weekend at zhongli’s 🕶

[geophysics]

( 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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[geophysics]

( 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. )

[windblume]

[ 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. ]

[geophysics]

( 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.

[windblume]

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?

[geophysics]

( 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. )

[windblume]

[ 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. ]

[geophysics]

( 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!

[windblume]

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. ]

[geophysics]

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?

[windblume]

[ Don't mind him as he POUTS. Fine, he'll eat sloppily and with the grace of a two-legged fat cat. Don't mind him as he leans forward, however, to ensure he doesn't spill anything on his robe.

His robe. ]

If you'd like, of course. Unless you have some super secret plans hidden away for us? It is hard to top a treasure hunt, buuuuutttt.... I'm all yours for the day. Do your worst.

[geophysics]

( his worst involves wanting to push venti against the wall. hmm. )

That’s fine.

( how noncommittal? )

I also don’t mind you showing you the rest of the harbor. There are many new restaurants and shops.

( because he wants to stay close. for undisclosed reasons. )

[windblume]

[ The absolute worst. ]

Then... hm. Show me the shops and we'll see if we can score a boat. We have, what, 27 more days?

[ Does Venti know that despite his good intentioned optimism, he was actually making the countdown clock feel more real? Until Venti returns to Mondstadt... leaving behind only empty bottles and his scent on Zhongli's robe. ]

[geophysics]

( zhongli doesn’t like to think about the amount of time left. instead, he contently reaches out to touch the end of a braid again. )

So long as you promise not to try and steal anything from them, then that’s fine.

( the APPLE CART. HE HASNT FORGOTTEN. )

[windblume]

[ And then the moment hangs in the air. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks pale in comparison to when Zhongli touches him – even if it's only a braid.

He laughs into his glass, abandoning food for a sharp drink. ]

What? Do I look like a common thief?!

[geophysics]

( his fingers linger on the end of that braid, gaze slowly sliding up it to his friend’s face. )

Sometimes.

( RUDE. this isn’t pillow talk whatsoever. but he’s still being touchy from yesterday so at least there’s that. )

[windblume]

Hmmm...

[ Venti chugs his drink and sets it down, the plate following. Without another word, he stands, dusting off the robe carefully. ]

I suppose this thief should go find a horse to steal... to take me back to Mondstadt before more thieving allegations are said against me.

[ Is he threatening to leave early? He's a brat. ]

[geophysics]

( listen. )

I - ( he knows venti is joking, probably, but his hand slips from the braid. for a second, he truly looks conflicted as he flicks his gaze away. )

I’d prefer if you didn’t.

[windblume]

[ He's stretching, letting the tension in those sleepy bones wash away bit by bit. They were separated a bit further, Venti instead leaning elbows first on the railing of the balcony. ]

Awwww, you'd miss me, huh? [ The usual tease – it falls past his lips easily but his mind catches up. He realizes that Zhongli is lonely, if last night was any indication... The vivid thoughts of his lewd, private affairs with himself all but burned into his mind. He shifts his stance, leaning back onto the railing. ] My word is good. I'd be a dishonorable thief apparently if I was to leave early.

[geophysics]

( good. he’s staying. but venti leaning against his railing with the sunlight and in his robe. his heart positively yearns. but he shouldn’t. he can’t. it’s not the way things have ever been.

so he instead goes to lean against the rail beside venti, his robe loosely undone to show off his chest as he looks out on the city. )

[windblume]

[ Zhongli is blind as much as Venti is oblivious.

He's killed Morax.
He's let his people lead his lands.
He's retired into a role he knew little of.

What once was, would never be again. Why can't something else change?

As Zhongli moves beside him – Venti leans over. His hands against the robe, he tugs it shut tightly, barely letting his knuckles brush to his chest. ]

I told you, blockhead, you're going to freeze.

[ Stop showing off the goods, Venti's blushing? ]

[geophysics]

( why is he closing his robe for him???

zhongli blinks and stares down at venti’s hands on his robes. what he wouldn’t do to have those hand wander along skin and not instead hide it from the world. )

Are you embarrassed to be seen with me like this? ( he can tease back. )

[windblume]

Seen like what? You're flashing the goods to the Harbor.

[ And maybe, just maybe, he'd rather the view be only for him. Venti laughs and leans back. Carefully, his shoulders shrug the ends of the robes off his chest – letting it pool at his back as if teasing the idea of removing his own. Of course, that bare chest is warmed not chilled by the sun. ]

So what if I did it then?

[geophysics]

( zhongli’s throat is exceptionally dry. his face flushes red, especially his ears, and he’s quick to reach for that robe to tug it back up, his fingers brushing along soft skin far too much to be accidental. )

All right. I understand your point, Barbatos.

( his heart is thundering. )

[windblume]

[ And there's resistance instead. ]

No, no. Far be it from me to go against a Liyue custom. Showing oneself off to their companion.

[ Playtime is apparently their first scheduled event? Venti's hands go to Zhongli's and tugs them away, removing the robe fully to leave him in merely... well, his bottom attire. Torn tights and shorts. And with a nudge – he tugs at Zhongli's with a dismissive huff. ]

Yours too then! Go on.

[geophysics]

( what is happening. what is happening?!

his face is a hot red still and he’s really only wearing his underwear under the robe. his arms come into view, his abs, and where his legs begin at the ends of his underwear. )

Venti, this is ridiculous. ( not like anyone would see them, really. hope you like another preview of the junk. at least he isn’t hard. )