"How about something different tonight?" Childe asks it casually, dragging a hand across the length of Zhongli's shoulder.

Zhongli sits in their bed, dressed down for the night. He holds an old book and reads it quietly as the candle beside the bed flickers with an orange glow. He looks up at Childe. "Hm?"

Childe grins, wide and wily, saying, "Oh, you know." There's a gentle wiggle of his eyebrows.

Zhongli knows. He sighs, and though affectionate, he feels the wrinkle that splits his forehead. "Ajax," he starts, "It is late—"

"It'll be quick if you'd just listen to me."

It is rarely quick because once the two of them get started they don't like to stop. Zhongli is addicted to Childe's soft skin, and those breathy sounds that he looses when he fucks him deep. Delights in taking his time as he savors every inch of Childe's skin. He is about to object when he sees Childe's gaze, those damned blue eyes wide like a puppy's.

Zhongli just stares, a knowing look directed right back.

"Okay," says Childe, "so maybe we're not always the quickest—"

"Ajax."

"But we don't always have to enjoy each other in the same way."

Zhongli's brow furrows. "Are you unsatisfied—"

"What? No." Childe looks absolutely flabbergasted by the idea. "Maybe I'm just not explaining myself well enough. Zhongli—" He pauses, reaching out to wrap calloused fingers around Zhongli's hand, tugging it to his face for a sweet kiss. "I've seen you staring."

That is confusing. Of course, Zhongli stares at him. How can he not? Childe is handsome on his worst of days, and downright sinful on his best. Zhongli's eyes are constantly glued to Childe's form, raking across his body and hiding nothing about what he wants. He might be proper about most things, but there are things that even he cannot deny. But—

"I fail to understand," he finally says, expression creased.

Childe laughs and turns towards him fully. He wears a loose shirt, the top half unbuttoned and hanging open. Zhongli can see the slope of his neck, and the juncture where it meets his shoulder. Childe drags his hand over his collarbone with a featherlight touch, and then down.

"My chest," he says. Zhongli's gaze drops, following the path of Childe's fingers. "When my shirt is off, or I'm wearing something tight."

Because Childe's form is exquisite, nothing but harsh and sharp angles honed by his years as a Harbinger. He loves Childe's muscles, both soft and hard, and the way they tense underneath Zhongli's fingertips as he smooths them across bruised and scarred skin.

"See? Right there, that gaze." Childe's voice is pitched low, and Zhongli snaps from his thoughts. He didn't realize he'd been staring. When he looks up, Childe regards him back with a lighthearted and teasing gaze. "Wanna fuck them?"

Zhongli chokes at the suggestion, suddenly drowning with wet breaths.

"Whoah, whoah, if I'd known you'd react like that—"

"Ajax," cuts in Zhongli, "What do you mean fuck them?"

Childe blinks at him. "I mean—what does it sound like? You know, dick between the tits, and then—"

Zhongli rubs at his forehead. "You don't have…" Well, not entirely true. Childe sports impressive pectorals, plush enough to manhandle, something that Zhongli knows intimately well. Combined with the valley of his sternum, he thinks that maybe—

"Thinking about it, aren't you?"

It is unusual for Zhongli to be so distracted, but Childe makes it so easy. Especially when he's leaning over in their bed, shirt hanging open and chest proudly on display.

"You've painted quite the picture. How could I not?"

Which is how Zhongli finds himself settled over Childe, the both of them naked. His knees bracket both sides of Childe's rib cage. They shuffle around slightly, and Zhongli says, "This is a little awkward. My balance is off."

"Scoot up." Childe reaches up and grabs him by the waist, pulling him forward until Zhongli's cock lays against his chest. "Better?"

Yes. Zhongli's flush cock looks delectable against Childe's skin, the tip already red and leaking. Childe smiles from below him, thumbing over the sharp rise of Zhongli's hips. Then, down his thighs, nails dragging across the skin before curling a hand around Zhongli's length.

"Oh—"

"Already so hard," says Childe. "Are you that into the idea of it?"

Zhongli's cock twitches at his words, and he groans softly as Childe pumps his cock once. "I'm always into you, and whatever—hah."

Childe chuckles, low and affectionate. Then he drops Zhongli's cock and twists to the side, fumbling for the bottle of oil. He tips it over, dripping the slick liquid into the small valley between his pecs, and then dribbles some across Zhongli's dick.

"There, that's better," he says. When he grabs at Zhongli this time, his palm is wet and warm. Zhongli's hips buck into his grasp instinctually. "See? You've already got this."

"Ajax," he says, a little embarrassed by those soft and curling words. Zhongli tries to change the subject. "What about you? I can't touch you like this."

"Don't worry about me," says Childe. Zhongli will though, thinking of Childe's pleasure above all else as he often does. Childe shifts slightly, planting his feet against the mattress. He tugs one of Zhongli's hands behind him for a feel.

Oh. Childe is already hard and slick, precome leaking from the head of his cock. Well.

"Are you surprised?" Zhongli knows that he shouldn't be, he thinks, as he lets go and leans back over Childe. Childe's hands find his waist again. "I can jerk myself off, so it'll be fine."

That's a wonderful idea; Childe rutting into his own fist, moaning about, pink-cheeked as Zhongli fucks his chest. The more and more that Zhongli imagines it, the better it sounds. Something different indeed.

They should do different things more often.

"Come on, Zhongli," says Childe, pumping his cock in a loose grip. "You gonna do it or what?" Childe lets go and his cock drops to his chest with a wet slap. Zhongli just stares, unsure where to even start.

Thankfully, Childe guides him without any hesitation. "Like this," he says, pressing at his chest, squeezing his pecs together. They're plush enough to create a small valley, the tiniest dip between them, just enough to cradle Zhongli's length.

"Oh," he murmurs, balancing on his hands as he fucks against Childe's sternum with a short thrust.

It is strange but good. Different. Pleasurable. The oil helps the glide of his cock across Childe's skin as Zhongli fucks into the space between his tits. Childe pushes them together, the friction of the thick muscle pulling at Zhongli's shaft. Zhongli grinds against him, balls dragging across his ribs, cock nestled tightly into his chest.

"Good?" asks Childe cheekily. "Looks like it is. Your face—Gods, I love when you look at me like that."

Usually, Zhongli is the one to talk like this, Childe too blissed out to form words. The praise washes over him, sinking into his gut with a pleasurable burn. "It's—" Zhongli moans softly, the tip of his cock just barely catching against the edge of Childe's left pec. "Surprising," he manages.

Surprisingly good. Childe's body is solid underneath him, and his skin is supple, despite his scars. Zhongli drags a hand over his collarbone, fingering it. "You're always like a picture, so beautiful. I love to watch you too."

"Gods," says Childe. "You can't just say things like, it's going to ruin me." He loves it, though. Zhongli can tell by the way that Childe's eyes sparkle as he watches him back.

"Never. I'll say these things to you, always. I praise that which I treasure."

Childe's gaze shifts slightly, softening. These are the moments they both crave more often than not, lovemaking that's tempered by soft-handed affection. Childe looks at him like he's hung the moon. "Celestia above," he murmurs, pressing his palm flat over Zhongli's cock, making the space tighter.

"Ajax." Zhongli bites out the curse, the word caught in his throat.

"Yeah," says Childe, "just like that. Give me more." The goading works. The goading always works, Childe's words pitched low in a husky timbre as he tells Zhongli to press against him more and more. "Here, lean back and hold them."

Childe pushes Zhongli back and guides his hands forward. Zhongli squeezes at the pectorals, brushing his thumbs over his nipples. "Shit," says Childe, his back arching as those sensitive nubs pebble. Zhongli circles around them, and then squeezes the muscle there together, fucking his cock into the shallow dip of his sternum once more.

"Gods," says Childe. His other hand snakes around Zhongli's thigh to grab at his own dick, the sick squelch of his jerking distracting.

"Perfect," says Zhongli, hoarse as he listens. Childe sighs underneath him, hips rising to fuck into his own palm. "So good for me, even like this."

"Would you rather fuck me?"

"Yes." Childe snorts—but there isn't a point in lying. Zhongli dreams of it, fucking into the tight heat of his ass instead. "But this is nice," he continues. "And, as you said, quicker."

"Oh?" Childe lifts an eyebrow. "Already close, you old lizard?"

Zhongli pinches a nipple in response, leaving Childe to yelp slightly. Then he moans, his back curling as he lifts from the bed slightly as he strokes himself. Meanwhile, Zhongli thrusts against his chest, oil and precome coating Childe's skin.

"Quiet," says Zhongli, "I'm enjoying this."

Childe whines underneath him, watching back with a red and ruddy face. Zhongli can feel the movements of his hand against his own length, and the way he wriggles about, his thighs tensing.

Zhongli's thrusting slows to a soft rolling of his hips. The friction is delightful, and he soaks up the drag of slick skin against skin. "And what about you, Ajax? Are you close? Or would you rather I fuck you properly instead?"

"I'm—I mean yes, but—" He whines again, throwing his head back as his hand moves faster. "Shit, I like this."

"Hm, myself as well. Your chest has just enough give, but remains firm." Zhongli thrusts against him to prove his point. "Soft skin that's warm, and the sight of my cock against your scars. It isn't as tight, but it's nice, the laziness of it."

"Zhongli, I'm going to… fuck, I'm close."

"There's a good boy," says Zhongli. He leans over, seeking out the heat of Childe's body against his own. Childe pumps his own cock with one hand, the other curled around Zhongli's hip, his fingers digging into the meat of his asscheck. "My darling, looking every bit the delight you are."

Childe comes, crying out Zhongli's name as he spills all over his hand. A few more aborted thrusts as he rides his orgasm, his head tipping back into the pillow, his face pulled taut as his eyes flutter close.

Beautiful, thinks Zhongli. So handsome, and all mine. He squeezes at Childe's chest, thumbing across his nipples again. Zhongli rolls his hips against him, grinding the head of his cock against the soft skin of his sternum.

Zhongli isn't far behind. A few more thrusts and he's coming all over Childe's chest, painting his collarbone and throat white with his spend. "Ajax," he says softly, marveling in the way that his come collects in the hollow of his throat. He moves, leaning over him properly, licking at his skin and lapping it up.

Childe moans, his clean hand threading through Zhongli's hair, pulling at it slightly. Zhongli sighs against his neck, happy and satiated as he mouths over his skin, nibbling at the juncture of his neck. And then, they're nose-to-nose, Zhongli nuzzling at him as they slowly come down from their pleasure.

"We should clean up," he says.

"Yeah, before I get all crusty." A pause. "Did you enjoy it?"

Zhongli kisses his forehead, and thinks about the taste of his own come, lingering on his tongue. "I would think it obvious."

"I love you," says Childe, tugging at a lock of his hair. "Thanks for indulging."

Zhongli's heart burns hot at the words. It always does. He scratches his fingers across Childe's scalp gently, earning a pleased groan. "I love you too, darling. Now go get cleaned up."

"What? You aren't going to help? Come and draw a bath for me."

Zhongli snorts, rolling over and wiping himself down with Childe's discarded shirt from earlier. As he tucks himself into the sheets, he says, "Five minutes."

"Minutes?"

"I expect you to be back."

Childe's mouth curls into a grin.