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Zhongli had some experience with sickness. Ajax had his days where he ended up with a cold because he spent too long fighting outside without proper clothing to keep himself warm. However, the ex-archon was barely sick, heavy on the barely. When he had fallen ill, it instantly hit him hard. It was hard to keep control of his body so he transformed to the smallest form he could take; a tiny version of the exuvia.
Currently, he was wrapped in thick Snezhnayan blankets Ajax had brought back, the covers warming up his small lizard body. Unfortunately, he was still trembling from the cold and he nuzzled his snout into the pillow he was laid upon, trying to find warmth. All he could do is wait until Ajax came back, his warm body could instantly heat him up.
Pros of marrying Snezhnayan. His beloved’s body was so warm and comfortable, Zhongli could easily sleep for days when he was embracing Ajax.
He slightly moved his head, looking for the bowl with water Ajax had left him before going to shop for groceries. Slowly and carefully, he moved his snout around until he hit the edge of the bowl and shifted so he could drink.
The cold water was refreshing on his forked tongue and he keenly drunk from the bowl, licking his lips when he deemed to be finished. The ex-archon let out a soft sigh, already done with feeling ill and flopped his head down on the pillow again, closing his eyes while his scaly body burned from the heat.
Exhaustion quickly took over and he slept relatively peaceful until he got awoken by fingers going through his mane. Zhongli blinked slowly, letting out a yawn and titled his head up, looking at a smiling Ajax. “I brought some black-back perch stew back, specially prepared by Xiangling when she heard you’ve fallen ill.” The ginger whispered and grabbed Zhongli with the blankets wrapped around him, holding him close to his chest as he stood up.
“Thank you, Ajax.” Zhongli whispered as the fatuus carried him to the kitchen, his tail managed to get out of the blankets and hung down, making him shiver. In the beginning, it felt awkward to be in such small form but now?
He felt comfortable around Ajax, maybe a bit too comfortable but who cares? It was only his husband who saw him like that. And his beloved didn’t care seeing his exuvia form, Ajax actually adored it. The smell of spice and sea food filled the kitchen and his tail wagged, although he was still feeling ill, he was quite famished for a nice bowl of sea food. Carefully, Ajax sat down with him on his lap, grabbing a napkin and putting it around Zhongli’s neck, then spooning some of the broth into his small mouth.
It was a familiar routine they had been doing, Zhongli got fed while Ajax made sure he ate and was content. Even though he ate slow, the ginger was patient and occasionally wiping away soup that dripped from his snout. After he finished eating, his eye lids started to feel heavy, Zhongli faintly felt himself getting wrapped in the thick blankets again, feeling cosy. Ajax’s warm fingers stroked his horns “Get better soon, my love.” And that was the last thing he felt before falling asleep.