InviousWriting

Basorexia – The overhwhelming desire to kiss someone.

“Estigma. That is what they’re called.” Ulquiorra says as Orihime got closer to look at the lines on his face. What looks like tear marks but is as permanent as the tattoo on his chest. The bewilderment on her face as she makes sense of what the word means, let alone seeing them closer. One of the rare days where she is happier with trying to come to terms with her acclimation around Las Noches.

“These too?” Orihime is careful how she approaches him but pokes her index finger on his brow and upper lip. She is surprised that his skin is soft. She doesn’t miss the narrowing of the Espada’s eyes at being touched. Other beings would have met their end a lot more swiftly. She is protected, and deep down he tolerates her curiosity.

“Yes. These too. Are you satisfied with these answers? Will you sit down to eat then?” Ulquiorra regards her with a stare that speaks more than his face ever will. Orihime is allowed this rare moment where he lets someone apart from himself touch these marks. The subtle trace down one of his cheeks has him tilt his head to the side, letting her get this out of her system.

Their daily meetings consist of three meals a day, and under Aizen’s request, they sit with her so she isn’t lonely too often. Ulquiorra almost missed the faint linger closer to his eye if he didn’t focus his emerald gaze directly onto her for being close to them.

“It does for now. They’re unique; each Arrancar has their own e-estigma?" Orihime struggles with the word at first but corrects herself before she fully stutters. Learning their language slowly. Enough to know their vocabulary, but not enough to hold conversations in their native tongue. Done on purpose so Orihime is not privy to knowledge she should not have.

“Some do, some do not. It depends on how their masks were cracked and how their Resurrección is done. It is complicated.” Ulquiorra says as he leans back, subtle enough to signal he was done being touched and explored. Ulquiorra keeps his hands in his pockets for now while Orihime settles back. Too close for him today. He did not understand why these markings interested her so much.

“I find them interesting.” Orihime beamed with that small enthusiasm while trying to satisfy some boredom by finding out as much as she can about him. She upholds her end of their bargain; for answering her questions, she would at least eat for him as trade. She does and finds her meal tolerable but bland for her unique taste buds. She wished for things to make it better, but would they actually get them to satisfy her requests?

“You don’t like it.” Ulquiorra never phrases his questions as such; they’re more like statements. With his trained eyes, he can see the smallest nuance in another’s expression and demeanor. Giving them away before they speak.

“It is bland.” Orihime confirms that she doesn’t like it but avoids his eyes for now. There is a subtle huff from him at trying to appease his difficult charge. Just each meal tasted the same for her, and it got boring when you couldn’t spice anything up on your own.

“Unfortunately, many things are bland here. I will see if there is something I can do for your next meal. Your job is to be nourished and healthy. If bland is making that a problem.” Ulquiorra crosses a leg over his knee as he contemplates how to obtain anything for this girl. For now he leaves it alone when she is finished with half of the plate.

“All of it today. Lord Aizen has taken note of your refusals and requests that you finish at least one of these meals today.” Orihime startles at this and schools herself before she makes a face about it. It is an order, and Ulquiorra will ensure she fulfills these orders to completion. He has before, and that was an uncomfortable experience with him looming over her.

Ulquiorra catches her nuance but doesn’t need to remind her about it. He instead remains in his spot but keeps his eyes on her. A little longer and she does finish the meal and is met with an "I did it” stare from her. Orihime’s finishing it meant he would answer more questions she has for him.

“Okay. You get three more questions.” Ulquiorra sees her beam again and stares at her for it even while she practically closes the distance too fast to sit next to him again. Orihime does look him over and focuses on his eyes; she is use to his intense stare by now, being around him so often.

“First question: Are there any other unique markings on your body?” Orihime asks, and it takes him by surprise that she’d be curious to know whether other parts of him have markings. He thinks about it and answers her.

“Yes, there are. Not where you can see them, but during Resurrección I do gain markings in other spots. I cannot show you here; it is forbidden.” Ulquiorra answers her question with ease since it was so easy. He wonders if he would be able to show her that form. He would have no need unless he were in combat. Orihime’s eyes are wide, lit with amazement that there is so much uniqueness to the Arrancar. She half wants to express to the Soul Society that they’re not that bad since she has gotten to know some of them.

“Second question: Do you feel anything on them? Like are they more sensitive than other spots?” This question catches Ulquiorra off guard. The surprise in his eyes as he looks away from her face to think about it.

“I haven’t noticed if they’re more sensitive.” Ulquiorra's green eyes regard Orihime’s brown eyes while he turns to look at him again. Ulquiorra looks back at her, seeing the curiosity burning in her eyes. There is a pause in the air before she can ask and waste her third question. “You may touch them again.” Orihime is excited again, and Ulquiorra remains still like he did earlier when she was exploring his features. This time it felt different, seeing her excited about something natural about him. A silent huff escapes him, feeling the light touch along the tear-line marks. He feels her testing the white of his cheek and the green mark, gauging his response. A head tilt is the response she gets; no difference to him.

Orihime ventures closer, unperturbed by his lack of reaction; she almost preferred it since a reaction could mean something else or lashing out. She isn’t scared of him like she use to be; intimidated, still, yes. Orihime touches along his upper lip, and this does get a response out of him. Emerald eyes train on her as she traces edge to edge, only pausing at the center; this is what drew his attention: her pause.

A thought she would normally never have crosses her mind: what a kiss would be like with him. Orihime finds herself staring back at his eyes, and there is a mutual search behind both of them. Confusion, uncertainty, curiosity, and guilt on Orihime’s part for even thinking about it. Interest on Ulquiorra’s part, seeing that flash in her eyes. A range between them both, and to satisfy that desire she feels, she does something that surprises them both with pressing forward to brush her lips against the middle of his furrowed brows.

There is silence for a while. She sits back, realizing what she has done, and looks away with a flush crossing her face. Ulquiorra’s eyes are wider than they normally are, a range of questions behind him, all on “why.” He understood that a kiss is done for people in relationships, and here this girl was giving him one for an unknown reason.

“You have one more question.” Ulquiorra reminds her that she has one more. Orihime snaps out of her mental fog from surprise and steels herself. She looks at him with an expression he has seen when she talks about her friends. Admiration.

“Right. May I try one more thing?” Orihime phrases her question, unsure of her own action. Ulquiorra reads her demeanor and narrows his eyes briefly before closing them.

“One more thing.” Ulquiorra confirms her request and waits for her to act on it. Orihime feels relief through her; the narrowing in his eyes made her shrink back. With her nerves steeled and acting on a different mindset. She pushes closer to kiss one of the lines on his face; this small gesture takes Ulquiorra by complete surprise. His eyes snapped open and stared wide at her for showing him kindness but also affection. It was a quick one, and he almost misses it if it were not for the warmth of her skin.

“You are brave to do that to me. Aren’t you worried about what anyone would say if they knew?” Ulquiorra asks the rooted question. What her friends would think if they knew she kissed the enemy. There is a flash of guilt through her eyes, the same look he saw in a split second for thinking about it.

“They already think I am a traitor… I haven’t heard anything about them.” Aizen made Ulquiorra unable to tell her any progress until they cross into Hueco Mundo themselves. Part of the mind games is to make her think they abandoned her, to possibly drive a wedge between her and her friends.

A sigh is made from him as he decides to distract her from thinking about that. His own curiosity finally getting the better of him. He lifts her face and brings her close, a hairsbreadth between their lips. He speaks low and quiet enough that she can hear him alone.

“Then you should not care so much about this.” Closing the distance between them, he takes that first kiss, seeing the want behind her eyes to do so when she is focused on him. It is mutual, and he feels her return it. A test of boundaries to see if she truly does have a feeling towards him or if it really is driven by curiosity. He pulls back only for her to press forward to keep it going. Surprise in his green eyes seeing hers closed tight as she commits to this scenario.

Ulquiorra restrains himself before he loses any sort of control. Pressing both of his hands on her shoulders, he guides her to sit back. Orihime touches her lips, still tingling from the experience. What she couldn’t do to the man she had a crush on for years, she easily did for a being she'd only known for a few weeks to nearly a month now.

“Not what you expected? Or who?” Ulquiorra questions her, and the orange-haired girl shakes her head with a wistful look on her face. Ulquiorra still maintains his stoic expression, but it is the small nuance of a raised eyebrow and intrigue at the edges of his eyes that says more. “Do you want to again?”

Orihime feels strengthened in her resolve for now and does close that distance, and he lets her. Infatuation might be a good thing if he can prevent his own wants and desires from surfacing. For now he indulges her desire to test out light kisses between them, tasting what can be tasted and felt. He finally stops her when something else seems to want to take over. When she tries to move forward, she is held firmly in place.

“That is enough for now; we will lose ourselves if we keep going. Is that a path you really want to go down yet?” Ulquiorra reminds her that he has no qualms about it. She might, on the other hand, and would prefer she approaches him of her own volition instead of being caught up in the heat of the moment. He strengthens this decision to stop by finally standing up after having her sit next to him.

“You can give me your answer tomorrow. I will return in the morning; for now I am needed elsewhere.” Ulquiorra says and sees the crestfallen expression across Orihime's face for stopping but understanding right behind that expression. He wants to stay and give into that desire. He doesn’t understand the compulsion behind it and needs the distance for himself as well as for her to be sure this is what they both want.

“I look forward to our next meeting then. Thank you for answering all my questions.” Orihime answers him back, and he levels her with an unreadable stare before an audible huff is heard. She snickers under her breath, finding it his way of responding when no words need to be said. When he does leave the room to stand guard outside it. She lets herself have her thoughts to herself. To think about if she wants to give her precious firsts to someone she barely understands or keep pining for a potential relationship.

Orihime returns to her usual spot, looking out at the endless night sky that beams in her room. She thinks the recent encounter over and how alluring Ulquiorra could be if he actually wanted to be. To see even subtle changes, like how his eyes seem to light up from affection or how much more intense they were after their kiss ended.

There is no rain in Hueco Mundo, there isn’t rain in the compound of Las Noches either. Orihime knows this fact, yet it is on the days where her mind does feel heavier that she wishes for it. A change in the atmosphere, something that isn’t always the same with the sky. She lets her thoughts stay in her head, the only person she talks to is Ulquiorra, or occasionally Grimmjow when he sneaks in to ask her questions about Ichigo.

On one of the visits from Ulquiorra, she is in her own thoughts while he actively observes her to make sure she is eating. A non-negotiable day to ensure it. She finds him mirroring her stare, and it gives her that feeling. Like instead of it actually raining; he feels like rain. A calm sense, even when he delivers harsh truths to her, updates on whether her friends are coming or not. It has only been a few weeks and the uncertainty has settled in like a normal part of her day to day.

“You are quieter than normal.” A statement rather than a question; Orihime is use to the way Ulquiorra probes her without asking. The break in the quiet, she had finished what she could stomach. It was a compromise in his eyes. Something. He took what small battles he could win with her silent rebellion.

“Just thinking today.” Orihime answers him, even without the obvious question it was under the surface. “Why are you not talking my ear off.” Ulquiorra preferred quiet but with her, it wasn’t normal. The conditioning was working, working too well.

“Thinking about what.” Another question phrased as a command almost to express these thoughts.

“Rain. I miss it.” Orihime answers him, and misses the subtle raised eyebrow on his stoic face. In a realm that only has one weather condition, he can understand how a change in the atmosphere is a subtle want. Ulquiorra turns his head enough to look at the same window she stares out of.

“Unfortunately it does not rain here. The closest thing would be a sandstorm beyond the canopy. It does get dull seeing the same weather.” He states it casually, and she already knows it doesn’t rain. She never retorts; not when she can tell he is trying to relate. Offered a small token in her direction. She takes it, it is just his way of attempting sympathy. Even if it lacks the emotional depth, she doesn’t dismiss his attempts. He connects to her in brash and matter of fact ways.

“Thank you.” Orihime draws his attention fully on her. Hearing gratitude is normal from her. Yet it is different this time, like she is genuine instead of that upfront guest gratitude one shows when they’re navigating unfamiliar faces. Trying to appease so they don’t bring harm.

“…” The silence is deafening when he doesn’t speak, wit or counter with his usual “Nonsense” retort. Orihime has his eyes fully on her and it unnerves her when he is analyzing her. Trying to figure out what makes her tick, how to navigate her feelings; whether to say something even the slightest comfort or move on from the mundane chit-chat that feels forced.

“You’re kind of like rain.” Ulquiorra’s eyes widen hearing her relate to him like an element. There is brief indignation in his eyes and a quick scoff at being related this way. Orihime is amused seeing the change in his demeanor. A puff of her cheeks in victory, the nuances she manages to get out of him. It makes her feel comfortable, to sit down next to him on his right. He shifts to the side to give her a small space between them. His hands in his pockets keeping them together from gracing contact even brief.

“Not in a literal sense of course, you give the feeling like it. I-I... might not make sense. That even on other days, I enjoy our interactions. You make me feel calm, even when you’re mean sometimes.” Orihime fidgets with her own hands as she speaks. Her attempt to speak her feelings out loud. Ulquiorra going more still and peering at her out of the corner of his right eye.

“I see.” Ulquiorra closes his eyes long enough to mull over what she said to him. It confuses him, she confuses him. She should be afraid of him, yet here Orihime is trying to relate and make their interactions more than just dinner and him observing her.

Orihime leans forward enough, shifting enough to face towards him while his eyes are closed. Even with them closed he’s alert at all times. She rarely sees his guard down, except the few rare times he has actually fallen asleep around her. She focuses on him, trying to read him like he does easily to her.

“What are you doing?” A genuine question to her antics; Ulquiorra feels the shift in weight on the bed they’re seated on. Green eyes open and fixate on her instantly, she is closer than he thought she was. For a brief instance there is uncertainty behind those eyes he has, as he tries to make logic of why she is leaned so close. The turn of his head and her transfixed on his own eyes.

“Just looking. You do have pretty eyes.” A head tilt from him, his eyes are his strongest feature besides his natural strength and other abilities. They are important to him because of his own methods for discerning whether someone holds importance or are so beneath him that he nary blinks in their direction. Yet here is a human girl saying something as simple as eyes are beautiful to her. That subtle dilation of his lenses followed by the familiar narrow of his eyes.

“Nonsense.” The turn away from her was expected, his gaze returning to the solitary window to look anywhere except her. To refrain from showing she got to him. Schooling his expressions, and this gives her that feeling again. Orihime recalls that memory of rain when he’s being relaxed around her enough to not criticize her. Relating to rain in a sensation that gives her a scent to recall on. He is rain and feels like it.

Something to look forward to even on dim days, because even rain has a purpose to replenish thoughts and calm stagnate air. Orihime takes the subtle victory, and even when he doesn’t give much comfort she briefly rests her head at his shoulder. He does have a subtle scent to him, earthy and something slightly musky. It is unspoken and he doesn’t chase her off from seeking solace where she gets it. Even from him.

She chooses to chase those feelings, letting her own heart flutter. Ulquiorra remains unmoving till she receives what she wants. He indulges and runs a hand through her hair. Perhaps too intimate for the amount of time spent here just yet. What brings her comfort and compliant works, but maybe there is something brimming beneath. He doesn’t hold onto the thought. Time will tell if something actually manifests or not.

Above the false sky within the canopy is an eternal night. Vast and the sole moon shines and remains in one position. The desert expands in all directions and the unusual structure Aizen created is home to the few that he's generated it for.

While your relationship with Ulquiorra has its points, seeing enough nuances in his face to know when he wants to express something. You take what you get with him, because you understand that any outward gesture is alot.

On a day where there is free time, and nothing else is needed from Ulquiorra, is when he collects you without a second command to "come with."

You aren't given much of a choice when he practically takes hold of you and whisks you away. The leave from the canopy is even faster when he is certain of something. That certainty is he's sure about you and your ability to keep secrets.

Trust is hard to earn with him, and even more rare when he lets his guard down even the slightest. So out in a space within Hueco Mundo itself, away from presences that would know what he is up to or figure it out.

It feels like walking for hours by the time you both stop. You bumping into his back when he stops abruptly. "We are here. What I will show you, is not to be spoken to anyone else." Ulquiorra's voice is loud enough for you to hear him, not raised but warning enough. You know the limits within the canopy that there are certain things Espada can and can't do after hearing how Grimmjow lands in trouble regularly.

Ulquiorra moves further away and with his sword he releases it. "Enclose, Murcielago." The spirit pressure is intense and feels like rainfall. There is no petrichor with it, but your sense of memory recalls it. Given it a scent to remember it by.

The released form is imposing, yet you are still able to recognize Ulquiorra from his eyes and unique clothing that still felt like him. You realize he is showing you a true part of himself and it warms you internally that he trusts you enough to show this. Understanding more the secrecy because it defies orders if the wrong pair of eyes see this.

He lets you explore the form; from the large wings, and coldness of his skin. There is a moment where that facial mask cracks seeing you less terrified than he anticipated. This form used for combat being shown to someone he has interest in. A sense of pride behind those eyes of his at how you receive this form welcoming instead of the usual terror that it would impose on others.

"Brace yourself. If you need sit down." Ulquiorra lets concern show brief as you make sense of what he is instructing. Following his guidance, you drop to your knees instead and like before he moves away so that the spiritual pressure doesn't harm you. He wants the least amount to hit you as possible, yet if you are able to stand after the first release form, he has high expectations you'll receive this other one the same.

The wave that presents itself in the air is crushing, that you feel it actually push you down into the sand. It knocks your breath out and you feel like you are submerged under deep water. When you settle, you feel yourself shaking.

Your body recognizes the intensity and shivers instinctively out of an unknown fear. Yet you feel something just beneath the pressure weighing you down. A clawed hand lifting your head up and your eyes meet amber among dark scleras.

"Is it too much." Ulquiorra's words feel like a question, but it isn't. He's gauging your reaction, your body itself reacts naturally to something so foreign that it feels like absolute terror.

You take in the appearance as your eyes settle on it, illuminated by the moon. He's intimidating, his reiatsu is imposing to a suffocating point. You swallow as he waits for you to answer him.

"Yes, it is too much." You answer him honest, if you lie he'd know. He didn't look recognizable. The markings adorning his face look like bloody tears, his appearance meant to be like this. You shake like a leaf, you aren't afraid of him. Your body is reacting to the pressure that chills you to your bone.

"It is suppose to be. There are not many who can withstand the pressure alone. You are doing well." It is a blunt compliment and you take it. On shaking feet you stand up despite the overwhelming pressure and even feel it letting up as he sees your struggle. He steps forward, light on his feet as if they're not touching the sand at all. Long tail sways in back and just like before he stands still once he's in front of you better. Letting you make the first initiation to touch him.

"Does it terrify you?" It is rare that he ever makes a move to initiate a intimate gesture. Yet you feel the faintest press of lips against your own. It breaks you out of the stupor terror and reminds you who this is underneath.

You tremble at first but steel yourself and nerves. His voice is the same, grounding you that this is the same being. You ghost your hands to his face letting your eyes meet again. His main thing are his eyes and you have long since figured out if you do anything towards him, your eyes must meet.

"I would be lying if I said it didn't. It is you." There is a twist at the corner of his lip as if getting the reaction he wanted. You mirror every touch you made on the first form. Following the estigma markings on his face and roaming your palms just beneath the hollow hole that defines what he is. The marking there resembles blood, but it is in fact another marking.

When your fingers graze the rim of the hole is when you feel his hands catch yours and hold your arms to the sides.

"While your touch is welcomed. Not there." Ulquiorra's eyes crinkle like it is still an unwelcomed sensation to him. Where he possesses no heart, yet there is a phantom pang within it.

You understand and he hasn't let go of your hands just yet. You barely even realize that his wings have curled around you till you feel the soft appendages bump your back bringing you closer.

Your hands are let go of with this sense of "privacy" granted. You resume your touch and exploration. Feeling the soft fur that covers his arms and edge at his waist. His head lowers while you card fingers through the jet black hair between the long horns.

Inwardly you let your thoughts liken him to a cat being petted. Less scared as you acclimate to his entire being. You leave nothing untouched except where he doesn't want your touch at from the hole in his chest and keeping your hands away from the center of his waist.

"Not yet. You can't handle that." His words are borderline smug. Testing your reaction.

"I could manage. I did before." You match his tone and catch a look of surprise bringing up your past encounters with him already. A subtle shake of his head.

"One way to find out. Show me, hide nothing from me."

"Estigma." The word is foreign to you, yet warm as it is explained that it is unique markings to the face or body. While you had come to understand how Hollows worked, wild and full of life despite how they're presented. You find yourself enthralled on the Fourth Esapda's markings.

Ulquiorra possessed different ones for different forms. The form you see on a day to day's tear marks and eyebrow markings. His demeanor is quiet, always quiet but a silent observer at all times. His other forms he's only talked in passing about his first one, wider marks on his cheeks and longer nails, to large bat-like wings.

There is a form he keeps to himself and he debates showing you. Whether to whisk you off to a desolate place within the desert or just above the canopy where he knows no other soul to witness this other form.

You had tried to figure out how to change that expression, whether from a silly question that raises an eyebrow or narrows those stunning green eyes. His most outstanding feature are his eyes. Vibrant green eyes that stare through you and leave you feeling chills. His skin a shade of white that is almost painful to look at sometimes depending how the light shines on him.

So when there is a brief respite moment, doing nothing but existing. His preferred moment around someone special. He feels a brief warmth to his face along one of the markings. A sea of questions through his head, all a variation of "why." Yet all that comes out is a exhaled huff and turn of his head away from the kiss that pressed to his face. Ulquiorra can feel your eyes boring into the side of his face, trying to see if there is a change in his calculated expression. The faintest miss of the surprised wider irises and slacked jaw as he wonders what happened, but above all that lingering "why." He shrugs it off before the stoic mask is back in place. You can faintly see the search of his eyes into yours. How many questions reside behind them, to the resign that there is no answer that will satisfy him. Not when he can already see that grin forming when you know you got him.

Warnings include - anal play and sex, blow jobs, oral sex heavy, afab! character, married couple, graphic depictions of sex. Ongoing story.

She doesn’t know how long she fell asleep for, when Aserla finally wakes up she registers arms around her. Blue eyes open and blink sleep bleary from them; she feels Zhongli’s head resting on top of hers, his chin resting at the crown of her head. She smells something good in the air and begins to slowly sit up. Aserla looks up to her husband’s sleeping face and realizes she had slept a good portion of the morning after their morning proved to be adventurous. Aserla begins to touch his face while seeing him stir awake when he feels her hand on his cheek. Zhongli feels the way she touches his face, feeling the contours of his jaw and cheek. He opens his eyes and looks down to his wife nestled in his arms with a warm smile to his lips and love towards her easily shown.  “Did you get enough rest?” His voice is low to not disturb the peace too much. Aserla nods and shares that smile he has.  “I did, didn’t realize how tired I was till I laid down.” She says sheepish and hints that he wore her out in the morning. A rumbling chuckle comes from his chest and Zhongli pulls her in close to him to hug her tight while pressing a kiss to the top of her head.  “Expected as this is our second day married. We’ll build that stamina together and soon enough even on passionate mornings you’ll have energy through the day.” Gold eyes almost glow at his words seeing the way her face reddens when he’s blunt about wanting her more often. Aserla touches the collar of his top seeing he had chosen to wear a lounging hanfu outfit like she saw the other day. Like the rest of his clothing he has dragon scales through it that glitters gold with the rise and fall of his chest. His hair in it’s usual tail and she sees he has put a different earring in to go with what he wears.  “I really liked what you did for me earlier. It felt really good.” Aserla dwells on the morning and how he took care of her pleasure more than seeing his own. It makes her look up at him and realize she hasn’t done anything for him.  “I’m glad you are enjoying it. You were mesmerizing; a sight I can’t wait to see again.” Zhongli starts to get up from the couch they’re on and stretches remembering he has things he was cooking. Aserla follows him in getting up to follow him into the kitchen, she still feels amazed at how beautiful their home is and knowing he built it himself before relinquishing his power sits at the back of her head.  “How did you know to do all that stuff?” Aserla’s question can be taken in two directions. Zhongli looks over to her trying to figure out what she is asking. If he has some experience she isn’t aware of, or about his powers. He takes in a breath as he answers the question in two ways.

 “For sex? I read a lot of books, also applied what I knew in acupressure to certain parts of you, and listened to your body to find out what touch you liked or didn’t. Some of the books I’ve read are sexual health and I do have those if you are curious to read them. As for if you mean how I built this place. I carved out the inside first then built around it, hired some hands who kept the secrets well.” Zhongli checks the kettle and pours his tea into a gold goblet and selects another tea for her to try. He settles on one for her health with the way they’ve been active he gives her one that is used as a contraceptive.  “I see, I didn’t mean to sound accusing if it came off that way.” She realizes her mistake in her wording. A soft smile is shown her way after Zhongli sets their table with bowls of his soup he makes and supplies her rice and the tea. Aserla sits down next to him and takes up her spoon to take up some of the broth enjoying the flavor of it along with how tender the meat is after cooking for six to eight hours.  “Is it hard to believe that a six-thousand year old man to be celibate his entire life?” Zhongli asks her, his eyes soft as he wants to assure her that he isn’t lying to her about important things of his past.  “A little hard to believe, specially with one who was a former archon. You must have had a bevy of women, there were always the sordid stories that made their way into Mondstadt’s library. Ones where you engaged in things from accepting “offerings” to just taking someone on a whim.” As Aserla speaks she sees there is pain behind his eyes at hearing such things about him, specially from the lips of someone he loves. He knew this might have been a problem, and he nips it all quickly before it takes more root in her mind than it needs to be.  “And after being with me, what do you take of these theories and tales you found?” Aserla lifts her head as she takes up her tea and looks into his eyes. She feels guilty for talking about them seeing that there is pain in his eyes at how someone he loves can not see the truth for herself. That what she came across in those is nothing but pure fiction.  “I shouldn’t believe them.” She says out loud and he agrees.  “Do I really seem like the type that would casually have sex with others and not give care to their feelings? Or even with this so called “bevy of women” at my disposal. Did it feel like I’d just use another person willing or not to satisfy my own needs? I had time for it, believe me. I simply didn’t want to. I believed that love is as sacred as a contract and to use someone even in fleeting would have gone against my principles as a deity. The common people came to me for whatever they needed help with, they would leave offerings at my statues, or try to buy my affection during the Rite of Descents, when I was just there to give my reports for the coming year of how they should prepare and trade. I had a region to watch over and while the occasional brothel entertained my mind to “get it out of my system” I would never be able to look at those who held me in high regards the same if I went as low to use another being just to satisfy my lust.” Zhongli says this in a tone that borders on scolding but in that gentle form he does when correcting someone close to him.  “Those pieces of fiction in those libraries, nothing more than cheap smut made by people who had nothing better to do and parchment at their disposal. The women that I surrounded myself with, were close adepti who are to this day very respectable faces of Liyue. I’d never tarnish their image as “the ones who slept with Rex Lapis” or let their shine be diminished because of my shadow.” Aserla feels tears creep into her eyes at how he not only tore down every rumor about him and his past, but also made it clear that he never wants the adepti around him to have their achievements covered that way again.

 “I’m sorry, if my words were insensitive.” Zhongli hears the waver in her voice and sets down his chopsticks to take her left hand in his to bring it to his lips so he can kiss her wedding band.

 “You were misinformed by people who do not know me, or cared to know me. These are the same people who ran wild with the speculations about the kind of relationship I had with Guizhong. All you need to do is ask me, and I’ll gladly tell you everything. Please promise me, you won’t let a dark thought that stains our relationship grow when I can blight it off. Each of my adepti are special to my heart. I loved each of them as much as close friends could be and that love is special in its way. The love I have for you is growing into something I don’t want tainted by thoughts of jealousy or insecurity. So please my love, always come to me so I can lay to rest these kinds of thoughts.” Zhongli takes Aserla into his arms to console her seeing her starting to cry over the worry of offending him but it was the complete opposite of that. He just wants her to be open with him as much as he is with her.

 “I’m sorry, they were silly thoughts and I’ll try not to dwell on them.” Aserla is still in defensive mode regarding the scolding she got, and Zhongli understands this, he’s seen it numerous times when someone reprimands another for needless gossip. He instead of letting her remain in that thought tilts her head to press a soft kiss to her lips and holds it there. Aserla feels sheepish for her thoughts and glances up into his eyes as he kisses her. She feels her face flushed and lets him hold her to himself. When their kiss ends he rubs his hands through her hair.  “There isn’t anything wrong with that they’ve written either, or fabricated. They just used tools to toss some fantasy off and others enjoyed their ideas enough to make books or scrolls from it. What is important to me, is that you know fact from fabrication. I am telling you what is fact, they’re false. You are the one who answered my call for love out of many who ignored it. I treasure you in the short time I’ve grown to know you. You even said you would not have answered my call if I was such a womanizer because you knew deep down the truth.” Zhongli holds the back of Aserla’s head in a comforting way but ensures she can’t look away from his molten gaze.

“All I ask is you trust me and I’ll trust you in return. The moment we allow deceit to rule our hearts is the moment our relationship is over. I’ll never see that genuine smile you hold for me because there is always that cloying sense in the back of your mind “is he unfaithful” and you of all know. I’ll never break a contract as important as the bond I make with a loved and cherished one.” Aserla listens to him speak and assure her that he’s serious about her along with maintaining his honor and the honor of those around him. Aserla sits there quietly as she takes in everything he has said to her. She keeps eye contact with him for as long as he holds her there. She tries to look away but his gentle hold on her keeps her from breaking their connection. There are tears in her eyes more from embarrassment of misunderstanding her husband and afraid she had offended him. Yet that kind smile remains on his face and that burning love he possesses in those eyes.  Soft is the kiss he presses onto her lips, and full is her heart from how she feels from his kiss. Zhongli lets go of the back of her head and wraps his arms around her; rubbing her back and making up for his tone with softness and reassuring her he’s not mad at her.  “We still have a long way to learn each other. I love you, my phoenix.” Zhongli murmurs after breaking the kiss to touch the edge of her ear with his teeth. Showing his interest but also to let her feel her emotions. He smiles warm to her and finally gets a smile back from her. He lets her return to her seat to finish eating her soup before it gets cold.

 “I’ll do my best to not doubt you and trust you more. Thank you for reaffirming my feelings. A bit blunt this time but I love you.” Aserla finally speaks more and takes his right hand in her left to squeeze it. Zhongli brings her hand to his lips to kiss her ring and fingers.  “I know you will. Now, let us finish our meal so we can relax together? Your tea is best while it is hot. It doesn’t taste good cold and will be slightly bitter.” He informs her and she takes up her cup to drink it along with his urging her to do so. Aserla’s blue eyes glance up towards Zhongli when they both finish their bowls. She takes his and goes to clean their dishes.

Aserla goes through her thoughts and finds herself smiling as she washes their utensils and cups. She feels arms around her from behind and Zhongli resting his head on top of hers. ”Those can wait till later. Forgive me if I’m a bit pushy, but I meant what I said earlier in wanting you a lot more today.” There is a slip of his hand under the slit of her skirt and his fingers dip along the crease of her sex eager to see if she responds to him like this.  “Zhongli.. I… want it too.” A smirk against her ear as the former archon presses his fingers in to wet them with her slick then rubs the pads of his fingers over her clit slowly. He knew what he was doing when he provided his wife this dress and how easy it would be to slide the front aside and do this was on his mind.  “Good, you’ve awakened something inside me, and I long to feel you around me again.” Zhongli tilts Aserla’s head up and claims her lips in a deep kiss; his tongue pressing into her mouth and is met with hers ready to dance around his. She moans softly into his kiss while feeling his left hand palm her breast through the silk of the top. His hand busy with her folds rubs more steadily to get her to open her legs more for him to insert two of his fingers into her and curls them towards her belly.

 “Ah! Zhongli! Please!” Her voice is something he can’t get enough of, and he guides her towards the wall just near the hallway towards the bath where he drops to his knees in front of her and slips the skirt over his shoulder so he can look at her pussy wrapped around his fingers.  “Please what? Tell me. You are incredibly wet and hot inside. Does it make you feel that good?” Zhongli smirks as he thrusts his fingers gently into her opening. His eyes trained on the soft pink as he keeps her spread so he can watch the small nub of her clit hardening under the pleasure.

 “Y-you’re a menace… saying things like that to me!” Aserla blushes as soft panted moans come off her lips feeling him add another finger and his thumb brushes her clit. He’s amused while seeing the way she pushes her hips down to meet his fingers working their magic on her. Reaching far deeper than her own could and just as she teeters on the edge of release. He stops and withdraws his hand from her leaving her to sob in frustration at being denied an orgasm.

 “Indulge my whims and you’ll experience something really nice.” Zhongli says as he stands up, and once again guides her into the bathroom itself. They’d end up in there after they’re done anyways with what he intends to do. His fingers find the clasps of her dress and swiftly pops them open till his hands push the dress down off her skin and has her step out.

 “Sit down on the edge of the bath please? I’ll join you after I take care of our clothes.” Zhongli says with a smile and Aserla is eager to feel that pleasure again. She aches to feel him and sits down where he instructs her towards the bath pool. She watches him disrobe slowly; taking his time to put their clothes away in bins where they’ll wear them later if they remember.  Aserla’s eyes graze over his nude form and takes in everything. From his torso toned from the years of training he’s done, and how this privilege to look at his nude form is hers alone. She travels her eyes lower on his waist when he turns towards her, she can see him aroused with the raise of his penis and how the skin gives a peek of the sensitive head. Her curiosity gets to her as she learns more about her husband’s body as a man, let alone getting use to seeing male anatomy closer.

 “It looks comfortable.” Aserla says as she reaches a hand to his waist to touch him. Zhongli smirks as he sees her curious about the foreskin and looks down at himself after approaching her enough so she can touch him.

 “I trust I’m the only one you’ve ever seen like this.” Aserla lets her face flush before she tells him.

“For sex yes, but not the first penis I’ve seen. I use to work at the Angel Share in Mondstadt. It… wasn’t uncommon to come across a guy urinating in the alleyways… Or was flashed because someone was too drunk.” Aserla rests her hand on his forming erection and begins to touch him gently enough that he emits a sigh from her soft hands touching him like this.

 “A bit repulsive, but most men would find ways to do it without a care to who is around them.” Zhongli’s eyes close as they have this conversation. He feels a little mix in his feelings but it did come with the territory of working in a tavern. Zhongli soon lets the thoughts leave him in favor to guide her hands as she learns to touch him.

 Aserla follows the motions his hands guide hers on, and has her peel back the skin and he stands a bit closer as if understanding what she wants to try and do. She keeps stroking him feeling how surprisingly soft the skin is there and looks up at him to see if he’s enjoying her touch.

Zhongli has his eyes closed and mouth parted in a light pant feeling his wife touch him this way. Even his face has a rare blush that she’s taken it on herself to please him. His eyes snap open wide when he feels wet heat against the tip of his erection and glances down to see equally flushed cheeks from Aserla.

 “My love, you don’t have to.” Aserla looks up at him for that and pulls back with her lips barely touching him. She tests rubbing her tongue against the tip and can feel him twitch in her hands and against her mouth.

 “I want to. You’re always pleasing me, it’s only fair.” A soft smile is shown his way and Zhongli cards his fingers through her hair. When Aserla presses her lips back to the head of his cock she encounters a little bit of a saltiness from tasting precum and feels more of it seeping out from him. Blue eyes cast up to see a blissful expression on her husband’s face and the fingers in her hair grip just a bit tighter.

 “You are good to me.” Zhongli lets out as he guides her in taking him into her mouth slowly. Aserla opens her mouth and fits enough of him in that she uses both of her hands to stroke the rest of his shaft as she figures out how to suck around him. She does and breathes in as she pulls up then exhales as she goes down onto him. She feels awkward trying to find her rhythm then figures out when he guides her.

 Aserla rubs her tongue around the head, swirling just right that he bucks his hips forward sending more of his shaft into her mouth and she pulls off suddenly to cough from him hitting the back of her throat.

 “Aserla? Are you alright? You’re struggling with it. I think that is enough.” Zhongli smiles to her and cups her face to keep her from trying again. She blushes even more when he is focused on her face and assuring her she doesn’t have to continue.

 “I’d like to try again.” She feels a little disappointed in herself at not being able to please him the way he does to her. She leans forward and at least rubs the head of his penis against her tongue. She tugs the skin down to expose the glands enough to tease him at least this way.

 “You can later. I would like to continue what I was doing earlier. You did great for a first attempt. I did enjoy it.” Zhongli cups her face again and lifts her enough to press a kiss to her lips. He delves his tongue into her mouth and begins to guide her to sit back against the stone seats that lead to the pool of water. He holds her there as he kneels in front of her to return the pleasure to her now. Aserla sees molten gold eyes staring up at her as Zhongli drapes her legs over his shoulder so he can be closer to her folds.

 “What are you about to do to me?” Aserla whispers her question and Zhongli only smiles to her as he hooks his arms underneath her hips and moves so his arms encircle around to hold her in place. His eyes have a hunger to them and uses his hands to open her slit to his eyes. He sees the inner lips glistening from her arousal and feels his mouth water from seeing and smelling something sweet from her.

 “Make you scream my name.” The former archon wets his lips before he closes the distance and with his mouth opened he encloses around her pussy completely. His tongue immediately going to her clit and uses his lips to suck on it while his tongue sweeps around it in slow circles.

“Ah! Zhongli!” Blue eyes go wide and a much more erotic moan falls from her lips feeling his mouth working on her like this. She feels his tongue working in circles around the sensitive nub feeling it throb and respond to his suckling. He’s careful about grazing his teeth on it but hears his wife keen out. His fingers hold open her folds at the bottom of her pussy to keep her entrance open as he slips his tongue down and into it going as deep as it can reach.

 “You are very sweet… you taste like sweet flower nectar.” Zhongli says when he comes up for air and presses his tongue around the hole, enjoying how it looks trying to clench around his tongue before he pushes it back in. Aserla is mortified that he relates her to something like that. She breathes harder when he returns to her clit and focuses a series of suckling licks on it each growing in intensity to feel her quivering. His position between her legs keeps them apart that she barely feels his tongue dipping lower on her opening.

 “This feels very good… I feel so hot inside.” Aserla lets out a breathed sigh while Zhongli keeps her attention on feeling good. His fingers slip in along with his tongue and feels the bottom wall of her pussy for something noting the last time she’s gone to the restroom before they began. He keeps up the ministrations of using his tongue to thrust into her walls while drinking in her juices as they dribble out of her.

 “Do you trust me?” The question is random to her and Aserla looks down to Zhongli who has stopped putting his tongue inside her to gain her consent for something. He presses a kiss to her folds, a soft one to her clit and her lips with another flick of his tongue.

 “Yes, of course I trust you.” Aserla worries this is about earlier, but her thoughts change when she sees him lower his mouth to another spot of hers. Her eyes go wide when she feels him kiss along the perineum going down till he has spread open her ass more and tests a run of his tongue along the hole there. She soon understands what permission he is asking for, and she blushes.

 “Are you sure you want to do that? Isn’t it a dirty spot?” Aserla asks him and is met with him running his tongue along the bridge between her pussy towards her ass. He looks unbothered by what he is doing and touches her to open her folds to see just how she is dripping wet.

 “It’s fine, you’re empty right now anyway and this is the best time to. We don’t have to if it weirds you out. I did want to try it with you.” Aserla looks at him as he kisses her thigh and mouths kisses along her to wait for her decision. She gives it thought and it does make her curious to explore these feelings with him and she can only find out if she dislikes it by doing it.

 “I trust you. One way to find out if I like or don’t like it.” Zhongli smiles to her before he inspects her for anything and is satisfied with how clean she is. He presses his tongue to the sensitive ring and begins to press into it. Aserla lets out a moan feeling him do this and already feels her folds leaking more as she does enjoy it. There is gentle prodding with his tongue till the sensitive muscle gives and his tongue pushes pass it.

 Zhongli keeps going till his wife can feel a steady sensation of his tongue moving in and out of her at a firm but gentle pace. She feels more aroused that she misses his hands slipping up to her breasts to squeeze them in his hands earning her voice echoing out. Aserla focuses on the sensation that feels good instead of the odd one of something wet and wiggling inside.

 “It feels… so different.” Aserla says as she holds back from an orgasm just yet. She feels more of her juices dribbling down while he keeps his attention on her like this. She doesn’t see the way he is pumping his cock listening to her moan and writhe from what he is doing.

 Aserla soon feels him withdraw his mouth and immediately grabs some water to clean his mouth to prevent any smells she dislikes or transferring something to the other spot. Zhongli pushes his fingers back into her pussy fully and works his wife into a heated frenzy while he moves up her torso. He places a kiss to her neck before he reaches next to them for two specific things he needs for her. The first being a condom he glides that onto himself after fitting it just right and the second is a vial of sweet smelling oil.

“Do you have any objections to trying anal?” He leaves it up to her, and Zhongli begins to coat his fingers with the oil along with drizzling a good amount of it onto her vagina and ass letting the warming effect make her sensitive. He’ll use the condom in either spot to keep their preference for no children right now secure.

 “I’ll try it, I like what you are doing so far.” Zhongli smiles to her as he slips his fingers into her ass with mild resistance. His toying with her from his mouth did help loosen her, but he takes good care to properly stretch her knowing his penis is a lot larger than his tongue and fingers.

 Aserla takes in a breath of air feeling him push his fingers into her and moans out as a result of the pressure she feels. She holds still feeling his free hand move onto her pussy to rub her clit and pump his fingers into her to get her to relax better. Another moan sounds out when he adds a second then a third and begins to move those fingers around in her ass to get her use to the sensation.

 “Good girl. Very good girl. You’re taking them well. Does it feel uncomfortable and pain at all?” Zhongli checks on his wife and is greeted to her eyes pleading for more and mouth parted as she pants.

 “No pain, just feels strangely full and familiar.” Blue eyes regard his amber eyes seeing them light up almost glowing with how proud of her in trying out these things with him. Zhongli soon withdraws his fingers and cleans them off after applying that oil to his erection. He glides himself into her and hears her breath hitch from the stretch he causes.

There is an exhale from him at how she feels around him and gold eyes regard her as he holds still to let her adjust much like when he first took her. Zhongli rubs his hands on her body to feel her, she’s a vision of health to him and seeing her take him in different ways makes him excited to see how much he can get her to enjoy on their path to sexual exploration.

“Good. It means I prepared you right.” Aserla feels him slide further till he’s centered to her and he can’t go any further. He only goes to a certain point to not cause her pain or discomfort. He moves slowly in rhythmic motions to keep her heightened.

“I feel like I am ready… I still don’t know what to make of this. It feels different.” Zhongli regards her and moves to embrace her to get her to follow him to lay her down on the warm tiled floor. He lifts her hips towards his and glances down to see how he’s seated inside of her this way. Stretched a bit more than he thought she would, he begins to pull back then moves back in. His thrusts are slow but he is in heaven with how tight she is and how she squeezes at the intrusion.

“Does it feel good?” Zhongli asks her hoping she is getting pleasure from this at all. He keeps his movements doing long and slow draw backs then push ins. He sees her eyes go wide as she relaxes and gets use to the feeling. He slips his fingers along her pussy to rub her clit along with pressing his fingers into her curling them towards her belly. He can feel the slide he does inside but he focuses on pleasuring her.

“I do feel good. I, AH!” Aserla’s thoughts leave her when he bumps into her g-spot with his fingers and combined with his thrusts into her ass it creates a sensation of pleasurable heat down her spine that makes her legs shake. She feels him thrust a lot faster seeing her starting to enjoy it thoroughly and moan wantonly.

“There we go! That’s my girl. Just “feel” me. Endure it a little longer my love. I’ll make you feel really good here when your body stops tensing up.” He hints for her to relax and Aserla isn’t sure how she is suppose to relax. Zhongli drops his gaze from his wife’s face towards her pussy and sees how she is trying to clench on anything while she dribbles more of her juices down to make it more fluid in his movements into her.

Aserla soon lets go and the moment she relaxes he slides in deeper and her voice comes out in a cacophony of cries and moans as she loses her control of herself. She feels good to the point her moans are sweet and erotic as they fall from her lips. Zhongli sees the transformation of uneasiness into pure pleasure on her face and he is enjoying himself seeing her lost to pleasure.

“You look so good.. you feel good around me. My love… we’re not done after this.” He murmurs into her ear as he leans over her to embrace his wife in his arms. He uses the position to make her a little tighter to himself and hear her scream his name as he promised he’d make her do. She babbles incoherently as she feels tears of pleasure fall from her eyes. She has never felt anything like this and begins to get more specific in her moans as they change in pitch to signal she is close to her first orgasm.

“Let go whenever you are ready to. I look forward to seeing you be undone and cum for me.” Zhongli murmurs into his beloved’s ear till she squirms. He raises up a lot more so he can press his fingers back into her slick folds and pumps them to his hips. His free hand keeps her folds open so he can rapidly rub her clit. He keeps her teetering on edge and hears her babbling again as she lets go.

“Such a beautiful woman. There you go… just like that.” Amber eyes watch his wife as she reaches her orgasm and squirts out her juices from the combined pleasure of his fingers teasing her and his cock burying deep into her ass to feel her twitching. He is satisfied with spreading her open to watch the small spot where her fluids spray from with enjoyment in his lips at seeing such a sight before him.

Aserla feels her senses gone and barely feels him as he came shortly after her. He tugs the condom off and sits back to look at his wife completely debauched and panting from the way she feels all tingly and like the best sensations. He inspects her to be sure he didn’t hurt her, or caused any unpleasant things to happen to her.

Zhongli strokes himself as he wants her again and feels himself getting addicted to her. He leans over her to kiss her deeply and get her to respond to him. He presses soft kisses to her face and murmurs in her ear to try and get a conscious response. Aserla feels her senses coming back and feels an ache in her core like she is still unsatisfied.

 “May I love? Be inside you? I can’t stop at just that my dear. I need you. I see that look in your eyes. You want it too?” Zhongli nearly pleads with her and Aserla nods she meets him for the kiss and starts to return his kisses as she gives her consent to him.

 “Please! One more!” Aserla is kissed again as the former archon pushes inside of her and sighs with relief at feeling her wet heat around himself. He thrusts with ease and keeps going with her. She is intensely wetter than he recalls her being when he used his mouth on her earlier. She feels good around him and he focuses on thrusting deep and in long but fast rhythms. He hears her soft pants and moans as she is dizzy with pleasure feeling the way he thrusts into her like it’s all that mattered.

“Zhongli! Zhongli! Please! I feel so hot!” Aserla’s eyes lock onto his, they’re glossy from the tears she has, and he kisses her again till he has her in the throes of ecstasy again. He tugs her hips up to allow himself deeper almost like he’s trying to be at a specific spot inside of her. She keens out again and he feels the gush of another squirt against his abdomen along with the delicious way she clenches around him causing him to fill her womb with his cum in a breathed sigh and moan of his own.

They remain together for a little longer till Zhongli feels she needs her aftercare started. He pulls from her and enjoys the sight of the strand of cum connecting them. He smirks to himself at seeing her full of it and for now knows it won’t take from the tea he gave her earlier to prolong their wedded bliss longer.

“You did good my love. Just lay there and I’ll take care of you.” Zhongli presses another kiss to his wife before setting her down onto the heated floor. He sits back to regain his own strength while she pants and moans softly from her body feeling everything he did to her. She is trembling from aftershocks and still babbling incoherently. He chuckles and pets through her damp hair to give her a sensation of being petted. He even draws her over to him and rests her head on his lap so he can comfort her. His fingers through her long brownish blonde hair and admires how she has a lot of strength for someone so tiny.

 Zhongli leans down to kiss her face then begins to clean her body up. He focuses on her waist with cleaning her from the oil he used to making sure she hasn’t done more than her orgasm. He smiles to himself as he prepares a wash for her with silk flower essence to make the soap he uses on her linger longer. He’s thorough in his care and gives her kisses when she asks for them. He runs cooler water on her privates to get her to relieve herself for her health. He keeps a mental checklist of what her body needs to do to maintain its health along with his own.

He cleans himself up after securing her comfort letting her enjoy the cooler tiles from spending too long on the heated ones. He doesn’t do his usual routine with his hair not needing to this round. He just washes his form with the same sandalwood solution he used for her. Zhongli dries both of them off and picks her up to take her to their bed to lay her down on a towel at her waist for now.

 Aserla sighs as she feels good and focuses on basking in the afterglow of pleasure. She laughs and curls closer to him when he lays next to her. The back of Zhongli’s fingers touching her cheek with affection. He kisses her face while she cuddles in close to his arms.

“That felt amazing… I didn’t know it’d feel that good to…” Aserla feels her thoughts returning and smooths her hands onto his chest. A soft scoff comes from him and he presses his teeth against her neck earning a squeak out of her. Gold eyes glow in amusement towards her and he leans his head onto one of his hands watching her. Zhongli smirks towards her and kisses her cheek again.

“Like I’d make it hurt for you. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I only want you to feel good. You looked beautiful.” There is a shared look between them as they’ve only spent the last few days learning each other, and the last twenty-four hours married and chasing each other for pleasure.

 “You looked handsome.” Zhongli grins a bit hearing her say that then leans in to nuzzle her face with his own. He breathes in her scent to nibble on her neck then cheek. He takes her into his arms and holds her tighter.

 “Now you’re being cute.” Aserla giggles while held in his arms against him. She moves her head to rest her chin on his shoulder. She pulls back and meets his eyes in that soft gaze they have for each other. They share a meaningful kiss that has him bringing her underneath him to hold her.

“I love you.” Aserla says to him and feels a gentle kiss on her ear as he smiles into it.

“And I love you too.” Zhongli says to her, he caresses her face while seeing her look up into his face with that tired expression from the exertion they both used.

 “When do you have to return to work?” Aserla breaks the silence after what felt a while of just listening to each other breathe.

 “Let’s see… I believe day after tomorrow. I could push it one more day. If you would feel lonely without me.” A twist of his lips earns a blush out of her and she buries her face into his chest.

 “Why do you ask?” She looks up at him as he pries to wonder about his work schedule. He runs his hands on her back to feel how soft her skin is.

“I remembered you said you took five days off work so you could sort things out. If this was a success or not. I might feel lonely.” Aserla puffs her cheeks from his words.

 “Oh? What is on your mind?” His hands cup her face to get her to look up at him. Zhongli regards his wife’s face with interest to try and read her demeanor as they settle down together.

 “Just… most newlyweds go on a honeymoon. I’d like to go somewhere with you.” A soft chuckle escapes him as she keeps surprising him. He smiles towards her and leans in and kisses her again softly.

 “Where would you like to go? Anywhere in Liyue that has your attention? I know of many places we can visit. Luhua Pools could be a romantic getaway.” Zhongli is already looking forward to showing her the different places that hold meaning to him.

 “I would like to go there.” Aserla has heard stories about the pools being pretty and she has the best guide ever to take her to all the secret locations throughout Liyue itself. Zhongli smiles more to her as he cards his fingers through her hair to get her to relax more around him. He does think about her suggestion to a proper honeymoon. All he has to do is tell Hu Tao he’s going on one of his excursions. He has no other obligations and she is aware of his new marriage .

“Then it would be my honor to take you there and maybe show you what lays underneath the structures.” Zhongli speaks as if he knows secrets no one else is privy to. Aserla rests her head into his hand when he cups the side of her face. He is enamored by her soft features and thankful she is a calm and quiet spirit, matching his own.

Aserla feels her eyes getting heavy from laying there with him and being petted by him. Zhongli notes that she is falling asleep again and blows on her face to keep her awake with him. He doesn’t want to see her eyes close yet and does small annoyances to keep her eyes on him.

 “Not yet. Stay with me.” Gold eyes regard her blue ones as she tries to stay awake after all the exertions and comfort she feels around her. There is a hand exploring how soft her skin is and a smirk off his lips seeing how well her skin takes to the silk flower essence. His lips find the dip next to her neck to leave a love bite there. Aserla feels her tiredness winning out what he wants and much to his chagrin she can’t stop from drifting into that sleep as it claims her.

“Perhaps I did tire you out today.” The former archon muses as he continues to travel over her skin. Feeling the curves of her body resting them around her and tugging her into his own form. It is late and he acknowledges she has yet to gain that kind of stamina. He has boundless from his years of war and staying awake night and day because of the need to. He relents on his wife and lets her sleep.

 “You are my most precious gem to me.” Zhongli murmurs into her neck while tracing his symbol over her heart as his way to bless and protect her while she does drift off. He listens to her soft breathing and is done with his exploration of her; preferring to do that while she is conscious to enjoy her embarrassed remarks.