”

“Yes?”

“Tomorrow, we celebrate with your family. Yeah?”

Zhongli didn’t think about that as long as he might once have; he only nodded, and squeezed Ajax’s hand.

“If we occasion to see those I hold dear tomorrow, I will surely count it as a belated wedding banquet.”

“Oops. That’s right. It’s still a surprise.”

Zhongli chuckled, and Ajax could only roll them over, pushing Zhongli down with a deep kiss, ready to continue their celebrations.

--

In defiance of the previous night’s weather and with respect for the holy day being celebrated, the end of the year dawned bright and clear. Ajax wished Zhongli a happy birthday in a variety of different ways (most of which involved his mouth) but they decided to forsake a lengthy morning in bed to instead get out and about.

“We have to get the fish,” Ajax said as he combed out Zhongli’s hair at his vanity. “We should do that first thing.”

“Yes -- we would not wish to risk being given a late-day subpar product.” Zhongli met his gaze in the mirror. “Will you start breakfast?”

“Of course, husband.” Ajax bowed over to press a kiss to Zhongli’s crown, handing him the comb. “Any special requests?”

“Hmm. Something simple. There will be food enough later.”

Ajax squeezed Zhongli’s shoulders, tugged on a shirt, then headed downstairs. Leftover rice fried up and eggs sounded good. He had this underway by the time Zhongli joined him, at which point Ajax was immediately distracted. Zhongli was wearing something Ajax had never seen him in before, something that felt immeasurably elegant and important. Not divine, but right next to it, like a close brother. Dark browns and golds as Zhongli liked to wear, a subtle scale pattern, an impressive mantle.

“This is new,” Ajax observed, pacing closer.

“An old gift, which I have not worn in some time.”

“It’s pretty,” Ajax murmured, hands sliding happily along the curve of Zhongli’s waist. “I like it.”

Ajax then dipped Zhongli into a proper showy kiss, because when someone looked that good you needed to be big about appreciating it.

“Now how come I have such a handsome husband?” he asked against Zhongli’s lips, then pulled back to smile down at him, hand spreading a little wider against Zhongli’s lower back. “It doesn’t seem fair to be this lucky.”

Zhongli smiled back, the hands braced against Ajax’s chest sliding up a little. “They say when a god smiles upon you, it brings good fortune …”

“Ah! Do you think there’s a god out there who favours me?”

“One or two,” Zhongli said, maybe a little drily -- he had a complicated relationship with the Tsaritsa, Ajax had gathered -- and then pat Ajax’s chest. “The rice is burning.”

Ajax sighed playfully, but before returning to breakfast pressed one last kiss to Zhongli’s mouth because some things were more important than good food. After the (really only mildly too crispy) meal was eaten they left the home to its presumed incoming Hu Tao invasion and made for the docks. Despite the early hour it was busy as, but the fishmonger clearly recognized Ajax and Zhongli and they managed to get their fish quickly.

Of course, only after leaving the stall did Ajax realize a slight problem, namely that he had to get this fish to Hu Tao. If she was already at Zhongli’s, he wouldn’t be able to do that without leaving Zhongli’s side, and naturally he didn’t want to do that unless he absolutely had to for god and country.

“I don’t suppose you see a plucky kid looking to make some quick Mora, Zhongli-xiansheng …”

“Hmm.” Zhongli turned his head slightly. “I believe a solution arrives.”

Ajax didn’t get to ask what Zhongli meant before there was a whipping of power in the form of a sharp breeze that had him turning and about to think a weapon to hand … only to recognize the sudden arrival. He left a battle ready stance to cock his head at the short adeptus standing stiffly atop a pile of crates.

“Ah. Hello. Happy new year.”

“The fish,” Xiao said, jumping off the crates to land neatly before them, glaring at Ajax with hawkish yellow eyes. “Give it to me.”

“Excuse me? Is this a mugging?”

“No,” Xiao said with a tight sigh. “I’m going to bring it to where it needs to be.”

He said this with the grim tone of voice someone might say they were taking a sick dog out back to shoot it. Ajax blinked, glancing at Zhongli, who had his mouth tucked behind his fist in a way that was either pensive or hiding a smile. He caught Ajax’s eye, and nodded.

“Thank you,” Zhongli said. His tone was level enough, and warm. “That is kind of you.”

Xiao looked like the compliment made him want to throw himself into the ocean. Ajax kind of understood the guy. He handed the wrapped fish over as asked, and Xiao carefully cradled it against his chest. There was a moment of silence and then, still sounding pained, Xiao said:

“Happy new year, to you both.”

“Happy new year, Xiao,” Zhongli said. “Each year, I count myself fortunate to know you, and the world fortunate to have you in it. May we see another year together that shines upon you.”

Xiao looked away, shuffled his feet, nodded jerkily, then vanished in another sharp breeze that seemed to cut through the air around them. Somewhere behind them someone shouted:

“The adepti bless the new year!”

Cheers went up about this from all the early-morning shoppers and dockworkers within earshot of the enthusiastic fellow. Ajax chuckled.

“Is that true, Xiansheng? Are we blessed?”

“Good company is always a blessing,” Zhongli replied easily. “In this regard, I count myself fortunate many times over.”

“You sweet talker you.” Ajax waved a hand at Zhongli as they started to walk again. “My mother warned me about men like you …”

“Indeed? What did she say?”

“That you absolutely have to marry them.”

“Then it seems you were an attentive son.”

“Mm-hm. And aren’t you lucky, because they say attentive sons make for good husbands …”

They flirted as they strolled, taking in the city as more and more people awoke and began their celebrations. It wasn’t meant to be as big as Lantern Rite, but there were still things to enjoy. They caught a duelling poetry match, enjoyed tea with some old chess players, and occupied themselves at a few booths with little games and food. Zhongli, resolutely aware that he knew the secrets of these games more than most and that he had preternatural skills did not believe in joining in on the competitions, but Ajax had his fun. Though as much as he liked to win, the most fun came from when a kid was his opponent. Then it was on him to believably lose by a narrow enough margin that the kid in question was left feeling unstoppable.

“Hey!” The girl pointed at him. “Take that, mister!”

“Ack …” Ajax grinned. “You’re supposed to be humble in victory, aren’t you?”

“Uhh …” her nose scrunched. “That’s something losers say.”

Ajax bit back a laugh (he couldn’t help it -- he loved rude kids) as Zhongli tilted his head gravely at the little girl.

“When Rex Lapis faced his greatest foes, mercy was a difficult recourse,” he said. The way she straightened, like something in her could tell this was important, coming from someone important, was adorable. “Yet it was something he held in high regard, for a compassionate heart and a humble mind is what makes for a true hero. Are heroes not a thing we all aspire to?”

“Uh -- well, uh -- yes!” the girl nodded. “Heroes are the best!”

“Knowing this, wisdom may be found, I believe. Do you agree?”

“Right! I mean -- yes, that’s right!”

Ajax’s smile softened as he watched Zhongli get through to the girl. If there was something he was sure on, it was how good a father Zhongli would be. Kind, patient, and firm without ever being cruel. If Ajax was living a different life in a different world … but as things were, it was just a warm dream -- out of reach, but nice to keep tucked into your heart all the same.

“Now I’m sure your mother is missing you,” Ajax said to the little miss. “Why don’t you go tell her you won? Maybe she’ll get you a treat.”

The girl’s eyes widened, and with a grin and a cheeky, “See ya, nearly-a-winner-mister!” she ran off. Ajax turned to Zhongli, giving his sleeve a little tug.

“And he thinks he’s no good with kids,” he teased. “But c’mon. I need a treat myself. Where do you want to get lunch?”

“Hmm. Maybe a stall selling scallion pancakes …”

As they went in search of this (not much of a search, with Zhongli knowing where everything in Liyue was, but he let Ajax lead all the same) a stray firework went off. It was easy to tell this wasn’t intentional as a harried looking Qixing employee soon ran past toward the source, clutching at her hat to keep it on.

“It’s always something, eh, Zhongli-xiansheng?”

“Certainly, planning large public events is a way to learn every way in which even the simplest of tasks may go wrong. Once --”

“Ho! Zhongli-xiansheng!”

They were flagged down by one of Zhongli’s scholar friends. This one was part of a little group whose name Ajax had forgotten -- he called them the Old Fogeys himself -- that were always eager to debate matters of history and Rex Lapis with Zhongli.

“I’m glad I caught up with you -- I’m on my way to a lunch at Spring Rabbit. We have a room -- would you and Master Childe like to join us?”

Zhongli glanced at Ajax, who nodded with a slight shrug. It wasn’t like they had real plans otherwise.

“Yes, we will join you. Thank you.”

“Wonderful! We simply have to discuss that find out by the prison -- it’s the talk of the town!”

Ajax had no idea what this man was talking about, but Zhongli clearly did, and as they walked Ajax gathered it was about some discovery of a large amount of buried pottery. Needless to say, this was not a conversation that required or wanted his input, so he just admired Zhongli instead.

Most of the others were already at the Rabbit, and though Ajax would guess a majority of these fellows were unmarried, two of them had brought wives. One of them was clearly just as invested in history as her husband, almost immediately launching into a debate with Zhongli about some kind of antiquities protocol. The other looked lost and a little bored, so Ajax took it upon himself to keep her entertained. As he worked his charms, he kept an ear on Zhongli’s conversations to enjoy the neverending comedy of Zhongli arguing about history with mortals.

“But it simply makes no sense, Zhongli-xiansheng! The imagery is undeniable!”

“The imagery is suggestive, I would say, but rather more importantly beautiful, which is its own value into itself --”

“No, no -- you madman, really, our lord wouldn’t have let something inaccurate go out like that!”

“I imagine even Rex Lapis has made his erroneous judgements, but again, this was more a matter of form before all function --”

These guys thrived off getting steamed up about Zhongli’s strange-seeming ideas, and though Zhongli always deflected when Ajax asked, he suspected that Zhongli enjoyed how heated the debates got as well. Maybe this was his last battlefield, and it was fun to watch.

Halfway through lunch the wife’s giggling drew Ajax some suspicious looks from her husband, and he draped his arm casually across the back of Zhongli’s chair to remind the man he was happily taken. Married, in fact, and remembering that made a silly, genuine smile cross his face. They hadn’t told anyone yet, but he was sure it was written all over his face all the same.

Lunch took longer than Ajax expected, the involved discussion continuing into extra cups of tea until the staff started to politely chivy them out. They said goodbyes and shared well wishes, but they weren’t walking long before Zhongli turned to him with a request.

“If you would accommodate me, I wish to visit a temple.”

The one other new year they’d celebrated together, Zhongli had said he wasn’t in the habit of visiting the temples with everyone else. That he felt what happened on this day was not really for Rex Lapis but for mortals, so they would have reason to find joy and warmth even in their coldest days, and he did not wish to impose. Ajax hadn’t totally gotten it, but he wasn’t a six thousand year old god who probably didn’t even have an actual birthday, so understandably there were perspectives they would never share. What he did know was how mortals felt about their gods; as nice as any relief in winter was, there was plenty of genuine love for Rex Lapis being shown today.

“I would accommodate you. Do you want to make an offering, say a prayer? Should we get incense on the way?”

“My intentions are less a religious visit,” Zhongli said. “I also speak not of a city temple, which will be busy at this time … will you give me your arm?”

“Yes, of course.”

Ajax accepted Zhongli’s arm curiously and let Zhongli guide him into a quiet, shadowed alley where he could disappear them without being watched. Why was Zhongli taking them out of the city? he wondered. It wasn’t like there weren’t plenty of temples to choose from here.

A blink later they were standing in what looked like the crook of two mountains; judging by the horizon they were fairly high up, though he could see only grand, sweeping Liyuen countryside from this angle. Snow fell around them, and a temple stood in a copse of trees.

“Where are we?” he asked.

“About a day’s walk from Yilong Port,” Zhongli said. “This is informally called the Twin-peak temple.”

“And it’s … special? More than any temple is?”

“It is, at present time, abandoned,” Zhongli said, crunching through the shallow snow toward the temple. Ajax followed, still curious. “The stairs leading here collapsed in late autumn, and it was decided repairs would have to wait until next spring. The elderly priest did not wish to abandon his post, but Rex Lapis appeared to him in dream to ask that he put his health first, for no food or medicine could be brought to him here and the winter may prove a harsh one. He is in the nearby village for the time being.”

“So we’re here to neaten up? Do a kind turn for the new year?”

Zhongli paused. “We … may also do this, yes.”

That was when Ajax finally cottoned on, and he grinned.

“In a temple? For shame, Zhongli-xiansheng. I thought you were a respectful, respectable gentleman.”

“I do recall an incident in a shrine …”

“Eh? Hehehe … hmm … maybe …”

Ajax scratched his cheek (it hadn't been one of his finer moments) while Zhongli shook his head with a slight smile. They let themselves into the temple, which was quiet, cool, and dusty on the inside. It was country-standard, a small main room and a door in the back leading to the priest’s quarters. In the middle was an altar with a stone bowl for offerings; wandering closer revealed that a single Mora was all that was left. Hopefully because the priest had taken the offerings for safekeeping, not because some particularly cowardly thieves had come by. Ajax dragged a finger through the dirty film atop the altar -- maybe cleaning really would be in order -- then turned at Zhongli’s light touch to his lower back. He looked at his husband, who met his gaze before retreating a few steps, still watching Ajax.

Zhongli said nothing, only pressed a hand to his chest, almost seeming to sink in a little as if he had a gnosis still to retrieve, and from this touch a great rippling gold spilled out, like the pennants of a burning sun. It was brief and bright, and once it faded Zhongli had traded his handsome dark robes for another far more divine pair in white. Ajax followed the sharp lines of it down arms which now glowed a hot gold, and it was like those hands were buried in his own chest, warming him from the inside.

“This is what you want?” Ajax asked quietly, returning his gaze to meet Zhongli’s.

“Yes,” Zhongli said, dripping with divine grace. “Like this, here.”

As bed partners went, Zhongli was all superficial contradictions. Bossy but passive, proud but submissive. As a general rule he didn’t beg and he didn’t kneel, but he could make the filthiest requests without shame. Standing here like this, divinity wanting to be worshipped and defiled, he was all those things at once. Ajax approached, remembering that time at the shrine. That had been Zhongli proving himself to Ajax -- this? Hah. Ajax didn’t know. He just knew that Zhongli was beautiful, and if it was Ajax’s turn to prove himself, he would do so, gladly.

“Hmm.” Ajax grabbed Zhongli’s waist, enjoying the way the solid press of muscle didn’t feel as obscured by layers as it normally did. “Morax in the flesh …”

A quick glance at Zhongli’s face confirmed the name was the right one to use, and he ducked his head to kiss at Zhongli's neck, hands dropping lower to grab handfuls of Zhongli's ass. Now that was something divine right there, he thought with a sly smile, fondling and kissing and tonguing the underside of Zhongli's jaw until Zhongli was grabbing at the back of his jacket.

“Of course, maybe it's not,” Ajax said. “Should a god make this so easy..?”

Zhongli's breath hitched as Ajax picked him up, burying one of those golden hands into Ajax's hair, thighs squeezing his sides.

“You would prefer difficult?”

“A little fight first wouldn't be so bad,” Ajax said, smiling up at Zhongli as he carried him to the altar. “Blade on blade before blade meets blade …”

Ajax set Zhongli on the altar's edge, leaning back to admire the sight of him. Clothes aside he still mostly just felt like Zhongli; this was testament to both Zhongli's natural grace and his complete lack of acting skills.

“That may damage the temple,” Zhongli said lowly.

“Maybe I don’t care,” Ajax teased, bracing his hands on either side of Zhongli's hips. “Maybe I’d gladly break every pretty temple you have.”

He emphasized this by reaching behind Zhongli to knock the offering bowl off the table. It hit the ground loudly, though didn’t sound like it broke; the Mora rolled off and fell with a quiet sound that Ajax barely heard over Zhongli’s deep exhale. He smiled slowly at Zhongli.

“Are you going to make me get that?”

Zhongli’s lashes lowered. “No.”

Ajax stepped closer, nudging Zhongli's thighs further apart.

“I could keep going … see how the stone of Liyue stands up against this walking natural disaster … but do I need to?” He grabbed Zhongli's waist, slid his hands higher to thumb Zhongli's nipples through the clinging fabric. Archons, if he couldn't spend all day playing with these if given the chance. “You would still let me, wouldn't you?”

Faint colour was rising in Zhongli's cheeks as he turned his face slightly away, but kept a sharp golden eye on Ajax.

“Yes.”

“No matter what I flood or burn or cut down or tear apart …” Ajax laughed softly. “But the gods are generous to everyone, so they say, even us wicked ones who don’t deserve it.”

Zhongli's breathing was starting to sound tight; Ajax would have to get him moaning to knock some air into him.

“Childe, you--”

“Going to argue with me, Morax?” Ajax leaned in to nuzzle at Zhongli's neck again, one hand dropping to press against Zhongli's cock, setting a firm, slow rub to it. Zhongli made a short sound, hips shifting beneath Ajax's touch. “Because I'm sure you know what your people would say, if they could see their lord like this for a Harbinger …”

“They would come to accept his desires,” Zhongli said, deeply and with sincerity, which made Ajax smile as he nipped at Zhongli's pulse point.

“All of them? Hmm? Every little last dirty one …?”

Ajax continued to kiss his way down as he spoke, until he could tongue at Zhongli’s pebbling nipple. The way Zhongli arched into that … foreplay was a test of endurance and one’s skills, and Ajax liked to warm Zhongli up until he was softened wax in the hands, but there was still that desire to just be as close as possible, as soon as possible. He channeled this need into a hungry mouth, laving and sucking and teasing while his fingers played with Zhongli’s other nipple; Zhongli’s hands were a steady, tugging pressure on Ajax’s hair as he tried to rock against Ajax but couldn’t with the angle Ajax was slanted at.

“Childe …”

Ajax responded by swapping sides. Out of the corner of his eye he could see how the white fabric looked, soaked through and clinging to the flushed, tight bud underneath, and it was pretty enough to be worth doing twice. Pretty, and arching beneath his hands, his mouth, until Zhongli’s arousal-roughed voice broke the air.

“You like myself easy for your hand, but you will not indulge me now?”

“Mmm?” Ajax restrained a laugh. Foreplay also meant getting an extra-eager Zhongli, and he liked that too. “Like this?”

Ajax worked his hand under the layers and down the soft trousers, smiling a little at the lack of undergarments of any kind -- (a question about the gods most scholars would never be able to answer, but here he was) -- and curled his hand around Zhongli’s cock. Always so eager, always fitting so perfectly in the cradle of Ajax’s hand, always so wet at the tip … he thumbed through that wetness, pushing down and rubbing with a slow twist of his hand until Zhongli made a sound that could be called a whimper in someone less dignified. Ajax dragged his thumb down, smearing that wetness all down the hot line of Zhongli’s pretty, silken cock, jerking a few times as his mouth kept at its sucking. The hands buried in his hair tightened, Zhongli heaving out a --

“Childe -- I wish --”

Ajax flicked a look up. Zhongli met his gaze with his chin tucked against his rapidly rising chest.

“More?” Ajax asked, pulling back.

“More,” Zhongli confirmed, and Ajax smiled.

“A god can be a bit more commanding than that, can’t he?” he asked, giving another flick of his wrist. Zhongli inhaled slowly, and Ajax kindly slowed the movement of his hand. “Go on, Yanwang Dijun. Tell me exactly what you want me to do to you.”

Never let it be said Zhongli backed down from any challenge.

“I want you to take of me,” he said, hands dripping down to caress Ajax’s neck before grabbing at his shoulders, tugging him upright, closer, “to drink of me, to make me a wanting vessel waiting to be filled, to break upon me a furious wave, to sunder my defenses and part me to my softest flesh …” Zhongli tipped his head down, pressing their foreheads together “... I want you to show this god exactly what mortals are capable of.”

Ajax was so hard right about then he could probably fuck a hole in a glacier, but he contained himself by pushing up to kiss Zhongli deeply, messily, teeth and tongue before he pulled back to breathlessly oblige.

“Don’t you say the nicest things … how can I say no?”

Ajax soon had Zhongli splayed out properly atop the altar like some storybook sacrifice as he made quick work of Zhongli’s trousers, leaving him bare legged beneath the white tunic. Ajax spread those legs and stepped between them, gaze hungry. The way the light fabric tented over his hard cock, a hint of a wet patch to match the more obvious ones Ajax had sucked onto his chest … Ajax exhaled in satisfaction as he drew his hands up to Zhongli’s torso.

“So beautiful …” he pressed firmly on Zhongli’s tensing middle, keeping him flat as he bent over to tongue Zhongli’s cock through the fabric, tasting him. There was a thumping sound, like head meeting stone, and he smugly felt Zhongli’s bare knees draw up in reflex.

“Childe.”

Ajax straightened again. Boy, that had sounded impatient.

“Ah? Am I being a tease …? Sorry, sorry …”

Zhongli harrumphed a little as Ajax repositioned himself with a wink and some groping hands, tugging the tunic out of the way. With Zhongli’s thighs flush to his torso, calves hooked over his shoulders, he pressed a bare Hydro-wet fingers into Zhongli, slowly, watching as Zhongli arched against the stone as if Ajax’s fingers were moving his whole body. A furious wave … but this stone could weather it.

“Happy birthday, Morax.”

The words were quiet but sincere when Ajax pushed his achingly hard cock inside Zhongli, who gave way so easily. Zhongli watched him, lips parted wetly, a hint of tongue bracing against the back of his teeth, little ragged breaths falling out of him. That first thrust … Zhongli always reacted the same, looking like he was trying to memorize the feel of it. And he touched himself, thinking of this? Tried to? Worked his hand -- hands? -- with frustrated unfulfilledness, wishing Ajax was there to fuck him properly …?

Ajax rocked back before he was all the way in and snapped his hips; Zhongli arched off the altar with a guttural cry.

“Ah -- ah --!”

Ajax fucked him sharply, deeply, rolling thrusts that rocked Zhongli against the altar until Zhongli was grabbing onto the edges to stay steady. The way his face went tight with pleasure, the way his moans were practically a purring rumble, the way he seemed to glow at all the tips like he’d swallowed a star … Ajax was wild for it, feral, civilization forgotten as he lost himself in his husband.

Zhongli tipped his head back, eyes squeezing shut, and Ajax tutted with breathless glee. That wouldn’t do. His recognition was here for Zhongli, and Zhongli needed to see that.

“Keep your eyes on me, Morax,” Ajax cooed. “Don’t ignore -- hah -- that it’s me doing this to you …”

Zhongli reopened them with seeming difficulty, the burning gold veiled by dark lashes, but meeting Ajax’s gaze all the same. He was tight and quivering and getting even tighter and it was no surprise when he came with a cry that made the earth beneath them shake a little, a tremble that jolted Ajax just that bit deeper into Zhongli’s clenching heat and soon had him grinding out his own orgasm, fingers digging into the flesh of Zhongli’s thighs. He fucked them both through it, heat spreading and dripping until the sound of it was obscene, and distantly he heard the sound of something breaking.

“Fuck -- so good for me, Morax, so good …”

Ajax dropped Zhongli’s legs to reach forward to grab the front of his tunic and haul him up into a kiss, hip still working to fuck little frissons up through Zhongli’s body he could taste off his tongue. He didn’t ever really soften before they were moving together again, afterglow becoming another frantic, somewhat sloppy round where he kept Zhongli close and forgot it was winter for how hot and close and wet it was between them.

“Zhongli -- Zhongli --”

Zhongli said nothing, only panted out sharp cries against his temple. Ajax pulled him closer still, and thought he’d never let go.

That was just a dream, of course. Eventually, all good things came to an end, and parting after another orgasm became a little necessary -- even Ajax could only tough his way through an oversensitive, spent cock so long -- but they kept grabbing at each other all the same, trading slick kisses. It was a while before their mouths could be spared for talking, before he wanted to do more than just rut idly against Zhongli and feel him squirm in response.

“Ahh …” Ajax nuzzled along Zhongli’s jaw, kissing at his ear. “Good?”

Zhongli hummed an agreement.

“I think you broke something …”

Zhongli’s voice was an unfairly sexy hoarse rumble when he spoke. “The bowl, yes.”

“Can you fix it?”

“Once stone decides to part, not even I may command it to join once more,” Zhongli said. “I will make a new one instead.”

“Haha … guess he can’t complain about the providence of that …”

Zhongli hummed again in agreement, and pressed a slow, tender kiss to Ajax’s temple. He’d gotten better at these little human gestures, and thinking that was likely thanks to Ajax was a thought worth treasuring.

“Thank you for this,” Zhongli said quietly. “It was all I could have wished for, and more.”

“I know. I really am that good.”

He felt Zhongli shake his head a little, and pulled back to smile at him before shutting his eyes.

“Now shh … considering the location, you have to let me make a prayer.”

“Hm. Do you believe it will reach its recipient?”

“I hope so,” Ajax said, smoothing his hand up and down Zhongli’s back slowly. “Because Rex Lapis should know I’m very grateful for giving me the chance to meet you.”

Zhongli kissed his temple again, and held Ajax in return as Ajax showed his gratitude.

--

They approached Zhongli’s home with a minute to spare until six o’clock; Ekaterina waited outside, looking handsome in a dark fur-trimmed Snezhnayan dress. Over her arm she had a shirt and jacket draped.

“Hello, sir,” she said. “Were you really going to show up to the party dressed like that?”

Ajax glanced down at himself. Okay, maybe there was dust clinging to him from all the tussling in an abandoned temple they’d done, but …

“It’s not so bad. It’s just a little dust.”

“It’s not about that -- though, really, what were you two doing? It’s about dressing up. You aren’t walking in there looking like a soldier, not with Mr. Zhongli looking so handsome -- here. Change.”

Ah. It seemed Ekaterina had foreseen his lack of anything more formal to change into. She really was too good.

“Thank you, Ms. Ekaterina.”

Ajax stripped to the waist while Zhongli and Ekaterina chatted a little about the day’s celebrations, and pulled on the handsome button-down and jacket Ekaterina had thoughtfully provided. They fit well enough, if a little tight around the shoulders. A pat to the pocket revealed his gift to Zhongli was tucked inside, no doubt neatly wrapped. Ah. She thought of everything.

“There. How do I look?”

“Entirely handsome,” Zhongli said, and Ekaterina gestured to him as if to say, ‘Trust the man.’ “You have quite the fine eye, Ms. Ekaterina.”

“Thank you, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

Ekaterina accepted his dirty jacket and shirt, and Ajax grinned at Zhongli. “Ready to walk inside and have nothing at all happen?”

“Hmm. Actually, I suspect the director may have something planned.”

Ajax was still laughing about that as they let themselves into Zhongli’s home, tugging on their slippers, Ekaterina quickly slipping past them. Even if they’d been totally ignorant, anyone could have heard the mass of breathing people and smothered giggles coming from the sitting room. They approached, and all the lights went on at once as a loud barrage of voices shouted in somewhat clumsy unison:

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

Hu Tao was leader of the pack, of course, but Ajax was impressed at the golden-red decorating job she’d done and the crowd she’d assembled. A quick look saw Ganyu and Keqing seated next to Yanfei and Ping on the sofa, Xianyun and Shenhe in the corner with two more people of adeptal descent like the doctor Chenguang; Xiao was half-lurking the doorway. Zhongli's Wangsheng Parlour colleagues had turned up, the Ferrylady an unexpected delight in green instead of her undertaker darks. There was also a few of Zhongli's favourite scholarly and antiquing buddies, such as Rolf and his wife Huifang, or the scholar who had flagged them down earlier for lunch, smiling cheekily. Chef Mao, Xiangling, and Guoba were cheering, alongside a bunch of the rest from Hu Tao's younger friend group. Ekaterina's girlfriend occupied a chair with exceptional grace with what Ajax was pretty sure was a poet Zhongli was fond of perched behind her. Round off this eclectic collection was a sprightly youth in green he couldn't place, who was fiddling with the record player.

“Ah.” Zhongli crossed his arms, nodding with a slight smile. “A surprise party. How novel.”

This earned some laughter. Before Hu Tao and other well wishers descended on them, Ajax took the opportunity to lean in and kiss his cheek.

“Happy birthday, Zhongli,” he said softly.

Zhongli grabbed his hand, gave it a tender squeeze, and then was pulled away by Hu Tao to be the heart of the party. Ajax smiled fondly, and went to make Zhongli a drink.

END

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