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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An hour or so.

( this hand is his now as he stares quizzically at venti’s face. )

Are you all right?

( he’s not used to venti quite like this, even if you discount the pretty way liyue clothing accents him. )

I am. I haven't socially drank like that in... a, a while. It's different drinking alone. You stop when you get the job done. [ A buzz, plastered, but – with Zhongli? He felt so free and happy. He wanted to just enjoy the night. Endlessly, he wanted the night to keep outrunning the morning sun. Now the sun is giving a big middle finger to the bard.

But, yeah, they're totally still holding hands. ] Did I embarrass you? Be honest, now.

Ah… in the moment, maybe. But in hindsight? Not really.

( how long can two gods hold hands before one pulls away. find out.

zhongli’s expression remains fond at the edges, worn down from the years of its harsh edges. )

I’ve been told drinking the next day helps. Have as much as you’d like.

[ Forever, is the answer. He sips away at his drink and rocks his head back, eyes shut tightly. ]

I know we went to bed quickly, but I didn't get to thank you. I'm use to finding a place to slumber away but... finding a roof over my head upon waking up and soft sheets was a welcomed change, aha.

[ He's being honest before he starts daydrinking.

Still not honest enough to talk about Zhongli's cock, though. ]

When are you going to overdo it? I don't think I've seen you in such a state.

It won’t be any time soon.

( because he’d end up going feral, obviously.

zhongli realizes now that he’s still holding venti’s hand. well? he hesitates, both tightening his hold around it and reaching for his own glass of wine. )

I tend to believe in moderation. In most cases.

( MOST CASES. )

Awww, c'mon. What if that was one of my last wishes? [ VENTI??? ] To see the prideful Re – err.... retired Zhongli live freely?

[ He's dramatic and even as he sips his drink casually, Venti is still just thinking Zhongli is trying to prove a point and make him suffer. Stealing his hand away and making him pout all the worthwhile. ]

Since when was a giant meteor moderation?

[ >Most cases. ]

( GOOD QUESTION. )

… I said in most cases.

( ruthless.

his eyes wander back to the fabric clinging to venti’s body and maybe the reason he’s not hungover is because he’s still drunk: )

It looks nice on you.

[ The secret to no hangovers is KEEP DRINKING. So simple. The cycle continues. ]

Huh?

[ He looks down, tugging at the top and sorry for the Venti nip. ]

So you're complimenting your own style. I'm sure I would go for something more green than brown, ehehe.

( he’s only one retired god. this is doing terrible things to him all over again. )

I may have that.

( he abruptly stands, finally letting go of that hand. )

I’ll go check. ( ONLY IF VENTI WILL CHANGE IN FRONT OF HIM. )

Huh? How many robes do you have?!

[ Must be nice. Living the dream of owning property.

That hand was let go of and it promptly settles in his lap. This buffoon... ]

Come with me, if you’re curious.

( back to his room.

it’s fine.

he’s already heading back inside and down the hall, his hair still loose and draped over his shoulders like it was the night before during certain activities … )

[ Fine, but he's taking a few bites of his eggs before he goes??? Dutifully, he follows behind Zhongli a few paces behind – nearly stumbling over the ends of the robe while he does so. ]

Wait up!

[ Because, yes, Zhongli gotta be an impressive sugar daddy at this point to show off his own wares.

And Venti has to admire the view from behind. ]

( now that he’s back in his bedroom, the mid morning light shining in through the window, with venti there, he realizes what a dumb and tempting idea it was.

zhongli quickly turns to his wardrobe, ears red again as he looks for the jade robe he’s certain he has somewhere. )

Just. Get comfortable.

( what is he planning here? geez. )

[ Venti flops to the end of the bed, his knees buckled together and now more than ever, he regrets not grabbing his glass. It makes him awkward, makes his hands fumble awkwardly in his lap. ]

Do you seriously have a collection of robes? [ For someone with little property, it seems silly – so he has to tease. ] Or do you have one for days when you're feeling –

[ Frisky, was the word, but his mind goes back to how vividly he remembers Zhongli's cock was. Feisty and twitching into his grasp – he swallows his words into a stammer. ]

Regal? Feeling the call of Rex Lapis?

[ Good save. ]

( zhongli retrieves the robe and brings it back over to the bed. regal? these are nothing like the robes he once wore as the great morax. he’s completely abandoned that lifestyle.

he gently offers the robe to venti. )

This one matches - ( there’s a beat of hesitation, a pause, then ) your eyes. It’s softer as well, if you’re looking to be comfortable.

( gay. gay gay gay. )

[ Tough room. He wonders if he was spot on. On either thought... hm. He looks up with those biiiig pretty eyes of his, tilting his gaze a bit to study him. Seeing Zhongli give as much has he has to his people is one thing, but when the robe was offered, he's already shrugging off the brown one carefully. He stands up – nearly pressing chest to chest with the man... draping it over his own shoulders without breaking eye contact.

Can he hear his damn heart beating faster...? ]

...Thank you. [ Honest with his words, Venti still swims in the fabric but the green does wonders to accent his eyes. ] Here...

[ He turns, the robe nearly slipping off of him before he hoists up the brown one. ]

Match with me. For old time's sake.

[ For two old archons. ]

( zhongli’s throat feels a little dry. he doesn’t dare look away from venti’s eyes when he changes, lest he feel the heat. it’s pointless, though, because seeing venti in that beautiful robe, telling him to change, to match him…

zhongli immediately undoes the sash of his own robe. it drops to the floor, off his shoulders, silently, as he reaches for the brown robe, taking a very, very long time guiding it onto his arms.

he hasn’t said a god damn word, he’s realizing. the air feels static, filled with electricity. )

[ There's too much damn electricity in Inazuma. We really need Raiden Shogun to calm it the hell down. Venti was offering a sweet gesture, to return the robe he borrowed and encourage him to enjoy as well.

To match with a dear old friend. Their respective favorite colors seemingly, Venti beams in approval at the sight.

No words were said, really, not for quite some time. Venti was drowning in his robe, his chest and front half fully exposed. Torment. Torture. What silent feelings was he providing the man?

Even he didn't know. All he did was reach up and tug Zhongli's robe shut.

And – ]

You're going to get cold. Y'know... with everything hanging out.

[ HE COUNTERS FEELS WITH TROLLING. But, also? Pot kettle black over here. ]

( venti’s brattiness is enough to end that train of thought that ended with zhongli pushing back down into the sheets.

zhongli’s brows furrow and his hand goes up to batt at venti’s in annoyance. he closes the robe and sash with his other hand, his right one still holding on to venti’s to keep it from being bratty, of course. )

You’re ridiculous, Barbatos.

Am I? I think you like it.

[ Almost sing song, Venti doesn’t pry his eyes away. Even as he is batted away.

He wants to tempt fate but he just can’t get across that threshold. ]

Am I wrong? I think I’ve earned that much over the centuries, hm?

( maybe he can admit some honesty because he and venti are in matching robes, in his bedroom, mildly hungover and on the way to be tipsy again. )

Venti. If I didn’t like you, would I have offered my home, my bed, to you?

( define like. )

[ His words were soft, like a smoothed stone. They make him smile more than he'd like to admit – a goofy, childish grin that was snuffed out with a clear of his throat. ]

Hm. You do make a good point.... [ But! ] But, I didn't ask if you liked me. I asked if you liked how utterly ridiculous I am to you, apparently.

[ Don't mind him poking a tit. ]

( don’t do this to him? )

It’s one in the same, isn’t it?

( shaking his head as he finally takes another step away, hand lingering when it brushes against venti’s side. )

Come finish your breakfast.

( to the balcony he goes!

No, not really. [ But, he leaves it at that. The tension in the room dissipates when Zhongli suggests breakfast. Fine, fine. He yields. Before Venti could go outside – he lingers outside Zhongli's spare room just for a moment, glancing back at the bed...

The red flushes his cheek in a familiar sensation and he's rushing out to get back to that wine – ]

Do you want any of it? This is quite a wonderful meal, but – I'm not opposed to sharing if you haven't eaten.

[ He's too busy DRANKING. ]

It’s fine. It’s all yours.

( zhongli shrugs but he does reach out to the bottle and starts to pour them each a new glass of sparkling wine. )

Do you still want to go on the boat today, or should we do something in the harbor?

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