Work Text:
“ah, indeed,” zhongli sighs with a fond smile, looking down at you with pure adoration in his eyes. this wasn’t the first time you fell asleep on him like this, seated in his lap while still at his quaint little office at the wangsheng funeral parlor. “you’ve done it again, dearest,” he muses to himself, stroking your hair.
today was one of those days in which you craved his company. earlier, you came into his office, telling him you wanted to watch him work and promising you wouldn’t disturb him. as always, he had no qualms about it, calmly gesturing for you to sit on his lap. he carefully reviewed the small pile of papers on his desk, all while somehow being able to listen attentively to your words.
you talked to him (upon his insistence, of course, you would not ramble to him unsolicitedly so…) of everything that troubled you and all you had done during the time you hadn’t been able to see him. you recount to him how certain occurrences kept you from sleeping the night prior, but that you were just glad to be with him.
“i feel like i’m the one that’s doing all the talking. what about you?” you prompt after a while, looking up at him with genuine interest and a loving glance.
“dearest, i have done nothing of note. you know my line of work is not the most interesting or pleasant to discuss either,” he tells you, his rich and deep voice reverberating across the small space. of course, he never meant to hide anything from you, but he was merely stating the truth.
“would you rather i tell you a story? then we can enjoy some tea together,” he suggests, his hand coming to rest on your back ever so naturally as if its designated place was right under your waist.
“i’d like that,” you nod with mild eagerness, quickly requesting he recounts to you a story he’s never told you about, itching for novelty. zhongli can never deny you, acquiescing to your every whim. he carefully shifted you so that you would be closer to his chest, his arm wrapped around your waist.
he told you legends and tales of days long gone, answered your every question and gingerly rubbed circles on your skin with the pads of his fingers. he slowed his pace intentionally, his voice soothingly calm by your ear. and so, you fell asleep to the sound and vibration of his silky, rich baritone. he kept talking, until you were soundly asleep on his chest, looking so at ease he couldn’t bring himself to rise to his feet so soon.
he watched you with a fond smile for a few more minutes, pressing a light kiss to the crown of your head before swiftly placing you on the couch across his desk. he was careful, slow and steady as he adjusted the cushions under your head. zhongli was as silent as humanly possible while placing his coat above you, and his touch was featherlight as it pushed little hairs away from your forehead.
he was content with watching you rest as much as he enjoyed the melody that is your voice. you’ve done much these days, doing all you must and beyond when time allotted it. the slow and languid rise of your chest with each breath you’d take, a little twitch of your fingers- anything you did, really - had him mesmerized. he remained by your side for another minute, admiring your peaceful complexion.
he was glad you were sleeping, resting for a while. tea and work could come later. a faint, yet fond, smile rests on his lips, citrine eyes glowing with adoration. a discreet whisper breaks the silence in the small chamber, and the silence returns as quickly as it was broken.
“sleep well, my dear.”