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When you wake up, the first thing you notice is the watery winter sun streaming through the window. The second thing you notice is that you are not, as you usually are, snuggled into Zhongli’s chest.
It’s this fact that has your eyes shooting open. You look around, trying to figure out where he is, but you don’t see him anywhere. You start to get up and go check the rest of the house, but an odd weight on your chest forces you back down. Confused, you look down and see a small brown dragon curled up on your chest, its head nuzzling into the hollow of your neck.
So that’s where he went.
You smile gently, carefully reaching up to stroke the scales. As you do, you notice that he’s vibrating, almost like a cat purring. You snicker softly, carefully reaching higher and stroking his thick mane. You accidentally brush your hand against Zhongli’s horns, and feel him abruptly tense, his eyes snapping open. Pausing, you let the dragon reluctantly slide away from you, shifting back into your husband.
He still looks like himself, but with three major differences: one, the amber horns are still emerging from his head; two, his arms and parts of his torso are now covered in dark brown scales; three, he has a tail that, while its owner seems reticent, is clear in its intent to trap you in its grasp.
Zhongli grumbles something unintelligible, burying his head into your neck. You sigh and push his head away so you can really look at him. “Is there a reason you’ve chosen this form today, love?” You ask gently.
He sighs, curling impossibly closer to you. “ ‘T’s cold.”
“So all it takes for you to reveal your dragon form is to make it cold?”
He lets out a low rumble. “Oh, no. My draconic form is due to my having buried it for so long. The elemental energy has been building up over the past months, and is now breaking through. I’m afraid this form won’t go away for some time.”
You grin. “So you’re stuck like this?”
He frowned. “You seem unusually happy about this.”
“Well, this form has many more weak points. For example…” You reach up and stroke a patch of scales on his neck. “...Here!”
He starts shaking uncontrollably, his tail tightening around you. His hands reach up to grab yours, holding them hostage above your head. “I should never have let you find out about that,” He rumbles. “However, I believe you have some of your own.” Abruptly, he lets go of your hands and starts tickling your sides.
You giggle, reaching back up to his weak spot in retaliation.
The two of you tickle each other for another few minutes, before collapsing further into the blankets, laughing breathlessly. Zhongli curls into you, nuzzling your neck again. “I love you,” He rumbles.
You smile softly, wrapping your arms around him. “I love you too, my handsome, wonderful, lazy dragon.
“Now, as much as I’d love to stay in bed and cuddle you all day, I do have work today that I need to get ready for.”
“The Qixing can manage just fine without you for a day. I, however, may very well freeze without your warmth.”
You roll your eyes. “You won’t freeze to death without me, silly. But I’m not doing anything important today, so I guess you can come along if you want. Your dragon form would make a good scarf.
He immediately shifts back into his dragon form, wrapping himself loosely around your neck and purring loudly.
You smile softly, running you fingers through his mane. Today would likely be unproductive, but a dragon scarf was more than worth it.
fin.