primos | weekend at zhongli’s 🕶

weekend at zhongli’s 🕶

( continuation of {HERE}.

it’s strange, having any sort of guest in the usually quiet apartment he has learned to call his own. occasionally, he’ll visit what remains of his old domains scattered throughout liyue; now, they are overrun with plant life and monsters and zhongli thinks back to when they were filled with laughter and love, if he dares to even call it that.

nowadays, he resigns himself to the mortal way of living: paying rent for a humble one bedroom apartment close to his place of employment. while he does have a second bedroom, he also has a spare futon that was imported in from inazuma back before the trading embargo really heated up. it’s never served the purpose of what it’s meant to, of course, with his only overnight guest ever being hu tao who had come over to work through some files and then passed out in the guest room from sheer exhaustion.

this is different.

hosting venti, his oldest living friend, seems to make him hyper aware of how little he has to offer as a host. liyue harbor is rich in history and activities, but his apartment itself is bleak. to some degree, he suspects, venti won’t be surprised - zhongli is an old man, after all. a blockhead. his boring apartment, with traditional liyue fixtures and kettles, speaks to that. he supposes venti won’t be spending too much time in it, but it still makes zhongli aware of how mortal they are, now, even as retired gods in name.

so when morning comes, after he’s certain venti is comfortably suited, zhongli can’t stop thinking of how soft venti’s hair was when he touched and how much zhongli wanted to stay up all night with him counting stars and recounting old tales until venti fell asleep, perhaps leaned against him, and zhongli could ensure he slept safely.

he almost burns his hand on the stove as he prepares them breakfast, zoning out like this. his hair is pulled back as usual and he’s wearing something much more casual than his suit - simple house clothes that are a single layer each, that still cover most of his skin but make him look younger. )

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He works with dead guys too?

[ Technically... speaking! Venti isn't wrong! ]

Recklessness... huh. Could have sworn he was just jealous I was stealing all your time away. [ If the words hit Zhongli like stone spears, he can relax with how Venti bursts out. ] Pffff, he's probably shocked you're hanging out with someone as carefree and alive as me. No worries, I won't embarrass you too much if our paths cross again.

( jealous?????

please don’t even suggest such a thing. the lewd thoughts make his stomach curl. disgusting. mortals were fine but that particular brand of disregard for the greater good — )

I assure you, his company is not something I keep often.

( fuckbuddy? why is he so bad at explaining that it was only a matter of the tsaritsa and convenience, geez. )

[ Mainly because Venti and the Tsaritsa had a falling out, so. Even if it was explained, he'd never let Zhongli live it down. Ever. ]

Oh. ...Do you keep company, then? [ Not like that. He's still disillusioned to think it was something else. Something deeper or more... ah, fueled. ] Beyond your work. Please tell me you have a social life.

( slooooow blink. )

I— often go for walks, around the city. I’ve grown close chatting with the shopkeepers and workers.

( so no. he doesn’t have a social life whatsoever other than work and the people he sees when he’s taking his strolls. it’s not a completely lonely life, more like a retired grandpa would actually do.

and most importantly, there’s no grandma or second grandpa hanging around liyue in his bed. )

Do you go to dinner with them or bask in their company beyond the shops?

[ Maybe Venti doesn't realize how sharp his words are. Zhongli felt happy, mostly, living the life he had. Without a wind to brush against his features, to whip his hair around as softly as it was now. ]

Oh! Or them buy you beer and wine? Back in Mondstadt, I don't mean to brag, but I've gathered quite the collection of admirers, ehehe. They keep my nights entertained and ...um, sort of keep my pockets lined? Until I need something.

( is venti asking about his love life???

is that what this is?

it must be.

so he’ll dumbly answer. )

Ah, no. I’m single.

[ Now it's Venti's time to snap his gaze over. He looked panicked at first. Did his words betray him? Make him look a fool prying?

But. Good to know... ]

Bah! I meant to did you make any real friends here when you hit retirement but... I suppose friends of other natures apply as well.

( oh. now zhongli feels the fool, cheeks a warm red. )

I suppose you could consider a few adepti and merchants my friends, yes.

( more than stranger or acquaintances, but nothing like barbatos. no one is like barbatos. )

Nothing carnal. ( STOP. )

Morax.

[ He cuts him off and flops back onto his back, both hands going up to cover his eyes before dragging them down to those cherub cheeks of his. ]

Perhaps you should change that if you immediately lament it!

[ Why was the wind blowing against them faster? ]

( zhongli gives it some thought. )

Not lamenting, no. It’s been well over five hundred years or so.

( THAT IS A LONG DROUGHT. )

[ You're practically a virgin again! Venti literally starts blasting wind right into Zhongli, over and over as if he was papping against him. ]

There are so many beauties in Liyue. Surely you can find someone to spend your time with. It beats the merchants and shopkeeps! Most of them are old.

( listen? maybe he took azhdaha’s death way too hard. and he was busy. so very busy.

busy crushing on a dumb wind spirit turned god.

zhongli furrows his brows at him. )

I wouldn’t spend time with someone for a superficial reason. As you know, we ourselves can change forms. ( SUBSTANCE OVER FORM? who knows. but he’s bewildered why venti seems so reactive. )

[ If only Venti could read minds, he'd get through to the old blockhead... ]

I never said it was superficial. Those beauties could be a master painter or... really like gardening. Have you tried to find someone?

[ As quickly as Zhongli answers, Venti has another question. A mindless start to a line of questioning – he finally realizes it. ]

Or...you know, gone on a big adventure?!

( TOO MANY questions. )

I haven’t allowed myself to split my time between a partner and Liyue, no. ( at least he didn’t say lover. gross. )

And… an adventure? I suppose I’m free to do so, now that I’m retired.

( do not say it. don’t say it. ) Isn’t that what this is?

[ The wind stops and there was silence. Only the water flowing, only the crack of a tree branch from a bird nesting. That realization that Venti lost some formidability when it came to Zhongli – when his wordplay falls short.

He's not quite as impish as he'd like to be... not like this.

Not when he feels his heart leap into his throat.

This was quite a new adventure. He rolls over onto his side, sinking into the realization sooner than he'd like to admit felt... good. A shock, rivaling any electro zap Lisa could offer, as he props his features into his palm. ]

I suppose you're right. One we haven't finished. It could take all day, knowing our luck so far...

( zhongli looks to venti, briefly admiring how he looks with sunshine illuminating his pale skin and pretty blue cyan marks. )

We’ve made decent progress. I’m certain it won’t be for naught.

( encouragingly, he reaches out to patt venti, like he would to hu tao or yanfei. he ends up just sort of, resting his hand venti’s bare skin on his side, his stomach.

right. )

I don't knooooow. When you expect plans, there's usually always something that makes them go awry. [ Some bard wisdom – always expect the unexpected, after all. ] Maybe we'll end up in a pit of angry slime or stuck in an ancient puzzle we can't quite figure out.

[ Or maybe they waste the day just looking into each other's eyes.

When he touches him, he flinches only – a hand going down to hold onto the back of Zhongli's with an unsteady breath. It's sharp, a gasp in a sense. ]

Just... just our luck, right?

( that breathing is not good for zhongli. not when he feels pale skin and a warm hand against his and pretty eyes looking back at him.

he ardently ignores the fact his soaking wet pants are a bit tighter. at least it’s not… terribly noticeable. )

I suppose that is also fine. While that uncertainty may have bothered me in the past, I’m not as worried, now. We have all the time in the world. ( to find the end of the adventure.

so he keeps his hand where it is; if venti isn’t budging, neither is he. )

[ Out away from the city where no one was here but the beasts and the wilds. Just them. Their luck that leads to a peaceful serenity that makes his own chest glow softly. He doesn't mean it, does he?

Venti's eyes shut tightly for just a moment – ]

Zhongli, that's what a novice adventurer like you fails to understand...

[ His words, soft and succulent, roll off his tongue. ]

The end of one adventure begins another.

[ And in that moment, maybe fate would have been kind to them in another life. But now, Venti grows frustrated with his own tightness in his chest. He snaps up into a frenzy, patting at his shorts and looking for Zhongli's clothing. ]

Wait, did you have both of the capsules?

I - yes.

( startled by venti’s own knee-jerk reaction, he sits upright. he drags a finger through his hair and watches his friend for a few moments longer before he reaches into his pants to retrieve the newer capsule. )

The first is in my jacket, over there.

( he gestures to it, stretching a little before he rises to his feet to find the rest of his clothes. alas, half-naked zhongli had a good run. hopefully enough to inspire terribly improper dreams. )

Where was the next mark on the map? ( at least he seems capable of not being too touchy? )

[ He had lost track of where they were. How long they had been laying side by side. How many moments Zhongli's hand had pressed to his side, spurring on a warmth and excitement he feels ashamed to admit.

He'll be drinking heavily tonight.

Venti crawls towards the jacket because, y'know – why not, patting it down for the two capsules. Phew. Last thing he needed to do was lose them. Make Zhongli think he was truly a fool.

Venti goes back to dress now that he knew the treasures were safe. Of course, when he gets to his corset... he lets out a whine. ]

...Can you help again? Please? [ And, at least he can check the map. ] North of here. Towards, I guess, the broken stairs.

( how cruel a fate it must be to have to continuously dress venti when all he wants to do is undress him and gently press him into a shallow part of the pool and kiss—

zhongli buttons his shirt and then nods, going to venti’s rescue. )

If this gives you such a hard time, why do you wear it?

( he’s mindful not to let his hand linger too much on venti’s body. but he does relish how his knuckles incidentally brush venti’s sides as he laces it up. )

North. Up toward Nantianmen?

I like how it looks.

[ And it reminds him of a friend. He's terribly sentimental. Honoring the nameless bard down to the very attire he fancied so. Even as Mondstadt clothes changed... he was timeless with his bard attire. ]

When I'm not in a hurry, I can manage but...

[ He says thanks with a huff, pushing his now fluffier bangs out of his face. ]

Not quite. The next one should still be here, just... thankfully not at the bottom of a flooded hole. [ Even if Zhongli finishes up and the corset gets tighter – he doesn't move. ] Maybe some old friend of yours left it here during some raging party.

[ He snickers, please choke him. ]

( zhongli isn’t sure he has the mental capacity to take venti up to nantianmen and talk about azhdaha.

so he flicks his gaze around the area with growing interest. where else could it be?

well, venti did say the broken steps. so zhongli gestures for venti to follow him up. )

Be careful. These ruins aren’t very stable.

[ One day, Venti will be able to provide the comfort Zhongli needs.

Help heal wounds long since left in this world.

He'd know that Zhongli could do the same – if Venti ever spoke of the nameless bard.

For now, he was happy with his living companions. As they recollect themselves, forget touches and let their thoughts linger – Venti follows behind. Up he goes on shaky ground, skipping a few extra steps when they begin to crumble. ]

You weren't kidding. The map shows a little bit.. up higher? With a small pillar. Uh...

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