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today's zhonglumi thoughts feat. friends with benefits
nsfw warning!!
Lumine can't read what's on Zhongli's mind but the way he touches her, fingers carefully gliding up along her inner thigh, catching her gasp as he kisses her makes her almost think he loves her.
Almost.
nsfw warning!!
Lumine can't read what's on Zhongli's mind but the way he touches her, fingers carefully gliding up along her inner thigh, catching her gasp as he kisses her makes her almost think he loves her.
Almost.
Maybe it's wishful thinking on her end. How could she not when she has the most powerful man in Liyue between her thighs kissing her like she's divinity above Celestia itself?
"Lumine..." Zhongli deepens their kiss, tongue trailing hers.
Oh, she loves how he calls her name.
"Lumine..." Zhongli deepens their kiss, tongue trailing hers.
Oh, she loves how he calls her name.
His wet kiss has her moaning to his mouth, her fingers digging into his shoulders as he thrusts inside her.
Everything about him is gentle. Slow and painfully, painfully gentle. He breaks their kiss, smiling at her sweetly. Lumine sees stars.
"You like it there, I remember."
Everything about him is gentle. Slow and painfully, painfully gentle. He breaks their kiss, smiling at her sweetly. Lumine sees stars.
"You like it there, I remember."
His hips angle up, hitting her at just the right spot, setting just the right pace that has her crying as she bounces below him. She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him into another desperate kiss.
One kiss, two.
More messy kisses like the nature of their relationship.
One kiss, two.
More messy kisses like the nature of their relationship.
With a strangled cry, she comes undone, twitching around him until he too releases.
Zhongli collapses at her side, laying tender kisses over her tear-streaked cheeks, and all Lumine does is greedily drink in the warm attention he gives her. Her heart aches.
They're not lovers.
Zhongli collapses at her side, laying tender kisses over her tear-streaked cheeks, and all Lumine does is greedily drink in the warm attention he gives her. Her heart aches.
They're not lovers.
If she could travel to the past, she would've never proposed being friends with benefits with Zhongli.
'That's what you get for being greedy, Lumine.'
If only she had known that beneath that charming, scholarly exterior was a beautiful soul made of compassion and sacrifice.
'That's what you get for being greedy, Lumine.'
If only she had known that beneath that charming, scholarly exterior was a beautiful soul made of compassion and sacrifice.
A soul with a multitude of scars that would never heal no matter how many years passed. A soul that wasn't for her.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
Zhongli's gentle voice pulls her out of her thoughts as he brushes stray hairs out of her face.
Lumine wants to cry.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
Zhongli's gentle voice pulls her out of her thoughts as he brushes stray hairs out of her face.
Lumine wants to cry.
Still, she forces herself to smile, leaving a playful kiss on his lips.
"About how much Paimon disagrees with our arrangement."
It's a lie. She pecks him again.
"About you."
That wasn't a lie.
Zhongli stares at her, and she averts her gaze. She doesn't want him to know.
"About how much Paimon disagrees with our arrangement."
It's a lie. She pecks him again.
"About you."
That wasn't a lie.
Zhongli stares at her, and she averts her gaze. She doesn't want him to know.
"Is there anything you're unsatisfied about?"
'Yes.' She hates that he's so perceptive. She hates that she loves that part of him.
Lumine smiles bitterly as she traces her finger along the curve his of cheek down to his lips.
"No."
Another lie. She's suffocating in her lies.
'Yes.' She hates that he's so perceptive. She hates that she loves that part of him.
Lumine smiles bitterly as she traces her finger along the curve his of cheek down to his lips.
"No."
Another lie. She's suffocating in her lies.
Zhongli doesn't press her further, only taking her into his arms.
This too, was a part of their agreement.
In exchange for helping him with some of his mortal needs, she would also gain relief from her sexual frustration.
They would both benefit from this affair, she said.
This too, was a part of their agreement.
In exchange for helping him with some of his mortal needs, she would also gain relief from her sexual frustration.
They would both benefit from this affair, she said.
They wouldn't have to worry about catching feelings since she wouldn't stay permanently, she said.
Nothing about this would change their relationship, she said.
Bullshit.
Lumine buries her face into his firm chest. Hearing his heartbeat makes hers ache.
His heart isn't hers.
Nothing about this would change their relationship, she said.
Bullshit.
Lumine buries her face into his firm chest. Hearing his heartbeat makes hers ache.
His heart isn't hers.
'Good job, Lumine, you played yourself!' A voice in her head that sounds suspiciously like Paimon mocks her.
"Zhongli."
A hand pats her head gently.
"Yes, I'm here."
"Zhongli."
Her voice is emotional just from saying his name. She hopes he notices. She hopes he doesn't.
"Zhongli."
A hand pats her head gently.
"Yes, I'm here."
"Zhongli."
Her voice is emotional just from saying his name. She hopes he notices. She hopes he doesn't.
Zhongli kisses the crown of her head.
"Kiss me," Lumine demands. He leans down, and her lips linger against his. She feels him smile.
"You're quite needy tonight, my dear."
Lumine sucks on his lower lip, pleased when he kisses her back.
"Don't act like you don't like it too."
"Kiss me," Lumine demands. He leans down, and her lips linger against his. She feels him smile.
"You're quite needy tonight, my dear."
Lumine sucks on his lower lip, pleased when he kisses her back.
"Don't act like you don't like it too."
It's chaste but each kiss he gives makes her feel warm. Loved.
"You could've had anyone else. Why me?" Lumine closes her eyes as his lips brush her eyelashes.
"I could ask you the same thing. Why me?" Zhongli mirrors.
'Because I love you.'
She wishes she realized that sooner.
"You could've had anyone else. Why me?" Lumine closes her eyes as his lips brush her eyelashes.
"I could ask you the same thing. Why me?" Zhongli mirrors.
'Because I love you.'
She wishes she realized that sooner.
"Because I can trust you," she answers simply, offering him a kiss in return.
"Really. Even after I purposely hid my identity and true intentions for Liyue," Zhongli says flatly. "You still hold it over my head, my dear."
"Things change. You know this better than anyone else."
"Really. Even after I purposely hid my identity and true intentions for Liyue," Zhongli says flatly. "You still hold it over my head, my dear."
"Things change. You know this better than anyone else."
Lumine takes his hand into hers, intertwining their fingers together.
She can't have his heart, but she'll take whatever else she can get.
He squeezes it softly. His burning eyes meet hers.
"I do."
The way he looks at her makes her heart skip a beat.
'Don't give me hope.'
She can't have his heart, but she'll take whatever else she can get.
He squeezes it softly. His burning eyes meet hers.
"I do."
The way he looks at her makes her heart skip a beat.
'Don't give me hope.'
If she went back on their agreement, what would her punishment be? To never have his love? To never have his companionship ever again? To be strangers?
She didn't want that.
She didn't want to end this untouchable love.
Yet her lips moved.
"Zhongli, what if we ended this?"
She didn't want that.
She didn't want to end this untouchable love.
Yet her lips moved.
"Zhongli, what if we ended this?"
He quietly watches her, for her to continue.
"I'm tired of this." Lumine's heart twists as she spits out words she means, words she doesn't mean. "I can't...I can't uphold my end of our deal anymore."
Her eyes are shut tight. She doesn't want to see his look of disappointment.
"I'm tired of this." Lumine's heart twists as she spits out words she means, words she doesn't mean. "I can't...I can't uphold my end of our deal anymore."
Her eyes are shut tight. She doesn't want to see his look of disappointment.
The silence has her breath stuttering. She's scared.
"...I see."
Her eyes crack open a little, and she's met with his pained smile.
Why?
"Then this is the end of this relationship. That is your punishment."
Ah.
Her tears blur her vision and still, he kindly wipes them away.
"...I see."
Her eyes crack open a little, and she's met with his pained smile.
Why?
"Then this is the end of this relationship. That is your punishment."
Ah.
Her tears blur her vision and still, he kindly wipes them away.
"I'm sorry..."
'I'm sorry for loving you.'
The words don't make it past her lips.
Zhongli releases Lumine from his hold and immediately, Lumine feels cold. She misses him already.
"It's only natural. There's no such thing as permanence, this agreement just being one example."
'I'm sorry for loving you.'
The words don't make it past her lips.
Zhongli releases Lumine from his hold and immediately, Lumine feels cold. She misses him already.
"It's only natural. There's no such thing as permanence, this agreement just being one example."
Lumine cries.
This feeling was a new kind of loss.
He continues to wipe away her tears, her heart breaking with a louder crack each time she feels his gentle warmth.
"Don't treat me so kindly," she warbles.
Yet, he smiles at her bittersweet.
"You ask for the impossible."
This feeling was a new kind of loss.
He continues to wipe away her tears, her heart breaking with a louder crack each time she feels his gentle warmth.
"Don't treat me so kindly," she warbles.
Yet, he smiles at her bittersweet.
"You ask for the impossible."
How? How could he still continue being so caring and kind when she one-sidedly decided to end it?
Those words of his...It kept giving her false hope. That maybe he did love her after all.
But Lumine remembered their contract.
"Why aren't you angry?"
"I find myself unable to."
Those words of his...It kept giving her false hope. That maybe he did love her after all.
But Lumine remembered their contract.
"Why aren't you angry?"
"I find myself unable to."
"Why?"
Zhongli smiles.
It's beautiful, it's haunted, knocking the breath out of her lungs. More guilt twists in her gut.
She put that expression on his face. Her tears begin anew and her breath catches.
"It's not an answer you wish to hear."
There's that kindness of his.
Zhongli smiles.
It's beautiful, it's haunted, knocking the breath out of her lungs. More guilt twists in her gut.
She put that expression on his face. Her tears begin anew and her breath catches.
"It's not an answer you wish to hear."
There's that kindness of his.
Lumine curls into herself, away from Zhongli.
She can't be here. She doesn't deserve to be by his side. Any second longer and she feels like she'll be buried.
"I have to go."
Zhongli doesn't stop her, but his whisper reaches her ears.
"...Was there never any room for me?"
She can't be here. She doesn't deserve to be by his side. Any second longer and she feels like she'll be buried.
"I have to go."
Zhongli doesn't stop her, but his whisper reaches her ears.
"...Was there never any room for me?"
She freezes.
"What?"
Her heartbeat races. Zhongli closes his eyes, resigned. He looked tired as he spoke louder.
"You truly are..." He doesn't finish his thought. "Was there any room for me in your heart?"
Lumine can't process his words fast enough.
"By that you mean-"
"What?"
Her heartbeat races. Zhongli closes his eyes, resigned. He looked tired as he spoke louder.
"You truly are..." He doesn't finish his thought. "Was there any room for me in your heart?"
Lumine can't process his words fast enough.
"By that you mean-"
"That I love you."
His confession is just like him. Gentle, soft. His warm, pained tone reaches right into her soul.
"You don't mean-"
"I do."
It's resolute.
"I've loved you ever since we began this contract."
"Then why did you...?"
Lumine cries harder and he reaches out.
His confession is just like him. Gentle, soft. His warm, pained tone reaches right into her soul.
"You don't mean-"
"I do."
It's resolute.
"I've loved you ever since we began this contract."
"Then why did you...?"
Lumine cries harder and he reaches out.
Those beautiful, slender fingers of his brush her face delicately, as if he were handling a priceless artifact.
"How could I bind you to me so selfishly? This was the only way I could stay by your side by your conditions."
Ah.
"I can't make you stay. I know I can't."
"How could I bind you to me so selfishly? This was the only way I could stay by your side by your conditions."
Ah.
"I can't make you stay. I know I can't."
"Yet I find myself wishing for the impossible. Forgive this foolish man for chasing the stars. For wanting to make lasting memories."
Zhongli takes her hand into his and carefully kisses the top of her hand.
"You may not feel the same way, but please know...I love you, Lumine."
Zhongli takes her hand into his and carefully kisses the top of her hand.
"You may not feel the same way, but please know...I love you, Lumine."
Lumine throws herself into his arms, knocking her head against his collarbone.
"Ow," she whimpers.
Zhongli's laid his cards bare to her. He has nothing else to lose, so he steals a soothing kiss to her forehead.
"I apologize for burdening you with my feelings, but-"
"No!"
"Ow," she whimpers.
Zhongli's laid his cards bare to her. He has nothing else to lose, so he steals a soothing kiss to her forehead.
"I apologize for burdening you with my feelings, but-"
"No!"
"No?"
Zhongli's expression twists with hurt and Lumine quickly backtracks in a panic.
"I...You had feelings for me? Zhongli, you...I can't believe it."
Zhongli sighs.
"You continue to wound me the more you express your doubt. Forgive me, I shouldn't have said anything."
Zhongli's expression twists with hurt and Lumine quickly backtracks in a panic.
"I...You had feelings for me? Zhongli, you...I can't believe it."
Zhongli sighs.
"You continue to wound me the more you express your doubt. Forgive me, I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, no, that's not it, Zhongli!"
Her heartbeat pounds in her ears. She feels so dizzy, like all the strength has been sapped out of her body.
Zhongli catches her in an instant.
"I didn't know you liked me."
"I thought I was obvious."
Lumine wants to hit herself.
Her heartbeat pounds in her ears. She feels so dizzy, like all the strength has been sapped out of her body.
Zhongli catches her in an instant.
"I didn't know you liked me."
"I thought I was obvious."
Lumine wants to hit herself.
She flushes, burying her face into his chest.
"I like you, too." Her voice is muffled.
"Pardon?"
Lumine pulls back, her face completely red.
"I said I like you too. I love you, Zhongli."
"...Oh."
After his mind-blowing confession, his response was underwhelming.
"I like you, too." Her voice is muffled.
"Pardon?"
Lumine pulls back, her face completely red.
"I said I like you too. I love you, Zhongli."
"...Oh."
After his mind-blowing confession, his response was underwhelming.
"What do you mean, 'Oh.' !? Do you know how LONG I've agonized over these feelings I've had for you? For MONTHS. MONTHS, ZHONGLI."
"Why? Why didn't you just tell me?" His voice is soft.
Lumine teared up again.
"I was afraid I'd lose you, that I'd lose us. I was scared."
"Why? Why didn't you just tell me?" His voice is soft.
Lumine teared up again.
"I was afraid I'd lose you, that I'd lose us. I was scared."
"You weren't ready to face punishment." It wasn't a question. Lumine nodded.
"I couldn't bring myself to. I'm sorry for being so selfish, for wanting to keep you all to myself. I jumped into that agreement without thinking about the consequences because all I wanted was you."
"I couldn't bring myself to. I'm sorry for being so selfish, for wanting to keep you all to myself. I jumped into that agreement without thinking about the consequences because all I wanted was you."
Lumine couldn't help but find Zhongli's surprised expression adorable. He relaxed, holding her tight. His laughter is light and for the first time, Lumine feels like she can breathe.
"Then we were both being foolish."
"We really overthought it, didn't we?"
"We did."
"Then we were both being foolish."
"We really overthought it, didn't we?"
"We did."
The two fell quiet, but Lumine's heart continued pounding.
"What happens to us now? I broke the rules, I went against our agreement. What's my punishment?"
Ice laced her veins, waiting for Zhongli's verdict.
"As I said, this relationship has ended."
Her blood freezes.
"What happens to us now? I broke the rules, I went against our agreement. What's my punishment?"
Ice laced her veins, waiting for Zhongli's verdict.
"As I said, this relationship has ended."
Her blood freezes.
His smile is blinding, brighter than the sun that rises above Liyue's heavens.
"Now that we are no longer bound by this agreement, I am free to pursue you proper."
Lumine gapes at him.
"You didn't just loophole your way out of this."
He looks smug.
"I can. I just did."
"Now that we are no longer bound by this agreement, I am free to pursue you proper."
Lumine gapes at him.
"You didn't just loophole your way out of this."
He looks smug.
"I can. I just did."
"But that's not a punishment-!"
"Surely, you're not telling the God of Contracts what rules entail fair punishment, are you?"
Lumine yelps as he pins her down.
"Rest assured, my beloved. I will see through to it that you receive the retribution you deserve. Personally."
"Surely, you're not telling the God of Contracts what rules entail fair punishment, are you?"
Lumine yelps as he pins her down.
"Rest assured, my beloved. I will see through to it that you receive the retribution you deserve. Personally."
