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. )

Comments

[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. )

[windblume]

[ It's ridiculous, it's true.

For the brief moments of them switching robes, Venti didn't really connect the dots: that Zhongli was packing in his underwear instead of well, anything else? Venti huffs when Zhongli calls him out and he'll just keep his eyes up to those amber-glossed eyes instead. ]

It is. As ridiculous of you thinking I'm a thief.

[geophysics]

( it’s hard not to stare at how pretty venti is. even if he’s still wearing tights and those — )

Take those off, then.

( what? he gestures to the tights, insanely cryptic about it. )

[windblume]

[ Sorry, his heart literally seizes. A tight, chilling sensation running down his spine. Zhongli didn't ask. He commanded and that alone... hm. He has to ignore the knot in his stomach on that one. ]

Take what off? I'm kind of a packaged deal over here!

[ Shorts, tights, and ...? Who knows if Venti was freeballing. ]

[geophysics]

Then take them both off.

( he says it with that same command as he pushes away from the balcony, robe dangling on his shoulders as he gestures inside.

he 100% is not propositioning venti but??? it sure looks that way. )

[windblume]

[ The intensity of heat Venti feels on his face rivals any flame summoned in this realm. It burns, seers the pale cherub cheeks a hot embarrassment. Zhongli confuses him – but this was different. He didn't know Zhongli's intent. As he gestures inside, Venti literally grabs his robe and stumbles backwards – ]

You know that –

[ One hand immediately, defensively, cups at his front half. Pillowing out against his palm a curious stiffness that was getting worse with each second. ]

If I take them both off, you better be paying me for the view.

[ Sly words, because yeah, Venti is freeballing. ]

[geophysics]

( zhongli rolls his eyes. paying him for the view? honestly.

there’s a low rumble of a laugh, like smoke of a dragon, as he steps back into the cool, darker air of the apartment. )

You’re stalling.

( he still hasn’t explained why he wants venti to undress. )

[windblume]

[ And that lack of explanation from the usually verbose grandpa is what's making this so... so... ]

I am not.

[ Difficult. His mind goes back to last night, thinking of a more demanding, feral Morax. One that seemed frenzied with his own arousal – to do things Venti thought he didn't do.

Demand him to undress was... well... ]

Fine.

[ Now, standing right in the hallway where Venti first peeped on Zhongli... he hooks one hand to the waistline of his shorts. Tugging down just enough to show his V-bone. He stops, blurting out: ]

... Are you trying to make a fool of me?!

[geophysics]

( zhongli blinks rather owlishly at him. oh he should explain. )

I’m not. I’m just fixing your tights, as I said I would do.

( hence venti needing to take off his clothes and wear the robe while zhongli fixed them.

he blinks again. )