Work Text:
"Ajax, this is remarkable,” Zhongli praises, eyes sparkling as he samples the clear soup.
"Is it?" Ajax asks, hopeful as he plates dinner up, placing the finishing touches on his new dish.
His new… seafood dish.
“It is,” Zhongli affirms, “just how did you manage to so thoroughly get rid of the fishy odour? And not to mention the complete lack of slime.” Zhongli looks at his now empty spoon with what can best be described as awe and unbridled affection.
“Oh! That’s easy, I used bathysmal vishap blood to neutralise it! The acid in there is really strong so usually it’d be dangerous, but it makes quick work of any slime or funky smells if you can stomach it,” Ajax answers, looking at Zhongli’s indulgent joy with an equal amount of fondness.
“Ingenious…” Zhongli muses, entirely unfazed by the mention of what is essentially poison in his food, “though it is a pity that this cannot be recreated for mortal consumption— ” He cuts himself off abruptly, hit by a sudden realisation, “Ajax.”
“Hmfp?” Ajax looks up from his bowl mid slurp.
“How are you eating this?”
“I aye thith all the time in the abyth!” Ajax assures through a mouthful of poison coated tentacle. “Don’t worry,” he swallows, patting his tummy, “I’ve got an iron stomach.”
Hm. Well, Zhongli supposes he’s heard of more unorthodox things in his long life.
“Actually,” Ajax continues, an idea forming in his mind, “if you want a mortal safe alternative, those sand worms in sumeru have similar properties and their acidity level isn’t lethal.”
“Mm… I’m certainly open to trying it, though it already sounds like the neutralisation would be much less thorough…” Zhongli considers seriously, a troubled little crease settling between his brows as he contemplates the suggestion.
Ajax barks out a laugh, “hah! For you maybe!”
“What's so funny?” Zhongli glances back, confused.
“Babe—” Ajax chokes on a snicker, “I think you might just be the only person who can tell the difference.”
“Nonsense,” Zhongli huffs, indignant, “I’m sure Miss Xiangling and her astute culinary sense would be able to as well.”
“Yeah totally, if she could eat the vishap blood without getting violently ill that is.”
“Ah. Right… that slipped my mind.”
“Oh you…” Ajax grins, bumping their sides together.
Inadvertently, Zhongli finds a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. He returns the affectionate gesture, planting an indulgent kiss against his lover’s temple, lips smiling into the touch.
“…Y’know, I don’t think I'll ever get used to that,” Ajax whispers into the space between them as they part, a little stunned despite himself.
“Then this dusty old man will have found a way to keep your fancy,” Zhongli says, voice dripping with the smile on his lips.
Ajax giggles, shaking his head as he presses another kiss to Zhongli’s lips, “Silly man… you know you always will.”