Work Text:
Heal My Broken Soul
Chapter 1
After reassures Guizhong he will be fine on his own, his beloved little sister still keeps fretting him on his crutches, his appearance, his personal belongings... Everything about HIM, mostly.
Guizhong lets out an unsatisfied huff, "Are you sure about this? There's nothing here. Just rows and rows of mundane terrace houses. And blocks of empty spaces filled with unused metal pillars," she scrunches her nose in disdain.
Zhongli can't help but smiles gently at her, "I wouldn't asked you to drive all the way here 3 hours straight if I weren't. Do you really distrust my ability to handle things on my own?"
Silence falls. The quiet humming sound of Guizhong's sedan is the only background noise.
They both know what the answer is, they just didn't have the guts to say it out loud. Despite being the youngest of the two, Guizhong is the most active, outgoing, says-what-she-means-means-what-she-says kind of extrovert. She is always protective over Zhongli. Fawning over him like a mother hen.
As a result, their parents nicknamed her the 'Fierce Tiger Sister' out of endearment.
For their eldest son however...... He is the complete opposite of his sibling.
Gentle, kind, patient, quiet, a naive introvert... Perhaps too naive to their family's liking, which almost caused Zhongli to fall into dangerous territory at times.
In her cracking heart, Guizhong knew her brother fell into the biggest trap of all after their debut at Celestia Entertainment.
'Pillow Business' is not uncommon amongst their occupation as idols, but she abhors it with a venomous passion. Some desperate entertainment companies such as theirs would sometimes 'rent out' their idols to anyone who can afford one night of sex like how a brothel keeper does to prostitutes; if the client is rich enough, powerful enough, who manages to afford the 'set package' for one night stands, those companies will be stuffed for life.
In Zhongli's case, he was the MAIN course.
A bright, shining star since even their debut days, Zhongli already surpassed everyone's expectations. The 'Idol of Idols' they called him. A living prodigy in the entertainment world. The fastest person to rise to fame; the most beloved idol of the century; one of the most attractive idols to be sought after; the king among idols... But those were just fancy words to cover up the ugliest parts of the industry.
Anyone who has a pair of eyes can see how otherworldly his beauty is; and that is why the hungry pack of wolves, no matter where in Teyvat, be it politicians, businessmen, artists, and even nobles of royal blood secretly booked their already packed schedules just to have Zhongli to satisfy their sick, sexual desires.
Although naive, Zhongli wasn’t an idiot.
He volunteered without question after his manager blatantly suggested the ‘Pillow Business’ to him; sealing his fate as a part-time sex slave to whomever was eager to defile his body in whatever or any way they want. He would often remind himself everyday like a mantra that he was doing this for their company, for the staff, for the Mora, for the other rising idols in their company… For Guizhong. Until the day he stops reminding himself of the reason why and shuts himself off completely to function like Morax, the perfect idol whom everybody loves and praises.
Oh, Guizhong knew this, of course. She wasn’t deaf to the gossip her colleagues spread inside the company, in fact, the whole company staff knew this dirty ‘secret’. They were just too shy or too embarrassed to say it out loud. She knew her beloved brother sacrificed his body, his soul… His sanity just so others don’t become another sacrificial lamb for wolves.
Guizhong was furious. No. She was pissed beyond comprehension. Not because of Zhongli’s sacrifice… It’s because of her uselessness to do anything about it.
Zhongli lets out a surprised gasp before he calms himself down as Guizhong suddenly envelops him in her embrace. He closes his eyes and returns it in kind; despite both crutches still strapped firmly across his arms.
A loud wet sniff sounded from the back of his right ear, gold eyes open again as Zhongli tilts his head to the side, confusion and worry obvious upon his frowning face, as the body of his sister begins to shake the moment she starts to cry.
“Guizhong…? Why are you crying?”
To be honest, she has no idea why she’s crying either. Maybe it’s the way her older brother’s deep, soothing voice asked her for her well-being; so tender and caring, like how their mother would to them.
Or maybe…
This feels as if it's the last time she’ll be seeing her brother, here… Whole. And alive.
She quickly shrugs off the negative thought before she pulls away from Zhongli, putting up a bright sunny smile and says, “It’s because you’re my dumb brother, that’s why!”
As payment, Guizhong receives her brother’s wrath.
By flicking a forefinger on top of her forehead.
Guizhong covers it with both of her hands in an instant, “Yee-ouch!!! Hey, that hurts, you know!” Her eyes squeezed shut as she howled out in pain.
She looks up at her brother and is prepared for his long lecture on her lack of proper manners when her eyes widen only to be greeted by Zhongli’s warm, gentle kiss on top of her head.
He whispers out, “I love you, my dearest sister.”
Her mind immediately went blank, its motor functions ceased to work properly. Damn it! She’s taking the blame all on her brother who knows how to push every single button of hers! She’s not gonna cry! She’s NOT gonna cry!
“You’re crying.”
Fuck it.
“Hmph! Meanie! I’ll ignore all your calls and see who’s gonna come fetch your sorry ass!” Guizhong pouts and turns away like a little tempered-princess, much to Zhongli’s amusement.
“Our guest has arrived, my lords.”
“Thank you, Ajax. You can prepare the pillows and drinks for him now before he enters.”
“Yes, my lord.”
After a respectful bow, while his right hand places on his heart in front of his temporary masters, Ajax rushes into the kitchen, searching out all the noted ingredients specifically for this particular guest by memory.
The two lords of the house then face one another as the taller one, Kim Namjoon, instructs his youngest to take the lead.
Jeon Jeongguk, still fresh and new to the world of the supernatural, hesitates a little before he asks the Dragon Emperor, “Do you think I’m ready for this, Hyung?”
Namjoon gives him an encouraging squeeze on his shoulder, he smiles and replies, “Of course you are. You’ve proved yourself what you’re capable of over these years. Act like you always do to our every guest, just be yourself.”
Jeongguk lets out a hum, still feeling unsatisfied with the older man’s answer, a question that has been stuck on his mind for a while now, “Why me, Namjoon-hyung? Why not one of the rest of the Hyungs handle him?”
Namjoon lowers his head slightly, eyes glinting in a knowing look, “It’s because the customer we have now is similar to you from the past.”
Something clicks inside him. Ah, Jeongguk’s big doe eyes widens as he seems to understand now.
A rape victim.
The older male chuckles and shakes his head lightly, seeing his young lover looking so cute till he can’t help but raise his hand to ruffle his soft dark hair, much to the younger’s annoyance.
With Jeongguk’s history as a sex slave and his calming aura as the only descendant of Persephone, Namjoon concludes without a doubt that their youngest member can soothe away any anxiety and lowers any guarded emotions the customer have built around him.
Kim Namjoon sees Jeongguk in Zhongli.
Seokjin-hyung teased him for being a big softie for ‘Flower Boys’ a day ago, aaaaand… He’s not wrong though.
The Dragon Emperor can only stand guard and take action should anything happen to any of them at the last minute.
Hopefully, their temporary resident butler slash warrior, who’s currently oblivious to their plan, will have his chance on wooing the attractive former idol.
Most importantly, all seven of them were already placing bets on when, what, and how Ajax would court Zhongli.