Thread by @kelico_kx

🐉🐳 #ZhongChi dragon/narwhal royalty au.

The first time he laid eyes on the creature, the young dragon thought that his eyes had deceived him. Auburn hair like autumn leaves and a smooth, slender back dipped in cold waters.

"What are you doing in the palace lake..?" he asked.

The little narwhal perks at the voice and tilts his head. For a moment, their eyes met.

A young narwhal and a boy who stands above earth, without fins and clad in a hanfu of brown and gold.

Ajax purses his lips and abruptly turns on his tail to dive away. Surprised, the dragon lifts his hands from the sleeves of his outfit and steps out.

"Wait," Zhongli called. He only wanted to greet him. He didn't mean to scare —

A loud splash echoed in the garden. The lake is deep and water seeps into his outfit quickly, weighing him down like a literal rock. Zhongli snaps his lips shut and furrows his brows. While dragons are resilient, it will take a bit of effort to return to land.

What a blunder.

Zhongli squints at the darkness that surrounds him and sweep at the waters. To his surprise, a pale figure quickly approaches. Like a puzzle, Ajax's hand fill the gaps between his fingers perfectly. And while he stares at the blue in his eyes,

the little narwhal shoots back with a look of worry.

"Do you need my help?" he asks. Zhongli blinks back in return. Without much thought, he nods his head to say yes. The narwhal fans his fins and quickly pulls him onto the shore.

It took several coughs to expel the water from his lungs. Zhongli breathes out a relieved sigh and pushes back his wet locks. He hears a small, splashing noise and tilts his head back. It's the narwhal with the lower half of his body tucked.

Ajax look at him with anticipation.

"Thank you," was the only thing that the dragon thought to say before he adds, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you back then."

Ajax tilts his head, "but I'm not scared? You just look funn-I mean, 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵, with those horns and fangs. What are you, anyway?"

Zhongli hums in return. It's not every day that signs of royalty are pointed out in such a crude way. Not that he minded his words.

"I'm a dragon," he answered, "so what is a narwhal doing here in the palace lake?"

"I'm hiding," Ajax murmurs. He dips his head and frowns, "don't tell anyone but my parents want me to marry the prince of Liyue."

Ah.

Zhongli nods his head in understanding. Truth be told, he did not know what to think of it either. But Liyue's prosperity comes first.

"And why does that displeases you?" the dragon questioned. As far as he's aware, Liyue is flourishing. His country is continuously expanding by vanquishing evil gods from the surrounding land. So for what reason could the narwhal be so upset —

"Because Liyue is hot and It's drying up my scales! And my mother said that the prince hates seafood! What kind of person hates fish—? What if he hates me too!?"

Ajax fans his tail angrily, the small fat of his cheeks rounding as he puffs them in annoyance.

"Also, I heard that he likes antiques and birds. He's a kid too but he sounds like an old man!" Ajax huffs.

Zhongli parts his lips before closing them quietly. Those are rather detailed descriptions of him and... all of them are true.

Except for the part where he hates his fiance, of course. If anything, he finds the other to be rather cute and pretty.

Though he seems to be a little headstrong and childish, it only adds to his charm (much like an unpolished gem).

"I bet he's weak and he'll even lose in a fight with me."

Ajax murmurs dejectedly. Just the thought of it is enough to reduce the narwhal into tears. For reasons unbeknownst to the dragon, that seems to be the part that upsets the boy the most.

Zhongli takes his hand and holds them firmly. The little lizard part of his brain thinking that it would make his fiance change his mind, even if just a little.

"That's not true. My parents are dragons too and they'd never lost a single fight."

"The prince may be lacking but he'll make you proud one day. I'm sure of it," he assures. Being a child himself, he struggles to find ways to comfort the other, "...also, he only hates slimy creatures and not necessarily whales so you're alright."

Zhongli wants to pinch himself.

In hindsight, he should begin to talk to other children his age. Otherwise, he has no choice but to try and stoop to childish consolation.

"...Okay," Ajax mutters in return. The dragon snaps his attention back, surprise that he had appeased the boy.

And it hit him then — that a promise is but a form of verbal contract. Zhongli had just sworn to be worthy of his fiance. These hands which are slightly smaller may be his to hold, and the silly little grin on his face will also be his to protect.

His lovely narwhal mate.

Oh, the realisation made his little dragon mind shuts down. That is, until Ajax snaps him from his reverie.

"Anyway, aren't you going to thank me?" Ajax said, the notion confusing the dragon further. Was his earlier gratitude not enough?

Zhongli lowers his hand and said, "do you wish to have it in monetary terms?"

In that case, he only need a second to mint some mora. Ajax shakes his head in return, "No. I meant, we usually kiss the younger ones when we thank them. Everyone in my family does it."

The narwhal sets his palms down and leans in. Droplets of water adorn his eyelashes as he closes his eyes.

Zhongli felt the light thumps in his heart. Though hesitant, he carefully cups the narwhal's cheek and places a quick peck on his lips.

Ajax bats his eyes at the kiss. It's usually done on the cheek but up close, and as the dragon pulls away, his eyes are warm like sunsets. The narwhal hums in approval.

It was nice.

And since the dragon had comforted him, he'll peck his cheek in return.

"Tell your prince to see me again when he's stronger. If not, I'll marry another dragon instead."

Ajax smirks. It's an empty promise but a deterrent of sorts. Maybe that boring dragon will give up on him then. He flicks the end of his tail at the thought.

~~

It's only fifteen years later that the narwhal returns to the land of gold, clad in extravagant layers and jewels for the inevitable marriage. The boy had matured and resigned to his fate for the betterment of his nation.

A warrior for the dragon of war and contracts. It doesn't sound too bad. Except for the fact that deep inside, Ajax loathes the thought of serving another country as the decorated mate of their king.

Ajax inhales deeply. As he takes his unhurried steps on the aisle, he casts his head down and thought of the cute dragon that he met when he was little. He wanted to be his friend, wanted to tell the boy that he meant he looked cool instead of funny.

But now that he's with his soon-to-be husband, the narwhal dreams of returning to sea. And if he hears even one comment about his clumsy steps then Ajax swears to punch the dragon right at the center of his royal face —

The ceremony begins and his veil is removed. The hands of the king is as warm as rock bathed in gentle sunlight, yet holding his firmly. And if the earth were to crumble beneath his feet — then his groom will be the bedrock that he needs.

Ajax stills at the sight. How perfect they fit like they'd always known to belong.

"I've missed you," whispers a smooth timbre from the dragon's lips.

Zhongli wore a smile that brightens the entire hall, the creases by his eyes adorning familiar halos of gold.

Ajax holds a breath.

"From the day that we've met," the dragon lowers his head and kisses the hands of his beloved, "...I knew that I had to be worthy of you, Ajax."

|| end! i'd write a full fic with childhood teasing and first night nsfw but maybe on another day... *throws self back to resting jail* 😔🙏🏻