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The first time Zhongli sees it, he doesn’t think twice. It’s common enough for part-animal humans to exist, especially given the adepti, and it’s likely enough that Snezhnaya has fox-people just as Mondstadt has cat-people.
It’s only a week later when they meet for their first business dinner that he notices Childe’s ears are human. Perhaps he chooses to hide his features? Then why even keep the tail? Either way, Zhongli decides it’s none of his business what Childe chooses to do with his animal features. So, he doesn’t question it.
Until a few more weeks later he finds that Childe’s tail is gone when he passes by him in the market. He’s next to the traveler, clearly headed to go spar, but his trademark tail is missing. Zhongli ponders why his tail’s existence could be so sporadic when finally he notices the pattern.
His tail only appears when Childe is out with him.
In the few times that Zhongli has caught him coming off work or runs into him coincidentally on the street, the tail is never there.
But, when they go for dinners, it always is.
It’s adorable, Zhongli thinks, that Childe loses control enough to show his tail unconsciously while with Zhongli.
And he understands completely. After all, the urge to mate the beautiful ginger pushes his draconic features to come out too, though he has enough restraint to wait until he’s home alone to reveal them.
Again, he lets it go.
Jump forward a few months and Childe and Zhongli are finally dating. They’re at a stage where Zhongli feels comfortable enough to raise his concerns around Childe.
“You don’t have to hide your fox features while with me, Childe. I won’t judge you for being yourself.
“What?” Childe’s flabbergast only serves to persuade Zhongli to continue.
“Though it may be subconscious, you reveal your tail when around me. I want you to know that you will be loved in your entirety, Childe. If that entails exposing all of your fox features, then so be it.”
For some reason, Childe blushes at the confession. Perhaps he is flustered? Zhongli moves to cup Childe’s face.
“T-that’s not really possible, Zhongli…”
“Why? Is there something to be ashamed of?” Zhongli strokes his tail lovingly, and Childe blushes even more. Aside from shifting a little, however, he displays no other sensitivity to the touch.
“Childe?”
Childe takes a deep breath.
“Zhongli…I’m not really a fox hybrid…” Childe says, his eyes focused on the floor.
Zhongli is more confused than ever before.
“How so?”
“I may have a tail in me, but it’s not…attached”
Zhongli trails his hand to the base of the tail and gives it a light tug.
“I’m fairly certain-” Zhongli starts but he cuts himself off. He feels the base again, this time tugging it harder.
“You…” Zhongli’s eyes dilate when the realization hits him. Immediately, he presses Childe chest-first into their nearest wall.
“You wore a plug,” Zhongli pulls even harder at the tail, “to every single one of our meetings?”
Childe struggles to think over Zhongli’s ruthless attacks, his hole constantly clenching against his will to keep the plug inside him.
“I- ahh…It was just in case.”
“Just in case what, my dear?” Zhongli switches directions and pushes the plug in hard, pinpointing Childe’s prostate with deadly accuracy.
“In case- hahh more~ in case you finally decided to fuck me over the table like- mmm~ we both wanted.”
“You prepared yourself so well for me. Stretched open every night because you wanted to be mine”
Childe nods between moans, his knees weak. He only now realizes that Zhongli has his own dragon-like tail out, curling around Childe’s waist to keep him held against the wall, and that he sports golden antlers atop his head.
“I should get you a choker, huh? Perfect for my little pet.”
Zhongli presses Childe further forward, ensuring that the only stimulation his cock gets is from the wall. It makes Childe feel filthy.
“Yes ahh~ please, more~”
Zhongli rips out the plug without warning, replacing it with two of his fingers.
“Should I fuck you right here? Make you cum from humping the wall, sheathed on me so you can never forget?” Zhongli whispers right into his ear.
“Yes, archons, please yes.” Childe’s eyes nearly roll back at the thought.
Zhongli begins sucking on his neck, leaving mark after mark as if leaving a collar of his own to substitute. The length of Zhongli’s fingers drives Childe crazy. They hit deeper than he could ever reach.
With all the stimulation, Childe can feel his orgasm fast approaching. He tightens, sucking Zhongli’s fingers in more and more until-
Until his fingers are gone once again, replaced by the cold hard metal of the plug.
Childe could cry.
Zhongli only smiles, giving him one last kiss to bruise his lips.
“Maybe later, my love.” Zhongli wipes his hand on a nearby towel while Childe struggles to gain his footing.
“For now, we have a play to catch.”