#tlotw

They dance eagerly through the air, flying with and around each other. Zhongli does his best to mirror Xiao’s dance, lacking corresponding sky-borne dances of his own to respond with – Xiao calls out joyfully and performs more and more aerial acrobatics around him – almost as though this was the correct response. A wonder and a delight, to have Xiao openly express his love and desire – publicly! So publicly! – Zhongli must return the sentiment in kind, and with interest. He croons his request through the air to Xiao, who sings ebulliently in response. Yes, yes, that would be possible. Almost, Zhongli swoops near enough to twine with Xiao in mid-air – but he restrains himself. There will be time for that. For now... for now, there is proper honour that must be done for Xiao.

When, at last, they finally heed their physical weariness and land, there is a crowd. The adepti and yakshas have gathered, as well as some of the bolder humans who had cooperated with Xiao before, or who worked in Morax’s administration of Liyue. All are smiling, cheering even. Azhdaha is there as well, an enormous smile spread across his face, standing right in front of the crowd with Bosacius, Indarias, Menogias and Bonanus beside him. A little further off in deference to their dislike of crowds – the adepti guardians of Jueyun Karst, Zhongli’s students, are there too. Azhdaha strides forward to welcome the both of them back, grinning as he says, “Had a good flight?”

Zhongli refuses to blush. “A very excellent flight, yes, thank you.”

“And, perhaps, you and your lovely Xiao have an announcement or two?” Azhdaha presses onward teasingly as Zhongli turns to look at Xiao, who nods shyly. He turns back to Azhdaha, “A happy announcement... yes. We will be... adding a specific addendum to our mutual contract.”

Azhdaha nudges him, amused, “What addendum?”

Zhongli raises an eyebrow. “An addendum of marriage, naturally.” 

He turns to the crowd, and addresses those he requires within it. “Ping, please calculate and provide me with a selection of suitable dates. And I wish to meet the representatives of the craft associations within.... Hm, within the next three hours. And the member of the administration who is responsible for preparations for festivities, as well. Azhdaha, my friend, it would give me great pleasure if you are also present as witness and master of ceremonies.”

A wild cheer goes up around them, and the crowd sweeps them into the palace in a wild, ebullient throng of overjoyed people.

Hours later, in the study, Zhongli meets those whose aid he will likely require. The textile guild representative, still smiling from ear to ear, takes the initiative to ask, “What do you need or desire, my lord? Are we to prepare wedding garments? Is there a particular colour or pattern that adepti consider appropriate –”

Zhongli clears his throat. The guild representative checks herself, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Kindly, he speaks to divert attention from her, “Your enthusiasm is most appreciated, but I have... prerequisites.”

“Anything that my lord desires, we will certainly do our best to fulfil.”

“Provide suitable examples of skill from all of your guild, and from others who would desire to contribute. Ah. Those with experience with... the sort of embroidery preferred for weddings, are preferred. And those with a delicate hand with the needle. And choose you well those with skill that you would desire to bring to my attention.” Zhongli reminds severely. He has several excellent tailors in mind, but it doesn’t hurt to see if there was anyone he’d missed out in his quiet walks through Liyue during times of peace. Xiao leans quietly against him, seeming to doze, and Zhongli cannot help the fond smile that spreads across his face, or the tender touch through Xiao’s hair. Ah, how fair and lovely his beloved bird is, fit to shame the moon and stars for glory and elegance... A soft clearing of the throat draws his attention away, and Zhongli turns his mind towards the minutiae of planning of ceremonies. Xiao had told him, as they flew earlier, that anything Zhongli arranged was fine – but it would hardly be a fitting ceremony if Xiao could not enjoy it. 

“No... public ceremony, my lord?” One of the humans asks very quietly, respectful of Xiao’s seeming doze. Zhongli shakes his head. “It would not be enjoyable for him, to have gawkers everywhere. But we also wish to respect Liyue’s desire to celebrate with us, and so... a public feast, and merry making, and I, at least, will make a public appearance. But the rites we will not publicise. Ah, and the celebratory foods... I will look over the menu suggestions personally – as far as is reasonable, the dishes should tend towards simple yet refined, without excessive fuss in the preparation or manner of eating. Sweet tastes are preferred, and nothing excessively rich or oily. And... Ganyu, let it be known that the appointed day will be a public holiday and day of rest for all. Now, for the next detail...”

Later, once the others have left and they are once more alone at last, Xiao kisses him shyly. “I... Zhongli, my apologies that I am not of more help in this –”

“You need not worry, my little bird.” Zhongli answers him fondly. “I have much more patience, even delight, in such details and matters than you do – I would rather not distress you by requiring that you participate closely in the planning of such events. The important part is our mutual commitment – what else would you like, beside the amendment of our contract to include our marriage? I said I would court and commit myself to you by whatever rites you desire – what is your desire, my Xiao?” 

Xiao blushes warmly under Zhongli’s gaze, and his wings shiver so cutely upon his shoulders as he fidgets, “I... you already did... part of it. The reciprocation of the courting dance. Though. If you would... would like... after the marriage contracts and rites are... are completed, I would like you to... to dance with me, again, from dawn until dusk. And then... then to... pursue me through the air.”

“And what shall I do then, after I pursue – and catch – you, my Xiao?” Zhongli asks with a purr. Xiao blushes even more brightly. “Then... have me, my lord, my... my beloved.”

Zhongli has to pause and make himself breathe calmly for a time to avoid prematurely ending their conversation. The very thought of what Xiao is asking for is... thrilling. “Then, I would like to ask that this... chase – the ending of it at least – take place in my domain. I would like the sight of your pleasure to be... utterly private.”

Xiao blushes so sweetly again. “I... I agree.”

The appointed day is clear and bright, the winds brisk and cooling amid the warm sunlight. A good omen, the people murmur. All of Liyue is buzzing with effervescent excitement, hardly able to contain themselves decorously. Their lord and god has a beloved! He has a loved one, and they are marrying! Oh, how wonderful!

Some exchange recent stories and tales passed down through generations from Liyue’s founding and before. Oh, that day, were you there? Did you see how that beautiful yaksha danced in the air for our lord and our lord alone? Their love is so true, so honest, so strong – may they share joyful eternities with each other!

My grandfather heard it from his grandfather who heard it from... anyway, it’s said that early in Liyue’s founding, there was an attack by that sea-god that now troubles Fontaine periodically – the harbour was nearly destroyed! They say that the Conqueror of Demons personally drove them away, and nearly died doing it! That... that our lord personally brought him to Jueyun Karst to be healed! Oh... do you think they were already....?

Pah, who knows? I know that they are almost never separated – whenever our lord goes out to war, so too must this yaksha go, or so goes the tales among the Millelith and exorcists!

And on, and on, and on, they share exuberant tales and stories of Morax, their Rex Lapis, their lord of rock and stone, and his consort-to-be, his beloved, the Conqueror of Demons. Some, a little more knowledgeable in the ways of certain of the adepti, whisper with blushes to their partners, That glorious sky dance the other day, the one where our lord took on dragon form to answer – that was a courting dance, maybe even a... a mating dance!

You disrespect the adepti!

It’s true! And... and our lord reciprocated it! The love and devotion they must share....

High above the joyful crowd, upon the peak of Tianheng, dressed in wedding finery, Xiao blushes to hear his title bandied about with such praise. “They praise me over much.”

Zhongli shakes his head fondly, and kisses Xiao on the crown of his head. “They praise you for the benevolent deeds you have done, which they or their ancestors have benefited from. My hawk, my lovely bird, if I thought you could bear it I would commission paens of praise of you and your deeds.”

“My lord!” Xiao protests, flushing crimson. Zhongli kisses him fondly again. “I know you would rather not. But accept the accolades you have justly earned, my love.”

Below, upon the terrace, the gong rings out loud and solemn, announcing the chosen hour, and they step gracefully down through the air, landing briefly amid the respectful crowd upon Yujing Terrace, before turning to enter the temple, for the portion of the rites and celebration which would be enacted here. 

Once that is done, they depart swiftly for Jueyun Karst, and there the adepti and Azhdaha’s people fete them, feasting joyously together with Zhongli and Xiao. 

After that, Azhdaha winks cheerily at Zhongli’s very nearly impatient face, and distracts the others before they can offer yet another round of toasts and well-wishes. Quietly, they slip away, and Zhongli takes the lead to bring them into his private domain. It opens up before them into a vista very much like the Jueyun Karst that Xiao had first come to know all those many years ago at Zhongli’s side, yet also reminiscent of Liyue as it is now. 

“Will this do?” Zhongli asks hopefully. Xiao turns to look at him, a smile on his face. “Yes. It will more than do. Is there a... a flower meadow here?”

“Several. Let me... let me bring you to one that I think will please you.”

Zhongli had hopefully shaped a few meadows among the mountains previously, and coaxed qingxin and other mountain blossoms to grow there. It is effort well worth it – Xiao sheds his wedding shoes and wades amid the flowers, gold eyes bright with delight. Slowly, ceremoniously, he lifts his arms about himself, and begins to dance amid the flowers, with only the rustling passage of the wind to accompany his dance. 

It is beautiful, Zhongli thinks, but it could be even more so – he asks the domain’s wind to blow a little more strongly, shapes the rocks and cliffs around them just so... Xiao dances on, and as he dances, as the wind curls playfully about him and whistles past the rocks and cliffs... the stone around them begins to sing, humming with the whistling song of the wind’s passage and thrumming in resonating echoes down to the deep cliffs that Zhongli had wrought. Xiao does not stop, but turns in his dance to smile joyously at Zhongli. My lord, you shape beautiful music.

It is but the bare minimum – you should have as much glorious music as you like to accompany your dance. I am no expert flautist – but to let the wind and the stone play their songs for you, that I can do.

Slowly, gradually, Xiao’s dance turns from demonstration of skill and capability, to a dance fit to evoke desire and longing. Unconsciously, Zhongli licks his lips, feels his shape slide from human to dragon. His mate, his beloved, dances to entice and call him – Zhongli will answer. He steps towards the meadow. Xiao, still dancing, looks up and smiles. Dances into a high, elegant leap, and at the apex of that jump changes form, taking to the air. Zhongli is after him in moments. 

As swift as he is in the air, Xiao is swifter and more agile still, elegantly demonstrating his mastery of air and flight, always just far enough ahead of Zhongli to whet their appetite for the chase. Zhongli lets Xiao play, for now. His is the greater stamina by far... and it was quite pleasant, indeed, to chase without any danger involved. Playfully, he tugs a cliff ahead to snarl the air currents for Xiao – Xiao simply soars through the tangle of wind as though there was nothing to it, slowing enough to playfully twirl his tail feathers at Zhongli. Ah, how delightful indeed... 

Eventually, as they both knew would happen, Zhongli’s greater stamina allows him to catch Xiao from the air. Laughing, they roll and tumble onto the ground, and Zhongli rears up, pinning his dear Xiao’s bird form beneath him. “Would you mind if I have you like this, Xiao?”

In answer, Xiao tips his head backwards, exposing his throat in silent permission. Zhongli bends his head down, and begins to explore this form of Xiao’s that he’d so seldom seen. His tongue on Xiao’s feathers is wet, but not particularly entertaining for Xiao, he notes. At certain places, though, the rasp of Zhongli’s tongue drew a most pleasing and tremulous whimper from Xiao. Lovely, how very lovely...

A soft, keening cry, and Xiao shudders beneath him with a whimper of pleasure, feathers ruffling – Good, he’s managed to coax a climax from him already. Xiao will need more, if they are to... carry out Zhongli’s rather heated idea. He bends his head, applying his tongue to more intimate parts. This might be easier, if Zhongli were willing to use toys and tools and constructs of stone, but ... for this moment, this unique night... Zhongli wants nothing but himself to prepare Xiao with. 

“My Xiao,” he rasps hungrily, “Tell me one more time you want me to take you like this.”

Xiao blinks at him. Whistles something that Zhongli can almost, almost understand, then blinks rapidly and tries again. His voice is... different, in this shape, higher, breathier, “I... my lord, my love, take me already!”

Zhongli obliges. Slowly, very, patiently, he lets the sexual organs of this form unsheathe. Xiao’s body is different like this, slightly larger, and Zhongli had only stimulated him once to orgasm to encourage him to relax enough – though being chased and caught was evidently enjoyable enough that Xiao is attempting to coax him to enter immediately. Zhongli takes his time anyway. This form is large, and not... easy – Azhdaha had commented fondly once that Zhongli’s dragon shape seemed to manifest some of his strong and vehement desires for his loved ones not to leave him. On more than one level. But if, if Zhongli took his time about it very carefully... it would also be very entertaining for Xiao. Very pleasurable, to go by the reactions of those few he’d trusted enough to attempt to couple in this shape. This was their night – he wanted Xiao to feel as good as possible.

The first few moments of entry are cautious, and Zhongli twines the rest of himself around Xiao in a coiling grip, caught in the furious desire to keep, to possess. And Xiao, though Zhongli knew very well that bird-adepti did not, generally speaking, share the same ... instinct to entwine, presses his own neck, his own wings and limbs around Zhongli, as though attempting to press their bodies together into one. Ah, but Xiao is so very warm, so very welcoming within, Zhongli cannot help but think, and he rocks himself deeper. Drags himself out, very slowly, delighting in the frustrated keen of pleasure from Xiao’s throat, before pushing himself in again, as deep as Xiao’s body can accommodate him. It feels so very good, and his next movements are less gentle, more certain – employing a little more force. Xiao bites him hard over the scales on his neck, beak nearly breaking through the scales to draw blood. “Stop holding... holding back and take me properly!”

He obliges gladly. Several slow, rocking thrusts later, Xiao trembles in his coils in the grip of orgasm, voice nearly cracking with his cries of pleasure as his wings and limbs thrash in spasms of pleasure. The delightful clenching of his body on Zhongli urges Zhongli’s own pleasure onwards, too, and he comes with a slow, trembling shudder of release. Delightful.  Moments later, Xiao’s body shivers with change around him, and Zhongli blinks open his eyes. What is his lovely bird doing? Xiao leans his head – his human form’s head – against Zhongli’s body, his arms wrapping tightly, his wings attempting to enfold both of them. Ah. Carefully, cautious of causing damage, Zhongli shifts his own form closer to human, too, and nuzzles his head against Xiao’s. 

This, too, was very nice, this cuddling of skin to skin and flesh to flesh. 

Eventually, Xiao murmurs in his ears, “Is my lord weary from his exertions?”

Weary? No, never, not as long as Xiao desired him – Zhongli nuzzles against him again. Xiao laughs softly, as though tickled by the motion, and whispers to him, “What we did was very enjoyable – can we do it again? Like this? Until... until daylight recalls us to the other things we have to do?”

 Of course. They can go as many times as both of them would like – they have time. At long last, they have proper time, in the peace that flows golden over the land. Xiao murmurs a sweet idea in his ears, and Zhongli agrees, taking him slowly, luxuriously, in a variety of positions and bringing Xiao to pleasure again and again, their partly-human forms twining insistently around each other. Kisses him slowly, tenderly – Xiao laughs with joy and returns his kisses with interest. They rest intertwined for long moments, desire still humming in Zhongli’s blood – in Xiao, as well, from the way his yaksha’s hands stroke Zhongli’s body, toy and fidget with his hair. 

“Perhaps...” Xiao murmurs softly, “In the open air, as well?”

“Of course.” Zhongli agrees, opening the way out of the domain. The air outside is sweet and calm, heavy with the scent of high mountain flowers – most of all the qingxin that Xiao favours. Below them, beyond them, across rolling plain, deep valley and high mountain, Liyue scrolls outwards, golden and at peace. Beautiful. Xiao sighs in his arms, breathing deeply of the wind that plays around them. “One more time, Zhongli? Before we take up our cares and duties again.”

“Liyue won’t need us forever.” Zhongli says thoughtfully. “One day, when they can stand on their own without me... without you... we too can retire and enjoy the peace in full. For now, Xiao... no one cries our names in need upon the wind. Let me share joy and solace with you, again.”

Beneath the light of the celestial atlas, with the wind singing about the mountains around them, they come together. 

In the afterglow, they exchange slow kisses as they lay back to observe the world at peace. Peace... Zhongli had not thought he would actually see it happen. Xiao sighs contentedly after a while. “Thank you, Zhongli.”

“For what?”

“For... more than I could have ever known to imagine, millenia ago, when... when you chose to spare my life, and bring me back with you.”

Zhongli rolls over to look intently at Xiao’s beloved face. “Then I, too, must thank you as well. Because you have also given me more than I could have known to imagine, when first we met.”