Bonten #4

Zhongli's teacup paused halfway to his lips. She watched as he lowered it, a pensive look suddenly crossing his calm features.

"While those would be invigorating to hear, and I enjoy reminiscing with you, I fear that we should postpone such talk, lest I forget the true reason I invited you here. It is…of some importance. "

Strange, Zhongli was rarely so grave. He usually exuded an effortless calm, but something tightened his jaw today. Conflict flickered in his gaze. Lumine immediately sought to soothe it, reaching out and placing a palm over his on the table. She gave it a reassuring squeeze, brushing a digit against the ring on his thumb.

"That's alright. There's no problem we can't handle," she smiled. "What's the problem? Is it some godly remains infecting the land again?"

"No, it is nothing like that," his attention slid down to where her hand covered his. The weight of his gaze felt heavier than usual. "The issue is more personal in nature."

Now she grew very concerned. Zhongli had a personal problem? Was he sick?

She gave herself a mental slap. Of course he wasn't sick, he looked perfectly healthy to he-

Wait, was that sweat peppering his brow?

Zhongli's hand slid out from beneath hers. He gave a tight smile, wrapping long fingers around the rim of his cup instead. "Forgive me for my reluctance. It is not something easily discussed, and I will need some time to gather my thoughts."

She nodded, "I understand. Take all the time you need."

He gave a low, throaty chuckle that did curious things to her lower stomach. They settled into contemplative silence, Lumine continuing to sip her tea absentmindedly. They had a fantastic view of the harbour, so she busied herself with people watching.

Zhongli was completely still and fixated on his tea. He seemed deeply uncomfortable with the subject matter they were about to broach, and her mind admittedly went to all kinds of places.

Just what in the world could make Zhongli look like that? When one was as ancient and wise as he, surely they'd lose all sense of embarrassment. She was- oh how old was she again? She'd lost count, but either way, Lumine found very few things to be embarrassed by these days.

Since Paimon was busy stuffing her face at Wamin restaurant, Lumine was left to speculate on her own. If it wasn't embarrassment that made him hesitant to ask her then…

Was the task dangerous? More so than anything they’d faced before?

Lumine cleared her throat, catching his eye again. "Just so we're clear, Zhongli, I've taken on a lot of dangerous tasks. Whatever it is you'll need, I'll do I-"

"You have yet to hear what it is yet. Please do not offer your services without knowing, or I may bind you to a contact by accident," Zhongli smiled politely. He then gave a sigh, joining her in admiring the view beyond as a ship drew closer to the harbour he so adored. "I suppose there is no easy way to broach this subject so I will merely cut to the chase. However, I will stress that my hesitance comes from a desire to protect our friendship as it is. Your…continued presence in my life means much to me."

Lumine couldn't help but be touched. She gave an encouraging nod, watching as he took a short breath, turning to her.

"Every few hundred years or so, dragons experience a build-up of energy. Since they are so in tune with nature, this connection can have a knock on effect if the dragon does not sufficiently shed this energy."

"What kind of effects?"

"Seismic vibrations for Liyue that trigger devastating earthquakes. Volcanos, storms, vortexes and such for other nation's dragons," Zhongli hummed.

Disaster level consequences then. "I-I see…so just to clarify…the dragon needing to burn energy is-"

"Myself, yes," he said simply. "I'm no Sovereign, of course. In some circles, I'd be counted as a half mix of qilin and dragon, but regardless of scholarly debate, I am not exempt from this inconvenience. I require a bed mate for about two weeks to alleviate the build up of energy I have accumulated. Due to the sensitive nature of this request, I came to you."

Lumine felt her throat close up. "Bed…mate?" she stressed thinly. Two WEEKS?

"Indeed. Copulating is the only method that will work,” Zhongli said in a matter of fact tone. “I did not wish to be crass by asking you outright but there's no getting around it. This task is no easy one. It will be intensive. "

"Intensive?" she choked, mind racing to all the wrong places.

"Yes. Rigorous. Carnal. Mindless. Dragons do not mate half-heartedly I'm afraid."

Okay, so maybe her dirty mind had been right on the Mora. Lumine swallowed thickly. She studied the surface of her shallow teacup as if it were the most interesting sight in the whole world.

“Ah, see…now I have made things awkward,” Zhongli’s tone dipped, sounding chagrined. She quickly looked up- catching the concern. The regret.

“No- no,” waving her hands, Lumine bit her lip, wondering how to best answer. Tricky. Very tricky.

How exactly was one supposed to answer something like this without revealing their own eagerness? Giving a prim smile, Lumine hid her shaking hands beneath the table. Easy now. No sudden movements. She didn’t want to scare this opportunity away.

“From what you’ve described, it sounds like a serious matter.”

“Quite serious, yes.”

“Disaster could strike Liyue.”

“Indeed.”

“So, really- it would be selfish of me to refuse.”

Zhongli looked up at her sharply. “I would rather you did not feel cornered into this, if it can be helped. Feel free to ask as many questions as needed before you decide.”

She hummed. “Admittedly, I am curious about something; why me? Surely there are plenty of Gods or Adepti willing to uh…assist?”

“Such relationships are best maintained when kept in stasis- unchanging. There is also the matter of my seniority and influence over the Adepti. I would never impose myself onto them, and I know they’d feel compelled to oblige my needs out of misguided loyalty in this regard.”

Severe golden eyes refocused on her, shining with radiance as always, but something else lurked in them now. A shift. Torchlight flaring too bright in the shadows. “You, however- are different. You are, as ever, an observer. A neutral party and drifting ship in the night. A beloved entity to me and Liyue, to be sure, but I have faith our relationship could be maintained after the mating due to your nature.”

My nature…

Now she understood. He’d chosen her because she was a traveller. A wandering friend whom he wouldn’t have to worry about seeing all too often. It stung, and she should perhaps feel a little insulted, but at the same time his reasoning was sound. That and…Lumine wasn’t about to let a few pesky blows to her ego get in the way of this chance.

“What did you do in the past when this uh- need arose?”

“I had more companions back then,” Zhongli gave a wan smile. “Friends. Equals. No longer of this world.”

Lumine winced, muttering a soft apology for bringing up sad memories. His hand slid back across the table and covered hers in response.

“You are free to reject my offer, Lumine,” he uttered, and she could tell he meant it with the upmost sincerity. His usually controlled, polite aura cracked a little, giving way to something earnest and affectionate. “I would never resent you for it. We can go on as we always have. There are ways around such problems, you needn’t worry for Liyue. There are acquaintances in distant lands I have yet to call on. You were just…my first choice, due to the conclusion that we could likely enjoy ourselves better than any alternatives. Mutual affection often makes such experiences more enjoyable," he shifted in his seat and smiled. "Shall we talk about something else? I have plenty more stories to entertain you with. Why, once- did you know that Azhdaha got himself stuck in one of Madame Ping’s Serenitea pots? It was quite amusing. His tail poked out of the spout.”

She smiled and gave a little giggle, turning their hands over so that she clasped his in return. She could feel the heat of him through the coarse material of his gloves. “I didn’t know that, and you’ll have to tell me later. Maybe after you’ve shown me that intensive technique you have?”

Golden eyes cracked wide. “You mean to say you…”

“I accept," she said, shaking his hand once and sealing the contract, willingly, enthusiastically. "I’ll help, for two weeks if need be.”

Zhongli's grip unexpectedly tightened. Lumine stiffened, watching as gold blazed across his hand, lighting up the material of his clothes from beneath like a warm glow. It travelled all the way up his arm, until his eyes drifted open- when had they shut?- to gaze at her intently. Her breath caught.

He'd never looked at her like that before. In fact, no man had. Oh she'd dabbled in bed mates sure, but they'd never gazed with such…such…

Naked lust. Longing? Inhuman heat.

It wasn't something she knew how to comprehend- an emotion known only to Illuminated Beasts.

Zhongli broke contact, withdrawing his touch again. He cleared his throat, flexing his fingers and adjusting his tie. He soon shifted in his seat to drop his leg from where it had been crossed, pretending to watch the scenery. Lumine gave a covert glance at the table, wishing she could see beneath.

"Good," he uttered in a thick, low voice. "Very good. I will give you the location of my domain soon, and summon you in due course."

"Oh…you can't give the location right now?"

"I have several old haunts," Zhongli smiled coolly. He was calm once more, lacing his fingers on the table and looking as immovable as stone. Lumine felt a spark of warning thrum down her spine. This was not the same Zhongli sitting before her- the smiling, gossiping, calm friend. He'd returned to something of old. His bearing and manner was sharp and direct. "Instincts decide these things, not logic. You'll come to understand my meaning."

Lumine gave a perplexed nod, and when the conversation lapsed, she sensed his energy coil tightly in the air. He probably needed to be alone to decide what preparations needed to be made.

Standing, she offered a reassuring smile. "Well, I hope my answer reassured you some. Just…let me know, I suppose?"

Why was this suddenly so awkward? Darn him. Her legs wobbled like jelly. She could distinctly feel the slick that had gathered between her thighs.

He didn't need to worry about preparing her, in all honesty.

Zhongli's soft, rumbling timber stopped her just as she'd turned to leave.

"Oh and one thing, Lumine."

"Yes?"

He stared at her as if starving. Molten heat in the eyes and teeth biting down inside his cheek. "Make absolutely certain to come to me while resonated with my element. Geo suits you best, after all."

Heat enflamed her cheeks. Lumine mumbled a pathetically small agreement, stomach flip flopping. She strode out of the restaurant as quickly as possible without running, only to dive behind a wall to crash against because holy shit. Holy shit.

She was just…propositioned by Zhongli. Her cheeks couldn’t stop blushing. Her thighs twitched and pressed together while her heart thundered embarrassingly loud.

Through it all, his final words made quick, giddy circuits around her head.

Geo suits you best, after all…

----