Melting Moments {nsfw/18+}

three: forever is till the morn comes

The summer sun was beating down on the tiled roof of your house, making the air inside heat up. You looked at the man standing in front of you and sighed. "It is too hot." You grumbled, "I am going to make some lemonade."

"Okay." He replied docilely and followed you into the kitchen. The scent of spices was still heavy in the air and the pot and plates lay dirty in the sink. While he walked less than a foot behind you, his eyes glanced around the kitchen. "So, you cooked my favourite dishes today."

Your eyes narrowed as you turned your head and looked up at him. "Yes, I did." You sighed as you remembered the conversation you two had just hours ago. "Such a shame that you were not here to enjoy them."

He put his hands on your waist, and lightly put his body against yours. "Yes, a shame indeed." His chin rested on the top of your head, neck tickled by your stray hairs. A soothing quiet came over the house. "Genny," he spoke, "Are you mad at me?"

You squeezed the lemon juice into the sugary water, stirring with a spoon with an intricate filigree handle. "No." You heave a sigh. "How could I ever stay mad at you? Now, let go of me and sit patiently at the table." He stepped back, slowly, reluctantly. Now that you were free from those strong prison-like arms, you took the jar of lemonade and two glasses to the table.

"You said that you would not make it." You spoke as you placed the lemonade down and took a seat opposite him.

"Yes, I did." He held the jug and poured the drink for both of you.

"But you are here now." You took a sip and sunk back into your chair. The Mondstadt summer heat was nothing compared to Sumeru, yet you felt restless on this particular day. In the serene silence of the house at the edge of a sleepy town, you could hear things clearer than ever. The scraping of the chair as he leaned back in the chair, his sigh of relief after what seemed to be another all-nighter, and the sound of gulping as he drank, everything was making your ears tingle. Keeping your eyes on your glass, you reminisced about your days in Sumeru, a short yet sweet stay where you met the man who was sitting in front of you.

He cleared his throat and you looked up, seeing his lips moistened by the cool drink. "Those boys."

"Hmm?" You tilted your head to the side, "What about them?"

"You fed them my birthday meal." Your eyes widened at how he was acting, pouty and childish, but he did not seem to realise it himself. You giggled at his behaviour and leaned forward, resting your face in your palm.

"Yes, I did. They were here and you were not."

He half-stood and gently pinched your chin with his fingers. "I think someone deserves a little punishment." You grabbed his wrist, pulling him a little closer. "Yes, and somebody is you." Other hand entangling in his hair, your lips crashed against his, mouth slightly parted in a gasp. A wave of relief washed over you, after weeks of missed meetings, he had come back to you. He pulled away and your neglected lips formed a childish pout.

"Not here." He spoke, lifting you up with one hand behind your back and one hand under your knee, he had you in a princess carry within seconds. "The table edges could hurt you." The concern on his face made your stomach churn with glee. As much as he pretended not to, he did care about people. Well, once they broke through that great wall of Cryo he had built around himself.

"Alright, you should steady your heart and get ready to pay the penalty, my dear." You grinned mischievously, knowing full well that you would be the one begging by the time he was done with you. But you loved to rile him up, to see his eyes light up with that wicked glint, as if he was calculating just how to make you go mad from his touch.

He placed you down on your bed, one he had helped you pick out just a few months ago, just like most things in this house. You two could not say what this was, not yet, but the traces you left in each other's lives were undeniable.