Chapter Text
Summer nights in Liyue were sultry, and that night was especially so.
His back was damp with sweat, hair sticking to his face. The hold he had on Zhongli’s skin was slippery, a little desperate as he pulled the Funeral Consultant forward to meet his lips. He swallowed Zhongli’s tiny chuckles as the man looped an arm around Childe’s waist, steadying him on his lap.
Zhongli tasted like the tea he had after dinner—the sweetly fragrant osmanthus oolong that Childe had paid a premium for just last week, a prized tea from Chenyu Vale. It complemented his alpha scent well, in an almost heady way to Childe.
Zhongli’s natural scent was that of petrichor—of the rich, earthy smell that rose up when raindrops soaked up the soil. It was particularly strong when he was turned on. His kiss became something devouring and Childe held on, giving back just as fervently, nails digging into Zhongli’s shoulders.
They parted, eventually, and Childe panted damply, lips still inches away from Zhongli’s. He looked into Zhongli's eyes. The golden irises were almost swallowed by black, and Childe felt a modicum of pride at the sight. He made Zhongli like this—messed up the man normally so unflappable, until he was flushing pink at the cheeks, so visibly turned on. His usually tidy hair was unbound and tangled in Childe's fingers.
“Are you okay to go on?” Zhongli asked him, voice ragged and low.
Childe bit his lip and shimmied forward a little until his hard cock was pressed snugly against Zhongli's stomach. “Is this answer enough? Unless…, you have second thoughts?”
Zhongli's mouth curved into a smile. “Never.”
He dipped in to kiss Childe again.
They'd talked about how it could work between the two of them before they had arrived there. Zhongli was an alpha, and he, too, was an alpha. Childe had heard stories about how an alpha would get aggressive in bed with another alpha, their instinct pushing them to fight back against the other party who sought to dominate them. And here, with Zhongli, when the man pushed him down until his back touched the sheets, Childe had to curb the urge to fight back. But it was a passing instinct that he reined in by pulling Zhongli down with him, chasing the man’s lips with open mouthed kisses.
They had agreed to stop if one of them felt uncomfortable. However, Childe didn’t want to stop—he wanted to have this man in any way that the Funeral Consultant would let him. He’d even prepared himself to have Zhongli’s cock in him. So desperately wanton when he had tried to open himself up with slicked fingers. He knew how it should work, yet it still felt a little weird to him. He had slept with omegas before and the way their cunts had opened up for him easily was vastly different to how it had been for himself.
Still, he bit his lips and lifted one leg up, holding his thigh with a hand as Zhongli sat back to show him. His face flushed red. He could only picture how he looked—like a needy omega, probably—with his glistening hole and hopeful gaze, waiting for an alpha’s approval.
“You—” Zhongli’s words trailed off as he noticed what Childe was offering.
“I can’t promise I won’t get aggressive, but I want this,” Childe said.
Zhongli pressed his palm to the back of Childe’s thigh, just above his own hand. “You are a darling gift. You look beautiful.”
Childe swallowed when Zhongli leaned in to press his lips to his ankle, and then with his knee, he nudged Childe’s thigh aside to have better access. It was a vulnerable position, made especially so when Zhongli nudged his rim with a thumb, pulling on it as if checking the give, before pushing inside.
Childe let out a small gasp. Even that meager intrusion was too much, his body telling him to push the other alpha off, warring with the desire to buck into it, to get more of Zhongli’s finger inside. He replaced his thumb with both his index and middle fingers, promptly scissoring them to stretch Childe’s hole.
“Are you okay?” Zhongli sought to catch his blue eyes.
Childe nodded. “I’m good. You can fuck me now if you want. I was thorough.”
“I can see that. I just need to make sure.”
“Come on, Zhongli. Don’t make me beg.” Childe pouted, lifting his leg so the heel was resting on Zhongli’s naked shoulder.
Zhongli chuckled. “I need to prepare myself.”
He lowered Childe’s leg gently and got up from the bed. Childe eyed him shamelessly. Zhongli had shed off his coat early on as they crossed the threshold of his modest home, and his shirt had been a short work for Childe’s clever fingers, left forgotten on the floor somewhere on the way to the bedroom. He had suspected that Zhongli had a nice body under the layers of his clothes, from what he could feel by the way of stray touches and brief kisses where their bodies would press together, but what he had not quite expected was to see a sculpted figure and defined muscles underneath. He was beautiful, and Childe, once again, was ruined.
Zhongli took off his pants and made sure to fold them neatly before placing them on the nightstand, and then he opened the drawer to take out a vial of clear oil.
When he faced Childe again, Childe could feel his cheeks heating up. Zhongli was beautiful down there, too, generously sized. His cock stood proud against the hard plane of his stomach.
“Come here,” he said, reaching out a hand to the man.
Zhongli took his hand, slotting their fingers together, and Childe pulled him forward to crawl atop himself. He ran the palm of his other hand over Zhongli's abs.
“You gotta fight me, one day, Zhongli. This body is one belonging to a fighter, and with your Geo Vision… you must be a tough opponent.”
“I must disappoint you, then. It's been a while since I held a weapon. I don't imagine I would be much of an entertainment.”
“Aw, I promise it's gonna be a friendly spar.”
“Rascal.”
Childe grinned, sliding his hand to Zhongli's nape and knotting his fingers with the elastic that kept his hair in place. He pulled it to free Zhongli's hair, tossing the elastic carelessly. Zhongli had more, probably, or he could just buy him more.
The end of Zhongli's long hair brushed his skin when the man leaned down. He kissed Childe hard as if reprimanding him with it instead of with words.
At one point, Zhongli finally paused in kissing him to uncap the vial one handed and slather the oil over his cock. The rest of the oil spilled on the sheets, and the bottle was left to tumble uncapped. He looked as wrecked as Childe was feeling, and they had only barely started.
Childe swallowed when the slicked palm lifted his thigh. Zhongli's hips pressed forward to make space in between his legs. His cockhead pushed in, and it was big—too big. An alpha's body was not made to accommodate a cock inside, not easily.
Childe gritted his teeth, head tilted back to show off his adam's apple. A low growl emanated from his throat, a challenge unbidden, and Zhongli paused.
“Don't stop. Keep going,” Childe said, strained. He looped his arms over Zhongli's shoulders, pressing the end of his nails into skin to spur his partner on.
Zhongli pushed forward again, breathing over Childe's ear, his cock a searing hot line inside Childe. It breached him bit by bit, until finally his hips hit Childe’s taint. The stretch was painful around his rim, and when Childe looked down, he could make out the jut of Zhongli’s cock in his stomach.
“Are you all right?” Zhongli asked him, his hands on both sides of Childe’s hips.
Childe nodded. Sweat dripped down his temples, and he thought he saw stars when he tilted his head back to meet Zhongli’s gaze, just a little bit. “You don’t have to check on me all the time.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Zhongli’s cheeks were flushing red, and his hair was a mess from Childe’s hands. But even then, he still sounded so calm, so in control. Childe wanted to see him lose himself. He wanted to see him reduced to the most basic of urges, so he circled his legs around Zhongli’s hips to encourage him and to keep him inside.
“You won’t hurt me. I’m the terrible Harbinger of the Tsaritsa, remember? This is nothing.”
Zhongli was still for a moment, holding Childe’s gaze. Then, he leaned forward to brace himself with his elbows on the sides of Childe’s head. It’s a position that tested Childe’s flexibility with his legs still clinging to Zhongli. He kissed Childe’s forehead tenderly. “You are precious to me, Ajax. I would treat you as such.”
Childe huffed. “You're so sappy.”
Zhongli smiled, looking at him with a gaze so fond that Childe would do anything for him at that moment. It felt sacrilegious to have this kind of thought for someone whose country he would likely devastate at any given moment to attain his Tsaritsa’s goal. Guilt sat heavy in his gut. Though all the same, he bit his lip and bucked up his hips. It wasn’t much since it was hard to find purchase with him bent nearly in half. Still, Zhongli scrunched up his brows, grasping Childe’s waist in a knee-jerk reaction.
It got him what he wanted, and Zhongli started to set a languid pace, pulling away halfway and driving back into him. It made Childe gasp, each movement dragging against his rim. The pain was subsumed by the exhilaration of having Zhongli inside, and it did not last long before he got used to it. After a few thrusts, Zhongli leaned back and lifted him up a little with hands on his ass. It changed the angle, and when he fucked back into Childe, Childe jerked involuntarily.
Zhongli was quick on the uptake, zeroing in on the spot until Childe’s vision wavered. He keened and twisted his head to the side, one hand finding purchase in the sheets and grasping it for dear life.
It was relentless, even with the steady pace that Zhongli set. Tears leak out from the corner of Childe’s eyes. He didn’t know it could feel like this—that it could feel so good he nearly lost himself. He had been prepared to bear the pain, because an alpha wasn’t supposed to feel good when getting fucked. Or at least, no one had told him it could be so.
“Z-Zhongli, I’m close,” he said brokenly.
“Let go, darling. Let go for me.” Zhongli relented his hold around one side of Childe’s hip and wrapped a hand around his neglected cock. It drew an almost instantaneous reaction. Childe shuddered and came with a shout, his vision whiting out.
He didn’t know how long he was out of it, but when he was aware again, Zhongli had pulled off him, and he was breathing harshly, eyes golden bright as he kneeled over Childe. His hand was a blur over his own cock, and a knot was beginning to form at the base.
Childe let out a foreign sound. He placed a palm over Zhongli’s hip, thumb caressing the divot that framed his pelvis. “Zhongli, come on. Xiansheng , please give it to me.”
Zhongli bent forward, catching himself with one elbow, and he kissed Childe hard, swallowing the sound that he made. Childe could feel the vibration of a growl, starting low from Zhongli’s throat. He snaked a hand downwards, passing Zhongli’s own hand to get a hold of Zhongli’s knot. If taking his cock made Childe nearly lose himself, then the knot would surely destroy him. It was massive, intimidating. And Childe wanted.
“Next time,” he said when he drew back for air, a little out of breath. “Next time don’t pull out. Knot me, xiansheng . I can take it. Make me beg for it.”
Zhongli’s growl this time was impressive. He surged forward to devour Childe, teeth tearing into his lips. The hot sear of Zhongli’s spend was a surprise, landing on his stomach to mix with his own.
I made it , Childe thought giddily. He had made Zhongli lose control, finally. The salty tang of blood was rich on his tongue as Zhongli’s kisses slowed down, until he relented and leaned away from Childe. His chest was heaving, his mouth red with blood. He was beautiful. Childe reached out a hand for him to pull him down again. He kissed and kissed Zhongli with stinging lips, and pretended that he didn’t have to let go soon.
*
The bath was soothing. Warm water caressing his skin, Childe leaned his head against the wooden tub’s rim and closed his eyes.
He heard the door to the bathroom slide open, Zhongli stepping inside and closing in towards the tub.
“How do you feel?” His voice was honey thick, deep and low in register.
“Hey.” Childe cracked his eyes open to look at him. His hair was still unbound, falling freely around his naked frame. Childe touched the end of his hair, the amber strands soft on the tip of his fingers. “I’m still sore. Don’t think I can walk right any time soon.”
Zhongli smiled thinly, leaning down to kiss the top of his head apologetically. “Stay here for the night, then.”
“Planning to. Will you get in?” Childe spread his legs to make room for Zhongli on the other side of the tub. It would be a tight fit for two grown men, but Childe didn’t mind. He wanted to touch Zhongli, craved it, even.
Zhongli eyed the water, and after a moment he stepped in, displacing the water until it splashed the bathroom floor. He arranged himself so his legs framed Childe’s, both slightly bent to accommodate the tub’s length as he sat opposite of Childe. They probably looked ridiculous, but Childe was content. He pressed his thighs against Zhongli’s shins and planted one palm on Zhongli’s ankle.
“I will go to Wanmin Restaurant after this for Chef Mao’s takeouts. Do you have something in mind that you want?” Zhongli asked him.
“Aren’t you a gentleman?” Childe said in a teasing tone. “I feel so taken care of.”
“You deserve it.”
“What a good alpha! I want Grilled Tiger Fish and Sweet and Sour Octopus.” He waited for Zhongli's reaction, smiling at the frown he displayed. “Just kidding. Just get whatever you want. You know I'm not picky. The mora is in my jacket, somewhere.”
“I have mora,” Zhongli said with something that almost looked like a pout.
Childe laughed, scooting forward a little to rest his chin on Zhongli's bent knee. “You're so cute, xiansheng. I can't help but tease you. Next time, will you knot me?”
Zhongli's eyes widened. In hindsight, it probably sounded like a non-sequitur to bring it up suddenly, and the thought of taking Zhongli again so soon after made him clench his hole. But Zhongli's surprise was short-lived. His gaze turned soft. “It isn't a competition, Ajax. We can satisfy each other without that. It will hurt you.”
“I'm not afraid of a little pain. I know I can take it. I'll even let you prepare me, next time, so you can be sure. Come on!”
“Rascal.” Zhongli shook his head. “You're incorrigible.”
“You like me this way.”
“Unfortunately.”
Childe grinned, tilting his head to press his cheek against Zhongli's knee, enjoying the warmth just a little bit longer.
*
When he had been told that he would be posted in Liyue, Childe had known that it would be a long term mission. Luring out Rex Lapis was his primary objective, but while he was there, he saw to the operation of the Northland Bank, establishing the many investment plans that Pantalone had an eye on in the land of Geo.
After one year, his days in Liyue were passing by in an almost idyllic manner.
Things went on in the background after he raided the Yanshang Teahouse. The golden egg that he found became the basis of a coalescing plan—the plan that was close to becoming his primary one unless he found Rex Lapis before that. But in the year he’d stayed in Liyue, while he saw the many evidence of how Rex Lapis had touched Liyue through the citizen’s livelihood, as well as through the many stories of him sealing the gods of Liyue, he still hadn’t found the archon, nor a clue of where he might be hiding.
And during those idyllic days, he woke up one afternoon in Yulong Wharf.
The temperature was much milder here compared to Liyue Harbor, and for once, Childe did not wake up sweaty and his clothes clinging to his skin. In fact, this time around, he was naked, skin on skin with the person still sleeping behind him. Zhongli’s breathing was even and soft against his nape, his hand draping loosely around Childe’s waist.
For a moment, he just lay there, body aching from the way Zhongli had taken him last night. Zhongli hadn’t knotted him, despite his goading, but he was learning where to push the button, and it had not ceased to be breathtaking to see the man losing his put together persona. Stripped of his formal layers of clothing and carefully cultivated demeanor, Zhongli, too, could become like any other alpha, driven by an instinct to take .
It was something of a challenge now to Childe. The driving force behind it was not really clear to himself as well, beyond his need to see Zhongli like that.
He felt it when the man behind him stirred, his palm swiping a path to Childe’s stomach and holding him more firmly.
“Mornin’.” He turned in Zhongli’s hold.
They were more or less of the same height, and like this, Childe was nose to nose with his lover. Golden eyes were mostly hidden still, by half-lidded eyelids. His dark lashes fanned across his cheeks.
“Ajax?” he said in a gravelly voice.
“Mmm. One and only, sleepy head.” Childe curled his arm around Zhongli’s side to rest his palm on Zhongli’s back, tilting his head a little to place a kiss on the tip of his nose.
“What time is it?”
“Almost time to get up..”
“Five more minutes.” Zhongli shut his eyes again and pulled Childe closer by the waist, their legs tangling together.
“Oof.” Zhongli was strong. Ordinarily, people wouldn’t have guessed it, with his body hidden underneath his fitted coat. But his grip was like a vice around Childe. “ Xiansheng .”
Zhongli only hummed unintelligibly.
Childe let out a breath. Zhongli’s heartbeat was strong against his own chest, rhythmic and steady. And after just a minute, he seemed to have gone back to sleep entirely. Who would have thought the esteemed guest consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was not a morning person?
Unlike him, Childe was used to waking with the first light. Years of being conditioned by the military taught him that. Reveille sounded early in the morning, and when it did, it was either wake up and continue the march in the snow or be left behind.
Here though, in Zhongli’s embrace, he was in no hurry to leave. Not really. Eventually, Childe was lulled by the animal warmth, the weight of Zhongli’s arm around him, and the soft breath. He closed his eyes, nuzzling into the crook of Zhongli’s neck, drifting to sleep once more.
Hours later, refreshed and dressed, and later than what was polite, they arrived at Feiyun Commerce Guild’s garden party.
Yulong Wharf’s economy centered around its biggest export, the high quality tea grown in Chenyu Vale, and one of their most successful exporters was Feiyun Commerce Guild. Even Snezhnaya had dealings with them, for their Tsaritsa’s love for tea was much renowned.
When he had been invited, he had not been planning to go with Zhongli. But one thing had led to another, and he’d found out that the Feiyun Guild’s Young Master had extended an invite to Zhongli for tea tasting as well, and now he had Zhongli as a companion.
Childe pasted on his diplomat facade the moment they stepped into the venue. Familiar faces that he had often seen in Liyue’s business circle were in attendance, mingling in the open courtyard of a tea house, where round tables were lined up with chairs surrounding them. They were escorted to a table near the front of the rows, where a group of people had already been seated.
Childe found himself sitting beside a lady with coiffed hair, clad in Fontanian dress. She nodded and covered her smile with a fan.
“Good evening, Master Childe.”
“Miss Rhode.” Childe took her offered hand and bowed his head in courtesy, placing a light kiss on the back of her hand. When he looked up again, he met her bright eyes. A soft, rosy scent drifted to his nose—the scent of an unmated omega. Childe curved his mouth into a polite smile. “Have you met Zhongli- xiansheng ?”
“Of course, we met last time at the Pearl Galley.”
Childe did not show his surprise at the mention. He’d known that Zhongli attended the gatherings of the intellectuals at the Pearl Galley—coming back sometimes with the scent of saccharine smoke and an amalgamation of many people’s trace pheromones clinging to his clothes. Childe would tease him endlessly about it, sometimes, until Zhongli shut him up with a kiss that tasted only like baijiu and himself.
“Good afternoon, Miss. It was a pleasure to chat with you, last time.” Zhongli acknowledged from behind him, though his attention was soon taken again by the guest sitting at his other side.
“The Feiyun Guild’s Young Master is very generous to invite me, but I have to admit, I’m not well-versed in Liyuen customs, Master Childe. It’s a relief to see familiar faces here,” she added after a moment, lowering her fan so she could lean a little forward.
“It’s a tea tasting occasion. The Young Master isn’t one for formality. You only need to enjoy yourself, I think.”
“I’d take your word for it.”
Childe nodded, and picked up another thread of conversation about the businesses that her family is investing in. Despite her demeanor, and her soft appearance, she was a shrewd businesswoman, breaking the expectation that people would have for an omega. If nothing else, Childe respected someone who fought against the odds stacked on them and coming up on top. He kept up an amiable front, but he would have to be blind to not see her subtle advances—the way she tilted her head just so and made her scent strong enough to be sensed by the alpha sitting with her.
At one point, they were interrupted by the waitresses placing baskets of steaming dim sum on the table. They were paired with Yunlai White Tea, a type of silver needle tea that produced light amber liquid when brewed correctly. The Feiyun Guild’s Young Master stood up and introduced the tea to the Guild’s attending VIP customers.
Zhongli, who had been rambling about Qingche’s local produce to the Sumeru tradesman beside him, cut himself off mid sentence. He straightened up, and Childe caught his golden gaze before he diverted his attention to the Feiyun Young Master. Unseen by everyone seated with them, hidden by the tablecloth, his hand rested near the bend of Childe’s knee, large and warm.
It stayed there for a long time, tightening proprietarily whenever Miss Rhode leaned forward to whisper something to Childe.
*
Back at their inn, the sun was already slanting towards the west, coloring their room in a copper hue. Childe threw himself to the luohan couch the moment they took off their shoes and stepped in. Zhongli followed at a much more sedate pace, sitting near Childe’s head.
Childe adjusted his position and scooted up to rest his head on Zhongli’s thigh. Zhongli accommodated him readily, fingers combing the strands of his hair. He fixed his gaze on the spot just above Zhongli’s collar, where his scent gland was hidden just so.
The tea tasting had been a successful endeavor. The Feiyun Guild would rest easy knowing they had secured a few more trades with their VIPs, including Snezhnaya. The entire afternoon was splendidly planned, each course paired with different types of tea. Admittedly, Childe hadn’t paid close attention. He had been distracted by Zhongli’s warm touch, always discreet, but ever present out of Miss Rhode’s sight, as if reminding Childe of who he had belonged to.
As Childe watched him, his caress strayed slowly from Childe’s hair to his ear, and down to Childe’s scent gland. They hadn’t really talked about it, had they? What were they?
“Mora for your thoughts?” Zhongli asked him.
“I’ve been thinking of kissing you all day.”
Zhongli huffed out a small breath, looking not at all surprised by the statement.
“Well, come here?” Childe was half teasing him, saying it playfully.
However, Zhongli leaned down all the same, his mouth pulled into a mirthful smile. “Incorrigible,” he said lightly, before trapping the side of Childe’s head with his hand, thumb on his jaw, and kissed him, his hair brushing against Childe’s skin.
It was a brief kiss. The warm silk of Zhongli’s mouth against his was over before he could truly savor it. Zhongli’s golden gaze arrested his attention when he opened his eyes again.
“Thank you,” Childe said.
Were you jealous? He had half a mind to blurt that out, but he didn’t, in the end. The way Zhongli had touched him earlier during the tea tasting made that very obvious. Yet—
Childe let out a breath.
Zhongli had moved on. Straightening up his spine, he reached out to the side table and grabbed a book he’d read halfway through. He continued to play with Childe’s hair soothingly as he read. After a while, Childe felt drowsy enough to close his eyes again. Slowly, he drifted to sleep.