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

5

"Release my ties, mortal," Ajax repeated for the umpteenth time. There were heavy bags under his eyes and his hair kept falling out in patches. He was obviously very stressed. 

"I don't know how I bound you," Zhongli answered in the same way he had been answering. "I don't know how to release you but I feel as if I wouldn't even if I did know." Zhongli admitted, scratching the side of his cheek. "This will make it easier for me to stay by your side without you forcing me out." 

"I don't need a mortal like you to look after me!" Ajax snarled. 

"And yet," Zhongli crossed his arms, looking down at Ajax who was resting on his lap. "You've been so stressed trying to kick me out of your life that you simultaneously seek my comfort," he patted Ajax's head, scratching behind his fluffy ear. "Don't you think it's time you were more honest with yourself?" 

Don't you think it's time you were honest, Tartaglia?

Ajax blinked, wiping his eyes. For a moment he thought for sure he'd seen Morax's face instead. 

"Ajax!" a voice yelled from beyond the barrier. It was different from Itto's so Ajax's ears perked up. He sat up and stared, looking at the yaksha standing there with his arms crossed. "It has been the allotted time, well more than that, I think it is time you told me your answer!" 

"Ugh..." Ajax groaned rolling onto his side and lying back down on Zhongli's lap. 

"Is that a mortal?" Xiao sniffed the air but was unable to see through the barrier properly. "Ajax? Have you finally grown so lonely that you would appease a mortal?" he held his chin, staring at the barrier bewildered. 

"Eh?" Ajax sat up again and stood, briefly swaying from side to side. He walked down the path and grabbed Xiao's arm, pulling him through the barrier. "Would you like to say that to my face little one?" Ajax snarled, glaring intensely into the eyes of the yaksha. 

"You're such a rabid dog without our master around," Xiao frowned, unamused. 

"Wait, is that really all I have to do to get him to fight me?" Itto stood up, slamming his hands down on the barrier. "Just tease him?" 

"Wait a moment," Xiao pushed Ajax aside and stared at Zhongli. He knelt down in front of him and lowered his head. "Please allow me to be your familiar as well." 

"Excuse me?" Ajax appeared behind Xiao and cracked his knuckles. His face was smiling but his aura was dark. 

"Haven't you noticed? He's-" Xiao was cut off by a fist reaching his cheek. Xiao flew across the shrine area and into the nearby cliffside. It made a permanent Xiao-shaped hole in the rock. 

Ajax's aura got worse, surrounded more than just his body and delving into the area around him. It was a dark purple, very different from his usual aesthetic. "Stay away from my human." 

Xiao crawled out of the cliff and frowned. He summoned a mask in his hand and placed it on his face, forming a pole out of thin air and making a stance to attack. 

"Ajax," Zhongli sighed, rubbing his temple for a moment and then pointing to the ground, "Sit." his eyes appeared to glow gold and Ajax sat down, bound by the familiar contract. The more he tried to struggle the harder the contract resisted. 

"Please do not attack him," Zhongli stepped in front of Ajax to protect him from Xiao. "He is irritable due to recent circumstances and is lashing out at you. I apologize." 

The pole and mask disappeared and Xiao returned to kneeling in front of Zhongli. "Please accept me as a familiar as well." 

"What?" 

"I have long wished to rest at this shrine awaiting the day when my master would return but Ajax has hogged the shrine to himself. If I am your familiar he will not be allowed to fatally harm me or kick me out without your permission." 

"I see," Zhongli nodded. "I suppose I have no qual-" 

Xiao bit his own lower lip and lept up to kiss Zhongli. Startled, Zhongli fell back and onto Ajax with Xiao resting on top of him. 

"Thank you very much, master," Xiao stood up and bowed. "I strive to do the best I can to satisfy your needs." 

"What?" Zhongli blinked, still confused about why he was kissed. 

"Oho," Ajax smiled, grabbing Zhongli's arms and digging his nails into his skin. His dark aura from before threatened to come back. "Master, are you cheating on me? Whyever would you need a second familiar?" 

"Master? So you admit it then?" Xiao crossed his arms. 

"I have no idea what you mean," Ajax released Zhongli and huffed. 

"Kitsune are so finicky," Xiao sighed. 

Zhongli stood up and offered his hand to Ajax to help him up. He swatted it away, glaring. 

"Very well," Zhongli stated, walking back into the shrine. "Perhaps you need a timeout in order to cool your head." Xiao followed him inside. 

"Excuse me?" Ajax snapped. "I am a powerful yokai! A beautiful kitsune! You can't treat me like this!" Ajax growled, trying to stand up but still bound by his last order. "Get back here!" 

"Are you going to release him?" Xiao asked. 

"Only after I tease him some more first," Zhongli covered his mouth with his hand and smiled. 

"I see, you haven't changed in the slightest," Xiao closed his eyes and smiled to himself. 

"Pardon?" 

"Apologies, t'was nothing of importance."