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 watches him, trying to fight off the inexplicable urge to tug him back down into the sheets and mark him up all over, kiss him until he’s breathless.

focus. deep breaths.

he reaches for venti’s hand as he slowly sits up properly. )

You’re welcome to wear my robe into the city, or your clothes, now that they’re fixed.

( his thumb goes to rub at the back of venti’s hand. he won’t call venti on “love”. not right now, not when he can act on the inevitable lust that’ll pulse through him with saying those words aloud for the first time to venti. )

[windblume]

[ When he's acting like a goober, it's easy to want to yoink him and quiet him down. He makes it sound so easy. When his hand was taken, Venti's eyes look down warmly. A small smile creeps upon his features. ]

You'll be the talk of the Harbor keeping such frivolous company.

[ He squeezes to Zhongli's hand with a soft sigh, hunching forward to wrap his other arm around the back of his head. Kissing softly to the back of those dark strands, Venti pulls back and tugs Zhongli up to his feet. ]

Let me get dressed and I'll save the proper Liyue attire for your viewing pleasure. You have to freshen up too, you know. You looked drained, ehehehe!

[geophysics]

( zhongli steadily gets to his feet. yes, he’s drained. drained of cum and some sorts of energy. even so, his expression is gentle when he looks to venti. )

I’ll return momentarily, then.

( to go freshen up in his restroom. splash some water on his face and all that.

he presses a soft kiss to venti’s cheek. )

[windblume]

Heh. I'll be fully dressed by then, I swear. No further temptation for you.

[ His features turn into the kiss, letting his lips graze the corner of Zhongli's lips. He's up after the Geo, instead taking his happy ass back to the spare room to gather his own articles of clothing.

If Zhongli returns to him, he'll be slipping his corset back on over his blouse, fumbling as always with the strings. ]

[geophysics]

( zhongli clearly returns at just the right time. he brushes a hand gingerly down venti’s back as he approaches, fingertips reaching for those strings. )

Would you like some help?

( it’s so very tempting to make a mess of him again now that they’ve finally sort of cleared the air abour their “feelings”. the first step, at least. )

[windblume]

If my Liyue host is offering, isn't it just as rude to decline?

[ Venti's fingers fall limp, letting Zhongli hold onto the thin threads. Sturdy as they were, they were quite annoying to deal with. Fashion makes them do quite crazy things, huh?

Whatever cleared air, it removes any frustrations... opens truly the borders of where their desires may be. Venti knows little of what he could say in the grand scheme of things, so he waits until words feel suitable. ]

This room doesn't feel as lonely now.

[geophysics]

( the words do strike deep within zhongli. loneliness has been something he’s battled with on and off for endless centuries. acknowledging emotions for what they were was never his strong suit: not because he avoided them, but because he simply didn’t have a name for most of them, at the time.

he finishes up and then brushes his fingers through venti’s bangs. )

Yes, you’re right. ( and gentler ) I hope it stays that way for a good while.

( romantic. )

[windblume]

[ For all of Venti's time here – he was still only a guest.

He doesn't walk the same path as Zhongli nor does he feel the exact pain or discomfort he has. The ghosts of loneliness don't plague him in the same way it does for someone who has a lonely home. Venti closes his eyes a bit, breathing in the scent and just... reflecting on what they were certainly wrapping themselves in.

An affair that went beyond centuries of their obliviousness or their own hesitance. ]

A good while? Like a few minutes? [ He teases, tilting to stand on his tip-toes. ] A few hours...? A few days? Weeks? Months? Y–

[ Sorry, he'll keep going!? ]

[geophysics]

Lifetimes.

( zhongli cups venti’s cheek and breathes it softly to his lips, against his mouth. his eyes stare at that beautiful face and he feels so certain of it, in that moment, looking at those eyes. )

You’ll always have a place to rest here, to come to, in this life and all the next to come. I can promise you that easily, Barbatos.

[windblume]

Hm...

[ He hums a bit, smirking as they find themselves close. Exploring. Teasing something that rivals a young love.

Nothing but pure infatuation caused from their stupid, oblivious past. How many signs had there been? Venti will take that thought to bed tonight, but now... ]

I wasn't aware Morax had a way with words. You're giving me competition. [ But – his nose nuzzles right against Zhongli's with a soft sigh. ] Are you sure you won't tire of me? What if I dump wine on that pretty head of yours? Forge your signature for a loan? Many.. many things brewing in my mind, you know...

[geophysics]

Perhaps we ought to clear your mind, then.

( a low rumble of a purr, no doubt. he nips playfully at the corner of venti’s lips, swipes his thumb along his cheekbone under his eye.

he’s genuinely upset with himself for not having anything they can use as lube here. god damnit. he wants to claim this wind spirit so badly. )

[windblume]

You'll consume it regardless. Why fight?

[ It's intimate, it's sincere – the soft sigh dances against Zhongli's lips when he shows this newfound affection and it's not without Venti leading. He's getting frustrated, getting needy – but it takes all of his strength to be reasonable. For someone as whimsical as the wisp...? It took a lot.

The air escapes his lungs, a tremble that feels like a song on its own. ]

The longer we linger, the more likely... Liyue will become an afterthought... ehe.

[ And they'll both be in trouble. ]