[ At Childe's challenge, that not-quite-neutral expression Zhongli has been wearing finally tips into proper amusement. He smooths his thumb over Childe's palm and lifts his free hand to settle against his neck. ]
I have no reason to doubt my own capabilities.
[ And he thinks Childe doesn't have a reason to doubt them either—but that's Childe for you. Always looking for a fight even when there's none to be found. Zhongli doesn't make a habit of accepting, but in this case...
He steps closer. He and Childe are close in height, so there's no need to bend down. He simply tilts his head, leans in, and presses their lips together. ]
[ There it is. Childe enjoys seeing Zhongli react. He's a fairly stoic person, though Childe spent enough time with him in Liyue to catch on to some of the subtlety in his expressions.
Sometimes he longs to see that expression tip into something else, something obvious. Anger would be fine, he thinks, in that part of himself that wants to literally fight a god. Other things would be fine, too. That little amusement will do for now. Zhongli's hand is on his neck and he's an idiot to think he could win any type of fight, metaphorical or otherwise, with the former Geo Archon.
That's the best kind of fight to have, though.
Childe's lips are still smiling when Zhongli leans in to catch them. He returns the kiss immediately, free arm sliding around Zhongli's waist. He has to resist the urge to pull himself completely flush against him. They have seven minutes, but only one of them has patience and it's not Childe. The tension there in his arm as he resists the urge for the next three seconds or so is probably obvious. ]
[ The restraint is unexpected, and all the more appreciated for it. Though, it does leave Zhongli needing to give extra consideration to his next step. Now that the initial hurtle of starting has been overcome he'd been prepared for Childe to charge ahead recklessly, leaving it in Zhongli's hands to accept or reject each advance as they came. Not a method he has any objection to, but not his preferred way of approaching such an encounter.
But Childe hadn't, and now he's able to consider the prospect of taking control of the pace. Zhongli offers a brief, thoughtful hum into the kiss. He breaks away after a moment, but only so that he can catch Childe's bottom lip between his teeth, giving him a sharp little nip in between kisses.
And, of course, if Childe waits much longer to pull him closer, Zhongli will simply take another half step forward to close the gap. ]
[ Childe can't hide his sharp intake of breath at Zhongli's teeth against his skin. There's a smile again as he leans in to chase after the former Archon, demanding as ever.
His restraint only lasts so long, really. Zhongli steps closer and Childe is there to meet him. This isn't a fight, but it requires the same sort of responding to movement. One hand moves down to the small of Zhongli's back, pressing them together.
Their lips are pressed together again and Childe pushes for more, tongue sliding between Zhongli's lips. He can't forget who he's kissing and lose himself in it entirely, which could become a problem later on, perhaps. For now it's whatever! It's just seven minutes. He hopes that holding back for that first few seconds wins him some points. He's aware that Zhongli is patient, so surely he can appreciate this much.
Not that he needs to impress Zhongli. That definitely isn't a thing. Obviously. ]
[ Childe's response to the little bite isn't the least surprising thing about this whole encounter, but it's a strong contender. Another interesting little thing Zhongli can note for later.
Zhongli happily parts his lips for Childe's tongue, enjoying the heat even as he responds in kind. The hand on Childe's neck slides up until Zhongli can sink his strong, slender fingers into the soft brown waves. While he doesn't go so far as to yank on it, he doesn't bother with building up to anything; he simply tightens his grip, pulling on the strands with steady, even pressure. If the bite got such a positive reaction he expects Childe will only enjoy more of the same.
Still, they are only supposed to be making out. If they continue at this pace they're going to overshoot that mark by a considerable margin—far from an unappealing option, but he wonders how much Childe agrees. ]
[ Childe is the kind of person who will take a mile if given an inch. Sure, they're just supposed to be making out. He keeps that in his mind, but he also wonders how far he can push. That's just his nature, always trying to find the boundaries so he can break through them.
Of course he's not hard to read here; Zhongli's hand in tight in his hair gets a pleased sort of hum. If he could get any closer, he would. Since he's already this close, most of what he can do is hold on. His hand clenches in the fabric where it rests against the archon's back.
He stays in that kiss for awhile, content to let their tongues dance. He's not pushing for control but he's not ceding it either, not entirely. Eventually he has to breathe, so he pulls away enough to gasp a breath. He forces his hand to unclench. ]
I could do more than kiss you. Probably take longer than seven minutes, though.
[ An offered whisper, his mouth still very close to Zhongli's. He doubts the people outside the closet will mind. ]
[ After how fast they rushed to get here, the slow, drawn out kiss is an outright indulgent plateau. Zhongli is in no rush to resume the climb, and so he doesn't break off until Childe does. The offer gets a soft, amused exhale that falls just short of a laugh from Zhongli—but when he pulls back just a little further there's no denying the heat in his gaze. ]
And you're eager enough to do them you'll risk being interrupted?
[ He expects that once they're done, the closet door will be flung open as abruptly as it was slammed shut. Not that Zhongli seems wholly opposed to that idea. Unlike Childe, Zhongli does not force his hand to unclench, keeping it anchored in the soft brown strands. He finally finally loosens the grip his other hand has on Childe's wrist, but only so that he can reach up to skim his fingers over the other man's collarbones. ]
[ Childe just absorbs that look, Zhongli's attention on him. He's suddenly sorry they're not somewhere more appropriate than a closet that someone could yank open at any moment.
He shrugs a shoulder. ]
I mean, I don't really mind an audience.
[ He's not all talk, but he is teasing.
His eyes flutter closed for just a second at that touch. A smirk that's all confidence creeps onto his face. ]
I didn't hear you object.
[ The timer is still going down somewhere that he isn't keeping track of himself, which he knows. He leans in that minute amount and kisses Zhongli again, just a soft kiss this time that ends not long after it begins. ]
[ Object? Zhongli chuckles, letting himself enjoy that brief kiss from Chuuya before he responds. He might be holding his composure relatively well, but he knows the state he's in right now. There's no sense in denying the obvious, so he doesn't bother trying. ]
Anything worth having is worth waiting for—and I'd rather ensure that we're not interrupted.
[ He curls his fingers and applies careful pressure to Childe's skin, turning that light touch to the collarbone into a light scratch. ]
I want you to have plenty of time to show me what you're capable of.
[ Childe's eyebrows go up a little at that. Of course Zhongli wants to wait. The difference in their level of patience is a yawning chasm.
But the revelation that the former archon might want him is…something he'll assess later. ]
You telling me I'm worth waiting for?
[ His voice is low, barely more than a whisper. Why deal with his own complicated feelings when he can tease instead! ]
Fair point, though. I'd hate to rush. Wouldn't want you to think I'm sloppy.
[ He sucks in a shaky breath at that scratch, the bite of not-really-pain on his skin. Then his mouth is back on Zhongli's, because that's what this game is supposed to be, regardless of how much further Childe would take it. ]
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I have no reason to doubt my own capabilities.
[ And he thinks Childe doesn't have a reason to doubt them either—but that's Childe for you. Always looking for a fight even when there's none to be found. Zhongli doesn't make a habit of accepting, but in this case...
He steps closer. He and Childe are close in height, so there's no need to bend down. He simply tilts his head, leans in, and presses their lips together. ]
no subject
Sometimes he longs to see that expression tip into something else, something obvious. Anger would be fine, he thinks, in that part of himself that wants to literally fight a god. Other things would be fine, too. That little amusement will do for now. Zhongli's hand is on his neck and he's an idiot to think he could win any type of fight, metaphorical or otherwise, with the former Geo Archon.
That's the best kind of fight to have, though.
Childe's lips are still smiling when Zhongli leans in to catch them. He returns the kiss immediately, free arm sliding around Zhongli's waist. He has to resist the urge to pull himself completely flush against him. They have seven minutes, but only one of them has patience and it's not Childe. The tension there in his arm as he resists the urge for the next three seconds or so is probably obvious. ]
no subject
But Childe hadn't, and now he's able to consider the prospect of taking control of the pace. Zhongli offers a brief, thoughtful hum into the kiss. He breaks away after a moment, but only so that he can catch Childe's bottom lip between his teeth, giving him a sharp little nip in between kisses.
And, of course, if Childe waits much longer to pull him closer, Zhongli will simply take another half step forward to close the gap. ]
no subject
His restraint only lasts so long, really. Zhongli steps closer and Childe is there to meet him. This isn't a fight, but it requires the same sort of responding to movement. One hand moves down to the small of Zhongli's back, pressing them together.
Their lips are pressed together again and Childe pushes for more, tongue sliding between Zhongli's lips. He can't forget who he's kissing and lose himself in it entirely, which could become a problem later on, perhaps. For now it's whatever! It's just seven minutes. He hopes that holding back for that first few seconds wins him some points. He's aware that Zhongli is patient, so surely he can appreciate this much.
Not that he needs to impress Zhongli. That definitely isn't a thing. Obviously. ]
no subject
Zhongli happily parts his lips for Childe's tongue, enjoying the heat even as he responds in kind. The hand on Childe's neck slides up until Zhongli can sink his strong, slender fingers into the soft brown waves. While he doesn't go so far as to yank on it, he doesn't bother with building up to anything; he simply tightens his grip, pulling on the strands with steady, even pressure. If the bite got such a positive reaction he expects Childe will only enjoy more of the same.
Still, they are only supposed to be making out. If they continue at this pace they're going to overshoot that mark by a considerable margin—far from an unappealing option, but he wonders how much Childe agrees. ]
no subject
Of course he's not hard to read here; Zhongli's hand in tight in his hair gets a pleased sort of hum. If he could get any closer, he would. Since he's already this close, most of what he can do is hold on. His hand clenches in the fabric where it rests against the archon's back.
He stays in that kiss for awhile, content to let their tongues dance. He's not pushing for control but he's not ceding it either, not entirely. Eventually he has to breathe, so he pulls away enough to gasp a breath. He forces his hand to unclench. ]
I could do more than kiss you. Probably take longer than seven minutes, though.
[ An offered whisper, his mouth still very close to Zhongli's. He doubts the people outside the closet will mind. ]
no subject
And you're eager enough to do them you'll risk being interrupted?
[ He expects that once they're done, the closet door will be flung open as abruptly as it was slammed shut. Not that Zhongli seems wholly opposed to that idea. Unlike Childe, Zhongli does not force his hand to unclench, keeping it anchored in the soft brown strands. He finally finally loosens the grip his other hand has on Childe's wrist, but only so that he can reach up to skim his fingers over the other man's collarbones. ]
no subject
He shrugs a shoulder. ]
I mean, I don't really mind an audience.
[ He's not all talk, but he is teasing.
His eyes flutter closed for just a second at that touch. A smirk that's all confidence creeps onto his face. ]
I didn't hear you object.
[ The timer is still going down somewhere that he isn't keeping track of himself, which he knows. He leans in that minute amount and kisses Zhongli again, just a soft kiss this time that ends not long after it begins. ]
no subject
Anything worth having is worth waiting for—and I'd rather ensure that we're not interrupted.
[ He curls his fingers and applies careful pressure to Childe's skin, turning that light touch to the collarbone into a light scratch. ]
I want you to have plenty of time to show me what you're capable of.
no subject
But the revelation that the former archon might want him is…something he'll assess later. ]
You telling me I'm worth waiting for?
[ His voice is low, barely more than a whisper. Why deal with his own complicated feelings when he can tease instead! ]
Fair point, though. I'd hate to rush. Wouldn't want you to think I'm sloppy.
[ He sucks in a shaky breath at that scratch, the bite of not-really-pain on his skin. Then his mouth is back on Zhongli's, because that's what this game is supposed to be, regardless of how much further Childe would take it. ]