Chapter Text
In order for an Archon to remain fair and just they were stripped of every vice and bias ; emotions, loved ones. Strength smothered the need for it all and the Gnosis was the most powerful tie one could have in relation to Celestia without being a divine being appointed a seat high in the sky within their ranks.
Without it? Why, Zhongli was near mortal physically. His body would grow fatigued before the sun would set most evenings and he found a need for food growing more and more often. While it had helped that he had gotten a grasp on earning mora as any mortal did at work - at the funeral parlor - he found between bills and groceries, he had little left over. In the long run it was not so bad.
But today, he was starving and his wallet was empty. He was nearly nauseous with the feeling eating away at the inside of his stomach. What had been edible at home had been eaten, though much of it had been picked over and cleaned as though by an animal. He was usually better able to control himself, but the dragon inside seemed... restless as of late. It felt as though his entire body was rebelling against him for one reason or another. Had the gnosis been so vital to his existence?
Could he grow ill now? His skin seemed too warm in the light early morning breeze. It was early enough that there wasn't many people to worry about witnessing a display of weakness, but he wasn't entirely sure if that was good or not. If he succumbed to fever out here by himself, what would happen?
His muddled mind had allowed him to wander far from the safety of Liyue Harbor. Almost instinctively, he seemed to be heading somewhere. Following a scent in the air. Was it food? His stomach twisted in knots at the idea of being fed, at satisfying the hunger that had started to gnaw at even his bones. The heat was becoming unbearable and his hands wandered to the top buttons of his shirt. He pocketed his tie pointedly, fighting through the haze as best he could in his state. Logically he knew something was wrong, only he could not clear his thoughts well enough to figure out why.
Distantly, he was able to note the towering structure of Wangshu Inn. Was he going there? He did not recall being particularly interested in what they had on their menu, aside from the Almond Tofu his remaining Yaksha seemed to adore.
There was a clenching and unfurling in the lowest pits of his stomach and he keeled over with a stifled gasp, eyes wide as he pressed a hand over his abdomen. It... it hurt. If he'd not been so taken by pain and delirium, he would've marveled at the sensation.
He stumbled into the nearby ruins to lean against the fallen structures for support. There were noises nearby and he did his best to stay quiet. Treasure hoarders were rampant in this area, an acknowledgement he noted with guilt. They plundered and took and destroyed the last remaining memories of Guili plains as they chose, only for mora. It was for the best. It was good to let go of the past, and he had long since removed anything of personal value, and anything that was too advanced and dangerous for humans to possess.
He had no artifacts or mora to offer, nor much strength to fight, and therefore it would ill advised to be caught by them. Yet still, someone had noticed him, some chattering loud but unintelligible to his thoughts. Zhongli extended a hand and his polearm materialized in his hand as he pushed himself up as much as possible to defend himself. A sour scent reached him and though it were disgusting, his stomach fluttered at the idea of finally being full. Would he stoop so low to accept anything offered to him? He supposed not, for he would not be adverse to eating seafood if it would settle his need.
Ah. A hilichurl stood over him. It stared at him as another came to join it. Their bodies heaved unevenly and the scent grew overpowering. For some reason, he couldn't move, but thankfully they didn't seem interested in fighting. A clawed hand settled on his face and he subconsciously leaned into it, lashes fluttering at the coolness. There was more shuffling, more hands - more than only two hilichurls suggested - but his eyes were rolling in his head and he couldn't find the strength to open them again, lips parting as fingers poked inside.
And then there was a ferocious snarl, and the agitated chatter of the monsters. A gust of wind and then- the smell of snow's first fall and qingxin settled around him. He groaned, saliva pooling in his jaw and heat simmering in his stomach. He opens his eyes and meets near identical ones. It would be reasonable that he'd met Xiao so close to the place he took up residence in, but a distant part of him is still surprised. Another part says this is exactly what he wanted, what he was looking for, and that starving feeling only got worse.
There's an uncharacteristic snarl from the man that startled him out of his frayed thoughts. Though Xiao was one that avoided humans to the best of his ability, he had never been one to be outright rude. It was not in the nature of such a gentle being, even if that gentleness had been threatened and suffocated until it were just the faintest breeze on a sweltering day.
But Xiao seemed downright angry in this moment, face flush as he snatched at his arm and hauled him to his feet. "Why do you wander in heat?"
Heat? Ah. It clicks. A gnosis muted one's presentation as well, didn't it? And somehow, knowing what ailed him made it all the more worse.
Zhongli keened and the adeptus nearly allowed him to tumble back against the ruins, but he shifted to keep his hold with a hitch of breath to allow him to settle back without injury. The younger man seemed horribly confused by his own reactions, however minute they were. It was no wonder to Zhongli though. Human heats, no matter how strong, would always be mild in comparison to one of the divine. This body was fragile and weak but even if could not deny what he still was, and that was one of the adepti.
A startled whimper garnered his attention and when he looked over, Xiao had brought the long flowing sleeve of his left arm to his face as though it could staunch the scent no doubt sticking to the inside of his mouth and nose, coating his palate. Knowing Xiao - an alpha - was receptive to his scent made him mewl. The crotch of his pants his suddenly damp with a rush of slick that he swears is audible. The way golden eyes fall to his lower half in a mix of dismay and arousal only seems to prove his assumption. When he looked down, his legs were spread obscenely and the darker splotch on his pants was quite clear, soaked through already.
"Forgive me," his voice was muffled, ragged. Xiao reached out to renew his grip on his arm and tugged him forward with enough force that Zhongli lurched forward and into his chest. It was a testament to the man's strength that he did not tip or budge under his height nor weight, an arm coiling around his waist.
In what seemed like two quick steps, the wind had carried them to the top of Wangshu Inn. Not the highest most point like Xiao favored, but rather the reception area where the humans lurked. The woman behind the desk - alpha, but mixed harmoniously with the scent of an omega ; mated - jumped at their sudden appearance in alarm.
"Take him." Xiao all but begged, the quiver in his voice noticeable to even the mortal woman if her wide eyed look and hesitation was anything to go by. But she moved with practiced ease towards Zhongli, sweeping him up in her arms. Even though she was taken, his inner omega revolted at the smell of foreign alpha when he had his own so close, distress flooding the air.
Growling stirred up and the woman froze. Zhongli couldn't see as his thoughts were whiting out at the sound reverberating through his body. His thighs grew soaked with his own juices, squeezing his thighs together with a broken moan. Even before he had acquired the gnosis, a heat had never been so... wet. Was this the fate of missing nearly four thousand years worth of them? Perhaps that was why he still felt strangely coherent despite the fact his body was begging for nothing less than being spread out on the nearest surface and bred. His mind had grown accustomed to going without while his body was responding to sheer instinct.
"Xiao?" The woman's tone was grave. "Did you.."
He was becoming familiar with Xiao's whimpers. He craved them in fact, near grinding against the woman when they were graced with another. "No- I did not-" Xiao's voice was farther away as he'd fought to put distance between them and Zhongli smelled his own distress thickening in the air, squirming in the woman's arms until at last he was able to fear himself, standing on his own two wobbly legs.
There were dual curses at that and the woman reached for him again but he fought to focus his sights on the Conqueror of Demons teetering on the edge of the balcony as though he was preparing to flee. When their eyes met, he thought Xiao would leap then and there.
"Alatus.." Xiao froze, expression blank. Though as his last act as archon Rex Lapis had bestowed upon the adepti a dream in which whispered the promises of his safety, he had not at all visited them. It was for the best. They should be allowed the freedom he had granted for himself. The freedom to choose a path that was not dictated by himself or the lands. Just as Liyue did not need divine intervention, the adepti did not need Liyue to mold a life for them.
Xiao was half his age and looked every year of it in that moment, lips parted and eyes wide. His pupils were blown out, consuming soft marigold in lust. Drool was dripping from his lips because of his lengthening fangs forcing his lips apart. They must ache. Zhongli's own mouth ached, as well as his throat. He burned with a need that threatened to swallow him.
Yet he remained in control. His alpha was a sweet man, though many would be inclined to disagree. He was a loyal and devout follower and that would be their downfall. In no certain circumstances would he approach Rex Lapis with desires of the flesh. He would not taint his image of his own free will. No.. this would be Zhongli's duty to fulfil. To lead his greatest warrior just as he always had.
Xiao dropped to a knee before Zhongli or the innkeeper could speak, then the other, folding in half there on the floor to prostrate himself before the sudden arrival of his lord. It made Zhongli preen and wet, but his head turned towards the innkeeper with a snarl, knowing the alpha was witnessing something that any ordinary alpha would find humiliating. The woman took one glance at them, surprisingly unjudgmental, and made a quick retreat towards the stairs.
She stopped before she was entirely out of sight though, her gaze lingering more on Xiao than himself which made him want to take off with the man. No one should be allowed to see Xiao so vulnerable. "You are both willing?"
Willing? Of course. His own eyes shoot towards Xiao who was staring at him in uncertainty, though their gazes didn't meet. The man was shamed, the display an apology for having imprinted on someone like Zhongli- Rex Lapis. He thought himself undeserving of such an offer. "Yes," Zhongli said firmly, surprising even himself with the evenness of his voice. Xiao's gaze shot up to meet his then, then the innkeeper, and he swallowed audibly as he nodded, panting and shivering on the floor.
The woman left.
Zhongli was on him in a moment, dragging him up into a seated position and shoving him against the railing. "R...Rex Lapis... Master..?" Xiao panted against his throat wetly, arms and hands nowhere near him despite Zhongli's desires. He ground against the shorter man and felt a hard pressure twitching into his wet thigh. "Hngh... master you're-"
Lips collide and silence fell when Zhongli pressed his tongue into his mouth, coiling around his and coaxing him to play. Xiao near choked on the intrusion of serpents tongue but he didn't protest at all, only opening his mouth more to accept the plundering. Zhongli grabbed for his hands, guiding them to his body with a whimper when they hesitantly settled at the curve of his waist. Even through the layers of clothing he could feel the burning of the adepti's skin, but he wanted that on his own. Suddenly, clothes were too much. That hunger was back but he knew what it truly was now- the desire to be filled to the brim with cock and seed. It'd been so long. Had he ever had a real chance to experience such burning need?
His own hands wandered to his vest to unclasp it, simultaneously attempting to shrug off his coat. Xiao caught his stripping with a strangled noise and halted him, pulling away from the lip lock with a string of saliva.
"Master, wait, I-" He swallowed and Zhongli stopped, peering down at him searchingly. His eyes were hazy and focused between his legs. "We should not.. do this where prying eyes can see us. Come with me."
Xiao struggled to stand and when Zhongli's legs threatened to give out under him, Xiao took him into his arms as best he could before leading him up to the last level of the inn. There was no possible way there were any rooms on the roof━ but that did not mean there was no adeptus domain.
How they got there blended together as Zhongli's hands pawed over the slighter form in his grasp, lithe muscles twitching beneath his touch. How many centuries had passed where they had not even been in one another's presence? Zhongli didn't know, but his body seemed more than ready to make up for lost time.
There was no bed, or at least he gave Xiao no time to head anywhere before he simply forced him to the ground in the mist that coated the floor. Despite the fact he had a more than willing omega standing over him, Xiao seemed reluctant to make a move. His hands had curled against his chest as his hair fanned out around his face, staring up with wide eyes as Zhongli finally undid his vest and shed his coat unceremoniously. Perhaps another time he would be able to do this at his leisure, but he found himself impatient as he watched the way Xiao ogled every inch of exposed skin as it was revealed.
Pleased by the reaction, Zhongli loosened his belt and unbuttoned his pants before shimmying it down his hips and legs. Xiao's gaze immediately zeroed in on the way slick clung to the crotch of his pants from his pussy, lips parted with a sharp breath. Adapting his form in this manner made it easier to pick clothes, but Zhongli supposed it would be surprising given the rest of his vessel. He paid it no mind as he stepped out of each pants leg and resisted the urge to fold them, instead dropped down into Xiao's lap. Immediately the adeptus was bucking up against him with a hiss, hands flying to his hips. It was clearly instinct for in the next moment, Xiao was snatching his hands away and squirming, large fangs biting into his lip until it bled.
"Xiao... what are you doing?" He brought a hand to cup the man's cheek, peering down into his face with a small frown. Xiao sucked in another sharp breath, eyes narrowing. It was then that Zhongli noticed he was purposefully breathing through his mouth. Was he really trying to resist such an open invitation? "Do you believe I have chosen incorrectly?"
Those golden eyes fall away from his own immediately. Though Zhongli had shed his title, he would adapt it once more for the comfort of his future mate. "You doubt my decision? Hush now." Xiao's gaze snapped back, lips parting with excuses before Zhongli pressed his gloved thumb into his mouth, pressing down on his tongue. "Do you think it so strange that I want you? Why do you consider yourself unworthy?" He ground his bare cunt against the covered bulge of Xiao's cock, relishing in the way his eyes rolled up into his head and he sucked around his thumb. "Have I done something to make you see yourself so lowly? My greatest warrior and friend, you have fought in the name of Liyue for countless centuries. Is this not a badge you wear with honor? I see it as nothing less."
Hands scrambled mindlessly at his waist, hips bucking against him and he found his own lashes fluttering closed at the feeling of heat wedging his folds apart, pulsing even through the fabric and sending shockwaves of pleasure through him. He looks down, seeing tears in Xiao's eye and he quickly pulls his hand away from his mouth, gripping his shoulder and leaning over him in concern.
"Master--" It's graveling and strained, like he's forcing himself back as much as possible. The grip at his hips grows significantly tighter, almost painful. "Master I cannot taint you-"
A smooth chuckled rumbles through him and Zhongli curves to press their lips together. Xiao keens and leans to chase after him when he pulls away after the chaste peck. "There is nothing you can do or have done that I have not done myself, Xiao. Karmic debt does not chain only you. The divine are not exempt from retribution. Here and now, this is something I desire. It has nothing to do with duty. Do you share this sentiment?"
With his chest heaving and eyes wild, Xiao is a vision. Usually coiled so tightly and reserved, he is most beautiful like this. Feeling so freely. There was a reason he was graced with an Anemo vision, after all.
That said, it should not have come as a surprise that the adeptus suddenly lunges and usurps him. He's slammed on his back and then rolled onto his front without a moment wasted. Opportunity presented, Zhongli shifts with his elbows to his chest and up on his knees to present his dripping core. Xiao's resulting whine makes slick dribble out of him. There's the erratic clinking of gold against gold and Zhongli realizes it's the ceremonial artifacts around Xiao's waist only after heat pushes against him. He groaned throatily, thoughts zeroing in on the nudging against his entrance. It's big, unnaturally so surely. The head catches against his pussy and he shifts his legs further apart desperately, shifting his arms apart so that he can peer underneath himself.
He is large ; thick and twitching in his own small hand. Xiao's swollen and red and drooling pre-cum from the tip, likely creating a puddle beneath them obscured by the mist. Like this, Zhongli can watch him tremble as he presses between his folds, rubbing their juices together and gliding over his clit in a way that makes him moan in need. Was more encouragement necessary?
It was not, for the bulbous head drifts back against his opening and pushes. His body strains, but eventually it can no longer resist and the cock breaches his hole. Already he feels far too full, gasping and shaking. He feels himself still spreading as Xiao nudges deeper, whimpering somewhere above him. Finally there's some give and with a whoosh of air from his lungs, his cunt folds around the entire head, closing snugly around it. He shakily brings a hand to his stomach, chest heaving at the tension throughout his body.
"More, Xiao, ah-" He drove his hips back and felt the shaft cleave him apart, eyes fluttering at the feeling of every pulsing vein dragging over his inner walls. It felt so good. Thick and heavy, stretching his pussy wantonly until he was trembling around the girth. Xiao hiccups, thrusting forward until he nearly hilts inside. He's split open and stuffed, drooling over the floor as Xiao's pace begins choppily. It's like he's sawing into him, rearranging his insides and making himself home in his insides.
Even though Xiao is still fully clothed - he can feel his pants against the back of his thighs and the vajra grazing over his spine - the heat between them is suffocating. He's melting as Xiao stirs him up sloppily, wetly, their spillage frothing up around his hole. The cock left him and Zhongli found himself growling before it dragged up between his folds. It took him a moment to understand Xiao was gathering up their juices━ and then he was fucking it back into him, pushing it back inside so nothing would go to waste. Was Xiao going to breed him?
An answer comes soon enough in the form of Xiao speaking shakily. "Master... I-I'm unworthy...your body..." Hands roved over him like he was a sacred treasure, making Zhongli twitch and tremble. "Y-You are giving it to me ... I will not disappoint you. I will promise to fulfil you... your heat, I will satisfy it... I will not stop until you are sated and full." Pleasure flows through him at such a sincere promise, a blossom of affection swelling in his chest as his cunt gushed his own praises.
"Xiao... breed me." A hitch of breath and then Xiao renewed his thrusts. They were long and deep as he pulled out to the tip and slammed home, Zhongli's passaged massaging and welcoming him with each roll of his hips. This was truly grand... to submit to his instincts was truly the mortal experience, wasn't it? To become a warm and soft open hole for his alpha to fuck seed into, so his stomach would round out with child.
"M-Master-- your words-" The man whimpered in embarrassment and Zhongli had not even realized he'd been voicing his dreams.
Instead of replying he only shoved his hips backwards- and then yelped as something in his stomach lurched and rolled. Despite the shock of pain, his clenching and quivering around his cock only seemed to spur Xiao on.
Xiao grinded slickly at their connection and Zhongli mewled, eyes rolling in his head as his body spasmed in pained pleasure. The head of Xiao's cock repeatedly nudged against something soft and fleshy inside his belly that threatened to give way. Zhongli twisted against the Yaksha's hold and instinctively tried to curl away from the onslaught to his insides but Xiao, lost in rapture, merely growled and pressed his teeth into his nape as he curled his fingers around the curves of his hips and yanked him back to the root of his cock as he shoved forward. Zhongli's head was thrown back with a cry and widened eyes as he pushed into his belly.
"M-Master... master..." Xiao's hands drifted from his sides to his front where his cock now bulged out of the ex-Archon's stomach. It was obscene and his touch was shaky but he can't help but press down against his own protrusion, jumping nervously as Zhongli whined and writhed. His walls spasmed violently against the intrusion and it just made Xiao whimper with uncertainty. "I'm inside... your womb?"
It was true. Brutal thrusts had cleaved his innards open until Xiao found home in his deepest most intimate parts. All Zhongli could do was gasp and shake, thoughts frayed by the sensations of being invaded so carelessly. Seeing how out of it the man was, Xiao fought to retreat but that second entrance clamped around him so tightly that he instinctively jerked forward, hips connecting. A chain reaction was set off, Zhongli bucking back into him with a broken groan and Xiao keening before rutting into him madly.
The rolling of his hips turned savage, jackrabbiting against the plushness of Zhongli's ass until wet slaps echoed up from between them. He forced in and out of his cervix - kissing the bruised walls of his womb - with each push like it was easy, like he belonged that deep, until there was nearly no resistance left. He seemed to be trying to find a way even deeper by how desperate he was to thrust back inside every time he pulled out, but Zhongli faired no better. His insides hugged to his cock as though he could not survive without Xiao fucking into his stomach, globs of his own juices and pre-cum dripping generously from his pussy every time Xiao's cock pushed it out and left room for nothing else but himself. It's sloppy, gooey, and loud. Loud enough to smother Xiao's pitiful keening and growling, but not enough to overpower the unintelligible moans and gasps that punch free from Zhongli's chest every time the boy seats himself inside.
Zhongli orgasmed blindly and Xiao fucked him through it unevenly, tearing a harsh sob from him. He felt so unbearably full, swearing he was choking on the adepti's girth from how far inside he pressed. He was almost too full, full of cock and pre-cum that smeared his insides with syrupy white and left no room for denial that he was thoroughly being claimed. Xiao scrambled at his hips and hiked them even higher as he stood to the point Zhongli's face dropped onto the floor and his knees lifted off the ground, plunging deep enough Zhongli did choke and gag with nothing to grab for purchase. The younger man muttered something unintelligible, lost between clicks and growls and a distorted purr that Zhongli could feel shaking through his bones.
"Master, master━" He chanted like a devout follower at the altar, breathless and reverent as though he were not debauching God at their throne. His devotion was clear in every thrust, how he sought to drive Zhongli impossibly mad with pleasure. "M-Master, so good-"
Zhongli reached back blearily, curling a hand around the wrist of one of the hands digging into his waist. "X-Xiao-" his voice stuttered into a whimper, lashes fluttering as he could feel his insides grow wetter with pre-cum. He was nearly distressed by the idea- how much would Xiao actually cum? "Y-You're doing so well━ you have al-always done so well, haven't you?" Zhongli felt how Xiao shivered against him before his eyes rounded out as the adeptus hunkered down over him.
Hands shoved his shoulders further against the ground and something wet dribbled over his spine, too thick to be tears and the angle wasn't extreme enough to be coming from himself. He shortly deduced it to be drool, quivering and blearily trying to peer over his shoulder. Xiao was on edge, that was clear, lips forced apart by fangs too big for his mouth, saliva dripping from his chin and pupils blow wide until soft marigold had nearly been snuffed out by lust. "Zhongli..." His own name made him jerk, surprised.
Xiao seemed oddly calm as he reached for Zhongli's wrists, one in either hand, and yanked them behind the man. His back arched, pushing his ass back further into Xiao until he gurgled and twitched around his shaft. Xiao clicked his tongue in a strange way he was sure was meant to be soothing.
It worked little, for Zhongli felt his heart clench at the engorged flesh nudging between his folds. A knot. Xiao's knot. Already it was far too big, was it meant to be bigger? "Ah... Zhongli..." Xiao's grip on his arms grew tighter and suddenly he was tugging him back. Zhongli's stifled a gasp, feeling his opening strain further around the offering. "Y-You... shouldn't have said anything..." The man sounded small, embarrassed, but his relentless pressing was sharp and contradictory. Zhongli couldn't even speak, jaw dropped as the too large knot pushed and pushed until all at once, his cunt swallowed the swollen flesh with an obscene squelch.
A gurgle is all that comes out of him, stuffed full of cock and knot and stomach bulging around the offerings. The first pulse of cum creams him thoroughly, coating his womb generously in warm seed that made his toes curl and his eyes roll at the feeling. The second drenches him, spilling out into his passage and filling up any crevice around Xiao's cock. With the knot, there's nowhere else for cum to go and his stomach bloats as he writhes and gasp at the stretch. Teeth sunk into the back of his neck and he mewled, cunt spasming as yet another orgasm was forced out of him, insides working to milk all Xiao had.
Xiao slowly guided his knees back to the ground and then wiggled until he could lay over his back, hands finding their way back around to his stomach. His touch was gentle as he soothed over it, cooing into his shoulder. He was acting as though he was already with child, but Zhongli supposed there was no way he wasn't. "Zhongli... Zhongli..." He clenched around him with the sound of his name, Xiao whimpering as another gush of cum flowed in response. Xiao gently rocked against him gently, nuzzling into his skin. "Master...thank you."
That was unexpected. "What for?"
Wetness slides down over his shoulder and this time Zhongli can recognize it as tears. "...Freedom."
One of his own hands reached to grab for Xiao's, twining his finger's through smaller ones. "No, dear Alatus... it is you who has offered me this."