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There are plenty of things Zhongli wishes he could give the love of his life for Christmas. A better, less cruel world. Happiness for the rest of his days. Comfort and safety and financial security—and the confidence to be able to accept all of that.
Well, that wasn't possible. He already carved his heart out and laid it down on a daily basis, and it had taken years—literal years—for Xiao to be okay with even looking at it, let alone reaching out.
In all his years, he had never known love like this. Oh, he had loved—romance had taken his hand now and then, over the centuries. It would have been hard not to live in this world and love the ones who walked it.
But all Xiao had to do was look his way, and nothing else would matter.
There were enough immortals on Teyvat that they didn't feel isolated, even as most mortals lived and loved and died, as nations rose and grew and settled. Neuvillette in Fontaine, his lover reborn again and again and always returning to his side. Venti in Mondstadt, coming and going like the wind. Flins, or whatever he was calling himself these days, always hidden until Zhongli ran into him again on the antiques circuit. Baizhu, naturally—that one might have been Zhongli's doing—free of the curse of the white snake, but still doing his best to save everyone.
And, of course, the Traveler.
Aether looked no older than the day he'd arrived. He wasn't a permanent resident—he left on the train beyond the sky, but every few decades, he was back. Making the rounds, seeing everyone, making new friends. He made friends wherever he went.
And every time, Xiao would watch him, from several hilltops away, and wait for his name to be called.
There were less hilltops, now. Liyue Harbor was a distinct of Liyue City, and the former Jade Chamber was anchored to the Millelith Tower, one of many skyscraper that made up its now-iconic skyline.
On one of those skyscrapers, at the penthouse suite, Zhongli stared out floor-to-ceiling windows and considered, for the one millionth time, how to make Xiao one fraction less sad than yesterday. Even just for a moment.
He sees a light blinking in the sky, a signal that the Astral Express was coming in to dock, and suddenly… he has an idea.
🎀
Liyue wasn't big on Christmas. It was a Fontainian holiday, a commercial creation pulling on traditions from all over Teyvat, but Zhongli was a fan of all holidays in general. There were things about Christmas he liked, so he decorated his house, put up a tree, and come Christmas morning, there were presents waiting under it.
Most of them would be opened in a few days, at the big party he'd planned for all the friends and loved ones he knew. On the day itself, though, they don't have anything planned.
Well. Not that Xiao knows about.
Zhongli's usually late to bed and later to wake, so Xiao's the one to rise first, yawning and stretching and pulling on Zhongli's discarded shirt from yesterday. He keeps himself still—that's no contest for a former god of Geo. Only when Xiao's footsteps leave the room does he scramble up, throwing pants on for himself and making to follow, just far back enough to be inconspicuous. He wouldn't miss this for the world.
He ghosts to the balcony as Xiao stumbles out of the bathroom and down the stairs, still yawning and eyes closed. He can see the tree from here—and what's waiting under it, wrapped in red.
Xiao almost runs into it. His eyes finally blink all the way open, and as Zhongli watches, red fills his face, blooming out from his cheeks.
"Hey," Aether says, grinning from the floor. He would wave, he really would, except his arms are pinned to his side with the wide red ribbon he's been wrapped up with, a bow tied right at his neck.
Zhongli props his elbows on the banister and smiles indulgently.
"I… you…" Xiao seems utterly lost for words. "What… what are you doing here??"
"Merry Christmas! I'm your present." He seems just as amused by the look on Xiao's face. "What, are you surprised? Come on, unwrap me so I can earn my keep."
"This is ridiculous," Xiao snaps, but he goes to do it anyway. Zhongli can almost hear the rapid flutter of his heart. "How did you even—"
When he gets a hand free, Aether pulls Xiao down into a sweet, gentle kiss. Just that simple touch makes his whole body stiffen, then melt, utterly, almost falling over like his strings have been cut. "How do you think?" he murmurs, then gestures behind him with his chin—and Xiao turns.
Zhongli lifts his hand in a slow, indulgent wave. "Merry Christmas, my dear," he hums. "Please enjoy responsibly. I'll be out of your hair in a minute, unless you'd consider letting me watch—"
"You're a dirty old man!" Xiao snaps, face furiously red. "I cannot believe you!!"
Aether winds arms around his waist and he quiets down immediately, gutted as always by nothing more than Aether's general existence.
Zhongli comes down to join them, dropping a kiss of his own on Xiao's nose. "Don't be mad. The Traveler came all this way, the least you could do is—"
He's not expecting Xiao's hand to shoot out, grab him by the throat—he was still shirtless, after all—and yank him into a kiss hard enough to leave his head spinning.
"…Stay," Xiao pants, a fire in his eyes that Zhongli hasn't seen for centuries. "You want to give me what I want for Christmas?"
Zhongli and Aether both nod so quickly they almost sprain something.
"…Good. I'll hold you to that. Both of you."
What did he do to deserve this, Zhongli thinks, following the two most beautiful creatures in the universe up the stairs. How did he get so lucky?
Well. He catches sight of Liyue Harbor waking up, so different from the one he used to know. Maybe, after everything, they did deserve some happiness after all.