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Liyue have always been blessed with soft breeze and the smell of glaze lilies in the air, no matter how many times he relive this moment, it never felt dull. While trekking up a mountain to reach his destination, Zhongli hummed a quite tune. It is not a tune native to his tongue, he learned it. Wanted to learn it after hearing the tune spill from his lovers' lips. It was a great decision to do so, for humming this tune always reminds himself of a certain sapphire blue. He take a moment to reminisce, this is the first time they're meeting after a while, in a month to be exact. It is not that great sum of time, but his longing made it feel as if decades have passed.
With the promise of seeing his lover soon, he hurried his steps up the steep mountain. Deploying his shield and eliminating any and every threat he see. His sapphire gem can defend himself for sure, but Zhongli would rather not have his treasured gem fighting just to reach him. So he hummed, while monsters remains disperse into air.
Upon seeing his destination just a few steps away, it is almost sundown. Soon his adepti will follow suit, arriving one by one- or perhaps they are already here. He goes with the latter, sensing presences near him not his own. Zhongli walk towards the stone table that hold millennia worth memories. Soon, new memories will be carved into that very stone, and he is too weak to resist a smile at the thought. Walking closer to the stones, his suspicion is correct, as one by one his adepti materialize in front of him.
"Thank you for coming, all of you." He make sure to express his gratitude, bowing slightly which put a slight frown on his adepti' faces.
"One cannot simply refuse a request made by our Lord be it capacious or miniscule." Cloud Retainer answered with a lowered head, still humble in front of the ex-god.
"My request today is not as your Lord, but as a friend." He added, making sure to put emphasis on the word 'friend'. He knew they will never treat him as so, loyalty towards Rex Lapis is sometimes as stubborn as stone.
Zhongli chuckled at that thought, it reminded himself of the times his lover would call him a stupid rock. If he should feel offended... well he didn't. In fact he purposefully keep acting the way he does just to see the pout on his adorable lovers expressions.
Realising he is sidetracked, he cast his gaze to those present, noticing the lack of wind that had swore to be here before he does. Well, not much to be expected from that drunkard.
Offering his fellow friends to sit on the limited seats of the stone, they acknowledged it, but still choosing to stand where they are. Not much can be said to convince them, so Zhongli sipped his fragrant tea that was prepared beforehand by Ping, the only one that sat next to him.
¬
It was a long trek. A hellish one, even. Kaeya did not expect nor anticipate the exercise that would come with agreeing to meet his lover here. He's never been to these parts of Liyue, barely even stepping into the harbor, other than the home of his lover. He even dressed up for the occasion, Zhongli's 'that' kind of guy, always so prim and proper, who know how his friends and companions would look like? Those that he deem important to even introduce him to them. Thinking about it, it made him a bit nervous, swallowing a lump, he trekked up the remaining boulder. Cursing his love for that man all the while.
Finally, he sees the end of the road, and he can see his man sitting on the stone table, with teacups and some sort of plating there. Kaeya felt a little giddy that Zhongli prepared this for him. Walking up close quietly in hopes to catch his man off guard, but that attempt failed as that said man turned to face him moments before he pounced.
He pouted without even noticing, having his fun taken away. "Not fair..." He grumble, crossing his arms across his chest and mock walk to Zhongli, but even before a few steps he break into a run and fall into the arms of the man he was craving the attention for weeks. It feels so good to be embraced by the bigger man, Kaeya let himself melt into him.
After he finally feel like he get enough charge, Kaeya break free from the secure hold of his lover. "Now now, where are your groups of friends huh?"
Kaeya grinned, showing his perfect set of teeth, and a gleam in his starry eye. He did notice however, that Zhongli's expression just subtly change. Slight, but Kaeya had studied his face for long enough to notice.
"I'm sorry dear, they couldn't make it." Sliding a palm against Kaeya's cheek, Zhongli place his other hand in Kaeya's own palm.
"Oh.."
Zhongli must've noticed his disappointment, as he move closer to place a kiss on his forehead.
"You're dressed beautifully, my sapphire." Again, another kiss to his cheek, although slightly sad, Kaeya know it's not Zhongli's fault. So he put on his best smile and slow blinked. Knowing Zhongli will understand.
Receiving a warm smile in return, he is pulled towards the edge of the mountain. Zhongli glanced towards the stone table one last time with a look in his eyes before finally dedicating all his attention to his lover.
Pulled into a tight hug once they reached the shade of a tree. Body fully engulfed by the bigger man, he can feel Zhongli's face in his hair and so Kaeya hide a smile in Zhongli's chest.
Nobody is here, and the only witness of their intimacy is the stars and the moon, Kaeya feel no urge to hide, or to mask his affection for the other man. Snaking his arms up to cradle Zhongli's face in his palms and stare into the amber eyes of his love. Eyes ever so still, but Kaeya can see the love in his eyes, the only reflection in it being himself. So he tiptoed to press his lips against Zhongli's. Strong arms wrapping around his own waist and bending down for him. Just like that, they share the night together in harmony, showering each other in the love that they have been holding onto for weeks in the absence of the other.
Unknown to Kaeya, with every kiss, every hug, every touch they share that night, Zhongli was apologising.
Unknown also to Kaeya, the supernatural eyes that watched his every move. Until Zhongli gave them a silent order.
Unknown to him, but as long as this truth doesn't hurt him, Zhongli is fine with it being like this. Starring into the lone starred eye he love so much, and every time he have to remind himself that the beauty in that eye did come with pain and untold suffering. Divinity is forbidden to his eye. But Zhongli is no longer a deity, so he will laugh in Celestia's face. All while embracing his love close to his stone heart.