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[leaveofabsence]

[ The default voicemail message greets you. ]

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[leaveofabsence]

To be honest, I have not given it much thought until now. And my first impression is it is not something I require. The feelings I have for you and the experiences we have shared - they are unique and irreplaceable. I will not care for another as I care for you, Tartaglia.

But may I pose the question to you in return - do you want to be exclusive?

[childeishly]

[ flushes at the use of his name. ] …you’re such a sweet talker, Xiansheng. [ kisses the cheek closest to him while reaching across to cup the other. ]

[ feels a sudden spike of jealousy, though it’s directed at nothing and no one. ] I… don’t know. [ he knows. ]

[leaveofabsence]

If you find that it is something you desire, please let me know. I also do not wish to hurt you.

[childeishly]

It makes me selfish, doesn’t it, to want you all for myself… and that’s not fair to you. [ he might not care about being selfish if not for what zhongli had said moments ago… how he’s fine with childe having multiple partners if he goes that route. ]

[leaveofabsence]

You are correct. It is not fair if one of us is allowed to have other partners and the other is not. So we should decide together if that is what we want for both of us.

But.

I do not wish to dismiss your feelings either.

Is there something else I can do for you?

[childeishly]

…[ digs his fingers into zhongli’s front. ] We should, but… but after, maybe, because I… I need you right now. Are we almost at the dorms, w- what’s taking so long? I feel like I’m going to melt… or maybe vaporize. [ because hydro. ] But I don’t need anybody else, Xiansheng, you’re all I need. All I want. [ paws are and continues to babble and whine. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[ Zhongli does his best not to laugh at how endearing Childe is being. This precious easily-distracted boy. How can he not smile at how earnest he is? ]

I believe the elemental reaction you are looking for---

[ He says so casually as he attempts to twist their positions to press Childe's back flat against the Exuvia with Zhongli flush up against his front. He leans down further to steal a quick kiss. ]

--is crystalize.

We're almost there.

[ As the hotel and more importantly Heart Soldier's balcony starts coming into view. ]

Just be patient a little longer.

[childeishly]

[ childe grunts, distracted, and therefore not able to put up much of a fight. zhongli can easily pin childe to the exuvia, his laughter muffled in response to that silly remark. crystallize, ha! he squirms in place, lifting his hips up into zhongli's in an attempt to get him to lose a little control. ]

...I'm running out of patience, Xiansheng.

1/2

[leaveofabsence]

[ If by lose control, Childe meant that he can see Zhongli's eyes visible darken as their hips are dragged together, gaze drifting down Childe's body in a way that is wholly disrespectful.

Seems like he is not the only one running out of patience. ]

[leaveofabsence]

Ah.

Here we are.

[ And Zhongli snakes an arm around Childe's waist to roll them both off the dragon and onto the balcony. ]

[childeishly]

[ that looks alone is almost enough to spur an immediate climax, but childe manages to hang on to the smallest shred of control and resist. ]

Finally. [ his relief is palpable, though there’s not much time to relish in it as zhongli rolls them off the Exuvia and onto the balcony floor. ]

[ childe grunts, but a smile spread across his face, reaching his ears, as his own gaze darkens. ] Are we going to do it right here, Xiansheng?

timeskip.

[childeishly]

[ and then much later…! ]

[ he feels a little better, soreness aside, the urge to throw himself on a dick having been mollified. ]

[ childe untangles himself from zhongli and sits up, combing his fingers through his hair. ]

[leaveofabsence]

[[ Thread move ]]

[ Childe doesn't go too far before Zhongli wraps an arm around Childe's waist, nuzzling into his side before looking up at him through his own messy hair. ]

Tartaglia. . .

[childeishly]

[ looks down at him, cracking a small smile. it’s so rare to see him looking anything but prim, proper, and put together. ]

[ sets a hand on zhongli’s head and starts fixing his hair as best he can. ]

Zhongli Xiansheng looks cute like this.

[leaveofabsence]

[ Zhongli smiles up at Childe as well, fingers brushing over the curve of his hip as he traces ancient symbols and characters over the skin. ]

I am relieved that you are back.

I have not had a chance to say that to you properly.

[childeishly]

[ his hand freezes for a moment, but then goes right back to fixing zhongli’s hair. ]

Nothing here can keep me gone forever. I’ll always come back. [ hopefully… ]

[leaveofabsence]

Then I suppose I will just have to learn patience so that you can do the things you need to do when you're away.

[ He tugs a little on Childe's waist, trying to ease him back to bed. ]

I still have many questions if you feel like talking.

[childeishly]

… [ looks a little confused. perhaps he misunderstood the question. ]

[ follows. ]

We can talk.

[leaveofabsence]

[ He waits until Childe is comfortably settled next to him before he speaks again ]

Did I say something strange?

[childeishly]

Ah, no, it’s… nothing. What did you want to talk about?

[leaveofabsence]

[ Running a hand through Childe's hair to brush his bangs out of his face ]

About both things you mentioned earlier. What happened to you after you met the mother of monsters.

And what you want out of this relationship now that the effect of the corruption has dulled at least a little.

[childeishly]

…oh. [ hn. he’s not too keen on talking about the first thing. ] I suppose I just wanted to take things more seriously… which is why I had asked if you wanted to date in the first place. [ relationships like this are new to him… ]

What are you interested in getting out of this?

[leaveofabsence]

Your companionship in whatever ways you are comfortable in offering it. It is a selfish request really...

[ As his fingers trace over the curve of Childe's ear and down his neck. ]

You were the first of many things for Zhongli. First friend and closest companion back in Liyue. First kiss and first person I have lain with here.

I suppose I just continue to want to explore many new things with you and get to know you better. To be a permanent part of your life for as long as you will have me.

[childeishly]

…I think it’s infinitely more selfish to ask you to be mine and mine alone. [ a halfhearted laugh as he leans into the touch. ]

And a lot of that is true for me too, Xiansheng. Even back home I didn’t have many friends. [ no friends, actually, but that sounds incredibly pathetic, but following his return from the abyss he did nothing but cause trouble, so most people tried to steer clear. ]

But this is the first, ah, real relationship I’ve ever had, so I just want to make sure I do things right. But, yes, I’d like that too - and maybe you can share things from your time as the Geo Archon. And I’d still like to fight you sometime, Xiansheng.

[leaveofabsence]

Of course. I would enjoy both of those things.

[ And he smiles warmly in return as Childe leans into his touch ]

Childe, you are doing everything right. And I am truly honored to be your first. You have been kind and charming and endearingly patient with me. But please - know that the feelings I have are because of who you are, not about what you can do for me.

And I want to ensure that you are happy, too, with this arrangement.