A Yokai, Yaksha, Oni, and a Reincarnated Dragon Lord walk into a shrine.

3

"You're still doing the same silly little things," Morax smiled down at him, petting his head. 

"Mnnnngh, Morax...?" Ajax smiled, leaning into his lap. He rolled over, hugging him and nuzzled his face into his torso. 

"Will you forget me?" Morax asked. "When I'm long gone and many years have passed," he looked up and his hood covered his eyes. Ajax squinted, looking up at him, trying to remember his face. "Will you forget me?" he asked again. 

"Why..." Ajax lifted his hand to Morax's face. Tears started to fall from his eyes. "Why would you ask me something like that-" 

"Goodbye, Ajax." Morax leaned down and kissed his forehead before his body dissipated into golden dust. Ajax sat up, rubbing his eyes, and looking around. A dream? An illusion? He couldn't tell but the feelings remained.

Ajax rubbed his eyes and sat at the edge of the shrine. He curled up into a ball and sobbed into his knees. His ears lay flat against his head as his tail curled around him. "M-Morax..." 

"Are you okay?" 

Ajax looked up and his eyes played tricks on him. The blurriness of his tears made him believe Zhongli was wearing Morax's clothes. "Morax?" 

"Are you okay?" Zhongli repeated, reaching out to place his hand on his shoulder. Ajax grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. He clung to Zhongli and sobbed in his neck. His fluffy ears tickled Zhongli's cheek and ear. 

"Why did you leave me?" Ajax cried. "Why did you die?" 

Zhongli, unable to answer, held his arms out awkwardly. He tried to hug Ajax but it felt wrong to do so. 

"I'm sorry..." Zhongli apologized. "I never wanted to leave you." 

"Liar." Ajax gritted his teeth and growled. He separated from Zhongli and attempted to scratch him with his nails. Zhongli grabbed his wrist before his nail touched his cheek. 

"I'm sorry that I'm not Morax," he apologized.

"You-" Ajax's eyes focused, he wiped his tears. "Zhongli?" He moved his arm to free his wrist from Zhongli's grasp and took a step back. "Leave," Ajax growled. 

"Do you want to be alone?" 

"Leave!" Ajax snapped, motioning with his hand and covering his face with another. He pushed Zhongli back with a gust of wind but not far enough to force him out of the shrine's barrier. Zhongli forced himself to walk through the perpetual wind and bits of dust and leaves scratched him. "I said leave!" Ajax made the wind stronger but Zhongli stood firm, continuing to walk forward. Once he made it to Ajax he hugged him. 

"Stop it! Let me go! Leave me alone!" Ajax scratched his arms and growled. 

"If you truly wanted to be alone you would fight back harder than this," Zhongli squeezed him, holding him as close to himself as possible. "I don't want to leave you." 

Ajax continued fighting, scratching Zhongli's arms and shoulders but after a while his sadness overcame him. He couldn't fight the steady stream of tears and collapsed into Zhongli's tight grasp.

"Don't leave me," his voice cracked. "Please don't leave me..." 

"I won't." 

...

As Ajax slept on Zhongli's lap, Zhongli pet his head. He only now began to feel the pain of the scratches. He looked down at himself and noticed just how much blood he'd lost. "That's not good," he felt himself lose consciousness and fell backward to avoid disturbing Ajax. 

"Zhongli?" Ajax's eyes fluttered open when he heard the thud. "Blood...so much blood...is this my fault?" he panicked and tore off Zhongli's clothes. He wrapped his scratches in torn fabric of his own clothing. "I'm sorry. Humans are fragile. I'm very sorry please don't die!" 

"..." Zhongli grabbed Ajax's hand and looked up at him. 

"I'm sorry..." 

"I don't think I'll be able to bring you dango for a while," Zhongli muttered, falling asleep again. His hand went limp in Ajax's. 

"Silly human," Ajax forced a laugh. He picked Zhongli up and cradled him in his arms, resting his fluffy tail on Zhongli's naked torso. "There are more important things to worry about." Ajax hovered his hand over Zhongli and his fox fire enveloped him. His wounds began to heal, but not at a quick rate. 

...

Zhongli opened his eyes. This was the first time he'd ever been inside the shrine. He winced and sat up. The straw mat was surprisingly comfortable. He looked down at the pieces of fabric. "Aren't these-?" Zhongli stood up and rocked from side to side. He followed the path exiting the side room to go into the main hall. He heard something rather unusual and stopped before entering. Zhongli opened the door slightly to see Ajax in front of a rather large dragon statue. 

"I don't know if it's because I've been alone this long or if emotions just come out all at once in various directions," Ajax hugged himself and his face flushed. He sat on the ground and rubbed his legs together. "I wish you were still here. You were very good at helping me with this..." 

Zhongli closed the door and went back to the side room. He had a feeling he shouldn't intrude on whatever it was Ajax intended to do. But, at the same time, he felt himself get pulled back into it. Zhongli returned to his spot by the door and looked in. He shook his head and opened the door entirely, walking directly inside to the main hall. 

Ajax was sprawled out on the ground with his robe hanging over him in every which way. He looked up at Zhongli. 

"You're awake?" he spoke quietly, his face flushed. "I'm glad you're alright..." he muttered, closing his eyes. 

"Are you...?" 

Ajax didn't reply. He sat up and stared at Zhongli, squinting at him before grabbing his legs. "You wanted me to show you a good time, didn't you?" his ear twitched and his face was still flushed. "Nngh..." he whined, falling forward onto the ground and resting his head in between Zhongli's feet. His nails dug into Zhongli's calves. 

"Do kitsune often experience a heat cycle?" Zhongli knelt down and patted Ajax's head. He nuzzled his head into his hand and grabbed his wrist, staring up at him. 

"Only ones that have been in love and since my love hasn't died my body is still expecting him. Although," Ajax's ear twitched and he closed his eyes, becoming more embarrassed, "I suppose one could say I am rather difficult to satisfy." 

"Are you certain you're okay with me helping you?" 

"Humans are odd when it comes to this sort of thing," Ajax admitted. "I have no need to force you into assisting me." Ajax pushed Zhongli away and held his hands over his ears, curling up into a ball and wrapping himself in his tail.

Zhongli laid down beside him, hugging him from behind. Ajax didn't move. 

"Cuddling isn't going to make the horny go away," Ajax laughed. 

"No, but you've calmed down, haven't you?" 

Ajax blinked and closed his eyes, laughing again.