Chapter Text
“Congratulations, you two!”
A round of warm applause and cheers greet the two newly-weds. Arm in arm, Zhongli, the CEO of Golden House Inc., and Childe (or Ajax), the CEO of MonoCaeli Publishing, enters the large living room where their two families congregated. To the left was Childe’s family coming all the way from Snezhnaya and to the right was Zhongli’s parents, relatives, and close associates. They all smiled and congratulated the two, shaking their hands and patting their backs.
“Congratulations, both of you! I hope you will still drop by Wanmin Restaurant! I know Mister Childe knows how to cook, but you’re always welcome back!” Xiangling says, holding a popper in her hands. By her feet is her friendly Golden Retriever named Guoba. Guoba hops on their laps, licking both of their faces. Zhongli chuckles and pats the excited dog, Childe nuzzling its soft fur.
“Of course we will drop by Wanmin, Miss Xiangling. Childe still needs to learn how to properly use chopsticks without stabbing himself on the hand, after all,” Zhongli cheekily replies, earning a playful jab from his husband. “Hey! I can use chopsticks already without hurting myself!” Childe defends himself, huffing and puffing his chest. Someone snickers from behind Xiangling.
“Uh-huh yeah remember that one time your chopsticks went out of your hand and hit me in the face?”
Childe grins. A familiar figure appears from behind the young chef, and he stands up to hug the man. “Маленький Сяо (little Xiao)~! I never thought you’d be here!” Childe slings an arm around the shorter male’s shoulder, earning him a distasteful glare. “Hmph of course, I’ll be here. Zhongli is my cousin, so I would naturally be here— HEY DID YOU JUST CURSE AT ME?”
Teucer, one of Childe’s younger siblings, shouts from a distance, “Big brother called you little, Mister Xiao!”
Xiao whips his head to face the chuckling husband of his cousin, growling. The said husband removes his hand quickly and runs away, laughing. The shorter male hisses and makes a dash for it, eyes locked and loaded on his prey. “Come back here, you! My cousin won’t save you from your death!”
Zhongli chuckles. Xiangling waves at him before skipping over to his relatives with Guoba on her tail. The newly-wed CEO of one of Liyue’s strongest manufacturing companies settles back on the soft couch, watching their two families mingle together.
He and Childe had met on a faithful rainy day in Liyue. Childe was on a business trip, walking aimlessly around the streets of Liyue until he had stumbled upon him in a Mora Meat stall. Zhongli had forgotten his wallet (again) and was getting an earful from the middle-aged lady manning the stall until Childe had come to his rescue and offered to pay for his meal. From then on, they had bonded over meals for two months until he left for Snezhnaya again.
They were friends only, casually eating in expensive restaurants and taking strolls around the city until both of their mothers had caught wind of their friendship. They were too… excited about the prospect of tying both of their families together. Childe did not mind marrying out of obligation, stating that it was a good opportunity for both of their families and their businesses but to Zhongli, marriage was… a big thing. As much as it sounded childish to others, he believed in love for marriage.
Well, it’s not like it's a problem for him, specifically. Truth be told, he loves Ajax ever since he decided to give him a pair of ornate chopsticks. He knew that the man was the one for him, and his omega within him knew it as well. A strong Alpha like Childe was the right person for him. Zhongli wouldn’t get tired of smelling his scent of the sea. It always calms him down.
What he’s sadly pondering over right now is the fact that he’s 80% sure that Childe does not love him back. Childe had made it clear many times that he saw Zhongli as a friend or a close associate, nothing else. He wagers that even his husband doesn’t know of his feelings for him. Zhongli sighs, closing his eyes. He’ll think about that after this gathering.
The couch beside him dips and he opens his eyes to see Ganyu, one of his other cousins, taking a seat beside him. She places a hand over him, smiling slightly sadly. She knew of his inner turmoil about his feelings with Childe, and he trusts her to keep that secret. “Thinking about the marriage, dear cousin?” she asks. Zhongli frowns and looks down at their hands.
“... You know me too well, biao mei . I mean I’m happy that we’re finally together, but the ceremony later…”
The ceremony, or the mating ceremony, is where alpha and omega become bonded and mated for life by biting on the omega’s scent gland. It was a semi-public ceremony only close friends, associates, and family are allowed to attend and watch. Nothing too fancy, just the alpha finally bonding with their omega.
His cousin squeezes his hand, showing a small smile. “We’ll be here with every decision you make, dear cousin. Please remember that—”
“ZHONGLI MY DEAR!”
“Ah, Miss Anna—!”
Childe’s mother, Anna, hugs him from behind. She giggles and separates from him, patting his shoulder. “Have you and my сын (son) decided on how many grandchildren you will give me?” she asks, her face telling him that she’s expecting a good answer. Ganyu nervously giggles beside him, and Zhongli feels like passing out.
“C-Childe and I haven’t talked about the specifics yet, Miss Anna,” Zhongli replies, straining his face to smile. Anna pouts at his and the newlywed gulps. “I-I mean, Ajax and I probably plan to have three pups—”
“THREE PUPS? NO NO, NO DEAR ZHONGLI, THAT’S NOT ENOUGH!”
Everyone quiets down and looks at the three, Zhongli squirming at the sudden attention and Ganyu tightly squeezing his hand. Oh, dear Rex Lapis…
“Мама? What’s wrong?” Childe approaches them, snaking an arm around his mother’s shoulder. Anna shakes her head and glares at Childe, eyes burning with determination. She clutches his shirt by the collar and hoists him up like it’s nothing. Everyone watches in fear as she growls at him, despite being an omega herself.
“What’s wrong? WHAT’S WRONG? YOU AND ZHONGLI HAVE DECIDED ON ONLY THREE PUPS?”
Childe chuckles nervously, looking at Zhongli for clarification but sadly gets a shake of the head. The alpha gulps and places both of his hands over his mother’s hands that are gripping his shirt tight. “Мама, c’mon we—”
“Ajax. You listen to me, мой сын. You’re giving me six —no, more than six grandchildren and that’s final,” Anna growls, her emerald orbs burning into her son.
Childe nods, fearing for his life. Funny how his mother, an omega, is making him an alpha scared to death. “Y-Yes, Мама…”
The bonding ceremony is a simple ceremony. Zhongli had been to Ganyu’s bonding ceremony with one of his friends, Keqing. He had also been to a certain bard’s bonding ceremony in Mondstadt when he bonded to a famous winery tycoon. The alpha bites the omega’s scent gland and people clap and congratulate them. There wasn’t anything to be nervous about.
But for the CEO of a manufacturing company, his legs feel like they don’t work the moment the bed for their ceremony is before him. Childe is beside him holding his hand while whistling a cheery tune. “You feeling alright, Zhongli?”
Said man nods but doesn’t look directly at him. “Yes, I-I am,” he stutters a bit, and he feels his husband look at him dubiously. It was ridiculous, why was he even nervous?
Perhaps it’s because you’ve been waiting for something like this for your entire life? His mind supplies. The CEO gulps and bites the inside of his mouth in an attempt to ground himself to reality. Calm down… calm down…
“C’mon, I’ll face them if it makes you that nervous,” Childe says and tugs at their joined hands towards the bed. Zhongli sees his cousins eye him and his parents looking at him expectantly. It was now or never.
They both kneel on the soft mattress, Zhongli refusing to look towards his husband. They kneel in front of each other for a while, their hands on their laps until Childe places a hand on one of his trembling hands. The former looks up and finds his heartbeat racing as his new husband shows him a soft smile. A smile perhaps that no one has ever seen before, judging by Childe’s family letting soft gasps at his expression.
“Let me take care of you, Zhongli... Let yourself go and I’ll love you with all my heart,” he whispers, one hand caressing his cheeks. Zhongli chokes out a sob and closes his eyes, letting a tear slip. All of his insecurities and worries evaporated away at his husband's simple words.
He was stupid. Stupid, stupid Zhongli.
“Please… take care of me, Ajax.”
Childe pulls him into a hug, wrapping his hands around his curvaceous waist. Zhongli slips both of his arms under Childe, clutching onto him as if he was his lifeline and Zhongli is drowning in his feelings. It was as if he was saved, and all he wanted to do was to stay in this embrace.
His husband nuzzles his neck, licking his scent gland to prepare him for the bite. A few moments later, the other CEO gasps as sharp teeth bury themselves in his scent gland, an explosive warm sensation spreading through his body.
"H-Haah~!" Zhongli lets out a mewl, throwing his head back. His tongue lolls out, his cheeks flushing at the multitude of sensations he's feeling right now. For a moment, he forgets that their families are watching their every move.
The fangs deepen, sending Zhongli further into the headspace. Why didn't this happen to Venti and Ganyu when they got bit? Why was his… body feeling strange? Why was everything becoming warm all of a sudden?
In a haze, he could hear several voices but their voices are muddled in the face of pleasure. His eyes start to have a tinge of blurriness, his crotch beginning to tighten within the confines of his pants. The fangs retreat from his scent gland and Zhongli lets out a whine at the loss of the sharp teeth.
A few moments later, Zhongli could feel his body being carried, almost as if he was light as a feather. He clutches onto the strong, muscled body, his omega preening at the warmth.
"We have to… he's…in heat... a few days…"
"Penthouse… near Yujing Terrace… stay safe…"
Zhongli nuzzles into his mate's neck, letting himself be wrapped in the scent of the sea. There's a soft growl from Childe, the vibration from his chest sending shivers down his spine. All he wanted was to be with Childe… to hug him and to kiss his little freckles on his cheeks. He wants to serve him breakfast, lunch, and dinner like a proper housewife. Oh, he wanted to be his husband's best trophy wife that he would proudly show to his business partners whenever they attend a gala.
Ah, what an honor to serve his Alpha. Zhongli grins, nipping on his husband's neck.
"Hold… tight… baobei…"