Chapter Text
Ajax blamed his misfortune in life on his stupid teenage bravado.
When he was fourteen, he let his schoolmates convince him that a local Snezhnayan legend was true, and Ajax—ever the show-off—was determined to prove them wrong.
“If you watch this tape alone at midnight, you’ll be cursed with bad sex for life ,” Petruso relayed with a wolfish grin. “Bet you’re too scared to try, kit .”
The redhead’s ears twitched at his buddy’s words. It was never a good idea to bet a fox.
“Shut up,” Ajax sneered, batting him with his tail, “I’m never scared.”
So, that night, he huddled up at his television without his parents knowing and watched the tape at the stroke of midnight. From all points, it appeared to be nothing more than a homemade, potato-quality sex tape. The couple on the screen could’ve possibly been as old as his parents ( yuck )—raw-dogging it on a sofa with the woman mewling ( is that racist against felines? ) under a broad-chested bull. This wasn’t Ajax’s first pornography, and this one was mediocre at best.
When the video seemingly ended, he attempted to eject the tape, but then a pale-faced woman appeared on the screen muttering something under her breath. Ajax barely caught a word here or there (’prey’ and ‘pleasure’), but when he tried to rewind the tape to catch the message again, the film snapped and clogged his VCR. He tossed the whole thing out, chalking it up to bad luck.
He went back to his friends the next day bragging about how they were poor excuses for predators for letting such a silly urban legend fool them.
And he continued believing that until four years later.
Ajax was in the middle of his first date when he realized the curse might be real.
Picture this:
Ajax—but his friends always called him ‘Childe’—in a dark, local movie theater. The worn cloth seats saturated in decades’-worth of popcorn butter and oils, creaking a little with age. The movie: some chick flick that his date (Daryna? Kateryna? Eh, who knows) is fixated on as the male lead corners the female love interest against the wall. The strapping male wolf bared his teeth and the cute rabbit practically rolled into a shudder. A bit too theatrical, Childe thought, but his girl in the seat beside him sighed with adoration anyway.
Childe rolled his eyes, slouching in his chair and preparing to take a little nap until the movie was over.
But something strange occurred.
A presence (a hand??) felt out his left thigh and Childe immediately reacted by slapping his leg to stop it. But nothing was there. Childe tried to brush it off as a muscle spasm or a twitch, but it continued its trip upwards until it dipped into the gap between his thighs. Childe yelped, and his date turned with a frustrated glare.
“What’s wrong?” She whispered harshly.
“N-nothing, baby, th-thought I saw a cockroach,” he whispered back, fighting down the tremble in his voice as the invisible hand continued groping the meat of his thigh.
She returned her attention to the screen and Childe let his eyes roll back as something pressed hard against his perineum. He squirmed discreetly, feeling violated by some ghostly presence. He bit his bottom lip as the pressure increased, and when it finally breached some phantom orifice his body certainly did not possess , his mouth stretched into a silent scream.
Childe clenched the armrests, his knuckles turning white as his claws dug in. He spread his legs as the phantom rod made space inside of him. Hot and thick and wet, it settled within, invading his body in a way he couldn’t comprehend. When it finally stopped, filling him uncomfortably, it slid back out again, only to return once more.
The ghost ravaged him mercilessly, with a repetitive in-out motion, and Childe had no choice but to endure it. His head fogged with muddled thoughts, and tears peeked from his blue eyes. As his first time, the experience was frightening and mind-numbing, and all he wished for was some explanation as to how and why this was happening. Then, he glanced up at the movie screen to see a reflected look of debauched rapture on the leading lady's face.
“Buh…wah?”
Childe tried to question what he was seeing, but a tongue was stuffed into his open mouth. He stared wide-eyed as the actor on-screen kissed the actress violently, lapping at her and depriving her of oxygen, matching act for act with the ghostly tongue in his own mouth. Similar asphyxiation tied up Childe's lungs, and he felt his heart pound thunderously loud. The sound of it drowned out the movie he was now obviously, horrifically, living.
Hungry hands cupped his chest, fingers playing with the nipples, which the rabbit on screen offered willingly to her lover. Childe never imagined he’d be so sensitive, but clearly, this little stimulation, combined with the pistoning length below, was enough to bring him to the edge of losing himself completely.
He wanted to scream.
He wanted to beg the unaware girl beside him for help.
But his pride stopped him.
He couldn't bear the thought of being caught crying and struggling like a helpless prey. How could he call himself a predator after that?
Childe kept glancing at his date, hoping desperately that she wouldn't catch him in such a compromising state.
‘Please don’t turn. Please don’t turn. Please don’t—’
Then as quickly as the manhandling began, it stopped.
The steamy love scene on-screen transitioned to another setting and the hands, tongue, and cock instantly disappeared. Childe deflated in his chair and covered his face with shaky hands, hiding the tears pouring from his eyes. He felt so humiliated, but in the haze of his thoughts, a repressed memory reappeared in his mind in full clarity:
“Prey become, your desires exposed /
Body offered, pleasure untold /
Dreams of mind now in the physical plane /
Consume thyself to thine heart’s content.”
The cursed video tape. The woman’s message. It was a hex.
Fuck Petruso for ever daring him to watch the damned thing. Childe swallowed what remained of his broken pride and finished the date, never to speak of this incident to anyone.
Five years later…
Childe, now a sophomore in college, double-majored in sports management and theater. He was popular—voted 'Most Likely to Be Famous' for the second time in a row—and despite his youth, he drew the attention of students and staff alike with his attractive personality and winning smile. His orange fur stood out both on the field and on the stage, and he grew easily into the role of a model apex predator.
Women loved him. Men wanted to be him.
But none knew of what he lived in fear of every second of his life.
After the incident in the theater, Childe experimented with the specifics of his curse. ‘Dreams of mind’, he learned, seemed to refer to fictional scenes where sexual acts were depicted—be it either visual or audio.
If he could see or hear it, he felt it.
And worse yet, it was always from the prey’s perspective.
It didn't matter that he wasn't female, petite, or demure, and didn't even consider himself a bottom—he felt it all the same. His bravado would fall to the wayside the moment he felt the phantom hands roaming his body, and his tongue would tie itself into knots in sheer panic over what was sure to come.
So, to protect himself from exposure, he wore headphones on his person at all times. This practice made Childe realize just how saturated society was with such content, from songs and commercials to movies and posters. As a result, he had to get used to avoiding televisions in waiting rooms and throwing on his headphones when walking through the team locker room, where other testosterone-fueled jocks crowded over lewd magazines.
Childe played down his dislike for explicit content and simply told others that he preferred more wholesome media because of his younger siblings. D*sney, N * ckelodeon, H*nna-Barbera—you name it—Childe had consumed every children’s cartoon as if it was an obsession, and never sullied his sight with adult content. Initially, he was teased with a childish nickname for his preference, but due to his overwhelming popularity, it eventually developed into a term of endearment:
'PG baby.’
“As in ‘Parental Guidance,’” he bragged to a group of fawning fangirls at a college party. Weak to a bottle of firewater and a pretty face, he blabbed about his favorite D*sney film (Finding Nemo) and confessed which movie always made him cry (The Fox and the Hound) . The girls hung onto his every drunken word and slunk ever closer to his side, eager to earn the fox’s attention. But when a roaming hand touched his exposed stomach, Childe froze and his eyes locked onto the girl with sharpened lucidity.
“I-I-I-I-I gotta g-go.”
Childe grabbed his varsity jacket and rushed away from the party to retreat to his dorm room.
Getting intimate wasn’t an option for Childe. It wasn't just the fear of being triggered that weighed on him, but also the shame and guilt that came along with his curse. He felt like he was living a double life, constantly hiding his true self from others. It was exhausting to always be on guard, but he couldn't risk exposing his secret to the world.
He entered his dorm room at 1AM to find the kitchen light still on.
His roommate must be up.
Zhongli was a bizarre sort. He was just as tall as Childe (rather strange for a rabbit), but also as meek as his kind usually was. Well, maybe ‘meek’ wasn’t the right word for him. Quiet? Reserved?
Childe used the word 'bizarre' because he couldn't understand why prey would willingly choose to room with a fox in close quarters, especially with one known for his ferocity on the playing field and competitiveness on the stage.
"I need to stay on campus due to my course load," Zhongli had told Childe during their interview. "I saw your ad in the common area for a new roommate and the terms appear to be agreeable. 'Keep tidy' and 'No TV or music outside your room.' These are simple requirements that I can follow."
Childe stared at the brunette with awe. Dressed in a sharp auburn blazer and black turtleneck above ironed slacks and brown oxfords, Zhongli looked more like faculty than an upperclassman. A shiny gold watch, likely worth Childe's tuition alone, graced his wrist, and his other accessories oozed old money. But despite all his pomp, Zhongli maintained an air of nonchalance.
Childe swallowed down the stinging feeling of inadequacy. "But...I'm a fox ."
"I do not see how that will affect our living arrangement. I will do my best to maintain a friendly relationship with you, and assume you will do the same for me, yes?"
Was Zhongli clueless? Was he truly unaware of the urges predators went through when in close proximity to prey? Normally, schools would ban such dormitory arrangements to avoid any potential incidents, but their dean was intent on being progressive so such rules were thrown out the window. But Zhongli seemed the decent sort and he was certainly not hard on the eyes, so Childe signed him on.
Childe entered the kitchen to the aroma of freshly poured black tea. Zhongli greeted him with a sincere grin above a steaming teacup.
"You were out late, Childe. How was your night?"
Childe shrugged, still reeling from the party. "It was fine. I'm just tired."
Zhongli nodded in understanding. "Well, feel free to have some tea if it will soothe you. There should be enough for a second cup. I'll be returning to work soon."
Childe settled onto a stool and poured himself a cup of tea. The aroma eased his racing nerves, and he folded his arms upon the countertop to rest his head. He heard Zhongli leave the kitchen to return to his room to his mystery work-from-home job. Childe had never asked what his roommate did for a living, but it was clear from Zhongli's wardrobe and expensive food preferences that he was paid well enough.
So why did Zhongli need to stay on campus? He could probably afford some penthouse or rental duplex nearby, rather than resort to a tiny dorm room shared with his natural predator.
Indeed, Zhongli was a bizarre sort.
After finishing his tea and cleaning the kitchen, Childe went to his room to sleep. On the way, he passed by Zhongli's room and heard faint murmuring of tinny audio coming from inside. The light beneath his roommate's door was on, as usual, and would likely remain on until 6AM when Zhongli would sleep until his evening classes. Although their schedules never seemed to align, these early morning touchpoints and late afternoon lunches offered precious minutes for them to meet up and chat about their majors and goals in life.
Zhongli had aspirations of becoming a film critic, and was a double major in history and film, and only one year away from graduation. During their conversations, Childe found himself captivated by Zhongli's passion for film. The man had a way with words that was almost magical. Through his storytelling, Zhongli could paint a vivid scene with prose alone, and Childe often found himself daydreaming his stories from start to finish. He treasured these all-too-brief moments together and lamented that their differing class schedules forced them to spend so much time apart.
Zhongli was a model man—distinguished, innocent, and pristine—totally ‘PG.’ During their nine-month stint, Childe had wondered more than once if Zhongli could be ‘the one.’ Childe’s attraction to the man was undeniable and he fretted the day his upperclassman would graduate and leave his life forever. Childe’s predator instincts wanted to claim the rabbit, but his anxiety about his curse held him back.
But was Zhongli even a risk?
He seemed too well put together to ever expose his stupid curse. Zhongli was so pure and wholesome like the movies he loved. Childe's mind raced with the possibility of a deeper relationship, but he couldn't shake the fear of exposing his true self. As he settled into his bed, Childe wondered if he would ever be able to have a romantic relationship without fear and shame.
‘ Water.’
The word echoed in Childe’s mind as he opened his eyes, parched and groggy. He checked the time on his bedside clock: 4AM. He sighed, knowing that he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep without quenching his thirst.
He slid out of bed and stumbled sleepily from his bedroom into the hallway. And on the way to the kitchen, he noted Zhongli’s door slightly ajar. Bright lights flickered from the inside and the same tinny sound from before echoed from within. Zhongli was likely still working his secret high-paying job, and despite Childe’s worries about prying where he shouldn’t, the fox’s curiosity got the better of him.
He was rewarded with a dick in his ass.
Childe’s blood ran cold as he felt phantom sensations wash over him the moment he peered into the room. Hands clutched his chest as he slid to the ground, the invisible cock ramming him over and over like a beast in heat. He writhed on the floor and his neck twisted to receive another hot length that slid right down his throat. He groaned in protest and tried not to cry when another’s voice interrupted him.
“Childe?! What are you—?”
The sensations disappeared when Zhongli closed the video on his computer screen. He tossed his headphones to the bed and rushed towards Childe, still trembling on the floor.
“D-d-don’t t-touch me!!!”
Zhongli paused.
Childe was terrified to have been exposed, and it was even worse that it was Zhongli to see him this way. He knew he had to explain himself, but he couldn't bring himself to say a word. Shame and anguish flooded his emotions, and all that came out of his mouth were quiet pants. Zhongli, for his part, looked more confused than anything, and Childe couldn't help but wonder if the rabbit was truly that naïve. The silence was suffocating, and Childe wished he could just disappear.
"It's for my job!" Zhongli suddenly exclaimed unprompted, his face flushed bright red. "I review videos for an exclusive subscription website catering to wealthy clientele.”
Zhongli continued to ramble in defense of his occupation and how it had nothing to do with the content itself. Childe was still shaking, but the words slowly began to process in his mind—and what they meant for the future of their relationship.
There would be no way of hiding his curse. Zhongli wasn’t the safe haven he’d hoped for. He was doomed.
New tears formed in Childe's eyes as he realized how unattainable having a normal relationship would be. He couldn't control his curse, and he couldn't bear the thought of exposing his true self to anyone else. Although he wanted to be close to Zhongli, he knew it would never be possible without revealing the embarrassing truth of his past idiocy.
His own existence…was a curse.
Childe gathered himself from the floor and Zhongli followed him up.
“Childe…are you alright?”
The fox nodded his head but left without a sound.
Suffice it to say, neither of them slept well that day.
Their lunch hour was as awkward as could be expected. Zhongli nursed his third cup of tea at the kitchen counter, eyeing Childe’s bedroom door for any sign of life. It was unlike the fox to skip classes, but given how shaken up he looked that morning, perhaps it was understandable. It was half past 3PM when Childe finally emerged from his room.
Childe looked like he hadn't slept at all. His fur was ruffled and his eyes were bloodshot. Zhongli watched Childe as he pulled out a seat at the counter.
“So…,” Childe began, “What exactly is it that you do?”
Zhongli was prepared for this question. He explained how despite his family money, he endeavored to pay his own way through college. He once took odd jobs but found he was rather too analytical or measured to be kept on, so he sought employment better suited to his talents. He was approached by a musician friend to put his critical eye for film to work for a rich client in Fontaine—specifically, review and curation of adult videos for a highly exclusive subscription website.
“Properly tagging the videos is the most important part of my job, so I am required to review them repeatedly. At first, I was put off by the subject matter, but it pays well and allows me to live on campus to work both of my majors. Also, I’ve since turned it into a film study of sorts. You’d be surprised by how much you can learn from even these simple forms of media.”
Childe listened intently, trying his best to hide his discomfort. All he could think about was himself writhing on Zhongli’s bedroom floor and what Zhongli thought of it. He tried to gauge the rabbit’s reaction, but Zhongli's face remained impassive throughout his explanation, and Childe couldn't read any judgment from his expression. Either Zhongli was a better actor than him or Zhongli truly didn’t notice.
Zhongli finished with a plea. "I understand how my job may be repulsive to you, but I ask that you still consider allowing me to live here.”
Childe finally let out a sigh. “I’m not kicking you out, Zhongli. I can't pay the rent on my own, and it was my fault for peeking into your room anyway. I breached our contract, so it’s only fair for you to be cross with me as well.”
“Cross?” Zhongli asked, perplexed. “Why would I be cross with you?”
The fox’s tail twitched. He was always angry at himself. For years, he kicked and spat on his fourteen-year-old self for his stupidity, and here Zhongli was asking ‘why.’ He knew his anger was irrational, but sleep-deprivation robbed him of restraint. Thinking better than to take out his anger on Zhongli, he slid off his seat and rushed towards his bedroom without another word.
“Wait!”
A hand grabbed Childe’s wrist tugging him back, and the fox whipped around with hot fury in his eyes.
“D-d-don’t patronize me!!” He yelled. “Y-y-you think it’s e-easy?! I-I-I’ve tried s-so hard to k-keep this a-a s-secret and i-it just h-had to be you, d-d-d-didn’t it?!”
Zhongli’s grip on his wrist didn’t loosen “Me? What secret? …Is it the stuttering?”
An exhausted laugh rolled out of Childe’s throat as he cast his head back. “‘Th-the-the stuttering’, he asks!”
Tears slid down his cheeks as he finally met Zhongli's gaze, dark circles framing his blue eyes.
“I-if it was o-o-only that, Zhongli.”
Childe felt like his heart was breaking. This was it. The moment when his perfect mask shattered. What would Zhongli think of him now? He was a mess of a man, crying like prey, a despicable façade of a predator. Zhongli could never know the truth of his anxiety, but wasn't this display enough to humiliate him?
Childe attempted to pull away when Zhongli abruptly embraced him. Though surprised by the sudden hug, he yielded to the warmth and comfort that Zhongli's arms offered. He buried his face in the rabbit's shoulder and released a sob, feeling some of the weight of his shame and fear lift. Zhongli held him tightly, stroking his head until Childe's tears abated.
"I do not fully understand what you have been through, Childe, but please know that I do not think less of you for it. In fact, I think quite highly of you for being so brave," Zhongli said, pulling back to wipe a tear from Childe's cheek.
"I admire you, Childe, in more ways than I believe you are ready to know."
Childe couldn't believe it. His heart raced as he looked into Zhongli's golden eyes.
Was Zhongli really saying what he thought he was saying? Was Zhongli confessing his feelings for him??
Childe's mind raced as he tried to process the information. He had always been attracted to Zhongli, but his curse made it impossible for him to consider pursuing a romantic relationship.
But Zhongli was so different from anyone else Childe had ever met. He was kind and accepting, and seemed to genuinely care for him. He was never judgmental nor treated others cruelly. He was sweet and soft and archons he smelled so good.
…Could it be possible that Zhongli could accept him for who he truly was, curse and all?
The thought was tantalizing, but Childe couldn't help but feel a sense of dread in the pit of his stomach.
What if Zhongli found out and couldn't accept him after all?
No, the risk was too great, and Childe knew he couldn't take it. He pulled away from the embrace, unable to meet Zhongli's gaze, ready to retreat to his bedroom. Zhongli’s hand around his wrist stopped him once again.
"Perhaps I wasn't clear," Zhongli stated. Childe half-turned to see his roommate looking more serious than he had ever seen him before.
"I love you and wish to court you. That is, if you accept, of course."
Childe’s jaw dropped, and his mouth spoke before his brain caught up.
“I accept.”
Childe was totally on cloud nine.
The sun shone brighter, his Triple-Shot Strawberry Cheesecake Frappuccino tasted (impossibly) sweeter, and his days seemed to blur together when he had someone to look forward to each day. The following semester, Zhongli and Childe arranged their class schedules so that they could meet up more often, and soon Childe’s schooling took a backseat to the prospect of being with his new partner.
No one would ever see the two apart.
The brunette walked tall beside the handsome fox on campus, proudly showing off that the ‘PG Baby’ was no longer eligible. Childe’s hands hardly left Zhongli’s person—their palms locked together while walking; his head tucked over Zhongli’s shoulder while waiting in line at their favorite coffeeshop; or his legs bracketing Zhongli’s while they perused the internet for new furniture. They looked like a H*llmark card: Perfect, pretty, and pure.
Yeah, things were going pretty well.
Until…
“Let’s have a movie night.”
Thunder crashed like a dramatic scene in a horror film at Zhongli's suggestion. Childe gawked like a fish as the storm of the century raged outside, pounding their living room windows with sheets of rain. Stuck indoors, the couple tried to entertain themselves with activities like cooking and board games, but it seemed Zhongli had something else in mind.
"I'd love to show you some of my favorite films," Zhongli said, handing Childe a stack of DVDs.
Childe took them hesitantly, and his eyes darted to the film ratings.
A period piece, rated ‘R,’ from the 1920s. (Gods, that decade was rather wild, wasn’t it?)
A crime film, rated ‘R,’ about a man running from the law who falls in love with a gorgeous dancer. (Guaranteed to have a romance scene or two.)
Surprisingly, a comedy, rated ‘R,’ about two friends who go on an adventure across the world. (But there’s a doe on the cover where both predators have their arms around her waist…)
Oh!
“This one,” Childe stated confidently, returning one of the DVDs to Zhongli.
The cover of the film depicted an aged tiger and suggested that it was an action/thriller. The plot appeared to revolve around a retired hitman who had left his violent past behind, but was forced back into action to save his daughter. Although the film was also rated 'R,' Childe believed it was only due to a few violent scenes and some use of explicit language. He checked the cast list on the back and did not recognize any famous actresses, so it seemed like a safe choice.
Zhongli popped the DVD into the player while Childe turned off the lights. Then, Zhongli settled onto the couch with a bowl of freshly popped popcorn, and Childe dragged a large blanket over their laps. While he was nervous at first, the mood of the film seemed to match his expectations, focusing on the poor hero’s plight and his quest to save his little girl. And over time, Childe lost himself within the story, silently invested in cheering the old tiger on.
What he didn’t expect was the sudden plot twist at the end.
The retired hitman had just rescued his daughter and tucked her in for the night, and the film seemed to be close to its resolution. But just before the credits rolled, a voice called offscreen.
“It’s about time you got back.”
The camera panned to a lean ram with a kimono blouse half shrugged from his shoulders. It turned out that the hero was homosexual, and that he and his partner had adopted their daughter.
Childe felt the blood drain from his face.
"I had some... work to do," the tiger responded, stepping closer to his mate. Childe began to squirm in his seat, his heart racing with panic at what he realized was about to happen. He darted his eyes to Zhongli, but the rabbit seemed enthralled with the scene.
The tiger's large hand slid around the ram's waist, and Childe felt a similar sensation around his own waist. He choked on his voice, unable to fight the fear stunning him into silence.
He was trapped.
"Did you know this was the first film of its time to introduce two gay male leads?" he asked Childe, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "The director had to place this scene at the end to avoid upsetting the viewers too early in the film.”
Childe couldn't pay attention to Zhongli's words. The actors on-screen transitioned to a bedroom and the scene that Childe had dreaded most played cruelly before him. The tiger tore off his mate's clothes and fell into bed, their mouths locked in heated kisses. Childe slapped his hands over his lips to stop himself from revealing how his mouth was peeled open in kind. The phantom tongue, much larger than his own, filled his cavity and he prayed to Celestia that he would be able to keep his voice silent.
"This film was the ram's first major film," Zhongli continued innocently. "He received hate mail for this role and even considered running away to a life of hermitage from the backlash he received from his family and friends.”
The same ram’s legs spread wide and the tiger’s length (off-screen for censorship reasons) rested hot and heavy on his fluffy groin. Childe knew , because a large heat suddenly dropped onto his own stomach with impressive weight, giving him a taste of what was about to enter him. He shuddered, eyes wide and locked on the blanket where he knew the phantom cock was waiting.
Childe's anxiety rose to unbearable levels, and he felt like he was suffocating (and not just because of the tongue still lodged in his mouth) . He begged for the actors to stop sucking each other’s faces so he could excuse himself.
The chance came for a split second…
“Zho—”
…and ended just as quick.
“—nnghh!!!!”
Childe tensed as the tiger’s massive cock buried itself into his ass.
Zhongli paused the movie and spun around with concern. “Childe! Is something wrong?”
The fox fought for air. His guts felt rearranged—shoved to the side with the weighty girth inside him, now frozen in action from the paused scene on the television screen. He clutched the blanket tightly and swallowed a few times before giving an answer.
“N-n-no… E-everything’s f-f-f-fine…”
Zhongli’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure? You look pale.”
This was fucking agony.
Childe gave the best showman’s smile he could muster. “Y-y-yeah, Zhongli… Th-this movie’s g-g-g-great…”
Zhongli smiled back in relief. "Oh, good. I was worried you didn't like the film. I know this scene can be rather explicit, but don't worry. They censor most of it."
The brunette turned back to the screen. Then he pressed ‘play’ on the remote and Childe’s nightmare resumed.
"The male lead was late in his career when he was offered the role, and he initially turned it down because he had retired from action films," Zhongli narrated, completely unaware of how Childe was being railed into by the subject of his study. "However, when he was informed of this progressive plot point, he signed the contract immediately.”
Childe’s eyes rolled back as his hole, stretched and abused, took the large cock repeatedly. The lead actor's tongue rolled over the ram's chest, wetting it with saliva. Childe shuddered, feeling the same. He imagined the bruises on his waist from the tiger's fierce hold and the fang marks on his neck where the tiger marked his claim on the ram. Of course, it was all fictional, but the sensations made it feel dizzyingly real to Childe.
He readjusted himself as minutely as possible next to his unknowing partner, fighting down the moans that struggled to escape his throat. He buried himself further under the blanket, partly to hide his shameful expression and hopefully to convince Zhongli he was simply tired. He begged and prayed that this unnecessarily long romance scene would end, and as he felt his insides flood with (hopefully imaginary) hot fluids, he blessed the fucking gods it was over.
"Oh yes, and this was something novel in its time," Zhongli said, cutting through the haze of his addled mind. "The credits play over the final scene, encouraging the viewers to watch the film to the very end.”
Oh archons.
Even without being able to see the screen from under the blanket, he heard the ram’s cry of ecstasy as the tiger weighed in, renewed. The cock in his ass resumed its movement and a ghostly hand gripped the base of Childe’s weak erection. The hand started pumping it, drawing a loud squeak from the fox’s mouth. Unable to handle both stimulations at once, Childe grabbed onto the first thing he could to brace himself for his impending orgasm.
Unfortunately, that thing was Zhongli.
An embarrassing, fervent cry left Childe’s lips and Zhongli stiffened with shock. The credits ended and the phantom organ left Childe’s body, leaving the fox shaken and raw.
Childe felt like he was going to die of embarrassment. He couldn't believe what had just happened, and he was mortified that Zhongli would find out about his curse in the most humiliating way possible. He waited for the look of disgust; the prodding questions; the jeering taunts and insults.
He waited and waited until his heart couldn’t take it any longer. He tore off the blanket and sobbed aloud.
“I’m cursed! I watched a stupid cursed VHS tape and now I feel every scene where someone gets fucked! I know it sounds crazy, but it’s real, and it’s been a fucking nightmare and I’ve never told anyone and I don’t know what to fucking do!!”
The room was silent as Zhongli absorbed the confession. Childe felt like he was going to die of shame as he watched the rabbit examine him head to toe, and when Zhongli finally looked ready to speak, Childe braced himself for pain.
“Do you still have this video tape?”
Childe’s jaw dropped. “Y-y-you believe me?”
Zhongli placed a hand beneath his chin in thought. “I admit, your story sounds quite…fantastical, but cursed films are not unheard of in film history. Some horror films were considered taboo because of some people’s belief that viewing them would curse one to meet a similar fate.”
Childe’s trembling subsided with Zhongli’s understanding. “So…you b-believe in my curse?”
“I have no reason to believe you are lying to me,” Zhongli responded, smiling comfortingly.
Relief washed over Childe like an ocean tide. He wiped his tears and nodded, feeling grateful that he could finally share his secret with the one he loved.
“But…” Zhongli added. “I’d like to understand the conditions of your curse. Do you have to be in the room for it to activate?”
Childe shook his head. “No… I just have to be able to hear or see it. It works with still pictures and music too; not just films.”
Zhongli’s eyebrows lifted. “Advertisements too? That must make cable TV a minefield.”
Childe fought back a laugh. “You’re not wrong… I always have to play music on headphones and stare at the floor to avoid getting ambushed by, well…” He motioned silently to his soiled pants.
Zhongli nodded sagely. “Yes, I can imagine. Though, you mentioned before that the curse affects you whenever intercourse is depicted. What if the subject is between a man and woman?”
Childe’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Ah…well… I don’t understand the specifics of it, but…” He fidgeted uncomfortably, gazing up at Zhongli through lowered eyelashes. “It…it might be easier to just show you.”
Zhongli leaned in, surprisingly engaged. “Really? I must admit, this whole subject of cursed video tapes fascinates me and to see such activity in the flesh, well…” His hand grazed Childe’s and the fox melted from the affection after nearly two hours of unease. “…it could make for a good study.”
Childe could never deny Zhongli.
Zhongli dragged Childe to his bedroom and ran to the computer to find a suitable video to test with. Childe undressed and propped himself up on the rabbit’s bed, seating himself comfortably against silk sheets and fluffy pillows. It seemed Zhongli had expensive tastes even in bedding.
“Ah, this one was very gentle,” Zhongli commented from his computer screen, maximizing a video from his job’s subscription website. “The man and woman in this are married in real life, so absolutely no violence or coercion take place.”
Zhongli climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged at the end facing Childe. “So you don’t need to worry about that. Although, if you want me to press ‘stop,’ you can say so anytime.”
Childe wringed his fingers nervously in his lap. “...okay.”
The video's opening music started, and Childe's eyes were drawn naturally to the computer screen. A dog and a feline held hands and gently pulled each other down onto a large bed. They looked into each other's eyes with genuine love and giggled with some unspoken communication. Childe glanced at Zhongli one last time, hoping he can trust the man with the demonstration of his curse.
The rabbit's golden eyes looked upon him with similar affection to the couple in the video, and Childe knew that he could.
Gentle invisible hands slid along his sides and Childe’s body rolled into a shudder. Feeling no need to hold back, he let out a gasp as the ghostly fingers reached his chest, cupping his pecs and squeezing gently. The feline in the video purred as her husband suckled her nipple, and Childe’s back arched as he felt the twin sensation upon his own breast. He clutched the pillow beside him and moaned as the dog on-screen fondled one breast while sipping from the other. His legs scrambled and tail thumped against the silk sheets, and his groin heated with interest as the man prepared his mate.
Then the hands left him for lower pastures. Warm palms felt the insides of his thighs and Childe whined, feeling the once-feared sensation of being touched in such an intimate place. His eyes were glued to the screen as the scene unfolded, the couple making love with a tenderness that he had never witnessed before. Childe's body trembled with desire, and he let out a soft moan as the ghostly hands began to stroke him in time with the couple on screen.
It was then that Zhongli’s voice entered the scene.
"How does it feel, Childe?" The rabbit's voice was muted and emotionless, and Childe almost feared the judgment he'd see if he looked. But Zhongli's face suddenly appeared above him, gazing down at Childe's trembling form with rhapsodic expression. “When…he touches you down there?”
Childe blinked away the bubbles in his vision as he tried to collect himself. “It feels…like I have another hole…” He slid a hand down to the area between his ass and his balls. “…right here.”
Zhongli followed Childe’s hand and crawled backwards on the bed to observe more closely, his eyes locked onto the space as the dog on-screen ravaged the invisible opening with his fingers. Childe rolled his hips with each gentle touch, further stimulated by the knowledge that Zhongli was watching—studying—his movements so intently.
Like one of his beloved films.
The dog dipped his fingers into his wife and Childe keened. His cock filled with arousal and dripped precum onto his stomach. Through hazy eyes, Childe peeked on his mate.
“Zhongli?”
Golden eyes snapped up from behind a hungry expression. The rabbit licked his lips.
“May I?”
Childe understood what he saw. He felt the same hunger within himself many times in his life, only he had repressed it out of fear for his curse.
Predatory instincts.
Childe's ears folded back and fur stood on end as he felt the same petrification prey typically felt in his position. However, this time, he—the predator—was locked in a battle of wills with his prey. Zhongli stared at him with dilated pupils, mouth parted and pretty pink lips wet with saliva. He looked barely able to contain himself, and Childe was both thrilled and terrified at the prospect of what Zhongli might do next.
Zhongli’s hand pet the inside of his thigh, slightly gripping the muscle with desire. “May I, Childe?”
Childe returned a slight nod. “Yeah.”
And the joy that bloomed on Zhongli’s face—oh, how happy Childe made him.
Zhongli dove headfirst between Childe’s legs and licked the area where Childe pointed to earlier. The fox yelped in surprise, but Zhongli's tongue expertly flicked over the sensitive spot, sending waves of pleasure throughout his body. Childe grasped at the sheets, trying to keep himself from reaching his peak too quickly. He never knew that pleasure could feel this overwhelming, and he never imagined that someone real could make him feel this way.
As Zhongli continued to work him over, a new prodding feeling entered the scene. The dog husband’s cock pressed against his wife’s vagina, parting the lips and sliding in slowly. Childe lifted his hips to accommodate the phantom appendage entering him, and Zhongli supported the shift by sliding his knees underneath. The rabbit propped the fox’s legs on his shoulders as he continued lapping the flaps of his lover’s imaginary vulva. Childe mewled not unlike the feline in the video as his lower body was serviced so thoroughly, and it didn’t take long for him to come onto his own face and chest with choked cries. The dog on-screen climaxed shortly after, coating Childe’s imaginary insides with warm seed.
Afterwards, Childe lay still, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. Zhongli lowered Childe’s legs to the bed and crawled back up to him, a soft smile on his face as he brushed a strand of hair out of Childe's eyes.
"Are you alright?" Zhongli asked, his voice gentle and concerned.
Childe nodded, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him. "Yeah, I'm okay. That was… amazing."
Zhongli's smile widened. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I enjoyed seeing you relax as well. I’m not sure if you noticed, but I haven’t heard you stutter once since you told me about your curse.”
The fox blinked, realizing the truth in Zhongli’s statement. “Huh… You’re right!”
Zhongli leaned in to kiss Childe gently, his arms wrapping around the fox in a warm embrace. "I'm happy to help you find ways to live with your curse, Childe. And I'm even happier to be with you, regardless of any curses you may have."
Childe felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes as he kissed Zhongli back. For the first time in his life, he felt truly accepted and loved. Perhaps he could cast aside his silly nickname and fear of curses and simply live alongside Zhongli, comfortable as who he was.
“Hey, Zhongli?”
“Mm?”
“Think for our next movie night, we could watch some of my favorite movies? As much as I enjoyed experiencing our own private orgy, I kind of miss watching movies where I don’t have to worry about being dicked with.”
The rabbit tossed back a laugh before kissing Childe on the cheek. "Of course, we can watch whatever you want. And who knows, maybe we can discover some new favorites together."
Childe smiled, his dazzling confidence restored. "I'd like that."