Chapter Text
Ajax is struggling
Financially.
Grades wise? Top of the class, probably gonna be cum laude at this point.
But financially?
"That would be 500 mora in total sir."
He's fucked
And the job in the convenience store barely pays enough, but he knows he'll manage, by the scrape of his teeth.
But even when he's so fucking miserable, this guy,
"I erm, am sorry, Ajax, I seem to forget my wallet, again."
Just needs to fucking make him more miserable.
He didn't always forget his wallet of course, the man is probably what he would call a regular, every other day he'll see him, same time too, 8 pm.
It's only when he sees Zhongli for the 10th time (what do you mean he's counting? He is not counting) when he start to forget his wallet.
And honestly, it's his own fault that made him stand in his own grave.
Zhongli, he knows the guy's name from how frequent he had been coming here.
And from how frequent he had start to ask for Ajax to pay.
"Again?"
Even though he looks pretty well off, well, appearance-wise he looks pretty modest, except for that watch.
Fucking Rolex, Sky-Dweller series, that shit's worth like 500 million mora.
So why,
"Fine, you can pay me back later."
Is he paying for this guy?
Because he's down bad.
His friends call him stupid, because they know how much he is struggling yet he kept paying for this guy who owns a fucking Rolex.
Then again, it could be fake...But he doubt that's the case, even a fake one could be worth millions, he has an eye for detail, part of why he's a fashion major, and he sees the detailed craftsmanship from just a single glance.
Dark brown hair tied back in a low ponytail, piercing gold eyes accentuate with red eyeliner, and a tall broad frame, just a bit taller than Ajax himself, Ajax is already considered pretty tall, so for a guy to be taller than him is impressive.
And his heart always beat faster when he sees the man.
So yeah, he's down bad
And stupid.
"Here, don't forget to pay me back." he gave the man his things, honestly don't know why such a high-class man is even here, in a dingy convenience store by the side of a suspicious road.
Ah, maybe a mafia.
Whatever, none of his business.
Except he's curious, so when Zhongli comes around again, to buy some stuff yet again, and said in that deep baritone voice of his the usual words he will spout of
"I forgot my wallet yet again, Ajax, I am terribly sorry." while smiling sheepishly, instead of exasperatedly sighing at the man, he already knows what he would say in turn.
"Why don't we make a deal?" he proposed, Zhongli raised an eyebrow at that, "Answer my question and I'll pay for your stuff, for now, you still need to pay me back." he playfully glares.
And man
That laugh escaping from Zhongli's lips made his heart do somersaults.
"Very well, ask away, Ajax." and the way his name sounded from Zhongli sent some shivers down his spine.
"That Rolex, is it real?" he juts his chin, eyeing the watch, he is so damn curious about the veracity of it.
"Yes, it is." he looks surprised though.
"My boss...is the one to get it for me." oh, so he's not the one to buy it.
But then again, if he was given a Rolex worth 500 million mora, isn't he also supposed to be well off at least?
Oh well, he'll save that question for the next time.
"Alright, here." he pays for him yet again.
"That's all?" Zhongli raised an eyebrow, "For now, yeah." he shrugged, giving the other man his purchases.
And come the next time, Ajax asked him yet another question, because he didn't brought his wallet with him.
Again.
"That suit, Rex Lapis Co. Collection Spring this year?" he asked, pointing at the suit, he wants to touch it.
And Zhongli had offered, "Yes, it is given to me for a business meeting, you can touch the fabric if you want."
"S'cuse me..." and he did, touching it and seeing it is so different.
And he had unknowingly gone on a tangent mumble of how well the fabric is, he should take some notes.
And he did, flipping Zhongli's receipt and writing the details down, how it felt on his fingers, and more.
"It seems you are enamored by my blazer, I can give you it." Zhongli's comment made him snap out from his reverie.
"Don't bother, I just need 3000 mora from you, I'm not an important person, don't need a coat as fancy as that. Besides, pretty sure you shouldn't be giving out coats to random people when your company gives you that." he says, tugging away his notes.
"Here, your stuff." he gives the other his stuff, but instead of grabbing the plastic bag, Zhongli grasped at his wrist, pulling him over, he had to put his other hand to steady himself by the counter.
"I wouldn't say you are just a mere stranger, Ajax, you willingly pay for me, even though I haven't paid you back, certainly we are friends, no?" and Zhongli's scent of pine woods, glaze lilies and something that he couldn't quite call what invades his nose.
"T-Then shouldn't you pay me?" he blushed from their close proximity, but Zhongli only smiled sheepishly, caressed the back of his hand with his thumb, and left through the door with a "I will be sure to, Ajax."
It became something of a routine, Zhongli coming any other day, and he kept paying for the other.
"When will you be off, Ajax?" Zhongli asked when he had actually paid for his stuff, for once.
"Uhh, 30 minutes from now?" he looked at the clock.
"Are you up for dinner?" well, he already ate, but he's pretty hungry if he thinks about it.
"Uh, yeah, sure." he agrees, and they went out for dinner, nothing fancy, went to Wanmin, but the conversation is pleasant.
He learned more about Zhongli, and how he worked for a multi-million company, Rex Lapis Co.
Huh, pretty funny he has the same name as the owner.
Is that why he applied?
He'll save that question for later he thought.
While he had also told the other about his studies, "Ah, no wonder you were so detailed when you commented about my Rex Lapis Co. suit." Zhongli had mused.
"Ah, uh, yeah, I tend to go on a tangent when I saw something I don't normally see." he didn't tell the other about that one time he was chased out of Gucci for mumbling in some dark corner, the employees there probably thought he was chanting or some shit.
"It is somehow endearing, to see you so passionate about your studies, I like it." and the smile Zhongli had given him made him warm all over.
Zhongli paid for their meal, rare.
And when he was dropped by his apartment, they exchanged numbers then, he was feeling very bold when he leaned in to kiss the other's cheek, "Thanks for the meal." and he dashed out, leaving the other man behind.
He paid for Zhongli again when he went to the convenience store, and he barely can meet the other's eyes, sometimes, sometimes Ajax did some stupid shit, and just because he had kissed the other on the cheek, he can barely see his customer in the eye.
"H-Here, your stuff" he trained his eyes on the bag he is holding.
And Zhongli once again had latched out to his hand, pulling him closer.
"Do you not want to ask me a question?"
"N-No, for now."
"Then should I give you another means of payment?"
Before he could ask what, Zhongli had released his grip, only to circle the counter.
He placed Zhongli's stuff on top of the counter when he was caged in by the man.
"W-What"
"Nothing, I am simply observing how adorable you are."
And he raised his eyes to protest, just when Zhongli had leaned in to kiss him.
And honestly, the man is a good kisser, he wrapped his arms around the other's neck, pulling him closer, angling his neck to push him deeper.
"Damn, that was good." he breathlessly laughed, eyeing Zhongli's neck, unblemished, he wants to mark it.
"Why thank you for the compliment, Ajax." Zhongli mused, closing in on the junction where his ear met his jaw, and he had whined from the action, when Zhongli had pulled away from him, he had closed in on the other's neck, marking it, sucking and kissing it until a red kiss mark is on it.
"A mark for a mark, Zhongli." he eyed the other man who was stunned silent while a sly grin is on his lips.
And then Zhongli had broken out on a laugh, "Will you be free this weekend?" he asked, "Yeah, I think? Let me check my schedule real quick." skimming through his calendar, it's pretty surprising to see he is free at that time.
"Yea, why?"
"I want to take you out on a date, does 10 am sound good for you?"
Oh
A date
He blushed.
"Y-Yea, 10 am sound good."
And on a date they went, they went to watch a movie, with the cinema eerily deserted, there are some people, but not enough for it to be like the usually crowded cinema, especially since it's the weekend.
Strange.
But not that he can ask why anyway.
So he focuses on the date, on the feel of Zhongli's hand slotting so well against his, on the feel of Zhongli's breath when he had leaned in to whisper at his ear, on the warmth of his cheeks as Zhongli had teased him yet again.
He had a blast and went home with a passionate kiss as his goodbye.
"Will you be mine?" Zhongli had asked, a flush on his cheeks, his gold eyes darting away from his.
He was about to get off from Zhongli's car after their fifth date when he had asked that.
He froze, then flush, "S-Sure, if you can be mine."
And they had kissed again, this time more adventurous, Zhongli's lips on his neck, his lips on the other's jaw.
"Hey...we are just in front of my apartment, wanna head inside?" he asked breathlessly after a kiss, caressing Zhongli's nape.
The other had shivered, his golden eyes darken considerably, "Sure."
And the moment Ajax had closed his door, he was pinned to it, Zhongli passionately kissing him, "You taste like caramel." Zhongli offhandedly commented as he guide the other to his bedroom, "We did get coffee, I did get caramel frappucino too." he laughed, tugging the other closer to meet his lips again as he fell to his bed.
"Oh, right, you don't like sweet things right? Should I stop kissing you?" he teased, a sly smile on his lips.
Though Zhongli had looked disgruntled, "No." and leaned in to capture his lips once more.
And they had made love then, best sex of his life if he dare say, not that he has a lot of experience either, if you count pushing in dildos as experience that is.
But the massive length and weight of Zhongli's dick is enough to make him shut up, quite literally too since he did suck the other off.
"Ajax, where are you right now?" Zhongli had called him after an afternoon class.
"My univ, why?" he greeted a friend as he passed by, "Excellent, can you come out to the entrance?"
"No way." he had remarked giddily.
"Yes, I am out here, waiting for you."
He hung up then, instantly dashing out to the entrance.
And meeting his lover then, who was waiting for him, leaning by the door of his Ferrari.
He had stopped then, eyeing him.
He knows Zhongli is well off, but this well off?
The students around him had their stares at Zhongli, some are even taking a video of him, whispering amongst each other.
He was wearing a Rex Lapis Co. suit, a different Rolex, Day-Date 40, the gold-colored one and he was on the phone, calling someone.
He stood there, frozen, too entranced at the sight before him, he's seen Zhongli in a suit only once, and he was swooning, but in a more casual suit, he feels his legs jelly.
He's suddenly wayy too self-conscious of how he looked, a T-shirt he bought from a thrift store, hand-me-down jeans from his siblings, his dingy sneakers whose sole had even broken off, flapping every time he took a step.
He flushed red and was about to get away seeing that Zhongli was still on a call, lest he embarrassed his lover.
"Ah, Ajax, where are you going?"
He just had to finish his call now.
"Uh, h-hey! Zhongli, uh, I uh, forgot my book?"
Shit, why did he had to make it a question? Because Zhongli is looking at him confused.
He sighed, "Forget it, what's up?" he stride to the other, tuning out the whispers of everybody else around him.
He was pulled in by the hand, fingers intertwining together, a hand around his waist, lips on him.
And it's impossible to tune out the whispers around him if they turned to gasps of shock, and the increase of volume when they commented on him is wayy too loud.
"No way! Dingy Ajax has a boyfriend that rich?!"
"Probably a sugar daddy..."
"It's Mr. Zhongli though, their age is way too close for him to be a sugar daddy."
Wait, they know Zhongli?
"Nothing, I just miss you, love." he commented before diving in for another kiss, while Ajax can only turn a shade darker with the unrelenting comments.
"No way! Did you hear what he was called as?!"
"Fuck, I'm so jealous! I want a rich lover like that too!"
"Shit, imagine the Hermes bags I can buy if I have a rich lover like Mr. Zhongli too."
"Zhongli...we should go, they're really getting on my nerves." he clicked his tongue at the people around them.
Materialistic bitches.
"Alright, love."
And they sped away with the Ferrari, "Oh my God, Zhongli! Slow down! We're gonna crash at this rate!" he tightly hold unto his seat.
"Relax, love, we won't, don't you trust me?" and Ajax sighed, he does trust Zhongli, so he did relax, at least tried his best to.
"Sometimes it baffles me how so many people can be so materialistic." he sighed exaggeratingly.
"It is normal, to want to have money." Zhongli replied, taking a sharp turn.
"Archons! Don't do that again! You wanna be a racer or some shit?" he clutched his heart while Zhongli only laughed.
"I know the need to want money is natural, but like, isn't it way better to earn it yourself rather than use someone else's money?" he sighed and Zhongli had tensed up.
"What's wrong? You okay? Want me to take over? What the fuck am I offering, I don't even have a car, of course I won't be able to drive." he sighed over his stupidity.
Zhongli chuckled, "I should buy you one then." he eyed him, "No, do you even hear what I said? I rather live in poverty than leech out on someone else, even if that is my own lover." he says, crossing his arms, giving his lover a stern gaze.
And Zhongli had stopped by the side of the road then.
And burst out laughing.
"Hey...what did I said that is so funny to you?" he asks, confused, he didn't remember making a joke to the other.
"No, love, I'm just" a chuckle, "Find you so interesting, different, unlike the people around me." he says.
"I will tell you all about it, love, are you free right now?" he asked, "....You just thought of asking me that now? If I wasn't, I already told you wayy back." he sighed, "But honestly that's so you." he smiled, stroking his lover's cheek.
Zhongli chuckled again, a pink flush on his cheeks as a hand came up to cover his.
"Then will you come back with me to my penthouse?" he asks, "Well okay I guess? I don't mind." he says, though he doesn't know what's with the sudden question.
"I will explain to you everything, baobei, let us go for now." and Ajax had blushed hard when Zhongli called him that pet name.
They arrived at Zhongli's house first.
A freaking mansion though.
"....There is no way this is your house." he looked up and up, and up to the point his neck had cracked from how high he had looked up, even the sun is blotched out from the height of his mansion.
"Yeah, no, maybe that one's your house." he points at a shorter more modest house.
Zhongli laughed though, but gestured for him to come closer, pressing at the intercom there.
"I'm here, open the gates."
"Yes, Mr. Zhongli."
And it fucking opened.
"No, this has got to be an elaborate joke." he shook his head, laughing nervously, because there is no way the man he constantly paid for his stuff at the convenience store is as rich as this.
"It is not, my love, I really am the owner of this house." Zhongli said, kissing him in broad daylight once more.
"Come, we should go in." and upon entering maids and butlers line up the room.
"Mr. Zhongli, welcome back." they all chanted timely.
Holy shit, this is the kind of view he can only see in TV dramas.
"Mr. Zhongli! Can I briefly trouble you to sign this? It is for the newest clothing line of Rex Lapis Co."
Wait
Rex Lapis Co.?
"Of course, Ganyu." Zhongli read over the contents of the report and signed them out, "Can you clear out my schedule for the day?" his hand slotting around Ajax's waist.
"Of course, Mr. Zhongli, there is not much for today or tomorrow either, only a business brunch with Mr. Venti of Barbatos Corp." his lover clicked his tongue then, "That's no business brunch, tell him to change it to the day after, and send in the reports I need to read to my penthouse." he said as he was tugged along.
"Hey, shouldn't I take off my shoes? I mean, Liyuens have those customs right?" he asks, feeling like he should follow that custom since his lover is one after all.
But Zhongli had froze, wide-eyed as they came to a stalemate on their steps, him chuckling again, "Man, I never knew your sense of humor is broken, Zhongli." he stared at his lover weird.
"No, it is not that, love, I just never would peg you to follow traditions." Zhongli said, amused it seems, "I don't, but you do, don't you?" he asks.
"Pretty sure the dragon by your wall, is a sign of how traditional you are." he pointed at the dragon painting near the wall.
"Ah, well, I am, but this is not where I live, I am simply here to take a document I forgot."
Right, he has a penthouse, doesn't he?
But wait.
"You're the owner of Rex Lapis Co.?!" he screeched.
"I...am yes, I am honestly surprised you did not pieced it sooner." Zhongli mused.
He knew the owner of Rex Lapis Co. is someone named Zhongli, but to know its his Zhongli? That's a whole other level.
"And all this time I've been paying you your stuff." he sighs, massaging the bridge of his nose.
"It is an excuse to be honest, I wanted to get to know you better." Zhongli admitted, a bit shy as he had looked away while they had resumed their steps to Zhongli's wherever it is the document is located.
"Really? Getting to know someone doesn't mean you need to be in debt, Zhongli." Ajax sighed as they stop in front of a room, "But it did got us to be friends, and now lovers, man, that's far." he laughed at his recollection.
"See?" Zhongli laughed, "So like when you said your watch and you suit is bought by your boss..." Ajax trailed as Zhongli finished, "It is bought by myself, yes." he said as he opened the room to lead them to a large ass study.
"This is insane..." he stood by the entrance to look around the room, it's like a mini library in and on its own.
Zhongli left his side to go pick up his document.
"Let us go."
"To where?"
"My penthouse."
Oh boy, Ajax is in for a ride, isn't he?
He really is in for a ride, because Zhongli's penthouse, is crazy big.
Even had a crazy good view.
"Oh my God, how did I not know my lover is an owner of a luxurious fashion line?" he banged his head on the wall softly.
"And the fact I'm getting my master's in fashion while not knowing the owner of a luxurious fashion line is so embarrassing." he sighed.
"Well, now you know." Zhongli said, tugging him to the sofa.
"Shit, this sofa is so soft." he basically sunk into it.
"It is made from our line too, though it is housed under the name Rex Lapis Furnitures." his lover mused.
"Right, what do you even find interesting in a broke-ass college student like me? No money, no power, hell, the only thing I can be proud of is the fact I might graduate as cum laude." he sat up once more before he can sink himself further.
"So what is so interesting about me?"
"Your everything." he blushed, hard.
"The fact you know I have a Rolex yet still willing to pay for my things." Zhongli said, "The way you are, in a sense, a romantic." he looked away from Zhongli then.
"The way you are so different than most people I met, a contradictory amongst my circle of society, a splash of color in my greyscale life, so hardworking, so passionate in your studies, so sweet in your demeanor, so adorable when you blush." he feels like he'll combust.
"And the way you took me in so well." a whisper by his ear as he shivered, a hand sliding up his thigh as Zhongli coaxed him to meet his eyes, the gold tint darken in desire.
"Your everything, my love, it is enticing for me." Zhongli leaned in to kiss him.
"Like a breath of fresh air that I would love to indulge myself every day in." a kiss to his neck.
"My muse." his breath hitched as Zhongli lightly sucked his neck.
"My everything, Ajax." and he had blushed harder, had even fucking cried, like a baby.
Zhongli had instantly panicked, "Are you okay, Ajax? Is something the matter? Does anywhere hurt?" he had asked, worry underneath his golden eyes, "No, it's not that, it's just that, no one had appreciated me as much as you, this is my first relationship." he blushed.
"I'm too busy to be in one, and honestly too broke to be in one too." he laughed, his tears wiped away by Zhongli's thumb.
"Then let me be your first and last?" Zhongli kissed away his tears, "Absolutely, darling, I love you too, not your money, fuck your money, but you, Zhongli." he said, hearing Zhongli laugh when he cursed his riches.
"I love the way you are so gentle to me, so understanding, never looking down at me even though literally what I wear is not even brand new." he laughed.
"So adorable the way you said you forgot your wallet, even though it was just an act."
"The first time...wasn't an act, I had really forgotten my wallet."
"Makes it even better, you were so cute, asking me to pay for you, I still, remember the look you had, red, fidgeting uncomfortably with your sleeves." he laughed merrily, remembering the first time his lover had asked him to pay for him.
"The way you would blush when I sometimes tease you, adorable." he leaned closer to kiss his lover, his hand over the pink flushed cheek.
"My first lover."
"The first man to enter me as well." his eyes darken considerably, though Zhongli had widened.
"You were...a virgin?"
"Yes, since the only thing that ever entered me is a dildo, I did say I'm too broke and busy to be in a relationship right? Can't even afford a one-night stand." he says.
"Plus, I'm a romantic, like you said, I want my first to be with someone special, and you got to be the one to take it, darling." he grinned at the flush on his lover's cheeks.
Before he was enveloped in a warm hug.
"I do not think I can let you go home today, Ajax." and he knows the implications behind those words because the owner had sucked hard at his neck.
"Just remember I have an evening class tomorrow, else you can bed me till sunrise, darling."
And that was the last thing he had said before he was pushed down into the sofa.
"Hey, it would get dirty."
"I do not particularly care, it can be changed, I want you, right now."
And he flushed redder at those words.
And yes, the sofa was stained.
But they moved to the bed after a round, to continue, until sunrise.
Ajax limped to his evening class the next day.