What I Cannot Put into Words, I Offer You in the Weight of Gold

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/34314811.

Rating: Not Rated

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: M/M
Fandom: 原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game)
Relationship: Tartaglia | Childe/Zhongli (Genshin Impact)
Character: Zhongli (Genshin Impact), Tartaglia | Childe (Genshin Impact), Original
Genshin Impact Characters, Xiao | Alatus (Genshin Impact), Kong |
Aether (Genshin Impact), Paimon (Genshin Impact), Teucer (Genshin
Impact), Fatui Members (Genshin Impact), More characters to be added
- Character, Scaramouche (Genshin Impact), La Signora (Genshin
Impact), Tsaritsa (Genshin Impact), Tartaglia | Childe's Family (Genshin
Impact)
Additional Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Slow Burn, Tartaglia | Childe is Bad
at Feelings (Genshin Impact), Endgame Tartaglia | Childe/Zhongli
(Genshin Impact), Zhongli doesn't realize what he does to people,
Dragon Zhongli (Genshin Impact), Childe solves his problems by
spending money, Fluff, Character Study, Zhongli is Bad with Money
(Genshin Impact), The Fatui fund Zhongli's spending problem,
Possessive Behavior, Identity Reveal, Blood and Injury, Injury
Recovery, Identity Issues, Secret Identity, Enemies to Friends, Enemies
to Friends to Lovers, But WOW will there be pages upon pages of
world-building before we get there, Pining, Battlesexual Tartaglia |
Childe (Genshin Impact), Tartaglia | Childe's Foul Legacy
Transformation (Genshin Impact), Written Before 2.6 Update (Genshin
Impact)
Language: English
Series: Part 1 of What I Cannot Put Into Words, I Offer You in the Weight of
Gold
Collections: Quality Long Fanfic, Чжунли, genshin fics - mostly zhongchi, Set of
unique brilliant fics in various fandoms, childe simp haven, What I
Cannot Put Into Words Collection, An1m4sh's Favourites, Best Fics,
best of zhongchi, The Really Greats, fuckin' mint, thiccboimork's
reading list, Tales from the Tavern, best genshin fics, fic that altered my
brain chemistry, Ashes' Library
Stats: Published: 2021-10-06 Completed: 2022-02-27 Words: 187,363
Chapters: 30/30

What I Cannot Put into Words, I Offer You in the Weight of

Gold
by suibianitsfine

Summary

“You’re not…” Childe’s head may have been angled like a baffled puppy, but he couldn’t
help it, “Put off by all of that?”
 As the disk of orange dipped below the Liyuan waters and the twilight sky remained
illuminated by dusky remnants of what had been, Zhongli’s golden-edged features took on
a radiance of their own. It wasn’t the lights playing tricks on him when Childe saw the
man’s eyes gleam, and he craved to know what that meant.

“Perhaps I give you too much credit.” He was smiling, now, and Childe’s breath caught in
his throat. That was certainly new. “Maybe you do not listen as much as I thought you do.”

Childe processes just how different Rex Lapis, God of Contracts, and Zhongli, Wangsheng
Funeral Consultant, really are.

They coincide at the worst of times, and it does some truly awful things to his heart.

Notes

Oh, would you look at that. 2.2 was announced and now I'm here. Huh, strange how things
work out.

This is basically an enormous love letter to Zhongli, and I am living vicariously through
Childe to make sure he understands just how much I adore him. A tad self-indulgent, but
more content featuring Zhongli being appreciated in both his perfectly crafted human form,
as well as in his Rex Lapis form, at his full strength and most terrifying, is an urge I need to
quell.

I hope you enjoy! Feedback is always appreciated.

 Through the Eyes of Another

Zhongli is the perfect image of what an aristocratic, polished Liyuan gentleman should be,
according to more than a few gossipers rustling about in the marketplace Childe currently found
himself perusing. He paused, somewhat intrigued by the loud and overeager merchants, men and
women who clearly had their pockets filled by none other than the gracious man only recently.

If only they had known it was Childe who lined that coin purse for him almost regularly…

“He is dignified and well-mannered, with a graceful posture, and an ethereal way of carrying
himself in every situation,” said one antique seller, as she cradled a jade plaque in her arms like a
small child. No doubt, Zhongli had wound a complex tale about said artifact before purchasing
many others like it. “His attire screams of intricate, high-quality fabrics and to simply skim over the
arm of his suit would be to feel a silk as smooth and buoyant as the ocean waves themselves.”

“Now, now,” another older merchant commented, “It would be unfair to ignore his incredible
presence when he speaks; his voice resounds like the rumbling earth itself, and when he gives you
his full attention, it feels as though a priceless lesson is being imparted, like a holy sanctification.”

Hmm, Childe rubbed the tip of his chin, deep in thought. Was it a shock that Zhongli’s
otherworldly knowledge would inspire praise from others? Hardly a surprise. And yet, he thought
that was a gift only he could properly appreciate.

“Not to mention the image he creates in one’s mind,” a young woman with a little cart of wares
nearby had joined the conversation, “What with his amber-tipped locks and his eyes, smoldering
with the ocher glow of precious Cor Lapis, he is impossible to forget once you have met him.”

A few murmurs of agreement sounded amongst the group, and Childe bristled.

So what if the common people could see the grandeur of Zhongli’s demeanor, presence and looks?
He was their ex-Archon, the oldest of the original Seven, and one who had over six thousand years
to craft a human form that suited his likeness in the best possible way. The core of his Geo power
could not be contained in a mortal form; it oozed from the ends of his hair and from the glow of his
irises, even within the fragments of his clothing and skin which shimmered with golden light.
There was only so much a human body could contain; it was natural for an Archon to entice others
in ways that were difficult to understand, due to the power hiding beneath the surface.

Of course, he would be good-looking.

He exuded a level of intelligence that even the most devout scholars would never reach, of a
worldliness that adventurers would never see even if they spanned two lifetimes, and an aura that
only Adepti or those with similar heavenly ranking could ever try to match. If one were to take a
closer look, they would notice that his Geo Vision attached safely at the low of his back was a
dupe, made of only the finest minerals to create a similar style.

Of course, people would flock to him.

He was Rex Lapis, the last Geo Archon to rule over the land of Liyue, the six-thousand-year-old
God of Contracts, Commerce, and the original Warrior God, before Murata ever came into
existence. He was Morax, the God of Wealth, the creator of currency. He formed the harbor where
trade flowed, the steep mountains of Tianheng and rolling hills of Guili, and his own ancient spears
molded the rock formations famously visited off the coast of Liyue seen present-day.
Of course, he wouldn’t lose all of this credibility and influence because of the loss of his Gnosis.

But sometimes, Childe thought as he wandered, looking for specific artifacts that would catch the
eye of a certain funeral consultant, sometimes, it was easy to forget these facts when Zhongli was
simply in his presence.

Zhongli. Not Geo Archon, or Morax, or Rex Lapis. The man couldn’t even remember to bring the
gilded coins he himself invented and was nicknamed after.

No, when Zhongli did nothing of note other than to exist at Childe’s side, waxing poetics about the
Glaze Lilies that waned nearer to the colder months by the riverside in Wangshu, or the incredible
Nautilus Jadeite earrings hanging in the renowned jewelry display closest to the Northland Bank,
and how it must have been so difficult to craft those pieces of mineral into their sparkling diamond
shape…

When he wore a barely-there smile, wistful and contemplative, as he lost himself in thought and
needed to be coerced back into the present, most likely adrift in memoirs from the compartments
overflowing in his mind, memory primordial yet withstanding…

When his eyes would glaze over in befuddlement as he shook his coin purse, which jiggled with
nothing but air, and he would turn to look at Childe with an expression of utter loss…

Or when he seemed ill-at-ease, watching Hu Tao prattle and rile him up with discounts on future
funeral arrangements for every person they came into contact with, the man being at a loss for
words and working so hard to come to terms with the fact that even after as much time on Teyvat as
he had spent, he still had not accumulated enough patience for that strange, flower-eyed child…

“Childe?”

Childe was metaphorically smacked out of his reflections by none other than said thought-
provoking funeral consultant. Zhongli hovered close by, his arms full of a variety of scrolls, finely
wrapped foodstuffs and two bags that looked to contain porcelain antiquities. His coat, even when
pulling at the hems from too many purchases, was spotless and pressed. His shoes shone as if
freshly waxed last second. As always, his back was perfectly straight, shoulders squared in a form
not unlike that of nobility, and his lithe figure stood tall and notable amongst the smaller folk
milling around him. They would always unconsciously leave a good amount of space whenever
passing by, most likely never realizing the act.

All of the influence and intensity behind those Cor Lapis-infused eyes were now laser-focused on
Childe, who had been creating his own narrative about the Ex-Archon’s looks (when had he ever
been so easily distracted by a business partner?), and only remembered to speak when Zhongli
cleared his throat, looking sheepish.

“Fancy seeing you here, Zhongli-xiansheng!” He strode over in what he hoped was a casual
manner, sticking his hands into his pockets. “I see you’ve been taking advantage of your
allowance, again?”

Zhongli had the nerve to look put-out.

“Surely don’t tease over these matters…” he tutted, and brought his arms closer to Childe. Childe
didn’t need to be asked; he’d been through this too many times to count. He reached out and took
the heaviest looking bags from the top of the other man’s arms, spreading out the weight. “I believe
I only bought what was considered of the upmost importance today.”
“Oho, really, now?” Childe gave a quick glance at the closest tome by his shoulder. He had to
balance a few in order to make sure Zhongli’s arms were purchase-free. “And how is First
Apprentice of Guhua something absolutely necessary for your survival, Zhongli-xiansheng?”

“It was an Inazuman contest-winner, written by a talented Liyuan novelist,” Zhongli explained,
sounding almost like a proud parent, “I have heard it has become quite popular overseas, and thus I
would like to partake in the success of someone from my homeland. It must be something
treasured, for it has added acclaim and fame to the Harbor.”

Zhongli smiled that tiny, almost-smile, an upturn of the lips, as he said pensively, “A short
lifespan dotted with accomplishments is something worth its weight in Mora, and certainly
something I must support with everything I have.”

Even though it was Childe’s money that seemed to be continuously ‘supporting’ said Liyue Harbor
accomplishments, it was impossible not to soften at the way Zhongli lost himself in anything and
everything related to the achievements surrounding Liyue. It was written all over his faultless,
handsome face. Liyue would always remain his land, and his people. Advocating for them in the
simplest, most trivial and human way possible was how he continued to show his connection to
them, no longer as the one who hovered above, but one who converged below.

“Huh,” Childe shook his head back and forth, jostling his Fatui mask slightly, “Ever the pragmatic,
and yet in these instances, I can’t help but take comfort in the fact that you are, essentially, a giant
sap.”

Zhongli radiated mirth, even though his stone-like features had barely changed from before. It was
something so subtle Childe believed that this, right here, was what made him different from the
merchants who thought they knew Zhongli. Who else could tell from those penetrating eyes and
that tense jaw that Zhongli was actually quite content, perhaps even happy?

“It is something new to me as well.” They paused as Zhongli’s eyes caught sight of a rose quartz
crane sculpture, one nearly as high as his waist. He studied it with an acute eye, going over each of
its carved features with care. “Learning more about the human condition is a rewarding, albeit
onerous, challenge.”

“I think you’re getting the hang of it,” Childe tapped the head of the statue as if it were a naughty
pet, which earned him a tsk from Zhongli and a blood-curdling cry from the shop owner.

“Leave the merchandise alone, you Fatui barbarian! Had you refined taste, you would know that
this sculpture is only worthy of the worldliest collectors with familiarity of the devout arts, or that
of our generous late Lord Rex…”

The merchant’s eyes lit up as he took in Zhongli’s form from his shoes to his pristine hair, standing
silently and imposingly next to Childe, still studying the crane with fascination.

“…You, however, dear sir, look like a man with acquired tastes for the rarer treasures one comes
across only once in a lifetime! This incredible piece has over six-hundred years of history under its
wings, and originates from the plains of what we now call Sumeru, where it was gifted to the late
Xing Shi as a wedding dowry from the Archons of old.”

Zhongli’s eyes came into contact with the merchant, and the man flinched on impact as if he had
just been poked with a sharp-edged polearm.

“Which Archons of old do you speak of, laoban?”

Even though Zhongli asked in his usual, polite fashion, the weight which resounded with every
word was gripping. Childe got a little giddy.

Oh thank the Tsaritsa, he thought, he’s going to toy with him.

Childe truly enjoyed those small shows of intellectual prowess. Sometimes Zhongli used his
infinite knowledge to undermine the slyness of experienced street sellers, and it always led to a
good time.

The merchant faltered for only a moment before finding his bearings.

“That of the Lesser Lord Kusanali, of course! Although the youngest of the Seven, she was quite
close with Xing Shi, and rejoiced in her marriage to the Third Emperor Wen of Nianling. The
Dendro art of using vines to carve rocks is one which is barely used in our nation, but one that still
has its uses in Dendro-heavy lands. As you can see here, each feather is etched with small
markings that stem from the small thorns Kusanali is known for creating with her renowned
magic.”

Zhongli carefully swiped a golden hand across the etchings the merchant spoke of, much to
Childe’s displeasure.

“Oh, sure, he can touch the statue, but when I do it, it’s a crime…”

“Be silent, you simpleton,” the merchant barked, keeping all his attention on Zhongli’s long,
careful fingers. “So, good sir, what do you think? Does it meet your sophisticated and incredibly
well-versed standards?”

Zhongli crossed his arms, a clear sign that he was prepared to begin his lecture.

“The craftsmanship is indeed beautiful. The neck curves at an angle extremely difficult to create in
a slab of quartz this large; the crane’s eyes have also been replaced with two pieces of Cor Lapis
that are of the exact same clarity. By all means, the sculpture is nearly flawless, save for the
etchings from the thorns which carved them.”

A satisfied nod from the merchant. Too bad Zhongli was nowhere near close to finished his
examination. Childe caught the gleam in his Cor Lapis’ colored eyes, brighter than those of the
crane.

“If said statue was created by Kusanali, of course. Which it was not.”

Flabbergasted, the merchant’s chubby face turned a bright shade of Jueyun chili red. “Sir--! I can
assure you; this piece is most certainly—”

“Most certainly an attractive item, unfortunately one that has never existed in history texts, let
alone given as a gift by Kusanali,” Zhongli straightened his already-creaseless coat, sighing.
“Kusanali did not use her arts for creating gifts as frivolous as these; she is known for giving gifts
of necessity and functionality, as one would assume of the God of Wisdom. Not only would this
not meet her expectations as a gift for a dear friend, this would also never come close to her
craftsmanship, as the sands of Sumeru would produce a much finer slab of rock to work with,
making the Cor Lapis additions within such small crevices for the eyes nearly impossible unless
inlaid with magic, which would have been noticeable in the sheen of the stones. However, because
this Cor Lapis is so clear, it is obvious that said rocks have been plucked from the mountain
regions near the Luhua Pools, as has this rose quartz. The small lines near the feathers tell of a
unique carving technique with a palette knife instead of the fantastical notion of Dendro thorns.
Time has done no damage to the feet or beak of this so-called ancient artifact, and even if preserved
in an Emperor’s grand palace away from sunlight or the oils of fingers, there would be
discoloration from oxygen, a greyish fade to the tinge of pink. As you can see, that is not present
anywhere on this crane. And of course, most obvious of all—”

The merchant’s mouth opened and dropped like a fish out of water. Childe was shaking with joy at
how his eyes were near bulging from mortification.

“—Xing Shi was deeply terrified of birds.”

At that, Zhongli gave a quick nod to the now-frozen merchant, who looked as though he was
questioning his entire profession and his ability to gouge unsuspecting pushovers out of their hard-
earned Mora, and motioned for Childe to follow.

Which he oh-so-happily did, all of Zhongli’s many shrewd purchases overcrowding his arms.

“You…!” The man could be heard from afar, only just regaining his voice after Childe and
Zhongli had parted through the sea of shoppers. Childe couldn’t hold back any longer; he let out a
fit of laughter and some wheezes that made the other man fret.

“Childe, are you alright?”

He wiped a tear from the crease of his eye before genuinely smiling at the ex-Archon, who was
just Zhongli. Zhongli, who would so casually remark on what an Empress from centuries ago was
afraid of, not because he was well-read, but because he had probably known her personally. It was
a wonder that there weren’t more traders wanting to wring Zhongli’s neck instead of singing his
praises, with the way he could either be a salesperson’s best friend or academic nightmare in the
blink of an eye.

“More than alright, Zhongli-xiansheng,” he snorted, “you sure know how to put dodgy men in their
place. It was more entertaining than Tea Master Liu Su’s storytelling.”

Zhongli relaxed at that. They continued on their way, heading away from the Harbor and into the
depths of the gold and crimson buildings that housed the epicenter of Liyue’s city.

“I am glad my company acts as a pleasant distraction from your daily tasks.” The tiny smile that
graced Zhongli’s lips was so gentle and charming that Childe forgot to hide how red his cheeks had
grown. Curse his pale, freckled genetics for leaving him so vulnerable to bright flushes.

“You know,” Childe said good-naturedly, as they neared Zhongli’s apartment above the
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, where he had been residing since his ‘fall from grace,’ “I’m still in
disbelief that after everything I put you through… though I suppose you had your own game to
play as well... if not for me, Liyue would have been a tad bit more peaceful…”

They had come to stand under the portico of the entry to Zhongli’s small rooming quarters. Zhongli
turned to Childe and began to remove each of his delicate items, one by one, until a small pile had
been built by the entry’s pillars. One of his defined eyebrows rose a miniscule amount.

“I am listening. Continue.”

Childe grew self-conscious under Zhongli’s watchful gaze.

“I try not to beat around the bush, as we would say back in Snezhnaya, so Zhongli-xiansheng, let
me be frank.” Childe managed to hold Zhongli’s gaze for a solid five straight seconds without
wavering, which was becoming more and more difficult as of late. He used to be able to laugh right
in the man’s face. Now, every fiber of his being told him that would be an undignified offense.
“Why are we still on speaking terms?”

Zhongli paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his features before relaxing into one of
exasperated fondness. The sincerity of it made Childe’s brain sputter to a complete halt.

“I suppose, because we are friends.” Zhongli produced a key from his unwrinkled pocket, and
lined it up with the door while still maintaining eye contact with Childe. “This wasn't the first time
I had been the focus of an elaborate plot, against myself or my… the city of Liyue. However, it
was the first time my ideals directly coincided with that of another’s from a foreign land, including
that of another Archon. Although our goals were somewhat different, both our sides achieved
satisfaction, and thus my contract has been maintained.”

Childe was still perplexed. “And that makes us friends?”

Zhongli let out a soft chuckle, a rumbling sound like faraway thunder.

“I suppose that is not what makes us friends.” He pushed open the door, leading to a set of narrow,
stone steps. “Our interactions have always been civil. I enjoy your company, and you still appear
interested in mine. You seem no longer bothered by my identity having been revealed, and I have
always been aware of your campaign with the Fatui to lure me out of hiding, regardless of your
intentions.”

Zhongli gathered up all of his belongings into his own solid, granite arms before continuing. The
fact Childe hadn’t interrupted yet was a testament to just how interested he was in this specific
subject; that is, of how Zhongli viewed him post-Osial.

“You have a one-track mind that I find endearing,” he said, as if that wouldn’t make Childe
protest, “You itch to fight, you seek your desires met in the moment, you live as much by your own
ideals as you can, even though you are bound by your own complex contract to your Goddess.
Your loyalty never wavers, and you can accept the unfairness of the world without sacrificing your
goals.” Zhongli stopped, seeking a proper conclusion to his sentiments. “You are the human
embodiment of determination.”

Childe had both of his hands cupped to his face, attempting to keep the embarrassing quell of
emotions from spilling out of his skin. It was futile; he could feel the fire radiating onto his palms.
Not even his Hydro Vision could cool off his flaming cheeks.

“Zhongli-xiansheng, what was that formal speech!?” He griped, spinning around off of the top step
and making space between the two of them. “You’re going to give a young Harbinger like myself a
very strange complex, saying things like that! And since when were you one to openly pour
compliments like afternoon tea?”

Zhongli gave the most human response that Childe had seen from the man today; he shrugged.

“I merely gave you the reasons you were seeking for why I appreciate you as a friend, as well as
why I admire you as a person.”

And with that, Zhongli bid Childe a polite “good night, I hope you rest well,” before closing the
door and taking all of his new trinkets upstairs into his home.

Trinkets that Childe had indirectly paid for.

Rex Lapis may have held the hearts of everyone in the nation of Liyue, with the power to silence
and crumble even the strongest wills to stone, but it was Zhongli who currently left Childe
speechless on a small street corner in the heart of Liyue Harbor, feeling as if he had been given a
tremendously rare gift.
 Over Food and Drink, I See You
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

“Huh,” Childe hummed to himself, “I suppose this means I’m on… vacation.”

Vacation would be putting it lightly. He glared at the letter as if he could will it to burst into
flames. Alas, the pristine silver-lined envelope and letter neatly folded on top were still very much
intact, and Childe was very much irritated.

The Tsaritsa had been informed of his little…mishaps during his time in Liyue. He had
theoretically been a tool throughout the entire Geo Gnosis Operation, but that wasn’t the issue he
was currently facing.

No, what happened was he had overused his Delusion not once, but twice in the last month, failing
to wait before his body had fully recuperated from the Foul Legacy Transformation and his critical
battle wounds. Saving his brother and giving Teucer a dream tour of the “Mr. Cyclops Toy
Factory” took first priority over his health, and no matter how silly, always would. However, it
resulted in Childe being bedridden for two full days, along with a stupidly smug Signora sending
off a letter to the Cryo Archon about his current inability to work.

Why she only seemed to pop by when Childe was down on his luck, was not so much a mystery.

Zhongli sat across from Childe, currently plating a few dumplings for each of them while giving
Childe a moment to compose himself. The letter had arrived from a Fatui Messenger, who quietly
bowed near their table at the Wangmin Restaurant before stating, “Lord Harbinger, I apologize for
the interruption. A Letter from Her Excellency of the utmost precedence has arrived for you.”

“Give it here,” Childe had said, before the Messenger bowed again and scurried away. The letter
stated, in the coldest handwriting, that Childe was to stay in Liyue until his symptoms were
manageable, and then to continue his daily operations of the Northland Bank and to train the new
squads arriving until further notice.

In other words…

“You are in trouble.” Zhongli stated matter-of-factly. “She is punishing you with tasks below your
status.”

Childe snorted, rolling the envelope ends between his fingers.

“If anything, this proves that she likes me.” He massaged his wrists, still painfully stiff from all of
the Electro discharge that had refused to properly leave his system. No matter how incredibly
strong he was, Abyss technology was something that he should not have been so reckless with. “If
she didn’t, there wouldn’t have been a letter. Just a tchhhh—”

Childe made a slicing sound as he motioned his thumb cutting across his neck like a guillotine. As
much as he was jesting to get Zhongli to react, it was also a real and very possible outcome.

He still had some luck, after all. Although the Ruin Guard attack was an unexpected blip in his
unpredictable plans, at least Teucer had been placated and returned to Snezhnaya without a hitch. It
all went better than expected.
Even if his entire body was groaning with aftershocks from the two showdowns.

Going head-to-head with the Traveler had also been worth it; battles like that were far and few,
especially ones that had him itching to pull out his Foul Legacy.

“You are injured.”

Zhongli said it as a fact, which it was. He had never witnessed the use of Childe's Delusion or Foul
Legacy, and hadn’t been present the last few days for the factory incident. Zhongli had barely
missed Teucer’s sudden appearance, and otherwise may have been in attendance for the disaster of
a tale Childe had to spin to keep his Fatui identity under wraps. It was better for the other man not
to see that side of Childe, anyways. He already knew Childe was conniving and bloodthirsty; he
didn’t need to see just how much he had traded away for raw power.

“I’ll be fine soon, no need to worry, Zhongli-xiansheng.” Childe lifted a dumpling to his lips only
to have it slip from his chopsticks and land with a wet plop. He grimaced. “Just enjoy your jiaozi
and take in the cool weather.”

Although the man began to quietly eat his meal, his eyes never wavered from Childe’s hands,
where Childe continued to drop his food with shaky laughs until he finally gave up and lifted the
dumpling to his mouth with his fingers, forgoing the utensils altogether.

Zhongli made an unimpressed sound.

“I’ll never get the hang of those,” Childe muttered, ignoring the dirty looks he gained from fellow
patrons as he used his hands to grab another pork dumpling.

“It is not the chopsticks that are the problem this time.”

Childe looked up. “What do you mean?”

The look Zhongli sent him was full of impatience. It was dark and intimidating, and Childe
couldn’t help the flutter beneath his ribcage.

“You have no strength in your hands to lift snacks.” A condescending huff. “And you want me to
believe that you are nearing recovery?”

“Hey, I’m a capable man. This is nothing. You must believe me when I say I’ve dealt with far
worse.”

He added a carefree laugh to cement his statement. As if to invalidate his point, a sharp pain
squeezed Childe’s side, the weakest point of his Foul Legacy Armor where a Ruin Guard missile
had managed to directly make impact. He recoiled and leaned on the table for support, where a
now-concerned Zhongli fussed across from him, his own jiaozi growing cold.

“What’s wrong?” Childe couldn’t see the look Zhongli wore, as his head was currently upside
down, his body bent into a fetal position. He could feel a bead of sweat fall from his brow.

How humiliating. What a pathetic way to end lunch.

A warm hand was suddenly placed overtop of Childe’s, where he was clutching the tabletop with
tight, desperate knuckles. A pulse of something white-hot raced through his blood, knocking him
back into his chair so fast, there was a chance Childe suffered whiplash. The pain was profusely
worse than his side, but as quickly as it had come, it vanished without a trace. Everything felt
heavier, but the pain from his side was nearly gone, save for some aching pulses.
His hands also felt less jittery, as if the Electro had been relocated someplace else.

Childe gawked at Zhongli, meeting his calm gaze with wide, skeptical eyes.

“What did you do?”

Zhongli folded his napkin onto his lap, where there sat a small, glowing crystal, no larger than the
size of a Silk Flower petal. It was amber and Geo in color, but within the gem, lightning sparks of
violet struck violently against the translucent stone walls.

“I absorbed the elemental damage harboring in your wounds,” Zhongli stated, placing the gem on
the table for Childe to lift and examine with candid curiosity. Just how did this man continue to
surprise him? Childe should have been ready for anything, when out with the funeral consultant.
He was a god, after all. “I apologize if that was mildly uncomfortable. I need to pull the elemental
traces directly from the source in order to build a Geo prison around such matter.”

Childe glanced around. The customers huddling at the nearest table seemed lost in their own
laughter, and the flashy pirate-woman at the bar table with an eyepatch sipped loudly on a drink,
not giving them even a passing glance.

No one had noticed the man in sophisticated attire and eyes of Cor Lapis pull a literal gemstone out
of Childe’s body.

“Sometimes I forget, you know.”

Zhongli raised a small cup to his lips, blowing softly on the oolong that was freshly served before
their meal had arrived.

“Forget what?”

“Who you are.”

A small grin could be seen over the rim of the cup gracing the man’s lips as he took a long,
satisfying sip.

“That is precisely one of the reasons I enjoy your companionship.” Another dumpling made its
way into Childe’s plate, which he greedily ate immediately. “You understand how to differentiate
between my identities. Just as you have your own mask,” he motioned to the metal Fatui mask
adorning Childe’s head, “I also have mine. We can appreciate that we make up the whole of two
parts, but do not always want to be seen as the other.”

Childe hummed thoughtfully, feeling much better now that his wounds weren’t being consistently
pricked by tiny jolts of electricity. “That’s a good way to put it. I’m not as eloquent with words, but
I definitely see what you mean.”

“Mm. Good.” Zhongli dabbed his upper lip before folding up everything on the table neatly. The
meal was lovely and filling, and Xiangling bounced over, a tray of Jueyun Chili Chicken poached
precariously at its edge.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Zhongli! Mr. Zhongli’s close acquaintance!” Childe glared at the girl; his
alias was not that difficult to remember. Zhongli just attracted more attention, with his stupid
invisible miasma of importance, and thus his name was always instinctively noted. “I hope you
enjoyed your meals. They were made with care and only the best ingredients, as always!”

“Your cooking continues to put Wangmin on par with the best restaurants in Teyvat,” Zhongli
praised, sending the poor girl into a starry-eyed flurry of Oh, sir, you’re much too kind! and If you
wouldn’t mind, I have new dishes I would love for you to try…

Zhongli practically radiated eagerness at the prospect of trying new and exciting flavors created by
Liyue’s up-and-coming celebrated cook, even if the only tell that gave him away was how his eyes
flickered from Xiangling and back to Childe, a silent request.

“Well, my schedule has miraculously cleared up,” Childe said, shoving the letter into his jacket
pocket and preparing himself. “Bring it on, Xiangling of Wanmin. Let’s see what you’re capable
of.”

The stars in the blue-haired girl’s eyes turned fierce and ready for a challenge. Zhongli exuded
contentment. Childe idly wondered if, in Rex Lapis’ dragon form, the man would be purring right
now.

He quickly banished such a ridiculous thought.

An hour later, and several brand-new dishes of exciting varieties and some questionable
components later, all of which Zhongli was keen to try while Childe needed a bit more coaxing, the
two of them were filled to their limits. The spread of empty dishes and bowls that covered the table
were quickly taken away by Xiangling, who met Childe’s heavy eyes with resolve.

“Well, Mr. Fatui? How was everything?”

“Call me Childe,” he moaned, too stuffed to do more then croak out a “Minus the slime preserved
eggs, everything was great.”

Zhongli, after eating more than Childe yet still looking as if he could take the chili covered
chicken off Xiangling’s hands, sighed in appreciation. “I must disagree, Childe. The salted eggs
were lovely paired with the secretion-coated rice, creating an intricate flavor and texture that I
believe I have never tasted before. Thank you for the wonderfully refreshing experience.”

Xiangling squealed. Even the strange, cursed bear that followed Xiangling everywhere looked
over-the-moon. “Thank you so much, Mr. Zhongli! Gongzi! I couldn’t ask for better customers!”

She bounded away, full of pep and youth, and Childe wondered if he had looked like that a few
years back when he had first started rising in the ranks of the Fatui. So full of wonder and the
desire to do better, be better. Truly, not much has changed, in that respect.

“You just enjoyed that weird slime dish because you’ve tried everything before.” Childe chuckled,
throwing his head back against the chair to rest, “I bet that’s why you like this place so much.
Xiangling is always experimenting, and you’ve had thousands of years to get sick of the same old
cuisine.”

Zhongli shook his head fondly but chose not to respond. Instead, he pointed to Xiangling as she
practically danced from table to table, Guoba always behind, chatting and explaining each of her
dishes to those who asked, giving such detailed descriptions it was as if she had picked each
ingredient herself out in Lingju.

“She pursues the same goals as you do,” he mused, “With more innocence, and less bloodshed, but
tenacity is somewhat of a weakness of mine.” He looked vastly into the beyond, eyes lost to
memories and contemplation from a mind that has mulled over every aspect of what it means to be,
“I want her to do well in life. The joy I find in eating here is that it is not my will that aids her in her
journey; she will be successful, with or without divine intervention.”
 Zhongli really had a way of making every person he spoke about sound so incredibly important.
Like they were all vital pieces in a mechanical array, and nothing would function if even one small
gear was missing.

Hearing him speak that way about the young Pyro wielder, though, left a bad taste in Childe’s
mouth, and he wasn’t sure why. Could it be because Zhongli had called her innocent? Did he see
Childe’s bloodlust as a stain on his person? Even though his life choices were far from what one
would call 'humanitarian,' Rex Lapis had more than his own fair share of slaughter tainting his
history.

Actually, Childe wasn’t quite so sure. He never did a lot of research on the Archon…which was
poor preparation on his part. But surely the ancient God of War would gain such a reputation
because he had been ruthless. Right?

Childe couldn’t picture Zhongli hurting a sparrow, let alone enormous demons and thousands upon
thousands of people.

He should really read up on his Liyuan history books.

A small note of paper materialized in front of Childe’s eyes, along with a chubby bear holding its
edge.

Xiangling beamed. “Your bill, Mr. Zhongli, Gongzi!”

Sure, remember his title when he’s footing the bill.

Zhongli peered up from under his long, amber-tinted lashes, confounded.

“Hmm.” He shook the contents of his coin sack. A tiny jingling could be heard, the sound made by
two or three thousand Mora tops. “Childe, I appear to have forgotten—”

“Yes, I know, Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe poured the contents of his wallet into the enchanted
bear’s round claws until the bear was satisfied and waddled away. He would ponder further on the
possibility of Zhongli’s killing ability later, when he didn’t have the man looking at him with an
expression of gratitude, just as full and satisfied as his stomach. “It’s my treat.”

Chapter End Notes

Childe, I don't think you're ready to really know Zhongli. So let's take it in steps, shall
we?

I hope you are enjoying this so far. I think, to date, this is my favourite fic I've written
(even though it is unfinished). I find constant enjoyment out of Childe and Zhongli's
shenanigans, but with their undertones of past tragedies and identity issues. Let me
know what you think if you can! <3
 A New Perspective: Part I
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Five volumes of Rex Incognito later, along with two textbooks covering the formation of Liyue,
one encyclopedia purely focused on the Great Archon War, and thirteen small scrolls filled with
sources that recounted each of the Great Morax’s battles, and Childe still had absolutely no idea
how to grasp that this was the same Archon who saw a kiosk of kites and showed the same level of
enthusiasm as Childe when he surprised an enemy with his dual Hydro swords.

The evening prior, Zhongli had delved into the late history of paper cutting and told a story of
bamboo kites depicting ancient terracotta frescoes he had once collected, before bestowing them to
a family of merchants who had gone bankrupt. They had pawned off the artifacts happily, and
Zhongli, ever the art collector and connoisseur of valuables, lover of all historic antiquities, easily
gave them away to aid a few citizens in need.

“Objects hold importance in their worth,” he had detailed with great significance, “Humans hold
importance in their hearts. I must remind myself incessantly of this in order to move forward in the
mortal realm.”

Seriously, how was this man an Almighty Archon?

When compared to Barbatos, the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt, or to his own reverent Cryo
Archon, the Tsaritsa, Zhongli didn’t measure up in either of their categories. Barbatos was juvenile
and frivolous, a barely-present Archon, although that could have been because of his obsession
with giving his people the freedom to worship him or do as they please. As some Archon powers
directly fed from their lowly believers, it would make sense that he would be the weakest link of
the Seven, save for the Lesser Lord Kusanali.

Zhongli certainly didn’t come across as a God whose Gnosis could have been easily taken; Childe
wished he could have come to that realization sooner, to spare him the embarrassment of his
mission in Liyue. If it had been as easy as stealing from Barbatos, the Tsaritsa never would have
needed to make a contract with the God of Contracts himself. That spoke volumes for the level of
respect the Tsaritsa still had for the Archon, as well as his standing amongst The Seven. He was
also the oldest of the living current Elementals, thousands of years older than his own Goddess.
That would mean there were countless lifetimes Zhongli had lived through that the mortal
population would have ceased to remember, prior even to the Archon War, before there were
names to nations at all.

Zhongli had created the land he was presently standing on. That was something Childe would need
eons to fully acknowledge.

Even with his centuries upon centuries of existence, though, Zhongli was never as unsympathetic
and heartless as the Cryo Archon. At least, not when Childe was present. She was an incredible
being, and Childe both looked forward to and loathed being in a room alone with her, lest he make
one wrong genuflect or gesture that would leave him impaled by millions of ice shards. She would
at no time be caught amongst the common people, and hardly gave a thought to what happened
below, unless it involved the Fatui and her plans for the future of Teyvat.

As the Goddess of Love who had misplaced the love for her people, it was simply an honor for
Childe and her followers to rush into battle for her dream of heavenly rebellion.
Had Zhongli in his old age already moved past his yearning for war and insurgence, and instead
settled for being as subdued and consistent as the tides at Liyue Harbor?

Childe had too many questions. It would be easier if he just asked the Ex-Archon, but the idea of
plaguing Zhongli with interrogations about a life he seemed so willing to give up made him
uneasy.

Would that make Zhongli uncomfortable?

Would he no longer want to spend time with him?

Childe was getting ahead of himself. He was growing so used to his easygoing schedule in Liyue,
where Zhongli had effortlessly weaved himself into most of Childe’s basic daily interactions. He
should have no problem answering a few measly questions, so long as Childe continued to treat
him the same as always.

Two morning strolls later, and Childe had yet to ask even one of the thousand inquiries swirling
inside of his head. They were stationed at Wangshu Inn, Zhongli because Hu Tao had sent him to
look into getting a contract with the owners, Childe because he had nothing better to do. Something
about Wangsheng’s “buy two plots, get one free” deal for any Wangshu customer who
mysteriously passed while visiting.

It was an awful contract, and Childe couldn’t help laughing at how blasphemous it was to have
Zhongli doing the dirty work. The semi-permanent crease between his brows told Childe
everything he needed to know.

“I am not fit to complete this task,” he sighed wearily, rubbing his temples. “These are not the kind
of contracts I should be attempting to bind. Childe—”

“Whoa, don’t look at me,” Childe asserted, dramatically throwing a hand over his heart,
“Zhongli-xiansheng, just because I'm well-acquainted with death doesn’t mean I know how to sell
it to people. Why don’t you just call this one a loss, and we can go do something more
entertaining? Like have a good meal. Or maybe a quick spar.”

Ah, and he had been working so hard on tamping down that urge, too. An unwarranted slip of the
tongue.

At the mention of a quick battle, Zhongli stiffened. This was the first time Childe had ever asked
the funeral consultant to fight him casually, even though he asked most people he knew on the
daily to keep up his regime. It had never occurred to Childe to ask until he found out about
Zhongli’s Archon status; after that, it was kind of all he could think about for a good chunk of the
time he spent recuperating from the Foul Legacy Transformation.

He still had no idea what Rex Lapis was actually capable of, and the ambiguousness was thrilling.

“You want…to fight me.” Zhongli rolled the idea on his tongue like it was a newly acquired taste,
and he was still unsure of how he felt about it. “You are still recovering, Childe.”

“I promise, everything works as it should.” Zhongli hadn’t outright said no yet, and that had Childe
buzzing with an adrenaline he hadn’t felt since his catastrophic loss at the hands of the Traveler,
“Wow, Zhongli-xiansheng, I can’t lie, I’m getting dangerously optimistic. Are you contemplating
the idea? Would you be willing?”

The crease on Zhongli’s forehead grew, as did his frown. Suddenly Childe couldn’t stop inspecting
the man top-to-bottom, only this time, instead of feelings of admiration, he felt feelings of
anticipation: What godlike strength laid hidden underneath that human form? Was he weakened by
the loss of his Gnosis to the point where Childe could overpower him without difficulty, or would
he need to strategize his every move? Would Zhongli crush him in a single instant, or would he
take his time, each blow more concentrated than the last…

“I do recall you asserting how you could not forgive me for fooling you after the Rite of Parting,”
Zhongli spoke slowly, deliberating, “And that only a duel would mend the wound. The fight
became unnecessary, as we returned to our usual manner of interacting soon after, nevertheless.”

“Well…” Childe had said that, hadn’t he? He really was too distracted in this seaside city, “Now
seems a good a time as any to fix the grave error you committed!”

“Which grave error?” Zhongli stared pointedly at him. The wind from up on the inn’s balcony was
strong; it took Zhongli’s ponytail in many directions, nearly causing a few whiskers of hair to whip
Childe across the nose, “We had agreed on no hard feelings. It was a means to an end. Do you not
recall?”

“No, no, not that,” Childe waved a dismissive hand in the air, feeling a growing giddiness of soon-
to-be-had victory. He had found his ace in the hole. “The fact that you voided our contract.”

Zhongli all but turned into a secondary form of his Archon Statue at that.

His eyes narrowed into piercing slits of gold, rimmed with vibrant crimson. The effect was soul-
crushing.

“Contract?”

Childe was already in the midst of developing his battle plan. “The Geo Archon himself fully
ignored the wills of a contract, in which I specified that none would be forgiven unless we dueled.
Just because another outcome had taken place, doesn’t make the first contract any less obligatory.
Even verbal contracts said in passing must be upheld in the land of Liyue.”

In other words: Bring it on.

Zhongli’s entire aura shifted. The air on the balcony lost its lighthearted draft, as if the winds
themselves were parting for the rock. Childe found himself already having trouble catching his
breath before they had even begun. The light in Zhongli’s eyes grew abnormally bright, and as the
fire in those two Cor Lapis irises grew, the ground gave the slightest shift, knocking the inn into a
flurry of panic.

“Earthquake?” the woman manning the front desk cried, heading towards the stairs, “Everyone
should evacuate immediately!”

A few animals who kept the inn’s frequenters company followed her down, along with several
guests. They slowed to stare at the two men still in a standoff on the balcony, neither showing signs
of planning to exit the towering guesthouse. In fact, the younger foreigner of the two looked
undeniably delighted.

“You two!” Smiley Yanxiao hollered, “It’s best to get to safety down below just in case that first
quake wasn’t the worst of them. Get moving!”

The two fellows didn’t budge.

“Oh, trust me,” the younger one smiled at him with all teeth, still keeping eye contact with the man
in formal attire, “That wasn’t the worst quake by far.”
“What are you trying to achieve?” Zhongli had taken on a no-nonsense tone, and it was doing
unusual things to Childe’s stuttering heart. Once everyone had taken leave from the building,
Childe leaned against the terrace, scouting for a decently open area for their fight.

“I am simply trying to help you keep your six-thousand-year record clean,” he responded with
glee, “and make sure you fulfill all of your contractual duties. So? What about down there-”

Childe indicated to a large clearing surrounded by foliage in the direction of Dihua Marsh, where
there was plenty of room for breaking things without gathering attention. It would only be a quick
glide away.

Zhongli transfixed on the spot Childe pointed out, before breathing out his loss, deep and steady.

“That is an adequate spot.”

If Childe were any younger, he would have leapt into the air for joy and rushed to the sparring
grounds as fast as his legs could take him. A fight was the easiest way to clear up the questions he
had for the Archon, and also, inconsequentially, Childe’s more preferred method.

After all, books could only tell him so much. Experience was where true knowledge could be
found.

“Alatus, you do not need to wait for my permission to approach,” Zhongli suddenly spoke, and as
if summoned, a petite, otherworldly entity with turquoise hair materialized behind Childe, startling
an eh? out of him before he could hold back.

The Adeptus did not wait for Childe to regain his composure before lowering his chin and
speaking.

“I felt your presence.” His unnaturally yellow eyes slid to Childe, and then back to Zhongli. “And
came to check if you needed my assistance.”

“Who are you?” Childe’s excitement only grew. Was he one of Rex Lapis’ Adepti? Was he a
capable fighter? He looked delicate, but had an air of danger about time that was calling Childe’s
name.

“Childe, this is Alatus,” Zhongli made a quick introduction and Childe was glad; he wanted to get
this show on the road before the man (whose eyes were still gleaming) changed his mind, “My last
remaining Yaksha and one of the Adepti of Liyue.”

“You do not have that name’s privilege, human,” Xiao sneered, “Mortals know me as Xiao.”

Ah, Childe assumed that this Adeptus knew of Childe’s schemes against the Archon. It would only
make sense; the Adepti did aid the people in stopping Osial’s rampage.

“Pleasure’s all mine,” he did a melodramatic bow, making sure his Fatui mask was in full view.
Provoking opponents was his forte. “Call me Childe. Me and your boss are about to fight; want to
watch? Or better yet, want to take part?”

At that, the Adeptus Xiao actually showed an amount of surprise on his otherwise stoic face.
Zhongli looked down at Childe with a sour expression.

“I preside over no one.” He affirmed, "Alatus is free to do as he so wishes."

“Morax,” he said, and wow, hearing someone identify Zhongli by his Archon name was quite
 something, wasn’t it? “Is that true? Are you entertaining the idea of a fight?”

“It appears we have a contract,” Zhongli responded, and no sooner then did the man begin
walking, antagonizing slow, towards the precipice of the rooftop. “We will continue this
conversation away from prying eyes.”

This version of Zhongli was one Childe had only glimpsed in passing; the funeral consultant was
always calm and tolerant. He showed indifference to most, but underneath that Childe had learned
to read his idiosyncrasies like the back of his hand. He had gotten familiar with his easy-to-miss
happy smile, his perturbed grimace, and his uncomfortable posturing.

The current Zhongli, Ex-Archon Zhongli, who was exuding tiny suggestions of the same
unforgettably suffocating, formidable aura as the Tsaritsa, was someone Childe wanted to become
more acquainted with. Much more.

Zhongli didn’t have to ask Xiao to follow; the Adeptus was already behind him, waiting for
direction. Childe would have been more interested in a new opponent if it weren’t for the fact that
Zhongli did not pull out a glider to fly; instead, he disappeared in a whirlwind with the green-haired
boy, leaving Childe alone on the rooftop. If he squinted, he could see two tiny bodies nearly a mile
away, back to strolling on the path towards the edge of the clearing.

Childe groaned, whipping out his wind glider with haste.

Clearly, if he desired to go head-to-head with Zhongli, Childe would have to pull out all the stops.

Chapter End Notes

Childe is in over his head, as usual.

The battle will take place in the second part of this section. Enjoy!
 A New Perspective: Part II
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Although the skies were clear and the land itself was dry considering the boggy surroundings, the
expanse of the marsh Childe had suggested was less-than-ideal for battle. Childe had been unable
to determine from the Wangshu Inn terrace, but the area up-close was extremely rocky and uneven,
no good for stable footing.

If that bothered Zhongli at all, he made no sign of it. He gracefully carved a path for himself over
the stones, walking in a perfectly straight line while Childe used his honed abilities to jump over
each protrusion with ease. Xiao leaned on a nearby Sandbearer trunk, looking bored.

“Are you going to watch?” Childe asked, already brandishing his Hydro Vision to form the shape
of a polearm in the palm of his hand. Xiao made no move to respond and only kept his eyes trained
on Childe’s movements as Hydro energy began to leak from his every pore. Rivers of blue seeped
out from his being as if it harbored within, waiting to be manipulated to Childe’s whims. He
focused on the weight of the weapon, the arrowed tips at each end, to create a double-edged spear
molded entirely by water.

Zhongli made a hum of appreciation as he watched Childe build his weapon from scratch. “Quite
impressive.” He looked as if he wanted to delve into the mechanics of how Childe’s Hydro abilities
worked, and Childe would have been more than happy to walk him through the details, but that
would have to wait until later. They had more important tasks to finish.

Zhongli broke, as Childe predicted he would. He was obsessed with acquiring information. “Can
you configure any weapon of choice on command, or must there be studious research involved in
order to maintain their proper shape and form?”

Childe shrugged. “I’ve studied and fought with them all, so I rotate often. I promise to go more in-
depth once we’re finished here, xiansheng, but I’m eager to begin.”

The other man huffed a chuckle before crossing his arms. “We must establish rules,” he declared,
moving to stand in front of Childe in all of his dignified glory.

“I can agree to that,” Childe flicked his spear into the air, allowing it to gather into a tall wave
before crashing down into his hand, once more a fully formed lance. “Name your demands,
Zhongli-xiansheng.” He added, unable to help himself, “I recognize this as a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity, so I’m happy to follow your whims.”

As if he wasn’t doing so on a daily basis, as well. The man practically had a vice grip around his
wallet.

Zhongli looked as if he had expected Childe to argue, so the small uptick of his lip was a pleasant
surprise.

“Very well, then. The first demand is that no Visions or Elemental Powers shall be used.”

Childe’s jaw dropped, feeling unquestionably betrayed.

“Absolutely not!” He thrusted his polearm near Zhongli’s amber eyes, so that the Ex-Archon, who
was clearly nearsighted, could see it properly. “I use my Hydro for everything, weaponry included.
Not that I haven’t used my fists for many fights, but Zhongli-xiansheng, you can’t expect me to try
and combat you with only the power of my mortal hands. I may be reckless, but I’m not willing to
forfeit my life that easily.”

“No one said anything about taking lives, Childe,” Zhongli chastised him with a stern tone, “There
will certainly be no killing intent involved.”

“And if that changes,” Xiao’s soft voice carried on the wind from where he stood, “I will be ready
to dispose of the ruffian so that your hands remain clean.”

Childe whistled. “You have yourself quite the guard dog,” he laughed as he saw Xiao jerk from the
sidelines, “I wish we'd met sooner. He’s fun to play with.”

“Show some respect, Childe, or this spar will cease immediately.” Zhongli’s disapproving voice
was actually quite chilling, whether it came from funeral consultant Zhongli or Ex-Archon
Zhongli. Disappointing him was, awkwardly, something Childe tried to avoid. In addition, the way
Zhongli’s gaze was affecting his nerves wasn’t typical. He needed to calm down; this was a fight
that would take more maneuvering and reasoning than brute strength.

“Sorry, Zhongli-xiansheng,” he rubbed the back of his neck in reproach, “I got carried away. I tend
to be an overconfident trash talker when I’m ready to go; can't make any promises, but I'll try to
behave. So—”

Childe pointed the tip of his spear at Zhongli’s torso, it’s shape unwavering and firm.

“Please allow me to bear witness to Rex Lapis’ power.” He waited before continuing, but Zhongli
stood motionless, listening, “We’ve been comrades for some time, now, and I think after all that’s
happened, it would only be fair. I was strolling around Liyue with the city’s most influential person
without ever knowing what that entailed! A proper fight with all trimmings is the only way to
ratify the contract.”

The sun beat down on the graveled floor, creating small distortions of hot air rising around their
feet. The temperature and area were not ideal for a Hydro user; a little rain closer to the seaside
would have been preferable for Childe’s standards. However, he had trained in Snezhnaya, where
there were only dry, lifeless steppes or vast, frozen desert. He knew how to make the terrain suit
his needs.

Zhongli tapped his chin, an unusually human tick that Childe shouldn’t have regarded as
endearing.

“You make a valid point that I will consider. Though I have lost much of my abilities, I should still
warn you; I don’t make a habit out of using the same trick twice.”

Well, that was exactly what Childe wanted to hear.

“Perfect,” Childe rolled the staff of his spear between his palms, getting antsy, “So Visions and
godly powers are a-go?”

“Hmph.” Xiao scoffed as Zhongli gave a minute signal of permission, which made Childe grin
from ear to ear. “What purpose this serves, along with Morax’s collection of ornaments and
curiosities concerning the mortal arts, confounds me.”

Childe ignored him and focused on his stone-faced opponent. “Any more rules you would like to
discuss?”
Zhongli, ever the patient ancient entity, nodded before the ground at his feet glistened and broke
into hulking, growing shards of stone. A golden polearm was lifted from the dust, borne from the
rocks themselves, and was placed into the waiting palm of Zhongli’s left hand. Childe smirked and
tried not to look too enthralled with the fact Zhongli had literally split the earth to retrieve his
personal weapon.

The mineral-encrusted spear was twirled in a perfect circle before Zhongli hovered it parallel to
himself. A pulse of Geo energy similar to the one which shook the inn pounded across the floor
like a shockwave, sending all of the uneven stones on the field into the air. Childe had successfully
surged upwards before the wave could knock him on his back, already equipped for Zhongli’s
elemental advantage.

The surrounding terrain, which had once been treacherous and rugged, was now perfectly levelled.
The pointed staff in Zhongli’s left hand was spun once more before resting with its tip kissing the
ground.

“You use your chopsticks with your right hand but fight with your left? How interesting that we
have that in common, xiansheng. I’m learning so much already.”

There was another small grunt of approval, and Childe counted that as a minor early victory in
itself.

“You pay attention even when it does not appear so,” Zhongli had sounded somewhat proud in that
moment, and Childe needed to gather himself so as not to get distracted. “I believe the last few
rules are simplistic by nature. The spar ends when the other is incapacitated or has no way of
continuing the fight. You have made it clear that the contract cannot be sanctioned unless we use
all forms of defensive techniques, thus, I will allow it, although that rule was for your benefit.”

Childe had figured as much, but his swollen pride would never recover if he had fought Zhongli
with a bunch of handicaps. He wanted to experience everything.

“Even if it breaks me, I’d rather you go all out then soften your blows.”

The both of them would be using similar fighting styles to start, if their weapons were anything to
go by, but Childe could already tell he would need to move first. Any edge he could grasp before
Zhongli solidified his movements would be beneficial. Childe could rip apart his spear at any
moment to dual wield, although the timing would have to be perfect in order to strike. Hopefully
that gave him some type of advantage.

“Keep in mind,” Zhongli added, “That if I see your wounds acting up, or you insist upon using
your hazardous Abyss magic to push your limits, I will clip this short.”

It did not surprise Childe that once Zhongli had absorbed the Delusion’s recoil, he would be able to
tell just exactly where his Electro powers had originated.

Childe was very close to rolling his eyes but he knew better. “Can I use my Delusion or not?”

Zhongli gave a pregnant pause.

“I would prefer if you didn’t. However, a fair duel dictates all capabilities as impartial.”

“So we’re on the same page.” Childe gave a quick salute to the man in front of him before taking
his position. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

I doubt that, an exasperated murmur travelled through the breeze, reaching Childe’s ears.
They stood at polar opposite edges of the polished domain, both with their polearms at the ready.
Childe knew he reeked of manic enthusiasm, but he wasn’t going to put on a calm façade, not when
his opponent was looking at him dead in the eyes with that all-knowing, gilded stare. Zhongli must
have also been feeling somewhat eager as well, if Xiao’s sudden attentiveness was anything to go
by. The Adeptus had turned his body towards them now, reptilian eyes sharp and scrutinizing.

There were microscopic convulsions quivering Zhongli’s upper lip. Childe could spot the spasms,
even from where he stood a good distance away.

He was forcing down a smile.

And not just any kind of smile; no, Childe knew. He knew exactly what Zhongli was feeling, and
the emotion on the funeral consultant’s face was so foreign, yet so captivating, Childe wanted to
hide it away and treasure it for eternity. He rarely was on the receiving end of such a look; his
enemies usually began their skirmishes with a cackle of hysterical laughter, grossly overestimating
themselves, or with a hopeless grin, easily accepting their demise. Receiving fulfillment from those
battles was nearly impossible. Their faces said it all; they were no match for Childe.

But in that moment, Childe thought he couldn’t have been any more satisfied with the expression
Zhongli, Rex Lapis, the Prime Adeptus, had attempted to suppress.

It was the uncontrollable delight of meeting a worthy challenger.

The ground gave another substantial tremor before Childe shot towards Zhongli, surfing above the
earth until he reached higher grounds with his Hydro ability and the wave below him swelled to
break. The other man had yet to move, observing him from below; good, Childe thought, as the
tide upsurged over Zhongli and rolled into a heavy crash against the floor. Childe let the
momentum from the current hoist him higher into the air, giving him a flawless angle to dive and
slice.

Childe dove from his aerial position with all his weight and plummeted into the spot Zhongli had
been standing, the edge of his lance shrieking as it dug into hard, unmovable rock. The water
subsided around his feet, where Childe immediately noticed he was alone in the spot Zhongli had
only been less than a moment ago.

A faint glow radiated from Childe’s left, where he narrowly avoided a golden lance piercing his
shoulder. Zhongli stood in perfect form, with his weight balanced between his steady feet,
gracefully sure as his feather-light touch thrusted his staff forward. His lunges came one after
another, picking up speed as Childe focused on dodging.

“I’ve never seen you move so quick,” Childe taunted, swiping low with his spear and tch-ing in
vexation as Zhongli sidestepped the dig without slowing his relentless attacks, “I like the effort
you’re putting in.”

Zhongli bent low before following suit with a dig of much more force, his staff slipping through
Childe’s defensive waters near his feet and forcing him back three steps.

“Conversing while sparring leaves you distracted,” he retorted, cold and unyielding, “Also…what
effort are you referring to?”

If it wasn’t for the fact Childe had to put all of his focus into parrying Zhongli’s unyielding jabs
and strikes, he would have sworn the man was smirking.

Childe seamlessly hurdled over Zhongli to gain a new angle at which he could land a hit; in a
sweep of mist, he had formed his bow, and quickly fired four aquatic arrows towards the Ex-
Archon, still minding his footing. The arrows whizzed through the air as Childe once again missed
his target. Even if he wasn’t the greatest archer, hopefully the arrows at least distracted his
opponent enough for Childe to work on his next move.

Zhongli made no frivolous movements; each move was calculated, perfected over countless
centuries of experience, and it was evident in just how elegantly he shifted while directing his
weapon. His coattails swept behind him with every rotation to evade Childe’s aim; his limbs and
posture operated in constant harmony to keep control of his motions without sacrificing reach or
grip on his polearm. Childe had yet to face anyone with such precise battle language, and this was
only a friendly spar.

All without the use of any of his Geo powers, and already Childe was feeling faintly overcome.

“I guess I need to get more serious,” he panted, wiping his bottom lip with his thumb. The dust
caking the arena was creating a cloud of sand from their scuffle. The powder had coated Childe’s
clothing and tinted his crimson scarf into the color of mottled blood: Zhongli’s entire appearance,
of course, was still pristine. “I want to see what you can really do.”

A small streak of lightning escaped from Childe’s palm, and that was the only warning he gave
before endless bolts hurdled Zhongli’s way from all directions. As long as Childe kept the
Delusion in check and didn’t go overboard, he would be right as rain when this was all over. He did
a quick self-assessment of his body; besides the old wounds and typical sting in his hands from the
Delusion’s currents, nothing was of note.

Zhongli snaked his body through the volts as if they were curls of ribbon, using his staff to block
any larger zaps with lightning-fast deflections. Childe used his Delusion as his support while he
rushed Zhongli from every side, now choosing to rely on his dual swords. The combination of his
blade’s aquatic handles alongside the Delusion’s Electro created an angrier pain in his palms than
he would have cared for, but he would get nowhere without a few small expenses. Childe got to the
level he was today because of his itching desire to up the ante until he had won.

“Having fun, Zhongli-xiansheng?” Childe moved in closer, the Delusion enhancing his speed and
providing him some well-designed cover. The entire arena shone with the bright shade of Electro
energy; lightning currents bounced hues of purple across Zhongli’s composed, refined features, and
up-close, Childe could see how the other man’s eyes flickered with interest.

“It has been a while,” his voice was clear, while Childe’s wavered from exertion, “I am out of
practice.”

Two quick strikes near Zhongli’s torso had Childe forcing him back a step as the electricity
targeting the other man grew more erratic.

“Nonsense,” Childe was unrelenting in his attack, now, chopping at the air as Zhongli continued to
evade his sword strikes with smooth, languid circumventions, “You just need to let loose a bit.”

Childe had finally gotten Zhongli close enough to the edge of the clearing where Xiao resided, still
watching cautiously, propped up on a deep-rooted tree. This was his opening, and he would be a
fool not to take every opportunity he could get. He dispatched as much Electro energy as could be
managed before the skin on his hands blistered and launched himself up into the Sandbearer while
Zhongli blocked the incoming surge. The electricity was overpowering enough that even the Ex-
Archon had to hold his footing with concentration, his glowing eyes tracking every minute spark
heading his direction. Childe rotated his footing on the taller branches before summoning up a
chaotic mass of Hydro energy, the surrounding area of Dihua beginning to shimmer with hanging
dew. The sea of channeled energy floating above the tree began to twist into a colossal figure, and
Childe’s arms trembled from the force.

Xiao’s eyes widened a fraction as he comprehended what Childe planned to do.

Childe called upon every drop of power in his Vision before freeing the water prison suspended
above their heads, Zhongli still enveloped in the Electro below. Childe shuddered and detached
himself from his Vision’s hold, as if clicking an off-switch.

Release.

A narwhal close to the size of the Wangshu Inn was dropped unceremoniously into the sparring
arena, covering the expanse of all vegetation nearby, and directly above Zhongli.

A piercing sound punctured the air; gargantuan waves coursed violently under Childe’s feet, while
Electro surged and crackled as it scattered across the entire arena. Childe leaned against the bark of
the tree, gulping down breaths as he righted himself and scanned the floor for his opponent. With
any luck, that attack would at least slow Zhongli down.

A sphere of bright amber light could be seen glistening near where Childe stood. As the waves
subsided and the electricity grew to a low sizzle, the arena cleared, and Childe began to laugh.

Zhongli had formed a vast Geo barrier around himself. He had sunk his spear deep into the earth,
his lance rod-straight, creating a meteoric indent where he kneeled in a statuesque pose. The rubble
surrounding him had been retched from the ground, leaving him in a cavity encircled by Geo
Talismans of Protection.

Zhongli had gone on the defensive and used his Elemental abilities.

“Incredible, just look at that!” Childe made his way over with a skip in his step, “What an
exceptional shield! Zhongli-xiansheng, this likely won’t mean much, but I’ve never had anyone
shield against my Celestial Voyager that successfully! I put my all into that one, you know.”

“An insult,” Xiao muttered, still completely dry as if the watery impact had never reached him,
“Trying to compare a mortal's abilities to an Adepti's, especially one as old and incomparable as
He, is like tossing a tiny pebble into the ocean and expecting a flood.”

Zhongli began to fluidly move out of his kneeling posture, the shield dimming before shattering
into Cor Lapis-tinged dust. He was shrouded in a haze of glittering ocher sand that matched the
inimitable color of his eyes, which were just as vivid. Childe felt his insides turning to bedlam.

“One pebble can cause a thousand ripples,” he countered cynically, losing his earlier smugness.

Zhongli returned to his standing position, the dust around him no longer dissipating, but instead,
building in size until he was surrounded by dozens of minerals, all varying in magnitude. As he
walked, they trailed his every step, and Childe tracked their advance in case they suddenly
converted into projectiles. Rocks thrown at Zhongli’s feet from the Hydro onslaught were crushed
into the soil as he moved; he paved an entirely new trail until pausing, just short of being nose-to-
nose with Childe.

The Harbinger gulped, throat bobbing; amber dust had surrounded him as well and was making it
difficult to breathe.

Or it could have been the way Zhongli was watching him, that familiar gaze searing with energy.
 Zhongli’s never-wavering calmness made his aura exceptionally threatening when he voiced, in a
tenor reminiscent to that of a volcanic eruption:

“We are not finished yet.”

Chapter End Notes

This section somehow got away from me...and became much too long. *shrugs*

I wanted to capture Childe's tenacity while exploring his fighting style; his think-on-
the-fly, fun yet professional ability honed by the Fatui is a joy to write, but it also
came at a price; my sanity. Fight scenes give me headaches, but wow, do I ever enjoy
reading them.

I also took time to analyze Zhongli's fluidity during fights; he really is sturdy as stone,
lol.

Also that piercing sound before Childe's narwhal attack? That would be Zhongli's
spear literally reshaping the earth to form his shield. Like Childe could actually do
damage to the man.

This section will now be in 3 parts, and the next chapter will reveal the end result of
the spar.

Hope you are enjoying so far!

 A New Perspective: Part III
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Childe had ranked his fair share of battles in a compartmentalized section of his brain labelled
“Conquests per Tartaglia.” In said section, there were recounts of hundreds of skirmishes Childe
had started, finished, and entered just for the hell of, all with a decent amount of entertaining bits
and learning curves. There were Abyss demon campaigns from when he was a child, polar bear
scraps back in his Snezhnayan homeland, and multitudes of Vision-carrying, weapon-wielding
individuals who needed to be knocked down a peg in order to properly respect the Eleventh
Harbinger.

The majority of these battles ended with his triumph. Not that he didn’t also have several
noteworthy losses, but any loss could be counted as learning experience so long as Childe paid
attention and used everything he had at his disposal.

As the ground below him shivered and Zhongli brought his hands together in a powerful clap,
Childe felt as if all his past experience had been training him for this one specific milestone.

Dozens of glowing stone steles rose out of the ground as if being boosted from below. They
blocked Childe’s descent and began lifting him from the soles of his feet, making sure he had no
stable ground to catch his footing. Childe struggled to use his Hydro to rise further than the pillars,
narrowly avoiding being incapacitated by one of the thinner columns.

He inhaled the wet scent of petrichor. He exhaled pure adrenaline.

“Heh, this is getting interesting!” Childe spun to fling a few more arrows Zhongli’s way, who was
now at his heels and using his own endless formation of steles as floating stepping stones. The
man cut off each arrow’s approach with a quiver of Geo energy; a forcefield rippled to life
wherever the arrows aimed, dissolving on impact. If they kept this up, the spar would turn into a
game of cat and mouse, and Childe couldn’t let Zhongli take the upper hand that easily.

He spun on his heel, a large slab rising under his feet, before slashing into Zhongli’s space at
breakneck speed; a flurry of electric shockwaves swamped the battlefield.

“Remember my warning,” Zhongli cautioned as he parried more of Childe’s blows. His staff acted
as an extension of his arm, deflecting lightning and Childe’s everchanging weapons without fail.
The stones circling the Ex-Archon were, as Childe had predicted, acting as missiles, more so to get
Childe to lose his balance then to actually pierce his flesh. All of them were targeting the knee-
down.

Zhongli-xiansheng, don’t go soft on me now.

“I’ve used more of my Delusion on wild boar hunts than I have in the last ten minutes,” Childe
barbed, failing to curb his hopeless battle-tongue. His muscles were beginning to feel the familiar
sensation of exhaustion setting in, but that was easy enough for him to push through. He had no
time to take a breather when Zhongli’s assaults and parries were testing every battle tactic he
knew.

Did Rex Lapis even have muscles that fatigued to begin with?

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe was forced to put space between himself and the man wielding a
golden spear, stones still revolving perilously in the air above his head, “Do you ever get tired?”

“Hmph,” Zhongli sent a rippling wave of energy towards Childe, who layered himself in a
protective barrier of water before it could send him soaring. He never liked using water barriers;
they left him drenched and much less visually threatening, but Zhongli had once caught Childe at
Third-Round Knockout intoxicated, alone and homesick, grousing about how the alcohol of Liyue
could never match the nourishing burn of Fire-Water.

Wet clothes were much less embarrassing.

“Is this a form of attempted interference, or are you in need of a break?” Zhongli’s face remained
deceptively pokerfaced, “I apologize, but there should be no breaks in battle until one side has
fallen.”

“You must know that was not what I meant,” Childe grumbled while catching his breath as a hunk
of Cor Lapis the size of a broadsword forced him to roll to the side. He sent out a thick crackle of
lightning through the passage Zhongli’s shockwave had produced straight for the other man, who
stopped the potent flash with another pass of his Geo shield.

Seriously, impenetrable as a rock was becoming a very accurate portrayal of the Ex-Archon.

Although he could feel the skin between his fingers beginning to peel, Childe did not let up his
Electro assault. Eventually, ultimately, an opening would appear. He needed to be strong enough to
wait it out.

It was aggravating how composed Zhongli remained; no matter what Childe did or how strong his
attacks were, he had a full arsenal of ways to deflect. He showed no weakness. Perhaps he had no
weaknesses.

The thought made Childe’s mouth water.

If he could be one of the first mortals to force Zhongli into submission, to show a break in
composure, even for just a bead of sweat to drip from his brow…

He could do it. There was a chance.

Zhongli had slowed his advance, perhaps trying to gouge why Childe had paused his Electro
onslaught, and that was most likely the only occasion Childe would get. If he waited any longer,
Zhongli and his never-tiring physique would send a barrage of attacks his way until Childe’s
strength gave out.

He didn’t want Zhongli to see his Abyssal form. It had the habit of rearranging how others viewed
him, and certain parts of his life were better kept separated. It was the prime reason why Teucer
thought his bestest older brother was a toy salesman and not the Eleventh Harbinger who wore a
suit of demonic Abyss energy to bring chaos and destruction wherever he went. Something about
the other man getting a sharper glimpse at just how deep Childe’s viciousness ran left him hesitant.

Could he beat Zhongli without it, though?

Probably not.

Childe offered a quick don’t be too mad at me under his breath before compiling enough Hydro
energy around Zhongli that even the other man would have difficulty wading through it. A few
seconds was all it would take. A harsh blue wave encircled Zhongli, shielding his view from
Childe as he counted backwards from five, concentrating on coursing Electro through his upper
body.

Five.

He was still too injured to form the entirety of his Foul Legacy armor, but the added force from
even half of its power could be enough. Childe lifted his arms to each side and searched within for
where his Abyssal resource rested.

He prepared for the worst and drew on its influence.

Four.

Tiny trickles of purple dotted the fabric of Childe’s clothing as the transformation begun, and
Childe held his breath. The current travelling its way through his bloodstream was stronger than
usual, most likely because of his insistence to overuse his Delusion. His fingertips were numb;
there was a growing pulse in his palms.

Three.

Glossy black armor moved its way down Childe’s arms and torso at a leisurely pace, clinging to his
body as if it were a second skin. Wherever it touched burned; Childe could tell his hands were
smoldering, as the excruciating pain was dissolving his focus into static. The bubbling would cease
once the Abyss shell was fully formed. It always did.

Two.

His arms and chest were nearing completion, and Childe was hit by the euphoric wave of
devastating power that came with donning the Foul Legacy. The rush was like no other; he could
almost disregard how his muscle and tissues were shrieking in agony as Hydro and Electro fought
within him for dominance.

A violet mass of energy swelled between Tartaglia’s hands as he conducted power into a ball of
pure Electro. There was no way Zhongli would be able to handle this without using more of his
strength: then Childe would finally be able to see what he’s been missing, what the other man’s
been holding out on him.

The vortex continued to grow as Tartaglia’s armor reached a stopping point at his neck. He had hit
his limit and everything hurt, but it was all going to be worth it.

Tartaglia inclined his body so that when the force of his Electro was released, the vortex would
have no choice but to seek out the largest source of power in the vicinity: Rex Lapis.

One.

A blur of brown and amber collided with Childe at a velocity that should have shattered a few ribs;
thank the Tsaritsa that the Foul Legacy suit was so sturdy. The mass of Electro in his hands was
offset by the blast, and Childe had no choice but to drop his control and pray it would hit its target.

He was forced backwards until his spine met with the unforgiving rock beneath his feet, and in the
span of a second, was staring up the length of Zhongli’s golden staff from the ground. The
needlepoint of its glinting edge was suspended over the midpoint of his throat.

Shit.

Childe’s eyes roamed up the pole to the rigid, gloved hands holding the polearm, then to the huge
Geo prison floating securely above the ground with his Electro reined safely inside. The glowing
shard of Cor Lapis stayed perfectly intact as the vortex within it thrashed to be free.

An immense weight pressed on Childe’s chest hard, forcing a wet grunt from his lips; only then
did he realize there was an elegant dress shoe holding him down with enough force to floor a
lawachurl. Childe flicked his eyes up a little further to finally meet Zhongli’s gaze; his irises were
blazing with intense heat, mouth curled into a disappointed (oh, no, he was disappointed) scowl.
His posture was poised to rip Childe’s pharynx open should he try anything else, and the miasma
of pure ancient Geo energy smothered every lungful of air he managed to take.

Zhongli had never looked more like Rex Lapis, the Warrior God. He emitted fluxes of primeval
strength and unfathomable Geo force that clung to everything in the vicinity. Even the loss of his
Gnosis could not keep the Prime Adeptus’ power at bay; his cool expression revealed how easy it
was for him to squash Childe like the mortal pest he was.

Childe also couldn’t help thinking huh, Zhongli-xiansheng looks especially good while stepping on
me with the heel of his shoe.

Maybe he hit his head on the way down?

“Yield.”

A short burst of Geo pulsed through the ground and jostled Childe’s body, which still bore the Foul
Legacy chest piece. The movement reminded Childe just how much everything ached.

Zhongli eyed the twitch in Childe’s left hand as he felt for any leftover Elemental powers that he
could still conjure, and quickly sunk him another few inches deep into the ground using pure Geo
energy alone. His spear never left the center of Childe’s windpipe.

“Do you yield?” Zhongli’s voice was lethal, now, and Childe chose not to acknowledge how that
made him shudder, “This is the last time I ask.”

“Fine, fine,” Childe’s voice came out hoarse, “I yield.”

Zhongli only removed his shoe and spear after staring down at Childe for a few moments longer,
as if committing the sight to memory. It was uncomfortable, considering Childe couldn’t even form
his complete Foul Legacy, so his appearance must have been sloppy and pathetic.

The lecture came much sooner than he would have anticipated, though.

“You were reckless,” the Ex-Archon stated briskly, “and I in no way wanted you to be debilitated
to this extent at the end of our match. You put me in a difficult position, having to end the spar
early due to your negligence.” He huffed a quick breath, “I suppose I should have expected this.”

Childe wiggled his fingers. Oh, good, they responded just fine. He slowly did the same small
movements with every part of his body while his Abyss armor melted away into stardust, leaving
behind his original clothing. It was incredible how drained the transformation would leave him
while still managing to disappear without a trace.

“Hear me out, Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe requested, “I can see how this may have seemed
counterproductive to a friendly fight, but I’m exceptionally satisfied with this loss! Happy, even!”

“You overused all of your Elemental abilities and I am supposed to believe you are happy about
this?” The exasperation in Zhongli’s tone was palpable. “Look at your palms, Childe. With wounds
like that, you will be unable to properly fight again for quite some time.”
 Childe glanced down at the beds of his hands and could feel more than see the blisters clustered in
the shape of small zigzags, mimicking the electricity he had harnessed for too long in one spot.

“Are you concerned about this lowly one’s health?” Childe tried to play off the wounds, but knew
that the other man had caught him wincing as he stood up, moving one careful arm and leg at a
time. “Don’t worry yourself with small things like that. Technically, I am on a recovery leave. I just
may have prolonged it due to … unforeseen circumstances.”

“That was hardly an entertaining fight.” Xiao materialized to Zhongli’s right and watched Childe
with a newfound curiosity, which would have been more appreciated if Childe did not currently
feel as if his head was filled with lead, “… Humans really shouldn’t interfere with Abyssal magic.
It will inevitably consume anything weaker than itself.”

That was not advice he needed or hadn’t heard before. Childe understood risk very clearly. He just
chose to live his life in a way that would lead him to the fastest route to victory, and should that
route cost him a few years of living, then so be it.

He always handled himself fine.

“Noted,” Childe sighed, “I suppose I should ask Ekaterina for some salve before these get infected.
And whoa now, hold it—did you just call me weak?”

“Childe—” Zhongli forced Childe’s eyes up to his with his haggard tone, “—Please, allow me to
see that those get properly treated. We will visit Bubu Pharmacy and find the best medicinal balms
available.”

Zhongli seemed entirely too earnest in wanting to make sure Childe was taken care of, but it left
him feeling more like a child than anything else. He kind of wanted to lick his wounds in peace.

But Zhongli the Funeral Consultant was back, and his eyes spoke of nothing but kindness and
keeping their rapport on equal grounds. Childe had his own weakness for that expression, as did so
many others in Liyue. Xiao looked up at Zhongli with a reverence that took eternities to earn;
Xiangling had stared at him with hearts in her eyes; there were undoubtedly countless souls who
have felt the way Childe did whenever the man in the dragon-scaled coat gave them his undivided
attention.

Zhongli had eyed him earlier as an opponent, and was now caring for him as a friend.

Childe bit his lip, fully comprehending that he would most likely be buying out the entire burn
aftercare section of Baizhu’s apothecary, just because Zhongli would always take the most
precautions.

Perhaps being watched by those considerate, ochre eyes for another hour or so wouldn’t be so bad.

Chapter End Notes

The fight is done!

Did it end how you expected?

It's Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend, so the next chapter will most likely be
posted Monday. Thank you to those who are enjoying this little adventure! Childe is
finally beginning to understand some of his feelings. Poor, inexperienced lad. A pro
with his weapons but not much else.
 Reluctant Acceptance
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

The sun over Liyue Harbor was a vibrant, powerful thing; some days it felt as if its rays were
strong enough to burn through the shingles shading each of the Liyuan rooftops. Other luckier days,
when clouds dotted the ocean skyline, a small peak of sunshine was enough to bring heat to the
whole wharf. Childe missed his homeland most at times like this; the chill from Snezhnayan arctic
winds would sting his face and leave his nostrils glued together, but there was a promise of a warm
home to return to, instead of a setting sun across an endless, separating skyline.

It was nearing late-afternoon by the time Zhongli and Childe had returned to the main city from
Dihua Marsh, and the sun’s warmth was beginning to fade along with the day, leaving a light nip in
the air. Childe had tried teasing the other man after Xiao had bid them farewell at the inn, but there
was an invisible weight on Zhongli’s shoulders ever since the spar that refused to budge.

Childe loved to push buttons, but for once, he felt a little guilty being the cause.

“Zhongli-xiansheng, is everything alright?” he had asked once they reached the city gates, “You’re
awfully quiet. Not one story about the history of the blossoming silk flower bush we passed on the
way here, or even a comment about that one stone slab that was covered in hieroglyphs.”

Zhongli shook his head, his loose amber ends tossing side to side.

“I have a few things I’d like to process, if you don’t mind.” A quick glance before the funeral
consultant’s eyes were looking elsewhere, miles away. “I will be done shortly.”

The comment made Childe’s skin crawl; was Zhongli coming up with a punishment for his
negligence in the fight? He wouldn’t be able to bear it if he was stuck having Zhongli chastise him
with that resigned, crestfallen expression, or worse, told he could never spar with him again. That
would be unacceptable; Childe had already decided during their stroll that he would make a
sparring partner out of the man yet. There could be no better practice in the world save for the
Tsaritsa herself. He was sure of it.

Fortunately, Childe was nothing if not patient with the man, and Zhongli’s mood changed the
lower the sun sank in the sky. He was a sentimentalist at heart, and had once told Childe that
observing day descend into night was a tranquility shared by all beings, gods and humans alike.

It was no wonder he had earned a reputation of being somewhat of a romantic, even if Childe had
never seen the funeral consultant so much as eye another person in public. It was his poetic words
and his impressive looks and his unsurpassed intellect; Zhongli didn’t need to show interest in
anyone. If he wanted someone, they would probably just fall at his feet. Plain and simple.

What did a longing Zhongli look like, though?

Childe didn’t think he would ever find out in this lifetime, but he could imagine. He slanted his
head in the other man’s direction, overcome by a sudden impulse to study the outlines of his
features.

Watching the horizon paint pastels of tangerine and indigo against the high tide did something to
Zhongli; his rigid posture relaxed a fraction, and his sharp features softened under the rich glow of
dusk. He hadn’t loosened up at all until they had marched into the Bubu Pharmacy, where Zhongli
had inquired about every single blister remedy known to man, overbearing to the point
Changsheng had hissed from around Baizhu’s neck:

“We’ve gone through everything we have in stock, Zhongli-sir. If you are that doubtful of our
expertise, then why not just try everything? I’m sure one of the medications or supplements in your
arms will do the trick for your friend’s injuries.”

Childe heaved a sigh as Zhongli dropped twenty-or-so boxes, jars and oils onto the countertop in
front of Baizhu, who rung up every pricey treatment with a serene smile.

The ocean shaded to a cobalt blue, throwing the harbor into peaceful sapphire refractions from the
quay lanterns and shop signs. There were seating arrangements placed around the docks in
preparation for the Moonchase Festival which was approaching quickly.

Had Childe really been in Liyue for that many months? The time had gone by in a blink of an eye.

“Let us stop here,” Zhongli motioned for Childe to take a seat at one of the open tables unaffiliated
with any of the restaurants or shops, and sat directly across from him, arranging some of the jars he
had purchased at the dispensary on the counter. “I have read over each of the ingredients and the
administrations of everything here, and believe that mixing these three ointments, followed by a
light bandaging so as to prevent infection, will produce the best results. Allow me-“

Zhongli slipped off each of his leather gloves, revealing silky-smooth skin underneath. His hands
were held out palms up, awaiting a response.

“…Xiansheng, really,” Childe could feel himself growing flustered, “I can manage this myself!”

“You are injured on both hands,” Zhongli fussed, “and breaking the blisters can create an opening
for potential contamination. I insist.”

Zhongli’s eyes left no room for argument. With obvious reluctance, Childe lifted both of his hands
across the table until he felt the coolness of the other man’s fingers turn them over, inspecting the
damage. His hands were gnarled, ugly things, at this point, and even under the forgiving glow of
lanterns, Childe grimaced at how purple and splotched they had grown.

“These are quite severe.”

Zhongli trailed his fingers near the pattern of the blisters, following the shape of the Electro
markings leftover from the Foul Legacy vortex. Frown lines from a harsh scowl marred his
otherwise flawless face, a recent and unwelcomed addition to his appearance; the tension Childe
had sensed from before came back tenfold. Zhongli exhaled as he uncapped the first bottle and
began to slowly apply a greyish ointment overtop of Childe’s wounds. His touch was delicate and
careful.

Childe rarely ever had someone care for him after an injury. It was generally kept to a few Fatui
Caretakers or Messengers who would provide him with meals and updates while he spent his
recovery time in isolation, or with the best Harbinger-approved doctors money could buy. Veiled
threats and hefty financial sums had them working overtime in order to provide the Harbingers
with the best health services possible. If he was ever desperate, than Il Dottore could be
summoned, but Childe tried to avoid that lunatic at all costs, no matter how bad the damage.

Even with all of the bribes, though, there had never been anyone specifically this gentle or with
greater attention to detail. Each blister was coated with a perfectly thin layer of ointment, and then
a second sheet of something white and cooling was applied that gave Childe a moment of relief
from his throbbing extremities.

It was kind of nice, being the one doted on, for once.

“As one who is partly to blame for this,” Zhongli abruptly spoke up. His voice was rough and laced
with remorse, “I am deeply sorry.”

Wait, what was Childe hearing? He had been completely distracted by the way Zhongli’s hands
overlapped his own and the tingling sensation on his palms. “You—you can’t be serious. This was
completely my fault, and I already told you before, I’ve had much worse.”

The coolant had set overtop both of Childe’s hands now, and Zhongli began to unwrap the
bandages they had purchased. His mouth was frozen into a pout.

“That is what I am having difficulty comprehending,” he replied, breaking Childe's concentration

further as he rolled soft gauze around the meat of his palms, making sure nothing would stick or
compress too tightly, “You overexert yourself no matter your opposition and are used to doing so,
from what I have witnessed. I know you as being lighthearted and tenacious, but when you were
consumed by Abyss magic … I saw something else.”

A shiver of dread ran down Childe’s spine. Of course it was too good to be true; even Zhongli had
to come to terms with the evil dwelling within Childe, and it was only natural for him to grow
wary. If anything, Zhongli was very late in his discoveries.

Ordinary, kindhearted people would want to avoid the pungent stench of obsession and massacre
that came with Delusions and Childe’s Foul Legacy; someone as refined as Zhongli would sidestep
being in contact with a person who prioritized the fight over the consequences. Even if he had once
been a prime Warrior God, the man had transformed with the times, and had grown into a wise,
omniscient being who valued living life over causing death.

Is this goodbye, Zhongli-xiansheng?

“I…understand,” Childe twisted his lips into a smile and brought out his best fake laugh, “Hah, it
can be a lot to take in. What can I say? The larger the odds are stacked against me, the hungrier I
get for the kill. Sometimes it makes me act a bit brash.”

Zhongli’s eyebrow rose, the only change in his stony expression.

“A bit?”

“I’m young and live for the exhilaration of battle, xiansheng,” Childe chuckled, examining his
hands now that the other man had secured each bandage with a textbook knot. They were neat and
still flexible enough that the blisters weren’t aggravated in the slightest, “Sometimes that means
doing things that aren’t in my best interest. It’s all in the name of becoming the most reliable
weapon of war to pursue my noble Tsaritsa’s desires.”

That was more information than Childe had ever shared about himself with Zhongli, sober,
anyways, but he figured he could delve a little deeper. This may be the last time Zhongli sought out
his company, after all.

Liyue would be a very different place without Zhongli’s constant companionship to keep him
occupied.

“Hmm.” Zhongli steepled his fingers beneath his chin and watched Childe from across the table.
“Do you seek out war in order to grow stronger for your Archon’s will?”
A little confused, Childe shook his head.

“Not only for that reason. It’s a vital byproduct of my own wishes. I am very lucky my loyalty and
need to grow stronger can coexist with the life I’ve chosen.”

It was a conclusive response that left Zhongli enough leeway to send his adieux whenever he
wished. There was an ache in Childe’s chest from something other than his sore ribs, but learning
to overlook personal disappointment was a Harbinger-honed skill he had mastered. Being unable to
bid Teucer a proper goodbye when he had departed from Liyue was a testament to Childe’s ability
to put the matters of those important to him above his own, and it would be an appropriate
description, labelling Zhongli as someone who had grown essential to his time in Liyue.

His fondness of the arts and plays had stemmed from Zhongli’s insistence to view them together;
Tale of the Pipa was better enjoyed with a companion to lament over Zhao’s struggles finding her
husband, and The Peony Pavilion was one of Zhongli’s favorites. Childe liked to hypothesize that it
was the love story that really spoke to Zhongli’s milder side, but realistically, it was most likely the
fact it could run up to twenty-two hours onstage, and only an immortal could appreciate that kind
of duration.

He could take his subordinate to watch, but Ekaterina hated the theatre. It wouldn’t be the same.

Maybe Childe would just forego that form of entertainment altogether.

There was a rumble from Zhongli’s throat as he cleared it before speaking. “Tell me more.”

At Childe’s mystified expression, Zhongli huffed. His amber eyes glimmered under the yellow
hanging lamps above their table. “I wish to recognize this part of you that I have only recently
discovered. If it pleases you, I would be happy to share some of my own histories and experiences,
so that we can remain on equal ground.”

“You’re not…” Childe’s head may have been angled like a baffled puppy, but he couldn’t help it,
“Put off by all of that?”

As the disk of orange dipped below the Liyuan waters and the twilight sky remained illuminated
by dusky remnants of what had been, Zhongli’s golden-edged features took on a radiance of their
own. It wasn’t the lights playing tricks on him when Childe saw the man’s eyes gleam, and he
craved to know what that meant.

“Perhaps I give you too much credit.” He was smiling, now, and Childe’s breath caught in his
throat. That was certainly new. “Maybe you do not listen as much as I thought you do.”

The man turned away from Childe and towards the harbor, where the moon was now making its
grand entrance over the city. A sliver of white stole the color that remained in the sky, and moonlit
shadows were borne from the pallid crescent. Zhongli’s back muscles flexed under the weight of
his coat, the Geo embellishment glistening like broken shards of glass.

“We are more alike than you seem to believe.” Zhongli spoke to the stars, but Childe listened with
rapt attention, “I have followed through with actions beyond my control, made promises that would
result in tragedy, no matter wrong or right, and have committed enough sins to warrant my
execution. It has been a lengthy few millennia of existence, and yet, I am still here.”

“Millenia?” Childe could feel his brain straining while trying to do the math.

“Indeed.” A flock of cranes flew overhead, most likely looking to take sanctuary for the night in
the nearby mountains by the harbor. Zhongli watched them go like they were his children, a
 peaceful smile still gracing his lips. “Thus, I am no stranger to obligation and making difficult
decisions. You are afraid I will judge you harshly because of your penchant for wickedness-”

Childe wanted to very much argue the call-out, but shamefully had to admit Zhongli was right,
that’s exactly what he was anxious of, and it was terrible to hear spoken out loud.

“-but how can I judge you for decisions made so young and with such dedicated intentions? Even
the worst of enemies have a seedling of likeness between them. Such is the way of the world.”

He had grown silent after that, just watching the sky like it held all of the answers Childe was
desperately searching for. His face felt hot; it was becoming a recurring symptom of spending too
much time listening to Zhongli’s continual, well-versed chatter. Somehow, though, everything the
funeral consultant said had lightened Childe’s spirits tremendously; even his hands had stopped
hurting. A placebo effect, maybe, but the entire fact of the matter was:

“Zhongli-xiansheng, you truly are one of a kind.”

Zhongli snapped his neck back to look at Childe with an expression that was a little stunned, as if
the entire point of the dialogue was to make Childe feel less self-conscious, not bring awareness to
himself.

He found his legs moving of their own accord; Childe took the benched seat directly next to
Zhongli, their thighs lightly touching while facing the water. Neither of them made a move to give
the other space, and Zhongli exhaled softly, his breath creating the lightest whisp of mist.
Hopefully he didn’t mind the contact, because Childe was feeling unusually exposed and needed
someone solid to look to for support.

They sat in silence as the night wore on and the moon grew brighter, arranging itself directly over
Feiyun Slope. The welcomed heat coming from the amber-eyed man next to Childe banished the
chill that had settled over the dock, reminiscent of a warm home across the ocean where he could
find refuge from the cold.

Chapter End Notes

Fun Fact: The Peony Pavilion was a staple of play/opera development in China during
the late 1500s, and did run for nearly the span of an entire day if one were to add
together every scene. Childe's inability to sit still for longer than an hour paired with
Zhongli's eternal patience built over the span of six millennia is one of my favourite
dynamics.

Also, headcannon that Zhongli glows a little whenever he's delighted by something.
Whether it be from his hair, eyes, or the Geo markings beneath his human form, the
elderly dragon has tells that he's happy.

Thank you for all the awesome comments over the weekend; nothing makes an author
happier than reading discourse on their work, or someone's favourite parts. I literally
gain an entire day's worth of serotonin per comment. So...I love you, is basically what
I'm saying, lol.
 Letters From Ajax
Chapter Notes

As a fairly new player of Genshin, I had to make some very tough decisions last night.
It wasn't easy, and I had to weigh a lot of options.

Thus, after using up all of my wishes and saved up Primos just to have Grandmaster
Jean flashing on my screen, I ended up spending enough money to make my bank app
yell at me.

But!

I can finally say: ‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ ☽༓·*˚⁺‧͙ Childe is home. ‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ ☽༓·*˚⁺‧͙

(Shakes money bag, hears nothing)

Hope you enjoy the update!

“You need me to write a letter?”

Zhongli was poised in a chair across from Childe’s large teakwood desk at the Northland Bank.
Although technically on recovery, Ekaterina had forwarded Childe many troubling dispatches
regarding certain “loose ends” that needed to be tied, and Archons, if that wasn’t all the Harbinger
needed to hear to get his foot back in the door.

Said ends were tied up flawlessly with only a few measly exchanged words (re: threats involving
flashing his Eleventh Harbinger status like his name carried a death flag), and Childe found
himself with a shred of free time. Before Liyue, spare time was something he rarely ever came
across. His knowledge and expertise in battle did not come without a price; training and gaining
headway in the Fatui overtook everything else in his life, be it hobbies or other skills necessary for
essential day-to-day living.

Following the fall of Morax and the failure of Osial’s retaliation, Childe was given the strangest
gift he could have been given: time to himself without repercussions. So far, the majority of that
had been taken up by a specific funeral consultant with picky tastes and expensive pastimes.

But free time also allowed Childe a moment to think about those in his life who were most
important: his family. An incredible amount of writing could be had with a little break and a lot of
ink, and he definitely had enough to report back to fill a page or two. Childe preferred sending his
littlest sister, Tonia, his letters, as she was older than Anthon and Teucer, thus seasoned enough to
know which parts of the letter to omit when reading aloud, but still young enough to be excited
whenever he recounted thrilling adventures. She had some knowledge of his connections with the
Fatui; the bulk of his household did, save for Teucer and Anthon. Being the babies in the family
made it hard for Childe to rip away their youth with his harsh truths. His older siblings all had
families and lives of their own and stayed far, far away from the dealings of the Fatui, and Childe
had little connection with them as a result.

Writing a letter back to Morepesok would be a perfect way to kill some time while working out
some of the restlessness in his system; Childe always felt uneasy when he had gone too long
without contacting his siblings. His relationship with his parents was strained, to say the least,
although his mother may find some relief in knowing he was doing well across Teyvat with his feet
up. His father, who had more or less peddled him to the Fatui the second he had returned from the
Abyss all those years ago, wouldn’t care about Childe’s whereabouts or ventures either way.

Tonia would be the most appreciative, as always.

The only issue regarding the letter was in the details; Childe’s handwriting was never the prettiest,
but it got the job done. It was legible. It got his messages across, and that was all that mattered.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t handle a pen in his current state if he tried.

“You know I would do it myself,” Childe muttered, his crimson Fatui mask still concealing the
greater part of his face. He had only just sent off the last “loose end” before Zhongli had appeared
promptly with the notion of getting lunch together at Wangmin, “but the blisters are all centered
near my thumb. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to sign my initials on documents today
that looked more like Liyuan characters than the Snezhnayan alphabet.”

Zhongli, who in a strange variation of routine was wearing only his beige dress shirt and white
neckpiece, must have found what Childe said amusing, if the way his eyes slit into crescents were
any indication. His sleeves were rolled up and cuffed neatly at his forearm, and the amber jewel
adorning his collar looked especially sophisticated without the distraction of his substantial coat.

It was a good look, and Childe processed this, all while eyeing the novel, golden portions of skin
that were bare near Zhongli’s wrists until the man broke the silence with, “…Childe, you look a
little warm. Are you feeling ill?”

“Me?” He wheezed, pulling himself together. It had been a bizarre few weeks of Childe’s life spent
wondering where, exactly, his mind wandered whenever Zhongli did anything remotely atypical,
like smile with teeth, or tell an actual joke. “Just need to open a window, is all.”

Or wear tailored, form-fitting dress shirts underneath his traditional suit jacket.

“Anyways, Zhongli-xiansheng, I would be in your debt if you would help me write a quick letter
home over lunch. It can be written in the common language, so don’t stress over trying to write in
Snezhnayan. I can have our lunch delivered here if that works.”

Zhongli hummed in agreement, and so Childe pressed a black button on the edge of his desk. A
voice whizzed to life through an indiscernible speaker.

“Yes, Lord Harbinger?”

“Ekaterina, have Wangmin deliver four lunch specialties to the Northland Bank immediately. One
serving of bamboo shoot soup, and three of any other milder dishes, whichever sound best.” Child
paused. “Get something for yourself, too.”

“You are most generous, Lord Harbinger. The food will be delivered shortly.”

Childe nodded to himself before carefully reaching for the stock of letterhead he had piled
underneath his desk. He could see Zhongli’s hand from below the table, drumming languidly on
one of his knees.

“You are kind to your subordinates.”

Childe chuckled. “It hasn’t been that long since I was still of low rank within the Fatui; I can
recognize how far a strong leader can take a person. Being competent on the battlefield is only one
piece of the puzzle.”

A feather-tipped quill and a small pot of ink were pushed carefully in Zhongli’s direction.

“Oh, I’m also curious,” he had to ask, “What’s with the change of attire? I’m not used to seeing
you look so… free of layers.”

“Director Hu spilled embalming fluid on my tailcoat,” Zhongli waited politely for Childe to stop
choking on his surprised laughter, “Although the dyes were difficult to see against the material, the
smell made it insufferable to wear. It is currently being cleaned. I was given a leniently long lunch
break as compensation.”

Cleaned by a very apologetic Hu Tao, no doubt. Childe bid the young Funeral Director a small
thanks for allowing him the occasion of seeing Zhongli’s muscles move unfettered by heavy
fabrics and decorated materials. This seemed more genuine. Much more human.

“I can send for someone to pick that up, as well,” Childe motioned for Zhongli to lift the pen,
which he did with an ungloved hand. The hand ornaments were also nowhere to be seen.

“You said that this would be a letter sent home,” Zhongli dipped the pen with an easy touch into
the black ink pot, tapping the edge with a light flick, “Does that mean this is a personal message,
and not a letter of professional or diplomatic affairs?”

“Zhongli-xiansheng, you are a dear friend of mine, but it would go against my values if I leaked
undisclosed Fatui information to you via scribing.” The mask was gently lifted off his face and
Childe could breathe again. The aura of Tartaglia could be quite stifling when it was only Zhongli
and himself alone in the office. “This is a letter to my family back in Snezhnaya. It was about time
I wrote back; I've been so busy, and Teucer’s impromptu visit performed almost like a letter in
itself.”

“Ah, yes,” Zhongli had already pushed himself directly across from Childe, his feet nearly
colliding with Childe’s underneath the desktop, “I regretfully missed meeting one of your family
members. Maybe if they ever return, I can give them a proper tour of the Harbor.”

The honest-to-gods gladness in Zhongli’s suggestion made something hopeful flare up in Childe’s
chest that made no sense, and so he locked it away along with the many other unusual responses he
had been suffering as of late. Teucer would’ve indeed liked meeting Zhongli; he had written about
him many times, usually fondly mentioned as the Mora Man, or the Stern One who sucks Big
Brother’s bank account dry. Anthon just thought he was an eccentric man from Liyue who ate
rocks.

Perhaps one day Zhongli could meet his family; knowing the other man, he would analyze all of
their strengths and skills, putting each of them on a pedestal as if they were all as dynamic and
significant as the priceless gems he collected. He would appreciate their value almost as much as
Childe did, with his all-seeing, illustrious way of viewing others.

“I’ll hold you to that,” Childe decided, before gently unfolding an older letter with the tips of his
fingers; his burns were healing gloriously quick, thanks to the many salves Zhongli had oh-so-
kindly purchased with Fatui-loaned money. The bandages on his palms were lighter and less
padded now that the blisters had diminished slightly; as per recently, Childe was a man endowed
with multitudes of good fortune.
“I’m just going to go over the last letter Tonia sent, so I don’t accidentally skip anything important
she might have asked.” Childe brought his attention to the juvenile handwriting in front of him,
written in memorable red ink. His sister had been practising her spelling in the common tongue;
although dotted with fumbles and errors, there was a stubborn determination hidden between every
line that left Childe glowing with pride.

It read:

Dearest Big Brother Ajax,

Teucer has returned home after quite the scare. You have no idea how much mother cried when he
disappeared that day at the docks, only to find Anthon screaming that he changed his mind, and
wanted to hop on to see Big Brother across the water, too! Teucer has been locked up in his room
for a week as punishment. Mother had taken his Mr. Cyclops toy away and Teucer was devastated.
And now he’s grown rebellious and refuses to eat dinner unless it’s also at the table. What have
you done to our innocent baby brother?

Childe shook his head at the pure irony of that statement. An innocent boy would never stowaway
to another strange land without permission, let alone without a guide.

Imagining a Ruin Guard helping itself to a serving of borscht back home had Childe biting the
inside of his cheek.

Teucer said that you’re the greatest toy salesman to have ever lived, and that you brought him to
the Mr. Cyclops Factory full of giant toys… I hope you were safe and showed some restraint in
how much you spoiled him. Don’t injure yourself or get in trouble just for Teucer’s sake.
Eventually he’ll realize those giant robots aren't just toys.

Childe winced. Tonia, there was no need to bring up the future's uncertainty. Not when Childe was
working so hard to protect his brother’s present.

Apparently you’re pretty popular in Liyue, Big Brother. Teucer says you have a friend with a
floating toy that is very kind and helpful. He also said that everyone you work with looks up to
you. I’m surprised they don’t find you annoying, like I do (most days). (Drawing of a face with a
tongue poking out)

He never talked about the Mora Man, though. Are you still friends with him, Big Brother? I
remember you two did everything together. Did something happen?

Childe glanced up to where an elegant Zhongli sat, one leg crossed over the other as he leaned
back and waited with infinite patience as Childe read his sister’s letter. The man’s eyes were
perusing the walls of Childe’s office, probably regarding the intricacies of the caisson ceiling,
filled with richly colored panels of gold, greens and blues. His hair, no longer thrown behind him
as it usually was while he wore his coat, was gathered over one shoulder and cascaded into his lap
like a river teeming with Cor Lapis.

It felt like something did happen, actually, only nothing as bad as what Tonia assumed. Childe still
wasn’t sure what, only that it gave him a mild case of allergies and chest pains.

He should start taking better care of his health.

I hope that when you read this letter you are doing well and enjoying yourself. Teucer said the food
in Liyue was pretty good, and that it tasted a lot like the food at home, so maybe you’re not too
homesick. Don’t lie though, Big Brother… I know you miss us sometimes. That’s why you should
take more time to write us back letters or stop working to go hang out with Mora Man. Sometimes
you forget that you’re a person, too, and people need breaks! Don’t overwork yourself.

There was the feisty little sister he knew, who took care of his younger brothers in his stead.

Mother is also secretly glad that you were in good health when Teucer visited. She sends a lot of
mixed signals, but I know she cares. Father is the same as always, I think; he had taken your
medicine for his head pains when he last visited, although he said nothing else about the subject
before leaving for another journey. Last Mother said, he was somewhere in the North on an
expedition. But just remember that me, Teucer and Anthon will always be here for you.

Childe prayed that would never change, so long as he lived.

I’m going to end this letter with a quick (drawing of a heart and three decently drawn figures with
a few details, holding hands, along with one taller, less-detailed stick figure with a ghastly mop of
red hair) for you to keep. Come home soon if you can, because I don’t know if I could stomach that
long of a boat ride and the wrath of Mother and Father if I visited. Morepesok is too quiet when
you’re gone.

P.S. Thank you for the lovely hair piece. I can’t wait to wear it when we go somewhere fancy. It’s
very expensive-looking so I don’t want to take it anywhere that it could break.

Hoping to hear back soon,

Tonia (Anthon and Teucer send their love and hugs, too)

Childe had to work himself up to look away from the letter, feeling weary from only a page of
reading. He was always Ajax when he wrote back to his family; not Childe, the conniving, master-
of-deceit that bared his teeth under the guise of friendliness, or Tartaglia, the no-nonsense
Harbinger who struck first and asked questions later.

Zhongli hadn’t met Ajax, yet.

“Do you want to read it?”

Zhongli slid his eyes away from the bas-relief to the letter still lodged between two of Childe’s
fingers.

“Are you sure?” he questioned, face blank, “It must be quite intimate.”

“Nothing that you can’t know or that I’m avidly trying to hide.” Childe tossed over the letter and
watched as Zhongli scanned those searing eyes across each line from above the paper’s edge. All
he wanted was to see the other man react; would he laugh at his family’s mischiefs? Frown and
agree with Tonia’s tendencies to mother him?

“The peer with the floating friend your sister mentions, would that be the Traveler?” A small slant
from the corner of his eyes. Zhongli was smiling behind that paper and Childe was ready to snatch
the letter back just to get a glimpse.

“The one and only,” he replied, throat suddenly parched.

“Who is “the Mora Man”?” At Childe’s incredulous expression, Zhongli asked again, “Is he
someone you are no longer on speaking terms with? Your sister appeared to believe you two had a
strong affiliation.”
Sometimes, for someone so old and wise, Zhongli stunned Childe out of his illusions by being a
complete and utter blockhead.

“That would be, uh, you, Zhongli-xiansheng,” he admitted hesitantly, wondering if he had crossed
some sort of line by bringing up the Archon in his personal reports, “I go into minute details for my
sister, so you may have popped up a few times during my recounts of day-to-day activities. Sorry if
that bothers you.”

“Not at all,” the upturn of Zhongli’s eyes had yet to relax, meaning that he was pleased. His locks
gleamed a little brighter at their tips. “It is nice to know Miss Tonia takes comfort in the fact
you’ve made a friend here. Her nickname choice confounds me, however.”

It took years of experience of learning how to keep a straight face for Childe to hide his feelings
regarding that statement.

“Yes, strange indeed. Okay, Zhongli-xiansheng, ready when you are!”

Their food had arrived just as quickly as Ekaterina had promised, and Childe stuffed his face with
delightful Jade Parcels while recording thoughts and answers to Tonia’s letter between every bite.
Zhongli ate quietly and rotated between his soup and recording every entry Childe asked to be
jotted down. His ideas came in random sequences; at first, Childe ranted about tracking down a
group of notorious Treasure Hoarders who thought it would be a good idea to try and slide one
over his men, only to then gush over Teucer’s toys, and if he was keeping them clean and taken
care of in the yard. He flit from subject to subject, attempting to compile as much information as
possible on a paper too small for his escapades to fit.

“Are your letters usually this sporadic?” Zhongli looked as if he was having difficulty
understanding the words he had just inscribed, his brows knotted in confusion, “It has grown a
little hard to follow.”

Childe scoffed, “My Tonia is a pro at understanding my gibberish, and with your neat calligraphy,
it’ll be a cinch.”

By the time the dishes were empty and both men had sufficed in eating their fill, Childe’s letter
was complete. Zhongli placed the paper in the bandaged palms of Childe’s hands so he could read
over the final product before sending it off via private Fatui Messenger.

Dearest Sister,

It's always a pleasure to see your handwriting improve with each and every letter you write. I send
my sincerest apologies regarding the chaos that must've ensued after Teucer's return home. Trust
me, he isn’t off the hook yet; I’m both impressed and livid at how he stole away on a ship all the
way from Morepesok to Liyue. That’s nearly a twenty-four hour journey! He’s too young to already
be following in my footsteps. And how could you put me at fault for Teucer’s mischief? I feel
betrayed.

You know I have to pull out all the stops for my littlest, most precious brother. Come on, Tonia, you
should have seen his face! He was seeing stars when the Mr. Cyclops exhibit was all his to enjoy
for a private viewing. I do what I can for him while he’s still small. I do the same for you, too, and
I will continue to do so no matter how old either of you get. Anthon, as well, of course.

Your Big Brother is always careful; you never need to worry about me! I’m the strongest fighter
out of everyone I know… except the Mora Man. You should see the way he moves; he kind of puts
me to shame. I’m privileged to have sparred with such a powerful adversary.
Speaking of fights, you know, just the other day I dealt with some nasty Treasure Hoarders who
were preparing for a heist out by the Dunyu Ruins; I single-handedly brought them to their knees,
and that was before the Ruin Guard showed up… which reminds me, is Teucer polishing his Mr.
Cyclops toys in the garden? They’ll rust in all that snow for sure if he doesn’t.

It’s easy to get homesick when the three of you are all the way across the ocean, but I promise you,
I do have friends to keep me company. Nothing happened with the Mora Man; in fact, he’s the one
writing this letter! (You must have noticed the change in handwriting). I hurt my hands, but don’t
fret, nothing serious. The lovely Mora Man has volunteered to help me. His name is also Zhongli-
xiansheng; I think he wants us to drop the nickname, but I’ve grown so fond of its usage.

When we are finally reunited, I will show you all of the beautiful ways Liyuan ladies use hair
pieces like the one I gifted to you, so that you can dress like a genuine princess. You already are
one, but it’s best to keep your true identity secret for now. Who knows what could happen if
Princess Tonia was let loose into the world without preparing the masses? It would be absolute
chaos, most certainly.

Make sure Anthon is working on his studies; I know he’s been building contraptions and sneaking
into Father's workshop instead of doing his schoolwork. That boy has big ambitions, but he needs
to focus. Try to keep Teucer in line, as well (yes, I am aware that this is an impossible task, but do
try your best).

I am sure Zhongli-xiansheng’s hand is beginning to cramp from all of my rambles, so I will have to
end this letter here, I’m afraid. I pray to the Tsaritsa that we will see each other sooner rather than
later. It has been a while, and you’re right; I do miss you all. More than you know.

Warmest wishes from your Big Brother,

Ajax

“Ajax.”

Childe’s head shot up when Zhongli addressed him using his birth name. It was a name only his
family had ever spoken; no one, following his ascension to the Eleventh Harbinger position and his
bestowal of the name “Tartaglia” from the Tsaritsa herself, had called him that.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, to be honest; his insides ached with a light pang of nostalgia.
Zhongli’s Liyuan accent as he said Childe’s true name was simultaneously surprising and
beguiling.

“Y—yes, Zhongli-xiansheng?”

“I must express regret; it should have registered sooner that you would have a prior name, before
entering the Fatui,” Zhongli leaned his elbows over the desk, leaving his index finger over the
letters that conjoined to spell Ajax at the bottom of the page, “Childe is what I am accustomed to,
but Ajax is also quite nice. Does it originate from Snezhnaya?”

Childe really should have opened that window. It was nearing a thousand degrees in the small,
enclosed space of his office. Luckily, Zhongli had less layers, so he was clearly saved from the
heatwave assaulting Childe’s face and neck.

“Actually, it’s from an early war story my father enjoyed,” he replied, undoing one clasp on his
jacket, “Teucer’s name also originated from the same tale. Ajax and Teucer were brothers who
fought in an ancient war; Teucer was skilled with a bow, and Ajax supported him with a mighty
shield.”

“That sounds oddly familiar.” Zhongli wore a half-smile, “As you seem to be keen on protecting
your brother’s childhood whims.”

“I try my best.” There were three sharp knocks on the door directly next to Childe’s office, and
Childe startled; he needed to stop playing Ajax and return to being Childe before any of his juniors
could witness his slip-ups. “The story ends tragically, though. Not sure why my old man thought to
name me after a character who went mad with rage and jealousy, but he was always a bit of an
oddball.”

“It sounds like an interesting character development. However, the defending, caring qualities you
mentioned before. Those are most befitting of you.” Zhongli pushed his seat back and stood, not a
crease in his tailored pants or shirt to be seen. It had grown quite late and Childe hadn’t even
noticed. “I have not heard of this tale; you’ll have to indulge me, one day.”

“You’ll just find me later and ask,” Childe smirked, standing as well to see Zhongli out. He fixed
his mask to the side of his head just the way he liked it before opening the door.

Outside of Childe’s office, the Northland Bank was filled with upscale clients who collected and
deposited Mora over the bright golden countertops, each bag filled with more Mora than many
people would know what to do with. Ekaterina skirted her eyes to her boss, and then left them on
Zhongli as he exited.

She must have noticed the lack-of-dress-coat as well, as her eyes seemed to widen and her pale
complexion took on the hue of Agnidus Agate.

“Lord Harbinger, Sir Zhongli,” she greeted them without meeting either of their eyes.

“Miss Ekaterina,” Zhongli responded with a quick bow, “Thank you for the meal. Your choice of
the pork hotpot alongside the bamboo soup was a harmonious experience for my palate.”

Scratch Agnidus Agate, Ekaterina’s face was now the spitting image of a Fire Flower.

“Thank you, Sir Zhongli!” She replied hastily before turning to Childe and recoiling as if hit. She
moved so quickly her heels clicked back a foot in alarm. Childe wasn’t sure what kind of
expression he was wearing, but it was one that had Ekaterina prostrating down to the shiny, waxed
floor. “Lord Harbinger, I hope it was to your tastes, as well?”

He put on his best award-winning smile.

“Delicious.”

Ekaterina glanced up at his young, smiling face and looked ready to face a speedy execution.
Childe had no idea where he went wrong.

“I will be seeing you, Childe.” Zhongli nodded.

Childe noted that Ajax had sounded much better, and then stomped on his traitorous brain for
supplying him with useless opinions that benefited no one.

“Bye for now, Zhongli-xiansheng!” Childe excused himself as he watched Zhongli’s jacketless
form exit the luxurious building. The man was distracted once again by a bit of fond actions and
kind words, and Childe needed to get back into the field as soon as possible to help unclutter his
thoughts. Clearly, he was growing soft from the leisurely lifestyle of Liyuan life.
That must have been why Zhongli’s attention left him so restless.
 In Plain Sight
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

It was a little over two weeks before Childe’s injuries healed fully, and he could return to his
Eleventh Harbinger duties in Liyue without needing to limit himself. A bunch of brand-new
recruits were heading his way straight from Snezhnaya: baby-faced and unexperienced in the
underground world of the Fatui.

He was looking forward to absolutely tearing them apart bit by bit, until only those who were truly
worthy of serving the Tsaritsa would remain standing.

Well, perhaps he would leave them a little pride so as to not crush their spirits entirely. That would
just be plain mean, and Childe was nothing if not generous.

Childe had arrived at the break of dawn to the meeting point at the outskirts of Jueyun Karst,
reminded of his previous training session out on the plains of Liyue, where he had trained recruits
with Teucer observing in the background. It led to some awkward and embarrassing attempts to
cover up his identity while still showing off his abilities to the greenhorns. There were no little
brothers to spy on him, this time, which meant Childe could have his fun and do his job properly.

And oh, did he enjoy his work.

Beneath the towering splendor of the cloud-rimmed peaks, a small group of a dozen or so
Skirmishers were standing in a uniformed huddle, all with their Elemental-specific gear equipped
so as to better harness their Delusion's powers. They each had on an air of aloofness that Childe
found both endearing and contemptable; there was no room for that kind of pretentiousness when
starting at the bottom.

Arrogance was something earned amongst the Fatui; just one glance at the pompous, overconfident
Harbingers who each towed hefty superiority complexes would make it crystal clear just how
strong one needed to be in order to gain respect in the Fatui ranks.

Childe would know. He was one of them.

His presence was detected by no one, which was already a bad sign. He made his way behind a
few of the larger Vanguards before letting out a muted chuckle.

“Am I supposed to believe you’re the selected few sent to Liyue to protect the Tsaritsa’s vision
when you can’t even spot a predator in your midst?”

The two men closest to Childe scattered, readying their weapons in a flurry of nervous movements.
Childe moved to stand above the group, balanced precariously on a dilapidated pillar. The novices’
eyes lit up once they recognized Childe for the prodigy he was; with his crimson mask pulled to
the side of burnt orange hair, charismatic, boyish features and memorable Hydro Vision pinned to
his waist, who could it be other than the famed Eleventh Harbinger?

“Lord Harbinger!” The lot exclaimed, bowing from the waist. Childe looked each of them up and
down, analyzing them more thoroughly. From their postures, as well as Childe’s own gouge of
their individual first impressions, no one looked particularly special. Childe would need to pull
talents and skills from each of these unidentified recruits using his own abilities. Surprisingly,
bringing out the capabilities of others was a strong-suit of his, and that could have been why he
was the most popular Harbinger for instructional purposes.

That, and when compared to the wrath of Signora or the lunacy of Scaramouche, Childe was easily
valued as the best candidate.

“Good morning, Comrades.” Childe smiled sunnily before readying his trainee address, “You most
likely already know who I am, but for those who are ignorant to their own position, I am Tartaglia,
Eleventh Harbinger, and your appraiser. I do hope your trip to Liyue was uneventful and
comfortable.”

A small murmur of approval surfaced amongst the new members.

“However, now that you are here in the land of Liyue and my assigned region, being comfortable
is the last thing you should be worried about.”

Childe dropped down with a heavy splash from the pillar, his Hydro giving him an ample amount
of space to walk and evaluate each Skirmisher up-close. “Although you may feel as if you are
ready to serve the Fatui with your current strength, know that you are wrong. Failing my
expectations today will prove that you do not deserve to be here, so be prepared to suffer the
consequences should you fail.”

The group of recruits went ominously silent.

“But enough small talk,” Childe dragged the Fatui mask down his face and motioned to the
lawachurl and horde of geovishap hatchlings that were gathered by a small body of water. The
lawachurl loomed upwards of fifteen feet, taller than Childe had been balanced on the pillar
nearby. Six hatchlings on top of that would pose an immense challenge.

Childe hoped those recruits were ready.

“Well?” His tone took on a mocking edge, “Show this Harbinger the potential of the Fatui’s
newcomers.”

“Yes, Lord Harbinger!” The recruits wasted no time in rocketing into the fray, and Childe watched
as the lawachurl burst with Geo energy once the Fatui were noticed. They powered up their
weapons and Delusions and attempted to take the largest of the hoard first; a rookie mistake. It
should have been common knowledge that thinning the ranks was key to surviving on the
battlefield before targeting the main offense.

A recruit was sent flying by Childe’s head, and the wind from the blast tilted his mask.

They would learn nothing without proper experience.

Childe let the battle go on for a period longer, despairing as only several Skirmishers were left
standing. The lawachurl had been put down, unexpectedly, but all of the hatchlings were still
perfectly unharmed and roaring with aggression.

“What are you waiting for?” Childe whirled a spear to life in the palm of his hand and launched it
directly between the eyes of the closest geovishap, who screeched before falling to the ground with
a heavy thud. The leftover recruits looked more terrified of Childe, now, then of the sand beasts.
“If you can’t even defeat a pile of rocks, then you’re worthless to me.”

Perhaps the mix of adrenaline and fear of being shipped back to Snezhnaya in plastic wrap was
enough to get the newbies moving; they worked in tandem to down the creatures one by one. Some
proper teamwork was initiated as they coordinated attacks based on complimenting Delusions, and
although it took much longer than Childe would have preferred, the remaining four Skirmishers
incapacitated the geovishaps without issue.

As the dust settled, Childe made his way over to the largest Skirmisher. “State your name,
Comrade.”

The man shuffled on his feet. “Dmitri, Lord Harbinger.”

“Dmitri. You have strong footwork.”

Childe went to the rest of the group, still panting from the scuffle.

“And your names, Comrades?”

“Karolina, Young Lord.”

“Luka.”

“Ivan, Lord Harbinger.”

Childe nodded, his penetrating cerulean eyes locking each of them in place.

“You all have potential. The Tsaritsa may be proud of your accomplishments one day, if you stay
on this trajectory.” Two of the recruits looked close to tears; the others stared in awe, amazed that a
Harbinger knew how to offer compliments. When surrounded by the unconscious bodies of the
other trainees, Childe’s praise was exceptionally significant. “The sun will rise for our Cryo
Archon over every land and Liyue is where you will be stationed to collect our Tsaritsa’s dues.
This nation is teeming with wealth and opportunity, if you know where to find it. So, Comrades,
pledge your undying devotion to our Tsaritsa’s will!”

A chant of support rang out from the crew, and Childe smiled beneath the cold of metal.

“For now, let us head West to continue honing your abilities. There is a group of men I have been
tracking who have a staggering debt that has yet to...be…”

A tall, conspicuous figure caught Childe’s attention from his peripheral, heading down the path
between the tallest mountain ranges at a leisurely pace. There were few people who could wander
the province of the Adepti looking that at-home, as if taking a walk around one’s own private
gardens.

“Zhongli-xiansheng?”

Childe’s voice carried over the surrounding water towards the man in the long, Geo-patterned coat.
He paused his stroll to glance over in Childe’s direction, where he stood with the other
Skirmishers.

“Childe?” Zhongli’s irises grew brighter for a moment, as the lake water reflected off his sharp
features. His skin shimmered in the early morning sun rays. “What brings you to Jueyun Karst?”

Childe quickly pushed his mask over his bangs and back onto the top of his head before ambling
over to Zhongli, recruits easily left to their own devices. They looked at each other, unsure of what
to make of the interruption but too intimidated to ask.

“I was sent out to train a few recruits and thought this would be an adequate spot,” he grinned,
“The Adepti domain is crawling with strong monsters and rugged terrain. Perfect for weeding out
the weak.”

Zhongli took in the image before him of limp geovishaps and lifeless Fatui and sent a pointed glare
Childe’s way.

“This territory is not meant to be used as your playground.”

“Right you are,” Childe chuckled in spite of himself, “If anything, those creatures played with my
men instead of the other way around.”

“Mmm.” Zhongli sighed and stared forward; he looked as if he had somewhere else to be, which
piqued Childe’s curiosity.

“Say, Zhongli-xiansheng, what are you doing out here? It’s barely even daybreak.”

A shred of hesitance crossed the other man’s face and the thrill of the hunt flared to life in Childe’s
veins without his consent.

Zhongli was hiding something.

“Nothing of note,” he replied steadily, his eyes straying to stare just above Childe’s brows, “I came
to collect Qingxin and decided to take a day to myself to rest.”

“Oh? Mind if I join you?” Childe waved a hand in the newcomers’ direction before he addressed
them. “You are all dismissed for today. We will pick up where we left off some other time; you’ll
receive a summons prior.”

“But…” one of the Skirmishers spoke up, faltering, “Lord Harbinger…”

“Hmm?”

Childe’s face morphed into a menacing scowl, heavy with the promise of misery. For someone
with such soft, young features, the contrast was enough to make the other recruits lower their heads
and quake in fear. Childe made sure Zhongli couldn’t see his expression as venom crept into his
words, “Are you questioning my authority, Comrade Luka? Would you also be willing to
challenge my authority, right here and now?”

Childe paused and grinned; he wore the smirk of Tartaglia the Eleventh. “I’m ready when you
are.”

There was little satisfaction that warmed Childe’s boots quite like watching a grown man, most
likely years older than himself, nearly piss his trousers in a Vanguard battle suit.

“I would never.”

Childe was already walking back to where Zhongli remained at the base of the lake, still as stone.

“Wise decision, Comrade. Take your leaves.”

Childe heard the clattering of heavy footsteps fading out of the surrounding area while he fell into
step with Zhongli, who began heading in the direction of the tallest peak by the lake. His eyebrow
was raised in a silent question.

“If their training was that important, I wouldn’t have ditched,” Childe took a moment to take in
their surroundings, “Those recruits were sent to be lackeys, anyways. Once the hopeless ones wake
up, they’ll come crawling back to me for instructing and I’ll have to run them into the ground all
over again.”

“The enthusiasm in your voice at the notion is frightening.” Zhongli mused, although his lips were
upturned into a tiny, teasing grin. They walked further uphill, climbing past the water where the
incline could be felt in Childe’s limbs.

“Is it an ancient tradition of yours, to come out to the middle of nowhere to rest?” Childe plucked a
Glaze Lily from the ground and continued to walk, “Or are you up to something?”

“So meddlesome,” Zhongli tutted but did not change his easy pace, even as the hill became
mountainous and Childe was taking strides to keep up with him. It was easier to remember Zhongli
wasn’t human when doing something as simple as scaling a foothill involved zero effort on his
part.

They paused halfway up the cliff, where grassy plants had bloomed sporadically, and distinctively
vibrant birds tittered overhead. The air up high was clear and Childe took a deep breath; he always
felt more at peace in the wilderness, away from civilization. Having Zhongli nearby was also an
added bonus. There was enough history around them to keep the man talking until dinner, and
Childe thought that maybe that was a very good way to spend the day.

“It would…be best if I continued this way alone.”

Zhongli looked remorseful as he said, “I came here to rest, as I said, but I did not specify how.”

Childe crossed his arms and settled for looking inconvenienced instead of terribly interested.

“If you explained what you meant, then maybe we could discuss whether my company would be
welcomed or not during your day off. How’s that sound?”

Really desperate, a little voice retorted in his head, who sounded scarily similar to the Traveler’s
floating Paimon-creature.

“Very well,” Zhongli huffed and faced Childe properly. The sun lit up his features, bringing more
attention to the way the skin around the man’s cheekbones and nose had grown luminescent, as if
flecked by mineral dust, “I am due for some relief from this human form.”

“From your…oh. That explains it, then.”

On Childe’s closer inspection, which Zhongli did not protest as he carefully entered the other
man’s space to get a better look, the small markings dotting his nose were undeniably scales. They
peeked out from Zhongli’s skin like jeweled freckles and ran into his hairline, around his ears, and
down the sides of his throat, disappearing into the neck of his collar. The golden flecks of Cor
Lapis in Zhongli’s eyes were surrounding oval pupils nearing the form of reptilian slits.

“Huh,” Childe’s voice trailed into a whisper; he had never actually looked at Zhongli from this
close, before, and the novelty of the experience had him hesitating, “I didn’t realize that you
needed to recover like that; you've never mentioned it before.”

“It is a weakness borne from the loss of my Gnosis,” Zhongli’s breath puffed near Childe’s cheek
as he examined just how much fluffier the other man’s hair had gotten without him noticing; it
looked so soft. Childe wasn’t exactly the poster-child for self-control, but he was proud of himself
for not reaching up and giving Zhongli a pat. The ends of said hair were most definitely burning
with Geo energy, lit up as if it were ablaze.

Zhongli stood frozen the entire time Childe studied him, molten eyes surveying his face with a
deep pensiveness.

Childe cleared his throat, uncharacteristically self-conscious as he backed away. “How do you fix
it?”

“I would need to return to the original form of my Exuvia,” Zhongli explained. Childe felt an odd
thrill run down his spine when he noticed the smallest early stages of fangs peeping out from
Zhongli’s lips, “Although even a partial release from this form would be beneficial. I am part Qilin
and dragon by birth; keeping a human body at all times, even through sleep, eventually exhausts
me.”

“You must have reached your limit,” Childe stated, “You’re really starting to look the part.”

“Ah, well,” the man had the nerve to look physically embarrassed, a light flush turning his
luminous scales from amber to garnet. Just how did an immortal beast express that emotion so
well? “I have relaxed my control, somewhat. It is only the two of us and I am, lamentably, feeling
quite drained.”

“I get the picture,” Childe fudged a sharp grin, “You didn’t want me to see you in your weakened
state and take advantage of the Great Rex Lapis.”

Zhongli let out a breathy laugh, the sound reverberating into a low echo. Childe noticed that he
began treading further up the mountain and quickly followed, “Not exactly. It would be more
appropriate to say that I did not want to alarm you.”

Even from a step behind, Childe could see that Zhongli had thought that decision through. Which
meant that he wasn’t second-guessing himself on allowing Childe to see this much, but had felt
apprehensive about it beforehand.

“I can say for certain that whatever form you take, none of them will ever send me running.
Handling a cranky dragon sounds like child’s play.” Childe felt exposed saying something so…
fond, but Zhongli had done the same for him on multiple occasions, and he felt that maybe it was
time to return the favor. He had respected Ajax while still being a friend of Childe’s, all while
accepting the existence of Tartaglia. If Childe couldn’t find it in himself to see Zhongli for what he
really was, then that would make him a hypocrite and a coward.

Of which, he was neither.

“I wouldn’t define my mood as ‘cranky’…”

They had managed their way to the furthest side of the western peak, where a cavern opening
rippled into existence on a previously blank wall of stone. A single Geo Essence of Defense
hovered over the entrance.

“Plus, studying your Adeptus form would help me better my strategy for ultimately defeating you,”
Childe added nonchalantly.

Zhongli’s face broke into a slight, fang-embellished smile, this one less guarded then the last.
Childe felt the familiar ecstasy of triumph course through his veins as if he had just returned from
battle.

“Then I suppose you may enter.”

Somehow, that felt like one of Childe’s greatest achievements yet.

Chapter End Notes

Sorry for a bit of a cliff hanger!

I adore Tartaglia and his squishy face and murderous tendencies. I equally adore a
Qilin Zhongli bringing said murderer to his knees.

Let me know what you think! <3

 Into the Dragon's Den
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

“…What the…”

Childe’s mouth opened, closed, and repeated the same pattern for so long, he wasn’t sure if words
would ever get out.

“This… что за черт…”

Zhongli stood to the side, looking nothing but calm. “Was that Snezhnayan? I have rarely heard
you speak it on excursions; do you commonly use your native tongue when conversing with—”

Childe interrupted Zhongli with an exasperated groan.

“Zhongli-xiansheng. Has no one ever explained to you the concept of “moderation”?”

Childe had entered Zhongli’s Jueyun Karst abode cautiously, pursuing behind Zhongli and
analyzing every stone crevice and glowing geode once they passed through the protective gate.
The cavern was much more spacious and open when compared to its outward appearance; then
again, Adepti could create their own dwellings at will, if the documents Childe had read when he
feverishly studied up on Rex Lapis held any truth. The stone was smoothly carved into delicate
spiraling wall designs, and the ground was inlaid with what looked like thousands upon thousands
of compressed Cor Lapis. Childe could see his reflection staring up at him from the crystal sheen
of the golden passage.

Zhongli must have built this all on his own.

The lengthy corridor ended where two enormous arches acted as an entryway into a new chamber,
and Childe was near-blinded by twinkling.

Refractions of light from whatever sat within the room were so bright even Zhongli himself
blinked the lights away, the crimson lining his eyes even more pronounced from the deep ochre of
his shimmering scales.

“Forgive me, but moderation has never applied to the Adepti. We have had endless centuries to
collect and appreciate the bounties of Teyvat. I also must admit it difficult to part with things that
bring me joy.”

Zhongli stood with dignity in the center of the archway, where a chamber that could only be
described as a treasury expanded in front of him. Within it were shelves, cabinets, stone pillars,
wall displays, and organized piles of literal treasures, ranging from jewels the size of the Fatui
Vanguard’s brass knuckles, to frescoes and art pieces that spanned nearly an entire wall. There was
no room for more; every inch of the golden chamber was adorned with beautiful, ancient and
doubtlessly priceless riches from the last six millennia.

“I’m in the largest treasure trove in all of Teyvat…” Childe muttered to himself. There was
physically no way any other place in the world could compare. Childe had visited the Zapolyarny
Palace countless times, and witnessed how the Tsaritsa displayed her luxuries publicly so that
others were aware of her wealth… but this was something straight from legends. The ceilings
vaulted to heights unknown, and even then, valuables smothered the parapets entirely. Zhongli had
ages to compile his massive collection of scrolls, magic texts, and jewel-encrusted weaponry…

“Hold it.” The repository branched out and separated into many smaller, concentrated rooms, one
which immediately caught Childe’s interest. He didn’t wait for Zhongli to walk him through every
detail of the museum he had forged for himself; Childe entered the weapons vault and felt his heart
palpitate. “What have we here?”

“I should have known you would be drawn to the armory,” Zhongli chuckled from nearby, but
Childe was much too distracted by the sheer magnitude of power exuding from each of the
weapons the space sheltered. There was a hammer imbued with the strength of the ocean, and
Childe’s Hydro Vision called to it like a child to its mother. A staff covered in thorns sat near a
lavishly intricate broadsword, almost taller than Childe, and a collection of bows made from
materials human hands could never shape hung neatly on the central wall.

“I never want to leave,” Childe moaned, reaching for a particularly elaborate sword with sapphires
encrusted on its hilt, but pulled his hand back, “Ah, sorry. I won’t touch.”

“No need for apologies,” Zhongli lifted the sword easily and handed it to Childe as if it were a toy,
even though its weight dragged Childe’s arms down to the floor. What was this forged from? “You
may explore my dwelling while I rest. Although, please refrain from touching things that look too
fragile; my powers have kept everything within these rooms intact, and now that I have weakened,
they may be more prone to decay.”

“You’re fine with me wreaking havoc in your gallery?” Childe laughed while lightly swinging the
dark blue sword; the swish it made as it cut through the air was ear-splitting. Childe’s grin
widened. “That’s a lot of misplaced trust, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

“This is not a gallery, it is simply one of the many dwellings I have,” Zhongli had Childe walk out
of the vault and towards another short hallway, this one leading to a small, plain chamber with a
table setting and chairs. The items in the room looked as if they had been previously used often,
but kept in the best possible shape. Cups, dishes and chopsticks were arranged neatly, and Childe
took a seat, wondering who Zhongli would have entertained in this type of space. “Just as the
Cloud Retainer has her Dwelling in the Clouds, I, too, have my Dwellings in the Stone. Although
this is in no way the largest or my most impressive, it is the one I frequent most often, as it has
always been closest to the other Adepti and a comforting oasis away from the mortal world.”

Now that Childe had a moment of respite from so many goodies to ogle, his eyes naturally found
their way back to Zhongli, the brightest thing in the otherwise simple room. He had not altered his
form much since they had entered the domain, but Childe could tell he was ready to shed his
human form. It was in the way that his eyes took a second longer to reopen after each blink, or how
his shoulders were tensed together. It was only enough for a feathery wrinkle to form on the back
of his coat, but Childe could tell. Zhongli never appeared as anything other than seamless and
untouchable.

“So what you’re saying is, you have even more treasure all over Liyue, in chambers just like these,
just for your own personal enjoyment. And here I thought the crammed cabinets in your Liyue
apartment were the threshold of your collecting tendencies.”

Zhongli furrowed his brows, bringing the few scales between them together. “Many of them were
gifts. The majority are offerings, of which I could never throw away. Some were bestowed upon
me after triumphant battles, and there are spoils of war which I deemed significant scattered across
the dwellings, as well. The ones in my mortal home have all been acquired incognito the last few
years.”
Childe whistled. So this was what the abundance of an ancient god’s wealth looked like.

“There are legends we have back home in Snezhnaya that I had read as a child,” Childe watched in
captivation as Zhongli’s pupils tightened even further, making the black within his aureate eyes
nearly nonexistent, “About heroes searching high and low to find treasure across the land.”

Zhongli listened from across the table, eyes locked on his.

“When the treasure was especially valuable, or it was an amount that seemed too-good-to-be-true,
there was always a dragon guarding it. The dragon would hoard its treasures beneath its belly and
guard its bounty, tooth and nail. The heroes rarely left unscathed, never managing to take even a
coin from the dragon’s talons. I always wished for them to succeed.”

Zhongli frowned. “What is the message behind this legend?”

“Not so sure,” Childe leaned his cheek against the palm of his hand and smirked, “But I just
realized, Zhongli-xiansheng. You’re the treasure-hoarding dragon. And I’m the rogue who’s going
to take it all from under your nose while you slumber.”

As he expected, Zhongli looked very unenthusiastic, and Childe erupted into laughter.

"The dragons in your Snezhnayan legends vary greatly from what, or who, we acknowledge as
dragons in Liyue."

Childe knew as much, but that didn't keep him from making a cheeky comparison anyhow.

“Besides the fact I have faith that you will keep damage to a minimum,” Zhongli relented, even as
Childe hiccuped with a few leftover snickers, “The Sigil outside will allow for nothing to pass
through it unless I make it so. You are also free to leave whenever you choose; I imagine it will be
quite boring while I sleep.”

“Boring? This place is the opposite of boring,” Childe conceded, “I haven’t even explored half of
this treasure trove. I’ll probably still be here playing with your weapons by the time you wake up.”

“You’re going to stay?”

Zhongli’s tone had shifted, making Childe self-conscious. Maybe it was a little bizarre for an
associate to wait around another associate's home while they took a dragon-sized nap. Even if they
were good friends.

Childe definitely could have been tending to other matters instead of playing hooky with the
funeral consultant. And really, all Zhongli wanted to do was recuperate in peace.

Zhongli didn’t look cranky or bothered, though. If anything, the man was looking at Childe fondly;
his expression had softened in a way that made the Harbinger feel as if he had offered something of
high worth.

Which he did, on the regular, only this time there was no exchange of Mora.

“With a heavenly weapons vault like yours, why would I ever leave?”

Clearly Childe had said something right, as Zhongli’s hair and irises gleamed brightly before he
nodded, still smiling with his eyes.

“I will take my leave, then. If you need me, I rest in the chamber beyond the Nautilus Jadeite
bridge.”

Childe watched Zhongli hide a tiny yawn behind his fist and fought his mouth against a stupidly
tender smile. “Have a good sleep, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

Zhongli nodded and gracefully headed out, coattails swishing behind him. Even though Childe had
jested that he would study Rex Lapis’ true form and get an edge over the man, he didn’t make a
move to go and shadow Zhongli to the room at the far end of the stone realm. Besides, there were
troves of invaluable information and powerful artifacts at every turn. The day had already become
much more fruitful than he had expected.

Making his way back to the main hall where the bulk of Zhongli’s valuables were kept, Childe
began composing mental notes of what kinds of treasures the Adeptus enjoyed surrounding himself
with in the dwelling he liked to visit most often. It felt almost intimate, being in Zhongli’s domain.
Childe had entered Zhongli’s apartment back in Liyue Harbor a few times, generally just to help
him carry in goods or for a quick tea in passing, but this felt…distinctive. It would be the
equivalent of Childe taking Zhongli to Morepesok, wouldn’t it?

Did that mean anything?

A pair of jade-handle butterfly swords were positioned on Starsilver hooks jutting out from the
armory wall, and Childe couldn’t help himself. He grasped the grips, the rare jade nearly
translucent in his palms, weighing them carefully. Their length was somewhat longer than the dual
swords he fashioned daily and with a thicker base, yet incredibly light. The metal was thin and
fragile-looking, but judging by the craftsmanship of the weapons, they were undeniably capable of
slicing through rock as if it were flesh.

He studied the hudiedao until he could wield one with his left hand and fabricate one of pure
Hydro energy with his right, making sure his mold was as faithful to the original as possible.

Did Zhongli at one point wield butterfly swords, or had these belonged to an ancient god whom
Zhongli had fought and defeated, and then seized as a war trophy?

Childe wanted to see for himself. He wanted Zhongli to personally demonstrate every weapon in
his arsenal, and then to look at Childe with that bellicose hunger like he had done weeks ago.

Fighting the Geo Archon had ruined him; Childe thirsted for bloodshed. He needed to spar Zhongli
again. Then maybe he would stop feeling so overwhelmed every time the other man so much as
bat an eyelid.

Childe chuckled to himself. “Ah, Zhongli-xiansheng, I need to get stronger.”

He would raise the question of a rematch spar once the Ex-Archon woke up.

Childe lost himself in the machinations of forging his own copycat versions of several divine
weapons, basking in pride when he could summon them at will after only reviewing them for a
moment. Sure, the powers within couldn’t be transferred to his water forms, but training with
weaponry from archaic metals and craftsmanship lost to time was a special occasion. An hour or so
had passed, maybe more, but he would need weeks to properly understand how all of the
wonderful artillery in Zhongli’s vault functioned.

He wondered if he would get another chance to visit.

Once his battle exercises became redundant, Childe set out towards the large space across from the
armory; a library, of sorts. There were metallic shelves covered in tomes, scrolls and multiple
volumes of different literature pieces. Ranging from texts in ancient Liyuan script that Childe
couldn’t decipher to histories which couldn’t be found in modern bookstores, Zhongli’s collection
would have made Sumerian researchers swoon.

A thick, moss-colored tome titled Records of Jueyun: Vol. 5 sat in a line of works all detailing the
history and geography of the region, and Childe lifted it from the shelf. He flipped through the
pages until landing on a relevant chapter: Qilin.

“Qilin are noble creatures who choose not to harm mortals…” Childe muttered to himself. Zhongli
was not fully Qilin, nor solely dragon, but many parts that made up an Adeptus. One who had
slaughtered gods before even becoming one himself. Clearly, he rose above and beyond the
majority of the definitions within the book; besides the fact Zhongli could take the shape of more
than two beings, the only Qilin Childe could really recognize in the man was his gentler
disposition. Childe had yet to see more than two (and a half?) of Zhongli’s several other forms.

“Do the Qilin all follow Rex Lapis’ will, or the few he had raised while being the Archon…”

The power dynamics of Liyue and its immortal beings was always something Childe couldn’t fully
comprehend. Regarding the Tsaritsa, her power could not be matched in Snezhnaya, and that sole
fact was enough to cement her authority. If she were to lose that power, however, it could be said
that some Snezhnayans would cease to follow her will.

Childe unquestionably would never break his loyalty to his Archon in such a spineless manner. He
simply recognized the deceitful nature of the human race; even the Harbingers wouldn’t blink
twice to try and take control from the Cryo Archon should her strength fail her.

This was why Childe preferred to deal with other Harbingers as little as possible. They were
nothing but twofaced rats.

Rex Lapis, in contrast, had power in spades. He had given birth to Liyue, saved the people from
natural and heavenly disaster, and polished Liyue Harbor into the brilliant, autonomous diamond of
a city it had become. He had ruled with an iron fist thousands of years ago and slowly released his
grip until he could watch his people thrive without his aid, and even still he was worshipped and
praised by those around him. He retained his followers; his Adepti cherished him, and many of the
people of Liyue still sought out his guidance. There was no fear of coup or devastation. Zhongli
was an eternal source of strength to Liyue without even being present.

Childe couldn’t see how he fit into the Archon’s plans at all.

The longer Childe spent surrounded by the enigma that was Zhongli, the more he saw his own
insignificance. He couldn’t offer much to others besides Mora. That was really the prime reason
Zhongli stuck around, and wasn’t that just the saddest, most ironic thing? The Creator of Mora
needing a debt collector to provide him with currency.

He would blame it on his insolence later, but the desire to get a glimpse of Zhongli in a weakened
state, just to see, to attest to Rex Lapis being less-than-divine, sent Childe into a near-sprint
towards the Jadeite Bridge connecting the treasury to Zhongli’s resting quarters.

He barged into the entryway without knocking, not that there was a door to knock on. The room
was cavernous and circular in shape, with a large, sunken center, barren of furniture or decor. The
area was submerged in fog, as if clouds were harbored within the cave for moisture.

It was the one room within the mountain that actually looked as if it were carved from the stone
itself.
The only sign of life in the rocky hollow was the massive bamboo mat in the heart of the chamber
where large, plush furs of ivory and silver appeared to be covering a single, sleeping being. Childe
felt his pulse speed up as he slowed his descent.

Although the room had no light source, the Cor Lapis encircling the cavern glowed brightly
enough to illuminate Zhongli’s slumbering form, huddled beneath layers of pelt and fog.

Childe approached with measured footsteps, keeping his boots light before crouching to see
Zhongli better. Blood roared in his ears, as if what he was doing bordered on sacrilegious.

The being lying before him was not what Childe was expecting, frankly. Either Zhongli had
decided not to shed his entire form for the benefit of speedier healing, or he had an influx of power
in his weakened state that caused his body to shapeshift without being conscious of it, but the
Zhongli in the bed of clouds looked much like the Zhongli Childe has always known.

Minus the details.

Four slender, amber horns protruded from Zhongli’s hairline, no longer than the length of a finger.
They each curved upwards into pointed hooks that looked sharp to the touch, even though the rest
of Zhongli’s face in slumber looked undeniably soft. Scuta had spread along his face and neck; the
red of his eyelids were now embellished with crimson scales as if permanently ornamented.

He looked otherworldly, Childe thought, like he didn’t belong in the mortal realm at all. Zhongli’s
head rested on his arms, crossed over one another like a homemade pillow: a creature straight from
the pages of folktales.

The blanket covered Zhongli from the waist-down, where he wore what looked like the same
Archon robe as his many Seven statues depicted. There was a hood thrown over half of his head,
his ponytail weaving through a small opening in the back and trailing over the fur covers. The
sleeveless wrap was untied, and if Zhongli rolled over, Childe would get the Archon Statue full-
experience, shirtless Rex Lapis and all.

That came to the forefront of Childe’s mind much faster than expected.

A small pulse of Geo radiated from Zhongli every time he inhaled; there were vivid yellow
contours running down the curves of his arms which transitioned seamlessly, from gold into black
talons engraved with Geo markings. Childe couldn’t hide the wonder he manifested while silently
observing the man, dreaming away, his body dimming and brightening with Geo energy like an
Adeptus-sized night light.

“You have claws.”

Childe’s remark didn’t stir the Adeptus awake, thank the Tsaritsa. His heart fluttered in his chest
once he realized just how close he had gotten to Zhongli while taking in his dragonesque elements;
his nails were pitch black and could definitely rip Childe open with one accidental swat.

Well, we’re already this far. No point in backing out now.

Childe said a small prayer before settling down next to Zhongli’s head, where he could take a
moment to think. This was the Geo Archon. The Prime Adeptus, and Childe was in his archaic
dwelling. This was also Zhongli, his associate and closest companion in Liyue.

He could defeat him like this. Possibly. Or at the very least, wound him in a way that would give
Childe the upper-hand that he couldn’t achieve in the previous fight because of sustained injuries.
This Zhongli was wholly unprepared for a sneak attack, just begging for Childe to rob him of his
priceless valuables and deliver them straight to the Tsaritsa. But before that, he would crush the
Ex-Archon, to satisfy his primal need to win, and better-establish himself amongst the Fatui as an
extra benefit.

It seemed so easy, when Childe pieced the plan together in his head.

Childe brought his left hand up near Zhongli’s cheek and rippled his Hydro, creating a sheen of
water above the Adeptus’ face, serene in sleep, before letting it fall into a feather-light layer of
mist. The reptilian part of Zhongli must have enjoyed the added humidity; he made a grunt before
his body and hair lit up like a firecracker, nestling deeper into his pile of fur. Chuckling, Childe
reached out and stroked one of Zhongli’s horns, trailing his fingers up and down its glossy surface
to the scale-covered base, like scratching a dog behind the ears.

And immediately froze.

A pair of sharp, Cor Lapis eyes shone bright and open from below, laser-focused on the hand that
hung petrified in the air.

“Zhongli-xiansheng… good morning,” No explanation could possibly save Childe from the
awkwardness of being caught petting the Geo Archon. None. “I didn’t mean to wake you up, it’s
just that I got a little…curious?”

“Mmph.” A growl vibrated from the man’s chest before he gave a long, elegant stretch and sat back
on his haunches.

And there it was: the sculpted, Geo-inscribed torso of the statues Childe had always thought
somewhat resembled the Funeral Consultant, but how could that be, what a funny thought, haha…

“Childe, you are still here.”

Zhongli’s eyes were lit up like miniature moons in the night sky. They could have illuminated the
room all on their own; in fact, all of Zhongli seemed to be bursting with vigor, pouring iridescent
streams of gold into the shadows of the chamber. He was ablaze with restored energy and shone
like a descended deity. And then, as if to place the final nail in Childe’s figurative coffin, Zhongli
smiled.

His characteristic, sincere smile, with the addition of the tiniest glimpse of fangs.

“I’m glad.”

Childe was a great deal close to conjuring up a bucket of water and throwing it overtop of himself
to protect his face from the heat it was currently feeling. He forced his mouth to respond, any
words at all better than just ogling the radiant Zhongli hybrid still surrounded by a plush nest of
fur.

“I told you I wouldn’t leave before saying my goodbyes. When have I ever forgotten my manners,
with you?”

“Mmm,” the man must have still been sleepy, judging by the small acknowledgements he elected to
use instead of full sentences, “You touched my face while I slept.”

“I—” a quick-thinker, that’s what so many people had called Childe in the past, “I wanted to see if
your horns were made from Cor Lapis?”
The smooth-talking, confident Harbinger must have been left outside of the stone dwelling,
because he certainly was not residing with Childe.

Most fortunately, as with Zhongli’s forgiving personality, he simply nodded and answered. “They
are made from Cor Lapis as well as Qilin keratin derivatives, similar to those of Teyvatian horned
creatures. I have had them for many a millennia and they have yet to break, thus the might of the
Cor Lapis is not to be taken for granted when mining for sturdy, rare minerals.”

“You’re biased to your own Cor Lapis. It’s stronger than any other.” Childe laughed, happy to
jump on any subject besides his inability to follow the standard children’s rule of hands to yourself.
“But I’ve taken a liking to its amber color. Has any other human touched Rex Lapis’ legendary
horns before?”

“Hmm.” Zhongli wrapped his robe properly before settling next to Childe, “I believe you are the
first. In fact, I cannot recall a time where a human has ever set foot into one of my abodes, let alone
seen me in the throes of resurgence.”

The exclusivity of what Zhongli said was not lost on Childe. It warmed him straight to the bone
and left him feeling too open and too aware of that familiar buzzing in his blood. The same buzzing
that loved to resurface whenever Zhongli was near, or grabbed his attention, or presented him with
something as exciting and unfamiliar as discovering an Adeptus’ treasure room.

Truthfully, he was getting sick and tired of bearing emotions he didn’t have the time or inclination
to understand.

He tried to laugh the sensation away. “Haha, so I’m special, huh?”

That was the wrong thing to ask an Adeptus with six-thousand years’ worth of time to work
through uncomfortable emotions.

“Of course.” Zhongli’s glow bounced off of Childe’s face. “Why else would you be permitted to be
here?”

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe mourned for the simpler days when he didn’t know the Funeral
Consultant had handsome horns and almighty power stored beneath that elegant figure, “You can’t
just say things like that. It overwhelms me with the urge to break something or fight you.”

Perplexed, Zhongli stood up from his sleeping area and held a blackened hand out for Childe to
take. It was no longer sharpened by claws and had returned to its human profile. “I fail to
understand what you mean. However, I think I have retained enough energy for a good while
before I need to return here. I have a few errands I would like to run before dinner, if you’d like to
join me.”

“…didn’t we agree upon meeting for dinner tonight?” Childe grimaced at how much of Zhongli’s
time he was taking up, feeling a bit foolish, “I should probably fill out reports on those new recruits
before our meal. I won’t take your whole day.” Childe grabbed Zhongli’s hand and allowed him to
lift him effortlessly to his feet. “You know, if you needed to rest that badly, why didn’t you just
come here overnight? I know how much you like fulfilling your work duties, and there would have
been less of a chance of anyone spotting you at Jueyun.”

Zhongli made a pensive expression, and Childe noted that the horns dotting his forehead had
shrunk along with the many scales across his face.

“You have been looking forward to trying the new wine-fermented rice balls at Third-Round
 Knockout, and with the length of a full night's recovery, I would have had to cancel our dinner
reservation. I simply rearranged my schedule.”

Childe slapped a hand over his face, which was no doubt as scarlet as the few scaley patches left
around Zhongli’s eyes.

“You’re going to be the death of me, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

Chapter End Notes

I have an insanely busy weekend schedule ahead of me, so the next chapter will most
likely be posted Sunday or Monday, but no later than that. I'm having way too much
fun with these two.

Childe is s o c l o s e to figuring it out.

But I live for the slow burn. (≖⌣≖)

Also, kudos to those who noticed that I was already obsessed with the idea of Zhongli
being a "treasure hoarder," only in the classically portrayed dragon way.

Let me know how you feel in the comments! They inspire me to write faster <3
 Our Skewed Perceptions: Part I
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Something was wrong at the Northland Bank.

The second Childe whisked through the front door, following a hasty meeting with some disorderly
clients who, quote on quote, “needed some convincing” for why they should have to pay back their
bank loans with interest, he detected a miasma of demonic energy. The shroud of malevolent
power descended over the entire Northland facility; all of the patrons and employees alike looked
pale and stricken, as if they had seen a ghost.

Even Ekaterina, who rarely wore anything other than a polite, emotionless smile at the counter,
seemed completely stiff. She sat pin-straight at her desk; the moment her eyes met Childe’s, she
ejected out of her seat and scurried towards him.

“Lord Harbinger,” she sounded openly reassured by his company, “I’m so happy you’ve returned!
There is a guest waiting for you in your office.”

Childe raised an inquiring brow. “To see me? No one has an appointment.”

Once Childe had properly returned to work at the Northland Bank following his speedy recovery
and the Tsaritsa’s latest dispatch, his schedule had become so hectic he barely had a moment to
breathe; Liyue was crawling with grubs waist-deep in Fatui debt, and there was no one more suited
for handling foul maggots than a Harbinger who would beat the Mora out of each and every one of
them.

So he was also more than aware of every ounce of free time he had left to spare today, and said
free time was scheduled for the next twenty-five minute exactly: no consultations or appointments
in sight.

Ekaterina nodded her head furiously. “I know, I tried to explain that he couldn’t simply barge into
the Eleventh Harbinger’s office without a document stating he had official business, but Sir, he
couldn’t be persuaded. I… I couldn’t stop him, no one could.”

Childe spied a smattering of blood coating the arm and lapel of his jacket, remnants from his little
meeting, no doubt. He must have been strolling around Liyue looking like a discounted goon;
usually he was more meticulous with the cleanup. It would have to be sent out to be cleaned.

Childe exhaled, “I find it hard to believe security couldn’t have stepped in.”

Ekaterina glanced around fretfully, like someone was listening in on their conversation. The other
Fatui parties in the bank appeared just as apprehensive, considering no one else had yet to
approach him for an update. Ekaterina was his most reliable subordinate at Northland; she was one
of the few who didn’t try and flatter him for favor. Even Andrei, Ekaterina’s manager, was
someone Childe avoided because of his sugarcoated words and sycophant tendencies.

“…Do you feel that, Sir?” Ekaterina whispered, making Childe bend to hear her more clearly,
“Ever since your guest entered the bank, the air has been dense enough to suffocate. I don’t think
he’s human.”

“Oho?” That had Childe’s attention. What kind of immortal creature decided to grace Fatui
headquarters just to visit him explicitly? There certainly were not many people who, inhuman or
otherwise, were fond of him in Liyue, and judging by the atmosphere, this visit was not a friendly
one.

“Did he give his name?”

Ekaterina shook her head. “He just said he would wait for your return.”

Childe nodded, readying his Delusion should he need to use it. “Then I suppose I shouldn’t keep
him waiting.”

With Ekaterina in tow and the wary eyes of bank personnel observing, Childe strode into his office.

The guest in question was leaning up against Childe’s large teakwood desk, making himself
comfortable as he studied the translucent Cor Lapis paperweight that had been sitting on a stack of
documents. His vividly yellow eyes scrutinized it before placing it back down, loudly, and turning
to Childe with a huff.

A Yashka mask hung at his waist, glinting eerily with an otherworldly glow, as he crossed his
patterned arms in disdain. Ekaterina let out a small gasp when the man vanished in a soft wisp of
smoke and reappeared directly in front of them, tendrils of darkness coiling around Childe’s limbs
like appendages.

Xiao steadied his hawklike gaze onto Childe. “Finally. I’ve been waiting.”

“Well, this is unexpected.” Childe gave Xiao his trademark smile, the one that displayed nothing
but straight, white teeth and homicidal intent, “Ekaterina, I’ll take it from here.”

“Of course, Lord Harbinger,” she managed as the door slammed shut behind her, leaving Xiao and
Childe alone.

Childe wasted no time putting less distance between himself and the Adeptus, making sure his
height was fully perceived when he hunched over to look at Xiao directly. “And what do I owe the
pleasure of an Adeptus’ company this afternoon? From the way you acted last time, I didn’t think
you liked me very much.”

Xiao’s eyebrow twitched, but otherwise his expression remained cold and distant.

“You’re correct, I don’t like you.” Xiao’s smoke continued to trickle around the room. “I need a
few questions answered.”

Childe leaned back, pondering. “Hmm, alright, I suppose I have a little time to entertain you. How
about you also relieve the bank of your demonic aura, while you’re here? The entire building is
feeling a little oppressive.” He motioned to the shadows of fog lurking within every tainted, dismal
corner.

“That is not something I can regulate,” he responded before turning his back to Childe and finding
a further wall to prop himself against. “It is a natural Yaksha response when surrounded by so
much evil. This bank is crawling with illicit activity.”

Childe paused to snort. “You don’t say.” As if the blood on his collar didn’t reveal enough about
the kinds of individuals who frequented the Northland Bank. He really wished he had remembered
to keep some spare shirts in the office closet.

“Especially you.” Childe’s eyebrows rose exponentially, the tips of his rusted bangs moving from
the action as Xiao sent him a pointed glare, much more ireful than before. “I would have never
entered the city if it weren’t for the fact that I sensed something amiss.”

“I’ve been doing the same things I always do,” Childe chuckled, circling his way back around to
his desk and plopping himself down. Xiao’s concern was strange; if there was one person Childe
knew Xiao would care enough about to come all the way to the bustling Liyue Harbor for, it would
be Zhongli. Although Childe hadn’t seen the man since yesterday, he heavily doubted anything
serious enough could have warranted the Yaksha’s arrival. The Ex-Archon was more than capable
of taking care of himself.

Childe’s interest was piqued, to say the least.

“I trailed the unmistakable energy that resonates from Morax’s Adeptus form all the way here,
along with the distinctive scent of blood.”

Childe was tempted to sniff his shirt; surely the pungent, iron smell hadn’t stuck to him that badly?

“Imagine my lack of surprise to see that the trail led to you.” Xiao inhaled, wearing the same
expression one would have while scraping a bug off their foot. “So I’d like to retrieve whatever it
was that you stole without Morax’s knowledge. The sooner you hand it over, the sooner I can
return to the inn and make it back in time for Yanxiao’s fresh tofu.”

Childe took a second to let what Xiao said sink in before his face fell from its guarded mask into an
honest vision of incredulousness. When he had left Zhongli’s stone dwelling, Childe had remarked
that ultimately, he would be the prime owner of every piece of treasure stored within those four
walls, and Zhongli had laughed. Laughed! Because as foolhardy and reckless as Childe was, he
knew that it would take a lot more than just his own willpower to pry treasure out from under a six-
thousand-year-old dragon.

It was also somewhat insulting. Just because he was Fatui didn’t mean he lacked some self-respect.
Stealing from Zhongli now, after everything that’s been said and done, would be pretty low, even
for himself. Unless it was the Tsaritsa’s desire, he would avoid doing something so spiteful.

“You could search high and low, Comrade, but I can say with certainty that you’ll find no stolen
goods here.” A small snicker. “Well, of Rex Lapis’, anyways.”

“Impossible,” Xiao wasted no time pushing back into Childe’s space, crowding him at his desk and
peering at him with those startling yellow eyes. Zhongli’s eyes were warm amber and captivating,
while Xiao’s were daunting and predatory. “You’re covered in the protective seal that Morax cast
over his possessions. It acts as a tracking mechanism; if any of his possessions leave the nest, the
identification would allow Morax or any other Adepti to locate them immediately without fail.”

“…” Childe recalled something or other Zhongli had told him about the sigils that warded off
thieves. But he truly hadn’t left the dwelling at Jueyun Karst with more than a newfound
appreciation for Cor Lapis and an image of Zhongli in fine furs burnt into his retinas! Every
valuable remained in its rightful place back in the treasury.

“I’m not sure what to tell you,” Childe said slowly, trying to place why Xiao’s remark made him
feel so uneasy, “but that’s all I can say. Is there anything else, or can I spend the next twenty-or-so
minutes of my break in peace?”

Xiao’s pupils narrowed into pin-pointed slits.

“You’re lying. The seal does not make mistakes.”

“Shall I strip down to prove it to you?” Childe’s voice took on a mocking edge; he wasn’t a fan of
anyone questioning his honesty. He solved all of his problems through battles, not deceit, and just
because Xiao was an ancient Adeptus didn’t mean Childe was afraid of the little mutt. “Your
concern for your Archon’s trinkets is endearing, but I’m afraid this meeting has lost its appeal.”

“I don’t understand why he chooses to spend his time with a mortal such as yourself,” Xiao’s voice
drifted through the room, quiet but clear. The hairs at the back of Childe’s neck stood up; irritation
penetrated his bones,” You have tried and failed to destroy his beloved city, and judging by your
inability to leave past failures alone, I’m sure you’re just biding time until another opportunity
comes for you to try again. You Fatui are akin to circling vultures.” The fumes in the room began
to rise, shrouding Xiao with a heavy layer of Anemo mist that cooled the air. “What do you want
with him? He already gave up his Gnosis without a fight, and yet you’re still here, tainting Liyue
with your malicious foreign affairs.”

Childe felt a prickle of Electro spread across his knuckles. It wasn’t often someone crawled under
his skin; maybe that was another ability Adepti could wield that wasn’t mentioned in history
books.

“You sure enjoy making hefty assumptions,” Childe sneered, “What if I just enjoy the seaside air?
Maybe I’m planning to retire young in a city that’s warm.”

Xiao’s eyes were practically glowing with ferocity. His human form may have looked sylphlike
and fragile, but the power underneath was not to be underestimated. “Every time you’re close to
him, I can smell it; you carry the stench of bad intentions.”

Childe was caught off-guard. He didn’t exactly harbor only good-will towards Zhongli, but…there
were so many other mixed emotions as well. Some of which he himself didn’t even fully
understand. Hearing Xiao speak about his own feelings as if he knew them better than Childe was
enormously infuriating.

“I…” Childe’s voice lowered an octave, “I think you should leave before things get ugly. You’re
putting me in a foul mood, and it’s common sense for dogs to heel when there’s impending
danger.”

“Danger?” Xiao teemed with bristling infernal energy, which was the most emotion Childe had
ever seen projected from the small creature, before he summoned his spear and rolled it in his
palms. The room felt fit to bursting from the smog blocking out the ceiling, and Childe couldn’t
resist summoning a bit of Electro to ward off the shadows. Even the windows were screened by the
opaque clouds. “You bid me no threat. You’re just a spoiled child using their Archon’s money to
buy Morax’s favor, and I will tolerate it no longer.”

A bolt of Electro whizzed passed Xiao’s face, nearly meeting with the pale skin of his forehead,
before latching onto the wall behind him and crackling against the wood.

“You know what?” There was a small layer of Electro energy coating Childe’s skin, his entire
body alight with the violet sparks of his Delusion, “Now you’ve made me angry.”

A collision of Anemo wind and Electro shockwaves met at the center of the office, sending out a
storm of lightning that ricocheted off of every corner. Childe had formed his Hydro spear while
still separating the haze with his streaks of electricity. Xiao didn’t seem like the type to play
games; he disappeared before reemerging from above, pouncing down onto Childe like a hunter
catching prey.

Childe barely managed to evade the head of his lance. A swift shwing noise shrieked in his ears as
he felt hot liquid drip down his face; Xiao’s jade polearm had glanced across the side of his cheek
in one lengthy, slender cut, soaking his chin and neck with blood.

Childe wiped the blood with the sleeve of his already blood-stained jacket; it was truly a lost cause
now. Dry-cleaning could only do so much.

“I took a vow to never kill mortals,” Xiao stated calmly from across the room, where he balanced,
in an impossible feat, on the wall with the tip of his spear acting as a stabilizer. His face was one
Childe recognized; it was an expression of apathy, the one most practiced executioners would wear
before committing a heinous crime. Childe had seen it on himself in the mirror several times. It
was hard to misinterpret, “However, you have so much Abyss magic running through your blood, I
don’t know if you still fall into the category.”

Childe sent a wave of Electro throughout the entire room, so that even if Xiao teleported to another
corner, he wouldn’t be able to escape the voltage travelling through his winds. He had a feeling
this was a fight that he would lose; an unavoidable possibility, when dealing with the Adepti.

However, Xiao crossed a line Childe didn’t know existed.

“You’re really something,” Childe waited until the static in the air calmed and he could sense
breathing by the farthest bookshelf; he plunged his spear directly into the spot. The distinctive wail
of wood breaking told him he had missed again, “Does Zhongli-xiansheng know you’re here,
trying to maim me? I feel like he’d have something to say about this.”

“Sometimes you need to take the protection of those you care for most into your own hands.”

The voice came from overhead once more; Childe pitched his body under the desk before a lash of
winds hit the ground with a mighty howl. The floorboards shattered upon impact, sending wood
splinters airborne. The Yaksha was now donning his demon mask; the eyes shone lifelessly,
making Xiao look like the centuries-old killer he was described as in ancient dossiers.

The noise from the inside of Childe’s office must have resonated throughout the building, by now.
There was some pride Childe could take in the bank’s professionalism, as no one had entered yet to
check on the uproar. This wasn’t the first time Childe had used his workplace as a battleground,
and it undoubtedly wouldn’t be the last.

He wouldn’t let it be the last.

“Considering he’s your Archon, you sure have a lack of respect for the man,” Childe swung his
spear with the precision of a man gripped by bloodlust, forcing Xiao to dodge and deflect while
Electro attacked his limbs. Adeptus or not, Electro shocks were disabling and powerful things, “I
would never take my Tsaritsa’s matters into my own hands. She is mighty enough to make her
own decisions, as is your dear old Geo Archon.” Another sharp slice broke through Childe’s
parrying, and he felt the tear of flesh from his torso before strategically swiping his polearm with
enough force that Xiao had to make some room in the enclosed space. The burn from his side
wasn’t serious enough to warrant him to slow down. “Your actions would probably offend him.”

“What do you know, mortal?” Xiao’s words whistled like the breeze, his voice distorting from
behind the mask, “I’ve known him for centuries, lived and served by his side for longer than you
meager Fatui have existed, and yet you think you understand loyalty? You’re nothing.”

Xiao emphasized his point with a substantial crack of his lance piercing through the wall beside
Childe’s earlobe. He recovered immediately and sent a copy of Xiao’s attack back, which the
Adeptus avoided and vanished into dust before gusting back into existence at Childe’s side, aiming
for his chest.

Childe sidestepped the incoming attack before using the desk as a barricade between himself and
the Adeptus, urgently trying to plan a means of retribution.

“Maybe I am irrelevant, when compared to your millennia on Teyvat, but I’m not naïve enough to
believe that Zhongli-xiansheng doesn’t also exploit me for his own goals. It’s something we’ve
both already accepted; I may just be a pawn to many, but I’m not in denial, either.” A few more
stabs from Xiao’s spear flew across the table, which Childe blocked with waves of Hydro and
reflexes that even impressed himself. “And if he allows it, I’m going to keep being around to take
up your Archon’s precious time and discover all of his resources, abilities and treasures, and there
isn’t anything you can do about it. You want to know why?”

Childe could feel something inside of himself bubbling to the surface as his Electro began to come
with more and more velocity. The waves of purple grew so tall that the haze of the room became a
minor annoyance; Xiao was lit up like a colorful, illuminated target. “Because I can.”

A blast of wind knocked him backwards onto his desk, Childe landing flat across the rigid wood.
Xiao had him pinned on both sides with his clawed fingers digging into his shoulders, while the
Yaksha mask hovered a mere few inches from Childe’s nose. The cut on Childe’s cheek was most
definitely still bleeding; he could feel the trickle of blood drying in the dip of his collarbone.

“Just tell me what you’re planning,” Xiao sounded too composed for someone about to commit
murder, and that was what aggravated Childe the most, “There must be a reason that you’re
studying him so carefully, why you’re still spending so much time with him even after the loss of
his Gnosis.”

Childe tried to drown Xiao in his own mask; he concentrated Hydro in an enormous bubble just
over his own face, trapping the creature’s head in an impenetrable sphere of water, in a last-ditch
effort to get free from under his immortal grasp. Unfortunately, his Anemo winds had little
difficulty parting the waters in an anticlimactic second.

“What do you expect me to say?” Childe spat, still channeling Electro and bracing for the
inevitable sting while mixing the least two-compatible elements together within him. It was part of
his high reputation, the fact that he could channel Electro and Hydro as if they worked
harmoniously together, when most Fatui couldn’t even handle their Delusions alone.

He was indeed practiced, but was also a master at hiding his own pain.

“Admit you’re plotting against him so I have an excuse to end you.”

“For once, when I say there is no plot, there is no plot.” Childe felt anger seize up so quickly
within his chest, his ribs ached with the fury. This individual didn’t know anything about Childe,
or about the Zhongli Childe had come to know. It wasn’t any of his business what the Geo Archon
did in his spare time and with whom. “Can you get it through your ancient skull that maybe I just
enjoy his company?”

Xiao’s claws unhinged themselves from Childe’s shoulders slowly, and Childe heaved out a pained
breath at the sensation of the leftover punctures. His poor jacket.

At least it wasn’t the one Tonia had patched up the last time he had returned to Snezhnaya. If that
one got ruined, he would have been beyond inconsolable.

“You…” The emotionless Yaksha mask slanted along with Xiao’s head, as if he had seen
something that threw him off the hunt. He scrutinized Childe from under him, the violent
movements pausing, “You’re…”

The door to Childe’s office thumped open, where two figures stood outside of the entrance.

So much for privacy and professionalism.

A sound of a tailcoat flapping; Zhongli stepped into the room with an aura of complete authority,
his divine influence commanding attention the minute he entered. Xiao’s concentration was
immediately diverted away from a bloody, disheveled Childe.

“Alatus,” Had Zhongli’s voice always carried such a petrifying timbre? The way he summoned
Xiao made even Childe flinch, “Explain yourself.”

Ekaterina was still as a statue in the doorway, most likely completely unsure what to make of the
situation and terrified to move a muscle, and Childe didn’t fault her in the least. This was a scenario
that went above and beyond Fatui henchmen.

“Lord Harbinger…” she stuttered, “Mr. Zhongli, he…I…”

“Just go,” Childe sighed and mustered a trembling hand into the air to wave her away; his limbs
were too tired to hide how Electro aimlessly darted across his fingertips. “I’m handling it.”

Ekaterina looked as if she had a thousand questions and one most likely included her upcoming pay
raise. She still succeeded in closing the door behind her, where Zhongli stood motionless, staring at
Xiao in a shocking display of distress. He looked downright furious.

Xiao’s body was already prostrated on the ground before Childe had moved his pulsing arm back
to his side. The shoulder scratches may have been deeper than he anticipated; even the gusts of
Anemo remnants made the slices in his skin burn.

“There is no excuse for the extent of damage I've caused.” Xiao’s mask was hastily returned to his
belt as he implored Zhongli with eyes filled with repentance. “But I only came to fulfill my end of
the contract regarding embezzled treasures from the Stone Dwelling...”

Zhongli’s gaze left no room for excuses, and Xiao’s voice grew limp. “…at first.”

“We will talk later.” It was a dismissal if Childe ever heard one; Zhongli sternly declaring Xiao's
redundancy was over and above satisfying after the Adeptus had nearly shred him into Snezhnayan
mincemeat, “Return to Wangshu at once.”

Xiao bowed, low and remorseful, before giving Childe a farcically contrite look and vanishing in a
torrent of turquoise winds.

There was finally an opportunity for Childe to breathe properly, so he took it and relished in the
cool air that hit his lungs as he judiciously removed himself from the desk. Zhongli was already
stationed beside him, looking as if he urgently wanted to help but was deeply unsure of where
Childe was injured.

“Don’t fret, Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe chuckled ruefully before pulling his jacket off entirely.
Fragments of fabric clung to the clotted blood on his chest and shoulder and he hissed before
throwing the offensive piece of clothing to the floor. “It’s just a bunch of minor scrapes and
bruises.”

“Childe…”
 Childe raised a hand to stop the Archon before he could begin a cumbersome request for
forgiveness.

“There’s no need for your apologies, right now. All I need is a quick patch-up and I’ll be good as
new.” Childe lifted a finger to his cheek and cringed at the raised skin. “Hopefully this doesn't look
as bad as it feels.”

“No,” Zhongli shook his head, the picture of elegance in an office that looked as if it were
decimated by an Inazuman thunderstorm. “It… gives you character.”

Childe smiled, warm and unguarded. He couldn’t hide the fact he was pleased to see the Funeral
Consultant, even if he had burst into his office without permission.

And that was who Zhongli was, when they were alone in each other’s presence. He was Zhongli,
the Wangsheng Funeral Consultant, as well as Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon of Liyue.

Xiao had never seen Zhongli from every angle the way Childe had.

“How did you know?”

Zhongli’s face grew solemn. “I could sense Alatus’ presence in Liyue. He would never come here
on his own volition, unless perhaps the Traveler invited him, but this scenario seemed more likely.
I am extremely dismayed that I was, in fact, correct.”

A small beep resounded in the room from Childe’s desk, which was miraculously still in one, albeit
cracked, piece.

“Lord Harbinger,” Ekaterina’s voice on the other end of the line was scratchy and muffled. The
speaker cabling was assumingly deep-fried by Childe’s Delusion. “I sincerely apologize for this
interruption, but your next appointment has arrived.”

Childe glanced around his cataclysm of an office and at Zhongli’s beseeching, striking face.

Ekaterina voiced softly, “Shall I have you meet them in Meeting Room B in fifteen minutes?”

Fifteen minutes. Three less than it would take for Childe to find a change of clothes and dress his
wounds.

“Can we do Meeting Room C in twenty?”

A pause. “It will be arranged immediately, Lord Harbinger.”

Childe really knew how to pick his underlings.

Chapter End Notes

No matter who he fights, I clearly enjoy Childe being knocked onto his back...

Although this fic has continuity, I still like making certain chapters state Part I or Part
II to show that they immediately continue in the same timeline, as other chapters jump
a day or weeks ahead into new scenarios. In case you were wondering about that, this
is my reasoning. :)
P.S.A.: Work has picked up again, and updating every day may become unlikely, but
my goal is now every second day or so! I'm looking back now and am kind of shocked
at how much I was able to write and edit each day... it's amazing how inspired a
person can get from a red-headed bank machine and an attractive rock.

Also, I got 3 Rusts in a row yesterday and refined Childe's lovely weapon, and have
just been a very happy Genshin player recently. That is all.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments! <3

 Our Skewed Perceptions: Part II
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

“This is the greatest gift anyone could have given me.”

Childe was settled in a deep, hidden booth at the Liuli Pavillion, his disastrous workday finally
coming to an end an hour after the sun had set over the harbor. Before his afternoon consultations,
he hastily bandaged the wounds Xiao had inflicted all over his body and tallied the damage: four
punctures on each shoulder that still needed proper stitching, one cheek gash that forced Childe to
proclaim his battle shortcomings visibly to all of Liyue, a chest cut that would (hopefully) mend on
its own, and enough bruises to make Childe’s Electro Delusion meld into his skin like blending
paint. The clothes he had changed into were much looser than his usual grey and white uniformed
attire, so as to keep the material touching his dressings to a minimum.

Zhongli had wreaked much less havoc on Childe’s body during their one-on-one, the worst of it
coming from Childe’s own overuse of the Foul Legacy. It was obvious Xiao had intended to do
serious destruction.

Now, in the dimmed lanterns of the handsomely decorated Li-establishment, Childe could take a
moment to forget how feeble he felt when compared to the strength of the Adepti, and wash away
his frustrations from the office incident with some legitimate, invigorating Fire Water straight from
Snezhnaya.

“How did you even manage to acquire this?”

Zhongli sat across from Childe, their table lit by two fire lanterns and a freshly-cut arrangement of
Silk Flowers. It was in lavish places like this that Childe felt the most in control. His weighty bag
of Mora allowed him to order anything and everything to sate his palate, as well as Zhongli’s, and
after a day of feeling very much not in control, it was a heavenly respite.

That, and the fact Zhongli had managed to procure a bottle of his homeland’s liquor that Childe
hadn’t tasted in almost six months now. He was salivating just holding the bottle of crystal clear,
shimmering liquid.

Zhongli sat with his back straight and posed like an aristocrat, as if he owned the entire Liuli
Pavillion. Although, the more Childe thought about it, the more he realized that point could be
argued; it was built on his land, after all. The man’s hair fell in one soft wisp down his backside,
covering the frame of the Geo embellishments on his coat. His Cor Lapis eyes were flickering in
the candlelight, lifted into small curves.

“I’m glad you’re satisfied with the bottle. A man near the merchant market had stepped off a vessel
claiming to have returned with fine Snezhnayan goods, and I recalled you mentioning how you
preferred your nation’s liquor over the alcohols made in Liyue.”

Ah, the one night at Third-Round Knockout where Zhongli had observed Childe grumbling with
Morepesok nostalgia. Certainly not one of his proudest moments.

But if the result of that awkward happenstance led to this…

“Zhongli-xiansheng, you really put your impeccable memory to the best of uses,” Childe laughed
unabashedly as he twisted the top and heard the satisfying click and fizz of the Fire Water tasting
oxygen. The beautiful thing about Liuli Pavillion was that as long as the Mora was flowing,
clientele could enjoy their own drinks and party favors on the side. “I don’t even care if it was my
Mora that purchased it; is the merchant still stationed here? Could we buy a few bottles more?”

Zhongli gave Childe a quick upturn of the lips as if he had prepared for this specific question.

“I have procured several. Now you have a reserve.”

“Xiansheng!” Childe thought his heart had grown too large for his chest in that moment. It ached
with awful fierceness, making it hard to tell if Childe was simply ridiculously ecstatic or waiting
for some metaphorical ball to drop. “If you keep treating me this way, I’m going to get used to it.”

“Hmm,” the other man hummed in amusement as he sipped his Cassia wine and began working on
his Tianshu meat. Childe got busy pouring out his beloved Fire Water into the baijiu glasses
arranged near his plate, next to Zhongli’s busily drumming fingers on the tabletop. He had picked
up some nervous habits from somewhere, but it certainly wasn’t from Childe.

Zhongli had human tells in ways that Childe had perfected hiding.

Childe threw back his glass of Fire Water and relished in the sharp burn and tingling sensation as
the liquor warmed him from the inside out. A long, satisfied sound left his lips before he brought
the glass down to the counter, emptied and ready to be refilled.

“I know what this is, you know,” Childe was always good at reading the room, even if he never
appeared to be doing so, “And if this is apology liquor, then consider it done. Though I was never
angry at you to begin with. How about we just consider this a... thoughtful present?”

The poor Adeptus looked stricken; maybe Zhongli was hoping the gift (purchased with Childe’s
own wallet, no doubt) would help him forget all about the incident with Rex Lapis’ sole Yaksha.
Unfortunately, until Childe’s shoulders stopped throbbing and his face regained its less-swollen
shape, it was something that had to be brought up.

“He had no right or reason to come into your place of work and bring you harm.” Zhongli stated
gravely, “Alatus’ actions were out of line, and he should be the sole Adeptus to take responsibility
for those actions, yet I cannot help but feel as if I should take the blame.” The man paused to rub at
his temples, his gloves creasing the skin there. “Nothing would have happened if it weren’t for his
illogical overprotectiveness over my welfare.”

Childe wanted to laugh; if that was overprotectiveness, then he would hate to see what would
happen if someone actually managed to get the upper hand on Zhongli. Not that Childe could see
that happening anytime soon.

“Afraid of a little bad blood, are we?” Childe mustered after downing a second shot of Fire Water,
the heat in his stomach beginning to creep into his extremities. “Actually, I think your little Yaksha
and I could become good friends someday. Brothers in arms, even.”

The way Zhongli was staring at Childe made him wonder if he had an Electro Slime sitting on his
shoulder.

“I mean it,” Childe pointed his chopsticks across the table, and Zhongli narrowed his eyes at the
gesture; Childe sighed before placing the utensils down. “Although he’s more unrestrained than I
initially believed, we share some common ground. If I thought someone was threatening the
Tsaritsa, there aren’t many things I wouldn’t do to protect her from harm. A love for your Archon
is an undeniably powerful emotion.”
Something in Zhongli’s ochre eyes flashed. “Is it?”

“I would think you’d know,” Childe smirked, “Plus, it sounds like you two have a contract of some
sort.”

“Ah,” Zhongli cleared his throat, fingers laid out in his lap as he took his napkin and dabbed the
side of his mouth. Childe watched the precise action, gazing at where the fabric clung to the side of
his lip and pulled with the movements, “I believe you are referring to the Sigil of Protection order.”

There was a pause that lasted much too long.

He finally muttered, “…Think nothing of it; Alatus purely misinterpreted the situation.”

The Pavilion was bustling with latecomers; patrons were filling the tables around them with
fragrant perfumes of wine and the sizzling of frying delicacies wafted through the air. Hongru
could be seen diverting the larger groups of traffic away from the area where Childe and Zhongli
were convening; a smart server indeed. Childe never minded an audience, but Zhongli preferred
quieter settings for enjoying his meals.

Zhongli’s face paled when a dish full of some sort of tentacle meat waltzed by their table, making
Childe brighten. “Well then, please enlighten me on “said situation” so that if Xiao returns to finish
the job, I’ll at least have better understanding of why he wants to wring my neck.”

“Alatus would never push that far,” Zhongli stated with full confidence, although Childe had plenty
of doubts regarding said-statement. “No matter what he may have said, his contracts with me are
prioritized above all else.”

“Sure, sure…” Childe’s eyes wandered over to where Zhongli’s earring was catching the light,
glinting in a similar manner as the Archon’s eyes. “Go over the contract with me anyhow. The one
Xiao was all worked up about.”

Something about the way Zhongli’s face twisted into one that screamed of discomfort told Childe
that Xiao may not have been completely in the wrong.

“The protective seal I discussed with you at the Dwelling in the Stone,” Zhongli began, “can send
signals to the Adepti, should it sense that a treasure has left its rightful place. It does not
differentiate between being moved or stolen; once the Adepti hear its call, they can either choose to
ignore it or investigate. Most of the Adepti understand that I do not need their assistance with
something so trivial. In fact, the sigil was put in place to form a lasting connection with the Adepti,
more than as an actual obligation.”

“So Xiao just enjoys going above and beyond for you,” Childe laughed into his hotpot, “but
Zhongli-xiansheng, I meant it when I told him I didn’t take a thing with me that day. If your sigil
mistook me for a member of your treasure collection, then it must be defective.”

A covered hand poured Childe more of his beloved Fire Water; Zhongli was doing the decanting,
filling his baijiu glass until the liquid kissed the rim.

“I believe that was my oversight.” Zhongli waited until Childe had tilted his head back to down his
shot to continue, when Childe was feeling more than a little warm with the heaviness of home and
good drink. “You see, when I had awoken to your presence, I may have marked you without
grasping the complications.”

The Fire Water had only just hit Childe’s gullet when he began choking, painfully, on the
scorching liquid. He thumped on his chest a few times, while Zhongli had stood up in a show of
moral support and not much else.

This Archon was truly an utter blockhead.

“You what?” Childe sputtered, still coughing up flames and suffering from a face redder than his
hair, “How do you unintentionally do that?”

“I was practically unconscious,” Zhongli’s brows snapped together into an irritated grimace, “and
in a weakened state. I didn’t think Alatus would make the assumption that you had taken
something from the dwelling…”

“Wait, wait,” Childe had finally gotten some oxygen back, although he knew his face would
remain the vivid color of a Sunsettia for some time, “So when Xiao was following the traces of
your possessions, he was just following me? Xiansheng, you need to fix this. I’m a walking target
for every Adeptus in Liyue.”

“I have already destroyed the seal,” the man looked so ashamed it was hard to stay mad, when his
entire face was puckered as if he had just swallowed a lemon, “I wasn’t fully aware of it until
Alatus brought it up.”

Childe was having difficulty catching his breath, and it could have been the choking fit or the fresh
realization that Childe had been openly marked like an X-marks-the-spot by an Archon other than
his own, that was making his heartbeat so sporadic. The buzzing in his blood had returned with a
force that made his fingers tremble.

Why would Zhongli make such a mistake? That made it sound as if Childe were his property,
which was already insinuating something that made Childe’s fight-or-flight kick in at hyper speed;
would Zhongli even come to that same sort of conclusion? The Archon was ancient, after all, and
an Adeptus beast…maybe it was some eccentric territorial instinct that came from entering the
dwelling without regard for friend or foe or…

Childe’s face turned a ghastly shade of white.

What if Zhongli’s seal had been detected by the Tsaritsa?

“Childe.”

Zhongli’s voice cut through Childe’s torrent of thought; his gaze was earnest and steady, an anchor
to keep Childe from the frightening rabbit hole he was set to spiral down. He looked as if he
wanted to reach across the table for something, but kept his gloved hands in his lap. “Please do not
be concerned with the implications; I promise you, it was a misstep, and no one besides Xiao
knows anything of it.” Zhongli’s mouth was downturned and distraught. “I would never purposely
put claim upon a person like a tyrant.”

For some reason, his words both made Childe feel better and a little bit worse.

“You are a well-respected confidante, and I could never do anything to put you into harm’s way
involving your Cryo Archon, or purposefully endanger you here in Liyue.” Zhongli slanted his
head towards Childe in a remorseful bow. “Please accept my sincerest apologies. I don’t believe I
will be able to finish my meal if you are angry with me.”

Childe drew his lower lip between his teeth; damn Zhongli’s honesty and how easy it was for him
to look perfectly remorseful. It really poked a hole in his frustration over the blunder. There wasn’t
all that much that the man couldn’t get away with when he made a face like that.
“Oh, so now I’m your well-respected confidante, huh?” Childe yearned to flick a noodle across the
table at the Funeral Consultant, but held onto his self-control. “I know you call me a rascal behind
my back.”

The relief that flooded Zhongli’s face was palpable. His forehead smoothed and his eyebrows
relaxed, back into his usual calm, content visage.

The Ex-Archon then had the nerve to laugh. “You are one, from time to time.”

Childe attempted to continue his meal in relative normalcy, finishing his hot pot by using only his
chopsticks for once (Zhongli would claim he had used them as miniature shovels, but a triumph
was a triumph no matter how it was won), until another, much more dreadful thought entered his
head.

“Is that why Xiao stopped his assault?” The blush that had finally abated climbed up Childe’s neck
once again, like an ascent to the tip of Dragonspine, “Because he realized…”

“I already spoke with him, everything has been cleared up,” Zhongli, in all his inarticulate
splendor, actually gave Childe a single pat on the shoulder from across the table. It was the
sincerest physical gesture Childe had ever received from the man, and even though it made him
feel like he was being comforted by a boulder, it was enough to make Childe’s mouth twitch into a
half-smile. “Let us put this behind us and order the next course.”

Zhongli seemingly thought that earning a clear conscience meant that dinner should be elevated to
a seventeen-course banquet. Childe supposed that if they were already dining at Liuli, then a
lengthy bill was to be expected. Besides, he needed more food to keep up with the spirits he was
downing every few bites.

Fast-forward to an hour later, when the moon was high in the sky and set the restaurant alight with
pale streaks of moonlight, and Childe’s side of the table was scattered with half-eaten plates of
sticky fried rice, roasted honey fowl and steamed peach buns. Laying amongst the dishes was
Childe’s forehead, nearly glued to the countertop, while his Fatui mask was pushed to the top of
his head like a peculiar hat. The bottle of Fire Water was perched unsteadily by his hair: not a drop
was left within the container.

Although Zhongli’s side had a few empty glasses of wine, along with cleared plates piled up neatly
in the corner, the man looked perfectly composed.

“My face hurts,” Childe whined from the stone tabletop, “You’re a liar, xiansheng. This cut
doesn’t add character; all it did was give me a nasty pulse under my eye.”

Zhongli wore a slight grin from where he loomed above Childe, and at this perspective, Childe
could see just how sharp the Archon’s cheekbones were, like they were carved from stone.

“Ha, from stone,” Childe chuckled quietly under his breath.

“I believe you’ve had enough for tonight,” Zhongli pronounced, and Childe thought it sounded
fond. “Would you like to go home? I will escort you.”

Childe tched. His breath was fogging up the table as he sighed.

“Can you feel the effects of alcohol at all?” Lifting up his head felt like a mighty achievement;
Childe looked Zhongli dead in the eyes, “Or do you just have an ungodly tolerance?”

Zhongli’s eyes gleamed with mirth. “I believe I simply have a high tolerance. An old ally of mine
with an unhealthy obsession with liquor once told me that being the Geo Archon had its perks, if it
meant that my organs were impermeable to the whims of alcohol.”

Childe’s mouth twisted into a frown.

“A friend…who knows you’re the Geo Archon?” The words left a bitter taste in his mouth. “Are
they mortal?”

A pause. Zhongli was thinking something over, before speaking softly, with a hint of annoyance.
“They certainly take pleasure in acting like it.”

“Mmm?” Childe was extremely interested in this so-called immortal friend Zhongli had, but was
unfortunately unable to find the proper words as his tongue felt heavier than the damp sands by the
shore. “So do you. You’re acting mortal right now.”

There was a lull in their conversation before Zhongli exhaled, and Childe couldn’t stop noticing
how relaxed his face was in the lights of the lanterns, watching between the silk flowers as he
replied, “With you, being human does not feel like an act.” His eyes glowed bright and captivating.
There was a small glimpse of teeth between his lips, which were split into a growing smile, and the
night’s stillness was broken by the sound of a sincere chuckle, “When it is just you and I, I am only
me.”

Something welled up inside of Childe, and the buzzing that had plagued him for the last few weeks
intensified with it; the result came pouring out in a fit of floundered words.

“You can call me Ajax,” he spluttered, eyes never leaving that warm, serene face, “When we’re
alone. Instead of my formal honorific. I know you’ve grown used to calling me Childe, xiansheng,
but…”

Zhongli’s eyes widened a fraction. It was difficult to tell what the man was thinking, but Childe
thought he was getting quite good at reading him; the tiniest hint of color had seeped into his
cheeks. Hopefully that was a positive response, because otherwise, Childe would be walking
himself straight off the pier.

“Ajax…” Zhongli tested it out on his tongue and it sounded just as natural and comforting as it had
that day in Childe’s office when he had been writing letters back home to the only others who had
the privilege to use that name. “I am happy to use it…if you are sure.”

The Fire Water saturating Childe in a sensation of calm detachment must have been amplifying the
giddiness he was feeling. It didn’t make any sense for a name to hold such value when coming
from the other man’s lips, but luckily, Childe was too heady to care.

“Very sure. You should feel special, xiansheng. I can count the number of people who are
permitted to use that name on one hand.” Childe raised his fingers and counted. “…Maybe two
hands, now.”

Another grin split the Archon’s face, and Childe was quickly losing count of the number of times
he’d looked forward to being the reason for it.

The smile never wavered. “Then I will hold it dear.”

Hongru had quietly walked by their table and slid the cheque underneath Childe’s napkin, where
Childe lifted it to glance at the total. It was just as substantial as he had thought, maybe more.

Good thing he had money to spare, whenever it came to the Funeral Consultant’s exclusive tastes.
“Whenever you’re ready, sir,” Hongru bowed and left the booth as Childe ruffled through his loose
jacket to find his coin pouch. He worked quite hard to avoid moving his injuries too much, but the
numbness attributed to his liquor intake had made Childe less aware of just what was hurting
where; only a moment after retrieving his Mora from his deep inner pocket did the Harbinger feel
wetness prickling his shoulder.

“Chi…” Zhongli was lightning quick, already standing over him and peering at a spot near
Childe’s neck that he couldn’t see; it must have been where the blood was dribbling, “Ajax. Your
wound is bleeding again.”

Ajax. Ajax.

“Ugh, xiansheng, give me time to get used to it first,” Childe moaned as he plopped the heavy sack
of coins onto the center of the table. Like a specter, Hongru appeared behind them and gave them
each an appreciative fist-and-palm salute.

“Thank you for your patronage, as always, Childe and Mr. Zhongli.”

Ever the gentleman, Zhongli saluted back, “The food was impeccable as always. Thank you for
your services.” He spun on his heel and motioned to the door. “We should take care of your
wounds immediately; we can stop at my apartment. I still have many of the salves and antibiotics
from your burn blisters that would also be suitable for gashes.”

Childe snorted. Of course he did. He had no energy left to put up a fight, however, and the lights of
the restaurant had grown excruciatingly bright, so Childe accepted Zhongli’s offer. He moderately
steered them two blocks north, to the familiar red cupola that covered the entrance to Zhongli’s
apartment. The temperature outside was still balmy and humid, even with the slight night chill, and
Childe could already feel some of his bandages slipping. The cuts near his neck were burning with
the familiar sting of sweat collecting near the wounds.

“I’ll just borrow some fresh compresses and get out of your hair,” Childe leaned his weight on the
railing as he followed Zhongli to the upper level. There was a soft click as Zhongli pushed open the
door and ushered Childe inside. “I just realized, xiansheng. I’ve been to two of your homes in the
last week. Have you chosen to adopt this lost Snezhnayan puppy?”

Childe was in a very good mood, and although the day was emotionally and physically tumultuous,
a warm night and good alcohol were prime cures for ailments of the mind.

Zhongli didn’t respond, but Childe swore he heard a small snort from the man in front of him.

The small residence above the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was well-kept and simple, minus the
large cabinets that surrounded the main entrance where Zhongli accumulated the majority of his
finds from Liyue Harbor. There were ones dedicated to dried flowers, plaques and minerals, crafted
pottery and sculptures, as well as jewels, fans, fabrics and collector’s antiques. Many of the
valuables Childe recognized from various outings; he could undoubtedly provide the receipts for
more than half of the amassed collection.

At least Zhongli appreciated the items Childe bought him indirectly.

“You get very spirited after drinking,” Zhongli noted good-naturedly before heading into a separate
room, most likely where he kept the pharmaceuticals, “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back
shortly.”

The room spun slightly as Childe seated himself on a silken pillow by a short-inlaid table, leaning
his body across it. The Fire Water was just as potent as he remembered; no matter how much food
he had engorged himself with, Childe was still left with wobbly limbs and a loose tongue.

Times like these were rare; Harbingers needed their guards to be up at all times. Their senses could
seldom be dulled, as being some of the most hated members of an already detested organization
came with enemies flocking by the dozens. Childe was eternally up to his neck with people
wanting him dead or those who sought to use him for their wealth and ranking.

Perhaps the most detestable of all, though, were the other Harbingers themselves. Childe knew that
if La Signora, or worse, Il Dottore, were to discover him like this, exposed and intoxicated, they
would waste no time in trying to take away his favor and burying him six-feet deep in the
Snezhnayan snow.

Within the four walls of Zhongli’s home, however, Childe allowed himself to breathe.

The room smelled like sandalwood and Silk Flowers; it was woodsy and balsamic, the scent
perforating through every corner of the apartment. It smelled just like Zhongli, when he was close
enough to Childe that he could catch a hint on the other man’s hair or clothes. It weighed Childe
down with the familiar, powerful fragrance of strength and reprieve.

“Here.” A damp cloth was pressed into Childe’s open fist on the table. Had he been dozing off?
The Adeptus hadn’t made a peep once he reentered the room.

Zhongli plunked down a few jars of yellow and white pastes, along with a slim bottle of clear
liquid. Alongside them was a needle and thread. “I would prefer if we closed your wounds properly
so that they do not open again.” The man kneeled next to him, observing where the bloodied gauze
was now affixing to Childe’s previously white shirt. Another piece of clothing ruined.

“I can do it,” Childe murmured, already in the process of lifting his top above his head. He placed
it to the side and savored the chill of Zhongli’s home on his skin; a light sheen of sweat had formed
on his back and chest from the alcohol. Fire Water or none, Childe could still do something as
basic as stitching a cut while drunk; he certainly wasn’t an amateur.

The needle was snatched up from the table just as Childe was reaching for it, making his eyebrows
furrow; he pouted at Zhongli, who was staring at a fixed point on the wall instead of meeting his
eyes. The Funeral Consultant’s face was strangely reserved. “I…can do it for you. The incisions
are in difficult locations.”

“You never struck me as someone who could be eaten up by guilt,” Childe yielded, leaning his
back over the table. He stretched out his torso and neck so that it would be easier for Zhongli to
curb the hooked end through the thinner parts of his trapezius, where a specific claw had rested for
one painful second too long, “But if you insist, xiansheng.”

It was almost a full minute before Zhongli hesitantly placed an ungloved hand on Childe’s bare
arm and positioned himself properly to begin peeling back the old dressing. His fingers were
extremely gentle, just as they were when he had tended to Childe’s blisters, only this time they
were in Zhongli’s home, and Childe was woozy with a heavy buzz and drooping eyelids. He felt
almost nothing as the other man silently took the cloth and dabbed at the dried blood, which had
made its way as far down as Childe’s upper rib. The cooling sensation made him sigh.

“Is this alright?” Zhongli whispered, and Childe hummed as a go-ahead. If this had been happening
sober, he was sure self-consciousness would have taken hold; openly accepting aid in such a state
was usually unpleasant, especially for Childe.
Baring himself to Zhongli, as well as his limitations, came much easier than it had previously at
the docks. It must have been the Fire Water; that enchanted drink solved all problems.

“You’re a pro at this. I don’t feel a thing.”

“You bear copious old wounds,” Zhongli noted quietly, as if his own voice would break his
concentration, “I do not believe I have met many others who could boast this number of battle
scars.”

“Ha,” Childe knew that his honed and blemished body, when compared to his youthful and
misleadingly innocent face, made for an interesting contrast. He tried to ignore the way Zhongli’s
hair was tickling his cheek as he brought his face close to clear away any leftover clots stuck to his
skin, “Is that a compliment, Zhongli-xiansheng?”

He hadn’t even given a thought to how Zhongli would perceive him; Zhongli’s skin was porcelain
smooth and without a flaw in sight. He could be molded to stay that way for eternity, unlike
Childe, who was born with one body for life. His drawbacks and training would remain on his skin
as reminders until the day he died. His old master within the Abyss had deemed scars “poetic,” in a
sense, because of their ability to tell stories which spoke to those who understood the language of
war.

If scars were suggestive of poetry, then Childe’s body could wax a considerable epic.

“Not exactly,” he murmured before Childe felt a sharp sting glance his shoulder; Zhongli had
applied alcohol across the cuts and bid a soft apology before threading the needle, “It needs to be
said again; I am sorry... Ajax.”

If it weren't for the fact Childe was sick of hearing Zhongli apologize, he would have been
overwhelmed with hearing his birth name from the man's lips for the second time tonight. “What
are you sorry for now?”

Childe gnashed his teeth as slight, tender pressure weaved its way through the base of his shoulder.
Zhongli set a smooth, steady pace as he stitched back and forth through the first few incisions; then
before Childe could even brace himself for the final suture, the needle had already moved on.
“Alatus has only furthered your collection of mutilations, and now you need to endure this as
well.”

The air grew heavy in the room, and Childe found himself needing to break the mood.

“But xiansheng, it was worth it, just for the Fire Water alone! It felt like a reward for fighting off
your guard dog.”

Even though it was obvious Zhongli disliked the nickname, he generously let it slide.

“You should tell me about some of these…” he spoke reverently, as if the scars on Childe’s back
and sides were mysteries he had yet to solve, “I would like to know their histories.”

That sounded an awful lot like I want to get to know you better to Childe’s alcohol-infringed mind,
but whether it was from Zhongli’s own natural curiosities surrounding others or just a distinct
interest in Childe, it still had him smiling through the last few sutures.

The tiny, much too-honest voice that hid away deep in Childe’s head always managed to creep into
his mind at the worst of times, when his guard was lowest; now, in the darkness of Zhongli’s
comforting living space, while the man virtually held him and cautiously tended to his wounds
with enough strength behind those careful fingers to carve a new continent, and Childe had the
 opportunity to bask in the warmth of drunken contentment and precious security, he heard it
whisper:

You’re no match for this man.

Childe couldn’t figure out in what way the voice was referring to, but a tiny part of him agreed.

Chapter End Notes

Any excuse to have Zhongli cleaning up a shirtless, wounded Childe. I am weak.

Also, I know so many of you were hoping for a more possessive Zhongli, but I
couldn't rightfully make him claim Childe without getting OOC. Zhongli is very much
for others making their own decisions and having their own beliefs; take the fact he's
friends with Childe in the first place, or how he admires Keqing's independent
thinking. He wouldn't do that to Childe unless Childe openly wanted it.

And my slow burn dictates none of that will happen. Yet. Maybe.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Next update will be tomorrow or Friday!
I have a con this weekend which might change some scheduling (I wish I had a
Zhongli cosplay, but alas, I'm re-wearing my Luo Binghe out of brokeness), but
otherwise, I hope you all have been enjoying so far. Your comments have made me a
very happy writer. <3
 The Price of Uncertainty
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

It was another scorching day under the Liyuan sun, where the majority of the populace hustling
within the harbor city found their way to the docks for some quick shopping and a taste of the
ocean breeze. Even though the inner-city streets were less compact when the heat coiled up from
the air in muggy waves, the lunch hour at Wangmin Restaurant remained consistently busy; Childe
had pulled up a chair at the far-end of the dining area, where he was joined by none other than the
Traveler and their hovering, talkative companion.

It was purely by coincidence that Childe had been skimming through the seaside market, once
again searching for something unique and eye-catching to make a certain Funeral Consultant light
up with interest and spew enough facts to fill a bulletin board, before he spotted a familiar face
amongst the crowd.

“Well, look who it is,” Childe slithered his way through the throngs of people until he saw only
blonde hair and bright, golden eyes staring back at him. Paimon let out a shrill eeek! once she
realized who was casting the tall shadow blocking their path, “If it isn’t the all-powerful Traveler
and their floating toy.”

“Who are you calling a toy?” Paimon squealed, “And what are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you
be off plotting some evil in another city?” She tumbled through the air, huffing dramatically, “First
you try and tear us apart looking like an Electro-powered supervillain, then you use us as glorified
babysitters! If you think we’re going to fall for another one of your schemes…”

“I was just planning to head over to Wanmin for a short lunch break,” Childe smirked, “Care to
join me? It’s my treat.”

Paimon’s eyes grew comically large on her tiny frame.

“You’re buying?!”

She was easily convinced, for an otherworldly creature.

Their food came incredibly quick; although Xiangling was absent from the restaurant, Chef Mao
never disappointed with his fusions on classical dishes, creating flavors that were contemporary
and unique. That was most likely where Xiangling got her knack for trying new things with her
cooking.

Childe knew that Zhongli enjoyed coming here most when it was the young, talented prospect chef
working the kitchen, but since he had his hands full with consultant errands around the harbor
today, Childe thought he would enjoy Chef Mao’s food on his own.

“I’m always happy to see old faces,” he speared a forkful of Squirrel Fish, thankfully using his
Western utensils while he could without getting a lecture on how to properly enjoy Liyuan
gastronomy, “Especially exceptional ones, such as yourselves. I have a tiny sliver of free time after
this; what do you say? Care for a quick spar?” His eyes narrowed acutely. It was impossible for
Childe to hide his drive for a good fight. “I promise I’ve grown much stronger.”

“Don’t you ever know when to quit…” Paimon sighed before shoveling a Minty Meat Roll into her
chubby cheeks, “We’re here doing a very important mission, not that we’ll tell you what it is! Like
we have time to entertain you…”

Childe chose to forcibly ignore the fact that they were, currently, entertaining him by having lunch
in his company. Even if he was paying, but still. It was a touch hypocritical.

“Keep your secrets, then,” Childe’s whole face lit up, “Tell me about your travels! I heard you
went to Inazuma—I plan on heading there next, when I can. There’s a very interesting island there
crawling with battle that looks like my cup of tea.”

The Traveler smiled graciously before delving into details about their excursions on the island,
leaving out diplomatic details that Childe could have possibly used for the Fatui’s advantage. They
really were too clever for their own good. Paimon interjected at points that were particularly
exciting, with the monsters were so strong, but we always won the glory! Whenever the Traveler
took a minute to breathe.

It was an entertaining meeting, to say the least. Childe was so wrapped up in their ventures that he
almost missed the sight of a man in a long, embroidered coat, too-hot for the boiling sun, being
shadowed by a young woman in traditional Liyuan attire.

Zhongli hovered at a storefront nearby, surveying a window of enameled clay teapots and colorful
ceramics while the woman with him copied down something as he spoke. She hung on his every
word with rapt attention, and the unspoken fondness stamped all over her face made Childe grip
his cup a little too tightly; a low crack sounded from the glass.

Was this woman an employee at Wangsheng? She must have been; her clothing was dark and
uniformly, and Zhongli was clearly on the hunt for something work-related, judging by how his
eyes took on a professional hue of rich amber instead of the lively glow from personal pursuits.

Not that Childe could recognize the difference all that well.

“Uh, Childe?” The floating spirit was still circling the Traveler’s shoulders, even while eating a
meal. She watched him curiously, “You feeling okay? Your face went from all friendly and smiley
to looking like you’re ready to pull out your bow and—” she made an action as if arrows were
shooting from her fingers, “pew pew pew!”

“Completely fine,” he responded quickly, releasing the glass and using his meal as a decoy,
“Sometimes I get lost in thought when the food’s this good, is all. Would you like more?”

Paimon’s eyes went starry. “Um, of course!”

Childe kept an eye on Zhongli as he took care in consulting with various shopkeepers around the
restaurant, consistently trailed by the woman with the notepad. They were racking up a significant
number of objects and soon the number of bags in Zhongli’s hands outnumbered the stores on the
street. The woman appeared to offer him some assistance, but he smiled politely and declined,
before heading off to an herb and flower shop and disappearing behind their shop curtain. The
woman picked up speed and followed hastily behind, but stopped outside the store to count
something written on her notepad with a perplexed, albeit smiling, expression.

She looked as if she were enjoying her day out with the Funeral Consultant.

“Say, Traveler,” Childe spoke up before pointing across the street to the woman in the black qipao,
“Do you know who that is?”

The Traveler nodded before Paimon interrupted, as usual, “That’s the Ferrylady from Wangsheng
Funeral Parlor!” Ah, so she was a coworker, “It’s strange to see her out during the day, though;
she doesn’t talk to many people, and usually holes up in the parlor to avoid making contact with
family members of the deceased…you better not be planning to do something fishy to the nice
Undertaker…Childe?”

Zhongli had exited the stall with a large bag of what looked like seeds and fresh herbs. In his other
hand, however, was a single Windwheel Aster, which was a rare and uncommon flower to find in
the land of Liyue. Those flowers yearned for windy lands such as that of Mondstadt, so the single
stem must have cost a pretty penny, even for the one. He strode closer to the Ferrylady and went
over the contents of the bags, which she copied down in a furious haste, before handing her the
bright orange blossom with a serene smile on his face.

Childe could read Zhongli’s lips from all the way at the back of the restaurant.

“For you.”

“Childe! Stop trying to break the dishes!”

“What?” Childe stared down at the table; how had he managed to crack a glass and a bowl? He
wasn’t even conscious of the action that led to part of his fish being flung onto the floor. “Oh.
Oops.”

“Oops?!” Paimon had too loud a voice for such a tiny body, “You’re acting so weird, but then
again, what else is new…Oh, look! Isn’t that Mr. Zhongli?”

Childe’s whole body stiffened as the Traveler moved their eyes from Childe to look over their
shoulder, where Zhongli was conversing with a very red and flustered Ferrylady. She was holding
the flower as if it were so delicate it would break in the breeze. “Would you look at that…it sure
is.”

Paimon squealed. “We need to say hi! Mr. Zhongli!” She waved both of her teeny hands up and
down and spun through the air, grabbing the attention of every patron in the area, including one
with a set of Cor Lapis eyes. Childe wanted to shoot her down like a duck. “Over here!”

Zhongli’s eyes met with Childe’s; his lips parted in surprise before he began making his way down
the street. The Ferrylady, without delay, followed behind him.

“Did we really need to call him over?” Childe groaned and covered his eyes with his hands. He
didn’t need to be caught in the act of openly ogling Zhongli on some sort of work/date/outing like a
prowler. What was he getting all worked up for, anyhow? Zhongli was a charming, intellectual
man; of course fellow beautiful and smart individuals would be caught up in his charisma.

Zhongli was also free to hand out thoughtful gifts to his colleagues without Childe acting like it
went against some kind of unspoken contract.

Paimon made a yapping sound reminiscent of an angry crow. “Oh, come on, Childe! Don’t tell me
you two aren’t on speaking terms. Mr. Zhongli told us that you still had friendly meals together,
even after the whole ‘I tried to destroy all of Liyue just to get the Geo Archon to crawl out from
hiding and set an ancient god free that nearly drowned the whole harbor’…actually, you know
what, maybe calling him over wasn’t such a great idea.”

“Childe,” Zhongli greeted him first and foremost before stopping at the front of the table, the many
bags on his arms weighing him down, “and the Traveler with Paimon, what a pleasant surprise. It’s
good to see you are still happy to partake in all that Liyue has to offer.”

“It’s great to see you, too!” Paimon was useful for moments where Childe wasn’t really sure what
to say, and when the Traveler chose to just smile sunnily at everyone instead of speaking, “What
are you two up to this afternoon? Ah! That’s a lot of bags, Mr. Zhongli! Did you finally remember
to bring Mora with you, after all this time!?”

Zhongli’s expression turned sheepish as he glimpsed over to the Ferrylady, who flushed and shook
her head.

“These expenses will be forwarded to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor,” the Ferrylady spoke, and
Childe noted that her voice was crisp and frustratingly pleasant, “Director Hu Tao usually takes
care of it…”

Childe felt a twinge of relief, knowing that Zhongli wasn’t out spending his Fatui-earned Mora on
gifts for pretty ladies during work hours.

Not that it should bother him, because damnit, it shouldn’t. He shouldn’t care about something this
trivial. It was a flower! A literal piece of stalk and leaf that some people find value in, even though
Childe would never see the appeal of something so weak and fragile. The things he liked were
usually incredibly strong, resilient and typically dangerous.

Zhongli had given him Fire Water just a little while ago. That was a thoughtful gift, filled with
consideration for Childe’s likes and dislikes, as well as something that could be cherished for
longer than a puny flower, which would die imminently in this gods-forsaken heat.

Zhongli could give anyone anything they desired. It couldn’t be that special.

It was just a flower.

“Oh, look! Is that a Windwheel Aster? Aren’t those from Mondstadt?” Never mind; Paimon was
anything but useful. She was as good as a glittery, oversized gnat, “It’s so nice to see one of those
all the way across the continent!”

The Ferrylady beamed and held out the flower closer to the table, which Childe was leaning
heavily away from. Even from his seat, though, the wafting, refreshing fragrance of the blossom
filled the air.

“Mr. Zhongli is incredibly kind,” she enthused, “He’s made it a habit to give me a flower
whenever we do our rounds for the Funeral Parlor. I am always extremely grateful for his
courtesy.”

Childe could feel eyes boring into the side of his head; he peeked up and saw Zhongli watching
him with a confounded face. The man had placed his assorted bags onto the ground around his feet
and came closer, which was exactly what Childe didn’t want, because now he could only smell the
heady warmth of sandalwood and the hint of sweetness from Silk Flowers.

“I believe that your steadfastness when keeping up with the financial aspects of our excursions
deserves some form of return,” Zhongli replied in his logical, scholarly tone, “You work very hard,
and rarely take time for yourself; hopefully the flower of wind and freedom will remind you to take
a moment and enjoy life’s splendors, however short and fleeting those delights may be.”

His words were so lyrical and skillfully spoken that the entire table seemed to sigh with
appreciation, sans Childe, who sighed in defeat.

“Childe?” Zhongli was staring at him now with all of his focus, while the Traveler asked the
Ferrylady about any new spiritual events around Liyue, “You seem irritated by something. Have
your wounds been bothering you?”
A sliver of guilt made its way into Childe’s heart. “No, not at all, xiansheng. They’re healing
perfectly.” He brought his gaze down to the bags before continuing, “I couldn’t help but notice you
before you approached; have you been enjoying your day with the Ferrylady?”

The sun overhead was blinding, and Zhongli’s many scales covering his coat weren’t helping
Childe’s vision. The light bounced off of each embellishment like he was wearing a fabric coated in
gemstones. Even through the blinding lights, however, Childe could see that Zhongli was
pondering something.

“It was uneventful, but I do take satisfaction in looking through shops for treasures to deem worthy
enough to be used in funeral offerings or as tokens to the afterlife,” he responded before picking up
the single fork left on the table in front of Childe’s cracked bowl. Zhongli was too observing, him
and his godly acuity; Childe cringed when Zhongli’s eyes tapered into betrayed slits, “I see that
you are still avoiding the use of proper Liyuan utensils when I am not present. I gifted you a pair of
chopsticks in the hopes you would practice, and yet I have rarely seen them used.”

“Zhongli-xiansheng, cut me some slack. Sometimes I want to eat without a struggle.” Paimon was
zooming around the table, narrating something to the Ferrylady; probably another fierce battle
rendition, only the woman appeared frightened instead of impressed with the theatrics. Childe
politely didn’t say that he was the one who had purchased the chopsticks for Zhongli to then just
be gifted back, like some sort of ironic, phoenix-and-tiger crested joke. “That was very nice of you,
to buy the beautiful lady a flower. It’s almost as lovely as she is.”

The way Zhongli’s lips twisted told Childe he was more than confused, now, and that was alright.
A baffled Zhongli was one who was unaware of Childe acting like a resentful four-year-old whose
best friend just went off to play with someone new.

“She is indeed an agreeable person,” he observed, most likely unsure as to why they were
discussing the attributes of the woman when she was standing right next to them; the Ferrylady
was still lost in conversation with a giggling Traveler and a Paimon who was pretending to dangle
from a cliff by using the edge of the table as a prop, “who is also very patient with me while I
peruse.”

I’m patient with you, too, Childe thought senselessly. “She sounds like a person who would be nice
to have around.”

Whatever conclusion Zhongli came to from their half-worded conversation, it made his eyebrows
rise and then humorously squeeze all within the same second.

“Do you…” he took a moment to voice his confusion verbally, for Childe’s sake, “want me to
properly introduce you two? She does not have many friends; perhaps it would be good for her.”
He chuckled quietly. “Although, some would consider you a suspicious friend to keep.”

Childe should have known that being crafty would get him nowhere, when it came to someone as
straightforward as the Geo Archon. He wanted to slap his hands over his face and wait for the
embarrassment of the conversation to end; providentially, Paimon chose that moment to reintegrate
them into the conversation.

“You two sure are getting along curiously well…” she tapped an inquiring, tiny finger against her
chin, “I wonder how you managed that, after everything…then again, Mr. Zhongli gets along well
with basically everyone!”

“Except Director Hu Tao,” the Ferrylady looked exhausted bringing up the overexcited, young
Funeral Director, “I’ve never seen Mr. Zhongli’s patience wane further than when they are alone in
a room together for too long.”

Zhongli nodded sagely, and Childe wondered how trying one would have to be in order to get on
Zhongli’s bad list, if even he, the Eleventh Harbinger, was dining with him on weeknights.

“We should return to the Parlor soon,” Zhongli gazed at the sun in the sky as if it were his own
pocket watch, precisely telling him the time, “but it was a pleasure running into you. Childe, I will
be seeing you soon?” Amber eyes gleamed, awaiting a response.

“Of course,” he responded automatically, “See you, xiansheng.”

Zhongli sent him a warm smile before picking up all of the bags strung about on the floor and
striding back towards the street, still the image of elegance even with pounds upon pounds of
baggage clinging to his limbs. The Ferrylady gave a short bow before uttering, “I need to make a
quick purchase from Chef Mao for Hu Tao’s meals, so Mr. Zhongli, you go on ahead. I will only
be a few minutes longer.”

Zhongli turned to give her a quick nod, his eyes captivating and earnest. No wonder the Ferrylady
couldn’t keep her cheek color in check. “Take your time.”

The Adeptus strode into the crowds of people in the market street, disappearing from view. Once
the glistening of his Geo patterns vanished, Childe made his move.

“Excuse me for a moment,” he pushed away from the table and flipped his crimson scarf over his
shoulder, nearly thwacking Paimon across the face.

“Hey!” she squeaked, but Childe was busy plotting, and the Traveler’s toy wasn’t going to get in
the way of him gaining some priceless insight. Childe scurried over to the counter of the restaurant
where the Ferrylady was gathering a bag of flour, shrimp and tofu. Her dry demeanor didn’t change
once she noticed Childe sidling up to her, leaning on the wall by the food stall.

“Hello, Mr. Childe,” she said briefly, an eyebrow somewhat raised, “Is there something you need?
Mr. Zhongli headed off, but you may be able to catch up with him.”

Childe grinned with what he anticipated was a decently cordial smile and not a carnivorous one,
before laughing, “No, actually, it’s you who I wanted to have a word with.” The Windwheel Aster
was poking out of her small purse, still a bright orange splotch in Childe’s vision.

The Ferrylady shared the same confused expression Zhongli had worn. “Oh? What’s wrong?”

Childe’s expression grew vindictive. It was very hard to take Tartaglia out of the game when
Childe wanted nothing more than to cross-examine this poor, innocent woman. He was really
beginning to worry about his rationality, whenever Zhongli was involved. “I just couldn’t help but
notice your loving expression towards the Funeral Consultant when he gifted you that flower,”
Childe pointed at the blossom, while the Ferrylady’s face lit up like a flame, “and was feeling
curious; how is your relationship with the man?”

Childe might as well have stamped a sign on his forehead that read “I Enjoy Overstepping,” but he
was clutched by that infernal buzzing again, and it was telling him to clarify the situation before
the buzzing turned into the full-on need to battle the closest person worth fighting in the vicinity.

The Traveler better have come prepared.

“Um…oh,” the woman was so flustered she couldn’t close the lip of her flour bag, and so Childe
kindly fixed it for her, “I admire him very much. He is knowledgeable about all things, really, and
there is so much I can learn from him.”

None of that sounded like what Childe was hunting for, so he pushed further.

“Oh, yes, he is incredibly brilliant,” Childe nodded and placed some Mora on the table before the
Ferrylady had an opportunity to pay, making her stutter, “smart, handsome and kind...”

Perhaps he was getting a little too carried away.

His goading appeared to lead to a revelation; the Ferrylady spoke pensively, “So much so that once
you’ve entangled with him, he’s hard to stay away from.”

Childe’s mouth twitched. He knew exactly what she meant.

“But Mr. Childe, you really don’t need to—”

Childe handed her the bags of groceries with a smile akin to that of a fox.

“It’s my pleasure. So, about Zhongli-xiansheng, is there any possibility that you may have an
underlying motive for wanting to be near him, perhaps some unrequited or secret—”

“Mr. Childe, please.” The Ferrylady looked him directly in the eyes, and even though she was a
good foot shorter, her eyes were pools filled with supernatural awareness, “I can tell you care
deeply about the Funeral Consultant. The spirits do not lie; please know he has friends at
Wangsheng that will always watch out for him in the same way he, too, looks out for us.”

With that, the Ferrylady headed off in the same direction as Zhongli had gone, grocery bag in tow,
leaving behind an unfulfilled and stumped Childe.

“Wait…the spirits?”

“Childe!”

Childe balked as a tiny fist landed on the crown of his head, nearly sending his Fatui mask
tumbling to the floor. Paimon had flown into him like a raging tornado of sparkles; her enormous
eyes were creased in annoyance. “It’s rude to leave a table like that without saying why! I got
scared we would have to pay the tab!” Childe’s eyes nearly rolled into the back of his skull. “And I
just knew you were up to something with the listless Ferrylady! What did you do?”

“I just wanted to ask her a question,” Childe scoffed, “I was heading right back to our table. Come
on, let’s go sit.”

Paimon ran him ragged with her nagging until Childe had explained, in graphic detail, how his
Delusion could act as an electric bug swatter that could easily take down pests Paimon’s size. Even
the Traveler was growing weary of her high-pitched yelling.

“Paimon, give it a rest.” They held out a palm in Childe’s direction. “Childe was only jealous.”

The Traveler had spoken, their words clear and in an order that could be understood, but Childe
was having issues comprehending the statement. He gaped, his blue-eyes wide and incredulous.

The Traveler had the nerve to look smug.

“Jealous?”

Paimon spiraled into the air with her hands over her mouth. “Jealous!?”
The Traveler nodded with confidence. “Jealous.”

Childe took a second to smooth out his clothes and fix his mask before clasping his fingers
together, preparing for this ridiculous idea to be thoroughly explained. “Educate me, then, on how
exactly I’m jealous.”

The Traveler bobbed their head, sending blonde strands of hair shimmering into the sunlight. “You
still call Zhongli xiansheng, even though he double-crossed you, and you tried to lay waste to
Liyue Harbor. Clearly the two of you spend quality time together, since Zhongli said he would see
you soon, and you effortlessly agreed. You’re also very invested in his work life and schedule, as
well as the people he works with.”

“He does seem to be pretty invested…and now that you mention it, since when does Childe show
respect to anyone…”

“Is there an off-button somewhere on your toy?”

“See?! No respect!”

Childe could feel a tic forming underneath the muscle of his jaw. “Taking an interest in your
associates and showing common courtesy to those who are older, or an Archon, doesn’t have
anything to do with jealousy.”

“Hmm…” Paimon stared deeply at Childe, as if looking at him from the inside out with her
massive eyes. It was…horribly unnerving, “It does when you go feral over a flower.”

It was a small shock, but Paimon acted as if her entire backside had been lit on fire.

“Arghh!! Traveler, do something! He tried to electrocute me when all I was doing was stating the
facts!”

“Don’t worry,” the Traveler patted Childe on the arm in a similar fashion as Zhongli had done in
his attempt to make him feel better. The Traveler’s pat felt a bit more natural, as if they were used
to comforting others to the point it became second-nature, “It’s alright to feel that way, so long as
it’s not related to any more Fatui schemes. Hopefully you genuinely treasure him as a valued friend
and just need to get used to how others are drawn to him. He is the Geo Archon, after all; he’s
going to have friends, allies and followers for eternity, even if he is retired.”

Childe didn’t have the courage to voice that yes, that was exactly the problem. Because that would
pose the question that’s been sitting at the back of Childe’s mind for quite some time now.

What did he want from Zhongli?

He originally thought it was his power that drew him near; to eventually defeat him, to be
surrounded by his strength, to learn from his millennia of experiences. He definitely still wanted all
of the above, but now, there was so much more to the man that crossed his mind that Childe
wanted to take. Things that were much more difficult to accept.

His barely-there smiles when Childe managed to surprise him, his warmth when he conversed
about the history of his nation, his selflessness towards anyone in need of anything at all, his gifts
purchased with Childe’s money, his solid and comforting company at dinner, his careful touches
when tending to Childe’s injuries…

Even though Childe originally thought that Zhongli had been the one doing all of the taking in their
friendship by using Childe as his own personal Golden House, Childe, too, had been taking from
 Zhongli for quite some time.

“You’ve given me a lot to think about,” Childe looked to the sky in contemplation, “As expected
of the Star of Teyvat.”

The Traveler gave him a large, honest grin before Chef Mao brought the cheque over to the table
and Childe handed over his Mora, feeling full from the meal but otherwise completely unsatisfied.

“Good luck trying to survive Inazuma! We’re strong enough to handle it together, but you’re going
to need all the luck you can get!” Paimon stuck out a stubby pink tongue at Childe before they bid
their goodbyes, and Childe thought, for a moment, that the Traveler was lucky to know someone
had their back to that kind of extent.

Perhaps Childe was searching for something similar and was trying to grasp it in all the wrong
ways. “I appreciate the sentiment. Before you leave, though, make a quick Liyuan contract with
me.”

The Traveler’s eyebrows shot up, and Paimon was already up-in-arms, “No way, not in a million
years! Traveler, let’s go!”

The Traveler put their hands on their waist. “What is it?”

Childe smiled. “Promise me if we run into each other again, we’ll have a good fight. You can share
some more of your wise insight with me, if you win.”

The eyebrows only drew higher. “And if I lose?”

The chuckle that left Childe’s lips was glad. “Then I don’t need anything; I would have already
beaten you.”

It was nice to know he had met companions like this during his time in Liyue, who could accept
him and offer advice should he need it. Even though they stood on two separate sides of what was
viewed as moral according to the rules of the Archons and the war against Celestia, they still
shared a mutual understanding on how the world worked, and Childe took comfort in that.

What had Zhongli told him once? That even the worst of enemies have a seedling of likeness
between them?

He really was possibly the wisest man left in Teyvat.

The blinding smile from the Traveler made Childe’s worries feel a little farther away, as they held
out a hand to properly bind their contract in stone, just as the God of Contracts would have
intended.

“Deal.”

Chapter End Notes

*Writing this a day before watching Paimon and Childe bicker in the new Inazuma
Domain and going feral over their shared brain cell*

I thought I'd give Childe a little bit more character development. Our boy is more
complex than usually portrayed and it must be recognized. Also, he doesn't like to
share.

Woo it's Con Day!! Day 1 of 3, but wow, am I excited. Time to hoard the Zhongli
merch.

I figured I would post this before the weekend goes insane and I don't have too much
time to write the next chapter (though it is in the works), so I hope you like it!

Thank you all so much for your comments! I love interacting with this fandom this
way, since I'm not really active on other genshin platforms (writing here is where my
fan energy goes and that's all the energy I got lol) Let me know what you think, or
what you think is coming up next for our evil gremlin and his broke god...

Whoa. That sounded a lot like TGCF, huh?

 Under the Same Sky
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

“Get back on your feet and move!”

A quick burst of Hydro arrows. A rolling dodge to the right.

“Do all of you have a death wish?”

Two Ruin Guards stampeded down a steep hill to Childe’s left, gaining momentum by the second,
while a Cryo Abyss Mage sent shards of frozen icicles plummeting towards his right. There were
too many things happening at once, and the Mage seemed to have a major chip on its shoulder
regarding Childe; it targeted him from the get-go, and had yet to let up on its assault of frozen
artilleries.

Childe veered towards the group of recruits, who were larger than the last team but still just as
fresh and in need of serious military training. He signalled their positions, regaining his composure
as Tartaglia, the Eleventh, “If you had any sense, the Pyro Skirmishers would have already been
on the Cryo Mage by now. Think smart, or you’ll all be saying your final Snezhnayan prayers in a
land that won’t understand them.”

“Yes, Lord Harbinger!”

Overlooking the battle, a pair of Cor Lapis eyes scrutinized from the pinnacle of the gorge. Zhongli
had come along on this particular training venture, to the shock and uncertainty of the recruits;
naturally, Harbingers didn’t bring visitors along for undisclosed Fatui deployment and
instructional assignments. Especially ones dressed so scholarly, who looked utterly unfit for battle.

And it wouldn’t have happened at all, if not for two things:

1. Zhongli had asked.

2. Childe had agreed.

Childe had been stepping into his formally fitted Agent attire when Ekaterina had buzzed Zhongli
into the room; Childe had given her permission to do so for the man as an exclusive arrangement,
so long as he had no meetings or guests. This wasn’t because Zhongli could come and go as he
pleased, but more-so because Childe hated being interrupted by Ekaterina’s smitten voice
whenever Zhongli frequented the Northland Bank.

He swore that ever since Zhongli had forgone his coat that one fateful day, his subordinate had
opted to give him special treatment.

The Ex-Archon knocked twice before pushing the door open to announce himself. “Good morning.
May I come in?”

“Morning, xiansheng!” Childe greeted him just as he snapped the last few buttons at the top of his
long cloak together, “No Wangsheng work today, I presume?”

“Mm…no.” Zhongli stood in the doorway, his eyes roaming across Childe from head to toe. He
most likely wasn’t used to seeing Childe in the Agent uniform, and it was quite a disparity from his
typical clothing; he wore a pitch-black waistcoat, his Hydro Vision emblazoned over his heart,
with a large embroidered hood covering the top portion of his face. Trim, navy pants tucked into
form-fitting leather boots along with a pair of water-absorbing technical gloves for Hydro combat.

The man’s eyes burned as they scrutinized the way Childe jostled his hood. From beneath the
fabric, Childe could see Zhongli’s throat bob. “…You look different today.”

“It’s certainly not my favorite choice of attire,” Childe complained, slipping the Fatui mask onto
his face so the cloak would sit properly, “But ever since the run-in with your Adeptus friend
destroyed one perfectly good uniform, I didn’t want to risk losing another. We will be out near his
territory, after all.”

Zhongli looked as if he wanted to say more, considering the way he kept eyeing the coat and its
overstated Fatui logo fastened on the back. He probably liked the design; minus the hood, it was
somewhat similar to his classic tailcoat. It must have been right up his alley.

Maybe Childe would have a similar one commissioned for him as a gift, of sorts.

“Is it alright for you to be going out…” Zhongli asked, gesturing to Childe’s shady ensemble,
“Like this?”

“Sure, why not?” Childe shrugged, the skintight fabric beneath the coat stretching with his
shoulders. “Until I have a safe number of extra jackets for emergencies, I’m taking out some old
Agent uniforms for training instead. They’re surprisingly comfortable and stain-proof.”

“…” Zhongli’s eyes gleamed, “Let me come with you.”

Even from underneath the Fatui hood, it was obvious Childe was surprised; Zhongli had never
volunteered to come on a Fatui excursion. Which would make sense; why in heavens would he
want to? “Why? I’m doing general defense force training all morning.” Childe chuckled, the sound
tinny and sharp. “You want to watch me kick some cowards into shape?”

“That sounds somewhat amusing.” His lips lifted into a self-assured smile, and Childe was
immediately reminded of how Zhongli could easily train the troops for him. No matter how many
times Childe saw a hint of bold cockiness appear on those soft, handsome features, he didn’t think
he would ever get used to it. “Perhaps I could also be of assistance.”

“Hmm…” He had nearly forgotten about the twin fasteners at the top of his boots that attached to
his belt, and quickly adjusted them so that nothing would slip. The Agent uniforms were tailored
with two things in mind; flexibility and speed. Although this specific ensemble was generally saved
for Pyro Agents, Childe didn’t need to rely on the heavy fitting suits designed for Fatui machinery
or heavily detailed Skirmisher regalia. Thus, this made the most sense for training with his Hydro
Vision, “I can’t say there will be much for me to divulge today, so I suppose it wouldn’t hurt.”

Childe and Zhongli were met with many curious, wary stares as they stepped out into the streets
together, Childe in full incognito, looking as if he were escorting Zhongli to some undisclosed,
suspicious location in the middle of the Liyuan wilderness. It was as entertaining as it was
reassuring, as Zhongli didn’t even bat an eye at the glares Childe received from every corner of the
golden-tiled streets.

“In full Fatui uniform, you can really feel just how welcome our presence in the Harbor is,” Childe
joked lightly. From beside him, Zhongli had to bend down a fraction to meet Childe’s eyes
underneath his shadowed cloak, which stood out in the intensity of the morning sun, “I wonder
how many people think I’m here to kidnap the good Zhongli-xiansheng.”
Zhongli scoffed before beelining towards an early rising stand selling zodiac-related
confectionaries, and Childe had to reel him back before the man went into full spending mode.
Once they were back on track, Zhongli responded casually, “How others perceive you is a trivial
matter to me, so long as I know who you are. Although, opinions do have their weight in merit and
advice.”

“Oh, really?” Childe whistled, “Do you think you know me, xiansheng?”

Zhongli’s steps slowed for a minute as he contemplated, making Childe feel a little awkward. He
didn’t think the Archon would take the question so literally and think on it like it was a
philosophical inquiry. Then again, of course he would; Zhongli rarely understood the present
notion of teasing, and when he did, it threw the world into disarray.

“I think I still have much to learn,” his eyes shone the hue of rich amber, specks of light drifting
within them as he smiled and continued on their path. Childe wasn’t sure what to make of that
response, but he knew that it was getting much more difficult to meet Zhongli’s gaze. Some days,
when the man looked at him with an expression of patient observation or eyes heavy with
experience, Childe saw the ancient deity hidden behind the mask; he wanted to pose the questions
he sheltered that would result in difficult answers.

Like, where do you find your inspiration to move on, even after the passing of so many cherished
friends?

If Liyue is your greatest achievement, your pride and joy, how did you let it go so easily?

What have I contributed to your six-millennia of existence?

Childe, still stepping through Liyue with Zhongli’s grounding presence next to him, remained
silent.

Once they had reached the platformed area surrounded by rocks in the Dunyu Ruins, where Childe
had set up a proper base for tactical training, a large group of Fatui could be seen arranged at the
outpost. They were most likely standing at attention, awaiting Childe’s arrival.

“Okay, xiansheng,” Childe chided from their arial position before heading down to the trainees,
“You stay here and watch the show. I’ll let you know if there’s a chance for you to jump in.”

“Very well, although watching will suffice.” Zhongli flipped his coat tails and stationed himself
comfortably on the peak, looking just as still as his Geo Statues, “I’ll be here should you need
anything, Ajax.”

Childe would later blame an irrelevant pebble for why he lost his footing while descending the
slope.

He had managed to walk the recruits through multiple drills, preemptive approaches and defensive
maneuvers with and without Delusions before the rumbling of some Ruin Guards advancing had
hastened his classes into more hands-on territory. Which, Childe thought with a maniacal grin, was
exactly why he had chosen this location in the first place.

Maybe Childe was just a little bloodthirsty after going so long without a good fight. Liyue might
have some strong opponents, but the only few actually worth fighting were either holed up in some
sort of self-proclaimed punishment at the Wangshu Inn, or preferred to spend their time lecturing
Childe on the history of Crystal Ore and all of its lesser-known uses instead of trying to crush him.
The Pyro Skirmishers had finally gotten their act together enough to bring down the Cryo Mage’s
shield, and Childe sent a thousand raining Hydro arrows down onto its head while an Electro
Vanguard took care of the rest.

Childe smirked. “That’s more like it!” He waved up to the hilltop, where Zhongli sat in quiet
meditation watching the scene unfold beneath him like an omniscient being. “Xiansheng, come
join the fun! These youths could use a little bit of your wise expertise.”

A few clashing Skirmishers risked a glance over at Zhongli, who was practically a stranger to the
fresh-faced newbies from Snezhnaya. His amber-tipped hair swung gently in the breeze, not a
strand out of place, and his clothing was creaseless and impeccable as usual. He certainly didn’t
look as intimidating as La Signora or acted as rowdy as Tartaglia; what kind of skills could a man
dressed as an affluent academic possibly offer?

A wandering missile discharged by a Ruin Guard swung by the recruits and missed, before curving
itself upwards to where Zhongli was peacefully seated.

“Sir, your Comrade—” A few lone Fatui trainees attempted to speed up the hill to assist before
Zhongli was blown to smithereens; Childe sneered as they were thrown backwards by the impact
of the missile slamming into something impenetrable.

Amateurs, he thought, underestimating someone before they’ve even gotten started.

A Geo shield the size of the Ocean Pearl shimmered over the valley; the summit Zhongli stood on
was set ablaze in a halo of yellow and gold, while the man in question stood coolly at its center,
glistening with protective sigils and bright eyes.

“Don’t worry about him,” Childe remarked, sliding the Agent’s hood off of his head to expose the
Harbinger mask underneath, “Worry about yourselves; that Ruin Guard is far from destroyed.”

The looming footsteps that shook the ground were a very present reminder; the recruits headed off
towards the enormous machines while Zhongli made his way down from the hilltop, his shield still
acting as a beautiful divider between himself and the battle around him. Childe sucked in a breath
when he realized that unexpectedly he, too, was surrounded in the golden sphere, as Zhongli came
to stand beside him.

“You can let other people in?” Childe laughed in awe as he ran to the edge of the shield and pulled
his hand in and out, only feeling a slight ripple of air. “This would be a comforting support during a
nasty battle; I could jump into your shield to catch my breath!”

Zhongli nodded before pulling the safeguard into a smaller, more manageable size, leaving only
enough space for himself and Childe to benefit. “If you would like to use it for such an interval,
feel free.”

“I’ll take you up on that offer.” Childe would take advantage of harboring within the Geo Archon’s
defense for a little longer; how often would he get this chance? The recruits were doing some
heavy damage to the Ruin Guards, but would most likely need more time to get the job done, and
Childe certainly wasn’t going to help them with more than what was necessary. Learning by doing
was his vision of ideal learning, anyways. It was how Childe had learned how to do everything
from ice fishing to wielding a bow.

These Fatui trainees were blessed to have him as an instructor. Arlecchino or Scaramouche would
have had them running through flames or sporadically electrocuted as “physical resistance
training.”
From inside the walls of what must have been pure Geo energy, the color of condensed, liquified
Cor Lapis, Zhongli’s entire body gleamed with golden light. The Sigils evaporated and reformed
consistently enough that Childe yearned to touch one, though he wasn’t sure if that were even
possible. Considering it was Geo armor, it absorbed and refracted light like water, with swells and
vibrations whenever the ground shook.

“Your shield shifts and alters itself an awful lot,” Childe watched his hand get swallowed up by the
golden rays of light as he lifted a hand to the border again, the shield undulating around his hand
like a disturbed pool of liquid, “Aren’t Geo safeguards meant to be “hard as stone” and whatnot?”

Zhongli held out a hand near Childe’s, where a blunt force knocked his hand back into the circle;
when he went to push it back through the defense, he found the gilded wall of Geo impermeable
from the inside out. “Unlike someone with a Geo Vision, my Geo powers come organically from
within; the shield is a reflection of what my body feels, and thus if I feel the ground quake, it will
respond accordingly. If I will it to be impassable, then it shall. It is an extension of my energy and
will not fall unless I do.”

“Fascinating.” Childe ran his index finger from the very top of where the safeguard hung above
their heads, to directly in front of him, where Zhongli’s own gloved hand still hovered, “I still have
quite a bit to learn about you as well, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

Something shifted in Zhongli’s eyes; he cleared his throat, the shield vibrating slightly.

“I was thinking that perhaps you wouldn’t mind calling me Zhongli,” he spoke clearly, but the
words were muffled by the sounds of metal scraping stone in the background, “As you have said
before, we can be more casual when it is only us. If I can call you by your birth name, then you
should be able to drop an honorific easily, correct?”

The shield could have been a wall between Childe and the rest of the Dunyu Ruins, at this point,
because he was completely distracted by Zhongli’s genuine smile and crescent eyes.

“…but you’ve always been xiansheng,” Childe murmured, knowing that his ridiculously pale
complexion was turning an ugly shade of red; hopefully his Fatui mask would hide some of the
reaction, because where did Zhongli get the idea that springing this on him in the middle of a
training seminar would be a good idea? Maybe it seemed like a simple notion to him, but to Childe,
it felt like a momentous shift.

He wasn’t even used to hearing Ajax yet. He had thrown that idea into the wind on a drunk whim,
and was now suffering the dire consequences whenever Zhongli smiled that half-smile before
speaking his name, in a voice and tone that usually left Childe feeling harassed.

“If you don’t want to use it, please don’t feel forced…”

“No! No,” Childe backtracked quickly, “I’ll use it, I’d love to. Thank you, Zhongli, just know I’ll
still likely use xiansheng out of habit.”

Pink lips flicked upwards; Zhongli was grinning with a few teeth peering through, and Childe
vaguely wondered if he was suffering from heat stroke. “I don’t mind you using both; I’ve grown
fond of xiansheng, as well.”

“Well,” Childe threw his Agent hood straight over his head to avoid any more unnecessary eye
contact with the Archon who had zero idea of the effects he had on others. Or perhaps Childe was
losing his touch; it had to be that Archon aura Zhongli radiated on certain occasions. Somehow, it
had buried itself under Childe’s skin. “Good, then.”
The surrounding area smelt of burning oil and gunpowder; there was a booming cheer, before the
ground quavered with the aftershocks of the Ruin Guards collapsing in defeat.

“Lord Harbinger,” a Vanguard recruit shouted over to Childe, who had yet to leave the security of
Zhongli’s shield, “they’re both down!”

“About time,” he looked over at Zhongli before stepping out of the safety net of Zhongli’s Geo and
back out into Tartaglia territory, where his job was far from over. “Now let’s see how you handle
three more.”

After all, it was still early.

By the time Childe sent the Fatui newcomers home for the day, soaked with sweat, blood, and a
few of them, tears, the sun had sunken into the depths of the land. Zhongli had remained a constant
presence during his instructions and had only left to provide Childe with a few apples he had
picked from a nearby tree, claiming dehydration can be avoided if one eats proper nutrients.

He never joined the fray, even when the monsters were numerous or when Childe had requested it.

“I would rather not be included in training or aiding Fatui scoundrels with building their army in
Liyue,” he held firm, refusing to budge on the matter as Childe glowered. “You are their leader;
how these men and women grow into fierce combatants is entirely up to your expertise. And
besides,” he began setting a steady pace amongst the tall ruined walls of ancient towers and
monuments, which Childe begrudgingly tailed, “I did not come out today to fight.”

“Then why did you come?” By now, the Agent hood had been tucked cleanly back and away from
Childe’s head so that he could take off his Fatui mask. Wearing it the entire day had left his face
abnormally hot, so it was a relief to have it resting on his head once again. Zhongli also seemed to
relax his shoulders a bit, too, when he could see Childe’s expressions properly.

“To watch you teach.” The ochre tips of Zhongli’s hair pulsed brightly underneath the last few rays
of sunlight. Within the spectrum of the Liyuan sunset, Zhongli looked like part of the scenery; a
radiant, Geo-encompassed being with thousands of years’ worth of history older than the stones he
stepped on. The Cor Lapis protruding from the ground around them seemed to glisten in tune with
his movements. “Even if I were to disregard your youth, the way you handle training for the
battlefield is vastly impressive. Your impulsive behavior when combating solo does not interfere
with building proper strategizing tactics for more inexperienced fighters, and your straightforward
nature leaves no room for miscommunication during instances of duress. All of the Fatui today left
here looking utterly spent, but completely confident that they will improve under your watch.”

Childe preened; if there was one thing he enjoyed being complimented on, it was anything that
involved his battle proficiency. “Xiansheng, you really have a way with words! You got all of that
from a few measly hours of me jumping and yelling?” Sweat was beading along the grooves of
Childe’s forehead; he itched to take off the Agent cloak.

“As someone with more experience than he would like with preparing for battle,” Zhongli’s
expression took on that far-away look again, when his eyes seemed to be somewhere lost to time, “I
believe that was all the time needed to judge your capacity as a leader.”

Childe unclasped all of the ties attached to his Agent cloak before tossing it up amongst the
branches of a giant, golden tree. The simple, black fabric beneath was a cooling material, and
without the heaviness of the coat for Hydro absorption, Childe’s skin could breathe easy again.

“Ah, much better. Sorry, Zhongli-xiansheng, didn’t mean to interrupt you praising me; I was quite
enjoying it.”

Zhongli shook his head at the material swaying in the wind above their heads before leveling his
gaze with Childe.

“Zhongli.” His eyes traveled Childe’s coatless form before re-settling on his uncovered face.
“Also, that cloak looked quite nice; it would be a shame to let it rot in the heat.”

Childe flinched, both at the compliment and at the expectant look he wore; this was going to be
something he would have to get used to, wasn’t it?

“… Right. Zhongli, then, please continue praising me.” The sentence alone was enough to make
Childe busy himself with more words, “Actually, tell me more about your own experiences. You
tend to avoid those accounts, even though I know you know that those are the ones I crave to hear
about most.”

They had found themselves back at the hilltop where Zhongli had spent the day observing Childe’s
battle prowess and coaching expertise. From here, all of the Dunyu Ruins were splayed out in the
waning beams of the sunset, the many dilapidated structures of old cast in molten shades of
crimson and gold. The air had gained a refreshing chill as shadows began to creep into the crooks
of the valley, and Childe sat himself directly in the middle of the landscape.

“Hmm,” To Childe’s delight, Zhongli tossed his coattails to the side before elegantly seating
himself on the dried grass next to him, “It is not that I try to avoid them; rather, there is so much to
unpack from my memories, that deciding where to start is difficult, and leaving off without making
sure to mention all of the crucial individuals involved would be inexcusable. You would need to
listen for longer than most humans can endure in order for my experiences to be represented in the
most accurately expressed way.”

Childe’s chest constricted; he felt as if he was very close to attaining something invaluable, and
would reach out until his arms collapsed in order to get it.

“I’ve got all the time in the world right now,” he stretched his legs over the edge of the hill, as if to
make a point of relaxing, “Let’s start from the beginning.”

Zhongli’s eyebrows raised, his mouth curving into an endearing frown, “We will be here for a
millennium if I begin from there.”

Leave it to the Geo Archon to have a sense of humor akin to a hulking boulder. Childe chuckled,
studying Zhongli’s face as the last wandering sun ray affixed itself to his left cheekbone, as if it,
too, couldn’t help but stare. “Alright, well what about here, in Dunyu? Right where we’re sitting.”
He motioned to the vast landscape surrounding them, “How did all of these relics come to be?”

Zhongli scanned the area with his all-knowing eyes, taking in the buildings and monuments like
collecting old journal pages. The wistful expression he wore, tinged with so many others flicking
across his face, made Childe smile. Sometimes the Adeptus looked so human it was exasperating.

“Allow me to do something for you in return, if you let me share the story of Dunyu,” Zhongli
stated, holding Childe’s gaze with those penetrating eyes of Cor Lapis, “Since it will be rather long.
Judging by how you slept through the final act of The Peony Pavilion, this may be taxing for
someone with as much vigour as yourself.”

Comparing the authentic history of Zhongli’s struggles while building and fighting for his nation to
a fictional romantic play was like comparing a river rock to a Nautilus Jade; Childe wanted to
physically knock some sense into the old god. “Pretty sure I won’t doze off while you’re speaking,
but if you really feel inclined to do something for me, then you already know exactly what I want.”

The flat look sent Childe’s way was comically tragic.

“The last time we fought, your injuries were so severe that even your work took a toll.” The lack of
light in Zhongli’s eyes revealed just how much it must have bothered him. “That will not happen
again.”

Childe pondered before pushing further, peeling his Hydro gloves off and shoving them into his
pocket. “What if we sparred as training?”

This seemed to pique the other man’s attention; he looked at Childe quizzically.

“You want to train me?”

“Haha! Even I’m not bold enough to suggest something like that. I meant that you could train me,
instead. Your fighting techniques are eons ahead of my own.” He sighed, knowing that wasn’t
enough to get Zhongli on board, “We could even use mock weapons… and I suppose we could go
Vision-free. If there was a chance this could become a consistent affair.”

The sun had officially disappeared behind the decrepit towers of slate and limestone, bathing
Dunyu in the cool hues of evening. Cranes could be heard overhead, flapping their wings in a
group of two or three, most likely seeking a strong perch to spend the night. It was remarkable how
a place that once stood so tall, with brilliant constructions and powerful weaponry, could be
reduced to a pile of broken relics in the wild.

Zhongli took his sweet time brooding over the offer, which Childe already knew sounded
suspiciously like a contract. The God of Contracts wouldn’t agree to one without thinking over the
ramifications first.

“Well, Zhongli?” He suffered through the flush of his cheeks, “Seems pretty fair this time, right?”

Childe couldn’t help the giddy laugh he expelled when the other man smirked, nodding twice. “No
Visions, imitation weapons, and we stop when I say so. Can we agree to this contract?”

“Can we start tomorrow?”

Zhongli chuckled under his breath. “Whenever you like.”

Childe grinned. “Then absolutely, I agree.”

Zhongli bowed his head at the statement. “This is my will, as is yours, and the contract shall be
upheld, for my promise is set in stone.” His eyes and hair flickered in the moonlight and pulsed
golden with the formation of a new contract. Even as a retired Archon, his body reacted to the
simplest of formal agreements, and Childe thought he could get used to making more contracts
with the man if it meant he would glow like a firefly every time.

“Okay, xiansheng,” Childe adjusted himself on the cool ground of Dunyu, surrounded by
Zhongli’s past, present and future. His knee nestled against Zhongli’s, who had yet to separate from
the touch. No point of moving if it wasn’t bothering anyone. “I’m all set. Start from the beginning
and let’s see how far we can get before the sun rises.”

The way the Adeptus smiled back at Childe from so close, his face open and sincere while they sat
alone in the middle of the Dunyu Ruins, reminded Childe of just how solitary it would be in this
 nation if not for the man beside him. The Archon he had been sent here to betray and steal from;
the God who had created the land he walked on. The friend who was ready to willingly bare
himself to satiate his own ever-growing curiosity.

Childe was used to existing on his own; he never saw an issue with being a trailblazer without
friends or support to rely on, not when he had a family back home to take care of. They were all he
needed, and there was no space left in his battle-scarred heart for another’s sanctuary.

Or so he thought.

Now, as Zhongli raised his eyes to a sky older than himself, the stars and moon overhead a constant
that would remain for as long as he walked Teyvat, Childe could admit to himself that he had
already made room for one more.

“Alright then,” Zhongli began, and Childe sighed to Celestia; this was going to be an extensively
rewarding evening. “The area of Dunyu has always been known as the Land of Hidden Jade,
named after the glittering mounds of Jade boulders which used to inhabit almost every inch of the
land. Due to the Archon War, the translucent, flawless jades have all but been wiped away, and
only a brilliant pool of water remains at its center, surrounded by the relics of Adepti
establishments and monuments. At the time of its conception, I had originally created the land to be
a place prided on its beauty, so that those in Liyue from far and wide could come and enjoy the
splendors of the crystal-clear valleys….”

Chapter End Notes

Zhongli, are you perhaps a fan of long coats on a certain Harbinger? Go figure, me
too.

We're SO CLOSE. Childe is RIGHT THERE. He's ready. I'm ready.

Hopefully. *dabs forehead*

Also, the con has exhausted me to the point of no return; but my gosh I have the
greatest collection of Genshin keychains anyone could ever ask for. And a wallet
almost as empty as Zhongli's to show for it.

Hopefully the next chapter will be out Tuesday, as I didn't have anytime this weekend
to start it, but stay tuned!

Let me know what you think, and as always, your comments are immensely
appreciated and warm my socks <3
 A New Way of Thinking
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

“Why are you here?”

Childe stood on the shore of Yaoguang Shoal, surrounded by crystal clear waters and a seaside
view of the Qiongji Estuary cliffs. The morning breeze was keeping the Liyue sun’s renowned heat
at bay for the time being, making it a perfect morning to take up the good Geo Archon on his
agreement and finally, finally spar again. Childe could feel excitement pumping through his veins;
there was little room in his body for more than pure adrenaline when he thought about the way
Zhongli moved during a fight, and how he would channel his knowledge into showing Childe how
to master the same techniques.

As cocky as Childe was about his own abilities (and for good reason), every capable fighter
understood that opportunities to learn were limitless.

That being said, strong weaponry was an immense help; the wooden spear in Childe's hand was
despairingly clunky and worthless. Compared to the crafted perfection of his Hydro arsenal, the
oversized skewer felt like a diabolical impediment. Seeing a similar dummy lance in Zhongli’s fist
didn’t help, either; if anything, Zhongli could most likely still lay waste to an entire realm using
only brute strength and a stick.

Xiao, holding his Primordial Jade Spear, the winged tips twinkling in the sun’s reflections, stood
stiff as a board with his feet in the sand. He looked as if this were the last place he had wanted to
be, like a child forced to come to a family event.

It was a little funny, if not mystifying.

“Morax asked me to demonstrate a few things,” his voice travelled through the wind, a river of
silk, “He said that showing you a few tricks to use weight distribution to your advantage during
battle would be a sufficient apology for the bodily harm I caused you.”

That was a very fluid way of avoiding an actual verbal apology. Childe couldn’t help but be
impressed with Xiao’s calm, unbothered demeanor over attempting to mutilate him during work
hours. The beast-like claw marks marring his previously unblemished shoulders (minus a few
freckles) were a point of pride and shame for the Harbinger; it was a symbol of a difficult
opponent, a being who longed for the kill in a way similar to himself.

The wounds were already stitch-free and nearly mended, but having an eternal reminder that there
were like-minded individuals out there, who were stronger and therefore a real challenge, gave
Childe comfort.

“I’m feeling generous today, so I accept your apology,” Childe sneered as a small green brow
furrowed in frustration. Zhongli had remained silent from the moment they crossed the sandbanks;
a warning that they would be joined by the tiny, cruel Adeptus would have been nice. “Normally, a
private session is just that, but I suppose you can be an exception if it means showing me how you
do that balancing attack with your lance.”

“That can’t be learned overnight, you know,” Xiao scoffed quietly, his muscles loosening
somewhat along with his white-knuckled fist on the base of his spear, “But I suppose it will be
amusing to watch you struggle through a bunch of bad attempts.”

Childe grinned; who knew the Adeptus had a sense of humor? “We’ll see about that.”

As much as Childe was tempted to ask Xiao about the entire fiasco at his office, Zhongli had
already been so uncomfortable with everything regarding his actions after he had awakened from
his transformative rest in Jueyun Karst, only to be made that much worse by his Yaksha trying to
dismember his close associate. Childe didn’t want to make the man feel any more remorse,
especially when he had brought Xiao along for reconciliation and was going along with Childe’s
combative impulses.

“Xiansheng!” Childe called out to the Geo Archon, who had been staring out at the skyline where
the outline of Guyun Stone Forest could be seen. Tall, jagged mounds of stone sliced through the
horizon, breaking up the otherwise level ocean view. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

Zhongli rotated himself away from the water, his eyes lingering there for a moment longer, before
stripping off his tailcoat in one swift motion. The beige, crisp shirt underneath was the same one he
always wore, but watching Zhongli roll his sleeves up in such a casual manner while setting his
coat on some nearby rocks left Childe’s mouth dry.

Thick, golden forearms flexed as Zhongli fixed one cuff up to his elbow, and then the other. His
ponytail swung low as the man bent down, his shirt shifting with the curve of his back, to pull off
each of his shoes.

“If we are to train on the beach, we must dress appropriately.” Black dress shoes were settled high
on the shore along with the glimmering, golden-embroidered coat, as Zhongli prepared himself to
spar in a way Childe had never seen. It was a full step-by-step process, a ritual of preparation he
had yet to be present for, and now, as Zhongli rolled up the hems of his trousers to reveal cream-
colored ankles, Childe committed every miniscule action and detail to memory. “The shoal is
prime terrain for testing physical endurance; it will force your muscles to work harder, and
footwork will need to be perfect in order for any technical combat to be effective.”

Zhongli straightened and challenged Childe head-on; faultless Cor Lapis eyes narrowed in on his
face, making Childe swallow painfully. There was no rational reason for why seeing Zhongli like
this, with only his bare essentials on while wearing a commander’s countenance, made Childe’s
extremities feel akin to boiled miantiao.

“I believe your footwork is clean, precise and meticulous,” Zhongli continued before his bare feet
began descending on the sandbank, moving past Childe and further out from the tide, “However,
we both know it could be improved. Quick-thinking can only get you so far; you must be prepared
for anything.”

“Got it,” Childe wasn’t about to argue with the Adeptus; after sparring with him, he knew that his
own footwork could be fleshed out, and that there were also some untidy movements that could be
avoided to save him a few seconds. Seconds which amounted to vital moments during battle.

Zhongli never made any actions that were unnecessary; he had flawless accuracy, as if chiselled
into his very bones, and a body that was fashioned without frills or superfluities.

It was a tool for absolute destruction, and Childe wanted to acquire all of his magnificence. He
would mimic, practice and perfect any and all wisdom bestowed until he grew entirely
untouchable.

It was a blessing that Childe had such an insatiable appetite for Zhongli’s insight. Only an
immortal would be able to provide the Harbinger with the kind of training he yearned for.

He dragged his boots off of his feet and left them in a messy clump on the sand before rolling up
the sleeves of his jacket, already enjoying the raw feel of sand grains between his toes. This was
much more unrefined than he expected of Zhongli, and it filled with him a sense of nostalgia;
although there were rarely days in Morepesok where the beach would be warm enough to tread
barefoot, it was tinged with the familiar feeling of backwoods training from his earlier days. Back
when Childe was afraid of everything, when the world was smaller and his fears overwhelmed
him.

Sometimes it was hard to recognize the person he had been, before his fall into the Abyss and his
rise to power through the Fatui.

Who he had become would have stepped all over Little Ajax.

“Alright,” Zhongli stood in a natural position a good few steps away from Childe, while Xiao
rested on the sidelines. It was a near-perfect replica of their fight near the Wangshu Inn, only this
time, Childe wasn’t blinded by his yearning for victory. “Here is fine.”

He would cherish the slow, intoxicating absorption of Zhongli’s instruction.

Zhongli held out an ungloved hand attached to a bare, blue-veined wrist, and Childe could see
corded muscles shift as he flicked his hand upward. “Come at me.”

During their previous spar, Childe had attacked immediately so as to try and throw Zhongli off; this
time, he paced around the other man, cautiously weighing his options with the wooden spear
pointed in defense. Zhongli was completely open, but Childe wasn’t an idiot. Looks were very
deceiving when it came to the Adeptus, and it was obvious that he was waiting for Childe to make
a move before parrying at a speed that would make the Electro Archon of Inazuma envious.

If Childe had one strong-suit, however, it was using his environment to the best of his abilities;
even without the use of his Hydro Vision to channel everything the ocean had to offer, there were
still the dips and grooves of the sand. He made his way to Zhongli without too much haste, inching
closer with light steps, as he memorized the deeper pits while the other man watched with furious
intensity. As still as he could be, Zhongli’s eyes always told Childe everything he needed to know.

Perfect. Childe built up momentum before charging Zhongli’s left flank, going in deep with his
lance as his right foot sunk down low into a small hole. It gave him the leverage to swing at
Zhongli’s sand-covered feet with the ideal amount of reach.

“Try again,” Zhongli rebuked, his amusement audible, as Childe watched the man maneuver
himself out of harm’s way with nearly zero effort, his leap and repositioning textbook-flawless,
“Watch the bend of my left knee and the position of my right foot this time.”

Childe didn’t need to be told twice; he shifted his own weight so that his next jab would hit closer
than the last, only for Zhongli to perfectly lift himself out of reach once again.

“Footwork is vital because it allows you to utilize positioning, in order to deliver your
combinations with the highest chance of connecting,” Zhongli had managed a quick slice at
Childe’s legs, which he had to seriously exert himself to avoid; displacing sand really ate up a lot
of muscle strength, “If it is kept simple enough, it becomes second nature no matter where your
opponents are.”

“I should be calling you laoshi, xiansheng.” Childe’s eyes remained still on the bend of Zhongli’s
knees and the way his thighs were flexed in a crouch on the shore. “Keep going.”

Zhongli proceeded to deflect and modify his way through their parrying; the longer they sparred,
and Childe took the time to analyze his opponent’s techniques instead of getting distracted by his
thirst for an easy win, the more Childe began to see the distinct differences in their fighting styles.
Childe had always put rapid movements and powerful, fluid strikes first when facing off against
strong rivals, but Zhongli moved with less haste. His speed wasn’t unpredictable or unparalleled;
rather, it was so meticulous that only a split second was needed for all of his evasions and
combinations. The majority of his attention centred more on controlled arm and weapon
techniques, stable, immovable stances and fast footwork.

Childe was an exceptional fighter and had an absurd amount of speed, so where was the issue? He
had to take a minute to closely think while avoiding Zhongli’s onslaughts; when compared to
Zhongli, his attacks had less control, but came at a faster tempo. There wasn’t enough restraint in
his close combat. Childe was missing…

“Balance.” Childe pointed his wooden spear at Zhongli’s face, which was typically unfazed, minus
the slight, pleased curve of his eyes. “Is that what I’m lacking?”

Zhongli paused from their tussle, his face inches from Childe’s once he uncurled from his position.
“Your Yin and Yang are at conflict whenever you get too hasty, even though your qi is generally
healthy and flowing. Making sure you retain physical equipoise in all motion while in combat will
dictate whether or not you will leave a fight unscathed.”

Childe rotated on the balls of his feet, trying to picture exactly what Zhongli was explaining.
“Show me.”

Zhongli’s eyes flit to the sidelines. “Alatus.”

Childe turned to find Xiao face-to-face with him, his approach completely silent. He would never
get used to that. “Follow my steps, mortal, and don’t fall behind.”

Xiao began twisting his lance in a way that moved with his entire body; when slowed down,
Childe could compare it to dancing. It looked very different from how the Adeptus attacked at full
speed, when it was impossible to decipher where he was coming from or how his feet were
positioned. Now, it was broken down into a series of steps that could be shadowed, and Childe did
his best to deflect as Xiao continued his languid, slackened movements.

However, slowed down for Xiao meant at an ungodly-speed for mortals; if Childe had been anyone
else who hadn’t trained under the Tsaritsa or the Abyss, he would never have been able to keep up.

Zhongli took a step back and watched with his daunting intensity that made Childe feel as though
he had to put on a performance; he wanted to impress the man. He lightened his steps and placed
more of his weight into the balls of his feet, letting his spear guide his shifts and lunges as Xiao
commenced to pick up speed.

“I’m glad you came out today,” Childe stated before fruitfully walloping Xiao with his wooden
lance; he had been building up momentum and coercing with repetitive motions until the Adeptus
took a reassured moment to reorganize himself, which was the perfect opportunity to strike. “Since
you’re just giving away all your secrets like this, I’m going to surpass you in no time.”

The way Xiao’s entire face squeezed in fury, along with Zhongli’s very noticeable grin, made the
next few painful sideswipes from Xiao’s very-real spear completely worth it.
“Try preparing your maneuvers for two-against-one,” Zhongli’s eyes gave a quick, competitive
gleam before he entered back into the spar, his wooden spear just as powerful as a legitimate
weapon when wielded with such force. Between (a now provoked) Xiao, and Zhongli’s extensive
skill, Childe was coated in sweat, his heart beating a mile a minute. They had each gotten in
approximately three hits, while Childe had managed the one on Xiao and still had yet to land a
blow on the Geo Archon.

“Argh, xiansheng!” Childe groaned as Zhongli moved himself just out of his spear’s reach, “All
you do is run!”

“Oh? Do you want me to move in closer?”

That shouldn’t have made Childe’s heart quicken the way it did; Zhongli had sidestepped back into
Childe’s peripheral before a spear spiralled past his ribs, making him dodge with an admittedly
lucky sidestep. A brutal pace had been initiated, as Zhongli forced Childe to deflect his onslaught
without room for hesitation. All Childe could see was a pair of Cor Lapis eyes, reading his every
move, returning his every advance. The sand was being turned up around them so quickly it looked
as if Xiao had set off an Anemo gust; between the grit in the air and the eternal slashing and
blocking, it was identical to skirmishing in a sandstorm.

“Distribute your weight to your right,” Childe heard a deep, reverberating voice direct him in the
squall, right by the shell of his ear. His wooden lance struck out and found nothing but air, “Lower
your shoulders when striking for a low blow.”

Low, menacing orders came at Childe along with every slash of a spear hidden in the dust, and
Childe… Childe was keeping up. Just barely, but the invigorating sensation of having Zhongli and
his boundless power forcing him to work harder was enthralling him to the point of dependance.
Childe couldn’t go on without it; he needed this. It was different from the way Skirk had trained
him in the Abyss; she had shown no mercy, and had driven the Foul Legacy technique into his
body until it became second-nature. Zhongli’s training was less severe, yet all-encompassing; he
didn’t dictate like an intimidating commander. He sent out continuous instructions and oversaw
from every angle like a pervasive spirit.

Another slash to his left, and Childe was sent tumbling onto the beach. His feet had caught
underneath the damp sands by the shore; at some point, they had migrated closer to the water. The
fall was soft thanks to the gritty layers of padding beneath him, but it was hardly a reprieve. The
wind settled and the sand returned to the ground.

Zhongli, however, was far from finished.

His expression was deceivingly calm; all Childe could see were glowing eyes that practically
screamed is that the best you can do?

“I thought you wanted to train with me,” he chided, bending low to where Childe currently sat with
a lap covered in sand. How was he still spotless when Childe could feel gritting in every crevice of
his body? “Why are you taking a break so early?”

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe panted, “Don’t think you can mock me just yet. I’m far from
finished.”

A smirk that could make Celestia kneel broke across Zhongli’s face. “Good. Neither am I.”

They sparred until the sun was blazing overhead, where not even the ocean breeze could mask the
scorching heat boiling the coastline. As the ground turned to magma between Childe’s toes, and
even Zhongli’s human form was looking a little unkept, Xiao whispered into the wind.

“Morax, perhaps it is a good time for a break. Your mortal form is beginning to suffer.”

Childe, who had been plotting exactly which lumps of sand were damp enough to step on to allow
his feet a moment of peace, perked up. “It is?” He focused in on the other man’s face, which was
glistening with a light sheen of sweat. “You are?”

“Mmm.” Zhongli took a moment to push his sleeves up further from where they had slipped back
down to his wrists; Childe could pinpoint slivers of black and gold extending down from the
Archon’s elbows. “Though I’m nowhere near my limit.”

“We can stop for the day,” Childe walked over to inspect the Archon further; as if summoned by
Childe’s anticipation, a few scales emerged by Zhongli’s cheekbones. The image of Zhongli
surrounded by furs with dragonesque horns penetrated Childe’s mind, and his heart palpitated
spitefully. “We can pick up again whenever you have the time.”

Zhongli grunted; one long strand of golden-tipped hair had fallen loose from his ponytail, and was
drifting in the wind, holding Childe’s attention. “I can always make time for this. Only say the
word.”

Childe blinked. That sounded very close to I can always make time for you.

He thought that he had gotten the buzzing in his blood under control; Childe was finding it easier
to ignore, like the static in the background of a faulty Ruin Guard. It had become a part of his daily
life, whether Childe could accept it or not, and he was growing accustomed to living with the
strange sensation of feeling the need to do something whenever Zhongli exposed a little bit more of
who he was. During their fight, it was channeled into his vigor, and the difference between that and
his adrenaline was nearly indecipherable.

Standing stationary and forced back into a still reality where Zhongli was simply his friend, his
associate, the Prime Adeptus, the Geo Archon…

His blood felt fit to bursting out of his veins.

“O-okay, sure thing,” Childe strode towards the shore, uncertain of how his face looked, “I’m
going to walk the shoreline, maybe find a few trinkets to send back home.”

He really just needed to cool off. Chilled ocean water would hopefully alleviate some of the
ceaseless humming under his skin and would keep him from doing something drastic. He had
already fought Zhongli and would get more chances, as stated in their chance friends-with-fighting-
benefits contract; if sparring with the man wasn’t the solution, then Childe was honestly terrified
there was no cure for the intolerable tension etched into his body.

Childe rarely stayed in one place too long, and his time in Liyue had already been lengthier than
planned; perhaps it was his inner vagabond telling him to escape the Land of Contracts before it
became any harder to leave.

“Allow me to come with you.” Childe screamed internally as slow, unhurried footsteps crunched
behind him, “Alatus, thank you for your support.”

A hiss travelled on the seashore breeze. “I abide by your wishes. If I am no longer needed, I will
take my leave.”

“I had fun, guard dog! Let’s do this again, sometime.” Childe waved behind him, positive that the
Adeptus had already vanished into smoke before he had wrapped up his farewell. He pulled on the
few pieces of armor that were removed for the skirmish and reattached his crimson scarf, before
wading into the cool waters of Yaoguang up to his ankles. Beneath the clear, translucent waters,
Childe could see Starconches only a few feet away, their signature sparkle making them easy to
spot.

“Please refrain from calling Alatus a ‘guard dog,’” Zhongli sighed before following Childe straight
into the water, “I’m beginning to think you enjoy coercing him into retaliation.”

“Did you just figure that out now?’ Childe chuckled, rolling his pants up a bit higher before the
tide left its damp imprints on the hem of his uniform, “That was my goal all along. He’s more fun
to fight when he gets a little angry.”

Zhongli didn’t look impressed. Rather, he looked daunting, as he eased his posture and allowed
more of his mortal form to revert. His eyes slowly melded from soft amber into a reptilian ochre,
and thin, black slits gazed at Childe, very unconvinced. “A troublemaker, through and through.”

Childe grinned before reaching into the shallow waters in front of him to dig out the largest, bluest
Starconch he could see near his feet. The shell was seamlessly coiled, akin to the plushki rolls
Childe had always devoured back home. It was a little piece of Liyue that contained the beauty of
the ocean from across the sea, yet somehow still made him think of the smallest delights from his
village.

He always sent a few of these home for Teucer and Tonia; Anthon wasn’t entertained by the
sparkles of seashells, but Teucer adored the echoes they would make when he whispered his
secrets into them, and Tonia enjoyed breaking up the aqua-hued shells to craft jewerly.

“My siblings love these shells,” Childe picked up two more, smaller this time, closer to where
Zhongli stood with his pants neatly hemmed to the bottom of his knees; from this angle, water
refracted light on the small, glittering scales that had formed on his ankles, “I want to break my
record; last time I sent them a shipment of Starconches, I had sent forty-five. Do you think I can
manage sixty?”

Zhongli was staring at Childe, his face warm and sparkling with tiny Cor Lapis embellishments.
He waded out further into the water and began digging in the sand with his bare hands.

“What are you doing?” Childe let out a quick chuckle before catching up; in Zhongli’s hands were
three small Starconches, flawless and cerulean blue.

“I can help you. Perhaps together, we could collect even more.”

Childe’s laugh grew giddy, his contentment billowing out onto the ocean scenery. His whole body
felt alight with tremors; the buzzing was now visible. Childe prayed to the Tsaritsa that Zhongli
wouldn’t spot how his hands were trembling. Whether the shaking was a sign of good or bad to
come, it was impossible to fight.

“Then let’s make it a competition, xiansheng!”

Zhongli huffed, expressing his irritation at the suggestion. It was music to Childe’s ears. “Why
does everything need to be a competition with you?”

“It’s just how I function.” Childe was losing the battle with the buzzing; any moment now, and it
would swallow him whole. “I’ll use my Vision; you call upon your Geo. Whoever racks up the
least number of Starconches pays for dinner the next time we meet.”
That had Zhongli’s hair and eyes positively dazzling with light. With his body surrounded by the
reflections of the wide-open sea, he looked like a deity come ashore, off to bless some poor soul
with good fortune from the ocean’s depths.

A true immortal masquerading as a man.

“Between your control of the waters and my influence over the sands,” he mused, the pebbles at
his feet already gaining a shroud of glowing Geo energy, “I think it will be a close call.”

“There’s only one way to find out,” Childe incited before channeling his Hydro straight into the
calm waters lapping at his heels. Almost instantly, a tidal wave of surf spouted upwards into the
clouds. The wave was massive; all that sparring with nowhere for his Hydro energy to go had led
to a pent-up explosion of seawater. While mounds of sparkling shells flew into the sky, Zhongli’s
Geo quaked the ground as he pulled all of the larger stones and underwater fragments towards him,
vortexes of swirling sediment interweaving with Childe’s upsurge. It was a beautiful, impressive
sight to behold, and Childe wondered if anyone in the surrounding area could see the tip of his
peaking wave.

A shower of Starconches rained from above and coated the Yaoguang Shoals; from across the
shore, Childe could see a stretch of the azure seashells spread out like a mosaic amidst the sand.

Before Childe could gloat, Zhongli had waded over from his position at the edge of the shoreline,
his arms full of massive Starconches. They were the largest ones Childe had ever seen; even the
ivory lines that marked each coil were thicker than one entire conch shell from Childe’s pile.

Behind him sat a pile of Starconches just as large and beautiful as the ones filling his arms, and
Zhongli smiled before setting down his enormous seashells on the beach. He arranged the shells in
long, straight lines, until one side of the beach was completely decorated by Starconches as large as
Elemental Slimes. Compared to Childe’s mess of conch shells scattered chaotically, Zhongli’s side
was museum-gallery worthy.

“Where should we begin counting?” Zhongli came to stand next to Childe, and Childe couldn’t
help but notice how some of Zhongli’s pants had gotten wet, along with his entire dress shirt from
holding so many soaked sea-ornaments. The ends of his hair were dripping, and one small bead of
water fell from his jaw back into the ocean. It was the untidiest the Adeptus had ever looked, and it
was all to help Childe collect seashells for his siblings.

Childe shook his head. Get it together. “Okay, hang on a second, I just need to get everything—”

The dip in the sand was much deeper than he recalled, probably from how Zhongli’s Geo and
Childe’s Hydro Vision had reshaped the shoreline, and Childe had no time to catch himself before
he went flailing face-first onto the coast. His arms attempted to grab onto something for support to
avoid landing on an incredibly solid pile of conch shells, finding nothing but sea mist and air.

Two hands shot out to steady Childe, strong but unaware of just how much force would be needed
to re-balance a well-built, sinking Harbinger. Zhongli was yanked down as Childe urgently
searched for leverage; they both went tumbling to the side, a mess of limbs and ocean spray.

“Ack, wow, that’s, cough, cold,” Childe tried to sit up while fighting the pull of the tide and
couldn’t figure out where Zhongli’s legs and his arms began. A soaked chest laid beneath him,
unmoving even though it couldn’t have been comfortable. “A little help here, xiansheng.”

A damp hand found its way to Childe’s shoulder, making Childe look away from the dark,
shadowy figures of their bodies under the water’s surface, and up to where Zhongli’s face hovered.
“Are you alright?” His eyes were teeming with concern. “Did you injure your ankle?”

It took a second before Childe noticed; he was lying directly on top of Zhongli.

When he touched around with his right hand, he felt the give of smooth muscle from the man’s
arm; when he moved his leg, he could feel the outline of Zhongli’s knee. Chest-to-chest, face-to-
face, Childe could see every scale fragment merged to Zhongli’s cheeks, every speckle of color
dotting his eyes, the way his jaw clenched before taking in a surprised breath.

The buzzing in Childe’s body hit a new, agonizing peak. He could feel his chest squeeze painfully
and what could have been a lung collapse; Childe distantly wondered if he was dying, but he
couldn’t have been, because why was his heart still beating so fiercely? At the speed it was going,
it could escape from his throat and run straight to Dragonspine before giving out.

Those infernal Cor Lapis eyes surveyed him, up and down, searching for signs of pain. Zhongli’s
lips were twisted into a worried frown, dotted with sparkling droplets of ocean water. “Your mask
also seems to have fallen off. We can find it, but first…”

Ah. His fangs were beginning to peak through again. Could anxiety also speed up Zhongli’s
requirement for rehabilitation? That was kind of endearing.

“No…I’m fine. The fall just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

Zhongli’s arched brows were damp and crooked upwards. His hand had yet to leave Childe’s
shoulder.

“Are you sure? I can carry you until you know for certain.”

The thought of Zhongli throwing Childe over his shoulder, or worse, in a bridal-carry, made him
wince. “My pride would never recover, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

Zhongli let out a sigh of relief, and sharp, white teeth blinded Childe worse than the sun when he
smiled. “Your pride doesn’t need to worry with me, Ajax. I am well aware of what you’re capable
of, and how you surpass your limits with ease.” Childe was filled with enough affection that he
feared it would soon leak out of his orifices. “I only want you to be comfortable.”

“I’m right-as-rain.”

Childe was anything but. He was currently dealing with something he had spent months trying to
fight, and was only now coming to terms with how badly he had failed.

As someone who was rarely unsuccessful at anything, it was a crushing blow. But he endured, just
for the sake of being able to see those two little fangs for a minute longer. “I promise.”

Zhongli nodded, his smile unchanging. “Good. Let us get up and find your mask.”

Childe slowly lifted himself off of Zhongli and headed straight towards the Starconch-coated
shore. He was never well-known for hiding emotion; his feelings generally wound up directly on
his face, revealing and frustratingly obvious. “It’s almost time for you to rest up, xiansheng. Your
fangs are showing.”

He could hear the splashing from Zhongli’s movements as he exited the water behind him.
“Perhaps, though I think I can go a good while longer. Truthfully, I relaxed my form a bit in your
presence for my own selfish relief.” There was a pause before the man came closer, his voice
sending a shiver up Childe’s spine, “I can revert, if it upsets you.”
 Childe spun around to see Zhongli already holding the crimson Fatui mask in one blackened hand,
polishing off the grit stuck to its edges with the other. His clothes were sopping wet and clung to
every inch of his body, a body that was now radiating with Geo symbols. Their glow and shapes
could be made out from beneath the translucency of Zhongli’s drenched shirt.

The buzzing reached his stomach; Childe felt like he was going to vomit butterflies.

He spoke through the wings lodged in his throat. “Your natural form will never bother me.” A
sliver of too-much-honesty snuck its way out. “I like seeing it… it reminds me of the privilege I
have, getting to see more of who you are.”

Zhongli handed over Childe’s mask, his expression one of pleased shock. His radiance was
transforming the beach’s sand into hues of amber, as if they were at the peak of Mt. Hulao.

“Hmm. Very well. That is quite nice to know.” Zhongli hummed, “Although, my form cannot
dictate my true self. Just know that when I am with you,” his eyes grew poignant, dragon pupils
dazzling and unlike any other eyes Childe had glimpsed before. They were heavy with the gravity
Zhongli’s words always carried, “I am always myself.”

The buzzing had infested Childe’s mind; he had hoped it would be a little while longer before he
was choked in its grasp. It hummed and whirred and drew out every emotion and memory and
feeling and intensified it ten-fold, until Childe couldn’t think of anything except what every other
physical, mental and psychological reaction had been pointing to all along:

I think I have feelings for Zhongli-xiansheng.

Childe smiled, the defeat permeating his entire being, the acceptance akin to swallowing a dry pill.
“I would accept nothing less.”

Chapter End Notes

He did it, everyone. It took him (and myself) 50k, but he did it.

Childe finally realized he's dense.

*slow claps*

Also, excuse me waxing poetics every time Zhongli so much as blinks. I can't help it.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I've come to terms with the fact chapters will now take me longer to flesh out and
write, either because I've hit a turning point in the fic, or because I want to delve
deeper into characters. Work has also picked up IMMENSELY so a chapter every day
or two days might not come, for which I apologize.

Also, did anyone else notice how difficult the new Inazuma Domain is? I've been
*sweating*

Let me know what you think, and thank you for all of your support! <3
 Unsolicited Visitors
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Childe rubbed the crease between his brows back and forth, trying to relieve some of the tension
built up there to no avail.

“Ekaterina,” he began, looking up from beneath hooded lashes at his subordinate; she patiently
waited with clenched teeth for the tantrum Childe would inevitably throw after seeing the gaudy
Inazuman wax seal on the letter he had just received, “this says that Scaramouche is arriving today.
As in, I have to meet with him in approximately two hours. Care to explain to me why this letter
couldn’t have been delivered directly to me, say, a week ago?”

Ekaterina was a professional; she had a practiced Appease-the-Harbinger smile plastered onto her
half-covered face, which only made Childe more irritated.

“The letter was delivered by crow from his ship directly, Lord Harbinger,” she stated, “We only
received it an hour before your arrival at the Northland Bank.”

“So that egotistical ragdoll thinks he can just waltz into Liyue unannounced?” Childe’s fist
crumpled half of the financial documents he had previously been looking over. Considering the last
time a Harbinger crashed his party, which resulted in Zhongli’s betrayal and La Signora stealing
his thunder, Childe couldn’t afford to be a step behind again. "Make sure I am immediately
forwarded anything regarding new fronts in Inazuma. I want an ETA on Scaramouche now: who’s
with him, what’s on board his ship, and how long he plans to stay.”

“Of course, Lord Harbinger.” Ekaterina left the room in a flurry of haste; most likely going to
scrape together an immediate agenda for all of the Northland Bank to adhere to for the next hour.

What did the Harbinger from the South possibly want in Liyue? There were no formal
announcements made by the Fatui, so it couldn’t have been any widespread news Childe
overlooked by mistake. La Signora had left for Inazuma with plans of stealing the Raiden Shogun’s
Gnosis, and so far, her plan had yet to bear fruit. If anything, Scaramouche should remain there
while the Vision Decree was in full swing and the popularity of Delusions sold by the Kanjou
Commission were steadily on the rise. It didn’t make sense for the violet rat to travel so far
Northwest just for a quick chat.

Childe had to keep his guard up.

A crackling from the desk brought his attention down to the speaker, “Lord Harbinger, I apologize
for the interruption. I know you said to let Mr. Zhongli in directly, but since we have a certain
guest arriving soon…”

His temple was beginning to throb. “You can let him in.”

Ever since their spar at the Yaoguang Shoal and Childe’s impromptu realization that yes, he did in
fact feel something towards Zhongli that was perhaps more than just friendly feelings for an
associate or a comrade, Childe had worked ridiculously hard to maintain his composure around the
other man. They continued to dine together in the evenings and go on regular outings, all while
Childe punctured lasting holes in his bank account. He was nothing if not exceptional at being
Zhongli’s prized close friend.
Even though the term made Childe’s mouth curve in displeasure.

Following that day, Childe had gone his separate ways from Zhongli (who had collected a
whopping one-hundred and thirty-six Starconches compared to Childe’s close second of one-
hundred and seventeen), ordered an underling to pack up the gifts and prepare them for departure to
Snezhnaya, and promptly headed back out into Qingce Territory to scrap with as many beasts and
treasure hoarders as he could find.

Nothing helped Childe clear his head better than cutting down enemies. It was a win-win: he did
his job and collected the debts owed by underground smugglers to the Northland Bank, all while
getting a break from thinking about his Archon-related dilemmas.

Because how could it not be a dilemma? Zhongli was the Geo Archon; not only did Childe have a
tendency to set his standards unfeasibly high, but his loyalties rested with a different Archon
altogether. Childe would never set aside his priorities to the Tsaritsa for something as fickle as
attraction; he was young, but well-versed in the notion of staying true to one’s ruler. Childe’s sole
purpose was to act as the Eleventh Harbinger, a honed weapon tasked to impose the Empress’ will.

The aspirations of the Cryo Archon would forever come first.

And yet, Childe weighed outcomes like bullets in a gun fated for soldier’s roulette. Zhongli was
technically the Ex-Archon of Liyue; he had given up his title and his Gnosis, and to the Tsaritsa, at
that. This would make him no different than any other overly powerful being who Childe
interacted with on the daily, and wouldn’t pose a threat to the Fatui or the Cryo Archon.

Not to mention Childe could communicate and spend his time with whomever he wished, so long
as he recognized his position and never compromised his allegiances. There were no rules
surrounding a Harbinger’s personal life; the dangers of being a Fatui commander generally left no
room for such matters, but the Prime Adeptus was a special circumstance.

Plus, wasn’t he already spending the majority of his time with Zhongli? It hadn’t come up as an
issue so far, so why would this change anything?

Childe was getting ahead of himself. Far too ahead. All of his arguments were purely imaginative,
because:

1. Zhongli would never reciprocate Childe’s disgracefully juvenile, mortal feelings. He was a
six-thousand year old Adeptus, give or take, and Childe could fully understand how that
would make Childe’s fleeting emotions seem pitiable, and:
2. Childe still wanted things between the two of them to remain the same if possible.

Nothing had changed, really; once Childe gave it some thought, he had felt this way towards the
Adeptus for quite some time. Perhaps it started when he had bought him those chopsticks as a gift,
or even before that… the drunk night at Third-Round Knockout, possibly. It was an evening which
always stood out in his mind; the first time Zhongli had sat and listened to Childe’s whining, even
though they were still only acquaintances. Zhongli had no valid reason to entertain the intoxicated
Harbinger while he griped about how much he missed Snezhnayan snowstorms, and yet he had
hung about anyways.

His eyes were warm and golden and grounded Childe in a new nation when he had been otherwise
alone.

Childe was still such a kid at heart, getting attached to the first friendly face who would give him
the time of day. It was stomach-turning.
Even though carrying on as they always had was simple enough, Childe couldn’t help himself:
conquest was in his blood. He had always affixed himself to the most influential people in the
room, or sought out the most powerful artifacts to raise his own abilities.

Of course he would fall for the Geo Archon of Liyue. Childe was a disappointment; predictable
and disgracefully unoriginal. Who wasn’t infatuated with that man, on this gods-forsaken Land of
Contracts?

It all made sense; his jealousy with the poor Ferrylady, his possessiveness over Zhongli’s time,
wanting to purchase anything that he thought would make the Archon grin or share sentimental
stories of the past…

Childe had been as dense as Cor Lapis the entire time, hadn’t he?

Surely, however, it was nothing more than a crush. A fleeting feeling that would pass with time, so
long as Childe didn’t act on it or get carried away. He was the Vanguard; this wouldn’t, couldn’t,
distract him for long. Zhongli would eventually grow sick of Childe’s constant presence, and
Childe would move on to greener, more murderous pastures on some other part of Teyvat, and all
would return to the way it had been before Childe had ever met the man with the Cor Lapis eyes.

A simple solution to a simple problem; so why did it leave Childe feeling hollow?

Two light knocks at his door sealed his fate; Zhongli entered, his coat swishing elegantly as he
strode to stand in front of Childe’s desk. “Good morning, Ajax.”

A good morning it would be, too, if Childe could just sit with Zhongli while he whispered his
name and there were to be no unplanned drop-ins from a tiny immortal with a Napoleon complex,
hat and all. “I wish it were, xiansheng, but my day’s not off to a very good start.”

“Oh?” Zhongli always took care to look overly-invested in Childe’s fluctuating circumstances, and
Childe usually basked in the extra attention. Today, though, he just felt tired. “What’s the matter?”

“A fellow Harbinger from Inazuma is dropping by.” Childe saw Zhongli’s reaction, even if it was
nearly impossible to tell; a minute crook of the lips, “No warning, no advanced notice, nothing.
Ziltch. I have no idea what he’s looking for or why he’s decided to come to Liyue, and I detest
being underprepared, so excuse me if I seem a little short-tempered this morning. I’m still trying to
cover all my bases.”

“No need to apologize,” Zhongli took a seat in the buttery leather chair across from him, a new
piece that was recently acquired; Childe’s office required quite a few touch ups following Xiao’s
amicable visit. The tawny finish of the seat matched Zhongli’s coat trimmings, and its high back
suited his wide shoulders and stately bearing. “That is a stressful situation. Considering the
previous mission regarding the Harbingers was to steal my Gnosis, which, though indirectly headed
by myself, was effective, I am also unsure of what there is to gain that you have not already
provided.”

“Which is why I’m not so sure if this is about Liyue, specifically,” Childe mused, his hands
steepled under his chin, “Knowing Scaramouche, he’s looking for something. He’s a bloodsucking
leech who will do anything to benefit himself, whether that means snuffing out his foes’
weaknesses or stealing from the Tsaritsa herself. He’s brutal, dishonest, and a bit of a psychopath.
And he probably thinks I’m his one-way ticket to whatever he needs.”

Zhongli’s hands curled into tight fists. “He sounds deplorable.”

Childe chuckled. “And you thought I was bad, Zhongli-xiansheng. You haven’t seen the worst of
the Harbingers. Not by a long-shot.”

They sat in relatively tense silence, while Childe took a call from one of his Agents regarding a
ship that had pulled into the Harbor bearing the Inazuman crest; the Sixth Harbinger had landed in
Liyue.

Ekaterina was quick to send updates every few minutes regarding intel that poured in on Childe’s
command, every stationed subordinate retelling their data. “He arrived with only two Fatui
underlings, Lord Harbinger, along with what looks like ore deposits on an Inazuman vessel most
commonly used for rapid travel. There are no signs pointing to a long visit; perhaps this is a
stopover.”

“Let’s hope so,” Childe affirmed before hanging up and leaning back into his chair, feeling as if
were preparing for battle. Verbal jousts took much more out of him than physical violence; if only
he could solve all of life’s problems through the use of his Vision. “Alright, xiansheng, it’s best
time for you to head out. You don’t want to be here when that pompous scum enters the building.”

Zhongli’s eyes flashed, Cor Lapis shimmering. “It may be too late for that.” Childe stiffened. “I
sense a heavy Elemental presence near the Northland Bank; it reminds me vaguely of the Electro
Archon, only much fainter.”

“That would be the Sixth Harbinger,” Childe pointed towards the door. A faint shiver of dread
made its way up his spine, thinking about Scaramouche laying his soulless eyes on the Geo
Archon, “I’ll definitely see you soon, xiansheng. Sorry to rush you out like this.”

“Understood.” Zhongli nodded before rising to his feet and walking straight to the door, no
explanation needed; he was reliable like that, always comprehending when Childe’s Harbinger
mask would have to be donned, materially and mentally, “I will be nearby.”

An odd thing to say if they were comforting words, considering the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was
permanently only a block or two away, but Childe took it as a comfort nevertheless.

The door shut behind Zhongli’s tall form, and his footsteps disappeared down the echoing foyer of
the Northland Bank. Not even a minute later, new, lighter footsteps took their place, and Childe’s
door was flung open unceremoniously by a short figure with outlandishly ornate clothing and a hat
as wide as the office entrance.

Two Fatui Mages stood in the hall, bowed towards the Harbingers, and departed before shutting
the door behind the violet brute.

“Tartaglia,” Scaramouche grinned as his cobalt, almond-shaped eyes scoured over his colleague,
the office and everything around him, visually consuming his surroundings for future exploitation.
Childe didn’t move a muscle; he sat perfectly still, a poised image of the Eleventh Harbinger in his
natural territory, “Long time no see. Nice place you got here, though it's a little cramped.”

Childe chuckled darkly. “It certainly has been a while, Scaramouche.” He titled his head to the
side, as if deep in thought, “but for someone your size, I think this office would be more than
spacious enough. You wouldn’t want to get lost.”

Best to start off their unscheduled meeting with an insult; Scaramouche’s grin grew deadly. “Big
words from the littlest, weakest Harbinger. I didn’t come all the way from Inazuma to be taunted
by a child, now, did I?”
“Who knows,” Childe’s eyes narrowed as he inspected Scaramouche; the immortal was much too
chipper considering the time of day. It was usually not until late-afternoon before he could play
nice with others (and this was definitely the Inazuman Harbinger playing nice), “That is a great
question, though. What brings the Sixth Harbinger all the way up to the Land of Contracts? I
imagine the Qixing aren’t going to let you relax here for long.”

Scaramouche planted himself in the leather seat Zhongli had previously warmed; his hat barely fit
between the tall side posts, and Childe smirked.

“Pfft, those spoiled rich kids?” The purple maggot laughed before leaning over onto Childe’s desk,
claiming the space as his own, “What are they going to do? They couldn’t even force you out of
the city, and you tried to obliterate them with a five-headed sea serpent.” At that, he barked a
laugh; Kunikuzushi was the picture-perfect definition of corrupted.

He wiped a nonexistent tear from his lashline before continuing, “Things in Inazuma are falling
perfectly into place. I have a little free time to roam before the war really heats up between the
Watatsumi Army and the Tenryou Commission. Everything is coming together back in my region,
but I wonder… how are things going for you, Tartaglia?”

Childe’s jaw clenched.

“Can’t complain,” he responded without emotion, “Liyue is a land of opportunity, teeming with
strong opponents and priceless treasures.”

“Ah, and I bet you know exactly where to look, right?” Scaramouche leaned back, his eyes lost to a
malignant pleasure, and it clicked, then, what the Sixth Harbinger wanted.

He never got a chance to rub Childe’s humiliating botch-job of a mission in his face.

“If this is about the Geo Archon’s Gnosis,” his voice was cool as ice, “then it doesn’t really matter;
the past is the past. The Tsaritsa’s wishes were fulfilled, and that’s all I care about. Even if I did
get the short end of the stick.”

First rule of defense; acknowledge shortcomings before the enemy can. It couldn’t be used against
Childe if he brought it up on his own.

Scaramouche hummed, his leer twitching on one side, like he was one wrong laugh away from
tearing his face in two, “Hmm, what a good little pet you are for the Cryo Archon. Isn’t it a shame
La Signora got all the glory? Working with the Geo Archon, who was by your side the whole
time…” Childe clenched his fists into the fabric of his pants beneath the desk, “What a crushing
setback.”

Scaramouche shook his head, his hat décor tinkling with the movement. Small tsk tsk sounds kept
leaving his lips as his eyes flitted back to the door, “Speaking of which, wasn’t that him?”

Childe blinked, willing away the urge to blast the lavender worm back into the Harbor with a
cyclonic blast of Hydro. “Who?”

“The man with the yellow eyes,” Scaramouche jabbed a thumb towards the hallway while Childe
used every ounce of his professionalism not to choke out Scaramouche in a fit of impulsiveness. He
should have known the Sixth Harbinger would lock his sights on the man if they crossed each
other; wasn’t Scaramouche a disposed-of carbon copy of the Inazuman Archon? Childe wondered
if they could sense other Archons in the vicinity.

His attempt at keeping Zhongli out of Scaramouche’s periphery went up in smoke in less than five
minutes. “That was the old Geo Archon, right? Fancy clothes, fake Vision, emanating prehistoric
strength?”

Childe snorted. “The Geo Archon is six-thousand years old, not six-hundred thousand. Get your
eras in check.”

“Whatever.” Scaramouche waved a flippant hand, nearly tangling in the many garnishes dripping
from his headpiece. “He’s still centuries older than me, which practically makes him a living
fossil.”

“Can you get to the point?” Childe was done with pretenses; he could only stand the other
Harbingers for so long before baring teeth. His words were tinged with aggravation.

Scaramouche raised a brow into the tips of his bangs. “So touchy, Tartaglia. Now I’m extra
curious! What are you doing hanging around the Ex-Archon who played you like a fiddle?”

Scaramouche was always like this; doing everything in his power to get others to rise to the bait.
Childe had his fair share of practice dealing with toxic individuals, but sometimes he wondered if,
when Scaramouche was created, the Electro Archon left a few screws loose on purpose, just as an
experiment. There were no rational justifications other than faulty settings for a person to be so
infuriating.

“That’s what he did, and with La Signora’s assistance, too,” Scaramouche continued to ignore the
way Childe was radiating murderous intent from the opposite side of the wooden frame between
them. “I guess you’ve matured somewhat, if you can mingle with a god who ground your
reputation down into the dirt. Is it because he feels sorry for you? I've heard Morax has quite the
soft spot for humans, these days; who knew that extended to someone as unfortunate and washed
up as yourself—”

A hand struck out and wrapped around Scaramouche’s scrawny neck, leaving the Harbinger
winded. If he was taken by surprise, Scaramouche didn’t show it; rather, his eyes sparkled with a
victorious glint.

“Congratulations, it’s been approximately three minutes, and you’ve already overstayed your
welcome. That’s a new record,” Childe gave the Harbinger’s neck a violent squeeze before
thrusting his minuscule body back into its place, Scaramouche sneering like the cat that got the
cream, “Unlike you, a minor setback doesn’t hold me down for long. My strength increases with
every experience, and learning from those more powerful instead of treating every affiliation like a
bug to squish is why I could still destroy you on the battlefield. Immortal or otherwise.”

An ugly, phlegmy croak escaped from Scaramouche as he wiped his mouth with the back of his
sleeve.

“Big talk for someone without any self-control,” his voice was pleasingly hoarse, “Look at how
fast you react. Still so much to learn.”

“Not quite,” Childe flung a cord of Scaramouche’s hat that was resting on the table back at the
man in the chair, “I just know that eliminating you would have no consequences. In fact, I bet
many people would thank me.”

“Mmm? Would the Tsaritsa, though?” Scaramouche chuckled as he watched Childe roll his eyes,
“You and I both know that I'm going to walk out of here perfect unscathed, because at the end of
the day, you're just a slave to the Cryo Archon's will.”
Childe took quick stock of his office, which had been returned to its previous beauty after he and
Xiao had destroyed it. Was it worth it to have to go through all of that construction again just to
teach Scaramouche a lesson?

The scale wasn't tipped in Childe's favour either way.

“You know, this was all partly La Signora’s idea,” Scaramouche was standing now, pacing
Childe’s Sumeran rug and leaving sandalled indents with his steps, “She loves to kick a dog when
he’s down, and I can’t say I don’t enjoy similar pastimes. She hoped to have something to send
back to Zapolyarny Palace that would paint you in an inferior light; sadly, I can’t say you look
worse for wear.” Sapphire eyes fixated on Childe’s face. “The last thing we heard was about you
overusing your Delusion.”

“What of it?” Childe flexed his Electro up his right arm and into an arch above his head, where it
gathered down again in his left palm, “I healed up in no time.”

“I can see that,” the other man grunted, crossing his short arms. The large, vivid Inazuman symbol
over his chest blinded Childe when the sun hit its rim, “But that also interests me; Inazuma is the
place to be if you’re craving some danger,” Childe glared at the Sixth while Scaramouche looked
to the top of his hat, pondering, “I would’ve pegged you as the type to hurry down to the islands
the second you were free, yet you’ve been stationary. And sure, you’ve always been a loyal mut to
the Snezhnayan Queen, but whatever you have going on here in Liyue can’t be as imperative to the
future of the Fatui as the all-out conflict being fought on Inazuman soil. What’s that all about?”

Scaramouche smirked before sinking into his target.

“What have you found here that’s got you so tied down?”

Childe internally recoiled; outwardly, his face didn’t move in the slightest, minus a small quirk of
his brow. He wanted to get the Sixth Harbinger out as quickly as possible, because he was already
getting that terrifying glint in his eye. It was the telltale warning sign of the Balladeer’s curiosity
being piqued: a dangerous occurrence. Once Scaramouche had his eyes set on something, there
were no such words as too invasive or having tact.

A very incendiary wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Childe smiled. “Can’t a guy get a little committed after spending so much time in one place?”

“Sure, if they don’t have a single brain cell saved for bloodlust, like yourself,” Scaramouche
chuckled as if he knew Childe inside and out, and Childe was ready to check for himself if the
other man was Electro-proof, like his better half, “I would ask if you hit the motherload of all
treasures, but you sit in a building weighed down by gold. There’s a chance you found a new lead
for the Tsaritsa’s rebellion… but that’s a theory I’ll save for a rainy day. So, my favorite
hypothesis, and one I’ve only recently developed, is that even though your last assignment in Liyue
was a complete catastrophe, you’re still here because there’s a source of power in this Harbor
that’s too good to pass up.”

Childe charged headfirst into Scaramouche’s game. “Perhaps you’re right, but what concern is it of
yours? Focus on your schemes and I’ll handle mine.”

“I bet it has something to do with the Geo Archon,” Scaramouche considered, making Childe’s
teeth clamp painfully; the last thing he needed was for the other Harbinger to know just how much
it had to do with the Adeptus, “if he’s coming around here so casually. Are you two buddy-buddy?
If so, he’s got bad taste in company.”
“I won’t hesitate to rip you apart limb from limb, Balladeer,” Childe could feel it in the air; the
rippling of Elemental energy coming from Scaramouche’s body. It was potent enough to send the
hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Childe was out of practice; he was jumping the gun
on the other man’s taunts much too soon.

Perhaps the predicament involving Childe’s feelings towards Zhongli was still too fresh for this
kind of interrogation. Childe detailed coldly, “You’re not going to find anything in Liyue but a
blade to your throat while I’m here, I can promise you that.”

Scaramouche’s eyes grew intense and calculating, before he let out a sharp, metallic cackle. “I’m
seeing chinks in your armor, Tartaglia, which tells me I’m right on the money. Hmm…”

Two small hands slapped down onto Childe’s desk as the Harbinger leaned across, loitering over
Childe. For such a young, innocent face, the evil that emanated from it was unparalleled.

“Oh, this is fun. What are you trying to steal from him, Harbinger Eleven? La Signora already tried
to wheedle the old Geo man down using her typical manoeuvres and got nowhere. He didn’t seem
interested in wealth or her feminine wiles.” Childe couldn’t stop his fists before they leaked with
Hydro without permission, and Scaramouche’s gaze fixated on the blue glow of his hands as if
they were grenades ready to burst. “Kind of surprised me; she looked like his type… and he did
conspire with her over you, after all.”

Childe’s face went dark; just thinking about Signora’s long, dark fingernails hovering near
Zhongli’s neck, whispering into his ear, hinting at the possibility of more if their scheme came to
fruition. All of the Harbingers were more than aware of how La Signora had gained such a loyal
following of underlings, as well as her greatest strength when it came to persuading others.

The image of Zhongli in that position, with the Fair Lady in his lap, her corseted chest pressed up
against the Adeptus as she attempted to gain control over his will and break him as she had so
many other influential men…

“You’re mad! It’s written all over your squishy, human face.” The leather chair screeched as
Scaramouche toppled back into it, his laughter permeating the room like noxious gas, “How
interesting!”

A Hydro sword grew from the water steadily building in Childe’s palm before it found purchase in
the soft plush of Scaramouche’s backrest. The Harbinger hardly flinched; the blade was exactly a
hair’s length away from slicing his carotid open and spilling whatever ghastly fluid flowed through
the puppet's artificial veins across the office floor.

The impact made a whoosh as air released from the wing chair’s interior; clearly, Childe’s office
was never going to catch a break.

“You have until the count of five to ready yourself.” Childe stated bluntly, his entire body charged
with a need to chop up Scaramouche’s hat until it resembled one of normal proportions. He was up
and next to the other Harbinger in an instant, his Hydro already shielding himself as he prepared
for a charge of surging tides. “I’ve got a hectic schedule and you’ve wasted enough of my time.
One…two…three…”

“I’m calling your bluff right now,” Scaramouche retorted, but Childe had gained some footing; the
smile was finally wiped off of his self-satisfied face, “but I suppose I’ve had enough entertainment
for one morning. We can continue this conversation another time.”

Childe removed his blade from his previously-pristine seat before righting his crimson scarf,
which had fallen awkwardly. “Or, even better option: you leave Liyue and we never cross paths
again.”

“Let me say what I need to say, you halfwit,” the man had composed himself enough to actually
start talking business. What a novelty; Childe wanted to scream. “I’m much too busy to waltz all
the way over to Liyue just to inconvenience my fellow Harbinger; I was asked by the Tsaritsa to
deliver a few Delusion prototypes made from the Crystal Ore in Inazuma to your recruits.” He
ruffled around his person, searching for something. “Here’s the official documentation, if you
don’t believe me.”

Childe snatched the paper out of Scaramouche’s hand the minute he had rendered it from one of
his sleeves. Trying to sabotage Childe’s recruit training wouldn’t be all that surprising of a move
for the Balladeer, if he were bored enough. Fortunately for him, the seal of the letter had the
certified crest of the Empress, and her distinguished, frosty handwriting was near-impossible to
replicate.

“Huh, so you actually came here for a reason. And you couldn’t have included this in your
preceding dispatch?” Childe folded up the letter before stuffing it into his coat pocket, still much
too-ready for a physical altercation. He couldn’t bring himself to sit back down, so he leaned
against the bookshelf towering over Scaramouche. “How thoughtless of you.”

A dreadful sneer crept back onto the Balladeer’s pale, soft face. “But look how much fun it is, to
meet without pretenses. Conversations like these are never dull; I feel like I’ve already learned so
much during our short encounter.”

Something about that statement made a small crumb of dread sink to the bottom of Childe’s
stomach.

There were various jingling and tinkling sounds as Scaramouche lifted himself out of the chair, his
many apparel decorations singing the songs of windchimes. He was leaving.

Fucking finally.

“The Delusions have already been sent to the Harbor's outpost,” Scaramouche played with the
trimmings of his headpiece until they sat in a way that gave him contentment, “Otherwise, that’s
all you need to know. I still have a few stops to make back on Seirai and Yashiori, so I’ll be
departing.”

Childe sneered. “It’s been a pleasure, Balladeer.”

The look Scaramouche sent over his shoulder validated Childe’s inner trepidation. “It certainly has,
Tartaglia. Or Childe, as you go by here in the Land of Geo. But I’m far from through with you.”
Lunacy shone through those peering eyes of violet. “Don’t think I won’t come back to check up on
you and the mysterious Geo Archon; I’m thoroughly invested in what’s got you so worked up. It’s
very unlike you, and therefore very exciting.”

“You need a hobby.” Childe flung his office door open before stepping aside, as much of a
proposal for the purple Harbinger’s departure as he would give, “So long.”

“You're welcome, by the way,” Scaramouche murmured as he strode out the door, Childe
preparing to slam it on the large hat’s accessories, “for leaving you in one piece after touching me.
I've ruined others for much less. Maybe next time, if things go well, you'll get that fight you’ve
been asking for.”
 “If we see each other again soon, it will be for certain.” Childe couldn’t even bring himself to keep
a plastic smile on his face; he smashed the door without preamble behind the tiny man’s violet
frame.

There had been a shift in Childe’s plans; something new was on the horizon. Whether
Scaramouche’s words were symbolic of what was to come, or if the Fatui schemes in Inazuma
would alter his future course, Childe could feel the inevitability of change heading his direction.

He wanted to treasure the intimate, opportune moments he could take from Liyue and its Archon
while he could.

Chapter End Notes

Time for the other Harbingers to begin making their debuts...and to roll out more of
the plot.

I love how Childe can't stand his fellow Harbingers; it makes for very fun writing.
Scaramouche is also a joy to write; his maniacal thirty seconds of screen time in the
last mission campaign was enough to make me yearn for more.

This chapter was more dialogue-driven, but it was necessary for what's to come. Fluff
will be incoming soon.

Let me know what you think, and thank you for the amazing messages! The
comments on the last chapter literally FUELLED me into this one headfirst, I was so
happy and inspired. AO3 is an insanely beautiful community.

ALSO: I made a Twitter! It will focus on fics and genshin stuff, so if you want to pop
by and fan out over Childe/Zhongli or anything else, I’d love to be a part of it.

https://mobile.twitter.com/suibianitsfine
 Winds of Change
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

The evening air on the rooftop of the Wanghsu Inn was brisk and clean; Childe basked in the chill
that gathered in his bones as he hunkered down in front of what could only be described as a
commemorative feast, the wafting aroma of freshly fried shrimp, pork, bao and fiery dan dan
noodles overrunning his senses.

“And what exactly are we celebrating tonight, Zhongli-xiansheng?” Childe’s eyes glazed over
eagerly when Smiley Yanxiao placed a seasoned roast duck directly in front of his table setting, the
skin appearing perfectly crisp and golden brown. His salivatory glands were working
disconcertingly hard to flood his mouth from the heavenly scent alone.

Zhongli, who looked right at home seated by the edge of the balcony with Dihua Marsh acting as
the ideal nighttime backdrop, smiled in the glow of two strung-up lanterns near their table. The
zenith of Wangshu Inn was not typically utilized for dining services; however, the young man who
spent the majority of his days in seclusion at Wangshu had quietly explained to Smiley Yanxiao
that an esteemed guest desired to dine on the summit. How could the chef refuse his favorite
customer, who only deemed it suitable to smile when savoring his Almond Tofu?

“There does not need to be an occasion to dine well,” the Adeptus asserted as he folded a pressed,
white napkin over his lap. “I am aware that your work today was especially gruelling due to the
Sixth Harbinger’s spontaneous visit, so I organized something a little more impressive.”

It was hard not to turn pink when Childe thought about Rex Lapis asking his Yaksha for a request
of leave to dine in peace on his favored Inn’s rooftop, just because he had noted the stress piling on
Childe’s shoulders before Scaramouche’s arrival. It was an intimate gesture of kindheartedness,
and Zhongli’s ability to surprise Childe and fill him with a warmth that may well set Liyue aflame
could be challenged by none, except perhaps only by his siblings’ affections.

“And you’re sure this has nothing to do with the fact I’m paying, since I lost the Starconch
competition?” Childe rested his cheek in the palm of his hand, staring wistfully at the Adeptus
under the stars. It was much harder to keep his face in check when hidden in the pallor of
moonlight, where Zhongli’s coat glistened with the intensity of a stellar constellation.

Zhongli let out a breathy chuckle before he began to carefully place a few pieces from each dish on
Childe’s plate. “I nearly forgot about that.” The glint in his eyes told a different story completely,
but Childe digressed. “I took the liberty of ordering what Alatus suggested were the spicier,
heartier dishes served by Yanxiao-chushi, which cater more to your tastes. The Roast Chili Fowl is
also a renowned crowd-pleaser, so you may wish to try that first.”

“You’re too good to me,” Childe jested, holding his chopsticks up as he tried and failed to grab an
ample piece of duck, “and you know I’m not picky with food. As long as it’s fresh and hot, I’m
happy to eat it.”

“I’ve noticed a trend, nevertheless,” Zhongli stated as Childe let out a quick ha! when he finally
managed to get a portion of food into his mouth. “You lean towards spicier meals when you’ve had
disagreeable clients. Which you then tell me all about with a full mouth.”

Was it fair that the serious consultant could tease without breaking into a grin? No, it wasn’t, and
the worst part was Zhongli grew more experienced at turning Childe’s face Jueyun Chili Red with
every passing day. “Xi-xiansheng! That’s only because most spicy options are filling, and on those
days, I want to drink on a full stomach. Not everyone can hold their liquor like an immortal… and I
most certainly do not talk with my mouth full,” Childe faltered. “… unless I’ve been drinking.”

Zhongli flashed his superbly white teeth before pinching a few options from the table for his own
plate. Childe only just realized that he had started eating before Zhongli’s dish had even a scrap of
food on it; the Adeptus stacked it all onto the Harbinger's instead. “I don’t mind at all. What took
place during the meeting?”

Childe spun his eyes to Celestia. “Scaramouche dropped in to deliver some Fatui equipment from
Inazuma.” He broke the juiciest looking bao on his plate by accident, the soupy filling leaking out.
Zhongli watched on in predictable dismay. “The Balladeer performed his same old song and
dance; he did his best to degrade me regarding my shortcomings in Liyue, which you should take
partial responsibility for, that then almost resulted in a duel to the death…” Zhongli looked ready
to interrupt with a disgruntled objection, “Almost. Almost. He threw in a few more threats for good
measure, as did I, and then he left.”

At Zhongli’s loaded silence, Childe heaved a sigh. “This is all typical Harbinger discourse,
Zhongli-xiansheng. We can’t be in the same room without ruffling a few feathers.” He specifically
opted to leave out Scaramouche’s loaded warning to return; there was no point in mentioning it
because Childe would take care of it, should the lavender Harbinger come back for “research”
purposes.

Hs newfound fascination with Zhongli was Childe’s slip-up, so the least he could do was stick
around to make sure the Sixth Harbinger kept his proper distance.

An unhappy noise sounded from Zhongli’s throat, deep and resonant. “For a faction who
supposedly shares the same objective, Fatui Harbingers are quick to turn on their allies.”

Childe scoffed. “Just because we all serve the Fatui, doesn’t mean we share the same respect for
the Tsaritsa or will use the same means for her goal. We’re Harbingers because we are the best at
what we do, and the Empress recognizes that.” His eyes narrowed in frustration. “If one of us
makes a mockery of the Fatui, then that reflects poorly on the whole lot.”

If there were two things that could divert Childe from his blunders, it would be an incredible meal
and substantial drinks. Zhongli was correct; the duck was phenomenal. The satisfying crunch from
its skin nearly made Childe keen. Perhaps chopsticks were a good choice for this kind of feast, as
Childe would be forced to savor each auspicious bite he took. He could pick up talents at the drop
of a hat and learn new tricks faster than most, but chopsticks were clearly the one technique that
would take Childe decades to master.

“Even though you become angry with me for doing so, I’m going to apologize again.” Zhongli
patted his napkin to the side of his mouth, “I am sorry for deceiving you. It was not my intention to
create trouble for you amidst your ranks.”

Childe shrugged indifferently. “It’s all in the past. Even good guys lie and manipulate at times…
and bad guys have their own doubts and misgivings. Plus, we fought it out.” Childe laughed to
himself. “Besides, what kind of Vanguard would I be if I let the words of some smug puppet get to
me?”

The wine at the table was rich and velvety, which paired well with all of the fragrant, substantial
dishes, and Childe found himself indulging in more than his fair share of glasses. Their
conversation shifted from their daily routines (Zhongli spent his day holding an overly-enthusiastic
Hu Tao back from a couple who inquired about her two-for-one plot deal, who she then asked if it
would be a rush job), the plans surrounding an upcoming Liyue festival of Harmonious
Connections, celebrating the Harbor’s ties to all of Teyvat through their illustrious trade industry,
as well as other recent updates involving the city. However, Childe couldn't focus; his mind had
adhered to a specific thought that refused to dislodge.

What Scaramouche brought up regarding La Signora was still shamefully pestering him.

He wanted to know more regarding what the Sixth mentioned; how, exactly, the Fair Lady’s
“feminine wiles” were used on the Funeral Consultant.

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe sighed remorsefully as another helping of noodles dropped from his
chopsticks; he was only halfway done his meal, whereas Zhongli had moved onto a palate-
cleansing platter of Lotus Fruit, “We’ve been friends for awhile now, so I think I can ask these
kinds of questions without sounding presumptuous.” He took an extra sip of his huangjiu, “When
you colluded with The Eighth Harbinger, what happened?”

Zhongli looked as though he wasn’t sure who Childe was referring to, so he cleared his throat. “La
Signora. When you two spoke about handing over your Gnosis, what did she…”

What did she do to sweeten the deal, he was tempted to say. Instead, he rephrased, “What kind of
interactions did you two share?”

“Oh.” The Adeptus lightly blew on his fresh cup of Pu-Erh tea, the warm, earthy scent wafting by
Childe’s face, “She proposed the plan before you and I had begun our daily interactions, and thus it
had been set into motion for some time; although we did not speak at regular intervals, she kept in
contact. It was an effective business collaboration and nothing more.”

Zhongli’s stone expression gave nothing away, and neither did his straight-to-the-point responses.
Sometimes it was difficult to get what Childe wanted out of the Archon. “Alright…what did you
think of her?”

The wind picked up as the night drew on; it lifted Zhongli’s bangs so that Childe could better see
the way his brow quirked in curiosity. “What did I think of her? Do you mean as a person, or as a
Harbinger?”

“Both,” Childe acquiesced, feeling silly but justified. Let it be blamed on the strength of the
alcohol for the invasive inquiries. “Both is good.”

Zhongli spoke as Childe fought tooth and nail to grasp one specific tangbao that had probably
cooled off by now without splitting its translucent casing. “She is a cunning woman with an eye for
subterfuge; as a Harbinger, it is clear she is very confident in her abilities. She must be incredibly
self-assured as to contact me directly to discuss the proposal regarding my Gnosis.”

There was a sudden halt in Zhongli's explanation before he continued; most likely a realization that
the topic was more consequential to Childe than he let on. "Please do not misunderstand, however.
My contract with the Cryo Archon is the only reason such a transaction took place; it had nothing
to do with the Eighth Harbinger.”

“Yes, I knew that already,” Childe replied huffily, “I understand you’re under oath, but I would
still love to know exactly what the Tsaritsa posed that made it worth such a trade-off. We don’t
exactly ask many questions in the Fatui regarding our Empress’ verdicts.”

“Mmm,” Zhongli’s eyes hardened as he watched Childe messily catch a dumpling before it
slithered from his grip, “I cannot say. Just know it was a choice that has been thoroughly,
painstakingly mulled over.”

There were still heaping, delicious pieces of duck left on Childe’s plate that he wanted so badly to
grab with his fingers, but Zhongli had given him that look last time, so he decided to try using his
utensils as a two-pronged forklift. Lifting may work better than clutching. “I can’t imagine you
doing anything without giving it an immense amount of thought. I just wonder, since you planned
on giving your Gnosis to the Tsaritsa from the beginning, why you couldn’t ask me to support your
endeavours. Did La Signora offer something else that, perhaps, I couldn’t—give you—”

Childe’s words skated off-course when a shadow descended upon his side; Zhongli had drawn his
chair to Childe’s left, where he was now laying a gloved hand over Childe’s own. Childe stared in
pure incredulity as Zhongli lifted his hand gently to gain control of his thumb and ring finger.

“Your food is growing cold,” Zhongli’s voice was practically in Childe’s ear with how far he
needed to bend over to guide Childe’s hand into a better position. It was husky and taut, most likely
because of how exasperated he had become from watching Childe more or less play with his meal.
“Balance the bottom stick here, like so…” a light pressure was placed on Childe’s hand as Zhongli
moved his palm across it, gesturing lightly, “so that when you go to eat, the food will be caught
here…”

Zhongli’s body was almost flesh with Childe’s side, his fragrance of sandalwood and Silk Flowers
overpowering the lingering scent of the spicy fowl. As much as Childe wanted to pay attention to
his chopsticks, which with Zhongli’s guidance were actually grasping food with some success, he
couldn’t; the Adeptus was much too close. His hair was tickling the side of Childe’s earlobe; his
gaze was near-level with his own, and from his peripheral, Childe could see the permanent crimson
trails of red tracing the rims and sides of Zhongli’s luminescent eyes. He could see lines forming on
the Adeptus’ lips as they pursed in concentration, directing Childe’s hand to his mouth with a pair
of chopsticks that now held a very generous portion of duck, noodles and sauce.

His heart thumped loud in his ears; Zhongli could most likely hear Childe’s pulse as he leaned in to
grab the food, the heat of Zhongli’s hand and body still pressed into him, shielding him from the
nighttime wind.

“Now try again,” the Archon near-whispered, continuing to slant his body inwards and show
Childe where to hold his fingers, “and in regards to La Signora…” Good Tsaritsa, Zhongli was
really going to continue chatting like what he was doing wasn’t extinguishing all of Childe’s ability
to think. The Ex-Archon was a monster, “before she was certain that I would approve of her
proposition, the Eighth Harbinger had offered other means of encouragement. She had hoped that
we could share a partnership that would be mutually beneficial.” The Adeptus grunted in derision,
using both of his hands now to steady Childe’s, which were quivering slightly, “I, of course,
rejected such an outlandish notion.”

Childe rushed his words before another mouthful of food made it through his lips; it was hard to
tell whether he was getting the hang of it, or if Zhongli was just feeding him at this point. “So, in
blunter terms, she attempted to take you to bed?”

Zhongli looked slightly perturbed at the phrasing, but Childe was already waist-deep in his self-
indulgent probing. He couldn’t control the resentfulness that flared in his chest, whether Zhongli
had refused the Harbinger or not. That should have offered him some sort of sick relief, and yet, he
was still furious.

How could that vile witch possibly believe that she stood a chance with someone as prodigious and
unfettered as Rex Lapis? Just the thought alone was repugnant. La Signora had no self-awareness;
no matter how beautiful she appeared, Childe had always recognized the repulsiveness beneath the
glamorous getup. Growing up in Snezhnaya, where men and women alike were generally graceful,
lithe and attractive, Childe gained a sixth sense for sniffing out garbage concealed underneath
pretty wrapping.

“I suppose those would have been the terms,” it was cathartic to see Zhongli react so poorly to the
suggestion of sleeping with the blonde enforcer, “but that is not a proposal I would ever entertain.”

Zhongli had let go of Childe’s hand, as he began picking up his own food with less of it dropping,
already an improvement. However, he had yet to leave the vicinity of Childe’s personal space. His
side was still emitting warmth, Zhongli’s coat a much more suitable layer for the nip in the air of
Wangshu Inn’s peak than Childe’s thin jacket.

Childe persisted in guzzling the last few sips of his wine before emptying the glass. “Why not?”

His mouth was running on its own set of rules; obviously the discovery of his feelings towards the
Archon had pilfered control of Childe’s basic motor skills, because why else would he pose such a
rash question?

“You want to know why I denied her advances?” If Zhongli had looked reluctant before, he looked
downright uncomfortable now, and the human, youthful expression had Childe sitting up straighter
and nodding rapidly. Though he was still reeling from the spontaneous hand-holding (Childe was
going to count it as a dear moment to treasure, even if the Adeptus was just being his
magnanimous self), this felt like something he needed to hear.

It was a topic they had never breeched; what kind of relationships had Zhongli procured over the
span of six millennia?

Was he even interested in those kinds of mundane things?

“Come on, Zhongli,” Childe hoped that the use of his singular name had even the slightest similar
effect it did when Zhongli said Ajax, but he had his doubts, “Friends can talk about more personal
matters. Fatui Harbinger or not, anything you say won’t change how I see you.”

Eyes of gold pondered off to stare at the sky for a few moments, before returning to rest on the side
of Childe’s face. Zhongli’s gaze drifted to the Fatui mask placed on the slope of Childe’s head as
he spoke, “Very well, then. You may find what I have to say impractical, from a human
perspective.”

Childe slurped up a big helping of noodles to hide his desperation. “I’m all ears.”

Zhongli leaned his elbows onto the table wearing a thoughtful expression, one arm neatly grazing
Childe’s as he continued to (now effectually) finish off his plate. “I have been on Teyvat for longer
than most, a fact I can never escape; I feel it in the memories I hold dear that will never be
reminisced upon with those present, because all of the involved parties have moved on. The
momentous changes that have engulfed this nation make many pieces of my recollections
unrecognizable, and sometimes I need a moment to center myself to remember where I am, or even
what. It is easy to lose ones’ self through time, thus I have been many different versions of
myself.”

Zhongli brought his teacup and saucer closer to his new position at the table before pausing to take
a drink, the steam from the cup rising so closely that Childe could feel the dampness reach his
face. “Those periods of change came with unbearable losses, memorable experiences and gruesome
tragedies, all fragmented shards of what make me whole. Over centuries, said-pieces were
reattached multiple times, molding the Zhongli I am today.”

“That’s incredibly poetic.” Childe wanted to make a playful remark about how Zhongli’s old age
had made him grossly sentimental, but found his throat unexpectedly tight. “So during the Archon
War, would you say the you from that era, or the brutal warrior God as mentioned in manuscripts,
has been left in the past?”

Zhongli’s eyes gleamed; the moon was virtually touching the roof of the inn, with how full it sat
above them amid the stars. “Many events and individuals influenced me to change; at that time, I
was indeed ruthless, and the sanctity of human life was not something I prioritized or even
comprehended. Thousands of years spent living as a powerful being does not necessarily mean one
would become wiser; I believe wisdom comes from learning through emotion, just as much as
through experiences.”

“I can attest to that,” Childe willed his head to imagine a merciless Zhongli, wearing the same face
he had during their first spar, only this time not resting until Childe was ground into dust. As
delightful an image it made to imagine, Childe thought it still felt slightly unrealistic when
compared to the Archon he presently dined with, “Although my numerous experiences can’t even
hold a candle to yours, for obvious reasons.”

“Obvious, perhaps,” Zhongli’s lip quirked, as if he were on the precipice of smirking, “but all of
this has led me to a point in this life where unlike in the past, I deem certain things with more
significance. Perhaps it is an Adeptus or Qilin trait as well, but not enough research on the matter
has been conducted.”

The man took a breath, his tea near-empty and cooled. “What I am implying is that relationships
with others are not something I treat frivolously; any connection, whether it be purely physical or
more, shouldn’t be meaningless.” Childe felt his breath catch when Zhongli’s head turned, giving
him a direct view of how bright his eyes were glimmering; the moon could have been absent from
the skies and Childe would have been none the wiser. The way Zhongli spoke, as if shy about his
opinions on the subject, left Childe enthralled. “It is a privilege to see another’s most vulnerable
and confidential qualities. Surely if you are to share these aspects with another, then you should be
more than strangers, at the very least.”

“Zhongli-xiansheng.” Childe rasped; he was having difficulty forming words, overcome with so
much affection that he could produce a new Element with the energy set to burst in his chest, “That
may be the single-most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. I’m so lucky to bear witness to the Geo
Archon’s poetic ramblings on life and love—what can I do with this information, I wonder?”

Zhongli frowned petulantly, crossing his arms over his wide chest. “Respect the confidentiality
with which these thoughts have been shared, Ajax.”

Childe chuckled, his teasing a decent distraction from the maelstrom within his own thoughts.

Zhongli was a romantic. Zhongli had maidenly principles that idealised relationships built on trust
and emotional connections. Zhongli had given thought to the idea of sexual relations or had (most
likely) engaged in them, and came to the transcendent conclusion that it was too special to
participate in with La Signora.

As if this wasn’t enough new information to keep Childe awake at night, there was also the cherry
on top:

Zhongli, in almost certainly every one of his corporeal forms, had experienced love. Maybe not in
the exact way a human did, but enough for him to place it on a pedestal meant only for those with
deep bonds and requited feelings. Sometimes it was easy to assume that Zhongli was above
primitive yearnings for affection; it was simpler to picture him as a considerate, gracious deity
without the desire for anything more than the contentment of his people. Childe found that it was
also easier to manage his own feelings if he thought that the other man didn’t have a licentious
bone in his body.

He had told Childe in confidence that no other mortal had ever set foot in his Dwelling in the
Stone; did that mean he had shared that enormous, fur-lined room with other Adepti? Archons?
There was the Goddess of Dust, Guizhong? They were extremely close, according to legends and
the tomes Childe had skimmed…

Had he considered the possibility of…?

“Ajax, you keep touching your face; are you alright?” Zhongli’s voice cut through the night like
thunder; Childe had been unconsciously feeling his cheeks, their heat dramatically opposing the
cold from the altitude.

“Oh, hah, I just think I’ve had enough to drink,” Childe laughed, pushing away from the table to
lean back on his chair. It wasn’t exactly a lie, since the sway of the table when he moved was
definitely more exaggerated than it should have been, “that huangjiu is nearly as strong as Fire
Water. I only have one bottle left from the stash you gifted me, by the way.”

“Not to worry, I kept a few in my apartment for emergencies,” Zhongli shook his head, like he had
expected Childe to need a never-ending supply, and he was right. Childe preened.

“Xiansheng! You always think of everything,” he grinned, “But you know, for what it’s worth,
your take on passion is pleasingly wholesome. You never cease to surprise me.” He smirked
conspiratorially at the other man, basking in his attentiveness. “Also, good choice; anyone worth
their salt wouldn’t touch the Eighth Harbinger with a ten-foot pole.”

The Ex-Archon actually laughed: a divine, intoxicating thing, that filled the air with its hearty
timbre and carried softly into the wind. Childe wanted to steal the sound and keep it locked away
where he could listen to it repetitively, until it stopped sounding so enchanting.

They lulled into a pleasant silence, Childe being the first to break it, even though the stillness of
Zhongli’s Cor Lapis gaze surrounded by the shadowy Liyue countryside was enough without
words.

“I’ll be making some moves in the next few weeks,” Childe began, widening his scarf so that it
draped to warm his shoulders, “If Scaramouche's unsolicited visit was anything to go by,
something is shifting within the Fatui. I want to be ready.”

“Oh?” Zhongli looked intrigued. “Can I be of assistance?”

Childe hesitated. “I may return to Snezhnaya for a bit to seek an audience with the Tsaritsa, as well
as see my family in the process,” he responded, “So I don’t think there’s much you could do for me
from across the ocean.” He added, as if it were of importance, “I won’t be staying long.”

The new equipment Scaramouche shipped still had to be safety-tested and trained with each recruit,
and Ekaterina would have another collapse (there had been several) if Childe were to disappear for
weeks at a time without giving proper notice. The last time he had run off to Snezhnaya for a hasty
hunting spree to let off steam, the woman had bags under her eyes that were visible even from
underneath her mask for days after his return.
“What if I were to come with you?”

At that, Childe gawped. Zhongli’s expression was calm and stoic without a hint of humor; was he
for real?

“Are you serious? Why?”

Not that the idea of showing the Adeptus his esteemed homeland wasn’t exceptionally appealing…
Childe could take him to the best food stalls around his hometown, owned by the same families
since he was a boy. There was the famous borscht sold in a hut right next to the pier, the perfect
sustenance for a chilly day, or the incredibly fluffy and sweet blini sold at Anya’s shop… Childe
wondered if she was still there… Anya had been pushing ninety the last time he’d seen her. No
matter where they stopped for a meal, Childe was certain Zhongli would brighten at the new and
exquisite flavors, praising each of the chefs until their ears turned red and they begged Childe to
bring him more often.

He could introduce Zhongli to all of his siblings, which would finally give them a chance to greet
the illustrious Mora Man mentioned in the majority of Childe’s letters. They would undoubtedly
overwhelm Zhongli at first; Tonia, Teucer and Anthon were a handful, and that was putting it
lightly. Childe would have to coax them down before the Adeptus could find his bearings, but
Childe was sure Zhongli would warm up to everyone over dinner. Of course, they would all admire
him, as the Archon was nothing if not pleasant, observant and well-mannered. Tonia would ask
him about Liyue and its customs, as she adored to learn, and Zhongli would smile, finding joy in
teaching the little Snezhnayans about his beloved nation… all while Childe got to sit back and
watch the brightest light of Liyue shine within the confines of his childhood home.

It almost sounded too good to be true.

“It has been a very long time since I stepped out of Liyue,” Zhongli acknowledged, “and even
longer since I’ve visited the land of Snezhnaya. It must be an entirely different region, after so
many centuries. Liyue no longer requires my existence to be secure, so I see no reason not to leave
for a short period.” Bright eyes flicked to Childe’s, inquiring. “If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Childe replied honestly, “but it’s pretty sudden. What about Wangsheng? Not
to mention the Qixing; they’re going to give me one hell of a time coming back through the
borders, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you get questioned regarding travelling on a Fatui vessel.”
Childe wore a pensive grin, thinking back on what Scaramouche had said, “The fact I’ve been
sitting on Liyuan soil for this long has already been nothing short of a miracle.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Zhongli responded, not quite meeting Childe’s eyes, “The Qixing
won’t be a problem. Neither will Director Hu, as she is well aware of all the holiday hours I am far
overdue.”

Childe wasn’t going to question a good thing; the Funeral Consultant must have some sway
amongst the rich and powerful in the Harbor.

“Hmm, okay,” Childe mused, “what about the Tsaritsa?” It unsettled him slightly to be returning
to Fatui country with another Archon, even if it was Zhongli. He believed himself to be well-liked
by the Empress, and would even go so far as to say he was the favourite Harbinger, considering
his freedom to fight powerful foes whenever he liked while sightseeing, but this could be judged as
a violation of sorts.

“I will inquire to her directly.” The Adeptus sounded confident in his abilities, “She would not turn
me away if I were to arrive unannounced, but as I would like to follow all customs and contracts to
 your satisfaction, I will also request a formal summons so that she is made aware of my
attendance.”

It must be nice to be so influential and ancient, to the point that even the almighty Cryo Archon
would respect your wishes without question. Rex Lapis and the Tsaritsa must have ties reaching
far back to the times of the Archon War, and Childe wanted to know what his ruler would have
been like as a comrade instead of a leader.

Not that he would ever voice something so tactless about his Empress.

“Well alright, then, xiansheng. If all goes well, I’ll get to be your Snezhnayan tour guide!” Childe
wouldn’t let his juvenile affections for the Archon overcome him. He would be the best host/travel
companion Zhongli ever had, without getting overly attached to the domestic illusions he was
already picturing of Zhongli encircled by his family, loving Morepesok so much he would never
want to leave.

The fantasies were enough, for now. “Hopefully you won’t mind the small-town life in Morepesok;
it’s worlds away from the bustling lifestyle of Liyue Harbor.”

“I look forward to the experience.” Zhongli grinned as the lanterns overhead began to flicker and
the wind picked up, the night already dragging into the next day.

The moon created shadows across the other man’s face, and Childe followed the crooks of
Zhongli’s moonlit jaw, to the deep set of his eyes, down the tip of his nose to the perfect bow of his
lips, where the moonlight elected to highlight. Childe wondered how the brilliantly white sceneries
of Snezhnaya would reflect upon the Geo Archon’s sharp features, and if it were possible for him
to look any more devastating than he did now, flanked by his homeland at twilight, completely at
peace on top of the world.

It was only the two of them in the darkness overlooking Dihua Marsh, and Childe thought about
how satisfying it would be if they remained that way, hours, days, months later, sharing each
other’s company until the sun rose at dawn.

Chapter End Notes

Ah, the sweet, slow relationships built over food. Zhongli is the perfect man; prove me
wrong.

I make myself sick, sometimes, with how much fluff just pours out of my fingers when
typing out Childe and Zhongli's interactions. I need to bring back the fighting.

Also, not me channelling my inner wanderlust who hasn't been able to travel in 2 years
because of Covid into a vacation chapter... but it follows the plot, so WOOT.

I watched through the cut scenes of the Labyrinth Warrior Event, and am SO HAPPY,
because it works with certain things I have planned with the story. However, I need to
add a tag for Canon Divergence, as the timeline will probably be skewed.

Lastly... I don't know if I should pull for Thoma. I want him so bad, but I NEED that
Staff. For clarification: I spent an ungoldy amount on Childe and only have 13 wishes
left to show for it, so these choices MATTER as I am not made of Mora lol. I don't
care for Hu Tao; characters who cut their HP make me insanely nervous.

Chat with me about genshin and see new chapter posts on my Twitter, which I just
got? Twitter
 A Priceless Warmth
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

A week passed by relatively unexcitingly before Childe heard back from the Tsaritsa regarding his
plans to return to Snezhnaya.

His letter had been formal to a tee, filled with pleasantries about Liyue and how his recruits had
gone from nothings-to-somethings all due to his intensive training regimes. Childe recounted every
large debt collected at the Northland Bank and listed off the names of each bigwig who had
attempted to double-cross the Fatui, alongside graphic depictions of how each of them were
punished for their transgressions.

Surely the Tsaritsa would appreciate knowing how powerful her Vanguard was in the grisliest
manner possible. Contrary to popular belief, the Cryo Archon could smile; Childe had seen it,
during one particularly eventful meeting when he was retelling his vicious decapitation of a
Stonehide Lawachurl with the use of his Hydro blades, all while channeling the lightning of his
Delusion for a clean, cauterized slash. It was so quick that if one blinked, they would have missed
it, but the upturn of her pale lips was a novelty that Childe would never forget.

The Empress shared one crucial attribute with Childe; they both enjoyed the finer details of
warfare.

The message had arrived quickly, in all its metallic and frosted-stamped glory, the Cryo Archon
keeping her words concise and to-the-point. It read simply:

You may return home, Tartaglia. We shall meet to discuss your future plans the day of your arrival,

And, in a much more cryptic fashion,

Feel free to bring the Geo Archon on your journey.

Childe had reasonably brought up Zhongli’s interest in travelling to Snezhnaya to the Tsaritsa, not
expecting much else other than a quick yes or no regarding the matter. The less explanation
relating to bringing such a unique guest, the better. However, her words were almost friendly in
nature, if a quick guest approval could be considered well-meaning. It might have been said in
contempt, but Childe shook away that thought. The Empress rarely dressed up her words with
ambiguity.

“What did your letter say?” Childe asked Zhongli when he arrived at the Northland Bank with
nothing but two simple, bulky suitcases: one fully packed, and the other completely empty. For
items of historical, artistic or inventive value that cannot be procured anywhere else, the man had
explained after seeing Childe’s dubious expression.

Just what was Zhongli planning on procuring in Snezhnaya, and how much was it going to cost the
Eleventh Harbinger?

“I just explained myself,” he responded, as if that clarified anything, “and she replied with the
documentation of an official summons. I am to meet with her following your reunion.”

It wasn’t any of Childe’s business, what the Archons would discuss after he took his leave, but it
still left him apprehensive.
“Lord Harbinger,” Ekaterina’s voice echoed in the room from the desk speaker, “I have the items
you requested. May I enter?”

Childe pressed the speaker button. “Come right in.”

As if she were already outside the door, Ekaterina pushed through the entryway, wheeling a cart of
heavy, beautifully embroidered winter wear, ranging from fur-lined cloaks and thick, fuzzy
ushankas, to insulated boots that were adorned with patinated leather trappings.

“Good morning, Lord Harbinger,” Ekaterina bowed first to Childe, then to Zhongli, “Good
morning, Mr. Zhongli. I pray the Tsaritsa guides your safe travels. Here are the Snezhnayan
garments saved from the last departure.” She looked up at Zhongli, her cheeks already tinted pink,
“Mr. Zhongli, perhaps you are already aware of this, but Snezhnaya is currently experiencing a
deep freeze. Therefore, it is imperative you come prepared.” She eyed Zhongli’s tailcoat with
reverential eyes, “Your clothing is always of exceptional quality; however, they are still more
suitable for the temperate climate of Liyue.”

Zhongli nodded, his expression blank but gracious, “I appreciate the assistance, Miss Ekaterina. I
admittedly am not extremely fond of colder temperatures, so these will be put to good use.”

“And yet you want to go to the coldest place on Teyvat…” Childe shook his head, already heaping
piles of fur into his arms from the racks stationed on the cart. He started mumbling to himself,
“Don’t reptiles need heat to function? Should I be purchasing a transportable heat lamp for the
excursion?”

Zhongli made a sound that could have been a snort, only much more sophisticated, while Ekaterina
devotedly ignored half of the nonsense that Childe spewed in the privacy of his own office.

“I hope the clothing fits, xiansheng,” Childe eyeballed his heavier hides, most of them still unworn
due to Childe’s inability to keep anything constricting on his person for long, and thought the deep
chocolate furs would suit the Archon’s tastes. Then again, in his Jueyun Karst dwelling, seeing him
swathed in silver and white was also very appealing… “I really only have one or two that I wear
daily, anyways, along with my Vanguard attire for visiting the Tsaritsa, so feel free to take your
pick.”

“I wouldn’t mind trying each of them,” Zhongli, predictably, pointed to the entire rack of hefty,
affluent winter items, “as the designs are quite remarkable, and I may not get many other chances
to don traditional Snezhnayan attire.”

“I thought as much,” Childe exhaled as Ekaterina made a strangled sound; he circled around the
rack to catch Zhongli sliding off his Geo-adorned coat, replacing it with an opulent, inky shuba
that fell to his ankles. The amber tips of his hair starkly contrasted with the depths of black fur
coating his tall form; Zhongli struck an imposing, prominent figure. The shuba rested across the
back of his shoulders like a magnificent throw, falling elegantly as he crossed his arms over his
chest.

Snezhnaya suited the Geo Archon.

“Keep that one.” Childe implored, startling Ekaterina into dropping a pair of gloves with his
sudden outburst, “Ah, sorry,” He couldn’t take his eyes away from how wide Zhongli seemed
when draped with fur as black as night. “I think if we’re all set here, then we can depart.”

“I will take these to the ship,” Zhongli gestured to the cart of clothing. Even though Ekaterina
argued, but Mr. Zhongli, that’s my job! Please allow me to do it, the man insisted that he was more
than capable.

When Zhongli had left the Northern Bank, carrying double his weight in furs and protective gear
for the cold, Childe observed Ekaterina’s jittery fingers and the restless tapping of her heels.

“Well, he’s gone,” Childe announced, making his subordinate jump once again, “Out with it. You
have something you want to say.”

Ekaterina bowed whenever she was nervous, a trait picked up while working in Liyue; it would be
endearing if Childe wasn’t weary of seeing it so often whenever Zhongli was around. She bent
low, her hair falling in long tangles over the edges of her mask, “S-Sir! I apologize if my curiosity
has gotten the best of me, but would you be so kind as to answer a question…”

Childe could feel his brow rising. “Alright?” He placed a hand on his Hydro-crested hip. “If this is
about my departure, I promise you won’t need to make any emergency M.I.A. phone calls this
time…”

“No! Not a question regarding your accountability,” she lifted her face to boldly meet Childe’s
eyes, “It’s regarding Mr. Zhongli.”

Childe should have known. He heaved a sigh, “What about him, Ekaterina?”

“Is…is he travelling with you because…”

Childe felt Tartaglia sneak to the forefront of his tongue the longer Ekaterina stuttered her words.
“Ekaterina, you’re on borrowed time.”

“Apologies!” She straightened her back, arranging herself. If Childe didn’t know any better, he
would think his subordinate was preparing for a conflict. “What I wanted to ask, and I recognize it
may be bold of me to pose such a query, but it is work-related since he is an affiliate of
Northland… is Mr. Zhongli going to Snezhnaya to meet your family, Lord Harbinger?”

Childe was instantly flustered, his cheeks burning up instantly.

That had absolutely nothing to do with work.

“Uh…” he responded suavely, “Maybe? The details of our stay haven’t exactly been fully mapped
out yet…is this really something you should be concerning yourself with?”

Ekaterina broke eye contact, staring holes into the carpet. “It's simply an underling’s imprudent
curiosity.” She bit her lip, “He just looked so happy this week, discussing the trip and Snezhnayan
culture and whatnot…”

Childe felt his gaze sharpen. “Somebody should be spending less time watching
Zhongli-xiansheng and more time focusing on their daily tasks, hmm?”

The look Ekaterina sent him was absent of fear; it was deadpan and patronizing, and Childe could
almost here the scorned woman shouting you’re a damn hypocrite, and you know it. But she was
Childe’s top subsidiary at Northland for a reason, and so her mouth remained shut in an
unenthusiastic scowl.

“Very well, Lord Harbinger. I hope you and Mr. Zhongli enjoy your time together.” Was there a
hint of sarcasm in there? Childe would forgive her for it, just this once.

“That’s the plan.”

Once Childe sorted everything left at the bank, he made his way to the Fatui ship stationed at the
far end of the harbor, where less prying eyes would be able to see who made their way to and from
the vessel. It had been built with subtlety in mind; the design of the boat was nowhere near as
ostentatious as Scaramouche’s Inazuman cruiser, and could travel from nation to nation without
raising suspicions due to its smaller size and plain appearance. This was partly why the boat had
gone months before the Qixing had questioned its jurisdictions and forced Childe to provide the
Fatui’s official documents.

He was always prepared for conflict as the Eleventh Harbinger, but it never hurt to try and avoid
complications altogether.

“Alright, xiansheng,” Childe found Zhongli at the bow, looking out towards the horizon. The sea
breeze jostled his hair and clothes, fabric billowing around the man as his eyes scanned the water,
“The trip will take approximately one full day. This ship is powered by Visions, Delusions and the
best high-velocity engines Mora can buy, so it cuts down on quite a bit of the time it usually takes
to reach Snezhnaya. I may also chip in to make sure we get there with ample time to spare.”

Zhongli watched Childe quizzically. “Do you know how to pilot a ship?”

“Something like that,” he chuckled, “let’s just say that if you see me at the stern, you may need to
brace yourself.”

Fatui crew members handpicked by Childe to aid him with the journey, some of them his newer
recruits that had eventually proven their worth to the Harbinger, toiled onboard, as Childe
announced it was time to depart. The boat roared to life, Hydro Energy sparkling around its helm,
and Zhongli leaned over the railing to get a better view of the waterworks display from the waves
down below.

“Watch your feet, xiansheng!” Childe bellowed as he maneuvered himself into a stable position
before gathering his Hydro at the back of the ship, the waters surrounding Liyue Harbor already
growing choppier by the second, “We’re about to take off!”

An excruciatingly loud barrage of clicks and whistles echoed from beneath the boat; Childe had
summoned his Celestial Narwhal in the middle of Liyue Harbor, its Hydro form infusing with the
stern to make it look as if the they were suspended on the creature’s back.

There was a surge forward and a lengthy few seconds of nothing, before the boat ripped out of the
harbor into the wide-open sea.

Childe watched Liyue grow further and further away over his shoulder, the tail whips of the Hydro
whale creating a heavy mist where he stood. He could also spot Zhongli standing close by,
regarding Liyue from their new position. The Archon’s eyes were large and engrossed; when was
the last time he had seen Liyue from the perspective of leaving it behind?

Something about that made Childe’s heart stir. The Geo Archon would return soon enough; some
beings were never meant to leave a certain place for long, and Childe had the feeling Zhongli and
his ties to Liyue unquestionably fell into that category.

The journey, though lengthy, was monotonous. There was nearly nothing of note out at sea besides
more water and a few storm clouds that never quite reached the vessel. Childe took shifts of
propelling the boat with his Hydro, the strongest Hydro user aboard the craft by far, and his
comrades were grateful for his display of power and assistance. Truthfully, though, Childe had just
wanted an excuse to go all out with his Vision; there weren’t exactly many moments suitable for
unleashing a sea creature the size of the Golden Pavilion during standard battles.
Zhongli had spent the entirety of the voyage speaking with every single member of the Fatui cabin
crew, bombarding them with questions regarding the ship’s mechanisms, the science behind Hydro
manipulation versus the boat’s trajectory, as well as any and all things about Snezhnaya that Childe
had overlooked sharing.

It was mostly redundant information, such as the way Snezhnayans casually greeted each other, the
typical styles of food and dress, how to show respect to those deemed significant or of differing
ranks, and what kinds of gifts were appropriate depending on the situation. All and all, they were
things that the Snezhnayan crew would have no trouble answering, but each member would glance
at Childe with reluctance whenever the Adeptus posed a new question.

“What are you looking at me for?” He would ask, his entire body coated in blue Hydro Energy as
he pushed himself to force the boat ahead; the fastest boat travel from Liyue to Snezhnaya may not
have been recorded as of yet, but Childe’s internal competitive streak made him want to top the list,
“I’m not the one asking you questions. Answer how you deem fit, comrade.”

They ate periodically; the chef aboard, as per Zhongli’s request (when did he even head below
deck to speak with her?), had cooked up large, overly stuffed servings of Piroshki, which were
perfect for stockpiling and saving for later.

“She said it was a staple of yours, whenever she had the pleasure of cooking for you during your
travels,” Zhongli mentioned offhand when Childe had dropped his Hydro the second the
memorable smell of ham, potato and egg hit his nose, “Trying your favorites seemed like a good
way to start sampling Snezhnayan cuisine.”

“Do you like it?” Childe wolfed down half of his roll before Zhongli had finished holding up the
warm bun to his lips, as if trying a new type of wine and not Snezhnayan snack food. The Archon
took a careful bite, staring at the filling like he could decipher the spices used just by looking at its
color, before making a satisfied noise.

“This is wonderful,” he approved, “much like bao, only less sweet. It has a delicate texture and a
rich filling.” He took another bite mid-sentence, eyes raised into crescents, and Childe’s heart
soared.

“Aha,” Childe needed a minute to stop the squalling of his insides as he watched Zhongli polish off
the Piroshki, albeit with more civility than Childe had, “If you think that’s good, just wait until we
land. Following the Tsaritsa’s meeting, I’ll take you to one of the fanciest restaurants in
Zapolyarny before we head to Morepesok, where my manor is located. We’ll be staying there for
however long you’d like.”

“Do you live close to your family?” Zhongli asked; there was the tiniest trace of sauce on the
man’s bottom lip, and Childe’s eyes followed it as the man spoke.

“I keep my Snezhnayan lodge on the outskirts of town as a precaution,” small chunks of ice could
be seen floating amidst the ocean waves. Fluffy, ivory clouds had begun to cluster in the distance;
they were nearing their destination, “You can’t be too careful in my profession. Sure, Snezhnayans
know the Fatui well, but that doesn’t mean we’re loved like celebrities.” Childe chuckled
menacingly. “If you notice a heavy amount of security around the place, don’t fret too much. I send
them all home whenever I return.”

Zhongli hummed. “To protect your manor?”

Childe sneered. “To remind anyone daring enough to seek out my manor who, exactly, they’re
dealing with.”
Snowflakes the size of insects suddenly began flurrying from the sky, as the boat slowed its speed
to avoid hitting the unexpected masses of ice jutting out of the sea. Ahead, a landform could be
seen, all of it stark-white and enormous.

“Nearly there!” Childe laughed; after being away for so long, he was feeling eager to land. The
anticipation of returning home was just beginning to set in, and he mustered a heavier expanse of
Hydro Energy beneath the ship, scattering the larger hunks of ice to smoothen out the voyage. He
would need some time to rest following the boat ride; using his Vision on and off for almost
twelve hours, with only a few sparse naps in-between, was taking a toll on his body. If it weren’t
for Zhongli’s continuously alert presence, as the man rarely needed to sleep, along with the
enthusiasm of his homecoming, Childe was sure he would have dozed off by now.

However, the Harbinger had been successful in making it back to Snezhnaya in record time; the
trip had nearly been cut in half due to his extraordinary manipulation of the ocean. Even the crew
looked stunned to see the snow-covered nation come into view as the sky began to lighten.

The port at the edge of Zapolyarny, lined with icy bridges and massive military vessels stamped
with the Tsaritsa’s Cryo Sigil, was clearly ready for the Eleventh Harbinger’s arrival: even from
where Childe stood on the boat, he could see the far-off outlines of Fatui recruits stationed up and
down the boardwalk, prepared to greet Tartaglia before he and Zhongli were escorted to
Zapolyarny Palace.

“Xiansheng, I’m going below deck to change into something more presentable,” Childe stated
hastily, remembering himself and psychologically preparing for the modifications that came with
leaving Childe of Liyue behind, to be replaced with Tartaglia of Snezhnaya, “It’ll take just a
minute.”

“Take your time,” Zhongli responded; he had his gaze fixed on the snowy mountains consuming
the skyline, expanding so much further than Dragonspine’s clustered crags.

Below deck, in the luxurious interior of what seemed like a simple Fatui streamliner, was an area
specifically used by the Harbinger only; this was where his suitcases, along with everything
Zhongli brought, were kept, and where Childe began to quickly strip out of his casual attire into his
Vanguard apparel explicitly worn when consulting with the Tsaritsa. Generally, tradition and
adherence to said customs were blank spots in Childe’s cognizance; as long as he followed his
Empress and wreaked havoc as her Harbinger, what did a few Fatui conventions mean to someone
like him?

However, his previous visit was one with his tail between his legs, directly following the brutal
loss to the Traveller and his dishonour regarding Childe’s inability to steal Rex Lapis’ Gnosis. The
Empress, benevolent only when things went her way, was lenient; Childe had played his part,
whether or not said part was that of a fool, and the Gnosis had still made its way into her icy grasp.
No harm, no foul. He was free to stay in Liyue and continue his business foreseeing the Northland
Bank as the (still well-regarded, though slightly chastened) Eleventh Harbinger, until he was
needed for a new assignment.

That didn’t mean Childe wanted to have his reunion with the Empress since the blunder act as a
reminder of his faults; he planned to start off on the right foot.

The woolen military overcoat he threw on was incredibly warm while still being form-fitting, its
red piping with golden bullion shoulder epaulettes structured specifically for Childe’s slim build
yet stockier shoulders. His constant efforts with his blades as well as his bow had given Childe an
exceptionally defined back, which the coat managed to encase perfectly without feeling too
constrictive. The ushanka he placed on his head, right above the Fatui mask now positioned over
his eyes, had the Fatui symbol embroidered on it in bright yellow thread. With the height gained
from the thick winter soles of his boots, alongside the accessories and detailed textiles coating his
figure like a blanket, Childe looked much larger, more imposing. Everything from his velvet-lined
mantle rimmed with sable down to his polished, black knee-high boots were crafted for the
position of the Eleventh Harbinger. Childe’s attire was meant for arctic warfare, with a touch of
regality, only gifted to the Empress’ Vanguard; no other Harbinger would share the same uniform.

If it wasn’t so hot during battle, and the cloak didn’t remind him of La Signora’s over-the-top
ensemble, Childe would think about wearing it more often.

“Ajax,” Zhongli’s voice hovered at the top of the stairs, where the man stood donning the shuba
from Childe’s office, clearly already needing it in the chilling temperatures on deck, “Your men
are awaiting direction and asked if I would be willing to give them a time estimate on when you
will be ready—”

An interesting blend of emotions crossed Zhongli’s face as he observed Childe from the top step;
surprise, reverence, and whatever that glint in his eyes indicated: the same one Childe recognized
from Zhongli’s many trips to the market when he spotted something invaluable surrounded by
inferior imitations.

“—Oh,” he stated, his eyes still widened, “This must be…the Vanguard uniform.” His bright
amber stare burned holes into Childe as he studied every piece of regalia Childe wore, most likely
for educational purposes. Zhongli was a considered a scholar, after all. It would make sense that he
would take an interest in foreign clothing worn by the Tsaritsa’s advanced guard.

“The one and only,” Childe saluted to Zhongli before motioning him to return above deck, “I’m
finished now. It took a little while to put every piece on, and I couldn’t find the ushanka.”

Even though Childe waited at the bottom of the ship’s staircase, Zhongli had yet to move a muscle.
He was still laser-focused on the badges adorning Childe’s chest, his eyes tracing the red lacing of
the insignia lining the arms of his coat beneath the cloak.

“If you’re a fan of the Vanguard uniform, just say the word, Zhongli-xiansheng, and I can have a
similar style of clothing made for you,” Childe grinned, a peak of his pink lips showing from
beneath the cool metal of the Fatui mask, “You just can’t wear it until we get back to Liyue; it’s
customary that only I wear this on Snezhnayan soil.”

Zhongli looked as if his thoughts had become clogged but gave a tiny nod, even though Childe
wasn’t sure if that was an approval to having a similar suit produced, or just an acknowledgement
of Childe’s Snezhnayan customs.

Eventually, the Archon found his footing once more and made his way back to the haul of the ship,
where all of the Fatui crew members had assembled to dock the boat.

“Lord Harbinger!” A cry of salutations rang from the docks from a dozen or so armored Fatui
soldiers, who each saluted when Childe appeared at the bow. One soldier, his Fatui crest more
prominent than the rest, spoke up, “Your carriage is prepared; the Tsaritsa, forever may she reign,
is pending your arrival.”

Childe could feel Zhongli’s weighty presence behind him, taking stock of the scenery; beyond the
docklands, which were completely masked in a layer of translucent frost and gave the impression
that the pier was sculpted out of an ice block, enormous fir trees spanned the surrounding area for
miles. Between the craggy mountain ranges, the bare fields of permafrost and the arctic woodlands
of snow-dusted firs, Snezhnaya’s first impression was generally one of intimidation.
It looked utterly inhospitable; a land of ice and isolation.

Childe inhaled a sharp, frozen intake of air and smiled. “It’s good to be home.”

He descended onto the docks with a nimble leap instead of waiting for the boat to anchor, his
imperial poncho fluttering behind him. A light thud echoed from his right; Zhongli had easily
followed, his own shuba securely wrapped around his shoulders like a majestic cape. What a
picture they must have painted, the Tsaritsa’s Eleventh Harbinger and the Geo Archon of Liyue,
walking nearly side-by-side while snow pelted their coats.

Childe wouldn’t admit to how much he relished in the stares from the guards, their eyes watching
Zhongli with unencumbered inquisitiveness even as they tilted their heads forward in deference.
Childe had never come back from an expedition with a guest; he wouldn’t even step foot back into
Zapolyarny with other Harbingers aboard his ship. It was fine to travel alone and reorganize
himself in preparation for a new chapter, and that was a routine he had rarely veered from.

The change in procedure must have been something worth noting for the Tsaritsa’s Fatui members,
since the sentry in charge sauntered behind Childe, “We were made aware of the Lord Harbinger
bringing a visitor to Our Lady’s Palace. Should you require a separate carriage, I can hastily
oblige.”

“Not a problem, comrade,” Childe’s voice dropped an octave, “He will be riding with me.”

The guard took another tentative glance at the foreign man standing at Tartaglia’s flank, lofty and
striking, draped in heavy furs with eyes that could melt the Snezhnayan permafrost, and swallowed.

“As you wish, Lord Harbinger.”

They were escorted to a long snow-covered roadway, where a royal shielded troika swathed in
ivories and blues sat tied to a trio of magnificent snow-white Orlovs.

Zhongli leaned into Childe’s space, sending a shiver down the Harbinger’s spine.

“Should I walk behind you as a sign of respect,” he inquired, his shuba brushing against Childe’s
cloak, “or would that make you feel uneasy?”

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe laughed, making one of the guards behind him stutter in his steps, “It
would make me ten times more uncomfortable if you were to walk behind me. Elders, especially
ones as revered as yourself, are treated with the utmost respect in Snezhnaya, just like in Liyue.” At
Zhongli’s unamused glower, he only snickered more, “Even if they don’t know it—” he motioned
to the sentries leading them towards the carriage, “—I do, and so long as I’m here, you’ll never be
disrespected like that.”

There was a small upturn at the edge of Zhongli’s lip, meaning that Childe had said something
acceptable.

“Safe travels to you both,” the sentry announced as Childe took a seat behind the driver of the
troika, a Fatui dressed in a sapphire coat. His Cryo Delusion shone precariously on the center of his
back.

“Lord Harbinger, please trust me with your journey,” he spoke with his head low in a deep bow.

“Don’t I always, Pavel?” Childe responded coolly, turning to Zhongli who had seated himself on
the comfortable cushion beside him. The snow continued to come down in waves around the
troika, obscuring even the figures of the trees so close to the street, “Pavel has been my personal
chauffeur for the Tsarista going on four years now. He has brilliant control of his Cryo Delusion,
and has proven himself as one of the most trustworthy drivers in all of Snezhnaya.” The Harbinger
clapped Pavel on the shoulder, making him flinch. Childe’s next words sounded much less
admirable and much more loaded with veiled threats, even if he had only meant it with good
intentions, “You’ll get us through this snowstorm no problem, right, Pavel?”

“I will put my life on the line to protect the Tsaritsa’s Harbingers, as is my duty,” Pavel answered
reverently, and Childe gave him a sunny smile that went unnoticed behind the cold, blank face of
his mask.

The ride from the docks to Zapolyarny Palace would take approximately two hours before they
would arrive at the gates of the Tsaritsa’s domain, and that gave Childe a chance to show Zhongli
the sights they passed as the troika shot through the ice like a whirlwind. Pavel used his Cryo to
skate across the ground as if it were freshly paved and not a rutted wasteland of rock and frost, all
while Childe pointed out landmarks that stood out during the trip.

“That’s Mt. Moroz up ahead,” he pointed at the tallest mountain on the horizon, curved into a near-
C shape, with a dangerously hooked edge that stood encircled by snow clouds, “It’s crowded with
monsters ripe for fighting. If we have time, let’s head up there at some point.” The bowed summit
twisted over them as the carriage made its way further inland, and Childe sighed achingly, “I miss
the way the snow crunches under my boots during a speedy ambush. The white layers of sleet also
make an ideal backdrop for bloodshed.”

“Your insatiable need for aggression goes beyond words,” Zhongli rebuked, although his eyes told
Childe that the Adeptus found it more amusing than anything else. He lifted a gloved finger to
another mountain formation, the rugged spine carving its way through the terrain, “What about
these ones? Any specific monsters of note?”

Childe’s eyes lit up immediately. “The Klaster Range is made up of the Greben, Zvezda and
Vasilisa highlands, all of which are uninhabitable by most creatures, save for some very unique
Ursus Zvers. They typically resemble the Snezhnayan Brown Bear, only with practically
impenetrable skin. Those beasts put the armor of Geovishaps to shame.”

It didn’t take much to get Childe rambling; he went over all of his battle routes that scoured every
side of the icy terrain, and Zhongli listened with attentive ears, asking questions about any points
of interest that Childe was particularly eager to expand on. It was only after the trees and hills
began peeling away to reveal asymmetrical buildings of colorful brick, with cupolas that extended
taller than the structures themselves, that he realized they were almost at their destination point.

“How are you liking Snezhnaya so far, xiansheng?” Childe asked, “Hopefully I haven’t been
boring you with all of my campaign narratives. I promise, after our meeting, we can gallivant to
your heart’s content.”

“This has already been a pleasant journey,” the Adeptus responded lightly, “The landscape has
changed less than I would have thought; it is still very much the opposite of Liyue, with its toneless
terrain and frigid temperature. If you hadn’t shared your many chronicles, I would have never
known about the creatures lurking within the blindingly white territory. You add color with your
words to an otherwise colorless nation.”

“I don’t know if that’s commendation for me or an insult to Snezhnaya…” Childe muttered, his
ears tipped pink. A small shiver racked his insides before asking the Adeptus, “You’re not cold,
are you?”

The Archon had yet to complain once about the continuous chill that permeated through any coat
or layer, all thanks to the deep freeze and the snowstorm of epic magnitudes pelting the land. The
only indication that Zhongli was affected by the drop in temperature was the rosy tint to the apples
of his golden cheeks. “It has been bearable.”

Bearable in Adepti terms was most likely code for uncomfortable but unwilling to show it. Zhongli
had his own pride, and Childe was very much acquainted with wanting to defend that. However, as
powerful as Zhongli was, he was no Cryo Archon or an Adepti blessed with the powers to harness
the cold.

Perhaps dragons were gifted with more weather-resistance than their coldblooded relatives.

“We’re almost there, if it helps any,” Childe responded before gazing out beyond Zhongli’s snow-
dusted lashes and taking in the grandeur of Zapolyarny’s central hub, “Turn around, xiansheng, get
a good look at the capital!”

He urged the other man sideways to witness the incredible view afforded to them from the clear
pathway the troika had taken; beyond the forest, a crowding of manmade structures large and small
were huddled underneath the mountain ranges Childe had been illustrating, all intricate in their
details and unique silhouettes. The metropolitan known as Zapolyarny was surrounded on two
sides by hulking mountains, making it appear like a vibrant collection of gem-colored buildings
defended by massive, ice-covered talons. In the center of it all was Zapolyarny Palace; the fortress
could be mistaken for nothing else, as it spanned longer and grander than even the Tsaritsa’s
Cathedral, and was the whitest, most vivid building in the entire city. It was the sole castle within
the sphere of Zapolyarny that was void of color, which somehow made it stand out all the more.

Childe turned his gaze to Zhongli’s face, who looked lost in his musings while staring out into the
mass of urban life buried away in the northern arctic. Judging by the slight flickering in his Cor
Lapis eyes, which were that much clearer when sprinkled with the pale glistening of fresh snow,
the Adeptus was impressed with the glacial city.

“Not so colorless now, is it?” Childe teased, basking in the pride of showing off his nation to
Zhongli, who always soaked up new situations with a never-ending amount of intrigue that made
Childe warm despite the chill, “You have to admit, it gives off quite the impression.”

“Indeed it does,” Zhongli considered, his eyes coming back to Childe’s face, “During my previous
outing here, there were no cities founded. It didn’t seem possible, with how volatile the
temperatures could become, and yet to see such a magnificent gathering of human construction
alongside the majesties of the snowy mountains…”

Childe leaned into Zhongli’s fur coat, absorbed in the man's ornate descriptions of the Harbinger's
base of operations for the majority of his time serving the Fatui.

“…It is a marvel to behold; a city worthy of great admiration.”

The praise Zhongli amenably bestowed upon Zapolyarny bathed Childe in fulfillment; it seemed
like a simple thing, to want the object of your affections to approve of your homeland, but it was
the first time Childe felt the desire to actually share such an experience with another. He had
invited the Traveler out to see Snezhnaya, more to boast about his harsh upbringings and (possibly)
freeze Paimon’s wings off than to tour them around the countryside by horse-drawn carriage. The
intentions, though different, shared a similar sentiment; when Childe found someone impressive,
who could be trusted around his family, who could be dependable with heavy burdens (the number
of individuals who fit this criterion were rarer than the treasures in Rex Lapis’ gallery), he craved
to share their company.
With Zhongli, it felt like every second of admiration Childe earned was precious; it was borne
from a place tied to Childe’s very being, and by proxy, felt obtainable to Childe as well.

The city unfolded around the troika once they reached the cobblestone streets, the Palace towering
above them as they gained momentum on a road no longer unkept. There were swarms of people
swathed in bulky clothing going about their daily business, some stopping to gawk at the noble
carriage that was on a direct trajectory for the Tsaritsa’s abode.

“Before I forget,” Childe began, recognizing the lantern-lined street as one which would take them
precisely to the front entrance, where Childe was sure there would be a stockpile of Fatui security
ready to receive them, “I’d like to say thank you for tagging along.”

Zhongli sent him an inquisitive look. “It is I who should be thanking you for allowing me an
opportunity to travel outside of my realm with a companion.” He smiled, and Childe’s heart
skipped pitifully. “There is still much to learn about the world that I am eager to study.”

Childe shook his head, some of the snow on his ushanka flurrying to the sides. A shadow fell over
the carriage; the palace soared above the street, so prominent and colossal it blocked out the light
from the sky. “This shouldn’t be too long of a meet-and-greet.” His Fatui mask felt heavier when
stationed outside of where his Empress sat, awaiting his appearance. “Hopefully.”

Zhongli placed a sturdy hand on Childe’s bicep when the troika came to a sudden halt, the horses
being pulled at the reigns as they approached the arched bronze gate denoting the grand entrance
into Zapolyarny Palace. His grip was solid and firm, and Childe couldn’t help but sigh when the
Adeptus gave his arm a supportive squeeze before letting go.

Either Zhongli was getting the knack of empathetic human gestures, or the squeeze was a
coincidence, but either way, Childe felt placated.

Childe had guessed right; there were Fatui based on every icy step of the palace, creating a path of
soldiers that continued all the way to the exalted, rune-covered gates.

“We have arrived, Lord Harbinger,” Pavel stated before exiting from the carriage and bowing
quickly, opening the side of the troika, “Please give the Empress my sincerest warm wishes.”

“Will do, Pavel,” Childe remarked as he stepped graciously out of the carriage and onto the
esplanade, his long cloak brushing the ground. He stretched his legs; sitting for the last few hours
had him going stir-crazy. The breather was all he required in order to feel perfectly re-energized
after the lengthy boat ride. Zhongli was right beside him like a fur-cloaked sentinel, and the
incredulity bleeding out from some of the guards’ eyes as he marched up each step with Tartaglia,
giving off a cold, untouchable air analogous to that of the Tsaritsa, made a sneer sneak upon the
Harbinger’s lips from beneath his mask.

Childe paused at the door; two large Skirmishers forced the cumbersome entries apart, revealing an
enormous antechamber completely paved out of ice. It was freezing, hollow, but much less
discouraging than usual. He stood facing the bleak hall of rime with Zhongli at his side, a
permanent warmth at odds with the cold.

Childe drew in a breath. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner I figure out what Scaramouche is up
to, and draw up some new plans, the sooner we can get something to eat. All that boat and carriage
travel has me needing a real meal and some proper exercise.”

“You have nothing to be concerned about,” Zhongli declared, quiet but firm, “You are the
Eleventh Harbinger.” The Ex-Archon glanced up towards the palace, the gleam in his Cor Lapis
 eyes atypically hostile, “and of course, I am here if you need me. That should go without saying.”

Childe had a moment of deja vu, where he recalled the Traveler and their Paimon-friend; how he
had thought about what it would feel like, to have someone that close and dependable constantly
watching his back.

The radiance of Cor Lapis, so far from Liyue but just as present and steadying in Snezhnaya, told
him that he already had the answer.

No one worried about Tartaglia; he was a prodigy, a warrior, and a daunting individual who could
most certainly take care of himself. There was no reason to fear if he was present, because foes
would fall at his feet like flecks of hail, and loneliness? Something that inconsequential couldn’t
possibly trifle a soldier of his magnitude.

“Who said I had anything to fear?” Childe laughed as he stepped over the threshold into the
Tsaritsa’s domain, his Archon and Empress, with Zhongli at his heels. “Don’t you know,
xiansheng? I’m the favourite Harbinger.”

Even if Zhongli, the Prime Adeptus of Liyue and Childe’s close, possibly closest, companion,
remained as only that for the rest of his days, Childe thought that he could be content, if it meant
defending this feeling of security he had only recently come to savor.

Childe smirked. “Let’s go say hi, shall we?”

Chapter End Notes

Two fluff chapters in a row? Wow. Guess the meeting with the Tsaritsa had me
nervous, too.

Example of shuba coats along with some of their history: Shuba

Image of a troika carriage: Troika

I put Childe in a mix of Soviet military regalia along with the attire for the Royal
Guard, and of course, added some Genshin flare with the incredible cloaks we see on
characters like La Signora or Dainsleif. Who am I, if not a sucker for various outfit
changes, since in-game all we get is a beach outfit for the Mondstadt sisters?

And Zhongli in a floor-length fur coat...*swallows*

I didn't even know it was Zhongli/Tartaglia week... what kind of fan am I? Here's my
offering, I suppose, for my favourite Genshin men. I bought them a Snezhnayan
vacation as a present for making me smile.

In other news, I got the Staff of Homa! On my first ten-pull. Too bad I'm not pulling
for Hu Tao; I'll save it for Zhongli or Xiao when they FINALLY have a rerun.

Let me know what you think, or what's going to happen next! Your comments, as
always, warm my socks <3

Chat with me about genshin and see new chapter posts on my Twitter, which I just
got? Twitter
 Conflicting Territories
Chapter Notes

PSA: This fic has fanart now, and I'm crying.

Phi made the most INCREDIBLE art of Childe in his Vanguard attire. I actually had to
do a double-take, because it's exactly what I described, to a tee? How even? I don't
know, just take a look and cry with me: Childe in his Traditional Snezhnayan
Vanguard Uniform

Shaera made the most beautiful rendition of Zhongli in a shuba: he's so stunning I
stared at it for nearly an hour. And his HAIR AH: Zhongli's regal Snezhnayan attire

More notes at the bottom, I just needed everyone to praise these geniuses who have
added a new dimension to this fic in a way I never could, and I am so, so grateful.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Within the confines of Zapolyarny Palace, there were no Fatui guards or stationed personnel to be
seen; the entirety of the building was vacant, as if a calamity had struck, leaving the ice castle a
deserted, glistening wasteland. Thousands upon thousands of icicles were fused together to mould
pillars that reached up to the glacial ceilings, their translucency reflecting in a kaleidoscope of
blues and greens. The floors were bare and glassy, somehow walkable despite being crafted from
one enormous sheet of ice, and the numerous doorways that lined the foyer were each carved with
an intricate symbol above their entries, only the Tsaritsa comprehending their distinct implications.

It could be said that a structure so massive and outstanding, and yet so lightly guarded within, was
just waiting for someone formidable to blast through the gates and occupy the Empress’ grand
residence.

Childe, as well as the entirety of those who worked inside the Fatui organization, knew better.

The reason for the Tsaritsa’s solitary palace was not because she lacked the military numbers, or
because she was too callous to let others enter her stronghold unless they were of high social
standing; rather, it was because the entire fortress was her own personal domain.

The whole building was formed by the Tsaritsa’s immense Cryo abilities, from its glacial, soaring
rooftops, to the very first steps at the front gate.

“The runes over each doorway are infused with the Tsaritsa’s Cryo magic,” Childe explained to
Zhongli, who was surveying the silver-lined characters with obvious curiosity, “Since the palace is
an extension of her powers, she uses them to control the movements within the building. If any
trespassers try to meander their way in uninvited, all they would need to do is activate one of the
enchantments, and they'd be impaled by ice instantly.”

Zhongli hummed, “Interesting. So they act as a beacon for incoming danger.”

“That, amongst other things.” Childe bowed towards the brocade mouldings skillfully carved into
the substructure of each wall, “They can do almost anything, so long as the Tsaritsa wills it. That’s
why there’s no one around; the Empress can see, hear, and be anywhere in her own realm at any
time.”

“She can hear us currently, then,” Zhongli stated more than asked, and Childe nodded; the Archon
caught on quickly, “Hmm. My own dwellings have similar constructs, although seeing one this
large-scale is still remarkable, especially with the amount of detail worked into the infrastructure.”

He pointed towards the staircase that separated the main hallway into three routes; they each
spiralled in a perfect curve towards their respected directions of left, straight and right, every step
shimmering like freshly buffed mirrors. Childe continued straight up the most theatrical flight of
steps, where the posts each had what appeared to be horses sculpted into the frost. “Just follow my
lead, xiansheng.”

His cloak shuffled across the steps as Childe drew closer to the top of the staircase, where the
hallway widened into a larger gallery, filled with shining, frozen lamps and low-hanging stalactites,
some so lustrous and fragile-looking that even a light touch could cause them to crumble. It was
difficult to discern where the curtains of colored light infiltrating the room were coming from, but
both Childe and Zhongli found themselves swathed in waves of color, the reds, blues and greens
dancing on their faces.

“Follow the aurora polaris,” Childe smiled as Zhongli fluttered his eyes to rid his sight of the
aquamarine rods of light swaying across his vision, “it’s not much farther now.”

They walked side by side, the river of illumination flowing across the icy floor towards a circular
door double the size of the others lining the corridor. The symbols around the border of the
doorway gleamed a faint silver, the aurora of lights pooling into every rune. The two of them stood
at the entrance before Zhongli took hold of Childe’s shoulder; the Geo Archon was definitely
refining his ability to interact like a normal human being, but it was embarrassing how even the
smallest touches from the Archon would leave Childe’s heart fluttering.

Every time the man steadied him, brushed his hand or even just shared personal space, Childe ate it
up like an infatuated teenager.

“Uh,” he stuttered, the shape of Zhongli’s glove leaving an imprint of heat in its wake, “what is it,
xiansheng?”

The hand left his shoulder, replacing its warmth with a cold, frigid emptiness, and Childe could
feel himself already missing the contact.

He made himself sick.

“Ajax,” Childe turned to better look at the Archon, who was still donning the black shuba;
although the castle kept out the wintry blasts of bitter air outside, the temperature was still far
below freezing, and a white cloud of mist left the Archon’s mouth as he spoke, “shall I wait for you
here?”

“We should probably greet the Empress together at first.” He opted, “And also, I have to say, I’m
quite impressed with how calm you are regarding meeting with the Tsaritsa. Not that I had any
doubts to begin with, but…”

This was the first time he had ever come directly to see the Empress with company; a little
hesitation would be considered normal, by most, but then again, this was Zhongli. Perhaps that was
self-explanatory in itself. “Never mind. I assume when you’re an ancient, respected Archon, these
types of meetings are trivial matters.”
Zhongli’s eyes curved into warm, glowing crescents. “I wouldn’t say that. There are things I would
like to discuss with the Cryo Archon that may cause me some strain; however, worrying about
possible outcomes only distracts from my goal.”

Childe fixed his gaze on Zhongli. “What kind of things?”

“I cannot say.”

Childe sighed. “Naturally, you can’t. Does it fall under your pact of secrecy?”

Zhongli’s sparkling gaze wavered. “…Not quite.” Before Childe could interject, Zhongli raised a
halting palm. “I will tell you in the future, should it be considered relevant.”

As much experience as Childe had wearing down a person until they broke, the Geo Archon was
not that kind of individual. Time and patience were practically relatives of his; Childe decided to
save the conversation for another time, when his Empress wasn’t waiting for their entrance.

Knowing the Adeptus, this meeting would be no different from seeing an old colleague… only this
was a colleague who had his Gnosis.

Childe wavered. Would that cause some sort of problem?

“After a quick introduction, we can switch out for our private chats.” He collected himself, staring
up at the throne room’s ingress. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

“Very well.” Ochre eyes latched onto Childe’s, unquestionable and enduring, before Zhongli lifted
his chin to gaze at the runes, “I will follow your lead.”

Childe straightened his cloak around his shoulders and centered his mask before lifting a gloved
palm to the door; the touch triggered a series of bright lights, all joining with the mixture of colors
tracing the runes, until each symbol was as bright as a star. One by one, the pictographs shimmered
metallic until they faded away, and the ice-notched disc dissolved into a watery mist.

A giant gap was left where the door had previously been, giving Childe and Zhongli ample space
to enter the Cryo Archon’s throne room.

Childe laughed under his breath, loud enough for Zhongli to catch. “Just as hospitable as I
remember it.”

Slender, glacial columns traced the outskirts of the walls within the chamber, lighting up every
part of the hall with braziers of polar lights; the room was engulfed in a brilliant glimmer. The
relatively simple designs on the arched ceiling danced in the flickering lights while carved images
and memorials looked down upon the transparent floor; pictures of the Tsaritsa’s conquests, as
well as depictions of famous Snezhnayan battles, smothered the parapets. Childe would never tire
of those enormous mosaics of war glaring down at him from all angles.

Alongside the murals, immense windows were shrouded by veils colored the same icy blue as
everything else within the confines of Zapolyarny Palace, and slivers of light from outside sent the
room into cascades of glitter.

In the center of the hall, a majestic chair of white sat on a frosted platform below a grand
chandelier; on it rested none other than the Tsaritsa, Cryo Archon of Snezhnaya.

Childe barely finished making his way to the base of the throne before the overwhelming pressure
of being in his Archon’s presence hit him full force, bringing him to one knee instantly. His head
heavily bowed to the floor; by choice or by the sheer force of her gravitational pull, he couldn't be
completely certain.

He closed his eyes and revelled in the indulgence it was to bask not only in the presence of one, but
two Archons, whose powers put together were beyond measure.

There was a shuffle and swish of fur at Childe’s side, as if Zhongli had stretched out to catch the
Harbinger before he fell into a kneel, but Childe was in no position to glance over and check. His
neck was stiff, legs locked, posed into a perfect human vassal.

“Welcome home, Tartaglia, My Eleventh.”

Childe smirked, responding with the cheeriest lilt to his voice, “Happy to be back, My Lady.
Hopefully you didn’t miss me too much while I was away.”

The clinking of armor echoed in the ice chamber as the Tsaritsa made her way down from her
throne, along with the sound of fabric crawling across the floor; familiar crystal greaves atop of
heeled, frozen sabatons sat directly beneath Childe’s view. “You may stand.”

Childe straightened up to come face-to-face with his Empress, her pale, steeled eyes that shone like
opals staring at him unswervingly, sending a burst of cold through his veins.

The Tsaritsa, as an immortal, had an unchanging beauty that was highly regarded by all who had
the pleasure (or displeasure) of meeting her in person; her entire frame was white as winter, with
her pallid, waist-length hair tied into intricate plaits trailing down her back, and her grey eyes that
shone like freshly fallen snow. Even the Cryo armor worn on her arms and legs, so thin they
appeared transparent, reflected no color. The dress she donned enveloped in precious stones had
two long slits up to her thighs, revealing long, icy greaves that reached past her knees.

Childe observed the way light refracted off her immensely long train and veil studded with
countless minerals, all of which attached to the slim, crystal kokoshnik tiara fastened to the crown
of her head, and thought back to when he had first laid eyes on the Tsaritsa when receiving his
Delusion from Pierro in the very same room. Everything about her screamed power, but it was her
eyes specifically that expressed to Childe she was a warrior; they were detached and clear,
exposing a vengeful heart that had been frozen over by grief, and Childe took an oath then and
there to serve the Cryo Archon and her untrammelled spirit.

“Morax,” The Tsaritsa moved to stand in front of the Geo Archon, who Childe only turned to look
at once his Empress’ eyes had left his face; the Adeptus had, unsurprisingly, remained unyielding
in the presence of the Cryo Archon, his posture just as righteous as always, “It is a pleasure, and
quite a surprise, to see you here in Snezhnaya. If I had known you would be willing to travel all the
way to my realm, I never would have sent messengers to collect your Gnosis.” Pale, pink lips
remained in a tight line. “It could have been a more personal affair.”

Cor Lapis eyes burned with a radiance that seemed to dissipate some of the chill in the room.
Zhongli’s expression disclosed nothing, although Childe could swear there was a hint of irritation
in the way his mouth tightened. “Liyue had not yet proven its self-determination at that time.”

“Very true,” she agreed, her lone glacial hand-gauntlet rapping against the icy vambraces on her
wrists, “and now that you are freed from your shackles to the Land of Geo, pray tell, what made
you want to grace my Land of Cryo with your presence?”

Childe willed his eyes not to widen at the immediate questioning.

“Perhaps a conversation best saved for later,” the Adeptus answered, his amber eyes glancing to
Childe. The Tsaritsa watched the action with concealed interest, “as I believe we will have more
than enough time to discuss things once Childe has had his proper consultation.”

“Ah, yes, my Tartaglia did come here for business purposes.” Glinting eyes focused back onto
Childe; he wasn’t sure if it was his imagination after so long apart, but something about the
Tsaritsa seemed different; there was an unfamiliar cadence in her voice that Childe swore sounded
like goading. Whatever the meaning behind it, Zhongli’s brows constricted, only adding to
Childe’s unease, “I’m sure Liyue treated you well, Eleventh? I’ve heard nothing but good things
from the both of you regarding your work there.”

“The both of us?” Now Childe had to give Zhongli a look; just what had he written about in his
letter? “I suppose, comparatively, the amount of troops trained have been more than adequate to
cover the area you desired in Liyue, but in regards to successfully large pursuits, there haven’t been
any challengers or worthy leads of note…”

The Tsaritsa made a sound like a chuckle, though her lips remained taut. “You’ve done well for
yourself. Just look at the familiar you’ve managed to acquire.” She lifted a sparkling hand to
gesture at Zhongli, whose tapered eyes pointed further until they were small, seething slits. “Truly,
my Vanguard gathers the loftiest of companions.”

Zhongli folded his arms across his chest like a barrier, the shuba rustling from where it perched
atop his broad shoulders, “I assure you; my camaraderie with Childe was not forcefully acquired.
Whether our association derives from deceitful intentions or not, it has been a pleasure to work with
the Eleventh Harbinger regardless.”

Childe looked between Zhongli, who seemed more unreceptive than usual, and back to his
Empress, who wore a mask of indifference with eyes that sung a completely different tune.

“Okay,” he sighed, raising his gloved palms up, “I’m lost. If this is some sort of hostile Archon
ritual of greeting that I’m unfamiliar with, then by all means, have at it. I can come back later.”

Zhongli grimaced, as if remembering himself. “As stated previously,” he persisted, “I will wait in
the outer chamber. Let me know once you have finished…”

In a moment of pure unpredictability, so unlike Zhongli that Childe almost turned his back on his
Archon just to ogle at the sheer audacity the Geo Archon displayed, Zhongli waited before
concluding, his tone forceful and clear as jade,

“Ajax.”

There was no hiding the way Childe’s face morphed behind his mask into that of a wide-eyed
animal; they had agreed that his birth name was personal. Zhongli knew it was meant to be
something only the two of them shared, and wasn’t that basically a contract? Zhongli was the God
of Contracts; it was impossible for an agreement that simple to be overlooked. Not by an Adeptus
with a memory storage larger than the greatest of libraries in Sumeru.

So why in Celestia’s name would he say it so casually in front of the Tsaritsa?

The damage was done; the Tsaritsa’s pallid eyes narrowed, and as Zhongli turned his back to them
both, the midnight fur cloak dusting the frost on the ground, Childe swore he could feel the last bit
of warmth from the room follow behind him.

The rounded door reformed itself the minute Zhongli exited the chamber; at the same time, a table
of ice broke its way out of the floor next to Childe, along with two chairs facing each other coated
in a sheet of frost.

His backside was going to be numb by the end of this conversation, as per usual.

The Cryo Archon wasted no time once Zhongli had taken his leave. “Sit.”

Childe found himself seated before his legs even had time to process the bitter cold seeping
through his woolen slacks from the glacial furnishing. The Tsaritsa had a very unique pull when it
came to her Harbingers; depending on their proximity, her will, as placed within their custom-made
Delusions, could make it very difficult for them to defy her orders. Now, this did not mean Childe
had no autonomy when it came to the Empress; he could fight back against her influence if he
wanted. Scaramouche had done it, after kicking and screaming about being a "self-governed" being
(ironic, considering he went from being one Archon's puppet to Dottore's plaything). The Tsaritsa
had actually acquiesced.

She could have her moments. She was nothing if not logical, when it came to her chess pieces of
warfare.

It was simply easier to go with the flow within her domain, Childe supposed, and let his words
pour freely.

That, and a small part of him also enjoyed the continuous weight of the Tsaritsa’s authority. How
else could he feel the omnipotent reminder of why he served as her Eleventh Harbinger?

Childe knew Zhongli was also capable of this feat, as he had felt small pinpricks of similar energy
when they battled or whenever the Adeptus grew particularly expressive; it must have really been
something, during his prime as the God of War with his Gnosis. Subjects must have dropped at his
feet like fallen leaves.

Just another tiny detail to keep Childe awake at night, thoughts clouded by Cor Lapis.

The Tsaritsa seated herself, her icy shroud of crystals sheathing the chair as she moved her
gauntlets underneath her chin to rest, “You know, when I responded to your letter regarding
Morax’s travels, I was under the impression that you had made a Fatui patron out of the ancient
Geo Archon, seeing how eager he was to come to Snezhnaya.” She paused to scoff, lifting a thin,
white brow, “Now I think I understand; his dispatch response makes much more sense. He was
always an enigmatic dragon.”

Hearing the Tsaritsa talk about Zhongli so informally, and with sarcasm, no less, was a strange
occurrence; Childe cleared his throat.

“I can’t say I fully understand why, of all places, Zhongli wanted to come up to our lovely arctic
region, but so far he seems to be enjoying himself.”

If hoarfrost could be an expression, then the Tsaritsa was the sole originator; she levelled a cold,
impassive stare at Childe from across the table. “Take off your mask, Tartaglia. Let me see your
face.”

The chill hit Childe’s cheeks the minute the warmed metal left his skin, and he took a moment to
adjust his expression into one more cordial. “Better?”

The Cryo Archon’s eyes lifted a minuscule amount. “Certainly. It’s always nice to see how my
youngest Harbinger is maturing into the charming, ruthless executioner he was born to be.”
Before Childe could bask in the praise, a frozen finger grazed the side of his face; veins of frost
spread from the touch, numbing the skin on contact.

“Oh?” Eyes of wintry grey focused in on Childe. “What happened here?”

The frosted nail trailed downwards towards the edge of his jawline. Dazzlingly bright gems
blinded Childe’s peripheral as the Cryo Archon arched herself over the table to get a better look at
Childe, her veil blanketing them both in a crystalline curtain. “You’ve always been careful with
your face, lest you make your family worry.”

Childe flinched; the healing scar from Xiao’s jade spear had yet to completely fade, its whiteness
still stark in comparison to his ruddy cheeks from the Snezhnayan cold. “Ah, this? I had a run-in
with one of Rex Lapis’ Adepti.” He chuckled, trying to make light of a moment that he would
prefer to brush off, “Not to worry. I think we get along rather well, now.”

“Really…” at that, the Tsaritsa’s smooth, unfeeling expression changed to one of pensiveness,
leaning back against her chair and relieving Childe’s face of her glacial touch, “and has Morax
caused you any difficulties during your stay in Liyue?”

Ignoring the ones Childe had willingly brought upon himself with his unholy need for chaos? “He
has been nothing but a wonderful associate.”

A half-truth; they were certainly spending more time together than most associates, and Childe was
definitely keeping himself occupied with said-associate more than was undoubtedly required.

Childe kept his responses simple; there could be nothing worse than his Empress realizing that a
large part of his fondness for the Land of Geo stemmed directly from the Prime Adeptus himself.
He still hadn’t worked through how, exactly, he had wound up in such a ludicrous development,
only that there were surely consequences for harboring feelings for an Archon from a different
nation.

“Interesting…” the Cryo Archon looked ready to keep up with the questions concerning Zhongli,
but Childe wasn’t known as the most socially adept Harbinger for nothing.

“My Lady, as much as I never tire of speaking casually with you, there are a few concerns that I
would like to discuss as soon as possible.”

She waved a hand, snowflakes dancing from her palms. “In due time.” Damnit. “Tell me more
about your activities with Morax.” Childe was in trouble, wasn’t he? “Considering he has visited
your training grounds during recruit sessions and has accompanied you on more than a few
occasions at the Northland Bank, even after the acquisition of his Gnosis.”

Childe couldn’t help the grimace; clearly Zhongli had delved into detail about Childe, possibly
either praising his work ethic or simply being himself and wanting to cover all bases when writing
a dispatch, but he had unintentionally thrown Childe into hot water.

No, a little bit of it was intentional; calling him Ajax was some sort of message. Childe just didn’t
understand it. What was Zhongli after?

“He looks quite well…” she resumed, face expressionless, “Although still as intensely methodical
as ever. And now he chooses to journey with my Eleventh, so full of vigor and passion; what an
intriguing combination.”

Perhaps the Geo Archon had more qualms with the Tsaritsa than he had let on, even though the
passing of his Gnosis appeared to be under agreeable conditions. Whatever it was, Childe would be
cross-examining him severely following their conferences.

“Ah, well, you know me.” Child chuckled weakly, “If I can surround myself with powerful friends
who tolerate the Fatui and don’t mind my idea of extracurricular entertainment, then why not let
them tag along for the ride?”

A single gauntlet claw traced across the ice table, leaving a stripe sliced into the tabletop. “And
that’s all Morax has been doing? Tagging along with you on your excursions?”

Child shrugged. “More or less. We share meals, sometimes, and he makes a first-rate sparring
partner.”

That sounded innocent enough coming from Childe, but the Tsaritsa pursed her lips like Childe
had made a substandard chess move. “So I’ve heard.”

Childe sighed and rubbed his forehead. “My Lady, is it so disagreeable to be spending some time
with him? Zhongli-xiansheng did help us obtain the oldest Gnosis out of the bunch, after all.
Judging by your response in the letter I received, I thought it was permissible.”

She scrutinized Childe with needle-like focus. “Would you be upset if I told you to stop?”

Childe’s breath caught in his throat; he gaped at his Empress, her flawless features so contradictory
when compared to the Geo Archon; where there was always warmth and heat in his ochre stare,
hers was bright enough to blind, like the sun hitting a fresh mantle of snow.

Childe clarified, “Stop spending time with the Geo Archon?”

The Empress nodded, her jewels tinkling with the movement.

“Could you do that for me, my Eleventh? If I asked?”

A landmine had clearly been activated; Childe felt a cold sweat begin to form at his temple.

Because how could he answer this question honestly, without creating an immediate rift between
himself and everyone involved? The answer he had at the tip of his tongue, which had nearly
slipped out the minute the Cryo Archon had voiced her query, was startling. It scared him, how
fast his heart had sped up and how every part of him had determined to nearly uttering a strong,
convinced: no.

It was the first time Childe instinctively disagreed with his Archon, even if her question was
rhetorical, and it made the Harbinger want to place his mask back on to hide the fear that could
leak into his exposed expression at any moment.

He had something new to lose, and as a Harbinger, that was as good as exposing an Achilles’ Heel.
Childe’s family was always his greatest pride, as well as his greatest weakness; they were
protected under oath by the Tsaritsa that no harm would befall them, and should anyone try, Childe
could deal with it how he saw fit.

But Zhongli?

Zhongli was different. He was an Archon, as well as an associate. He was a pawn in the Tsaritsa’s
plan.

And Childe couldn’t let him go.

Maybe that was the scariest detail of all.

“Your silence speaks a thousand words, Tartaglia.”

Childe startled himself into speaking, “No, I… just needed a minute to think it over. If it were
beneficial to your cause and of top importance, surely I could…”

Memories of shared, intimate moments with the Adeptus flooded Childe’s thoughts; he had really
laid his soul bare to the man, inadvertently, little by little, and it was childish how frustrated he felt
at the thought of losing the one person who had discreetly become a staple holding together the
bits and pieces of happiness he had accumulated in Liyue.

“Regain your composure, Eleventh.” The Tsaritsa spoke, and Childe realized he had left off
without finishing his statement. To be fair, he didn’t think he could have completed it even if given
more time. “I’m not asking you to cut ties with Morax. His unwavering support in your Liyuan
outings has offered an unexpected, yet nevertheless welcomed ally for the Fatui, in one way or
another. It would be… unfair of me to separate such a beneficial union.”

Childe blinked vacantly, unsure if he should thank the Tsaritsa or laugh at his own imprudence.

“I’ll review the particulars with Morax later…” her cryptic words never ceased to leave Childe
feeling one step behind, but at least he could savor the relief pervading his bones. She had given
Childe a test, and incredibly, he had passed. “Let us move on to more pressing matters. The Fatui
dealings within Inazuma.”

“Yes, of course,” finally, they were picking up where Childe had hoped to from the start,
“Scaramouche delivered the Delusions created in Inazuma to my soldiers; on first inspection, they
appear similar to the ones specifically bestowed upon us by your Majesty, but according to
dispatches pilfered from the Resistance Army, they may eventually backlash on their users. Has Il
Dottore given them a look?”

The Tsaritsa, at hearing Il Dottore’s name, creased her nose as if smelling something ghastly. “He
has not; they are under the full jurisdiction of The Sixth. He directs their mass-production.”

Childe’s eyebrows rose. “Were you aware of their consequences?”

“Somewhat.” One armor-encrusted leg moved from under the table, revealing a pale, shimmering
thigh, “The ones sent to Liyue were of better quality. I wouldn’t want our own recruits to suffer a
full-blown explosion of Elements if we can avoid it; however, the factory in Inazuma is building
Delusions at a faster rate than ever before, and casualties come with the price of improvement.
Your expertise in regards to handpicking the best of the lot is why they were sent to you in the first
place.” The Tsaritsa blew a puff of opaque mist through the air, satisfied, “Let the Resistance and
the Tenryou Commission fight amongst themselves with faulty Delusions until they fall apart, one
by one. We will be there to pick up the pieces once the dust settles.”

Childe leaned forward. “The Balladeer seems to have his own plans, with regard to how the pieces
will fall in Inazuma,” he hummed, wrapping himself deeper into his cloak, “I just wonder if he’s
looking for something that will give him an edge.”

The Cryo Archon swiped her veil to the side, sparkles filling Childe’s vision as she purred, “Every
Harbinger has their own agenda, even you, my most faithful Eleventh. So long as they impose my
will and bring me one step closer to our objective, their little side projects are of no consequence to
me.”
Well, that didn’t make Childe feel any better; Scaramouche had set his sights on the Eleventh
Harbinger, and predictably once his work in Inazuma was over, the Balladeer would return to bring
more vexation to Childe’s otherwise pleasant life in the Land of Geo.

He could tell when not push the subject. “Very well. What about La Signora; is she any closer to
seizing the Shogun’s Gnosis in Inazuma?”

The Tsaritsa sighed. “I have a premonition about the Eighth. As prosperous as she has been, this
may be her most difficult assignment yet.” That had Childe’s attention; he wore the countenance of
a man ready to strike at the next open availability. “Prepare yourself for incoming shifts, Tartaglia.
You may be able to catch up to La Signora’s Gnosis count soon.”

“Thank you for your guidance,” Childe lapped up the tipoff like a bloodhound, “Lastly, then; my
mission for the foreseeable future. Are there any changes in regards to Liyue?”

The pause the Cryo Archon took was much longer than before, as she continued to stare daggers
into Childe with her penetrating gaze of opal. “Notwithstanding what will soon take place in
Inazuma, which I’m sure you will deal with proficiently, I believe your ties in Liyue will be
extremely beneficial once the matters within the Chasm Mining District come to a head. Your
continuous presence in the adjoining nation will work in our favor for when I need you to enter the
Chasm’s labyrinth.”

“Oh?” Childe was not only pleased by that statement, but also very much thrilled over the idea of
exploring a new region that was still adjacent to Liyue, “And what awaits me in the Chasm?”

“You’ll know when I ask you to go.” The Cryo Archon’s face relaxed, as close to a content
expression as Childe would see, “I believe that’s everything you need for the upcoming days ahead.
Is there anything else you would like to discuss before I meet with Morax?”

“I can’t think of anything else.” Childe smiled, fixing his mask to the side of his coat instead of to
his hair, and couldn’t help but feel that this meeting, although worrying at first, had actually gone
over quite smoothly. “Am I free to leave, My Lady?”

The Tsaritsa rose elegantly from her seat of ice, and Childe followed dutifully after her. “You are.”

Childe bowed, long and low, before raising himself back from the pose. The Tsaritsa stood tall,
lifting her head with poise. “Be well, my Eleventh. Take care to visit your family during your stay
before returning to Liyue with the Ex-Geo Archon. And heed my prophecy; chances to prove
yourself within the Harbingers' ranks will only multiply in the upcoming days.”

Childe nodded in appreciation; the door at the end of the hall shimmered back into crystal-clear
water, reopening the throne room.

“You can let the dragon know we’re finished here.” Childe thought he saw the barest of smirks,
but just as quickly the Cryo Archon had reverted to her standard frosty countenance.

“Long may you reign,” Childe gave one more demonstrative grin before heading back down the
long, shimmering corridor, towards the enormous circular entrance. He could hear the scrape of
armor as the Tsaritsa settled herself once again on her high, silvery throne.

Zhongli stood to the side of the door, stiff as a statue; he was displaying one of the most put-out
expressions Childe had ever seen on the Adeptus’ face.

But it would be nothing compared to Childe’s wrath; the Harbinger brought a gloved finger up to
the Adeptus’ chest before jabbing it with enough force to almost send the man off-balance. Stupid
Geo Archon and his boulder-like disposition.

“Ajax?” It was hard not to break from glowering while watching the Geo Archon’s appearance
shift from unyielding to personally affronted in a matter of seconds, but Childe persisted, “What
happened?”

“You know exactly what,” he hissed, “Don’t bring me into your Archon psychological warfare;
Calling me Ajax in front of the Tsaritsa? Xiansheng, have you ever heard of a little thing called
tact?”

The Adeptus had the nerve to look ashamed; the tiniest trace of red made itself present on his
luminous, golden cheeks. “It was said in the moment. Perhaps it did come off… defensive.”

“Xiansheng, you’re lucky I’m an understanding fellow and that the Tsaritsa seems to think our
friendship is advantageous,” Childe cautioned, “because that could have gone a lot worse. We’re
going to have a very long chat after this about etiquette, because clearly whatever you heard on the
boat was bluntly disregarded. And what is there to be defensive about?”

Zhongli’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he decided against speaking at all and kept
his lips firmly closed. His Cor Lapis eyes shut as the Adeptus took a long, steadying breath.

“You’re right. I was being unfair to you.”

“When am I ever wrong?” He asked ironically; truly, Childe was usually the one off the mark.
Hearing Zhongli say he was justified was very satisfying, however, and Childe took a second to
appreciate having that momentary leverage.

The chill from the throne room spilled into the hall, reminding Childe that Zhongli was keeping
the Tsaritsa waiting, and by affiliation, so was he. “Now go discuss whatever it is that has you so
tightly wound with the Empress, and try your best to keep it light and fast. I want to get some
pelmeni in me as soon as possible; it’s been too long and I’m ready to eat snow, I’m so hungry.”

Zhongli smiled, small and gracious. “I’ve heard that once snow grows thick enough, some find it
enjoyable to ingest.”

Childe took a step back. “Zhongli-xiansheng, I was making a joke. Who on Teyvat told you that
snow could be tasty?”

Sparkling amber eyes looked down and away. “Never mind.” Zhongli turned his lithe, coated
figure towards the door, Childe eyeing the way his ponytail swooped behind the man to sit
effortlessly against the shuba. It was easy to forget that he was supposed to be irritated when the
Geo Archon existed looking like power incarnate. “As it would pain me knowing you stood here
waiting, cold and hungry, I promise to return shortly.”

Childe’s cheeks buzzed; the Adeptus disappeared into the Tsaritsa’s chamber, the icy gate
snapping back into place and blocking Childe’s line of vision.

Pale, twinkling eyes kept him company behind his eyelids in the empty hallway.

Would you be upset if I told you to stop?

Stop spending time with the Geo Archon?

Could you do that for me, my Eleventh, if I asked?

 It was a colossal, crushing relief that he never had to make the choice.

Childe wiped a warm, leathered glove across his face and sighed.

“Zhongli,” he mumbled into a cold cloud of mist, cherishing the name on his tongue, “ I think I’m
in trouble.”

Chapter End Notes

The Xiao eating snow tidbit had to be added, I'm sorry, but picturing the Yaksha in
Snezhnaya, just thinking about the unlimited supply of food... I would laugh, if it
weren't a little heartbreaking.

How I imagined the Tsaritsa's veil: Diamonds upon diamonds

The simpler, more modern kokoshnik, or Russian tiara: Tiara

A little background on her armor: I consider the Tsaritsa as the most extra of Genshin
characters, simply because of how her Fatui dress and regard themselves. They are all
insanely flamboyant, and thus I wanted her to be dazzling, as well as fierce. Childe
describes her as a warrior in-game, thus I thought the armor contrast with the formal
crystal gown would be perfect for an Ice Queen. It would look a little like this, only, of
course, crafted from body-hugging, clear Cryo. The dress would not look anything like
this, however: The Tsaritsa is made for long gowns with high slits. Prove me wrong. :
Armor

Childe survived his first tug-of-war between possessive Archons... good job, buddy.
Too bad that's only the start.

I hope you enjoyed this! Snezhnaya is nowhere near being done: they've only just
arrived.

Let me know what you think, and thank you again for all of the support. This fic has
really given me so much inspiration and happiness over the last month, so I have to
show my continuous appreciation to all of you, and of course, to our favourite
Harbinger and his dragon-xiansheng.

Chat with me about genshin and see new chapter posts on my Twitter, which I just
got? Twitter
 Staying Grounded
Chapter Notes

PSA: More incredible fanart of Zhongli and Childe in their Snezhnayan attire!!

Cromahi drew this absolutely breathtaking picture of the two of them, and AH? It's a
literal Christmas card. I can't get over the DETAILS!! Childe and Zhongli in
Snezhnaya

Support and adore these artists for their incredible works~

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Zhongli had kept his promise: his meeting with the Tsaritsa was short enough that Childe wasn’t
bouncing off the walls, but long enough that when the Archon reappeared from behind the wall of
ice, Childe leapt away from his leaning post and led them out of the antechamber without
preamble.

“Well?” Childe prompted, feeling much more invigorated knowing that the hardest part of the trip
was over, “Did it go as you’d hoped?”

The way the Adeptus’ eyes hardened contradicted his words. “It was… satisfactory.”

At Childe’s raised brow and evident persistence, he relented. “All negotiations regarding my
Gnosis were refined long ago, so the primary focus of conversation centred on present ongoings in
Liyue, as well as other matters I wanted to settle with the Cryo Archon.” He glanced towards the
ceiling with a resolute fire in his eyes. “I believe we came to an understanding.”

Childe placed his hands into the lined pockets of his Vanguard coat, feigning nonchalance, “So
there was no boulder hurling or ice flinging involved?” He blew a stray hair away from his face,
the ushanka pulling his locks over his eyes, “I couldn’t hear a peep on the other side of the wall,
xiansheng. At least give me something.”

Zhongli, who must have officially reached his cold-resistant limits, slipped his arms into the
sleeves of the fur coat and allowed the material to nuzzle his body in a way that kept Childe’s gaze
askew.

The Archon pulled his hair out of the midnight collar, laying it flat on his shoulder. The Cor Lapis
jewel adorning his hairpiece shimmered in the same fashion as the aurora lights encompassing the
room. “Would you be willing to divulge the contents of your own meeting?”

Childe tch-ed; Zhongli was good at using his own words against him. They made their way down
the long flight of frosted stairs, passing the many stalactites and brightly colored polar reflections
before finding themselves back in the front foyer. “…Perhaps, if the contents of yours were
stimulating enough.”

They both knew that was a lie; they still dwelled in the Tsaritsa’s omniscient domain. As if Childe
would turn over her words of wisdom that negligently.

The lone possessor of a pair of Cor Lapis eyes so bright, they could melt the summit of Mt. Moroz,
looked carefully at Childe, his lips upturning in a small smile. “Scheming your way into getting
what you want like a Harbinger will not work with me, I’m afraid.”

Childe rolled his eyes to Celestia. “As if I haven’t been aware of that since we met…”

The glimpse of Zhongli’s teeth as he grinned, white as Snezhnayan snow, distracted Childe, so
much so he barely noticed when they reached the monumental doors at the entrance of the palace.
As if sensing their presence, the gates lurched open, allowing the brisk air from outside to invade
the castle.

Childe’s insides were quivering, his stomach was growling, and Zhongli wasn’t budging an inch.
“Alright, xiansheng, keep your secrets. I’ll work on a game plan for breaking you down later. I
promised you some fine Snezhnayan dining once the pleasantries concluded, and in Snezhnaya, we
never go back on our promises.”

It would be hard for anyone else to tell, but Zhongli had brightened at the notion of fine dining, if
his eyes relaxing counted as expressing enthusiasm.

It was a bit of a walk, as well as a test of Childe’s street-name retention, but eventually the
Harbinger found the restaurant he was looking for; a rounded, glassy building that wrapped around
the Royal Torglovya Commissions Tower. He had filled Zhongli in on bits of history surrounding
the places they passed on the way, facts which were eaten up by the Archon with genuine interest.
The snowstorm had barely let up; both of their cloaks were scattered with a significant amount of
white, fluffy snowflakes by the time they reached the restaurant’s sheltered doorway.

“Welcome to the Matryoshka, xiansheng,” Childe grinned as iron doors were held open by a
heavily coated porter, “one of the most beautiful places in Zapolyarny to eat; and of course, one
with a menu that will surely please your palate.”

The interior of the Matryoshka combined modern Snezhnayan furnishings of heavy leather divans
and weighty velvet curtains with elements of antiquity and industrial motifs; cast-iron stairs and
handrails, lamps and aged tiles, and antique fireplaces transformed the grandiose, Czaric-styled
dining hall into one of avant-garde glamor. Large, panoramic windows offered views of the Cher
River, frozen over and picturesque in how it glistened.

“Lord Harbinger?!”

A woman dressed in all-black, save for her bright red stilettos, raced towards Childe from the open
kitchen; although the restaurant was incredibly busy, suavely dressed patrons buzzing about from
table-to-table, many of the employees caught sight of Childe and began to usher people away from
the hall. No sooner had Childe and Zhongli stepped into the lobby had the tightly packed hallway
been cleared to offer them a direct pathway through the corridor. The woman in black babbled
deferentially, “It wasn’t brought to my attention that you would be returning to Zapolyarny to dine
with us this evening! If I had known, the Matryoshka would have been more prepared; however,
I’m happy to say that our private room is still vacant and ready to greet you, should you require it.”

“How did you remember that?” Childe laughed bashfully, removing his ushanka to scratch his
head, “But that sounds perfect.”

“Right this way,” the greeter gestured for them to follow her down the evacuated passage, many
other attendants and servers tilting their heads in acknowledgement or letting out quiet praises of
Good to see you, Lord Harbinger as they moved.

“Everyone here seems to know you,” Zhongli mused, his eyes flickering from person to person,
“You have left quite the impression on them.”

“Ah,” Childe grinned, “I’ve done a fair number of business meetings here, is all. I’m sure they
only recognize me as the innocent face with a heavy wallet.”

Or as someone who had once stained an entire booth with enough blood to require full removal of
said-offending seating furnishes. Granted, it was only one time, years ago, and it was also only a
small threat made with his blades, nothing serious, he hadn’t wanted to cause a scene…

But Childe deduced instances like that were hard for the common folk to overlook.

They were led to a room sparse of people, where incredible stained-glass windows made up one
entire wall. A booth laid into the brick at the far-end of the restaurant sat with two plush, quilted
seats, candles already lit on the sturdy oak table. The usher motioned for them to sit, “I am Milana.
Should you need anything, I am at your beck and call.”

“Thank you, Milana,” Zhongli acknowledged, making the headwaitress take a second look at the
Harbinger’s dinner guest; clearly, she had been too busy trying to appease her infamous client,
because once she took in the large, distinguished gentleman at Childe’s side, her face became a
different kind of humbled.

She swallowed. “I-Is there anything you would like to start with?”

Childe eyed Zhongli, whose face glowed golden in the light of the candles. “Mind if I make a few
suggestions, xiansheng? You did the same for me at Wangshu and I enjoyed it, so why not let me
pick what I think you’ll enjoy most?”

The Archon settled his hands in his lap. “Very well. I am sure that no matter the choice, the
unfamiliar flavors of Snezhnaya will offer a joyful eating experience.”

Childe beamed; it wasn’t everyday that he got to treat the Adeptus to a bunch of specialties from
his homeland, and simultaneously indulge in home-based Fire Water to his heart’s content. He
listed off a cluster of dishes and alcoholic beverages, switching to Snezhnayan as he motioned for
the headwaitress to come closer.

“My dinner guest hails from a foreign land,” He murmured sternly, savouring the way Milana
stiffened, “where he is considered of the same rank as the Tsaritsa herself. Do make sure he is
treated as such.”

Milana looked at Childe’s taciturn expression and panicked; she stuttered and turned a bright red,
her eyes ogling Zhongli with even more captivation than before.

“My Lord!” She bowed low to Zhongli, making the Archon raise his brows, “Thank you for
gracing us with your presence during your visit to Snezhnaya! I hope you will have nothing but
positive things to say once your meal is finished.”

She left the table with haste, leaving a perplexed Zhongli in her wake, along with a cackling
Childe.

“What did you say to her?” Zhongli asked, nose creased in confusion, and Childe only laughed
harder.

“I was just making conversation,” Childe shook, wiping a stray tear from his eye, “but anyways,
now that we’re here, this is the perfect time to talk about what took place at the Palace.”
Zhongli froze in the process of laying a silken napkin across his lap.

“We did, somewhat briefly. What more is there to discuss?”

“Don’t play coy with me,” Childe removed his Vanguard uniform coat and cloak, finally rejoicing
in some heat after a full day of bitter cold, “I want to know why you were so cross once we met
with the Tsaritsa. You didn’t inform me that the two of you weren’t on decent terms; I was under
the impression that all was fine in the land of the Archons, between Geo and Cryo.”

A slight weary expression overtook Zhongli’s face. The shuba he had worn for the day was taken
off and placed on the back of the lavish, deep divan he sat upon, revealing his traditional
embellished Liyuan coat that the Adeptus had insisted on wearing. “We are, tentatively, on
amicable terms. I was simply caught off guard by how…” he paused, and Childe caught that
familiar tailwind sensation of an Archon’s influence; why was Zhongli exuding that now?

Although faint and hardly enough to do more than give Childe goosebumps, it was still alarming,
“…how affected you were by her influence.”

“She’s my Archon,” Childe scoffed, willing away the shivers on his arms, “as well as the leader of
the Fatui. Our Delusions make it difficult to not bend to her will. Wait, did that offend you?” He
narrowed his eyes in skepticism, "That she displayed her influence in front of you?”

Zhongli didn’t avoid eye contact, but the pull of his frown told Childe that the Archon still had
eons of learning to do in order to forget the accustomed habits of being an all-powerful being.

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe spoke slowly, “You are currently in another Archon’s domain,
spending time with her subordinate, on Fatui related-excursions. I think the situation called for a
different type of discretion, don’t you?”

The Geo Archon bristled. “It is not that I am incapable of understanding what situations call for
what displays of diplomacy,” he retorted, looking insulted, “It was the intentions behind them that
spurred me into acting less-than-civil.”

Childe barked a laugh. “Less-than-civil, huh. I guess I should be thankful, then, that you didn’t use
the Wrath of the Rock.”

Outside of the multicolored windows, snow piled up against the panes, already half a foot taller
than when they had first arrived. Childe shuddered thinking about how much would most likely be
on the ground by the time they finished dinner; an ungodly amount, for certain.

“I will confess,” Zhongli began, “that as much as I believed I understood your loyalty to the Cryo
Archon, seeing it in person was vexing. You are a free-spirited fighter, whose persistence and
assertiveness are traits I consider directly tied to your nature; so much so that when I watched you
kneel before her, I may have misjudged it as a threat to your free will.”

Childe placed his chin in his hands, thinking over the implications of what Zhongli said.

The result had his ears turning red at the tips.

“Xiansheng…” an embarrassing feeling was building in his stomach, one that felt a lot like
overwhelming affection, “were you worried about me?”

It could have been the colors reflecting from the colorful panes of glass beside them, but Childe
swore the Archon’s luminous face went a shade darker. “I did not want you to think I doubted your
capabilities or judgement,” he leaned against the backrest of his seat, arms crossed defiantly, “but
there are some things in my nature that are difficult to change.”

Before Childe could comment, heels skidded to a halt at their table; Milana had come with several
other servers, along with two rolling carts towering with different dishes and drinks of every
variety. They ranged from sweet and savory pelmeni, Pozharski chicken and quail eggs to beef
stroganoff and crab blini placed atop of crusted cauliflower. Multitudes of vegetables and soups in
smaller bowls were served alongside the main courses, and two crystal bottles of Fire Water were
positioned in ice buckets next to their seats.

“Please enjoy the meal,” Milana enthused before disappearing just as quickly as she had come. The
cart remained where it was, the space necessary to accommodate the heaping amount of everything
Childe had ordered. It wasn’t as if he came here all the time; might as well indulge while back in
his country.

“Take your pick,” Childe motioned to the feast. Usually, it was Zhongli who ordered festival
quantities for the table, but it was Childe’s turn to impress with Snezhnayan specialties, “If even
one thing disappoints, let me know.” The glint in his eye was purposefully unnerving, “I’ll go in
the back and have them make amends.”

Zhongli returned Childe’s mischievous look with one of disdain. “Even though I know you jest, try
not to stir up trouble for the sake of the innocent patrons within the establishment.”

Childe chuckled, popping off the lid of one of the bottles of Fire Water and pouring both Zhongli
and himself a glass. The braised beef dumplings he had ordered were exactly like he remembered
them; they tasted like comfort and warmed him from the inside out.

Although incomparable to the ones his mother used to make, this restaurant was as good as it could
get in Zapolyarny. With the Fire Water giving his tense muscles a break and the delicious food
filling his stomach, Childe could unwind.

Having Zhongli around every time Childe had a moment to himself was becoming more and more
common, and Childe couldn’t bring himself to think of even one reason why that would be a bad
thing. Even thousands of miles away from Liyue, where the Snezhnayan snow left no chance for
tropical trees or flora to grow, the scent of sandalwood and Silk Flowers lingered.

“Just as you have things that are hard to change,” Childe stated, after eating a heavy portion of
pelmeni and observing Zhongli’s eyes wane into two miniscule, pleased arcs while biting into a
helping of Olivier salad, “I also have things about myself that are built around my ideals and who I
am as a person. The Tsaritsa has given me an outlet for what I want; she has a vision for the future
that I would like to help make possible. Even if that comes with bowing down to her command, or
having to do some things I’m not fond of, freedom cannot exist without sacrifices.” He took a
quick gulp of Fire Water, “And for what it’s worth, I’ll gladly follow her to the ends of Teyvat if it
means providing my family with the freedoms and luxuries I’ve been blessed with as her
Harbinger.”

Zhongli looked back at Childe as if he were solving a complex puzzle, his Cor Lapis irises glowing
the same shade as the flickering candles between them. He looked so striking backdropped by the
warm colors of the stained glass, and not for the first time, Childe thought about reaching out for
the Geo Archon. Breaking the rules he had set in place for himself.

Just skimming his glove across Zhongli’s sharp jawline, or running a finger through gradient locks;
harmless touches that would be just a step above the appropriate amount. He wanted to replace that
expression of tranquility and stony composure with one he’d never seen before; one he had
imagined a shameful number of times.
Childe wanted.

The thoughts he had like this, which came on sporadically, only started becoming a nuisance after
their dinner atop of the Wangshu Inn; once Childe learned that there was the tiniest crumb of a
chance that Zhongli could be receptive to… something like that, it was hard for his insufferably
smitten brain to stop visualising it.

It would be everything Childe could ever ask for.

Because how would Rex Lapis, God of Contracts, The Prime Adeptus, love, if not like an all-
powerful, possessive and dominant being, who would swallow their prey whole until they were left
shaking and begging for more? It would be a never-ending cycle of indulgence so intense, that not
even the greatest of poets could describe the euphoria and defencelessness of when Rex Lapis’
attention was solely focused on the pursuits of pleasure.

Only then, after losing all restraint, would Zhongli resurface, who would reverently worship and
shower his care and praise like the tender, sincere man he had become. His eyes alone, purely
engrossed with affection, would be enough to end a weak heart on the spot.

Childe had come to know who Zhongli was, inside and out. Now he wanted to know what he felt
like, all of him, if the Harbinger were to give himself over completely.

Childe readjusted his pants, feeling deplorable. The idea that Zhongli would desire any of those
things with him was already far-fetched; he needed to bring himself back to reality, and quickly,
before the virtuous Archon thought something was wrong.

“…learning quite a bit.” Had Zhongli been speaking? Childe had completely zoned out on him;
great, now he was aroused and guilty.

“…Sorry, xiansheng,” he chuckled shakily, “could you repeat that? I got distracted by the food, for
a moment.”

The Archon furrowed a brow but reiterated, “I was just sharing my thoughts. No matter how much
time we spend together, I feel as though I’m always learning something new about you.” He took a
small sip of the Fire Water Childe had placed in his glass, made a thoughtful hum, and put it back
down. It was probably too strong for the Archon, but Zhongli’s table manners were always
impeccable. “You continue to show me what it means to live for each day, as well as how family
directs your decisions.” Another slight, earnest smile. “Without you, I would not be here learning
and evolving. Thank you, Ajax.”

Childe felt a pleased flush spread across his chest and face. “Zhongli-xiansheng…”

He wanted to say thank you for many things, as well, but found himself at a loss for words.
Zhongli made speaking eloquently seem so simple; Childe was much better at showing, rather than
telling.

How was he supposed to respond without accidentally letting a riptide of words and emotions spill
out, some of which were embarrassing and probably damning if heard by the Archon’s ears?

Childe settled for his contingency move: banter.

“If you really want to thank me…” he smirked, leaning over the spread of half-eaten dishes,
“you’ll tell me more about the understanding you came to with the Tsaritsa during your meeting.”

Exasperation overtook Zhongli’s sharp features. “You truthfully never give up, do you?”
“Never. Seriously.”

Zhongli heaved a sigh before pushing an empty tray of blini away. “I promised to tell you the
contents of said meeting only should it become relevant.”

“Will it, though?” Childe pushed, his eyes never leaving the Archon’s gaze, “Will it absolutely
become relevant? It must, if it was important enough for a one-on-one.”

Zhongli pursed his lips, his ochre eyes brooding. “Nothing is for certain.”

“Let’s make a contract,” Childe placed an elbow in the center of the table, his hand outstretched to
Zhongli with only his pinky finger out. The Archon observed the action with clear uncertainty, “so
that when you undoubtably have to tell me, you can’t go back on your word.”

“When have I ever gone back on my word?” Zhongli’s forehead creased, and Childe wanted to rub
the lines out with the press of his thumb. “If I make a contract, it is as good as set in stone.”

Childe shook his head. “No, no, no, this wouldn’t be a Liyuan contract. A Snezhnayan contract.
Over here, we have a different way of committing ourselves to a pact. You ever heard of a pinky
promise, xiansheng?”

Zhongli made a disagreeing noise. “I cannot say that I have.”

“Perfect.” Childe flexed his pinky finger, feeling a juvenile sort of excitement come over him. “I’ll
teach you. Lock your pinky finger here with mine.”

Zhongli moved a gloveless hand over the tabletop, reluctantly wrapping his smallest finger around
Childe’s until they were seamlessly connected. “Like so?”

Childe ignored the way the touch lit up every hair on his arm until it stood on end and endured.
“Exactly. Now I’m going to teach you the verses that go along with it to validate the agreement.
Ready?”

The way the Geo Archon nodded with clear reluctance, as if worried he may do it improperly,
made Childe’s eyes soften. “Don’t worry, xiansheng, you can just repeat after me. Here we go…”

You make a pinkie promise,

you keep it all your life.

You break a pinkie promise,

I throw you on the ice.

The cold will kill the pinkie

that once betrayed your friend,

the frost will freeze your tongue off

so you never lie again.

Once the chant ended, and Childe had unwillingly let go of Zhongli’s intertwined pinky, the
Archon nodded with a pensive finger hooked beneath his chin. “Hmm, this is indeed a powerful
mantra to ward off capricious individuals from breaking a contract. I will keep this in mind for the
future.”
Childe didn’t have the heart to tell Zhongli that the refrain was an old Snezhnayan nursery rhyme,
considering how positive his reaction was.

“Ha, my little brother Teucer is extra-fond of that one. Careful, xiansheng; if he ever makes a pinky
promise with you, there’s no going back.”

The harsh sound of a throat being cleared at the end of the room made Childe jump; Milana had
been standing off to the side with a few other attendants for who knew how long, looking red in the
face and ready to keel over with the number of desserts she had amassed in her arms.

“My Lords!” She squeaked, her cheeks inflamed, “So sorry to interrupt… but I have brought the
desserts requested. Shall I remove the empty plates?”

Childe shifted himself away from where he had been leaning fully onto Zhongli’s side of the table.
Their meals had been finished for some time; it was no wonder the headwaitress thought to deliver
the sweets Childe had ordered along with their main dishes. He imparted a quick thank you as
servers rearranged their table to display an assortment of Napoleon cake, vareniki, and medovik
coated in a fresh layer of honey. Sweet cream and varenye were served alongside the colorful trays,
as well as cappuccinos topped with frothed milk.

“Has everything been to your liking so far, Zhongli-xiansheng?” Childe asked, swirling a few
sugars around in his coffee. The snow had layered so thickly outside that he could barely see the
view while sitting down. No doubt travel was going to be a pain.

“Everything has been lovely,” the Adeptus responded cordially, taking care to select a bite of each
dessert and giving it enormous thought before declaring, like an official magistrate, “Each dish has
been full of vibrant colors, layered textures, and rich flavors. The desserts are much sweeter than
what I am used to; however, their decadence balances perfectly with the heartiness of the main
dishes. This fluffy texture covering many of the foods…”

Childe surveyed the desserts. “Do you mean the pastry?”

Zhongli motioned towards the puff pastry. “It is not something used in traditional Liyuan dining. I
am quite fond of its flavor and consistency; perhaps if Xiangling were given the recipe, she
wouldn’t mind adding it to the Wanmin menu…”

There it was again; the telltale squeeze in Childe’s chest that made it hard to breathe. His heart
stuttered painfully watching the Archon indulge in the layered cakes, and Childe needed to take an
extra shot of the Fire Water still left at the table just to retain his senses.

He must have broken some sort of ancient Liyuan regulation, thinking that their Prime Adeptus was
cute.

“You mentioned your brother,” Zhongli cleared the plate of honey cake at a record speed, “Who I
am sure is eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

Childe perked up. “Our luggage has already been brought up to my estate, so there’s nothing left
for us to do other than explore… I was actually thinking we could surprise my siblings by visiting
tonight; the look on their faces when I show up out of nowhere is sure to be priceless. If you’re not
too tired from all the travel, xiansheng, I would love if you came along after we finish up here.”

A minute of silence passed before Zhongli glanced outside, and then back to Childe, who had
welcomed the change of subject for his yearning heart to settle. “Of course; I was planning to
accompany you there no matter when you wanted to visit. When are they expecting you?”
Childe beamed; little did Zhongli know how happy it made him knowing the Archon was looking
forward to meeting his family, considering there were very few people who Childe would trust
enough to ever bring home. In fact, this would be the first family visit where Childe would be
having a guest ever since his initiation as a Harbinger. “They aren’t; I never told them I was
coming back to Snezhnaya in the first place.”

The smallest of fissures rattled the table, forcing Childe to right the bottle of Fire Water that nearly
tipped and place a stable hand over some of the glasses. The color of Cor Lapis shimmered across
the wall of stained glass, as Zhongli’s hair and eyes overflowed with his disappointment.

Childe griped, “Xiansheng, I know that may come off as rude, but you need to hear me out—”

Zhongli crossed his arms in a classic preparational move prior to scolding. “Would it not have been
dignified to give them some sort of notice before returning, and furthermore, with a guest? I may
be ill-informed on the customs of Snezhnaya, but even I am well-aware that most people require
some warning prior to a social call. Family or otherwise.” He exhaled worryingly. “I suppose this is
where your brother’s spontaneity originates from.”

Childe sighed, thankful the Archon had ceased his internal grousing that had leaked into the
trembling floors. “Look. I try and keep my options open for unpredictable circumstances. If the
Tsaritsa asks me to leave immediately for a mission, or if something else comes up, which, in my
line of work, usually does, my siblings would be upset. I try my best to keep them as separate from
my lifestyle as possible.” He implored Zhongli with what he hoped was a stern, valiant stare.
“Happy childhoods are precious, fragile things, and they need to be protected.”

They stared at each other for approximately two minutes before Zhongli, to Childe’s immense
relief, assented. “That is… a fair point.”

“You just need to have more faith in me, xiansheng.”

Zhongli’s face returned to its pensive guise, gazing off towards the river, “Mmm. What would you
like to do, then?”

“Based on the weather and current time, I’m thinking that travelling to Morepesok is going to be
rough; If we leave now, we should get there by nightfall.” Childe cracked his knuckles. He always
loved the last stretch of his journey home. “How do you feel about horses, Zhongli-xiansheng?”

“…” A flawless brow arched towards Zhongli’s forehead. “Horses?”

Childe nodded, his mouth breaking into a grin. “Horses.”

An enormous sack of Mora was left in the center of the table before they left for Morepesok, where
Childe heard Milana’s reassured, joyful squeals of Thank you, Lord Harbinger, your kindness is
never forgotten as the iron doors shut behind them.

He had dutifully left enough coinage there for each server to purchase their own troikas; it was
imperative to keep a good impression as a Harbinger before it was inevitably ripped to shreds
again, most likely by another one of Childe’s gruesome business tactics.

Just because he was the most reasonable Harbinger, didn’t mean his methods of negotiation would
be all sugary words and empty threats.

“Let me just…”

Childe stood on the corner of the snow-coated street, his supple cloak heavy enough to avoid
billowing in the substantial winds. He raised an embellished sleeve to the sky, as if calling for a
carriage, only to burst an explosive display of Hydro straight into the air. The force split the clouds
with a stream of radiant, churning blues, and remained above the city like an everlasting brand. A
few pedestrians paused to ogle at the constellation-like message staining the atmosphere before
retuning to their strolls through the never-ending snowfall.

“This Hydro-map technique is uniquely taught to my Vanguard sentries stationed around

Zapolyarny and Morepesok,” Childe explained, motioning to the lines of blue rippling through the
snow clouds, “so they know where I am and what I need pronto. Pretty convenient, huh?”

“Is it alright to bring attention to yourself in this way?” Zhongli questioned, still gazing up at the
twinkling Hydro message. An array of waves and what could have been coordinates danced within
the elemental imagery, along with two large, frozen diamonds centred within the churning vapors.

Childe made a disregarding gesture; he rarely became concerned with his own safety in
Zapolyarny, so close to the Tsaritsa’s palace. “These Vanguard clothes are already condemning
enough as they are. Once we reach the midpoint, I’ll ditch them with one of my guards before the
last leg of the ride.”

The Hydro communication did not take long to yield results; telltale sounds of hooves clopping
across snow broke through the hush of the narrow street. Two horses, one a brilliant white and the
other black as coal, trotted to a refined halt in front of Childe and Zhongli, their blinker hoods
brandished with the same coordinates Childe had stamped into the sky.

Childe watched Zhongli move with unfettered grace towards the white horse and raise a careful
hand to caress its muzzle; immediately, the horse responded with a flick of its ears and a small
whinny.

“Do horses like dragons, I wonder?” Childe laughed before straddling the other steed, getting
himself comfortable on the saddle. Zhongli quirked a lip before following Childe’s movements,
elegantly resting himself atop the horse white as snow.

“Generally, most beasts do not,” the Archon picked up the reins with ease, his coat laying across
the animal’s back in complimentary yin and yang, “however, they do honour the Qilin. Perhaps I
am an anomaly for this young one.”

Childe brushed the snow from his eyes, turning to look better at the Geo Archon seated like a
heavenly being atop an immaculate, pearl stallion. Even through the blizzard, his amber eyes
pierced with a clarity that could lead stragglers to safety in the worst of storms.

“Gah, Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe shook his head, unable to keep up with his throbbing heart,
“Maybe you should take this horse. How you look on that one is just unfair…”

Zhongli brought his horse closer to Childe, tilting his head before raising the hood of his coat to
shield his face from the elements. With only his Cor Lapis pupils shimmering beneath the shadow
of the fur cowl, he appeared otherworldly. “The horses are approximately the same size. How is it
discriminating if we were to exchange them?”

“Never mind,” the blush staining Childe’s already cold-flushed cheeks must have been so obvious;
he wrapped his woolen scarf in three layers to cover his expression, as well as shield from the cold,
“Let’s just get a move on.”

If Zhongli wanted to comment on Childe’s offhand remark, he politely chose to let it slide. Which
was a good thing, too, because the longer the Harbinger spent around Zhongli, who was
unknowingly altering every memory of Childe’s in Zapolyarny to include his reassuring, solid
companionship, the more likely it was that he would accidentally say something ill-chosen.

Like, you should come back to Snezhnaya with me again in the future.

Or even worse:

Wherever you want to go next, I’ll happily follow.

Thank the Tsaritsa for the distracting, cruel blizzard that kept Childe from letting his own thoughts
drown him in despair. It was pathetic to wallow over things one could never obtain, and Childe
refused to ever be pitied.

The ride to the Harbinger base set up by Childe as a halfway point between Zapolyarny and
Morepesok was brief; the horses’ riding equipment had been previously infused with Anemo
energy, making their steps as light and quick as the wintry drafts besieging them. Childe had
always been a natural when given any form of outdoor activities, whether it be mountaineering,
wind gliding or horseback riding, and part of that was the freedom that came with moving against
the elements.

Tonia had bugged him relentlessly, last time he had visited on horseback, to teach her. She was
officially big enough to handle the stirrups on her own and refused to let Childe forget it.

His brothers and sister were growing up much too fast.

Although he doubted there would be enough time for lessons this time around, Childe made a
mental note to bring it up for a separate trip altogether, just so that he had another excuse to visit
when he became overcome by humbling swells of homesickness.

Zhongli rode close at Childe’s heels, his horse of wind and frost sniffling from the exertion. When
Childe peered over his shoulder, he saw the Geo Archon’s meticulous curve of his back as he
controlled the mounts’ advances, his stolid countenance partially concealed beneath the fur cloak.

It was always thrilling to move through Snezhnaya on horseback; sharing the sentiment with
Zhongli was an occurrence Childe hadn’t known he needed until now.

“Right up here, xiansheng!” Childe called into the blizzard before leading his horse onto a
camouflaged trail swamped with firs and damp brush. A faint, blue stream of light lit up as the
horses progressed further and further into the woodland, leading to a small, enclosed hut where
three Fatui members stood at attention.

They saluted in Snezhnayan, flaunting perfect synchronization, “Lord Harbinger, welcome back to
Snezhnaya!”

Childe saluted back accordingly, already working on removing his overcoat and mantle. One of the
sentinels handed the Harbinger a plain, grey overcoat with a much sleeker cape before taking
Childe’s Vanguard layers and folding them intricately. “Nice to see you, gentlemen. Thank you for
your assistance with keeping my post manned. I trust there have been no incidents since our last
update?”

Their mechanical responses of No, Sir! were well-received; Childe nodded as he fastened the new
apparel on underneath the tented doorway. “Good. Anything less then that would have made me…
unhappy.”

Childe’s voice in his native tongue always came out much more pointed, with a deeper resonance
that arose from his harsh cadences and even harsher words, but unless Zhongli picked up
Snezhnayan overnight (a possibility, considering his photographic memory, but still unlikely), it
wasn’t as if he could perceive the differences between the flippant threats at the restaurant, and the
very tangible ones he voiced at present.

He treated his underlings well; however, Childe had a tendency to let Tartaglia reign whenever the
safety of his family’s whereabouts came into question.

The soldiers looked straight ahead, finally breaking from harmonisation. The tallest of the crew
with the burliest voice responded, “We would hate to disappoint you, Sir.”

That was believable. After all, Childe was the Vanguard; if they were to turn their backs on him…
well, he would spare their lives like a generous leader, at the very least.

And only after satiating his fury would he then pass them off to Il Dottore as playthings for his
latest experiment.

Fatui Harbingers could play nice with each other, when it counted.

“Xiansheng, if you need anything, or have any questions before we ride the last stretch, let me
know while we’re here,” Childe glanced over at his riding partner, a hooded silhouette in the
waning light of the sun.

Zhongli remained motionless, his expression obscured as he spoke, “I will ask on the way.
Everything I need, I have on my person.”

Childe wasn’t sure exactly what Zhongli would require besides some warm clothes for a quick
visit to his family home. However, if there was something the Adeptus didn’t want to voice in
front of the soldiers, then all the more reason to hasten their pitstop. “Alright, then. Солдаты!”

The Fatui flinched back into positions, although they had hardly moved to begin with. “Yes, Lord
Harbinger!”

The sun had dipped under the lowest mountain peak in the forest; it would be dark soon. They
weren’t too far from Morepesok, but wolves in Snezhnaya were bulky, nocturnal pests who hunted
in packs.

Childe gestured one last time before returning to his horse. He tossed up a casual wave from
behind his head, steering away from the camp. “Until next time. Keep up the good work.”

Childe took the lead once more; in the light of the new moon, the snow’s reflections provided
ample lighting within the depths of the forest, and Childe used identifying landmarks he knew like
the back of his hand to maneuver their way through the undergrowth. If he got lucky, Tonia,
Teucer and Anthon would have already eaten dinner, which meant they would be settled in their
rooms preparing for school or amusing themselves in the family room. Either way, they would be
awake and ready to be completely, enthusiastically astounded by Childe’s sudden appearance.

Perhaps this was how Teucer felt, when he had travelled so many miles to surprise his older
brother with a visit to Liyue. Teucer was growing more and more like his older, shrewder sibling
with each passing day; at his young age, he was going on adventures across Teyvat without fear or
reluctance, making friends and causing chaos that even Childe had difficulty resolving.

It was probably too late to warn his mother that Teucer was only going to get worse with age.

“Ajax,” Zhongli’s voice was the sole form of warmth in the blustering snow, “Before we arrive, I
have a few questions that should have been posed earlier; however, I was too distracted by the
sights and the Tsaritsa’s appointment to ask.”

Childe sidled his horse beside Zhongli’s, taking cover beneath some extended branches and
slowing down. “Alright, shoot.”

Zhongli’s hood bobbed with his nod. “May I call you Ajax in front of your family?”

Childe’s cheeks, beneath the layers of his scarf, heated instantly. “Ah, of course… the Tsaritsa was
different. To her, I should be Tartaglia, and nothing else, but Ajax is the only name I go by at
home. There’s no pressure to be the Eleventh Harbinger around my siblings, so I can be myself…
just as much as I can with you.”

The sound of Zhongli calling him Ajax while his family did the same was going to play tricks on
Childe’s head; the Adeptus was going to give him a complex.

“Good.” They continued forward through the timberland, where the snow had coated every feeble
shrub and thicket on the ground; Childe hadn’t seen this much snow in a long while, and its eternal
radiance and ability to suffocate even the thickest jungles was calming. Nostalgic. “What else
should I know? As much as you have shared with me about your siblings, I would like to be as
prepared as possible for a family who has raised such a distinctive individual as yourself.”

“I hope that wasn’t sarcasm, xiansheng,” Childe jested, “But hmm, what can I say? My eldest
sisters and brother have flown the nest, like myself, so you’ll most likely only be meeting my
younger siblings. Tonia is a dear with a fondness for gathering information; tell her a bunch of
interesting facts and some history about Liyue, your specialty, and she’ll be pacified. Oh, and
Anthon is fascinated by the mechanics of how things work, and has big plans of being a scientist
one day. He’s been studying the Ruin Guard pieces I’ve sent home and has been attempting to copy
their framework… one day, that boy might be at the forefront of Teyvat’s industrial innovations…
even if he did think Liyue was filled with rock-eating monsters. But with growing older, comes
insight, and I already know he’s going to blow us all away with his discoveries! He can be a bit
shy, though, so try not to intimidate him with your penchant for asking serious questions with those
daunting eyes of yours…Zhongli-xiansheng?”

Zhongli’s hood had slipped halfway off of his head, the moonlight illuminating his features against
the starkness of the snow, making his skin gleam bright as porcelain. His eyes were
uncharacteristically soft; a small, tender smile graced his lips. “Your fondness for your family is
engrossing to witness. Even your words are saturated with adoration; I do not think I’ve ever seen
you happier then when you are speaking highly of your brothers and sister.”

“Xiansheng,” Childe willed the embarrassment to leave his body; it was unfair how perceptive the
Archon was. It was only natural for someone to be delighted when describing the most important
people in their lives, “You’re meeting the ones I treasure most in this world; how could I not be
enthusiastic?”

Childe didn’t want to come right out and say that the Adeptus was the first person, friend,
colleague or otherwise, he had ever brought home who had come to know Ajax, Childe and
Tartaglia, but knowing Zhongli, he would see the significance of the moment and would treat it
with the same reverence and respect he always did.

It was reassuring to have someone who honestly cared about Childe’s welfare at his side, a person
so considerate of his circumstances.

“Back to the point,” Childe continued, the apples of his cheeks tinged red, “With those two, I think
you’ll be just fine. Teucer, however…” he paused to snort, “Well, Teucer is Teucer. Be prepared
for anything. Just pretend you’re entertaining me, only younger and with more energy.”

A muffled chuckle could be heard from Zhongli; Childe was resolutely watching the path in front
of him, and working tirelessly to ignore how the moon made Zhongli look too striking for words,
“I should hope he does not seek out the same means of entertainment you do. I would be
uncomfortable sparring with a child.”

Childe barked out a genuine laugh. “You’re getting better at jokes, xiansheng!”

They had reached a small clearing that broke into two identical paths; Childe nudged his horse
towards the one on the left, knowing that Morepesok would be right around the corner.

“And what of your parents?” Zhongli asked; Childe pulled a face, “Is there anything you would
like me to be aware of?”

Actually, there was, but Childe felt at odds telling Zhongli of his parental woes; had the Archon
ever experienced the ups and downs of family? Would he be able to understand the strife that arose
from Childe’s upbringing?

The loving parents who had raised him eventually began to fear him; their concern had turned to
apprehension, and eventually, avoiding contact with him altogether.

“If you couldn’t already tell, our relationship is a bit… strained,” he relented, “although my mother,
mindful as she is, can’t be placed at fault. My father sent me into the Fatui for conscription after
my descent into the Abyss. He wanted to try and curb my sudden bloodlust, but it ended up
backfiring, I suppose. How was he to know I would end up being pulled in by Pulcinella and
blazing through the ranks until I became one of the Harbingers?” There was only silence on
Zhongli’s end, so Childe laughed to himself and continued, “Now he worries I’m just a bad
example for the rest of my siblings. His greatest fear is that all of his offspring will end up just like
me.”

It shouldn’t sting as much as it did, saying the truth of the matter out loud, but the words were
colder than the frostnip adhering to Childe’s face. He wore a grin through it, as he always did. “My
father’s an adventurer who makes money for the family by doing jobs across the land and
completing expeditions, so he’s not home much. It’s been almost two years since I last saw or even
spoke to him, but I know his health has been on the decline for some time. Remember that day I
had you teach me all about Liyuan medicine for migraines, xiansheng? I sent home a bunch of
those herbs because Tonia said mother was worrying about father’s headaches. I still do what I can
for them; it's the least I can do, considering they raised me.”

A few feet from the edge of the pathway, elemental lamps were strung across fences lining the
road. Small, wooden dachas poked their way into Childe’s peripheral; they had finally reached the
perimeter of Morepesok.

Childe smiled. Whether or not certain aspects of his life had changed ever since he became a
Harbinger, the feeling of being back in his hometown would never cease to settle his soul.

As they continued to walk along the road, the skyline burst into view; Morepesok was a seaside
village, and the entire community was backdropped by the expansive, frozen shore of the ocean
that connected their tiny settlement to the rest of Teyvat. He turned to look at Zhongli, hoping the
sights of small, glowing lanterns amongst the quaint lodge homes surrounded by ocean would
spark a similar happiness within his own heart. “Anyways, don’t fret too much about any of that.
There’s no way my father will be home during hunting season in Snezhnaya, anyways; too many
 errands to run.” He gestured to the pleasant expanse of lodges amidst the wide-open sea. “Welcome
to my birthplace, Zhongli-xiansheng. The house is literally right around the corner, so just follow
me.”

Zhongli stopped at the edge of the fenced border to sweep his Cor Lapis gaze across the village,
almost as if he were sanctifying it with his observation. “A serene, coastal village; what a pleasant
place to have spent your childhood.”

Childe grinned, throwing his head back. “I’m glad you think so, because you’re right. All of my
fondest childhood memories took place right here in this town.”

They rode a few minutes longer on a narrow path, covered with untouched snow, until a house the
color of robin eggs appeared, concealed somewhat by an enormous weeping willow. If it wasn’t
obvious that this was where Childe’s family resided, the bizarre collection of Ruin Guards strewn
around the plot of land’s courtyard, still visible from the street, along with many other assortments
of foreign machinery would have made it crystal clear.

Warm, yellow light could be seen through the frosted windowpanes inside. Good; it was just past
dinner. Everyone must've been awake.

“This is the place!”

Childe strung up his horse on the posts near the yard, Zhongli following behind him. Their steps
creaked as they made their way up the front porch, but Childe could hardly care about keeping
quiet any longer; it had been months since he last saw Teucer, and much longer than that since he
fixed his eyes on Tonia and Anthon.

Would they be taller? Stronger? Less like the children in his cherished memories?

With one last glance at Zhongli, the Archon from across the sea who had travelled thousands of
miles to Snezhnaya, willing to stand by him as he presented one new significant person in his life to
the ones who had always occupied his heart, Childe was pelted by untainted joy as he knocked on
the door.

Little footsteps could be heard scrambling inside, but it was one pair of weighty strides that moved
to the door first, heaving it open and letting the warmth from within leak onto the balcony.

Childe felt his jaw fall.

“F-Father?”

Chapter End Notes

Please don't hate me for that cliffhanger. This chapter was almost double the usual
length because of how much I wanted to write, so the family scene just WOULD NOT
fit. This is why this chapter took so long, and the next one? Hoho, it'll be a doozy.
Most likely 10k. Wish me luck and pray that I'll get more free time than I have to write
it.

The restaurant exists, more or less, by the way. I wanted a real place that fit Childe's
image. Take a look to visualize the decor better if you'd like!: Childe's Snezhnayan
Dinner Date Eatery of Choice

This was the most sexual chapter and it literally only took place in Childe's
imagination. Don't give up hope, comrade!

I know this chapter took longer than usual, but I really enjoyed writing this one. I feel
like it added much ore context and prefacing for what's to come, as well as just how
close Childe and Zhongli have become over the story line. I may add Zhongli's
meeting with the Tsaritsa into some one-shots once the story is done from his
perspective; I planned on doing that from the beginning.

Do you think the family reunion is going to go well? Wrong answers only.

Your comments never cease to amaze me; sometimes I screenshot a few of them, the
detailed ones, and actually go back to them while writing because there are some
questions asked or insights that I just think WOW! That's a good point! How can I
answer this in the story properly? And it's a joy to see.

Chat with me about genshin and see new chapter posts on my Twitter, which I just
got? Twitter
We can freak out over Itto's voice actors together...because that's something I've gotten
really familiar with doing lately...heh
 Home is Where You Are
Chapter Notes

More fanart!?

Phi, the artistic genius they are, made this INCREDIBLE fanart of the Tsaritsa. Please
understand that I don't understand how they got her so perfect, down to the armor and
the hair. I've been speechless for the whole week over it. Sometimes I just go back and
look at it and want to cry. The Tsaritsa

Shaera also did a remake of Zhongli with his Liyuan attire and the shuba thrown
overtop! So gorgeous!! The Perfect Man

Support the artists! ~

Lastly, Phi sent me this playlist that was Ajax themed, and I wrote a lot of the last
2,000 words of this chapter to it, so if you'd like to give it a listen go for it! I couldn't
have made one better myself; every song fits his character so well.
Spotify Ajax Playlist

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Childe felt his blood run cold, the elation he harbored evaporating into steam as he stared straight
into astute cerulean eyes nearly identical to his own. They were widened in disbelief, pools of blue
displaying aloofness and extreme apprehension, and made the doorway to Childe’s family home
feel just as distant and unreceptive as the Tsaritsa’s grand palace.

The man blocking the entrance was the same height as Childe, with greying hair and a stocky
frame; he was thinner than Childe remembered, his arms and legs leaving more room for clothing
to billow. There were lines around his mouth and eyes that were definitely new additions to his
aged appearance, ultimately indications of just how much time had passed since Childe had a
moment to observe his father’s features.

Why was he here? The odds had been near to none, Childe had been sure of that; more than two
decades of having his father’s venturing logbooks memorized like the back of his hand, knowing
like internal clockwork which months Childe would be able to ice fish with him again before
having to anticipate his next visit…

It didn’t seem fair to Childe, to Ajax, that after all that waiting, his father chose to return home
now.

“Ajax?” His father said his name as if speaking to a ghost. It held a twinge of fear that Childe had
spent years trying to ignore; the reverberance echoed with the strength of a gong.

Almost as if flicking a switch, his father’s face morphed into one of aloofness. The light of surprise
in his eyes vanished, replaced with cautious detachment. “Why are you here?”

Childe winced; he had to take a minute to gather his thoughts and remind himself that he was the
Eleventh Harbinger of the Tsaritsa’s Fatui; the Vanguard of her Holy Highness’ army, and that he
was no longer the young man who would let his father’s contempt affect him.

He eased his posture and stared at his father head-on; this was the first time in ages that he had
reunited with the man who had slowly stopped recognizing him as Ajax, his son. An invisible
barrier had materialized the minute Childe lost his innocence, all those years ago in the Abyss.

The warm hearth behind his father’s rigid posture had never felt further away.

Before Childe had the chance to speak, he was knocked backwards onto the porch with enough
velocity to painfully steal the air from his lungs. There was a three-second warning of rumbling
footfalls and abundant high-pitch screaming that could wake the entire town; Childe found himself
with a backside soaked in slush and an armful of crying, babbling children.

“Brother Ajax!!”

“I can’t believe it, it’s really you!”

*sniffle* “This is the bestest surprise ever, Brother Ajax is home!”

Childe glanced down to see Anthon tucked into his cloak, his scrawny arms latched around
Childe’s waist, along with Teucer, who was crying fat, translucent tears, leaking snot all over the
shoulder of his woolen coat. Tonia must have grown almost half a foot since the last time Childe
saw her; she had thrown herself over his back, suspicious sniffling sounds coming from underneath
her curly mane of red locks.

The Mr. Cyclops action figure Childe had made especially for Teucer was poking a tiny, jagged
foot into his ribcage; Teucer must have just been playing with it before he heard his older brother
and beelined for him with more strength than a youngster should possess.

“Did you take a horse to get here, Big Brother?”

“Where’s Mr. Cyclops? You said you would ride one here the next time you visited!”

Tonia’s grip around Childe’s neck tightened to the point of suffocation, but Childe would have
rather turned purple than ask her to loosen a hug that had him feeling weightless. She murmured,
crimson tresses sweeping across his cheeks, “It’s so good to see you, Big Brother.”

Her hair smelled of firewood and freshly leavened bread; his brothers radiated a warmth that could
only be obtained in Morepesok by sitting near the pechka, their skin still rosy from the stove’s
heat. Childe noticed that not one of them was wearing a proper pair of shoes; Anthon, Teucer and
Tonia had all sprinted onto the snow-covered entryway with their socks, three pairs of soggy feet
making sploshing noises as they each tried to huddle themselves as close to Childe as humanly
possible.

The tension within him calmed; Childe felt his world realign with the three small bodies that
squeezed him close, and with so much love and adoration, that it was hard not to feel as though he
held all of Celestia within the stretch of his embrace.

“Your loyal knight has returned, Tonia.” He reached around to ruffle her unruly mane, before
picking up both Teucer and Anthon and swinging them up as he stood. “Your Big Brother had a
little free time to spare after visiting Her… Royal Majesty of Toys, so he decided to pop by for a
lovely reunion! And boy, do you three never disappoint.”

His father hovered in the doorway, inspecting their interactions as if waiting for something to go
wrong. Just as well, Childe thought, so long as he doesn’t try and take this from me. From them.
“It’s good to see you too, Father,” he added, because deep down, all rifts and bad blood cast
aside… it was.

The child within him would never forget the long-lost flame of enthusiasm he felt when his father
stepped through the front door after months of travelling away from home.

It always happened so easily, Childe becoming Ajax again and entering Big Brother mode; he made
sure to pat each of his sibling’s heads, remarking on their many changes (Anthon, when did your
hair get so long? Tonia, you’re going to be taller than me, soon!) and chiding them to get back
inside where it was warm, before their toes froze off from the cold.

A silhouette of a woman blocked the remaining light from the doorway as Childe’s siblings argued
with him (We’re not going in until Brother Ajax comes inside, too!), (Oh, yes you are, frostbite can
strike in as little as five minutes), and Childe looked down to see his mother peering around his
father’s wide back.

For as much as everyone he loved in his life had physically changed, his beautiful, auburn-haired
mother had stayed nearly the same.

“Ajax.”

Childe breathed an internal sigh of relief; her voice held no malice, oceans apart from his father's
hostility.

She sounded happy to see him.

“Hello, Mother,” he smiled and couldn’t resist himself; he squeezed his mother in a hold too-tight
for her tiny frame, even as his father remained stone-still and obstruent within the confines of the
entry. The way she carefully returned the embrace, as if fearing Childe would only stay a moment
before vanishing again, was achingly familiar. “I’m sorry to come by without letting you know
first, but you know how it goes.”

He felt a small nod from where his mother’s face rested against his shoulder. “It’s nice to see
you’re well.” There was a slight sheen to her eyes as she backed away, irises black as night,
“Please come inside; the children were just finishing up some schoolwork, but they should be all
done now.”

“Allllmost done,” Teucer whined, clearing the tears drying in streaks down his ruddy cheeks, “But
Big Brother’s here! It can wait until tomorrow morning, can’t it? I promise I’ll do it before
breakfast!”

Even Childe knew that was a promise meant to be broken, but his mother relented. “Okay, inside.
New clothes for everyone; you’re all soaking wet in one spot or another.”

A jingling from Tonia’s wrist as she removed her grip from Childe’s throat made him squint; a
handmade bracelet formed from broken, linked seashells in a very well-known shade of blue rattled
when she moved a piece of hair behind her ear. Childe grinned, “I’m happy to see the Starconch
gifts arrived safely. You’ve already put them to good use!”

His sister turned a familiar shade of red that mimicked Childe’s own face when he was put on the
spot. “T-Thank you for all of the shells. There were so many more than last time, and now we have
a bunch leftover to use later…”

That was true; with Zhongli’s haul added to the delivery, Childe didn’t doubt that there was a box
or two of extra Starconches hidden away in storage somewhere.
Once the three children had their feet back inside on dry land, Childe’s father chose to interrupt,
still leaving Childe on the porch. The sleet sticking to his back was starting to sting, “You should
have let us know you were heading to Morepesok; it’s unsafe to travel without giving us a warning.
What if you were pursued?”

“Father, I know how to cover my tracks,” Childe countered, “and you should understand that I take
every safety precaution. Besides, my presence alone is already plenty of protection.”

Blue eyes narrowed in protest. “If any Fatui crises from Zapolyarny Palace or Her Majesty were to
follow you here to Morepesok…”

The recurrent paranoia Childe had grown sick of dealing with on numerous occasions was just as
exasperating as ever, even if he could admit that some of that concern was valid. However, valid or
not, it was his father’s inability to show a little faith in Childe that got under his skin every single
time.

Childe’s voice dropped an octave. “Why would I attempt to endanger my family?”

“You wouldn’t… on purpose.” Sapphire eyes gleamed with a perpetual reluctance that Childe
knew couldn’t be willed away so easily, “but it wouldn’t be the first time trouble tracked you
down.”

Childe could feel his Delusion flare to life beneath his layers of wool, sparking with frustration.
There were countless words left between them unsaid, eons of no contact with only Childe being
the one to present peace offerings, always attempting to prove himself as more than just the
Tsaritsa’s bloodthirsty lieutenant.

“I don’t want to fight with you right now,” he remarked coolly, trying his best to remain civil; two
years had passed, and yet Childe’s father was no closer to forgiving him for choosing a path
indirectly set by his own hands, “I just wanted to visit Teucer, Anthon and Tonia while I had the
chance.”

His mother looked up earnestly at Childe’s father, his siblings also at a loss. Tonia had always felt
the brunt of Childe’s problematic relationship with their father; she looked as if she wanted to
speak up, but knew that no words were powerful enough to quell his fear.

Suddenly, Teucer was the one to speak; he peered out behind Childe and into the darkness of the
front lawn, eyes widening in realization.

“Big Brother, who’s that man behind you?”

All eyes turned towards the base of the stairs, where Zhongli had remained perfectly still and
silent, scrutinizing Childe’s frenzied family reunion; with his cloak still concealing half of his face
and the black fur melding into the shadows of the trees, it was no wonder he had been overlooked
for so long.

Childe had been so overwhelmed by his family that he had nearly forgotten to warn them about his
distinctively conspicuous guest.

The Archon removed his hood, Cor Lapis eyes glowing from the obscurities of the portico. While
Childe’s father predictably tensed, everyone else seemed to gaze at the Adeptus with unrestrained
awe.

His mother chimed in first. “A foreigner?”

“His hair, look, his hair changes color, it goes from black to gold!”

“I’ve never seen eyes that color before…”

“Where are my manners,” Childe cleared his throat, realizing that poor Zhongli had watched on as
he had an uncomfortable spat with his father, literally moments after telling the Adeptus he
wouldn’t be here, “This is my close associate and friend from Liyue, Zhongli-xiansheng… ah, Mr.
Zhongli. He hasn’t travelled outside of his home country in some time and showed interest in
visiting Snezhnaya, so I thought it would be nice for him to come along.”

Childe beckoned to his siblings, whose expressions were brimming with immense curiosity; their
Big Brother had brought home a friend. A very unexpected affair, indeed.

He brandished a wide grin, flashing a wink in their direction. “Although you three might know him
better as the Mora Man.”

Recognition raced at record speed across each of the children’s bright, blue eyes; instantly they
were hurling new questions, loaded with enthusiasm.

“This is the Mora Man!?” Anthon shrieked, scrabbling to his feet (which were now sock-free) to
exclaim, “He looks so… so normal! Then it’s true, people from Liyue can’t eat rocks? Unless…”
He pointed at Zhongli, who raised a quizzical brow, “Do you have super-sharp teeth, Mora Man?”

Zhongli smiled, his deep voice rumbling like faraway thunder, “I am afraid I do not.”

Not right now, Childe wanted to add, but kept his upturned lips sealed.

Anthon seemed to wilt at that, his red-tinged hair drooping to almost his shoulders. “Darn. I was
hoping Liyue was filled with people who kind of looked like Mr. Cyclops, but with people-brains.”

Childe barked out a laugh. “Interesting deduction, my little scientist.”

“I told you they were just people people, Anthon,” Teucer whined, “All except for that nice
person’s floating toy that could talk! But it didn’t eat rocks, either…”

Tonia’s face was starry-eyed, “He’s just as nice-looking as you described, Big Brother!”

Childe flinched; there may have been times where Childe rambled when writing back to his family,
and describing Zhongli’s features definitely came easily to him, but…

There was no time for Childe to ream his sister for making such an embarrassing statement; she
had already turned to face Zhongli instead, smiling wide. “Thank you very much for helping my
brother when his hand was injured! Your writing was easy to read, and we all appreciated it.”

The two boys at the front entrance joined in, “Yes, thank you!”

Zhongli actually appeared somewhat taken aback. The Adeptus nodded his head in appreciation,
glancing at Childe as he did so. “It was no trouble at all. I am always happy to help your brother
with anything he needs.”

The way he said it, with his influential, sonorous tenor, made Childe’s siblings coo and Childe’s
heart quiver wildly. “Xiansheng, come up here. You don’t have to wait at the bottom of the stairs.”

Teucer tugged on Zhongli’s shuba as if he had known him his entire life; no wonder the Traveller
had ended up going above and beyond babysitting duties when his brother had snuck to Liyue. The
boy treated everyone as if they were long-lost relatives.

He wore a grin from ear-to-ear, though his words were almost reproaching in nature. “Where were
you when I visited Liyue, Mora Man?”

“You may call me Zhongli,” the Archon requested, even if Childe was silently hoping Mora Man
would stick for the duration of their stay, “and I had been unaware of your visit. It is very nice to
finally make your acquaintance; Childe has told me so much about all of you.”

“You missed my Big Brother showing off his toy-selling skills! He was so cool, fighting with the
rival sellers to show them who’s boss.” Teucer was ready to go on a tangent, and Childe glowed a
little with pride as his littlest brother praised him.

Anthon seemed to remember something, with the way his head snapped up to Zhongli’s face like a
starstruck admirer.

“Is it true you’re a better fighter than Big Brother? His letter said you were on another level!” he
broadcasted.

Childe internally cringed; leave it to Anthon to unknowingly cause him problems the second he got
home.

Even Tonia knew that there were certain subjects better left for later; she scolded Anthon with a
quick tap to the back, “Anthon, shh!”

His father, as expected, reacted instantly.

His voice was harsh. “Does he also work as a…” there was a pause; Childe’s story was one the
entire family was accustomed to, “Toy salesman?”

Childe shook his head, “Not even close. He’s a funeral consultant, as well as a remarkable
historian. But to answer your question, Anthon, yes, Mr. Zhongli is absolutely a greater fighter
than I. With the both of us here, you have nothing to be afraid of.”

“Wow!” The two brothers exclaimed, before Childe’s mother interrupted, her expression somewhat
overwhelmed, “Welcome to Morepesok, Mr. Zhongli. I am Polina, Ajax’s mother.”

Zhongli raised his fist and palm into a formal bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The Archon
shifted his stance to face Childe’s father, “A pleasure to meet you, as well, sir.”

The stark difference between how Zhongli had greeted the Tsaritsa, with a cold, casual
indifference, versus Childe’s parents, was mystifying. It was almost hard to watch; he encouraged
the Ex-Geo Archon to straighten up, silently hissing, “No need for that, xiansheng. Technically
you’re the elder.”

Zhongli remained in a formal, lengthy bow before reprimanding, “Those technicalities do not apply
when meeting the people responsible for raising you. Only the highest respect is due.”

Childe watched his mother’s face redden; the Geo Archon had that effect on people.

“I apologize; you came to our home without any preparations made.” She turned her gaze to the
man fortifying the doorway, eyes no longer gentle. “Igor, enough. Let them come inside.”

Childe’s father finally shifted, albeit unwillingly, away from the entrance, allowing Childe and
Zhongli to enter the house. The heat felt blissful after so many hours occupied with nothing but
snowy weather; the Liyue sun, as unforgivably hot as it was, would do Snezhnaya some good.

The Harbinger took in a large, concentrated breath, permitting the longing that had been
suppressed within him for months to finally peak; everything, from the lush carpeted floors, the
wide, simplistic pechka blanketing the house in a comforting heat, to the smell of borscht just
cooked and eaten, was exactly how Childe remembered it.

No matter how many times he left or how many times he came back, the sensation of retuning
home would always swathe him in the heartening memories of childhood.

Zhongli placed the lightest of touches to Childe’s shoulder, shaking him out of his nostalgia. He
leaned in while they shuffled their boots into an insulated corner for drying, his voice lower than a
murmur but no less compelling, “I sensed your Delusion’s activation; are you alright?”

When Childe looked over, the Archon’s eyes were filled with noticeable concern; it was touching,
considering Childe had thought it would be Zhongli that would be unsettled by meeting his
boisterous, over-the-top siblings.

He supposed the tension between himself and his father was palpable enough to warrant the worry.

“… I was caught off-guard, but I’ll be just fine, xiansheng,” he whispered, “If anything, I’m sorry
for the inevitable friction that might be present while we’re here. It was meant to be a night spent
with Anthon, Teucer and Tonia…”

Zhongli’s gaze gained a sturdy, reassuring quality to it, as he nodded in understanding. He always
seemed to sense Childe’s moods, even though the Harbinger had mastered keeping his emotions in
check long ago.

Either it was an Archon thing, or Childe had become much easier to read.

“This is your family; I know they are extremely important to you.” Zhongli looked down at Teucer
and Anthon, who were speaking a mile a minute about a bunch of things Childe probably should
have been paying attention to, but was too caught up in his own thoughts to focus on, “I also
recognize that you would be the most experienced in dealing with their dispositions. Just know that
I am here for you, should you want my support.”

Childe swallowed.

Not need.

Want.

Because Zhongli understood Childe better than he sometimes understood himself, and that was
frightening.

The bright flush that overtook Childe’s face would hopefully be mistaken for a symptom of too
much time outside in the blistering winds; how Zhongli could say something so huge, so
meaningful, as if it was unexceptional and not a lifeline that Childe wanted to grasp until his
fingers were raw…

The Archon’s stoic face, still watching him with those unnerving amber eyes, settled something
within Childe. As young and vulnerable as he felt, being back home and faced with the very mortal
issues he had sought to avoid, Zhongli never criticized Childe’s choices or belittled his feelings.
With everything he'd witnessed, and all of the parts of Childe the Adeptus came to familiarize
himself with, this was the most exposed that the Harbinger had ever been; and still, Zhongli
remained as constant and compassionate as ever.

The buzzing beneath Childe’s skin that he had come to recognize as his crushing adoration for the
Archon drowned out every other sensation; it left him with enough gratitude to fill Morepesok’s
seaport.

“I’ll always hold you to that, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

He was so glad Zhongli accompanied him to Snezhnaya.

“Take a seat anywhere you like,” Childe’s mother motioned to the living room, where two plush
sofas were arranged around a table scattered with what looked like textbooks. She frowned
sheepishly, “Ah, excuse the mess. I’ll make tea quickly and grab a few snacks. Oh, Ajax, I baked
pryaniki yesterday…”

Childe perked up like a puppy. “Pryaniki? It’s been ages since I’ve had some of those.”

She smiled back at him as Anthon and Teucer pulled Childe by the hands onto the largest sofa; it
was a testimony to Childe’s Harbinger status that he managed to rip off his soaked coat in record
time, before his damp back could touch the furniture.

“Oh,” Zhongli spoke up, regaining the attention in the room. He had always drawn the limelight,
but it was something different in Childe’s hometown; his family, who seldom left the comforts of
their nation, unknowingly had an Archon under their roof, “I nearly forgot; I have brought gifts.”

Childe’s eyebrows lifted to his hairline as Tonia cleared off the table, pausing with unconcealed
interest.

“Gifts? What gifts?” Childe eyed Zhongli’s figure, now freed from the shuba’s hefty weight and
back to wearing only his golden-brown embellished coat, the image of Liyuan nobility. He looked
out of place in the cozy, multicoloured family room, a crane lost in a rainforest of bright rugs and
tapestries.

The Adeptus held nothing in his hands, no presents in sight. If his idea of presents involved
retelling stories of Liyue, then Childe’s brothers were going to be sorely disappointed. “Everything
you brought is at the manor.”

Zhongli seated himself on the couch next to Childe, their thighs lined up together snugly to give
Teucer, Anthon and Tonia enough space on the last cushion to hoard Childe’s attention.

“Gifts?” Teucer was practically in Childe’s lap at this point, but he still managed to creep closer to
Zhongli, “What kinds of gifts?”

“They are not much,” the Archon asserted, “however, I gathered things deemed appropriate for
gift-giving that would also reflect the beauty and culture of Liyue. Ekaterina, as well as the
boatmen, offered some insight on said-offerings.”

At Childe’s clearly insulted expression (“Why didn’t you ask me for help? They’re my family!”),
the Archon elaborated, turning to give Childe a reproving glower, “You would have insisted that
gifts are unnecessary or that you would procure them yourself. This was something I wanted to
carry out on my own.”

Childe stuttered, his brain at a standstill.

Zhongli had brought presents?

Which he did so without asking for Childe’s Mora?

What was happening here?

Zhongli held out a gloved palm and dragged the leather off of his hands; a glowing Geo emblem
appeared on his skin, before a Cor Lapis crystal, similar to those the Archon had used during their
spars to capture Childe’s Electro, began forming amidst the flickers of gold.

“Uncle Zhongli can do magic like Big Brother!” Teucer exclaimed, scrabbling off the couch to sit
at Zhongli’s heels for a better view; Childe stifled a laugh. Even though he had anticipated his
siblings would warm up to Zhongli, he never expected them to do so from the second they heard he
was the Mora Man.

At least they appreciated that their Big Brother had good taste.

“His is a little different from mine, Teucer. If you behave, maybe Uncle Zhongli will be kind
enough to show you more later.”

Zhongli’s lips quirked; he brought the small chunk of glowing Cor Lapis around for Anthon and
Tonia to see better. In the light of his Geo magic, their eyes sparkled with flecks of ochre and
amber. Small, enthusiastic rasps left their mouths as the gem continued to increase in size.

The entire living room remained silent as the two children on the couch leaned over Childe’s back
to watch the crystal grow larger, the golden hues painting the walls with incandescent light. Even
Childe’s father, who stood by the kitchen as Childe’s mother busily prepared tea, watched the
display with reluctant fascination. No one in Childe’s family had received a Vision except for
himself; perhaps that also sparked some of the alienation he was forced to bear.

If Childe had learned anything as a Harbinger, it was that becoming stronger meant taking risks
and branching out from the norms; to be feared came hand-in-hand with walking a separate path
from those who were never destined for greatness.

He was positive it was only a matter of time before his youngest siblings all received Visions of
their own. There was no doubt in his mind that each of them could take over Teyvat, one day; after
he conquered it first, of course.

Slowly, Zhongli’s crystal reached nearly two feet in size, hovering over the Archon’s palm before
he reached within the confines of the Cor Lapis and pulled out an enormous bouquet of flowers.
Qingxin and Silk Flowers were arranged in a beautiful display, held together with a luxurious,
embroidered ribbon.

They smelled exactly like the inside of Zhongli’s Liyue apartment; like the Adeptus after he
returned from a long stroll through Qingyun. Like Childe did on some occasions when he sought
battles out in the depths of Liyue’s flowering pastures, close to Zhongli’s Dwelling in the Stone.

The amalgamation of scents from Liyue and the enveloping, traditional aroma of Morepesok were
unexpectedly complimentary.

Childe’s mother gasped as she re-entered the living area, a tray containing a teapot and an
assortment of biscuits in her hands; it would have been courteous for someone to warn her about
the massive drifting Cor Lapis taking up space in her living room.

Zhongli quickly took the tray and placed it on the coffee table before offering her the exquisite
Liyuan flowers, so fresh and healthy their petals were still wet with dew.
The Archon lowered his ochre-tipped eyelashes as he fixed each stem until they sat perfectly.
“Flowers for your lovely home.”

He extended his arms, filled with the colorful bounties of Liyue.

“For you.”

The words made Childe jerk; he recollected the Archon’s interactions with the Ferry Lady, and
how the Traveller pointed out everything the Harbinger had refused to admit. Watching Zhongli
hand over gifts with thoughtfulness and sincerity made him want to horde the Adeptus’ kindness
away for himself.

It was embarrassing, thinking back on it.

Reliving the moment, only with the recipient being his own mother, made Childe feel an upsurge
of different emotions: jealousy certainly not among them. He felt stirred and elated and could
almost overlook the ever-present strain between himself and his father, still positioned on the
outskirts of the kitchen.

“These are wonderful,” his mother gushed, already rushing back into the kitchen to grab a vase, no
doubt, “I’ve never seen anything like them! The petals are so unique, and the colors…”

Childe gave Zhongli an inquisitive stare. “How did you know my mother was so fond of flowers?”

Zhongli gave him another far-off look, as if he had searched his millennia of memories for the
answer. “We once passed through a field of Qingxin together near Qingyun; you mentioned
offhand that your mother would have admired their delicate, translucent petals, especially
considering how Snezhnayan temperatures hardly allowed for a prosperous blooming season.”

Not even Childe could remember making such an observation; the Adeptus had a terrifying
memory. There was no doubt in Childe’s mind that if asked, Zhongli could recall the tea leaves he
ordered thirty moons ago down to their price and packaging.

However, it was still a tiny detail that Childe wouldn’t have expected Zhongli to recall well
enough to employ for a gift. His attentiveness knew no bounds.

Childe couldn’t restrain the way his lips wobbled into a smile too vulnerable for his liking.

Another few items were procured from the glowing Geo crystal; Zhongli held out two traditional
bottles of baijiu towards Childe’s father. “Where I am from, gifts are often given in pairs as a sign
of good luck. Please accept this modest offering.”

Childe’s jaw dropped.

He had even arranged something for his father? Since when was the Adeptus ever this prepared?

The man shifted uncomfortably on his feet, clearly taken aback by the grand gesture, as was
Childe.

He watched with uncontrollable concentration as his father took the bottles of liquor without a
fight, even responding with a dismayed thank you before placing them on the table.

Zhongli had become Childe’s physical manifestation of an olive branch.

“Are there more, Uncle Zhongli?” Teucer lifted a small hand to the Geo crystal above his head, his
palm sinking directly through it. He let out a strangled uwah! as his fingers were swallowed up by
the Cor Lapis.

“Teucer!” Tonia shouted, “You can’t just touch things that don’t belong to you!”

“Yeah! I should get a turn, too!”

“Anthon, that’s not how it works…”

“All of you, behave yourselves,” Childe rubbed his face in fond exasperation; surely Zhongli’s
limit for being around rowdy children was low, considering his inability to deal with the energetic
Funeral Director, but the man didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, he watched Teucer rummage
around inside of his Geo stone with curved eyes, until Childe’s brother gasped, “I think I found
something!”

Slowly, Teucer unveiled a sculpted, impressive Cor Lapis miniature of none other than Mr.
Cyclops; it was crafted impeccably, down to the circular, glowing eye at its centre and the symbols
engraved into the armor.

Realization dawned on the boy, his blue eyes wide as saucers, as he began zipping around the room
with the figurine held high.

“You made Mr. Cyclops a shiny, magical friend! You must be an amazing Toy Seller, too, Uncle
Zhongli!”

Zhongli’s lips broke into a reserved smile. “I cannot compare to your brother, but I can indeed
create many things using this condensed Geo element. It is a speciality of mine.”

“I can’t believe it…” Childe sighed to Celestia as Anthon eagerly chose that moment to hop off the
couch and also place a grabby hand into the Geo crystal, “You’re trying to outshine me in front of
my own family. You didn’t seem like the type, xiansheng.”

A small chuckle sounded from Zhongli’s throat. “That is sincerely impossible. In all my years, I
have seldom seen a show of love quite like how your siblings display their adoration for you.” He
turned his Cor Lapis gaze to the side, gleaming amber eyes trailing across Childe’s face. “Their
happiness is contagious.”

“Isn’t it, though?” Childe agreed, a warm glee seeping into his stomach, “Just being with them
makes me feel like I could take on the world.” He laughed, “More so than usual.”

Usually, Childe basked in the contentment he received when he managed to make the Archon
smile, whether it be because of his ridiculous antics or a witty remark.

But watching Zhongli smile as a direct response to his siblings’ joy?

That was a sight to behold.

Anthon gleefully rejoiced as he held out a Cor Lapis magnification device, lifting it up to
everything in sight with enthusiasm. The amber tool made the intricate patterns in the carpet so
clear and amplified, each thread could be counted one by one. “This is so cool!” he giggled,
“Thank you, Uncle Zhongli!”

Childe watched his mother putter around the dining area with the fresh vase of Liyuan flowers,
looking completely at peace, carefully positioning the bouquet so it would catch the morning light
from the windows.
“Tonia!” Anthon shouted eagerly, waving a glowing fist in the air, “I think I found one for you!”

Tonia meekly left the corner of the couch where she had still been resting next to Childe; Anthon
dropped a thin, intricate necklace into her palm. The Cor Lapis jewel which hung from the golden
chain was moulded into the shape of a star, glowing with the brilliance of near-authentic starlight.

“Uncle Zhongli…” she mumbled, staring at the piece of jewelry with veneration, “This is so
beautiful…”

“Your brother informed me of your partiality to jewelry and decorations,” the Archon stated, “and
the women of Liyue also enjoy such beauties. I believe this will match the hairpin Ajax had gifted
you some months ago.”

Childe observed, stunned into silence, as Tonia nodded, her eyes glossy, “It’s like they were made
for each other.” She tried and failed to wipe her face without Childe spotting the narrow tear trail
running down her cheek; his sister had always been a happy crier. “This gem is so pretty, it’s
almost like the color of your eyes, Uncle Zhongli.”

Zhongli smiled. “Perhaps if we have time later, I can tell you all about its history in Liyue, as well
as how it came to be such a rare and valuable treasure in my homeland.”

Between Teucer’s energetic sprinting with his new toy, Anthon’s need to investigate every nook
and cranny of the living room with his new gadget, and Tonia shyly asking Ajax to clasp the Cor
Lapis necklace around her neck, all appreciating the gifts which must have been handcrafted with
care by the Geo Archon himself, Childe found his breath lodged in his throat.

He didn’t think there could be a happiness stronger than the one felt in the presence of his siblings,
or during the heat of a life-changing battle.

Childe had been so, so wrong.

Watching the Archon shower his most cherished sister and brothers, the people he sought to protect
with everything he had, with tenderness and courtesy and patience and love, was going to break
him.

Childe had unearthed a greater joy than any he’d ever known, and it was all because of a treasure-
hoarding dragon from a foreign nation, whose fondness for fine valuables could only be topped by
his fondness and veneration for life itself.

I love him.

“Would you teach me more about Liyue, too, Uncle Zhongli? I didn’t stay long!”

“Which is a good thing, Teucer. You stowed away on a ship! You never should have gone in the
first place.”

“Wait, if the people don’t eat rocks there, what do they eat?”

I love him.

“I would be happy to answer all of those questions, if there is time afterward. Ajax, what would
you like to do?”

“…Oh, wait, let’s play a game!”

“Brother Ajax, wanna play Durak?”

“We can teach Uncle Zhongli, too!”

I love him.

It should have felt like a punch to the gut: a major shock, a mindboggling revelation, a life-altering
admission that would change Childe’s life forever.

It spoke volumes that he didn’t feel any different.

He had been doomed to this cruel, beautiful fate from the start.

“Ajax?”

The voice came from his mother, who had finished with her bouquet and was now standing next to
Childe’s father; they had both managed not to fuss or verbally refuse Zhongli’s surprises. If
anything, his mother had been uncharacteristically pleased with the entire ordeal.

His father’s silence was both relieving and ominous.

“Mmm?” Childe ripped himself away from his own thoughts, still invested in watching his siblings
react as if it were New Year’s Day and Grandfather Frost had visited. “Yes, Mother?”

“Mind coming into the kitchen for a moment?” She motioned behind the pechka, “I’d like to speak
with you.”

He looked over at Zhongli, who was already being pulled into a game of cards without his consent;
leave it to Teucer and Anthon to take it upon themselves to teach the Prime Adepti the rules of
Durak.

The Archon’s eyes gleamed as he nodded. “I will be fine here. The children want to show me how
to play a game.”

Teucer piped up, “Brother Ajax is way too good at Durak. He always attacks first!”

Tonia scoffed, rolling the Cor Lapis pendant between her fingers. “Doesn’t that just mean he goes
first all the time, Teucer?”

Childe chuckled, removing himself from where his leg was warmly shoved up against Zhongli’s to
head to the kitchen, “Say what you will, but I’ve never lost a game yet.”

“Hurry back! Big Brother needs to play, too!”

He sauntered into the kitchen; steam had fogged up each of the windows, the delicious scent of
cooked vegetables and the unmistakeable dusting of flour saturating the air. The flowery
backsplash that had been there since Childe was small had fresh sploshes of soup stock staining it;
he grabbed a towel and wiped it clean, an old chore that became habitual.

“I know this comes as a bit of a shock,” he spoke when his mother’s light footsteps stopped behind
him, comfortably slipping into his Morepesok dialect that was only used in his pocket-sized town,
“but I wanted to see them.” He scratched his head, looking sheepishly at the floor. “And I’m sorry
to bring a guest without writing first. I know how you and father get, but he’s not anything like…”

Childe almost finished his sentence with me, but that would have implied that Zhongli wasn’t tied
to his own bloodied past or scheming plots. He certainly wasn’t faultless, in that regard.
That was also part of his appeal.

When Childe glanced up at his mother, he noticed that the smile which graced her face had yet to
dissipate.

“You came with such a thoughtful man,” she said, regarding Childe with a pensive expression,
“He’s quite the unique gentleman. For you to bring him here… he must be a very significant
person in your life.”

“Uh, well,” Childe hid his coloring face behind the safety of his high collar, busying himself with
drying a few plates still resting on the colander, “He's been a vital help to me while staying in
Liyue, as well as a trustworthy ally. I thought Teucer, Anthon and Tonia would like to meet him.”

He had been right on the money with that one; there were reprimands of “Uncle Zhongli, you’re
the defender right now, not the attacker,” in the adjacent room, followed by Zhongli’s typical
“hmm” when he was presented with a new challenge.

It was all so absurdly domestic, having the Geo Archon of Liyue playing cards with a bunch of
children and already losing. Childe wanted to laugh until his ribs throbbed.

“They definitely like him,” his mother mused, her tone shifting slightly, “You mentioned that you
visited Her Majesty…”

Ah. So she had caught on. His mother was quiet and seemingly harmless, but Childe had definitely
procured his sharp ingenuity from her side of the family.

“Zhongli also accompanied me to Zapolyarny Palace,” he answered her unvoiced question,

watching the way his mother’s eyebrows furrowed, “but not for Fatui business. He sought a
personal visit with the Tsaritsa.”

The woman looked positively frightened at the idea. “What? Why?”

Childe was still trying to get to the bottom of that himself. “I guess you could say they… go way
back.”

Childe’s mother whipped her head around to look out into the living room. She murmured to
herself, voice holding more wonder than trepidation, “Just what kind of person did you bring into
my home…”

Childe made a casual gesture with his hand. “Don’t think too hard about it.” He placed his weight
on the counter, staring off towards the corner where his father had gotten comfortable in a lounge
chair. His siblings and Zhongli were triumphantly finishing up a round of Durak; Zhongli’s hands
were loaded with cards. The mighty Adeptus was going to lose. “When did father return?”

His mother sighed. “Last month. He’s not been well, as you know; the cold’s been very hard on
him.” She wrung her hands together, and Childe tried not to think about all of the times she had
done so in the past, whenever she had to break some bad news regarding his father’s journeys.
“The headaches were too much for him to continue with his travels.”

Which meant that money would be scarce for some time. “I’ll do my best to mail more herbs from
Liyue, when I return. Tonia said they helped somewhat.” He had honestly hoped they would have
offered a cure, but there was only so much medicinal plants could do. “I’ll also keep sending Mora
for the living expenses.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know I don’t have to, you tell me every time,” he retorted evenly, “but I want to.”

Their conversations always went like this; back-and-forths of small talk, simple chitchat that
concerned the family, Childe’s whereabouts at the time, and so on. He would never stop feeling
gratitude towards the Tsaritsa for giving him the ample wealth and influence that came with being
a Harbinger; keeping his family secure and comfortable was only a coin seized from his mountain
of assets.

Surely, a small part of his mother and father recognized that.

“Brother Ajax!” Childe’s siblings bellowed in harmony, sounding awfully smug and way too
proud of themselves. It must have been a family trait, having to rub salt in the wound after a heady
victory, “Uncle Zhongli’s the fool!”

Childe smiled; if anyone was the fool, it was him and him alone.

“Ajax—”

His mother grabbed his wrist loosely before Childe could make his way back into the noisiness of
the living room. Her index finger and thumb could barely wrap around his wrist; she had the
smallest, most delicate hands.

“…We’re happy you came,” She assured with those eyes as dark as Zhongli’s shuba, “Both of us.
Knowing you aren’t by yourself, out there… I’m happy we got to meet Lord Zhongli, as well.”

If only Childe had been as incisive as his mother when he first met the Funeral Consultant; perhaps
his mission in Liyue would have gone much more in his favor.

Not that he had many misgivings about that now.

“Lord Zhongli?” Childe raised an amused brow. “How courteous.”

She smiled ruefully. “I’m not mistaken, am I?” Her laughter, quiet but lively, was lenient. “Lord
Zhongli does not hide himself well; or maybe he doesn’t even try to?”

This was why Childe’s parents were so protective of Teucer, Anthon and Tonia; they understood
too much about a world that was outside of their realm, and Childe was the lone wildcard who
continually forced their two conflicting spheres to collide.

He chuckled under his breath, conceding. “He wouldn’t want you to call him that.”

If it made her feel at ease to know that Childe was travelling with a formidable being, then that
was only better for her brittle, easily-affected heart.

She led him back out of the kitchen, Childe feeling lighter with every step. Zhongli quickly
observed the two of them with his weighted, amber stare from the couch.

Having those eyes on him would never stop making Childe’s chest constrict.

The next hour was what Childe would consider his favorite form of pure, unadulterated bedlam,
save for fighting for his life against countless opponents. Teucer wanted to play Mr. Cyclops
Adventures, now with his shiny, new friend Mr. Cyclops 2.0, which involved Childe scampering
around the carpet with the small Ruin Guard figurine, trying to escape the clutches of his littlest,
speediest brother.
Zhongli knelt on the floor with Anthon and Tonia, holding up Anthon’s magnifying glass to the
Cor Lapis pendant of Tonia’s necklace. He explained every minute detail about the formation of
Cor Lapis, as well as its multiple purposes, such as for confinement material or brilliant weaponry.

The Archon was subtle, but Childe could hear the way his voice echoed with pride when
describing the regions he had designed and fashioned himself. “My nation is well-known for high-
reaching mountains, narrow, jade rivers and rocky terrain covered in honey-golden gemstones.
Even after seeing the same sights for so many years, I never tire of its tranquility.”

“I want to visit Liyue,” Tonia contemplated while Childe used the couch as a human-sized shield to
avoid being hit by an incoming pillow; when did Teucer’s aim get so good? He was already better
at firing home decorations than Childe was with his bow, “It sounds so lovely. No wonder Brother
Ajax has stayed there so long.”

Childe laughed to himself; as beautiful as Liyue was, with the Geo Archon presently here in his
childhood home’s living room, his inescapable ochre glow permeating every crevice of the house,
rolling lowlands of golden jewels seemed lackluster in comparison.

The Land of Geo was missing its most priceless treasure.

“One day I’ll take you there, Tonia,” Childe declared. He pointedly ignored the glare burning a
hole in his head from his father, who had barely said a word since they entered the house hours
ago.

Realistically, Childe thought, he probably didn’t know what to say. It had been too long; Childe
couldn’t find the words, either.

Tolerating his presence was enough, for now.

Tonia’s eyes sparkled. “Really?”

“Of course,” Childe grinned, his word a guarantee, “I’m your loyal knight, after all.”

“I would also be happy to accompany you,” Zhongli chimed in, and Childe’s insides unavoidably
buzzed with joy at the notion, “should you desire an in-depth tour of everything the land has to
offer, I believe my expertise would be more than sufficient.”

A few more rounds of Durak were played, of which Childe was unanimously crowned the luckiest
card player in all of Morepesok; everyone lost a round (Zhongli had lost several) except for the
Harbinger. He found himself held down on all sides by sleeping bodies by the time the candlelight
waned and moonlight slipped through the fogged windows, the children’s weight all randomly
strewn across his limbs. Tonia’s head rested softly on his shoulder, whereas Teucer and Anthon
had both stolen a thigh for themselves, making full use of their Big Brother’s comfort before
nodding off.

Moving them seemed heretical; Childe remained completely stationary, lifting a finger to his lips as
Zhongli gracefully removed himself from the floor to stand by Childe and his sibling-shaped
attachments.

“Shhh,” he smirked, “If we wake them now, they’ll never sleep tonight.”

Zhongli observed the group huddle with crinkled eyes filled with deific compassion. “As content as
I am seeing your brothers and sister so fulfilled from the spontaneous stopover, I feel as though
now would be an appropriate time to bring focus to the weather.” A slight shudder ran through the
Adeptus; Zhongli must have disliked the full day of unpleasant chilliness more than he exhibited.
“The snow has accumulated to… a noteworthy amount.”

Childe turned his attention to the windows; what he had assumed was steam from the pechka’s
flames had actually been the shadows of snow piling upon the window panes. It must have been up
to Childe’s waist, at that point, with more on the way judging by the heavy, fluffy pieces still
cascading down from the sky.

“I can’t leave without saying goodbye,” Child professed; he didn’t want to wake his siblings just to
have them upset with him for suddenly leaving. “It’ll probably be dawn by the time we get back to
my manor in this snowstorm. We might as well wait another hour or so, just until they wake up on
their own.”

A soft, reserved voice spoke up from the darkness of the hallway.

“You both can stay the night, if you’d like.”

His mother, who had left them to their own devices with Childe’s siblings, had a knit blanket in her
hands. Childe’s father stood beside her; his eyes never left the spot on the couch where Childe sat
cocooned by Tonia, Teucer and Anthon.

Childe raised a brow. “Are you sure?”

An olive branch was tossed, its leaves brittle and wilted, but nevertheless whole.

“It would be poor manners to send you two off in a storm.” Childe’s father pointed down the
hallway to where Ajax’s childhood bedroom remained. “Mr. Zhongli, you may rest in the room
furthest on the right.”

“Unfortunately, we have no guest rooms, so Ajax’s old room will have to do,” his mother
apologized, “We do hope you will be comfortable there.”

As if Zhongli would ever show dissatisfaction towards something offered.

“Your kindness will not be forgotten,” the Adeptus replied, taking the wool blanket offered by
Childe’s mother. His Cor Lapis gaze landed on Childe, unasked questions dancing in his eyes.

“I’ll stay here,” he said, motioning to his current situation, “we’re going to have our own little
slumber party.”

The proposal was met with nothing but a silent nod. Childe was feeling unusually buoyant; he
wouldn’t have to leave on another bad note, like when Teucer had departed from Liyue without
getting a proper goodbye from his dear older brother. A morning farewell allowed for more
promises of next times and see you laters, instead of the usual void left when Childe was required
to leave by the light of the moon.

Good fortune came in pairs; perhaps those chopsticks Zhongli had gifted him long ago were still
working their magic, because this was the luckiest the Harbinger had felt in a long, long time.

“Well,” Childe’s mother hid a slight yawn behind her hand, “Sleep well Ajax, Mr. Zhongli. This
has been… a happy surprise.”

Childe could feel the gentleness seep into his face at his mother’s words, but it was late, he was
exhausted from the day’s events, and it was difficult to maintain a poker face running on only a
few hours of sleep.
 They left for bed, the room now occupied only by Zhongli, Childe and his dozing siblings. Teucer
was beginning to mumble in his sleep, and a wet spot was forming on Childe’s leg, underneath
Anthon’s open, snoring mouth.

Childe really wished he had a kamera with him for moments like these. He would have to ask the
Traveler next time he saw them where to get one of better quality; his were always crushed and
broken after a good battle.

There was a sound of fabric being unfurled as Zhongli took the blanket in his hands and gently
splayed it across Childe and his siblings. He took care to make sure they were all properly covered,
every corner being methodically pushed into the creases of the couch.

“Wo-ow,” Childe half-yawned, “You’re really going the extra mile today. First the gifts, then the
sweet gestures… it’s been a very good night, Zhongli.”

He was tired; that was Childe’s excuse, for letting the Archon’s name flow so nonchalantly off his
tongue.

Cor Lapis eyes widened slightly, the Archon’s sculpted face half-lit by the moonlight, before he let
out a breathy chuckle. “I’m glad.” He fixed the blanket corner closest to Childe’s shoulder, tucking
it in with the same gentle meticulousness he had shown Childe’s siblings. The Harbinger greedily
sighed into the motion.

If Zhongli could see the thoughts running through Childe’s mind whenever the Archon did
anything remotely soft-hearted, which was a thankfully reoccurring phenomena, he most likely
wouldn’t be touching Childe so casually. Best to eat it up now, while he still could.

“Sleep well, Ajax.”

With the weight of his siblings pressing against him from all sides, in the warmth of his Morepesok
home and Zhongli only a few steps away, Childe wondered if this was the peace the Tsaritsa
yearned for; if she had once been robbed of this feeling, and would spend the rest of eternity taking
vengeance on those who had stolen it from her.

Childe could think of nothing more valuable or worth fighting for.

Chapter End Notes

Want to learn how to play Durak? Rules of the Game

A Russian stove (pechka): Pechka

Huge thank you to cromahi for helping me with a bunch of Russian-related questions;
I learned so much, and I appreciated every detail you aided me with!

Ah... another 9k chapter. Honestly, I don't even know anymore. This fic is getting
ahead of me; I wanted it to be around 120k, and it ''should" be done around that point,
so I think I'm on track? It's about two/thirds complete.

I ended up taking a different path with Childe's father, and the next chapter will delve
into more details on that; this chapter grew too long, and I didn't like how wordy it was
becoming. It was difficult to cut things because reunions are generally filled with
catching up.

Childe's conversation with Zhongli over their visit will come next.

A little explanation (besides the fact I didn't think heavy angst would be character
compliant):

If anything, Childe's father wouldn't hate his son; he would only fail to understand
him. Childe, being the warrior he is, is proud of who he's become and doesn't need his
father to see that, necessarily; his siblings are already plenty proud of him. They just
grew into very different individuals with completely separate ideals.

Also, sibling cuddle piles make me melt.

Hopefully you liked this chapter!

Zhongli's becoming very obvious. Childe is stupid. That's it, that's the premise.

Let me know what you think it the comments! Last chapter had over 100?? I was so
overwhelmed and happy? Like? Ah?

Chat with me about genshin and see new chapter posts on my Twitter, which I just
got? Twitter
 Take This Longing
Chapter Notes

Phi made this incredible fanart for Zhongli’s bday NOW (2022) after a year of
working on this masterpiece. I have cried over it so many times now, it has added
years onto my life. Here is her work depicting Zhongli tucking in an exhausted,
sibling-covered Childe❤️Sibling cuddle pile

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Childe awoke to the painful sensation of his head bouncing off of the carpeted but still very hard
floor.

His vision swirled as he regained his bearings, cursing under his breath and sitting up from where
he must have slid off the sofa; Tonia, Anthon and Teucer had managed to steal his designated spot
on the divan while maintaining perfect, angelic faces, lost in dreams. They clustered together under
the blanket that by some means remained tucked and intact around their bodies.

There was little to no light pilfering in from the windows, minus the minimal glow from the moon;
clouds had rolled in, masking the moonlight with their obscure silhouettes. Judging by the
blackness beyond the windowpanes, Childe couldn’t have slept for more than a few hours.

His nap was spent in a state between wakefulness and sleep; incomprehensible, chaotic dreams
plagued him until he had been knocked awake by his own movements, something that rarely
happened after a long journey. Generally, Childe was too exhausted to move until the following
day’s sun was high in the sky.

Even though he was still groggy, Childe’s body buzzed with unspent energy; there was a surge of
restlessness pricking his muscles that bordered on uncomfortable. He had awoken entirely too alert
and completely on edge.

Childe ran through the night’s events once over, trying to figure out why after such a… positive
evening, he was feeling like a man choked by desperation.

He tried to shake off the sensation to no avail.

When was the last time he had a proper bout of exercise? A little practice session to maintain his
form during combat? He needed an outlet for the unpleasant pulsing beneath his skin. Sure, it was
still the transition between night and day, but anything would be better than staying still.

Even after waking, Childe’s dreams of abstract images and sounds haunted him; a familiar voice
called out, repeating his name over and over again in a tone that was distorted, wrong, and yet so
familiar.

Childe rubbed the meat of his palms into his eyes, trying to rid himself of the bleariness still
fogging his mind; he automatically thought about Zhongli in the next room, peacefully resting
after tucking the children and himself into the couch for bed. After showering his family with
thoughtful gifts that were over-the-top and one-hundred percent heartfelt, and being wonderful with
each of his siblings. They had fallen for the Archon’s charm and benevolence immediately, as most
people typically did.

The visit had been one of the greatest days of Childe’s life.

He was in love.

As if summoned, bits and pieces of his dreams began to manifest into larger, fuller pictures; Childe
felt his pulse speed up and his breath catch as the voice grew louder, more assertive, and images of
a Geo-embossed figure, claws black as night, beckoned to him. All-consuming eyes of liquid gold
stared into his soul, appraising; they marked him from the inside out, leaving Childe consumed by
a blazing heat that couldn’t be extinguished.

Ah. No wonder he couldn’t sleep.

“I’m hopeless,” he laughed under his breath without a hint of humor. His mind wandered into
restricted territory as he slept; if only his dreams could be as calm and tranquil as those of his
snoring brothers beside him. “Utterly, stupidly hopeless.”

Zhongli had left a permanent imprint on his heart; Childe never expected for the Adeptus to
devastate him to this extent. After nearly a year spent as the ex-Archon’s business associate,
undisclosed enemy, dinner companion, and now as his close friend, the gravity of Childe’s
situation was only just starting to dawn on him.

He had seen the Geo Archon in the heat of battle; holding Childe down like an insect with the heel
of his foot, surrounded by the choking influence of ancient, almighty Geo power. He had also
witnessed the Prime Adeptus in a weakened state, soft and dragonesque in a heavenly domain of
treasures beyond his wildest dreams.

Childe had seen so many moments in-between; when added up, they amounted to countless dear,
memorable experiences, more than he had ever shared or collected with any other individual
outside of his immediate family.

They were as close as two friends could ever be.

Something about that awareness was wreaking havoc inside of Childe, his body too-small for the
enormous fire setting his nerves ablaze from within. He knew, now, how Zhongli smiled when
amused by his family; how he looked by his side as a formidable partner, and how others watched
them with trepidation and esteem.

He thought he could do it; remaining close companions with the Geo Archon for the remainder of
Childe’s short, perilous lifespan was not only realistically attainable, but honorable. Proper. It was
the natural way of the world; mortal lives were short and destined for death, while immortals lived
on to create, build and destroy. Childe had always accepted that, which was why he sought out
living a life as wild and memorable as humanly possible. All of the time in-between on Teyvat
would be a blip in the grand span of things, forgotten grains of sand lost to eternity. His desires,
dreams and aspirations, when compared to that, no matter how grand and world-shattering, held
little weight for an Archon.

But when had that ever stopped him from going all out for what he wanted?

Childe already thought La Signora a fool for even attempting to get Rex Lapis’ attention. Less so
because he was an Archon, but more so because Zhongli, the person, was an untouchable,
exceptional being all his own.

It wasn’t that Childe thought he wasn’t good enough for a god.

He just wasn’t worthy of Zhongli.

But perhaps he was just as foolish and despicable as the Eighth Harbinger; maybe they were both
ravenous, ugly beasts on the inside, because Childe could feel a possessive, uncontrollable hunger
spreading through his bloodstream that showed no signs of slowing down.

There was a tightness in his muscles that refused to loosen. His hands vibrated with the desire to
hold something, someone, Zhongli, with a fervour that rivalled his thirst for violence. Everything
the Adeptus had done, all of the possibilities he had dangled in front of Ajax just hours ago, left
him abnormally on edge with no means of solving his restlessness. He wasn’t even positive if
carnage would clear the haze clouding his judgement; typically, combat was Childe’s solution to
everything.

This was a problem.

He wanted to do something about it. And that train of thought, which would lead to certain actions
of undeniable consequences, needed to be stopped immediately. Before Childe, Ajax, Tartaglia,
managed to ruin the best thing he had ever found for himself in another.

As busy as the last week had been, arranging for his Snezhnayan travels and making the
preparations to meet the Tsaritsa, it was as good a time as any to seek out a training spot. If Childe
snuck out of the house while everyone remained asleep, no one would ever be the wiser. Clearing
his head in the cold with his dependable weapons in-hand would do the Harbinger some good.

He quietly left for the kitchen to stretch out his cramped muscles; staying unnaturally still for the
sake of his sister and brothers left Childe with sore limbs and a foot full of static, even if he had
woken up on the ground. The land surrounding Childe’s childhood home held a large storage
house behind the main building, which contained his father’s old exploration gear, memorabilia
from the past, and many of the items Childe sent home that were too big for his siblings to keep in
their rooms. It had enough empty space for Childe to swing his Hydro blades around to his heart’s
content without alerting the neighborhood to his bizarre nighttime antics.

There was a slight issue, however: Childe had only one set of clothes, never bothering to bring an
extra since their visit was meant to be a casual one, not a stayover. The entire reason Childe set up
his and Zhongli’s baggage at his Harbinger manor was because of the impulsiveness of their visit;
not only was the home too small to house guests comfortably, but if Zhongli had felt uneasy around
his family, or if, for some reason or other, Childe was forced to leave, his Morepesok estate was
easily accessible.

The heavy layers of fabric he donned currently were nowhere near suitable for physical activity.
Even in the freezing storage chamber, Childe knew that a full day’s worth of travel and an hour or
so of continuous movement would result in him smelling foul for the rest of the day.

Childe glanced down the narrow hallway to the end of the corridor, where his childhood bedroom
was located; as the last sibling to leave home, Childe’s bedroom was still more or less the way it
had appeared just before he had departed for the Fatui. Of course, Childe packed up the majority of
his things once he had the time to properly pack, but the furniture remained, as did his twin-sized
bed.

Surely Zhongli wouldn’t notice the little tallies carved into the bedpost, back when Childe kept a
running count of how many fish he could catch on his own whenever he escaped into the forest to
ice fish. The bed may have belonged to Ajax’s oldest brother, Nikolay, but he had personalized it
with his own secret flourishes as time went on.
And now Zhongli was currently slumbering in said-bed, completely unaware of the turmoil Childe
was facing in the shadows of the kitchen.

He definitely had spare clothes in the drawers of his old bedroom from his previous few visits;
Childe knew well enough that his mother saved them, in the same way Childe always managed to
forget one thing or another.

It was his personal, implicit way of saying I’ll be back for these soon.

Childe heaved a sigh. No use in overthinking it.

He crept through the hall, his combat experience coming in mighty handy as the bedroom door to
where Zhongli slept slid open without a sound. There was only darkness within the confines of the
room, and Childe had to feel his way around in the dark until his fingers met with the knobs of his
former dresser.

The top drawer slipped open noiselessly, save for a minor snag, but Childe was already rummaging
through the obscured outlines of clothing. A loose sweater and one pair of trousers that felt
joyfully familiar sat near the bottom of the wardrobe; the same ones Childe had worn during an
impressive snowball fight he had fought alongside Teucer months ago, where they had triumphed
over Anthon and Tonia in a stunning display of teamwork and coordination.

Teucer had only gotten better with his aim while Childe was away; perhaps it was nearly time for a
rematch. If Childe were to go head-to-head against Zhongli with all of his siblings as teammates,
would the Geo Archon still come out on top?

The enormous mountains carved from stone javelins which formed the Huaguang Stone Forest told
Childe that the Adeptus’ aim was a deadly, precise thing, not to be taken lightly.

As much as Childe yearned to seek out Zhongli’s figure in the darkness, the whole point of his late-
night excursion was to get away from the corrupt thoughts he was afflicted by without needing to
involve any blameless parties. His blood still sung with endless energy that needed to be dispelled,
and a mind filled with thoughts too impure and crooked for his family’s household.

Zhongli had done nothing but be the perfect gentleman as always, and Childe had regressed into a
greedy, feral animal.

In the darkness of the bedroom, a dim, golden glow sparked to life from the corner of Childe’s
peripheral, making him tense; there was a small click, before a voice rough as gravel, still thick
with sleep, murmured:

“Ajax?”

Zhongli had flicked the porcelain lamp on from the bedside table, swathing the small bedroom in a
glaze of orange. There was the sound of sheets being shuffled as the Adeptus moved from
underneath the covers, and Childe wanted to drown himself in his own Hydro to avoid having to
turn around after being caught creeping about red-handed.

“Ha, xiansheng! You’re awake.” He internally cried before mustering up the best poker face in his
arsenal and turning from the dresser to face the Archon, who was not only rubbing his eyes in an
irresistible show of heavy-eyed lethargy, but was also wholly, agonisingly nude from the waist-up.

Childe would be shown no mercy tonight.

He had spoken too soon about luck; he was going to need stacks upon stacks of good-fortune aids
to keep Zhongli from noticing just how affected he was.

Glimpsing the Geo Archon fresh from slumber, all of his smooth, muscled torso on display, with
his hair falling in loose, velvety layers down his back and chest, was Childe’s new personal Abyss.
He must have fallen back into the depths of the void, because the sensation of flames licking at his
stomach was hot enough to melt through steel.

“What are you doing?” There were no Geo symbols adorning the Archon’s body as he woke; he
was flawless, refined planes of radiant muscle that flexed the further he sat up in the mess of strewn
sheets around him. It looked as if the Adeptus had been tossing and turning in his sleep. “Is there
something you’re looking for?”

Childe wavered. “I… couldn’t sleep. Thought I would grab a change of clothes and go out back to
let off steam.” He flushed as Zhongli moved to grab something from beside the bed, tendons
rippling beneath golden skin, “I didn’t mean to wake you, though.”

The Adeptus pulled his golden-tinged hair backwards into a hair tie; Childe could feel blood
pooling in his gut as Zhongli’s arms stretched behind his neck, coiling his previously pin-straight
locks into a neater, controlled ponytail. “That isn’t a problem; I was having some difficulties
sleeping, to begin with.”

“Oh?” Childe couldn’t take his eyes away from the few loose strands of hair Zhongli had missed,
brushing across his collarbone, “Is it the temperature?”

The Geo Archon shook his head, amber-tinted wisps flipping back and forth. “It is actually quite
comfortable here. I believe I am just unused to sleeping in an unfamiliar place.”

“Huh,” Childe wished he had the same problem, “that’s so human of you.”

He found his footing and sat down in the armchair at the opposite corner of the room; from there,
Childe had a clear view of Zhongli’s backside, equally as honed as his front. Celestia, help him.
“You know, since you’re awake, there’s a few things I’d like to say. If you don’t mind.”

Zhongli remained silent, angling his body towards the Harbinger. “Of course.” Although Childe
couldn’t quite meet his gaze, he already knew that the Archon’s expression would be at full
attention.

This was probably the opposite of helpful, considering Childe’s heartbeat had lingered at a perilous
speed ever since he had woken up to phantasms comparable to what was currently being presented
on his childhood mattress. Perhaps if Childe were to engross himself in conversation with the
Archon, he would be too distracted by flowery words to be pulled back into the fantasies pursuing
his conscious.

Childe cleared his throat. “You’ve been so good to my family,” he began, “what with the
exceptionally thoughtful gifts, and how patient you’ve been with each of them. I still can’t get over
it. Tonia cried. Usually, she only does that for my presents. You really put all of your divine
wisdom into making them happy, and I’m very grateful.”

Before Zhongli could interject, Childe continued, the longwinded thankfulness flooding off his
tongue, “You were really mindful of my personal matters and the boundaries set as well, and I just
wanted you to know… you’ve been an excellent friend.”

There, he said it; the majority of everything Childe wanted to get off his chest regarding yesterday,
save for the fact that he had fallen head-over-boots in love with the Adeptus, and how he now had
to manage the devastating affliction that compelled the Harbinger to fling himself at Rex Lapis’
human form and dive into the depths of Geo supremacy personified.

Zhongli stared off to the side, his profile revealing a satisfied smile. “Your siblings are every bit as
wonderful as you described them to be. They also look so much like you… Teucer, especially.”

Childe pouted, wondering if the Archon had been watching Teucer zip around the kitchen and
imagined Childe in his place, back when he was a chubby-faced toddler. “Well, he’s a cute kid.
That can only be a compliment.”

Zhongli’s smile widened. “It was hard not to like them upon first meeting, as they share many of
the admirable qualities you possess. You’ve been a good influence on them.” He paused to lean
back against the bedframe, gifting Childe a moment to ogle abdominals identical to the Statue of
Seven’s marble details. “Even if others may not agree with the sentiment, your sister and brothers’
gentleness, imagination and tenacity all point to an inspirational role model.”

Childe’s face would forever light up like a firecracker, whenever the Geo Archon decided to wax
poetics about his commendable attributes.

“Zhongli,” there was something about the comforts of his old home that made it easier to say the
Archon’s name, especially in the privacy of his old bedroom, “Sometimes your ability to effuse
praise onto others goes above and beyond; you’re going to make my head too big for my ushanka,
if you keep this up.”

There was a light chuckle from the bed as Childe stood to situate himself behind the folding
divider that sat near the closet; a reminder of when Anthon had shared a room with him for a short
while, as his parents shuffled and rearranged space in their small but comfortable home to make
room for so many children.

Thank goodness for the inlaid partition; there were certain parts of Childe that would be better off
not glimpsed by the Archon, lest he think of him as a depraved beast with irrepressible impulses.

He should just put some clothes on and take Childe out of his misery.

A whoosh sounded from the bedframe; Zhongli had thrown the sheets off the mattress, and from
behind the screen, Childe froze, wondering if there had been anything covering the Archon from
the waist-down. Zhongli asked, voice warm and inquiring, “Would you like me to come with
you?”

“To the yard?” Shadows of Zhongli’s figure could be seen beyond the barrier; every nerve in
Childe’s body whirred, watching the blurry form lift from the bed to stand. “… If you’d like,
although you should get more rest, xiansheng. Between the day-long travel and the cold…”

“I have rested long enough.” Not Childe’s ideal answer. He quickly dressed himself and came back
around the divider to find Zhongli thankfully sporting the same pants as the day prior, peering into
the drawer Childe left open. “If you possibly have another spare set of clothes for me to borrow; I
imagine you meant some version of ‘sparring’ when you said you planned to let off steam. It
would be difficult to do so in such heavy layers.”

Childe hummed appreciatively. “Those were my thoughts exactly.”

Zhongli, willing to spar before the sun rose? Perhaps the slight time difference would work to
Childe’s advantage. Too bad this was one of the very rare times Childe needed a moment for
himself to sort out his disaster of a heart.
As he sought out some garments for the Archon to wear, he couldn’t help the frown that marred his
face. “If my parents, more specifically my father, made you feel uneasy at all…”

“You do not need to feel responsible for their behavior,” Zhongli took the shirt offered to him
while Childe glared daggers into the chest of clothes, attempting to avoid the expanse of skin
situated in his peripheral, “but your mother is a gracious woman. She seems to hold nothing but
compassion towards you and your siblings as well as maternal concern, a natural biproduct of
having a son in a profession such as yours. Your father comes across fairly reserved, but from what
I could comprehend, he does not exude hatred; rather, I sensed a deep, unrelenting fear.” He
paused. “Apprehension towards the unknown usually stems from what one cannot understand, and
therefore is believed to be dangerous.”

Zhongli’s voice cracked; Childe glanced over at the Adeptus, now fully dressed, thank the
Tsaritsa, who had the lightest trace of red on the tips of his ears. Even in the glow of lamplight, it
was a touch bright.

“Forgive me if I’ve overstepped. I do not know the extent of your past; these are all simply my first
impressions.”

Seeing him in ordinary clothing, for once dressed down and laidback, was a novelty. The Archon
looked much softer in a simple sweater and cozy slacks. He looked…

Touchable, Childe’s unhelpful mind supplied, before he willed that contemplation away.

Childe exhaled. “Well, you’re not wrong, per say. The distance between myself and my father has
certainly never shrunk. Luckily, I’ve grown strong enough as a person and soldier alike that his
recognition of who I am is no longer needed.”

He looked to a place just beyond Zhongli’s ear, feeling the heat of the man’s stare but finding
himself unable to meet it head-on, “I’m proud of who I’ve become and what I’ve accomplished, as
the Eleventh Harbinger. I know my siblings look up to me and I don’t need much more in life other
than their admiration and acceptance. But I also recognize that a piece of me was taken in the
Abyss that I’ll never get back.”

Childe steeled his expression; something within him tonight was far too unpredictable. He was
sharing things that shouldn’t be so easy to communicate, and that was concerning.

The closer they became, he and Zhongli, the further Childe felt in control of himself; should they
ever reach the topic of Childe’s personal feelings towards the Archon, he feared there would be no
stopping the truth from hurdling out. He drew in a breath before carrying on, “sometimes I think
that the missing pieces are from the Ajax my father remembers raising. The me that he fears is a
just a violent, treacherous stranger he refuses to understand.”

It was a deadly combination; the heartfelt reunion with his family, surrounded on all sides by his
childhood home, with Zhongli being the first person to ever share this kind of moment. Every
sentiment within Childe was being piqued; every desire, every truth and harrowing belief that
yearned to be spilt, every dream that felt within reach, was fighting its way into Zhongli’s open
arms.

He flicked his eyes over to Zhongli’s for a moment; they gleamed so brightly that Childe had to
squint in order to keep his vision focused. The Archon took a few steps closer, enough so that
Childe could see the sparkles that filled his irises with more than enough light to outshine the
reading lamp.
It was impossible to deal with that kind of look, not when he felt so unsteady.

Childe’s eyes dropped to the floor as Zhongli spoke, “If you would ever like to share those
experiences from within the Abyss, I am more than happy to lend an ear.”

“Xiansheng, one day I’ll be happy to share those stories with you,” Childe maneuvered himself
away from where Zhongli’s stare was melting him into the back wall; he needed the rush of bitter
cold as soon as possible, “but it will have to be a conversation after a few too many. Some subjects
deserve only the best alcohol Mora can buy.”

Childe delicately swung the door open, motioning for Zhongli to follow his lead. They gathered
their boots and winter equipment before Childe scribbled a hasty note to place next to his siblings,
still slumbering away, that read:

In the storage unit with Uncle Zhongli. Wanted to show him a few things. Be back by the time the
sun rises; please stay inside where it’s warm. – Ajax

He looked down on them with soft eyes; Tonia’s hair was a bird’s nest of knots, concealing her
entire face, while Teucer and Anthon had replaced Childe’s legs with the velveteen couch pillows.
“I wouldn’t want them to worry if they woke up to find I’m not here.”

Zhongli only nodded, staring at Childe’s siblings with the same warm regard as yesterday, and
Childe winced as his chest constricted with what could only be termed as his own strain of all-
consuming infatuation.

Outside, the Morepesok oceanside breeze was hardly more temperate than it was in the central city
of Zapolyarny; Childe’s nostrils were adhered together in a matter of seconds. He could feel his
eyes beginning to water just from the blistering winds, eyelashes catching tears that soon became
speckles of frost.

The deep freeze didn’t bother Childe as much as it may have Zhongli; Snezhnayans were used to
the bitter cold of a never-ending winter.

As they marched through the snow, their heavy boots crunching along the path heading towards a
decently-sized, steel equipment building, Zhongli’s eyes perused the graveyard of Ruin Guards and
Graders that littered the lawn. “So this is what you meant in your letter, asking Teucer to take care
of his toys.” He made an inquisitive noise. “Interesting.”

Childe laughed, pointing up to a particularly rusted Ruin Grader, more rotting oxidation coating its
armor than snow. “It sure doesn’t look like he listened; just look at the shape this one’s in! If it
weren’t for the vicious weather, he’d be getting an earful.”

Not really, of course; the obsolete machinery was simply disposed of once they disintegrated, and
Childe would send his lovely youngest brother a speedy replacement. He grumbled, nevertheless,
“Do you know how difficult it is to ship these hulking robots from Liyue?”

Zhongli chuckled, the sound light as the gusts of snow swirling around their feet. “I can only
imagine. You collect so many larger-than-life apparatuses for your brother, yet your childhood
bedroom is quite plain; do his collecting tendencies arise from his own curiosities?”

Childe blanked. The Geo Archon had been studying his old bedroom, and was actively trying to
connect the boy who had lived there to the Childe he knew.

Childe responded with a quick shake of his head, “I’ve always preferred collecting experiences
rather than treasures…besides weapons, but that passion came much later. You and Teucer clearly
both have a shared love for amassing rare objects.” He smiled ruefully. “Your obsession, I
understand; the one and only Rex Lapis has had a long time to master the art of accumulating
riches. But Teucer…”

“Teucer most likely enjoys collecting Ruin Guards because they remind him of his older brother.”
Zhongli continued to smile with the curves of his eyes, even as Childe protested at the Archon’s
sickly-sweet implications. “You cannot deny that it must play a large part in his fixation.”

It most likely did, but that didn’t mean Childe could take all the credit for his brother’s
preoccupation with dangerous, missile-hurling giants.

The wind that travelled across the yard, which was completely flat minus the willows and the
ancient humanoid war machines, burned the sliver of skin uncovered between Childe’s brows and
cheek bones. Night in Snezhnaya was a special kind of purgatory; the cold increased tenfold from
the moment the sun waned beneath the horizon, making every intake of breath sharp and near-
painful.

Childe stopped in front of the rounded, tin structure, gripping the enormous handle coated in ice.
The steel door needed three or four powerful tugs before coming unstuck, frost bonded to every
inch of the passage. Moonlight leaked in from the rectangular panes of glass closest to the ceilings,
illuminating the massive accumulation of boxes, foreign mechanizations, memorabilia and
Snezhnayan base camp equipment within the storeroom. The centre area was mostly empty, save
for some old tables and chairs.

“This is where my father houses most of his exploration paraphernalia.” Childe gestured to the
mountains of books and chests labelled with the names of various places, “Journals, maps and
contraptions, among other things. My mother has also been using it for storing the smaller
souvenirs I send home for Teucer, Anthon and Tonia.”

Zhongli’s gaze landed upon an Automaton, so glossy and pristine, it looked as if it would come to
life at any moment. “You mean the substantial assortment of war machines?”

“They’re practically statues when not in service,” Childe dismissed, “and nothing here is
functioning. Besides, I could have sent these machines to Morepesok with their Chaos Gear intact,
and the cold would have taken care of the rest.”

None of the fire in Childe’s bones had dissipated; if anything, Zhongli’s lone, intimate presence
was kindling the flames. He kept a decent distance away from the Archon to settle himself before
they began sparring; Childe didn’t feel confident in his judgement. The sensations of distinctive
emotions, different people inside of him waging a war, were beyond distracting.

Ajax, Childe and Tartaglia all wanted the same thing, but their means of trying to get it were all
aggressively different.

“Xiansheng,” Childe called from across the room, removing some dull lances he had practiced with
ages ago from a dusty weapons rack, “Do you ever feel like the different sides of you, the ones
behind every mask you wear, whenever you need to play the part of Zhongli, Wangsheng Funeral
Consultant, or Morax, the Geo Archon…”

Calm footsteps paused their exploration around the room; Zhongli most likely caught the slight
quiver in Childe’s voice. Damnit. “That’s a curious topic to broach. What about them?”

Childe gulped. He twirled one of the spears, his back to the Geo Archon; he had a feeling his face
would give too much away. “That sometimes, when faced with something disappointing, or
complicated… they become difficult to control?”

A short “hmm” came from behind him; measured, vigilant footfalls approached Childe before a
light tug relieved him of the second lance. Childe could feel Cor Lapis burning into his backside,
keeping his eyes still on the cargo in front of him.

Zhongli’s voice was deep and grippingly solemn when the Adeptus responded, “More often than I
would like.”

His response resounded with an archaic, repentant clarity.

“And what if—" Childe turned, and was instantly met with an amber stare that was much too
poignant.

Zhongli’s stoic, handsome features bore more emotion than usual; his brows were furrowed, lips
locked in a concerned grimace, skin kissed pink by the bitter cold that permeated even through the
heavy materials of the storage house. He leaned over, breath puffing into small, white bursts of fog,
and Childe caught the unmistakeable scent of his own family trapped on the clothing Zhongli had
borrowed. “Why do you ask?”

Two tiny, insignificant scales gleamed gold in the light from the ceiling, right in the inner-corners
of Zhongli’s crimson-lined eyes.

A typhoon of fire cascaded upon Childe, irrepressible and unrelenting.

He wanted.

“…Never mind, it wasn’t important. Sorry, that was an odd question to ask, wasn’t it? Haha.”
Childe sidestepped back into the opening of the room, the air growing more frigid with the
movement, “But speaking of masks, it’s just us now, xiansheng. I know you’re probably tired from
wielding that Geo crystal filled with goodies all day, along with handling the difficult
temperatures. If you’d like to shed your human skin for a little, you don’t need to ask.”

The Archon was far from stupid; his forehead only creased more, recognizing that Childe was
avoiding the subject he himself had chosen to bring up. “It is clearly important; something is
bothering you.”

“It’s bothering me knowing that you’re reaching your limit and haven’t said anything.”

Although the Adeptus was clearly irritated, he huffed and acquiesced; smooth skin was quick to
shimmer with the swirling formations of scales, along with the growth of four Cor Lapis horns
which protruded from his hairline. His hands, which were now gripping the old weapon Childe had
found, still adorned gloves.

Childe yearned to view the midnight claws that haunted his dreams.

He was already regretting his suggestion; Zhongli was too dazzling like this, when his body
filtered golden light across the metallic sheets of steel holding up the building. He made it
impossible for the Harbinger to clear his already-burdened head.

The Geo Archon crossed his arms, polearm held close to his chest. “I appreciate the sentiment, but
I’m aware that’s not the reason for your inquiry.”

“What do you mean? I’m just fine.” The choking feeling around Childe’s throat came back with a
vengeance; if the buzzing beneath his skin had been Childe’s physical response to affection, then
the agonizing lack of discipline from trying to rein in his desires of love would be merciless. “I’ve
been too well-behaved today, and I’m desperate for a good fight.” His fist tightened around the
timeworn lance; Childe felt a storm brewing. “You can grant me that request, right?”

Childe didn’t wait for an answer; every bone in his body screamed to move, so he did.

The Harbinger gave Zhongli no time to prepare; he slashed into his personal space, moving with a
ferocity that propelled him faster than usual. Each slice with the old, dull harpoon had the Archon
dancing away on the defensive, making use of the broad area around them. His expression was
filled with incredulity; Childe had caught him by surprise.

The sooner Childe worked through his mental strife, the faster he would grow exhausted and
hopefully this entire ordeal could be put behind him.

Of all the beings wandering Tevyat, why did he have to fall in love with the Geo Archon? Finding
him admirable was one thing. Dealing with an innocent infatuation? Manageable. Spending all of
his time as a close confidante was also satisfactory.

Up until this point, everything had been fine:

He emphasized his thoughts with a solid combination of rotations and strikes, all of which were
parried by the confused, shining Adeptus,

And Childe had been perfectly content with existing as the funeral consultant’s close associate until
time inevitably forced him to move on.

It was as if Zhongli was pondering whether their rules of the spar still applied when Childe was
acting so rashly; his skin pulsed with Geo energy, low and rumbling, but nothing came of it. Just
as well, Childe thought, because trying to remember rules when his mind was running itself into
the ground was a near-impossible task.

Where had Childe gone wrong? Was the realization that he could never have Zhongli in all of the
ways he wanted, even after selfishly taking so much already, making him lose his mind?

“Ajax, you need to tell me what’s the matter,” Zhongli’s polearm, which was little more than just a
weighted piece of wood, knocked Childe back with enough strength to slide the Harbinger
backwards, “This isn’t like you.”

“What, sparring? Come on now, that’s my specialty,” Childe’s insides were bursting; he deflected
like a man unhinged. His muscles were taut and ready to unravel at a moment’s notice, but he was
still a professional at hiding his motive; even when ripping at the seams, Childe did everything he
could to keep his facial muscles relaxed, “but if I’m being honest right now, xiansheng, I think I’m
at my wit’s end.”

Childe had never been in love before. He understood the emotion, shared it with his family through
blood, or with his master in the Abyss and the Tsaritsa because of veneration, but being in love
encompassed so much more.

Lust, desire, affection, trust, safety, jealousy, regret, chaos… the many facets affected by such a
small word were incessant. Childe was not prepared for it to be this destructive.

Trying to avoid what he wanted for the better good of the Adeptus who would never reciprocate
his feelings felt a little like surrendering.

And that was something every part of Ajax, Childe and Tartaglia were all very, very unaccustomed
to.

Zhongli’s lance skid across Childe’s weapon, the friction sending small fragments of splintered
wood into the air. “Voice your concerns,” he insisted, throwing his weight left and right to evade
Childe’s assaults, “and I’ll listen.”

“I want too much; I set my ambitions high, and I can’t accept that some things are unachievable,”
Childe chuckled spitefully, his voice shaking with every swing of his lance, “I've lived my life
believing anything can be done if you work hard enough, and I’m certainly no quitter. But in this
case, I don’t think my work ethic can help me.”

The building was illuminated by the streaks of amber Zhongli left in his wake as he moved to
block Childe’s attacks. Not once had the Archon attempted to go on the offensive; he was
analyzing Childe with those critical, reptilian eyes. “Where is this coming from?”

Childe appreciated the heavy, thumping heartbeat filling his ears; it was easier to focus on his
adrenaline instead of on the way Zhongli’s voice sounded, wary and abrasive.

The hollow, shrill sounds of wood cracking continued to fill the storehouse, their echoes lost to the
howling winds outside.

The Adeptus’ shielding maneuvers were flawless; even when completely distracted and without his
Geo safeguard, his movements mirrored Childe’s like a choreographed dance, leaving no room for
a strike to rupture his blocks. They were locked in a loop of heavy, succinct offense, met with an
impenetrable, shatterproof defense.

“Zhongli-xiansheng, this isn’t your problem,” Childe could feel his arms turning to lead from the
sheer number of thrusts, flips and adjustments he performed. The practice he had with Zhongli
previously certainly aided with his balance; now it was his sanity that would cost him leverage. “I
need to work this out on my own. You don’t deserve—”

His shoulders met with the freezing, steel beams attached to the wall. Zhongli held his spear firmly
against Childe’s own using the true strength of an Archon; glimmering Geo dust surrounded them
as the Harbinger struggled, trying everything to free himself from the incredible force pinning him
to the shafts. The Adeptus had waited for an opening to catch Childe closest to the margins of the
room, before incapacitating him completely.

“Enough,” Zhongli proclaimed, dragon pupils thin and daunting as he let his Geo forces flare to
life; building pressure from all sides compelled Childe into stillness. The air grew heavier than the
frozen soil below their feet, and Childe forced himself to look anywhere other than into that Cor
Lapis gaze. “I do not understand the turmoil afflicting your thoughts, but I will not stand by and
watch you self-destruct.”

Childe couldn’t move; he was pinned against Zhongli, chest-to-chest, panting like a dog.

He wanted to fight until his appendages were unusable; he felt raw, as if he had been crying.

“I’m telling you; I just need to keep going,” Childe fought through the pressure constricting his
muscles to no avail, drawing in enough oxygen just to speak, “I’ll be fine—”

Zhongli sounded wounded. “Have I done something wrong?”

Childe shrank; he didn’t want the Adeptus to think any of this was his fault, “No, no, xiansheng,
this is my own—”
“Then why won’t you look at me?”

The weight on him lifted ever-so slightly before there was a clang as Zhongli’s lance clattered to
the floor, and two ungloved hands, scaled and black as midnight, reached up to hold Childe’s face;
the touch was grounding, firm yet unbearably tender. Childe was certain it could have been a
dream, if not for the rods of frozen metal still pushed against his backside.

He had no choice but to properly look at Zhongli, straight into his golden-eyed, otherworldly face.

The Archon’s eyes were brimming to the edge with supplication, an extreme disparity when
combined with the almighty influence being used to keep Childe locked in place. It was humbling
and wrong, making someone like the Prime Adeptus look so fraught.

“Ajax,” Zhongli uttered, his gaze unflinching. Childe sucked in a breath hearing his name spoken
so dearly while resting between the hands that formed Liyue from the ground up. Zhongli’s face
was close enough that they shared the same frozen air; his palms, smoothly scaled unlike the
keeled flecks on his face, were unnaturally warm. “Please, no more of this. Tell me if I’ve done
something to upset you.”

Childe wanted to slap himself; he was a man who still threw temper tantrums like a boy, and
Zhongli was taking it personally. The Adeptus implored, “Allow me to remedy whatever is
causing you such distress.”

The waves of heat and frustration waned the longer Zhongli stood there, holding him in a way that
the Geo Archon had never attempted before. Childe had to close his eyes; looking into that Cor
Lapis gaze, so full of kindness and concern, was only going to distract from the words blocking his
windpipe.

“This visit has made me so happy. Possibly the happiest I’ve ever been,” he divulged, his face still
embraced by Zhongli’s placating palms, “and I think the realization that I can’t remain that happy,
or continue to pursue that feeling, resulted in a bit of an outburst.”

Childe reopened his eyes; the emblems on the backs of Zhongli’s hands pulsed with golden
energy, if the glow surrounding Childe’s peripheral was any indication.

“But why?” Zhongli pushed, the frown he wore so much unhappier than usual, “Why can you not
achieve the happiness you desire?”

Childe stared at Zhongli’s twisted, pouted lips, and wondered just how much he could say before
Zhongli would realize; when he would grasp just what Childe wanted, and then... “Because it
wouldn’t make you happy, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

Zhongli looked so taken aback that even his fingers twitched. His eyes were wide, mouth parted.
“I-I don’t understand. How?”

Childe could picture it now; even if he did confess to the Archon, and did everything within his
means to win him over so that they would forever be more than goddamned-close-associates,
Zhongli would most likely remain his closest companion out of the kindness of his heart, and not
because of shared feelings. The Adeptus had already established that he valued Childe, and out of
fear of upsetting him or ruining their strong relationship already built on so much trust and
development, he wouldn’t abandon him.

But how would burdening the Archon with his overwhelming feelings possibly be fair?

“I cannot see how you being happiest would not also make me happy…” Zhongli slid his hands
 away from Childe’s face and rested them instead in the dips of his shoulders. “You aren’t being
direct with me. There’s still something I’m not being told.”

Childe felt drained, as if he had spent the day out hunting Lawachurls instead of sorting out
emotions he had never experienced and straining his body in the process, but he still managed a
genuine smile.

The more he said it out loud, the more he believed it; there really was no way to love the Adeptus
in the way Childe desired without causing an enormous shift to the Geo Archon’s tranquil life as
Zhongli. He had worked hard for the peace and freedom he had finally obtained after six-thousand
millennia, and after everything Childe already put the Archon through, adding emotional turmoil to
the list just seemed inexcusable.

Maybe he wasn’t so selfish, after all.

“I actually feel a little better,” he admitted; the simmering in his blood had tapered into something
more manageable. Childe went to lift himself away from the wall, but found that Zhongli hadn’t
budged from where his weight still pressed into his chest, “I honestly think I just needed to work
out the solution through a bit of old-fashioned aggression. In a way, you did kind of help…
xiansheng?”

Strong hands moved to grip Childe’s biceps; they wrapped around his arms with ease, and Childe’s
eyes widened when he realized just how close Zhongli had positioned himself. He wasn’t giving
him space to back away; the Archon was only moving closer.

The Geo Archon watched Childe with the all-seeing eyes of an ancient dragon, but the palpable
compassion behind them could only belong to the Zhongli he cherished.

He always knew that Cor Lapis stare would be the death of him.

“Perhaps I am also incorrect and making assumptions,” the Geo Archon murmured, voice hoarse,
as if the words he spoke had been buried for a long time. His breath ghosted across Childe’s cheek,
rethawing the spots his hands had previously warmed, “but I cannot help but wonder…”

Childe was frozen in place, and not because of the dropping temperature. His heart pounded wildly
as he gripped onto every quiet word that escaped Zhongli’s lips, in the hopes they would offer him
some sort of insight as to why the reptilian-embellished form of the ex-Geo Archon was so
maddeningly, provokingly close.

Before Zhongli could finish, his entire body tensed; the room lit up in a golden display of Geo as
he dropped his grasp on Childe and turned towards the large steel farm doors, voice regaining its
usual resonance,

“We have a visitor.”

Chapter End Notes

Fools really be out here skipping Itto because they can't defeat the new Geo puppy.

It's me. I'm Fools. Catch me saving for Xiao.

~

Whoo, that was a DOOZY to write. We've hit 100,000 words, everyone. I don't know
how, but it's happened. I've been so busy lately, not to mention work prep for
Christmas, so I'm thinking a chapter every week or less (not more, I want this baby on
a schedule) is realistic for updates now.

I finally know exactly how I want this fic to end, and as excited as I am, I have come
to terms with the fact it's going to be more than 120k. But this tiny addition of angst
needed to be here; more insight into our favourite Harbinger's brain.

I'm so happy you all enjoyed the home reunion chapter! It was the softest one I've
written, I swear. Sorry to follow it up with a little tension, but we stan a man with
unstable emotions ~~

(thinks back on how Childe pulled a full 180 when fighting the Traveller... you can't
tell me Delusions don't mess with the Harbinger's psychological well-being)

Let me know your thoughts in the comments? Which are the bread and butter to every
update and fuel me into updating as often as I do. Honestly, you're all the greatest
bunch of humans on the internet.

Chat with me about genshin and see new chapter posts? Twitter
 Between the Lines: Part I
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

“Big Brother!”

Childe stood completely still, suspended in a moment that had yet to release him from its grasp; the
lack of warmth previously left on his skin by Zhongli’s sudden embrace and the Archon’s glowing
exterior were the only two preoccupations his mind had the capability to focus on.

Slowly, he managed enough awareness to mumble out, “Was that…Teucer?”

Zhongli’s pupils enlarged a fraction; Childe observed as their luminescence receded, the Archon
retracting his Adepti elements until his face and body returned to the mortal, elegant appearance of
the Wangsheng funeral consultant.

“Are you out here?”

The barely-audible shouts coming from the other side of the storage room door shocked Childe
back into the present; Zhongli stood beside him, no longer holding him hostage with his influence,
the air losing its heavy miasma of Geo power.

Childe nearly jumped out of his skin once he grasped the circumstances; he sprinted towards the
entrance, pleading to the Tsaritsa that his unruly menace of a brother at least put a coat or boots on
before cavorting into the frost-burnt courtyard.

“Ajax.” Before he could reach the doors, a warm hand latched around Childe’s elbow and lightly
pulled him back. Childe glanced behind him to where Zhongli still stood, looking disgruntled.

Perhaps the Archon wasn’t used to being interrupted. Growing up the middle child of seven
children had given Childe ample preparation for moments as unplanned as these, as well as more
than enough experience handling siblings who enjoyed surprising Childe at the most inopportune
times.

Even if whatever Zhongli had been about to say would unquestionably eat away at the outskirts of
Childe’s mind like a parasitic worm.

The Adeptus said in a tone that left no room for arguing, “Promise me that we will speak more
about this later.”

It was always promises, with the God of Contracts, but Childe was nothing if not a man of his
word. He nodded, his feet still moving to where he heard the soft, high-pitched call of his brother.

The door jammed for a moment before he practically ripped it off its hinges; outside, where the
snow had finally tapered down into a more manageable flurry, Teucer stood a few feet from the
stockroom.

Childe knew his siblings too well; the boy had, unsurprisingly, come outside in only his boots and
a fur-rimmed hat, the rest of him left open to the elements in the thin pyjamas he had worn to sleep.
He was shivering from head-to-toe, yet still managed an ear-splitting grin when Childe and
Zhongli came into view.
 “Big Brother! There you are!” His crystal-blue eyes twinkled in the light from the surrounding
lanterns which lined the enclosure, “I read your note and wanted to see if you were still here, and
you are! I’m glad you didn’t disappear this time.”

“Teucer, why would I…”

Ripples of guilt made their way through Childe’s stomach; he was quite good at vanishing without
a trace, wasn’t he?

Childe sighed internally. “Did you read the whole note, Little Brother?”

The boy shook his head as he responded, sniffling, “Nope!”

They had to get back into the house where it was warm before Teucer caught a nasty bout of
pneumonia; the Snezhnayan cold was heartless, even towards healthy, energetic children, and
Childe could just see the disappointed look on his mother’s face if she found out Teucer had trailed
Childe into trouble yet again.

“You’re supposed to read the entire thing, you little rascal.” He pulled the hood of Teucer’s
ushanka down over his eyes, making him yelp, before picking the boy up and placing him on his
shoulders, “Let’s get you back inside.” He turned to find Zhongli already at his side, throwing the
coat he had donned over Teucer’s snow-dusted backside. “Coming, Uncle Zhongli?”

“I will follow you inside soon,” he replied, “after I tidy the storeroom.”

Childe glanced towards the center of the building; he was consumed by more remorse once he
realized that, during his fit of frustration, he and Zhongli had ultimately whipped up a disaster.
Loose pages from tattered books, assorted knickknacks and toppled chairs cluttered the ground.

“It was my fault, xiansheng,” Childe groaned, “you don’t need to clean anything. Let’s just get
Teucer back where it’s warm.”

“Wow!” Teucer scanned the room, his eyes brightening. He used Childe’s hair like reins to a
sleigh; the Harbinger let out an strangled hey! as his brother yanked his head in the direction of the
mess. “Were you two fighting? I wanted to see! Was that why the hut looked like it was on fire
from the outside?”

Zhongli’s ethereal glow must have diffused through the rafters and windows; hopefully no one else
in town had seen the bright displays of light.

“It is better that you didn’t,” Zhongli responded, already beginning to straighten the papers closest
to their feet. Leave it to the Adeptus to crave order even when it wasn’t necessary, “although I
suppose this can be cleaned up after Teucer returns indoors.”

The Archon’s mouth was tightened into a line of resignation; whatever he wanted to say so badly
no longer took precedence, and as much as Childe craved to hear the Adeptus’ thoughts, he was
also a bit relieved.

Just a few moments ago, Zhongli seemed more vulnerable than the Harbinger had ever seen him.
Maybe the ex-Geo Archon, renowned for his wisdom and omniscience, had figured Childe out.

Hopefully Childe was assuming the worst.

“Oooh, look, Uncle Zhongli!”

Teucer had his body leaning so far back out of the entryway that Childe flailed; he was pointing at
the ocean, his tiny index finger marking the start of a new dawn. “Bet you’ve never seen the sun
rise over this much snow before! Isn’t it pretty?”

Zhongli had most likely seen more sunsets of every shape, size and color than times Teucer had
blinked over the course of his lifetime, before and after becoming one of the Seven, but the
Adeptus still turned his gaze towards the stripe of white that illuminated the crystal waters beyond
Morepesok. The sliver slowly became a semi-circle of blinding, radiant amber, the same hue as
Zhongli’s eyes when they gleamed heavily with Geo energy. His eyes curved into crescents as the
snow coating the town burst into countless glistening sparkles, the sunrise setting Morepesok alight
with a dazzling brilliance only freshly fallen snow at dawn could produce.

Childe looked between the two golden entities, the Snezhnayan sun versus the Prime Adeptus, and
couldn’t decide which one was brighter.

“It’s breathtaking, Teucer,” Zhongli affirmed; Teucer threw his hands into the air with a happy I
told you so, once again making Childe perform a one-man balancing act of trying to keep his
brother stable.

The trembling coming from Teucer’s thighs were beginning to feel more like mini-quakes instead
of a small case of the shivers, and Childe scolded in the softest big-brother tone he could manage,
“It’s too cold for you to be running around dressed like this. From now on, if you see a note, you
need to read all of it.”

Teucer whined when Childe began walking them back to the house, Zhongli already trailing
behind. “But I would have just come looking for you, anyways!”

It was hard not to smirk at just how gutsy Teucer was becoming; Childe chuckled warmly, “Tonia
wasn’t kidding when she said you were getting quite the stubborn streak.”

Zhongli feigned a sound of contemplation, reaching the door first and opening it for them before
Childe tried to steady his brother and grab the doorknob on his own. “Where could that have come
from, I wonder…”

“Ah, xiansheng, is now really the time for mocking me?”

The agitation and frenetic energy that dwelled within Childe had dissipated for the time being,
leaving him absolutely drained but in much higher spirits. Seeing the worry reflected in the
Archon’s face while Childe broke down reminded him of why he had fallen for Zhongli in the first
place; how could he be angry at the circumstances?

It wasn’t often someone as impulsive and suspicious as Childe found someone who could be close
enough to watch him implode and still be there to pick up the pieces. There hadn’t been a trace of
fear or repulsion in those Cor Lapis eyes, when the Harbinger was searching for release from the
tormenting thoughts in his head; only genuine concern.

Even if it wasn’t enough, especially for someone like him, who had always lived by the idea that
anything Childe wanted could be taken, Zhongli’s company was unquestionably better than no
Zhongli at all.

Tonia was already awake pacing the hallway; when her eyes fell onto Childe and Teucer, she
sighed as if a giant weight had been lifted. “Teucer! Why did you go outside?” She motioned to the
piece of paper in her hand, “Big Brother gave us a note that said not to follow him and you did it
anyways!”
Her hair was still knotted from sleep; for someone so young, Childe’s youngest sister was fretting
about in a similar manner to his mother.

His eyes moved to the living room where Anthon lingered, still sound asleep on the divan,
sprawled out across every pillow like a starfish.

The poor girl was growing up too fast because of her chaos-inducing brothers.

“But Tonia,” Childe dropped Teucer gently onto the floor and off of his back, where he was
already hopping straight for the kitchen. The child-sized whirlwind never took his boots off; just
another thing that would somehow lead back to Child’s negligence. It wouldn’t be the first time he
tried to use his Vision to absorb the multiple wet marks adorning the carpet, “we watched the
sunrise!”

“It was a happy accident.” Childe corrected, knowing how secretly offended Tonia would be if her
Big Brother Ajax hadn’t invited her along for the occasion. “Alright, who wants breakfast? I’m a
little rusty, but I promise my syrniki will be just as delicious as you remember.”

Zhongli quirked a brow right before all three children (Anthon included, who had perked up the
minute he heard syrniki from his slump on the couch), loudly approved. It was nice to know none
of Childe’s siblings lost their sophisticated sense of taste; Childe was nothing if not a crowd-
pleaser in the kitchen.

“Brother Ajax is cooking! Woo!”

Childe chuckled as he began taking out the ingredients for breakfast, trying to ignore the way
ochre eyes followed his every movement. It was difficult attempting to focus on recollecting the
components he needed when Zhongli was staring at him as if he had suddenly sprouted his Foul
Legacy armor. “Do we have varenye, Tonia?”

“Hmm…I think so!”

“What about sour cream?”

Zhongli’s deep timbre cut through the higher pitches of Childe’s siblings’ voices. “I did not know
you were adept at cooking.”

The Adeptus’ observation was quickly interrupted by Teucer, who was pulling Anthon up from his
sleeping position and into the huddle between the pechka and the living room. “My brother is an
amazing cook.” He pointed at Tonia abruptly, his tiny eyebrows contorted into a look of confusion.
“Tonia said you two ate dinner a lot together; why didn’t Big Brother let you try his food?”

Tonia brought over a large container of raisins, setting it on the small two-person sitting area in the
back corner of the kitchen; the room was not large to begin with, and all of the extra counter space
was eaten up by other various jugs and boxes filled with ingredients. “I’m surprised, actually.
Brother Ajax would go on and on about how much he wanted Uncle Zhongli to try Snezhnayan
foods; every time I wrote about something mother had cooked that Ajax liked, he would mention
that the Mora Man would like it, too.” She sent Childe an inquisitive look while his ears burst into
flames. Tonia, there was no need to recite Childe’s letters word-for-word. “If you didn’t cook in
Liyue, what did you eat?”

Childe’s cheeks grew warm; he hid them behind a cupboard door, making himself busy with
grabbing bowls and some measuring tools. “Ah, well, Uncle Zhongli and I usually ate at
restaurants together.” He turned to gaze at Zhongli once his face felt room-temperature, even
though he knew the redness would be ever-prevalent on the highs of his cheekbones. At least his
siblings all had similar countenances; maybe it would blend in with their excited flushes. “I’m not
exactly good at cooking with the ingredients in Liyue yet, and since the… toy company takes care
of my dinner expenses, it was always easier just to grab a meal someplace nice.”

He sent Tonia a look, one which hopefully reminded her that discussing the private contents of
their letters was a betrayal of secrecy between her favourite Big Brother and his lovely-but-too-
straightforward sister.

The ex-Geo Archon held a pensive finger beneath his chin, curved into a hook as he swept a quick
glance across the kitchen and the many things Childe had laid out on the counter; farmer’s cheese,
sugar, eggs and flour. He brought his heavy gaze back up to the flushed Harbinger. “Mmm. Perhaps
when we return to Liyue, we can take some of the ingredients you are accustomed to using for
cooking.”

A barely-there smile crept onto the Adeptus’ face. “I did not realize that having me try your
homeland’s delicacies was of such high importance to you.”

“There’s no shame in having pride in your homeland’s dishes,” Childe stated, “Plus, whenever you
try something new, you get all…” he gestured to the air, making various incoherent motions;
clearly, Childe had been blind to his own feelings for much too long, if his wishes had even
drizzled into older letters sent back home, “…anyways, you’ll be trying my cooking now, so it
doesn’t matter.”

“Of course,” it was a relief to see Zhongli returning to his calm and pleasant demeanor; the man
always appeared that much brighter when his eyes were upturned in contentment, as opposed to the
dissatisfaction he had exuded as they left the storehouse. “I’m sure it will be delicious.”

With that, the ex-Geo Archon plucked a miniscule, burgundy raisin from the bowl closest to him
and placed it directly into his mouth; his long, dextrous fingers slipped from his lips with a small
pop, before a low, pleased hum escaped his throat. “These putaogan are quite good. I have not
indulged in this type of dried fruit for some time.”

Childe had to get that ethereal being out of the kitchen; his blush was growing hot enough to light
the stovetop.

“Big Brother,” Anthon, Childe’s saving grace, stretched his arms above his head and pointed to the
enormous piles of snow covering the lawn, “Can we go build snowmen while you cook?”

Teucer magically appeared in the doorway, snow pants hanging loosely around his ankles, hats and
mittens shoved haphazardly onto his body in the way only a child filled with hasty enthusiasm
could manage. “Let’s show Uncle Zhongli how to build one! It was way too hot for snow in Liyue;
you’ll come and help us, right?”

Three pairs of expectant, eager eyes all turned to stare at Zhongli. Childe couldn’t help but laugh
when the Adeptus’ face grew tentative; his siblings had their own powers of persuasion.

“The weather is quite frigid,” he rationalized, as if the Snezhnayan-born children had no idea just
how cold Morepesok could get in the heart of winter, “and it would be unfair to leave Ajax without
any help while he prepares breakfast.”

“I have the kitchen covered,” Childe sent him an apologetic smile while he measured out some
flour, “As long as everyone’s bundled up properly, I don’t see why they can’t go. But remember,
Uncle Zhongli, my incredible little sister and remarkable baby-brothers are snowman-building
experts, so make sure to watch them closely and listen to their instructions very carefully.”

As safe as Morepesok was, what with how many security measures Childe had in place, his own
protectiveness would never feel as if it were enough. The Geo Archon was perhaps one of the few
individuals on Teyvat he could comfortably leave his siblings with, in addition to his own parents
or the infuriatingly-impressive Traveler. “And if the temperature does bother you at anytime, feel
free to take them back inside before I call everyone for breakfast.”

Judging by how quickly Zhongli had reverted into his Adepti form only an hour or so prior, it was
clear that dragons did, in fact, have a weakness for the cold. Whether or not he admitted to it,
Childe saw the tiniest trace of gratitude materialize in Zhongli’s expression as he slipped on a coat
Tonia grabbed from the coatrack.

She smiled, “This one’s more waterproof than the beautiful fur you wore here, Uncle Zhongli.
Your clothing is really nice… does everyone in Liyue wear such intricate outfits?”

Zhongli glanced at where his Liyuan jacket rested on a lone hook, appearing just as prestigious and
scholarly in Snezhnaya as it did in Liyue. “Hmm, perhaps mine may be of higher quality, with
more refined details…” he admitted, as they began heading outside together; Zhongli shot Childe
one last attentive look over his shoulder before being tugged off of the porch and directly into the
snow. Childe couldn’t help the bark of laughter that left him, watching Liyue’s retired Archon
being manhandled by a bunch of redheaded, giggling children.

They could be seen through the large kitchen window that overlooked the hill sloping towards the
coastline; Teucer had decided on a spot closest to one of his Ruin Guards, the snow piled
particularly well by its iron-coated feet. He climbed on top of the mound of metal, most likely
looking for a good vantage point to seek out the best plot of snow, before Zhongli promptly placed
him back on solid ground, already acting the part of a reprimanding caretaker.

Whatever the Adeptus said to him, Teucer didn’t look close to bothered; his smile grew even wider
before he unceremoniously plopped himself down in the snow with Anthon, Tonia collecting
stones for the snowman’s facial features, and happily began building the base.

The snow still fell, although the flakes were chunky and sparse, their leisure descent covering the
Archon in splotches of white. Zhongli oversaw the children’s actions, studiously observing their
movements and techniques, before joining in with meticulous, dependable hands.

Childe’s cheeks burned from how large his smile had grown as the ex-Geo Archon, the Prime
Adeptus in the flesh, broke one snowball, then another, and an additional two more, before his
handsomely stoic face turned to one of humbled resignation.

He could craft a Cor Lapis figurine with features of perfect proportions down to the very last
detail, but just couldn’t get the hang of creating a sphere from the fluffy, loose snow in his palms.

Tonia, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines, began showing Zhongli how to gather
the heavier snow to create a foundation without needing to use smaller, more difficult shapes.

It was devastatingly cute.

Childe felt his entire body droop with fatigue as he took a precious moment to himself to breathe;
flour and eggs were tossed into a mixing bowl while he watched Zhongli dutifully collecting more
and more snow with Tonia, Teucer and Anthon in the winter wonderland that had encompassed
Morepesok overnight. The scene playing out before him had the Harbinger feeling inexplicably
carefree, enough so that he had a minute to take apart the last hour, piece by piece.
The Archon had, once again, stepped in and assisted Childe without even being aware of it;
Zhongli was a man who pursued answers, never one to avoid reaching out to better understand, and
driving Childe to explain himself and his feelings also forced him to make a decision.

He would be a wonderful associate to the very end, no matter how difficult.

That was that. No use in working himself up again over what-ifs.

Even if Childe repeated the thought thousands of times like a spinning Geoculus, however, the
image of Zhongli’s expression towards the end of their conversation, before Teucer had
interrupted, continued to work its way to the forefronts of his mind.

Whatever the Adeptus had been about to say, it was surely meant to be encouraging. Zhongli was
the embodiment of support; an unmoveable, unwavering pillar of strength. His concern, both
audible in the shudder of his voice and tangible in the tenderness of his hands, had devoured
Childe’s frustrations.

The man was perfecting his mortal ability to be empathetic, and Childe didn’t want to stand in the
way of Zhongli’s progress. Retirement was probably best spent without a trusted confidante
unexpectedly spilling their unrequited affections.

Not that Childe would ever know; his retirement plan was completely dependant upon how long he
managed to stay alive, and even then, he certainly wouldn’t go down without a bloodbath as a
parting gift.

Approaching footsteps reverberated from the hallway; Childe’s mother must have heard the
commotion from the living room. That, or Teucer’s squeals from the courtyard had managed to
reach her ears, even from the furthest end of the house.

“Mother,” Childe greeted, eager to fall back into Snezhnayan whenever he could; he added a few
raisins to his dough and resolutely chose not to think about the way Zhongli had consumed the
wrinkled grape as if it were some exquisite delicacy, “everyone went outside to play in the snow
with Zhongli-xiansheng, but breakfast will be ready…”

His father stood in the doorway, the blank, drained expression on the man’s face enough to stop
Childe’s phrase in its tracks.

“…momentarily.”

He crossed the threshold of the kitchen and curved right by Childe, who had a handful of now-
forgotten raisins warming in the palm of his hand. A chair screeched across the floor as his father
sat down at the tiny eating nook, taking in the mess of strewn kitchen utensils and culinary
components encumbering the tabletops.

What was he doing?

“Um,” Childe scratched the tip of his nose, “Good morning, Father. Did you sleep well?”

It should have made him feel much more uncomfortable, being alone in the presence of his father
after years apart, but following Childe’s impassioned disaster of a morning, even this couldn’t
phase him with more than a slight, prickling awkwardness.

He observed his father’s pallid skin and the purplish stains beneath his eyes, face sunken in ways
unfamiliar to his memories, and yearned to replace it with the kind, rosy expressions from his past.
Cerulean eyes skimmed the countertop before Childe’s father remarked, without making eye
contact, “You’re making syrniki.”

Childe nodded; it didn’t evade his notice that his greetings were ignored. “It’s Tonia and Mother’s
favourite.”

If Childe remembered correctly, it was also his father’s preferred breakfast; an unconnected factor.
It was practically tradition that when Childe came home from his various travels, he would cook
for his siblings. Back when he had lived with his family, prior to permanently moving into the
Tsaritsa’s Fatui facilities as the Eleventh Harbinger, he was a constant presence in the kitchen.
Cooking was a crucial survival skill, and crafting recipes that aided in healthy growth as well as
ones that were pleasing to the palate came as easily to him as combat.

Silence blanketed the room as his father continued to make the kitchen air stifling with his unusual
appearance; Childe didn’t waste any time getting back to work, oiling a pan and lighting the stove.

The smell of freshly frying cheese and batter began to permeate the house with its heavy, nostalgic
scent, and Childe inhaled insatiably; Zhongli’s proposal of taking home some Snezhnayan
specialities suddenly sounded like a brilliant idea.

Cooking back in Liyue would involve Childe having to invite Zhongli into his Harbinger
apartment, located near the Northland Bank; the kitchenette was small, considering he had never
planned to stay so long, and thus he never sought out somewhere with a better-equipped pantry.

Still, the thought of Zhongli sharing a meal in the privacy of Childe’s living quarters, while dining
on something specially made by Childe himself… that sounded like an ideal evening.

Why hadn’t he thought of that sooner?

All the while, Childe tried to overlook the feeling of his father’s eyes roaming about, stopping on
the high of his back before quickly moving on as if he had never meant to look there. It was
irritating, and if Childe had learned anything from Zhongli over the course of the last twenty-four
hours, it was that wallowing in misunderstanding didn’t work for either party.

The Geo Archon was an unmatchable rival, when it came to never-ending fountains of knowledge.

Before Childe had a chance to act on his sudden bout of determination, his father beat him to it; his
voice sounded worn around the edges when he mumbled, “So… have you been well?”

Has… he been well?

“I have, actually,” Childe responded slowly, flipping one of the syrniki, “Liyue had its ups and
downs, but overall, nothing I couldn’t handle.”

“Hm,” his father responded quietly, staring out the window where Teucer and Anthon were
arranging a second boulder of snow to set on top of the first, “I have heard many things about the
land of Liyue, from wanderers, as well as from Mr. Zhongli.” He hesitated. “Your friend is
working very hard to make a good impression regarding the nation.”

It was difficult to tell where the conversation was meant to go, but Childe was never one to shy
away from discussing his experiences. “That’s just who he is; Zhongli-xiansheng is a very
agreeable person through and through. No one loves Liyue quite like he does.” He couldn’t help
but add, as a form of esteem, “And no one ever will.”

Childe’s father left an opening for Childe to continue; his eyes remained on the light snow falling
outside, but his ears were nevertheless tuned to his son’s words. Childe could tell the difference
between when his father was actively ignoring his presence and when there was a sliver of
opportunity for him to be heard; it was enough to keep him talking. “Although the people of Liyue
are lively and their nation beautiful, there are some devious, treacherous individuals sprinkled
within the population. Liyue Harbor can be a cutthroat city; perhaps that’s why I took to it so well.
Xiansheng is just a prime example of the delightful sorts of friends I had the pleasure of making on
this stretch of my travels.”

The little boy within Childe was catering to his father’s obsession with adventuring; even if the
man never pushed his explorations far out of Snezhnaya’s enormous borders, and had become
much more fearful and wary in his old age, it was the one tether that kept the two of them bound to
each other.

“What does xiansheng mean?” The man had his eyebrows furrowed, but his expression was more
receptive than usual; it could have been the early morning leniency of a fresh day, or the syrniki
bringing them back to a time of less hesitancy, when the two of them could speak without counting
their breaths. “You add it to that man’s name whenever he is brought up, yet he calls you Ajax.”

“Ah, it’s a respectful honorific,” Childe set aside plates with sizzling, fresh pancakes while
continuing to use up the rest of the batter, “I’ve just gotten used to it, I suppose. He’s quite high-
ranking, back in Liyue, so it's become kind of hard to drop.”

“Hmph,” another creak from the chair, “If he’s so important, how does he have time to galivant
with you all the way to Snezhnaya?”

Childe was getting lost in the fact that this was the longest conversation he had shared with his
father in a very long time; the man was asking him so many questions, as if he were actually
curious.

Even if they were tinged with mistrust or suspicion, Childe was embarrassingly pleased to share.

A small shadow emerged at the head of the kitchen, where Childe’s mother stood, observing the
two of them with a quiet sort of fascination.

Her face was warped into one of shock; Childe must have worn an exact replica of it when he
realized his father had come in to have a conversation on purpose.

“Good morning, Mother,” he beckoned to the breakfast beginning to come together on various
plates, “Hopefully all the noise this morning didn’t wake you. I’m making your favourite!”

It was almost laughable, watching his mother enter the kitchen like it was uncharted territory;
which, at that moment, wasn’t exactly too far off the mark. Childe was just as perplexed and
apprehensive over the fact that it had been nearly ten minutes of himself and his father sharing a
space together, yet no tempers had been lost or venomous words spewed.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she near-whispered, settling herself at the other chair. If Anthon continued to
grow his hair long, he would look like the splitting image of their mother; her fiery locks
overflowed the tabletop, nearly reaching her lower back, “I smelled the syrniki.” She sent a warm
smile Childe’s way before spotting the children running about outside through the fogged
windowpanes; a dimple appeared on her lower cheek as she grinned, “Is Lord Zhongli watching the
children?”

“Lord Zhongli?” Childe’s father gaped as Childe’s mom shushed him; it was difficult to keep his
eyes on the frying pan when Childe was trying to preserve whatever stable, friendly atmosphere
had taken over the kitchen.

As normal as their conversation seemed, this kind of moment was rare. Childe wanted to savour it
for as long as he could, before they fell back into the inevitable routine of little-to-no contact, with
the siblings acting as their go-betweens.

“They wanted to show him how to build a snowman,” Childe couldn’t help the fondness that
flooded into his voice, “but the food is nearly done; I’ll call them in soon.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” Childe’s father chose to make eye contact with him, then, and
the flare of interest in those bright, familiar eyes was noteworthy, “The children are outside now.
What is the meaning of bringing this foreign… Lord into our house?”

A lone finger directed at Zhongli; through the cold glass, the man could be seen taking off the
scarf around his collar, at Teucer’s clear insistence, and wrapping it around the snowman’s chubby,
non-existent neck. It was a much larger and more impressive snow sculpture than Childe thought
they would have been capable of, but somehow, the ex-Archon had managed to pull it off.

“Igor…” Childe’s mother sighed, “I believe the reason is obvious, but your skull is too thick to
comprehend it.”

Childe was side-tracked; he was too busy taking in how Tonia still smiled with her eyes, their
brightness nearly undetectable from the way her cheeks squeezed them tight with joy, or how
Teucer really was turning into a spitting image of himself, when Childe was younger.

His siblings looked happy.

Zhongli looked as if he shared their sentiments.

“Well, now that the Geo Archon has fallen, Zhongli-xiansheng has… more free time than he knows
what to do with.” His mother’s perceptive eyes were holding Childe in place at the stove, the last
few syrniki crisping beautifully in the remaining dredges of oil, “Being a funeral consultant isn’t
exactly the most demanding job.”

The career choice had always perplexed Childe to no end; why would Zhongli choose a profession
that focused on the dead, when he was clearly so-very fascinated by the existence of the living?

He had asked him, one summer’s night, when they had just begun closing the distance between
acquaintances who had used each other for gain and close associates, back when Childe was still
learning how to bridge the gaps between Zhongli’s identity and his own role in Liyue’s restoration.
The Adeptus had agreed to share a quick meal following a lengthy ritual regarding the passing of a
high-ranking official.

Childe hadn’t truly cared for the details, but hearing Zhongli speak was always a soothing way to
pass the time.

Being met halfway in a city that watched him with constant eyes of apprehension made him seek
out Zhongli’s company more often than not.

“This profession allowed me to suitably prepare my Exuvia to my precise requirements,” he had

answered, sipping a cup of oolong that had just reached a perfect temperature, “Not only that, but I
am also the only person left in Liyue who can accurately fulfill the funeral rites for the Adepti. Hu
Tao, as… trying as she may be, is prodigious in nature; surely, she will soon be adept in following
in my footsteps, and I will be needed no longer.”
The words sounded accepting but melancholic, and Childe recalled feeling a little sympathetic
towards the ex-Archon; making sure his brethren were each given a proper farewell was
sentimental and truly lined up with the importance Zhongli placed on partings.

The idea of Zhongli coming to Snezhnaya with cruel intentions was blatantly laughable; even if
Childe had underestimated the man once before, things were different now.

They were different.

“There doesn’t always have to be a foul motive, Father,” Childe added curtly, coming back to the
present, where said-funeral consultant was much more than the enchanting, cunning ex-Archon
who took Childe for all his Mora’s worth, “and before you ask, because I’m sure it’s about to slip
off your tongue, Tonia, Teucer and Anthon are all in very safe hands.”

Tension was beginning to stir within the confines of the kitchen; nothing taunted Childe more than
having his judgement questioned by his own father, especially when it involved the well-being of
his siblings.

“I am sure they are.” His mother attempted to put an end to the foreseeable argument, with some
success; Childe’s father huffed but closed his mouth. She was continuously surprising Childe by
coming to his aid. Whatever Zhongli had put in that bouquet, they had truly won him the woman’s
favor. “We heard about the Archon of Liyue, even all the way across the ocean,” she levelled her
acute gaze on Childe, who did his best to avert his eyes, “and how he was mercilessly slaughtered.
Those unfortunate people, now without their God… it’s interesting how Lord Zhongli doesn’t seem
affected by it, for someone who seems very tied to his nation.”

It was obvious in the way her eyes flickered; how Childe’s mother folded and unfolded her hands,
trying extremely hard not to ask outright. Even after the conversation they shared last night in the
privacy of the kitchen, Childe knew his mother wanted a concrete answer.

She was a little like Zhongli in that sense; always seeking out the truth, only instead of being direct,
she chose to toe the line between polite commentary and unmistakeable snooping.

“Mother, despite what Zhongli-xiansheng has made you assume, I don’t believe I have the right to
divulge his secrets. If you’re that curious, just ask him directly.”

“Polina, what are you getting at?” Childe’s father rubbed his forehead, the conversation lost on
him.

It was a true talent, how his mother could take control of a discussion and warp it to only favor the
people or topics of her choice; she smiled jovially, revealing the tiny scar on the corner edge of her
chin, nearly invisible unless she moved her mouth a certain way. It lingered from a nasty fall by the
shoreline, back when Childe was barely four feet tall.

Childe had been the one designated to watch Teucer at the beach while she turned away to better
bundle up Tonia, whose jacket buttons were perpetually coming undone. He had gotten distracted
by some boats passing by, eagerly daydreaming about travelling on one eventually, before he heard
the scraping of feet and his mother’s cry from behind him.

Although Childe had only been ten years old, he was instilled with a fear of danger from a young
age; it stemmed from an overwhelming urge to protect without fully understanding how. The
pressure of making a mistake was too great, and his culpability would forever remind him of the
fact.
That could be why Childe saw the days, months, years (it was hard to say) spent in the Abyss as
valuable; his master slaughtered his fear and replaced it with a burning determination, backed by
the recognition to never make the same mistake twice.

He was grateful for every chance he had ever been given to become the person he was today.

Childe’s mother laughed quietly. “Don’t you think our son seems a little different?”

Childe balked, his eyes moving between his parents. A question like that, after so long apart, could
result in so many different, possibly unfair answers. “What do you mean by that?”

And it had been such a peaceful morning in the kitchen, too.

“Different…” His father’s voice lowered, “I have not seen him in a long time, so it is hard to say.”

Her eyes grew pointed, sharp, and Childe had the bizarre sensation that now he was the one who
was missing something. “Do you think that perhaps Lord Zhongli…”

Childe’s mother was never given the chance to finish her comment; there was a small quake from
the ground, the light fixtures swinging lightly as everyone in the kitchen clutched the furniture
closest to them. It was nothing strong enough to make dishes fall or cause a large disruption, but it
was definitely unnatural for a quiver of any magnitude to affect Snezhnaya; the incredibly vast
continent faced blizzards and deep freezes, but tremors were unusual.

Childe’s mother stood up, already prepared to run into the snow to check on the children. “Dear
Celestia, was that an earthquake?”

The front door swung open as Teucer, covered head-to-toe in snow, waved his arms up and down
in vivid elation, “Big Brother! Mother! Father!” He shouted in quick bursts, pausing after every
exclamation to catch his breath, “Uncle Zhongli made our snowman gigantic!”

Childe couldn’t hold in his laugh; of course, it was Zhongli’s doing.

And was it ever a sight to behold; through the window, Childe could see a picture-perfect
snowman, hat, scarf and all, seated atop of a colossal stone stele that looked to be completely
formed from hoarfrost. The ground in Snezhnaya had been frozen for thousands of years; the fact
that Zhongli could still penetrate its rocky soil enough to manipulate the terrain to his will was
astounding.

The stele took up a good chunk of the yard, where Anthon circled around the showstopping display
with nothing but stars in his eyes. Tonia remained motionless, staring up at the mountainous pillar
in shock and awe. Even if Zhongli was subpar at handling snowballs, the Archon had certainly
found a way to make the experience memorable for Childe’s siblings.

“Xiansheng,” he shouted, hoping the door Teucer left open would allow the Archon to hear him
properly, “I appreciate the effort you’re putting into this, but don’t spook the town with your
tremors.”

From across the plot of land, a pair of bright eyes found their way to Childe’s, making the
Harbinger break into an automatic grin; everything about that luminous, amber gaze filled him
with an extraordinary comfort not unlike the relief felt when he returned to Morepesok.

They were reminiscent of the safety within Zhongli’s Liyue apartment, where the Adeptus had
stitched him up, intoxicated and unhurried; of exploring the Harbor marketplace, searching for
something of value that would make those ochre eyes glisten with vivid curiosity. Of just this
morning, when the Archon had pleaded for Childe's senses to return, those same eyes of archaic
rarity that could never be imitated, glistening with human distress. They seared his flesh and blood,
molten hot, more potently scorching than the Liyue sun itself.

Wherever you want to go next, I’ll happily follow.

Childe’s siblings began heading back to the house once everyone got a proper look at the new
ornament decorating the enclosure; amongst the many mechanisms and outlandish things Childe
had sent home, it blended right in.

“I assure you that the ground will return to its original shape once the children are done enjoying
the demonstration,” Zhongli guaranteed as he re-entered the warmth of the living room, Tonia
trailing behind him like an awestruck disciple. Her enthralled countenance was beginning to
remind Childe of a certain bank underling, and he had to will away the thought before it could
frighten him any further. “Teucer wanted to observe more of my Geo abilities, and it had never
previously occurred to me that they, too, could aid in the construction of building a snow man.”

“How…” Childe’s father remained in the doorway, dumbfounded by the sheer amount of power
that must have been necessary to create a mound of glowing, ice-coated Geo of such magnitude. He
rotated between the common language and Snezhnayan, clearly shaken, “All this for a snowman?”

“They sure seem excited about it,” Childe grinned wickedly at his sister and brothers, who each
smiled back with satisfied faces, red from the cold; it was becoming second-nature, feeling too
happy for words as Zhongli used everything in his arsenal to charm Childe’s siblings, “Good
timing, too! Breakfast is served.”

The dining room table was covered with a spread of countless syrniki, some stacks with raisins and
others without, blackberry and strawberry varenye flanking the pancakes in delicate glass bowls.
Sweet cream Childe had found in the cold-room, along with sour cream and a few varieties of fruit,
were also clustered in the center of the display.

Anthon was the first to lodge himself into a seat and began huffing pancake after pancake onto his
plate, announcing happily that he was starving and that Big Brother Ajax’s syrniki were the
tastiest, sorry, Mother. Childe took a seat towards the end of the arrangement, where Zhongli soon
followed, after re-donning his traditional jacket. The tailcoat flapped gracefully to the side as he
loomed over the feast, looking at it inquisitively.

“Well?” Childe watched the Archon reach out and collect a few syrniki for himself, tastefully
cascading fruit syrup overtop of them, before biting into a small piece. The entire experience
seemed far too formalised for a casual breakfast. “Does my cooking expertise match up to
Xiangling? Smiley Yanxiao?” He brightened, “Do you think your guard dog would prefer my
pancakes to almond tofu, or is that going too far?”

The calculating, deliberate way in which Zhongli ate, compared to how Teucer and Anthon were
shovelling spoonfuls of blackberry sauce into their mouths, more on their chins than in their
stomachs, made it challenging for Childe look away.

Childe wanted Zhongli to like the food. No matter how great of a cook he was, or how much his
siblings praised his skills, the Archon’s opinion carried some weight; he awaited a response as if
they were back on Yaoguang Shoal, and Zhongli was assessing his battle techniques.

“It tastes…” the Adeptus trailed off, the smallest peek of tongue escaping to lick a lost remnant of
varenye from his bottom lip. Childe must have hit a new low for his heart to sputter at an action so
trivial, but he had already recognized himself as a lost cause. “… delightful.”
The glow that reflected from Zhongli’s eyes brightened up the room; even Childe’s mother noticed,
her attention moving from her food to the golden aura that had appeared and dissipated just as
quickly. There was a slight crinkle underneath the Geo Archon’s eyes as he turned to Childe, their
chairs tucked close to make room for everyone else at the table, smiling like Childe had just
presented him with an all-expenses paid feast to the Liuli Pavillion.

“It must be good, xiansheng,” Childe teased, his smile growing unfairly wide and his cheeks
dreadfully crimson, “you’re practically glowing.”

“They are incredibly light, with the perfect amount of sweetness,” Zhongli murmured in distracted
agreement before taking another bite of the raisin-infused fritters, which he evidently favored over
the ones without; Childe tucked that tidbit of information away for later, should he ever try and
find some raisins back in Liyue as a gift for the ex-Geo Archon, “although their appearance and
fragrance is reminiscent of a dessert dish, the airy texture reminds me of the scallion pancakes
from Liyue; what a pleasant balance of flavours.”

Childe preened, finally allowing himself to take a bite following Zhongli’s sanctification of the
meal.

They ate in relative peace, Teucer narrating the entire snowman building endeavor step-by-step
from start to finish and leaving no room for Tonia or Anthon to interrupt with their own accounts,
before Childe’s mother managed to break through her son’s dramatic rendition.

She leaned over the table a bit, making a show of pouring Zhongli more black tea. “Mr. Zhongli,
forgive me for being so sudden, but I have a few questions that have been on my mind since
meeting you.”

Childe turned to the Archon curiously; the man bid a quick thank you for the drink, before nodding
with the elegance of someone who was not currently surrounded by very loud, rambunctious
children.

“I would be happy to answer any questions of yours.”

Tsaritsa, help him. They were going be there all day.

“Thank you.” The woman dabbed the sides of her mouth before beginning, and Childe could
already feel the atmosphere change in the dining room; for once, it wasn’t Zhongli’s influence that
was making the air feel heavier. “I would like to know what your family is like, back home in
Liyue. Do you have any siblings?”

Ah. What a difficult question. Zhongli’s lips pursed but his face remained calm, a pebble dropped
into a vast sea of tranquility. “I suppose I do not have family, quite in the same way you do. I have
those who are very close to me, and ones that have remained by my side over the years, but no
siblings, I’m afraid.”

Childe sighed. Perhaps this would go better than he thought; if Zhongli took the vague route, his
mother would get the hint and drop the subject.

“What about parents, then?”

The Adeptus smiled contritely. “No parents, either.”

“I’m so sorry,” Childe’s mother stated, “and for someone so young, too.”

There was the smallest motion to Childe’s left; Zhongli was drumming his nails on his thigh,
barely perceptible to anyone’s eyes, but the Harbinger saw it. He looked up at Zhongli quizzically
before noticing how his stare, amber and vibrant, was locked directly across the table where his
mother sat.

When Childe took a proper look at his mother, her expression did not match her kind, solemn
words; she wore a look of revelation, of enlightenment beyond her age and simple appearance.

The ambiance transformed once more, and Childe prayed that only he could feel the way Zhongli’s
body had begun to radiate small pinpricks of potent energy.

He arched a defined brow before replying, seemingly nonchalant, “I am thankful for your
considerate words. However, I think I am faring quite well for my age.”

“Speaking of which,” his mother’s face was passive, the most untrustworthy appearance Childe
had ever seen adorning her face, “how old are you exactly, Mr. Zhongli?”

The question was posed while the children were still bickering over who made the largest snow
boulder for their snowman, quietly enough that some words could have been misconstrued. And
yet, Childe’s father was at full-attention at the table.

“I am beginning to understand that these questions are purposefully misleading.” Zhongli crossed
his hands into his lap, directing his heavy, authoritative gaze to Childe, and then back to his
wildcard of a mother. “Are you seeking a specific answer?”

Childe’s mother smiled modestly. “Not at all. I just wanted to become better acquainted with the
exceptional guest Ajax has brought to Snezhnaya.” She dropped her eyes to the table before
flicking them at Childe, whose hair must have matched his cheeks, by now. “Ajax has always been
overprotective of his family; hence why he has never brought anyone home to meet us. That makes
you quite special, Lord Zhongli.”

She was trying to make Childe suffer.

Zhongli absorbed the weight of her words thoroughly, and Childe swore he could physically
manifest his discomfort at the impromptu cross-examination like an Elemental ability.

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” Childe avowed, wanting desperately for the exchange to end, “don’t feel as
if you need to answer anything that makes you uncomfortable…”

“Six-thousand years old.”

All motion at the table stopped. Even Teucer froze mid-babble to stare at Zhongli, as if he had
grown horns at the dining table.

“Six…” it was painful to watch the multiple reactions flitting across Childe’s father’s face, as he
slowly pieced together every nuance missed throughout the visit that were perchance more obvious
than intended. “You can’t be serious.”

Zhongli merely blew on his tea, lowering his otherworldly eyes to his drink. “Give or take. There
are a few centuries of darkness prior to the Archon War that even I have difficulty recalling.”

Childe’s mother tried to hide her surprise but to no avail; apparently, even she couldn’t believe that
Zhongli would be quite this honest so quickly.

“Well…” her voice was proudly free of trembling as she sighed, overwhelmed but satisfied with her
little mind games. “Lord Zhongli… would that mean the Archon of Liyue was never, in fact,
assassinated?”

“I am simply Zhongli,” he replied easily, “any other form of acknowledgement has been retired
along with my relinquishment of the responsibilities as the God of Contracts. Liyue now belongs to
the people.”

It was no secret, then. Childe had eagerly brought the oldest Archon on Teyvat into Morepesok,
who even after withdrawing from his position, outranked the Tsaritsa in age and experience as a
member of The Seven.

The same ancient deity who currently sipped on a no-name brand of lapsang tea, acting as if
sharing this type of information with Childe’s parents was expected. Like he had come prepared for
this occasion.

Childe slapped a hand over his face.

So much for remaining elusive.

He griped at the ex-Archon, “Xiansheng, you didn’t have to tell them.”

Zhongli looked at him amusingly, his head tilting to the side, bangs slipping away from his brows.
“I am well aware, but wouldn’t you also feel better knowing that there are no secrets between
myself and your family? They have every right to be distrustful; I have hope that knowing my
identity will quell their worries.”

“Uncle Zhongli’s funny,” Anthon giggled, completely oblivious to the sincerity of Zhongli’s
words, “he can’t be that old; he doesn’t look much older than Big Brother!”

All eyes fell back to Childe’s siblings; the boys had clearly been too preoccupied with their snowy
outdoor adventure. Tonia had been unusually quiet, her soft expression absorbed by the syrniki she
ate, as if she had overheard something she wasn’t supposed to.

Teucer piped up, “Yeah, Uncle Zhongli is just Uncle Zhongli! Besides, were you all even listening
to my story?”

It was a relief to see that both Anthon and Teucer were completely oblivious to anything too
complicated to explain right then; Childe’s brain already felt fit to bursting. Anything more would
leave him incapacitated for the rest of the day, and Zhongli still needed to be taken around
Morepesok for a proper tour of the town.

Childe jumped at Teucer’s question readily. “Sure we were, Teucer. The snowman nearly fell apart
after you added the head; luckily, Tonia came to the rescue with some loose slush to cement the
boulders together. What happened next?”

Teucer relaxed back into the cushion of his seat, momentarily placated. Childe wasn’t an amateur
when it came to knowing how to jump onto an opportunity surrounded by his family. He smiled
amiably, waiting for the snowman narrative’s grand finale, where Uncle Zhongli’s incredibly
golden powers lifted their snowman to new, immeasurable heights, reaching places no snowman
had ever seen, before laughing under his breath.

Childe knew Zhongli would overhear. “They never fail to surprise me.”

Childe’s mother couldn’t have looked anymore jubilant; it was hard to say if she had smiled this
much in the last few of his visits combined. Maybe it was the combination of having her husband
home and the family getting along for once, but whatever it was, Childe was thankful. Even Tonia,
 Teucer and Anthon noticed their parents' ease; they were much chattier than usual.

His father seemed more tolerant compared to the last time Childe had seen the man, and their
interactions continued to be civil, more so than they had in a long time. Perhaps, with his illness
and old age, he was choosing to let some of his misgivings slide.

And at the center of it all was Zhongli; upstanding, unbending and reassuring. He had nothing to
hide with Childe, and now, apparently, with his household.

That kind of disclosure should have been more difficult to earn, and yet the Adeptus had handed it
over with an ease akin to flicking his gloves off.

Childe wasn’t naïve; moments this good were sure to be followed by misery. In his line of work,
that was a given; practically a pact made the minute he signed himself up as a Harbinger.

But in that instance, Childe was free to dream: of a future where this could be something recurrent,
where the Geo Archon treated Childe’s family as if it were an extension of his own.

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” he said, voice wavering, “are you okay with all this?”

Childe was referring to more than just the identity reveal.

He wanted to know if the Adeptus was okay with staying there, in Childe’s Morepesok home filled
with his boisterous siblings and countless memories; if he wanted to go to the Harbinger manor
instead, where there would be fewer interactions with such strong personalities, and much less
interrogations. If the tension from his father was beginning to reach him, making the ex-Geo
Archon ache to bid an appreciative but hasty retreat to Liyue, which would be wholly, naturally
understandable.

If he was alright with this being Childe’s entire world.

Zhongli barely gave the question a thought; his Cor Lapis gaze was reverent, revealing, and gentler
than Childe thought possible from eyes that burned with the brightness of a meteor shower.

He smiled, lips curved and confident in his assertion. “Are you happy?”

Childe strained to swallow; his heart felt permanently lodged in his throat. “What a silly question.
Can’t you tell?”

The Archon chuckled, the slightest gleam diffusing from the ends of his hair.

“Then my answer should be just as clear.”

Chapter End Notes

10,000 words. What have I done. I'm a hazard to myself.

This is the beginning of the end: it's a plot free-fall from here on out. I estimate
another 7 chapters. Are you ready?

Want to make Childe's syrniki? I highly recommend: Syrniki recipe

For those wondering why I choose to narrate using "Childe" instead of "Ajax," I enjoy
the play of Childe's different names in regards to his identity. Childe (公子 Gongzi) is
a neutral address, both in Chinese and in-game, meant to be given to someone
respectable and youthful, who is not known extremely well. In a way, as Childe
continues to grow and change throughout the fic, the importance of "Ajax" as an
intimate name, and the weight of "Tartaglia," become more and more significant. I just
thought it fit the fic better. I don't even know if many people questioned this, but I
wanted to give an explanation, regardless.

Also, the snowman patch for Albedo's quest, plus how much it's snowing where I am,
made me need a snowman scene. HOW amazing was that quest?? Mihoyo, thank you
for finally delivering us with some lore; my lore-hungry brain was starving and has
been happily fed.

I don't care what anyone says; Zhongli cannot manipulate snow well. Not without
throwing some Geo in there. He is a man of many talents, but snowballs are not his
forte.

This is Part I because Part II is the section I had to cut for this chapter to be a better
length. Did that work out? No. Hehe. But the next chapter is going to bring in some
PLOT and I am EXCITED

Thank you so much for the incredible comments, by the way. I say this every chapter,
but like, I don't even know where to begin; the support for this fic has been
astronomical, and I am ready to send all of you Christmas cards out of sheer gratitude.

Chat with me about genshin and see new chapter posts on my Twitter? Twitter
 Between the Lines: Part II
Chapter Notes

Just a quick note:

To the two artists who shared artwork with me privately but didn't want to share
publicly, please know you are still adored, and you should still have a little note in
here appreciating all you did for my fic and how happy I was to see it. Know it will be
saved in my phone for life.

That's all; carry on~

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The rest of breakfast went exactly how Childe thought it would: once Zhongli had clarified his
status as the ex-Geo Archon of Liyue, the inquiries began to flow freer than dandelion wine in
Mondstadt. It was to the naïve scepticism of his siblings (minus Tonia, who was listening in on the
conversation with the attentiveness of a Sumerian academic) and the disbelief of his father, that
Childe’s mother seemed to have no qualms asking Zhongli every question she could possibly raise
under the Snezhnayan sun.

If only Childe could have been as forthright; how many days did he spend researching Rex Lapis at
the Wanwen Bookhouse, only to watch his own mother discover the majority of what he had been
eager to learn in the span of half an hour?

At the time, Childe had been more concerned with remaining on good terms with the Archon than
getting his curiosity sated.

His mother apparently had no such apprehensions.

She continued to smile her way through breakfast, opening up a new series of queries every few
minutes, which Zhongli would tactfully answer.

“How well do you know Our Tsarista?”

“We dwelled within the circle of The Seven together for nearly a millennium; the Cryo Archon and
I have a mutual understanding of one another.” Pause. “Regarding… most matters.”

“What were your duties as the God of Liyue?”

“My obligations changed and shifted over time; which time period of Liyue’s conception would
you like me to explicate first?”

“How does Snezhnaya compare to your homeland?”

“If you are asking from a solely geographical standpoint, then the differences in everything from
flora to landscape are vast and interminable. If you are asking based on my personal experience,
however…” Another pause, “they both have something very valuable to offer.”

“How remarkable, that you founded Liyue Harbor. Did you build the nation of Liyue from scratch
as well, or did you have help?”

“It was certainly not all the result of my own influence. Even before I came into existence, the
landmass had previously been formed; I crafted Mt. Tianheng from the region’s foundation,
subdued the seas and regulated the tides, allowing for the land to prosper. There were many gods
and entities alike who all had a hand in forming the nation presently known as Liyue.”

“How did you and our son become so well-acquainted?”

A barely-there smile. “My intentions for Liyue Harbor’s future deliberately involved us crossing
paths; as an individual working towards understanding mortal life better, I find it gratifying to be in
the company of someone as resolute and multi-faceted as Ajax.”

Childe’s mother stopped to hum auspiciously before continuing.

“Why did you choose to re—”

“I bet Zhongli-xiansheng would like to see some sights today,” Childe interrupted; the line of
questioning was getting relatively personal. Whether or not the Archon was entertaining Childe’s
mother out of respect or because he genuinely didn’t mind expounding his entire six millennia’s
worth of history, there were some questions that even Childe didn’t want Zhongli to answer right
there at the breakfast table, “so maybe we should start tidying up.”

He was saving certain questions for later on in the future, almost like little rewards of information
to settle his selfish spirit.

There were some secrets that Childe wanted to hoard for himself.

Seizing attention away from Zhongli could be no easier than making sure Teucer’s one-track mind
was prompted; nothing distracted his littlest brother faster than the proposition of an outing.

The boy leapt out of his chair, eyes wide and eager, “There’s no school today! Can we go to the
market, Big Brother?”

Anthon cut in, sighing dreamily, “I wanna buy some churchkhela.”

“Anthon,” Tonia shook her head, “you just had a sweet breakfast. Now you want more sweets?”

“It’s a different kind of sweet!”

Childe looked to the head of the table, where his mother and father sat.

“I don’t see why not,” his mother replied, although her eyes wavered as she turned to her husband,
“Igor?”

The man, who had barely said a word since Zhongli had begun reminiscing on his glory days that
predated Snezhnaya’s most antiquated citadels, stared long and hard at Zhongli, and then Childe.

Childe’s eyes narrowed as he fought the urge to roll them.

“It’s just the market, Father; I promise, no backwoods hunting or unplanned hiking expeditions.”
He motioned to the Adeptus at his side. “Zhongli-xiansheng can’t spend his entire visit to
Morepesok building snowmen in the courtyard.”

It was the tiniest gesture, but Childe liked to think he was good at reading the people who looked
most like him; the muscles around his father’s eyes unstiffened, just barely, but enough to make
Childe realize that he wasn’t going to fight him on this.

“As long as you do not stay out too long.”

A grin tugged at Childe’s mouth.

His body felt as if it had just shed his Foul Legacy armor: the immediate, unsteady sensation after
releasing a great deal of weight.

He chuckled lightly, already clearing the plates while Zhongli followed suit with the glasses.
“We’ll be back before lunch.”

Sometimes, it was better not to question a good thing.

The Morepesok bazaar was located past the harbor and closer to the outskirts of the forest, barely
visible from the hilltop. Childe’s preferred pathway that led to the marketplace was one he knew
would satisfy the Geo Archon’s wistfulness; it was a scenic trek by the waterfront, where the
icebergs surrounding the shore were in full view, glistening like enormous, pointed jewels budding
from the deep.

Morepesok may have been a frosty, featureless town when compared to the crowded vibrancy of
Zapolyarny, but the flatlands and icy oceanfront were what made it so beautiful; Childe would
never tire of how gloriously calm his mind became whenever he looked over the horizon at
nothing but whites, blues and endless skies.

He was sure that Zhongli would feel the same; the man was nothing if not completely infatuated
with finding magnificence in everything his eyes touched, with their piercing, ageless insight.

“Your hometown is situated in a lovely location,” the Archon noted as expected, wearing his shuba
once again to keep out the wind, “If Yaoguang Shoal were to ever freeze over, I wonder if the
territory would share Morepesok’s quiet, frozen tranquility.”

Childe chuckled, willfully ignoring how statuesque the Archon looked swathed in black fur
illuminated by sunlight. “You compare everything to Liyue, xiansheng.”

“I suppose it is habitual,” he alleged; Anthon and Teucer had both grasped Childe’s hands the
minute they left, leaving Tonia to walk next to Zhongli. She looked up at him whenever he spoke,
always turning to eye her brother’s responses with curiosity, “considering it has been the sum of
my life’s work. Envisioning how it will change as time goes on is a stimulating way to pass the
time.”

Leave it to Rex Lapis to spend his free time preoccupied with his realm’s wellbeing.

The indoor market wasn’t exactly nearby, but when compared to trekking across Liyue’s boundless
plains or climbing the harbor’s vast assortment of stairs daily, the walk was practically a
neighborhood stroll. The building was not large in size but packed so densely that it felt crowded;
frenetic jumbles of stalls lined the narrow hall, people bustling here and there to collect groceries
or wares of assorted value.

Childe sighed with reminiscence; although the building was more dilapidated than he recalled, it
still smelled of smoked fish and hot cider after successful fishing trips. The majority of sellers
manning the shops were the same owners who had worked there since Childe was younger,
vending familiar objects such as doll sets and balalaikas, along with art, pottery and houseware
items. Food stalls were scattered at the front of the building, filling the entrance with the aroma of
chervil and garlic.
It was no secret once Childe, Zhongli and his family entered the corridor, that some of the
townspeople recognized him immediately; many of them dropped their gazes or lowered their
voices as he passed.

His fiery hair and memorable, cordial smile had taken the village by storm; Childe was the
strongest warrior to ever originate from their modest community, wreaking havoc as an
unstoppable brute before the Fatui snatched him up.

Childe’s father believed that the Fatui would do him some good by teaching him discipline and
honing his strengths, and in a way, they had. They provided Childe an outlet for his aggressive
behavior.

Said outlets, however, were far ghastlier than his family anticipated.

The retailers’ vigilance was nothing new. He became somewhat of a household name in
Morepesok; the meek, kind Ajax who converted into a vicious legend almost overnight.

The whispers from those around whom Childe couldn’t distinguish behind layers of fur and scarves
were loud enough to overhear; he continually pointed out different stands to Teucer, Tonia and
Anthon, hoping to divert their ears from the gossipers.

The Eleventh Harbinger of Our Lady has returned to the village.

“Where would you three like to go first?”

He’s come with a stranger; what an intimidating fellow. Do you think he works for the Tsaritsa, as
well?

“Big Brother, can we check if there’s a stand that sells kaleidoscopes? I want to see if I can use
what Uncle Zhongli gave me to make the designs even bigger!”

For the few who seemed hesitant to have Childe come near their stands, there were nearly double
who watched him with delighted eagerness.

His pockets are lined like royalty; call him over here!

“Of course we can, Anthon. Keep your eyes open for any toy stalls.”

“Young Ajax! It is good to see you back in Morepesok; long may the Tsaritsa reign!”

Childe waved sunnily to the vendors who still remembered the sweet boy that grew up happy and
loved in the village; they made it a little easier to disregard the rest.

Maybe his friend is just as rich! Take a look at his shuba…

“Alright, xiansheng!” Childe smiled through the chitchat; he’d heard much worse from the shop
sellers in Liyue Harbor, and was already far too accustomed to being viewed as a threat or a
walking coin purse. “Here we are. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something amusing to take home
and add to your ever-growing collection.”

Zhongli’s eyes were practically glistening as he swept his gaze around the market; the Geo Archon
had always been fond of perusing storefronts for extravagances, and now there was an entire
building’s worth of new objects to inquire about spread before him. “Where do you suggest we
begin?”
Somewhere away from the beady, gluttonous eyes burning a hole into the back of Childe‘s head
would be a good start. “Anywhere you’d like.”

The Archon’s expression tempered as he glanced down at Tonia, who was preoccupied by a large
stall of books piled as high as a fir tree. He leaned down to meet her eyes, startling her, before
holding out a hand towards the bookstore. “Perhaps you should lead the way, Miss Tonia. I see you
have already found something that has caught your interest.”

“Oh! No, I… it’s fine, really! It’s your first time here, so…”

The Adeptus shook his head, making Childe internally soften. This was the longest extent Childe
had spent in Zhongli’s continual presence; he generally saw the Adeptus in smaller increments,
doses that were less overwhelming and just long enough to make him look forward to their next
meeting.

Now that he was surrounded by the Geo Archon just… being Zhongli, it was a lot to take in. The
man was unbearably accommodating, even when encircled by shiny, alluring trinkets. “Nonsense,
we can take our time. I’m sure that whichever books you are captivated by would also pique my
own interests.”

He smiled his elegant half-smile, the one that left Childe feeling terribly hassled. “Tell me; which
Snezhnayan books do you think I would enjoy?”

Tonia’s face had gradually darkened into the shade of Childe’s scarf. “You won’t be able to read
the ones I suggest, though…”

“I could always read them to him.” Childe offered nonchalantly, not even realizing how intimate
the suggestion was. Once he noticed the way Zhongli and Tonia were staring at him, Tonia with a
shy smile and Zhongli with his slightly waned eyes of bright Cor Lapis, he felt his cheeks warm on
the spot. “… Haha, think of it as repayment for having you write those letters when my hands were
injured. Eventually, you’ll be able to read them on your own; learning Snezhnayan should be easy
for someone with as much time on their hands as yourself, right, Zhongli-xiansheng?”

Zhongli hummed in amusement, graciously averting his gaze back to the bookshelves and away
from Childe’s crimson appearance. The Harbinger had already developed a bad habit of catering to
Zhongli’s every whim, and the uncontrollable urge seemed to grow each minute they spent
together.

Love was a frustrating emotion.

Tonia amassed a diverse quantity of books, one of which covered Snezhnaya’s past and its
important historic events, another that appeared to be a children’s book with endearing images of
the Snezhnayan alphabet on the cover. After Childe handed his Mora to one of the gossip-
mongering, unsettled shopkeepers (with a harmless smile, courtesy of the Eleventh Harbinger), his
sister placed the tomes into Zhongli’s leather-gloved hands.

“Now you’ll know just as much about Snezhnaya as you do about Liyue,” she announced proudly,
albeit quietly, “and Brother Ajax can use the other book to teach you Snezhnayan.”

“Tonia, you’re spoiling him,” Childe laughed while Zhongli grasped the books with care, thanking
her with a slight bow, “I never thought you would all be so incredibly attached to the Mora Man.”

“But Big Brother, you spoil him too.” Tonia murmured her words with a flush still high on her
face, and it was difficult to feel embarrassed by her endlessly humiliating remarks when she was so
sincere in their delivery. “I thought as much before, from what you wrote in your letters, but now I
know for sure. I’ve never seen you look so…so…”

“Tonia! Come look at this!” Teucer beckoned to the girl before she could finish her thought from
the stand across from the bookstall, where they had trays upon trays of skewered confectionaries
for sale. She smiled kindly before striding over, leaving Childe to guide Zhongli through the
narrow shop alley.

“That girl says the strangest things sometimes,” Childe scratched the back of his neck, working
extremely hard to keep his head held high as he walked with Zhongli to another kiosk of hand-
painted wooden sculptures. Although the ex-Geo Archon said nothing regarding Tonia’s offhand
remarks, it was obvious by the shine in his eyes that he recollected every word that left her sweet,
candid mouth.

He was much too cognizant; it made Childe sweat, wondering what kind of picture his family was
painting in the Archon’s mind.

He walked with his usual grace up and down the path of market stalls, each of the sellers observing
the Adeptus with keen, ravenous stares. The arch of his back, paired with the way he glided
effortlessly from kiosk to kiosk, conveyed the notion that Zhongli was an affluent man; certainly
richer than the general population of Morepesok, who made their money from small businesses or
outsourcing.

It was only suitable that the god who invented Mora dressed and carried himself in a way that
made it seem as if he had Mora to spare.

Even if he didn’t.

A booth filled with handwoven hats and scarves stood near the stall of knickknacks the siblings
had chosen to inspect, catching Zhongli’s notice. He stared at one specific shawl; a warm, amber
shade, before bringing his attention back to Childe, who was completely engrossed watching the
Adeptus in his natural element.

Childe had always enjoyed indulging the funeral consultant’s inherent urges for finding treasures.

How was the man able to make even the busiest places seem so peaceful? Even with the added
distraction of keeping Teucer and Anthon out of trouble, Zhongli exuded a tranquility that was
near-contagious; just being next to him had Childe simultaneously wanting to sigh and/or run
before he did something stupid, like lean on his shoulder or reach up to brush the amber fringe
from his eyes.

His fingers itched at the thought.

It was during Childe’s daydreaming that Zhongli chose to re-enter his personal space and bring
attention to their closeness; the familiar scent of sandalwood and Silk Flowers made his thoughts
scatter.

It certainly wasn’t Childe’s imagination. The Geo Archon had definitely grown more easygoing in
regards to proximity. Zhongli had gone from stilted, unnatural pats and physical distancing to
easily finding solace near others in a matter of months.

His progress should have been something to celebrate; the ex-Geo Archon was adjusting to mortal
life without a hitch.

If only Childe didn’t feel as if his bones were liquifying every time Zhongli so much as brushed
over his skin by accident.

He leaned into Childe’s space to whisper, lips nearly touching his earlobe, “I am sorry about this
morning.”

All of the hairs on the back of Childe’s neck stood up; the Archon’s breath was warm. His ear
tingled as if Zhongli’s voice carried electricity with its resonance.

Childe recalled the shameless dreams he fantasized of the night before, a voice calling him in that
identical, grating pitch, and shivered.

“Do you really want to talk about that right now? I’m sure we can hold off on that conversation
until we get back to the house.”

The Adeptus shook his head lightly, the motion sending his golden strands of hair fluttering. “This,
specifically, I would like to say now.” His gaze grew pointed. “You gave me your word.”

Childe tensed, cursing Zhongli’s pedantic ability to recollect every agreement in the history of
existence. “Trust me, Zhongli-xiansheng, there is nothing for you to be sorry about. I already told
you; it was built-up frustration over a problem that I’m working through. I won’t allow it to cause
you or I anymore difficulties from now on.”

Zhongli’s brows furrowed as he leaned in agonizingly close, clearly not wanting anyone to
overhear but oblivious to the way Childe’s heart shook. “Your actions were of no consequence to
me, Ajax. I wanted to state my apologies for manipulating you with my influence.”

The ex-Archon toyed with the frays of the ochre scarf before deciding against purchasing it (most
likely because Liyue never grew cold enough for such accessories), moving onto the next kiosk.
“I’d like to think I was only doing what was best for you by keeping your body from reaching the
brink of collapse, but it was not my place to decide.”

It was hard for Childe not to feel a little whiplashed; the differences between his own Archon and
the previous Archon of Liyue were much too great. Sometimes their parallels were obvious; other
times, such as this, their disparities were so stark that Childe questioned what the characterisation
of an Archon even consisted of.

“I… understand why you used it, if that helps your conscience,” Childe chuckled sheepishly, “but
xiansheng, we’re friends. I don’t need you saying sorry for trying to solve a problem with a method
that comes instinctually to you, just like you don’t want me asking for forgiveness because you
know that sometimes I can be a bit…”

Unhinged, Childe’s mind uselessly provided, but from the way Zhongli gazed at Childe with
understanding, he comprehended the Harbinger’s meaning fine.

He exhaled, Cor Lapis eyes warm and curved. “I just needed you to make the distinction.”

Teucer bounded back over to where the two of them stood, enthusiastically asking Childe for more
Mora to purchase some snacks. Children’s appetites were a thing of mystery.

“Don’t spend it all at one shop, Teucer. Leave some just in case.”

“Okay!”

Once he left, Childe looked to the ceiling, deep in thought.

“It’s clear that what you saw at Zapolyarny Palace really bothered you, Zhongli-xiansheng.” He
stated, grinning at a bearded man operating a booth of fresh cheese and meats; was his name Vlad
or Viktor? It had been too long to properly recall.

Zhongli only looked at him, not agreeing or disagreeing with the statement. Power dynamics were
obviously a concern of the Adeptus’, considering the debacle with Xiao, his irritation at the
Tsaritsa using her divine influence so openly, and now his own apprehensions surrounding his
capabilities as a god.

Childe smiled. “Are you afraid of losing my trust? You already have it, if you haven’t noticed. It’s
not going to break that easily.”

His words were factual, without a hint of sarcasm; Zhongli had him. His trust, his attention, his
affections.

Whether or not the Adeptus understood the weight of his response, though, was another story.

Zhongli seemed pacified by that, allowing the conversation to drift back to more trivial topics.
They wandered around the market, Zhongli finding a new interest at every stall; whether it was a
sculpture carved in ways unfamiliar to Liyue, something painted using materials only available in
the heart of Morepesok, or glittery ornaments that would be a shame to leave behind, the Adeptus
had acquired enough souvenirs to fill an entirely new cabinet.

Before his very first purchase of a fine tea set, colored in traditional Snezhnayan hues, Zhongli had
turned to look at Childe with that familiar, lost gaze of Cor Lapis; he patted his inner pockets while
the shopkeeper petulantly observed.

He sighed. “It appears that in this morning’s commotion, I may have misplaced my sack of Mora…
perhaps it is in the other coat worn when playing with the children…”

Ah, yes. Childe’s time to shine.

“You know I have it covered, xiansheng.” He could support his hometown and make sure the Geo
Archon didn’t leave Morepesok without a nice variety of souvenirs. All and all, a win-win.

A solid amount of buying had been done before their shopping trip was bluntly interrupted; a
striking blur of violet and white swept across the heads of those walking through the booths, the
streak of light alarming some of the customers.

Shouts of watch your head! echoed through market, along with irritated mutterings of how vision
users should really be more careful when in crowded places.

The apparition made no sound; it appeared to be seeking out a person, judging by how it flitted
above each tent like a lost Electro Seelie attempting to find its way home.

Childe smirked as the translucent, Electro-borne entity, which slowed its lightning-quick
movements to perch hastily on Childe’s shoulder, frightened one of the women who were getting a
little too close to Zhongli for comfort while he inspected a stand of dried flowers.

“It’s fine,” Childe explained to a clearly inquisitive Zhongli; Geo had already been emanating from
the tips of his fingers, “this is how I receive messages from Northland when I travel overseas.”

He waited for the onlookers to cease their staring before continuing, “It’s an extension of my
Delusion, similar to how I communicated with soldiers in Zapolyarny using my Vision. Tonia,
Teucer and Anthon have all seen it before; see? They don’t even react to it anymore.”
True to his word, Childe’s siblings had only turned to watch the creature roost itself on their
brother before spinning back to more important matters, such as arguing over how many
churchkhela they could eat before getting a stomach ache.

Thank goodness for Tonia, who answered with a quiet “we’re not going to find out today,” already
pulling the boys over to a smaller, treat-free stall.

Childe tensed as the artificial essence absorbed energy from his Delusion to form an image
manifested completely by Electro; he had barely been away from Liyue for forty-eight hours.
Surely nothing of much importance could have happened in such a short span of time?

Hopefully it was only Ekaterina being exceptionally diligent.

“Hmm?” Zhongli watched the document become opaque and vibrant before courteously averting
his eyes, “Is it a matter of great importance?”

Childe scanned the letter, which would have been illegible to the prying eyes around him due his
Delusion’s subjective functions; the message was written by none other than Ekaterina, her hasty
script disclosing just how crucial she considered the dispatch.

Lord Harbinger,

Apologies for interrupting your homecoming.

There have been updates regarding your investigation pertaining to the Sixth Harbinger;
according to intel, witnesses state to have seen a ship docked in the harbor with no insignias or
affiliation with Liyue or Inazuma.

Upon careful analysis, the vessel also appears to have been shrouded with some sort of warding
invocation; possibly a protective enchantment or one used for avoiding detection, but it is still
currently being investigated.

The most important update, however, is that recently, more than three of your agents have claimed
to…

“бля.” Childe swore softly as he dispersed the Electro creature in the blink of an eye. Zhongli
waited patiently; his body turned to give Childe his full consideration. “Scaramouche is in Liyue.”

The Archon raised a brow. “For what reason does the Sixth Harbinger have in returning to Liyue?”

A pit of dread sank to the bottom of Childe’s stomach the more he thought about it. The reasoning
could categorically only come down to a few possibilities, from what the Harbinger knew at that
point:

Either the Balladeer was following through with his examination concerning the Geo Archon, or…

“He most likely wants something from me.” Childe replied indifferently, “That, or he’s on the
move again.” Scaramouche had always been a wandering member of the Fatui; not unlike Childe,
only his loyalty to the Tsaritsa was questionable.

When the Balladeer jumped nations, it could mean a multitude of issues for the Fatui and regular
folks alike.

“When we return, I’m going to have to do some serious patrolling around the harbor,” Childe
hissed out an irritated breath, “hopefully I won’t have to interfere and he’ll leave just as silently as
he came.”

It was an empty hope; Scaramouche was unpredictable to a tee, but even he knew that coming back
to Liyue after their previous discussion was an act of antagonism.

For him to flee Inazuma again, considering the country’s unrest and how much responsibility was
handed to the Balladeer for the progression of factory-made Delusions, it didn’t make any sense.

Something must have happened; either regarding the Tsaritsa, or within Inazuma’s closed borders.

Zhongli’s face had transformed into an expression of stern unrest; Liyue wasn’t exactly his
responsibility anymore, but that didn’t change how the Adeptus felt about potential dangers.

Childe exhaled. “Until then, though, try not to worry over it. You’ve already done enough to prove
that Liyue can take care of itself; and besides, I don’t think he’ll make any big moves.”

Most likely because both Childe and the Geo Archon were across the ocean. If Childe’s hunch was
correct, then there was nothing to fuss about for the time-being.

“Big Brother, we’re all done!”

Teucer ran up to Childe and Zhongli with more bags than his little arms could carry; he was
practically dragging them across the floor, the paper ones close to ripping from strain. He had
definitely spent all of Childe’s Mora to buy candy, dried meats and the little toy soldiers used as
civilians whenever he played make-believe with Mr. Cyclops.

“Tonia,” Childe snickered, “I thought you were keeping tabs on the Mora.”

“I was!” she cried, only toting her book purchases; Anthon ambled by her side with a similar extent
of paper sacks as Teucer, “but I think he borrowed more when I wasn’t looking, the menace.”

“Tonia, you were being so stingy.”

“Yeah, Big Brother said we could get whatever we wanted…”

“Anthon, you too! You both really need to think responsibly when it comes to Mora. It doesn’t
grow on trees!”

“For Big Brother, it does.”

“Yeah, Brother Ajax never runs out of Mora.”

Two sets of wide-eyed, pleading faces gawked towards Zhongli.

“The Mora Man agrees with us: he spends Big Brother’s money more than anyone. Right, Uncle
Zhongli?”

Childe nearly burst into tears from laughing so violently; Zhongli had never looked more put-out in
his entire existence. Not even Hu Tao could make the ex-Geo Archon’s ears so visibly red. His
stare veered off into the distance as he muttered, “while I cannot fault those who enjoy spending
their wealth on items of value or significance, it is rather important for you two to properly
evaluate how you choose to squander money which does not belong to you.”

Childe only laughed harder, his side beginning to ache as the Archon raised his chin in
obliviousness, “I am unsure which words in my statement could be considered amusing, Ajax.”
“All of them, xiansheng,” he gasped to catch his breath, moving back towards the entrance of the
marketplace, “every single one. I think it’s a good a time as any to begin the trek home, though.
We’ve walked the entire place; are we all set?”

Everyone seemed to agree with that, including Zhongli, though his arms were considerably empty
and Childe’s helplessly full. It was a good thing the Geo Archon had packed an extra suitcase for
trinkets; he was going to need every inch of that chest.

The wind had picked up since morning; it howled and whipped against Childe’s face as he
wrapped a scarf to cover the skin of his cheeks. Teucer’s eyes were already watering from the
bitter cold and they hadn’t even reached the clearing, where the squalls hit temperatures that
caused windburn.

“Bundle up,” Childe instructed as they reached the empty, scenic pathway home. It would have
been faster to take the opposite road, but if snow suddenly began to fall, the area would grow
treacherous very quickly. Snezhnaya was a nation of peril at every turn; they had to be prepared for
anything.

“Ajax, if you do not mind, I have a suggestion.”

Childe squinted to see Zhongli clearly, but the freezing gusts assailing his eyes weren’t allowing
him much more than imageries of soft blurs. Tonia gripped the ends of his fingers in an effort to
keep Childe in her sights; her vision wasn’t the best. She would probably need eyeglasses at some
point.

He raised his voice over the howling current assaulting his ears. “If it’ll keep the wind out of our
faces, then I’m all for it.”

A golden light descended upon the trail, extending from Zhongli’s form and outwards to create an
orb of Geo that encased the five of them in a protective dome. From how the wind danced loose
snowflakes around the shield, it almost looked as though they were locked within a stunning,
gilded snow globe.

“Whaaa!” Teucer shrieked, realizing he could unmuffle his mouth now that his scarf was
unnecessary; no wind was cutting through the Geo power of the Prime Adeptus. “Uncle Zhongli,
this is so cool! If you stayed here, I would never need to wear my winter clothes ever again!”

Anthon giggled when he went to touch the shield and found that the transparent, radiant screen was
impassable. Zhongli guided his hand through the Geo miasma, demonstrating how the shield
flickered with his movements, before Anthon quickly tucked it back into the windless shelter of
the safeguard.

“It’s still cold, Teucer. You’d need winter clothes no matter what.” Tonia gripped Childe’s hand
tighter as she watched the amber-colored seals dancing in the air; the wonder wouldn’t leave her
face.

“Big Brother,” she smiled up at him, and Childe could see a perceptive look already developing in
the twinkle of her eyes, reminiscent of his mother’s all-knowing gaze. “Uncle Zhongli is an
exceptional person, just like you. You’re both really strong and special and can protect each other.”

“Tonia, you’re Loyal Knight doesn’t need protecting,” Childe debated, although the still air
beneath Zhongli’s shield was unquestionably comforting. Zhongli eased his way across the frozen
desert with Childe and his siblings accompanying him, safe within the Geo buffer. “But… you’re
definitely on to something, there. He’s truly one of a kind.”
“Uncle Zhongli, do you think I could use powers one day? If I trained and studied?” Teucer stuck
his hand out in the same manner Zhongli had, as if trying to summon his own Vision powers, and
Childe had to stop himself from snorting. “Brother says I’ll definitely be able to do it, but I don’t
know.”

Zhongli slackened his pace somewhat as he regarded Teucer, eyeing him in a way that had the boy
shifting his gaze to the ground. Even for someone as rambunctious and brave as Childe’s littlest
brother, the eyes of a six-thousand-year-old Archon were difficult to meet when they filled with
that appraising, omnipotent energy.

Childe felt like he had enough experience in said-category to write a discourse.

The Adeptus inhaled deeply before smiling down at Teucer, his expression extraordinarily assured,
enough to already make the boy’s face light up. “I believe that someone as resolute as yourself,
who shares all of the tenacious and courageous qualities as your very talented older brother, will
have no difficulties proving to Celestia that you are deserving of a Vision to assist you with your
ambitions.”

He swept his eyes over the rest of Childe’s siblings, leaving no one out of his approbation. “That
goes for each of you. Anthon and Tonia, you are both worthy of having abilities beyond your
wildest expectations; if it were still within my realm of capability, I would freely provide you with
whatever you needed to ensure your success.”

Childe found it difficult to keep his feet moving.

“Xiansheng…”

Tonia’s eyes grew glassy and bright; she stammered out a very grateful thank you, Uncle Zhongli,
along with two beaming, ecstatic smiles from Anthon and Teucer. They were bubbling over with
appreciation and joy and zeal, and Childe had to take a second to breathe.

It didn’t matter how much time Childe spent with Zhongli, or how predictable he was with his kind
words and hopeful ideals.

How much Childe thought he understood the ex-Geo Archon, now that they had become close
enough to share their secrets, concerns and intimate experiences.

It was never going to matter.

Because Childe would never, under any circumstance, grow accustomed to hearing the Prime
Adeptus praise his siblings like they were the most priceless of individuals; as if their relation to
Childe, the Eleventh Harbinger and the Cryo Archon’s vilified bloodhound, did not make them
less, but so much more.

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” he forced his boots to step livelier, bringing himself to stand beside the
Archon, “I don’t even know what to say right now.”

“You need not respond,” Zhongli’s smile never wavered, “as it wasn’t a question. I only stated
what I believe to be true, and I do consider myself to be an excellent judge of character. Eons of
experience observing and interacting with others does come with some benefits, in that regard.”

Oh.

Wouldn’t that mean the Adeptus also thought Childe to be an exceptional person?
Zhongli had already stated as much during a few heartfelt conversations, but it was still enough to
make Childe’s entire body scream with fondness. He was one wrong move away from flicking the
man’s ponytail or tugging at his shuba like a child, just to relieve some of the urge to touch that
infuriatingly unattainable god.

The Geo Archon’s evocative words left the Harbinger with the bitter sting of false hope; he quietly
trampled on the feeling, choosing instead to revel in his sibling’s contentment.

No unreachable what-ifs.

The little blue house could be seen from the bottom of the hill; they managed to traipse the whole
pathway without feeling a prick of wind, all thanks to Zhongli’s safeguard. The entire morning
outing had seemed to fly by, what with the sun already high in the sky.

What was the old saying? Time flies when you’re having fun?

The daylight hours always seemed to melt into nights the quickest when Zhongli was near; it only
made sense that with his siblings tagging along, time would pass without waiting for Childe to
notice.

The village was still just as quiet as it had been at dawn, with little to no people wandering the
fields or preparing for the day; the deep freeze along with the storm must have left Morepesok
weary. It was unlikely Childe would find any of the residents he sought to visit at present; Anya’s
stall wouldn’t open until tomorrow, and his old neighbors spent the coldest months south with
extended family.

Zhongli would certainly like to meet them, if given the opportunity. There were a few gems still
harboring within Morepesok, people who made Childe’s memories of his hometown cheery and
bright.

He was attempting to look into one of his neighbor’s windows, checking for any signs of
movement or lights on, before walking directly into Zhongli’s shield; the Geo Archon had paused
his ascent up the hill halfway to the house.

“Ow,” Childe rubbed his nose, a tender bump forming where it collided with the wall of lustrous
stone, “Zhongli-xiansheng, warn a man before—”

“I sense the presence of a second Delusion.”

Zhongli’s voice was chilling; his posture was that of an unyielding immortal, stationed in front of
Childe’s siblings with a potent amount of Geo power. His shield grew dense enough to crack the
icy earth underneath them; a truly impenetrable wall of stone.

Childe summoned his dual swords in an instant, his Delusion pulsing as he attempted to find the
source of the secondary power.

There was no way Scaramouche followed them to Snezhnaya; what purpose would that serve? And
yet, the strangely alarming thought had Childe flying across the permafrost, small electric prickles
following the trail of the other synthetic Element.

Hopefully Zhongli was explaining to Teucer, Anthon and Tonia that Childe would be perfectly
fine; toy sellers sometimes had to be on the lookout for other competition, that’s all.

It took a hasty sprint, infused with a little Hydro to quicken up the search, before Childe spotted
him.
A man dressed all in white stood at the very top of Morepesok, his shiny Fatui crest draped over
his shoulder large and unmistakeable; he stood stock-still, directly on the outskirts of the threshold
into the village, as if forcibly denied entry.

As relieved as Childe was to see that his worries about the Balladeer were unwarranted, the
newcomer sent a different spike of trepidation into the Harbinger.

Fatui Agents rarely wore colors other than black or their significant Elemental coloring on their
uniforms; the stark ivory of his coat, making him near-invisible against the snowy backdrop,
revealed his position immediately. The garish mask adorning half of his face looked to be formed
from melded starsilver, twinkling in the daylight with its many embellishments as its owner
loitered at the precipice of Morepesok.

This was no ordinary Fatui member; he belonged to the distinct, Snezhnaya-based battalion of the
Tsaritsa’s personal messengers.

The envoy was too inferior on the Fatui hierarchy to enter a Harbinger’s town without permission,
with or without something acutely important to deliver.

But the fact he was given the coordinates to Childe’s town in the first place spoke volumes.

Whatever he had come to transport must have been of the highest importance; Childe had seen the
Tsaritsa almost twenty-four hours ago, meaning at some point during that stretch of time, moves
had been made without Childe’s knowledge. It couldn’t have been in Liyue or Snezhnaya; his own
intel would have brought that to his attention in the letter from Ekaterina.

Which meant it must have had something to do with Inazuma.

He was never going to catch a break today, was he?

Childe approached on a light wave of his own making, halting directly behind the Morepesok
border; a clear line drawn between the Harbinger’s territory and where the messenger could never
pass. He made sure to swing his Hydro blades in plain view before they evaporated into mist, the
hue of sparkling white hanging in the air, ready to be reformed into a weapon at a moment’s
notice.

The lifeless, vicious gaze of Tartaglia crept onto Childe’s face before he straightened, a good two
inches taller than the envoy. “State your objective, солдат.”

“Good morning, Harbinger Eleven,” the representative spoke formally and conscientiously,
slighting himself into a bow before reaching into his leather pouch, “The Tsaritsa sends her
regards; Her Excellency hopes you’ve had a wonderful day spent with your family.”

Childe clicked his teeth. The Cryo Archon’s personal messengers were no better than trained
parrots; the Harbinger had half a mind to ride back to Zapolyarny Palace so that he could talk to
the Tsaritsa directly.

“She may send her regards,” he responded callously, “but I don’t need to hear it from you. Not
when you’re interrupting my visit.”

“Apologies, Harbinger Eleven. Her Excellency did not want to disturb you, but regrettably this
could not wait.”

He figured as much. There were eyes on him, Childe could sense them; his siblings must have been
observing the interactions with irrepressible curiosity.
It would be unfortunate if his father saw; there would be no telling how he would react, seeing a
royal Fatui envoy this close to his family. It would be best to wrap this up as quickly as possible to
avoid any uncomfortable conversations regarding strange Fatui men from the Capital hunting
Childe down within a day of arriving in Snezhnaya.

Childe held out an impatient hand, curving his fingers inward. “Just hand me what you came to
deliver and be on your way, soldier. The sooner the better.”

A pristine, silver-embroidered letter was placed into the Harbinger’s palm, followed by another
polite bow from the messenger. He gave Childe a sturdy solute, mask glistening in the sun, and
stated, “Praise be to Our Majesty, Ruler of Snezhnaya. May her Harbingers bring forth a new
dawn reigned by the Tsaritsa’s will.”

Childe acknowledged on reflex, “May our lives serve her Vision until it is achieved.”

The messenger disappeared in a haze of Anemo energy, his speed making him almost
imperceptible to the eye; no wonder his sudden arrival had taken both Zhongli and himself by
surprise. The man’s Delusion must have offered him attributes similar to that of Zhongli’s little
Yaksha.

He would be an interesting individual to spar with. Perhaps Childe would seek him out, one day, if
he had time to spare and was in desperate need of someone to fight.

There was no point in wasting any time; Childe ripped open the envelope and tore out the
parchment within, skimming the words as swiftly as he could manage. The paper was filled from
top to bottom in the Tsaritsa’s elegant, frosty cursive; already an ominous indication, considering
her letters were commonly one or two lines at most.

The very first line had Childe reeling.

Whatever was written across his face from afar had Zhongli by his side, the children nowhere to be
seen. He must have brought them in while Childe had been distracted.

The realization of how hurt Teucer, Anthon and Tonia would be once he told them the news, and
how he would be disappointing them again, was beginning to sink in.

Ah, it was almost routine now. With any luck, they wouldn’t be too upset. After all, the Tsaritsa’s
will would always take priority over his own wants and needs; if Childe intended for his family to
remain safe and have a bright future ahead of them, this was how it would have to be.

It also cemented the reasoning Childe needed for why he and Zhongli were fated to be a bad
match. Too many complications, and none of them even-handed.

“What’s the matter?” The ex-Geo Archon no longer had his shield activated; his shuba brushed
against Childe’s coat as he leaned in to avoid the wind, “You look unwell.”

“Just a little… blindsided,” Childe answered, still too stunned to speak. He was going through
countermeasures at whirlwind speed, his mind filled with future endeavors and everything the
Tsaritsa mentioned during their meeting the day prior; how she had stated he would catch up to La
Signora in due time…

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” he clenched a fist around the letter, tucking it away in his coat before
focusing on the Adeptus, “La Signora is dead.”

The Geo Archon’s eyes widened, enough that Childe knew even Zhongli thought the Eighth
Harbinger a difficult opponent, or at least one who would put up a challenging fight. “What was
the cause?”

“She was cut down by the Raiden Shogun.” He was already walking back towards his childhood
home; Childe’s short-lived homecoming was poignantly wrecked by a metallic, creaseless piece of
paper. “Apparently the Traveller has been interfering with the Fatui’s plans, and more or less sent
things into chaos. It ended with them besting La Signora in the Raiden’s proposal of a duel to the
death; she never did pick her battles wisely.”

The disbelief was still gushing through his blood, but underneath Childe could already feel the
thrilling sense of being one step ahead; the Tsaritsa’s proclamations were never dishonest. She had
claimed that the Eighth Harbinger’s missions were numbered, but who would have thought her
premonition would literally take hours to transpire?

Really, it meant one less infuriating, deceitful Harbinger for Childe to deal with as he continued his
pursuit of power and worked towards the Tsaritsa’s goal.

That repugnant, power-crazed harlot, who had attempted to seduce the Prime Adeptus and left
Childe looking like a fool after obtaining the Geo Archon’s Gnosis, was finally gone.

Good riddance.

“I can’t say much else in regards to the war taking place on the island,” Childe continued,
clambering up the porch stairs. Zhongli followed behind him, looking as though he were forcefully
holding his tongue from asking more questions, “but somehow, Scaramouche got his hands on the
Electro Archon’s Gnosis in the confusion. He’s cut off contact with the Fatui; the Tsaritsa believes
he’s gone rogue and has instructed that I head to Inazuma to flush him out.”

This could become an even larger problem than Childe had originally anticipated; Scaramouche
without a Gnosis was already a problematic adversary, whether he wanted to admit it or not. He
couldn’t be underestimated, in the long run, considering his vessel was moulded by the Electro
Archon herself.

Now that he had the Gnosis that was rightfully meant to be kept in his grasp, how would that affect
his capabilities?

The Adeptus’ eyes grew piercing; they kept Childe from swinging open the front door, where he
stopped to face Zhongli instead.

His expression seemed faintly disappointed, which was understandable, considering this was
cutting into his Snezhnayan expedition. The ex-Geo Archon was nothing if not understanding, but
that didn’t keep Childe from feeling absurdly guilty over something beyond his control.

Zhongli’s voice was imposingly low. “I thought the Sixth Harbinger was in Liyue.”

Childe scoffed. “Xiansheng, he could be in the middle of Natlan, but if Her Majesty orders me to
scour Inazuma, then it has to be done. Now that we know he has a Gnosis in his possession, he
can’t be left to his own devices for long.”

The frustration over the situation, mixed with the heady excitement of the possibilities that came
from such circumstances, were becoming audible in Childe’s voice. His words picked up speed as
they huddled at the entrance. “Even if he isn’t in Inazuma, it’s a good opportunity to gather intel
about what transpired before the Balladeer went AWOL. I’ll make my way back to Liyue after
crossing all of Scaramouche’s tracks so that he has nowhere else to hide, and then do whatever I
need to get that Gnosis to the Tsaritsa, where it belongs.”

Childe reached for the doorknob again, only to have his wrist grasped by Zhongli’s large, slender
fingers. They forced him to look up at the Archon’s unamused expression once more, flaring
Childe’s restlessness; it was hard for him to remain still when there were so many emotions
tumbling through him at once.

Childe’s Delusion had been buzzing since the arrival of the Tsaritsa’s delegate; if he could still
feel the shocks springing to life underneath his coat, then Zhongli could no doubt sense the
Elemental mechanism’s disturbance.

Pursed lips sighed with a weighty exhale as Zhongli spoke. “I can tell this is troubling you.”

“Of course it is, xiansheng.” Childe clutched his forehead, exasperated and unsure of what to feel,
“I don’t want to unexpectedly leave everyone like this, but what can I do? Not only is it a direct
order, but this kind of opportunity is hard to come by. La Signora can’t get in my way; I should be
eager.”

He stared at where Zhongli’s fingers connected with his wrist, his grip steady, and followed the
lines upward back to the Adeptus’ face. “I know it’s unfair to you as well, considering we only just
arrived yesterday… I hadn’t planned for so much to happen in such little time.”

“Don’t concern yourself over how I’m feeling.” Zhongli released Childe’s wrist, and before Childe
could miss the heat that had been radiating there, the Archon placed a hand on his shoulder in a
placating gesture. “I understand what must be done, even if I am also unhappy with the
circumstances.”

That certainly wasn’t ideal; all Childe wanted was for the man to be happy.

He pondered what he could give the Archon as an apology and came up short. “Technically, you
could stay in Snezhnaya while I’m in Inazuma. My manor is still open to you, if you’d like to use
it.”

The way Zhongli looked at him, like he had said something preposterous, was peculiar.

The Adeptus tightened his mouth, red, cold-tinged lips bowed in dismay. “There would be no
reason to stay if you left. Seeing the nation from your perspective was the entire purpose of the
journey.”

Childe’s insides warmed furiously at such a comment, right before Zhongli carried on, “It is a
shame not to be able to spend more time with your family; they have been a pleasure.”

There was that gods-forsaken feeling again, pushing its way out of Childe’s throat until it tasted air.

“Next time.” He sputtered, “Next time, we can come back and see them, and I’ll show you all of
the things we didn’t get the chance to this time around. I bet Tonia, Teucer and Anthon would
really like that.”

As if summoned, Tonia shoved the front door open and abruptly ended their conversation; she
stood in the foyer with Teucer and Anthon, each of them looking openly perplexed. Childe’s
parents were settled by the pechka; his mother wore a resigned expression, while his father’s face
was pinched into one of disgruntled unease.

Judging by the smothering heaviness pervading the room, they must have understood the situation.
“Big Brother, what took you so long?” Teucer crossed his little arms, feigning irritation to no avail;
his feet were still eagerly bouncing on the floor. “We waited for you. Uncle Zhongli said you just
needed a minute to stretch your legs, but we’ve been stretching them all day! Do your muscles hurt
or something?”

The smile Childe sent Teucer’s way was a rueful one, painfully sincere. “Teucer, I have some bad
news.” He turned to look at the rest of the room, never fully prepared for the way his sibling’s
bright, innocent eyes would downturn into ones of sadness the minute he announced another hasty
departure.

If anything, the trip home had been one of the greatest visits he’d ever had. Not only that, but he
was leaving with proper goodbyes, everyone present, and no discouraging, cruel arguments to send
him off.

That counted for something.

“Your Big Brother has to leave for Inazuma to handle a toy emergency,” he winced at his own
words, trying to avoid direct eye contact with Tonia; her shoulders had already drooped in a way
that had his heart breaking, “the situation over there is pretty dire; so much so, that they sent an
emissary to come get me. I’m afraid I have to leave immediately.”

“Whaaat?”

“But Big Brother…You and Uncle Zhongli only just got here…”

“I know you’re busy, but can’t you just stay until tonight?”

“Yeah, I wanted to go fishing!”

“Brother Ajax loves fishing. Won’t you stay?”

Childe’s body was littered with scars and punctures that would leave eternal memories of injuries
that had hurt; scratches which stung, stab wounds that throbbed, gashes that ached. Too many to
list off the top of his head.

But nothing ever hurt Childe as much as goodbyes. He was never good at them; they were long-
winded things, especially when it came to his family, and it always made it that much harder to
leave. Especially when he had no idea when he would see them again.

How he wished the Traveller would appear, popping up out of the blue like always, to take the
burden of this goodbye in the same way they had done with Teucer in Liyue.

“I would love to stay. You know that!” Childe tried to laugh but it came out hollow; a miasma of
misery hung in the air and sucked the oxygen from his words, making them that much harder to
form. “I’ll return as soon as I can. We can fish and do whatever you want then, I promise.”

His mother cut in, “Lord Zhongli, are you leaving with Ajax, as well?”

“I am afraid so.” The Geo Archon bowed low, holding the gesture with his hands joined in a
humble fist-and-palm salute. “Thank you for allowing me into your home and generously
accepting me with kindness and open arms. I do hope that we will meet again in the future.”

“Pinky promise!”

Teucer ran up to Childe, huffing with scarlet cheeks; he was doing his best to put on a brave face.
 Childe bent down low to grip his brother with a hug so tight it was probably painful, but Teucer
returned it with one that equally stole the air from his lungs.

He felt a tiny pinky wrap its way around his own; a vine clinging with all its might.

Teucer snivelled gently into Childe’s shoulder. “Promise you’ll come back really soon, okay? And
you’ll bring Uncle Zhongli, too.”

It was hard to do, but Childe looked up at Zhongli, knowing his own appearance was hopelessly
pathetic. Even though his voice was smooth and calm, just as it always was when he placated his
siblings, the Harbinger knew that his expressions gave him away.

Zhongli nodded at him with nothing but earnestness.

“Okay, Teucer. Pinky promise.”

You make a pinkie promise,

you keep it all your life.

You break a pinkie promise,

I throw you on the ice.

The cold will kill the pinkie

that once betrayed your friend,

the frost will freeze your tongue off

so you never lie again.

“Now your turn, Uncle Zhongli.” Teucer wiped his nose across the sleeve of his arm, too dismayed
to think about proper conduct, and held out his littlest finger to Zhongli. It was a good thing they
had practiced at the restaurant; the Adeptus looked agreeably prepared.

“Wait!”

Tonia rushed up to Zhongli alongside Teucer, where she also held out a shaking, pale pinky finger.

Her face was resolute, as if she had been contemplating this for some time. She spoke with wobbly
breaths, “Let me make it with Uncle Zhongli.”

Zhongli raised his brows, as did Childe; it was unlike Tonia to interrupt over something as simple
as a pinky promise. That was more Teucer’s forte; the youngest was always the one to treat the
minute action as one of tremendous worth, but Tonia?

The room remained silent as she approached the Archon, lifting her delicate hand even higher.

“You can control promises, right?” She asked openly, eyes laser focused on Zhongli’s amber stare.
“I heard what you said at breakfast. A contract is like a promise, right?”

If Zhongli was surprised by the young girl’s astuteness, he didn’t show it; he nodded with a finger
resting by his chin, carefully considering her words. “You are correct. Once a contract is made, I
use everything within my power to maintain its integrity.”
Tonia bobbed her head in quick affirmation, her auburn locks framing the resolve on her face in a
way that made Childe think that maybe, he and his sister were more alike than he previously
believed. “If we make a promise, then you can’t break it?”

A ghost of a smile graced Zhongli’s otherwise stoic expression. “It is with every fibre of my being
that I make certain contracts are upheld.”

“Then promise me you’ll protect Brother Ajax if he gets into trouble.”

The words made Childe object with a hasty Tonia, that’s a bit much, don’t you think-- but his sister
powered through, “I know my brother is strong and that he says he doesn’t need it... If anyone can
do it, I know it’s you. I don’t expect you to be there all the time, but if you’re with him and
something happens, just please…”

She paused to wince, as if her words were causing physical pain. Tonia’s bottom lip began to
tremble. “…Please promise that you’ll bring him back here soon, without any new scars on
his…face…”

Her last words were garbled around heavy shudders as she began to sob without constraint, leaving
Zhongli absolutely stunned and Childe petrified.

No one mentioned anything about the fading slash on his cheek, but it had clearly disturbed Tonia.

Childe grew so used to seeing it in the mirror that he had forgotten about it entirely; it was the
Tsaritsa who reminded him of it in the first place. He donned so many marks already; one more
hardly called for a double-take.

Her Majesty did say it would worry his family, but to this extent?

His overly caring, anxious sister must have been carrying that burden ever since she noticed the
difference on her Big Brother’s youthful, previously unblemished face.

“Tonia, Tonia,” Childe wrestled an arm out of Teucer’s grip and pulled her into their hug, Anthon
naturally gathering into it with his own quiet, gloomy countenance, “What’s wrong? It’s just a little
scrape; please don’t cry…”

It couldn’t be easy for her, being the only sibling who understood the kinds of danger her brother
put himself into every day they spent apart.

If she ever came to know that Zhongli was partly to blame for the nasty scars his Yaksha had left
on her brother’s cheek and shoulders…

Either way, it cut Childe to the core to see his sister break down so suddenly, only made worse by
the fact he had to leave.

He wasn’t sure how to fix this.

“But…but…” she tried to manage her words to no avail, crying softly into Childe’s hair while
Teucer sniffled and Anthon clutched them all with the strength of a child beyond his years.

“Why did you wait until now to bring this up if it was bothering you so much?”

“I didn’t…” Tonia felt so light; Childe was afraid that if he let go, she would evaporate along with
her tears, “I didn’t want to cry… I was so happy to see you.”
A few seconds had passed of Childe rubbing soothing circles into his little sister’s back before the
clench on Childe’s neck was removed; Tonia’s fist was gently picked up from where it rested
behind his head. He felt her glance up, Childe’s own eyes following suit as Zhongli carefully
placed the crook of his pinky finger into her own. He locked them together with moderate pressure,
a large, golden sigil adorning the back of his hand.

The room filled with the unmistakeable manifestation of archaic Geo power.

“I agree to your terms.”

Zhongli’s eyes gleamed with Elemental energy stemming far deeper than that from a Vision; his
skin took on the hue of Cor Lapis, all of his physical form luminous as if his frame was fashioned
from the core of Teyvat.

“This is my will, as is yours. The contract shall be upheld, for my promise is set in stone.”

A dazzling light pulsed from Zhongli’s extremities; the gleam spread to the tips of his amber hair,
leaving the front entrance as bright as the Geo Archon’s treasury at Jueyun Karst.

The display was striking; it was impossible to doubt the words of the ex-Geo Archon, the finality
of his declaration resolute. Childe was speechless.

Somehow, the Adeptus had figured out how to placate his siblings in a way Childe never could,
using his own sway as a god to soothe his heartbroken brothers and sister.

Childe wanted to kiss him.

He wanted to embrace Zhongli with a grasp so tight and crushing that the Archon would maybe,
possibly understand just a sliver of how much the last two days meant to him; how the last minute
would forever be engraved in Childe’s mind as one of the most benevolent, selfless acts of loyalty
anyone had ever shown to the Harbinger, and by extent, to his family.

Zhongli slowly unclasped his finger from Tonia’s, his Cor Lapis gaze the only part of him still
emitting ethereal light. Tonia was staring at her own hand in complete awe, as if she could feel the
credence of their agreement while being in physical contact with the Prime Adeptus.

A smile broke out across her face, one blissfully relieved. Every person in the house looked as if
Zhongli’s promise had mollified them somewhat; even Childe’s father appeared less anxious.

Tonia positively shone with gladness. “Thank you, Uncle Zhongli.”

Childe stood up only to have his brothers follow the movement, still clinging to his legs like a
secondary pair of trousers. He was going to miss the extra appendages dearly.

“It is no trouble.” Zhongli responded before looking to Childe, ochre eyes blazing with vows and
agreements Childe would easily re-enter the Abyss to make, if it would render all of his longing
into something tangible.

His mother smiled softly, and wasn't it the strangest thing, seeing relief seep out of her bones
instead of apprehension right before he departed. Just another positive adjustment facilitated by the
Geo Archon.

Childe gave a wet-sounding chuckle. “There you have it; we’ll definitely be back, safe and sound.”

No one doubted that the God of Contracts, Rex Lapis, would make sure of it.
 The resonance of his voice, rumbling with poise and assurance, etched itself underneath Childe’s
skin. “Ajax,” he avowed, holding the Harbinger’s gaze with a potency akin to a Ruin Guard
missile, “I will be seeing you soon.”

Although there were no pinkies involved, the promise of the words couldn’t be misconstrued.

It was the promise of an additional, impending homecoming; so distant from the little blue house
surrounded by snow, filled with the family Childe adored, but nevertheless one of precious value.

The promise of dinners shared on the terrace of the Liuli Pavillion; of trailing behind flapping,
tawny coattails underneath the sweltering Liyue sun. Of Zhongli, welcoming him back to the
harbor. The place Childe had intuitively come to consider a second home.

They all made his farewell just the tiniest bit easier.

Chapter End Notes

Each chapter just gets more monstrous as time goes on. Sleep? Don't know her.

I cried a little writing this chapter; the goodbye during Teucer's quest had me feeling
all sorts of ways (as an older sibling, perhaps I'm just a little more sentimental towards
the thought of leaving without a proper goodbye), but Tonia... that poor girl. She really
is carrying a large burden.

I've decided not to pull on Itto's upcoming banner; must save everything for Xiao and
Zhongli. Thank you "jenshin" impact for winning the mobile game of the year so we
all get a free ten-pull. When all of you get Itto, please co-op with me so I can hear him
talk, too. :')

Let me know your thoughts in the comments; this was a lot in one chapter. But don't
worry; the next chapter will follow-up with Childe's return to Liyue. I planned on
writing an extra about Childe's time in the Mystic Onmyou Chamber, so it won't take
up space in the main fic. I just wanted to follow the game's plot a little heh.

I love hearing what you think and your analysis of what's going on in the character's
heads. It gives me epic writer's high~~

Chat with me about genshin, check out my other links/support and see new chapter
posts? Twitter
 Transparent Thoughts
Chapter Notes

EDIT: The HTML messed up and a bunch of lines were italicized even though they
weren't supposed to? It's fixed now.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Inazuma was a metaphorical goldmine.

If Childe could construct his own personal playground, a territory he would fondly name
Tartaglia’s Favorite Things, it would look exactly like the merciless, lightning-plagued nation;
islands crawling with fierce monsters, perpetual storms and forests shrouded in fog, sprinkled with
more domains than Childe could count on two hands.

Even though his mission was more or less a wild goose chase, what with Scaramouche undeniably
not in Inazuma, at least Childe was given the opportunity to hone his skills with a brand-new trial
to master; he had spent nearly two weeks straight (give or take, as it was difficult to tell when
locked inside of a dungeon for nights on end), ruthlessly expending himself in a chamber that
seemed to exist purely for battle.

Just what the doctor ordered.

After having to leave Snezhnaya so suddenly, the relentless pull of fighting brought Childe back to
the here and now of his present predicament, which was dealing with Scaramouche.

So much for the Tsaritsa not feeling the urge to dabble in her Harbinger’s side-projects; the
Balladeer made himself a walking target by strolling off, Gnosis in-hand, leaving the Cryo Archon
another Harbinger short.

The few crumbs of intel Childe could gather led straight into the Mystic Omyou Chamber, where
the Harbinger devoted his time to slaughtering monsters and solving a century-old mystery
concerning the domain’s purpose. Abetted by Shiki Taishou (Childe would never forget his name;
not only did they fight numerous battles side-by-side, but the shikigami was excellent inspiration
for an Inazuman souvenir to send back home), along with the omnipresent Traveller and their
musician ally, they fought their way through the entirety of the Omyou Chamber until the truth
behind Kamuna Harunosuke’s intentions were revealed.

All of which led Childe absolutely nowhere in regards to his investigation.

On a more positive note, he at least had an exceptionally enjoyable time honing his battle
performance and working on stamina development; days upon days locked up without proper
meals, beasts around every corner and the uncertainty of what lay ahead may have sounded
horrifying to some, but never to the Eleventh Harbinger.

His bloodthirsty tendencies and siren’s call to the battlefield made the entire ordeal pass by almost
too quickly. Childe found himself getting sentimental once it was all over.

Sometimes fighting alongside other formidable, extraordinary individuals made the experience all
the more exhilarating.

“You know, Traveller,” he stated, after the smoke had cleared and the domain was completely
under Shiki Taishou’s control, “It’s easy to fall into fighting with you. You’re an exceptional ally to
have on the frontlines… so how about it, hm? Are you up to fulfilling that promise we made back
in Liyue Harbor?”

Paimon, still just as buoyant and shrill as ever, stomped her floating feet in the air.

“How are you still finding the energy to fight? Some of us over here are exhausted and would
appreciate a minute to breathe, thank you!”

No one commented on the blatant fact Paimon had yet to lift a teeny finger in support during the
scuffles, but that was neither here nor there.

“Fine, I suppose due to these unique circumstances, we can postpone our rematch… this time.”
Childe smirked, Paimon’s dainty wings shivering in response. “But don’t think I’ll be this selfless
the next time around.”

Immaculate golden eyes pierced Childe as they observed him; the hue was a touch light, too subtle,
but enough to make a feeling stir within his stomach.

There was another pair of eyes, Cor Lapis in color and weighted with the heavy potency of Geo
power, that came to the forefront of Childe’s mind whenever he glimpsed a comparable tinge of
amber.

“If you believe Scaramouche has escaped to Liyue, why did you come here to conduct your
investigations?”

The Traveller was always blunt and straight to the point; it was a trait that made Childe much
further inclined to share his secrets. He always preferred to be an open book with those he
considered close, and now that he had spent some solid time skirmishing with the steadfast, flaxen-
haired warrior, Childe felt as if they had a decently sturdy foundation of confidence built up.

Perhaps trust wasn’t written in the cards for him, just yet; the term ‘forgive and forget’ didn’t
exactly apply when the person in question was caught trying to snag an Archon’s Gnosis, by means
of nearly submerging an entire metropolis of innocent bystanders into the sea.

Baby steps, baby steps.

“The Tsaritsa asked me to.” There wasn’t much more of an explanation needed, in Childe’s
opinion; the last thing he was going to do immediately following La Signora’s demise and
Scaramouche’s betrayal was challenge her direction. “If anything, it still wasn’t entirely fruitless;
now I know for certain the Balladeer isn’t in Inazuma, all while spending some quality time with
my favourite comrade.”

He chuckled, rotating his shoulder in an attempt to unlock the rigid joints. Even though Childe had
managed to avoid taking a good deal of physical damage while sealed within the domain, he
sparsely took a moment to rest and his muscles were paying the price.

His uncontrolled demand to fight around-the-clock would come back to bite him soon, no doubt.
“It’s been an excellent journey, if I do say so myself.”

Both the Traveller and Paimon, the little floating imp mimicking their facial expressions, raised a
sceptical brow.
“Word around Liyue Harbor is you were spending some quality time back in Snezhnaya with a
certain funeral consultant.” Giant, glittering eyes came much-too-close into focus as Paimon
hovered like a guillotine over Childe’s head. “What the heck are you doing taking the ol’ Geo
Archon gallivanting across Teyvat like some kind of Fatui chaperon, anyways?”

“Oh? Word travels fast.” The people of Liyue were prone to gossip, that went without saying. “Not
that I wouldn’t have told you my whereabouts if you just asked nicely, but where’d you hear that?”

“Ningguang.” The both of them responded in unison, making Childe’s forehead crease.

Their answer was quite unanticipated; why was the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing spilling trivial
details with others about Zhongli? There was no justification for someone of her position to keep a
careful watch on the local Wangsheng advisor, discerning who he accompanied, or where, in his
spare time.

Wait, how was the Tianquan even aware of Childe’s whereabouts in the first place?

“Don’t start getting all scary-looking, mister,” Paimon tutted, “Zhongli probably let her know.
Responsible members of Liyuan society inform their friends when a Fatui delinquent is on the
move so that no one has to worry.”

Childe felt his bottom lip jut out before he could reign the childish action back in.

“When would xiansheng have found the time to meet with the Tianquan…”

The Traveller had the audacity to sneer. “Maybe during the few spare minutes he has between
work and spending time with you.”

Paimon looked seconds away from adding onto the statement, before Childe sent her a scowl that
stapled her lips shut. It was likely the most intelligent move the petite creature had ever made.

The Geo Archon was, evidently, on speaking terms with the Tianquan; he had been the chief
overseer of Rex Lapis’ Exuvia, trusted with the nation’s Archon, and thus must have some sort of
working relationship with the woman.

The facts of the matter did little to help curb Childe’s corrupt thoughts: imagining the Prime
Adeptus sipping tea across from the refined, Geo-blessed business magnate made his skin crawl,
and not in a way that could be explained sensibly.

“How you two manage to keep up with friends in such high places, all while jumping across
Teyvat, is a truly impressive feat.” Childe went for teasing but found his voice missed the mark.
“However, tell your toy that it’s impolite to gossip about others when they aren’t present, even if it
is with someone as notable as the Tianquan.”

“Rude! Whenever we bring up Zhongli, you get all touchy.” Xinyan was still chatting amicably
with Shiki Taishou, most likely about the power of music, or something along those lines. The girl
was sweet and optimistic and full of vigor; she reminded Childe so much of Tonia that her presence
had eased a bit of his simmering annoyance over Paimon’s continually obtrusive comments. “You
two must have gotten really close if you’re going on vacations together. Which is weird, since
Zhongli would never spend so much time with someone who only has bad intentions…” she tapped
a finger on her chin, looking up into the rafters as if contemplating the machinations of the
universe, “and you did help us through the dungeons… maybe you aren’t the worst type of person
after all!”

Perhaps not the worst, but the bulk of his intentions were far from pure. “Ye of little faith. I might
be a bit of a bad guy, but between us three, you should feel assured that our camaraderie is
genuine.”

A small hmph left the Traveller’s typically-soundless mouth.

“Try to keep your Fatui pursuits and Harbinger quarrels out of Liyue, for the Qixing and Zhongli’s
sake,” they stated firmly, Paimon nodding severely behind them.

The floating creature zoomed around Childe’s head, sending sparkles flurrying across his cheeks
and hair. His mask was knocked off-balance by the sudden draft. “Yeah! That land deserves some
peace and quiet, and so does its retired Archon.”

Childe searched for the right words to match the way he felt about that statement, but couldn’t find
any that fit.

Instead, he shrugged, a remorseful grin adorning his lips. “My life has a way of complicating
things, Traveller. Just know that I’m honestly doing my best to keep xiansheng out of this.”

By this, he meant Scaramouche’s subversion, Childe’s own tumultuous feelings, and basically
anything and everything that pointed back to the fact he was irrevocably, helplessly and absolutely
in love with the ex-Geo Archon.

“I believe you.” A reassuring hand came up to pat Childe’s forearm, the gesture out of the blue and
surprisingly gentle. “You really care about him, huh?”

Childe wanted to laugh at those words; he should have condemned how small they made him feel,
jested instead of fixating on their softness.

But they were free from pity and brimming with acceptance, and having someone else even
pretend to empathize with all of the careful, hesitant longing flooding his veins was a breath of
fresh air.

Inazuma only made the Traveller even more practiced in the art of understanding others.

Childe had completed his due-diligence; once he successfully exited the domain and substantiated
Scaramouche’s absence, he sent the reports in a series of letters to Her Majesty. The dispatches
ended off with a short and pleasant side-note, stating:

I have some insight pertaining to Scaramouche’s whereabouts outside of Inazuma, so worry not,
My Lady. Your Faithful Eleventh will be satisfied only after the Gnosis is rightfully placed into
Your cold, snow-white hands.

And with that, Childe immediately returned to his private sea cruiser, internally thanked the
Traveller for having a role in clearing up the majority of thunderstorms surrounding the islands,
and started a course straight for Liyue Harbor.

The journey was a blur; it was a flash of Childe pummeling as much Hydro energy as he could
manage into getting his ship back to the land of Geo, making no room for stops or rest breaks. The
whitecaps were enormous, more difficult to maneuver through than usual; Childe refused to admit
that the boat’s unsteadiness was because he was exhausted, and not due to the fluctuation of the
tides.

Why bother taking a breather when he could finally get back to pursuing Scaramouche properly? It
had already been nearly two weeks of Childe skipping out on sleep and ingesting nothing but raw
radishes and crated cabbages; he would allow himself a suitable rest after checking in with
Ekaterina and his intel at Northland, when the strategy for capturing the Sixth Harbinger was
shaped to his liking.

He would feel more at peace, then.

Presently, there were few places Childe felt comfortable closing his eyes; knowing Scaramouche,
he would already be more than aware of the Tsaritsa sending Childe out as her prime offense. He
was the Harbinger she turned to whenever there was a crisis that needed solving immediately,
especially within the ranks.

Childe was her most loyal servant; Scaramouche had said as much the last time they spoke, in
words that were much less civil, but nevertheless true. Which meant that Childe was just as much a
target for Scaramouche as he was for the Eleventh Harbinger.

The Balladeer would make no headway with whatever he was planning unless he disposed of
Tartaglia, and said-detail was enough to keep Childe on his toes.

Once the shimmering red rooftops of the Southwestern wharf came into view on the horizon, the
rest of Liyue slowly began taking shape; the towering crane statues which greeted new ships into
the harbor, the array of parked vessels decorating the quayside with their detailed sails and foreign
designs, and the brilliant view of Mt. Tianheng in the distance. Even the air itself glistened with the
welcoming heat of Liyue’s embrace, acting like a gracious gesture.

As Childe surveyed the absolute beauty of the vibrant, energetic metropolitan, the blistering
Liyuan sun reminded him of the nation’s true colors, something he came to know as intimately as
the back of his hand:

The land of Geo was a mouth-watering feast of treasures that would roast those undeserving to
walk amongst the rich and powerful alive.

(It felt good to be back.)

Childe had never been happier to feel the familiar sensation of sweat gluing hair to the nape of his
neck, something only the Liyuan temperature managed to do in such a short amount of time.

He had no issue leaving his vessel in the harbor, despite the fact the boat in question was clearly
marked as a Fatui speed cruiser; Childe chalked it up to the same explanation for the Tianquan
knowing too much about his agenda and would leave that line of questioning for a later date. He
was never one to start asking queries pre-emptively, especially if things were lining up in his favor.

Although, questioning Zhongli would probably yield immediate results. The Adeptus lacked no
knowledge when it came to the inner workings of his harbor.

But that would mean Childe would have to go visit the god in question, after separating back at the
docks of Zapolyarny. The way they had said their goodbyes, so hastily and without preamble, was
something that had been niggling at the back of Childe’s mind since he stepped onto the liner.

Oh, who was he kidding. Every time he found a spare moment to reflect, the man crossed his
thoughts.

He was so eager his stomach hurt; it was embarrassing, considering two weeks apart was
technically nothing. It was a blip in Childe’s adventures, one of the shortest excursions he had
fulfilled during his Fatui career, and hardly one that could count as nerve-racking or deadly.

So when his fatigued, malnourished body found its way underneath Zhongli’s crimson cupola
behind the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, already mechanically knocking at the front door instead of
being responsibly situated within the Northland Bank to follow up with his underlings, Childe
couldn’t help the hopeless groan that escaped from his lungs.

It could be argued that checking in on the ex-Geo Archon was also a form of investigation. After
all, Scaramouche had shown an interest in Zhongli. Wouldn’t it only be reasonable to see if the
Adeptus knew anything after Childe’s futile pursuit down south?

The Traveller’s consolation pats were truly warranted, the more he thought about it.

The handle jostled before the large, elaborate door was hoisted open, revealing Zhongli in his
regular attire sans the heavily embroidered coat. The beige dress shirt he wore was crisp and
pristine, not a wrinkle in sight, and the amber neckpiece pinned at the base of his throat shined as if
freshly polished. His hair was tied back and elegantly clasped by the recognizable Cor Lapis
ornament Zhongli preferred, hung long and beautiful over one shoulder, tips gleaming ever-so-
slightly in the few rays of sunlight that pilfered through the Cuihua trees.

He looked relaxed today. A rare vision of comfortable and candid.

His hands were also gloveless.

The appearance of those bare palms, which had forged a nation and managed to still appear
flawless as untouched jade, were a heavenly sight for Childe’s sore, bloodshot eyes.

“Zhongli-xiansheng,” he beamed, his words trailing off into a pathetically contented sigh, “I’m
back.”

Childe drank in the sight of the Adeptus as his eyes enlarged slightly, lips parting in what was
hopefully pleasant surprise, and couldn’t control the grin that nearly split his face in two.

“Ajax?” The corners of Zhongli’s eyes slid upwards, the familiar waning of those bright crescents
settling something in Childe’s stomach. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon; it is good to see you
have returned safely.”

There was a painful thump in Childe’s chest; another three followed before the sporadic beats
evened themselves out.

Two weeks did nothing to curb how intensely Childe’s heart sped up when Zhongli spoke his
name. Back in Liyue and away from his family, who all spoke it so casually, Ajax sounded
infinitely more dear coming from the Adeptus.

How was he still reacting this way?

It wasn’t fair; Childe was a grown adult, yet his feelings for Zhongli continually reduced him to a
puddle of slime secretion. If Childe believed that the Inazuman business trip would help him come
to terms with the raging storm of affection he had for Liyue’s ex-Geo Archon, then he was once
again proven wrong.

Contentment warmed him from within as the Adeptus stepped to the side of the doorway and
gestured towards the staircase.

“Would you like to come in? I recently brewed a fresh pot of Pu-Erh tea; it should still be an
adequate temperature.”

Ah, fresh tea and Zhongli’s comforting apartment. An idyllic way to arrive in the Land of
Contracts.

Childe could almost forget about how incredibly sore he was; the adrenaline begun wearing off
during the course of the boat ride. Now, as he climbed the steps to Zhongli’s residence, watching
the man’s back flex beneath the fabric of his shirt a few steps above him, it was apparent that
perhaps he was in worse shape than previously assumed.

His calves burned with a heat that usually came from high-intensity training or a midday conflict
that rolled into dusk. There was a sudden possibility that a rib or two were bruised; a weight that
hadn’t been present even an hour before made itself known in Childe’s side, blanketing it with a
dull, consistent throbbing. His fingers were stiff, most likely from unceasing hours of overusing his
Vision. The continuous forming and reforming of his Hydro swords were what he relied on until
there was an opportunity to pull out his bow, which wasn’t the best fit for waging battle in the
close-proximity rooms of the domain.

“You know, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss Liyue’s heat…” Childe’s voice echoed in the hall as
they reached the entryway, a trickle of sweat making its way down his forehead, “It’s always a
pleasure, especially after going from the polar arctic to an island ravaged by torrential downpours.”

Something akin to a ravenous emptiness felt as if it were engulfing Childe’s internal organs. When
was the last time he had eaten, anyways? He definitely drank some water prior to separating from
Xinyan and the Traveller, yet a layer of sandpaper flattened itself over Childe’s tongue.

Between the sudden pangs in his stomach and the multitude of aches and pulsing scattered across
his body, Childe vaguely wondered how he managed to go from fierce combat to sailing an entire
ship using his Vision uninterrupted, alone, and without sleep.

…Sleep.

“If you are hungry,” Zhongli’s voice sounded muffled, as if he were behind closed doors. Childe
could blearily see him moving towards the kitchen, “I may have some mantou left. Xiangling was
kind enough to deliver these following the day’s…”

Childe was doing his utmost best to listen, but that was a job for someone with ears that weren’t
ringing. The Harbinger nodding deafly along with whatever the Adeptus was going on about.

It must have been a response to Zhongli’s space, of Childe being back within the safeguard of the
Prime Adeptus’ home, that was telling his overworked body it was finally in a position to get some
much-deserved rest.

Childe was gifted with the sights and surroundings of Zhongli’s familiar living room; the silk
pillows arranged neatly by the table where he had once been thoroughly stitched up by the Geo
Archon, along with the captivating scent of sandalwood wafting through the quarters, coupled with
the sweet suggestion of Silk Flowers.

“Did you know that Pu-Erh was originally compressed into shapes for more efficient transit?
Though this brick profile is the most common…” if Childe wasn’t watching the grains on the floor
swim across his eyesight, he would have indulged Zhongli’s facts with the attention they deserved.
Unfortunately, the only thing he could focus on was keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground,
“the quality of this batch, aged about twenty-five years, is quite lovely…”

The murmur of Zhongli’s voice, so far away yet so near, could have been a lullaby considering
how its rich tone and pleasant tenor rendered Childe’s eyelids limp.
Childe certainly didn’t rush all the way from Inazuma back to Liyue Harbor just to be a burden on
the Geo Archon; that was the opposite of what he wanted, when he showed up at his door
uninvited and without notice.

The least he could do was give Zhongli proper company.

It was a shame that said-thought was followed by a wave of fatigue so great and sudden, the
Harbinger’s knees buckled like a newborn fawn; all Childe could see through his spotty vision was
the ornate flooring, heading directly for his own face.

“…is everything alright…Ajax?”

Two sturdy arms caught Childe before he crumpled to the ground, fingers digging into his sides as
Zhongli hoisted him back up and maneuvered him to the soft, silken pillows. Childe wanted to
protest but his arms and legs refused to cooperate; he didn’t have much choice but to let the
Adeptus slide one cushion beneath his head, while the other rested under his feet. All of which felt
as if it took little to no effort for the other man at all.

Childe felt like a swooning maiden.

“I’m fine, really,” he insisted through laboured breaths, trying and failing not to burn up while
Zhongli held two fingers to each of his pulse points, the soft skin at his neck heating from the
touch, “Please know that I had no intentions of coming here and… well, collapsing in your
doorway. It wasn’t my plan to paint quite such a pathetic picture, first-thing back from my
assignment.”

The Geo Archon had gone from amicable to gravely serious in a matter of seconds. Taut brows
were pulled together while Zhongli maintained pressure on Childe’s throat and wrist; if his
heartbeat had been stable beforehand, Childe was certain that it was going a mile a minute now,
while those dextrous fingers carefully examined him.

“Are you injured?”

His voice was clipped, pinched just as tight as his mouth. The worry rolled off of the Geo Archon
in waves, and Childe wished he could bask in the moment without the room spinning at such a
nauseating speed.

He tried to shake his head, but found the walls around him remained much steadier if he kept
stationary. “Inazuma didn’t offer me too much of a challenge; just the odd bruise here and there.”

Zhongli made a scoffing noise, undoubtedly one of scepticism; he seemed satisfied with whatever
inspection he performed, leaning back on his haunches. Childe couldn’t take his limited focus
away from how the material of Zhongli’s pants were creased in the spots where he was kneeling,
rumpling on the hard floor. “Then what exactly did you do to end up in such a state?”

Childe liked to pretend his mortality didn’t exist, that’s what. “You’re probably just going to get
angry with me, xiansheng.”

Zhongli looked as if he was about to ask why, exactly, he would get upset at the Harbinger for
being incapacitated, before an atrocious rumbling sounded from Childe’s midsection, followed by
Childe praying to Celestia for the floorboards to swallow him whole.

Those previously furrowed, stern brows lifted into an expression of disbelief.

“Ajax.”
Zhongli used the same irritated tone he reserved for Hu Tao when she did something that seemed
to defy the natural laws of common sense, and it only sounded worse without the Funeral Director
there to laugh it off.

“You neglected to take care of yourself again.”

“In my defense—” Childe wanted to sit up but lacked the strength, so he settled for rolling to the
side, “—I was trapped inside of a domain for weeks without being able to leave. I ate what I could
find, and sleep wasn’t exactly an option when traps were manifesting all over.”

To someone like Zhongli, who knew Childe a little too well, that must have sounded like a
longwinded excuse. He could have eaten more scraps or slept in the presence of the Traveller; it
was the thrill of recreation and distraction that left him weak.

A very preventable dilemma.

The Adeptus’ nostrils flared, as if Childe’s carelessness following his less-than-friendly trek
through the Omyou Chamber was affecting him personally. His voice lowered into a gravelly
rumble that had Childe physically restraining a shudder. “When was the last time you ate?”

Childe looked Zhongli in the eyes and knew that there was no way a lie would ever make it past
that erudite gaze of stone.

“Thirty-six hours ago. Pretty sure that was the last time I slept, as well.”

It was almost anticipated; how the ground quivered slightly enough to jostle Childe’s head, hurling
the room back into a dizzy blur.

The ex-Geo Archon frowned down at Childe with a look that could melt steel; his eyes were dark
and molten, shimmering with frustration. A far cry from the usual gleam that danced across his
features whenever he was pleased.

Thank goodness Childe had changed his sweat-stained, blood-soaked clothing out on the boat
before coming over; if Zhongli had seen that on top of this wretched display of frailty, he may have
knocked the many curial cabinets over in the apartment with his exasperated tremors.

It was hard to say whether the man was upset with Childe or the situation itself.

“Why am I not surprised.” Zhongli let out a long-suffering sigh before bending onto one knee and
leaning over, his hair grazing the underside of Childe’s shoulder.

“Your preoccupation with battle to the point of life-threatening enervation is both impressive and
highly concerning. I will be back momentarily with a tea specifically to soothe your muscles and
some light sustenance. In the meantime, please try and get some rest.”

Childe opened his mouth, ready to protest again, but saw the way Zhongli’s lips remained set in a
hard line; his jaw was clenched, cheek defined more so than usual as they watched each other.

His mouth popped back shut, objections evaporating underneath the heat of smelted Cor Lapis.

Maybe he should have felt a little guiltier for making Zhongli worry as often as he did, but it was
difficult; that heavy, sharp gaze of attention, as if nothing could be of more importance than
making sure Childe was fine, was addicting.

Zhongli’s palpable concern felt like the closest thing Childe would ever get to having the Geo
Archon’s affections, and he selfishly luxuriated in Zhongli’s scrupulous gaze.

“Okay, Zhongli-xiansheng. I’ll be here.”

The Adeptus didn’t look completely convinced, but continued to make his way into the opposite
room.

The light sounds of pots and cutlery being moved were enough to lull Childe into a tranquil state
between wakefulness and sleep, where the sounds, smells and comfort of Zhongli’s home gave him
a second to breathe after weeks of gasping for air.

This wasn’t exactly what Childe had been hoping for, when he thought about returning to Liyue
and seeing Zhongli, but the situation never really mattered.

So long as he was with him, he could find contentment in that.

The Tsaritsa couldn’t fault him for taking an afternoon off if it was in his best interest.

It felt like only a few minutes had passed, but when Childe reopened his eyes, there was a blanket
arranged across his body, along with the bright scent of medicinal herbs drifting nearby. An array
of snacks was organised across the low tabletop, where sunrays wandered through the balcony
curtains to reflect off each ceramic dish; it must have been late afternoon already.

“Zhongli-?”

Childe was mid-call when a hand came down to rest upon his head, holding him still.

He froze underneath the casual touch; it was friendly, reassuring, but Childe’s overdramatic nerve
endings sent goosebumps rippling up and down his skull at the gesture.

He hadn’t even noticed the Adeptus lounging nearby. His senses were clearly no more useful than
before the nap.

“It would be wise to rise slowly.” Zhongli was comfortably kneeling next to him on another
cushion, drinking some tea. How long had he been waiting for Childe to stir? “I don’t want you
suffering through another spell of dizziness. Drink this before anything else.”

A small teacup was placed into Childe’s hands after he had managed himself into a sitting position,
his body feeling akin to a wet sack of sand. It wasn’t as painful as overusing his Foul Legacy, but
that didn’t keep his chest from hurting any less as he tried to inhale and was met with tender
resistance.

The liquid within the cup smelled like the Bubu Pharmacy; it was sharp, pungent, and most
certainly not appealing after so long without food or water.

Childe’s nose scrunched. “Are you passing off one of Xiangling’s concoctions as medicine,
xiansheng? This certainly smells like something she would whip up.”

At the Adeptus’ unamused stare, the Harbinger acquiesced. “What is it?”

“An herbal infusion of Horsetail, Violet Grass and Qingxin,” Zhongli responded, turning the cup
until the handle was between Childe’s thumb and forefinger, “It aids in healing from within after
the body has taken great stress, and is similar to the herbal mixture you had sent to your father for
his migraines. Considering your ill health seems borne of natural properties and nothing related to
your Abyss form, this should offer some assistance.”
Childe’s shoulders slumped; he was absolutely being a burden. He took the tea without complaints
in the hopes that Zhongli would be placated, shooting him an apologetic look before drinking a
mouthful.

The taste was just as bitter as he thought it would be; Childe drank the rest of the brew like a shot
of Fire Water, feeling a heady warmth enter his system immediately. There was a seeping sensation
within his limbs that felt strange, almost as if the liquid was unknotting his pulls and strains from
the inside out.

“This stuff is quite the remedy,” Childe whistled, already reaching out for a rice bun and popping it
into his mouth, “I knew coming here first was the right choice.”

“Oh?”

Zhongli looked up from the tea he was about to bring to his lips, gazing across the lip at Childe’s
suddenly mortified expression; it was fine if he had chosen to visit the Geo Archon before
checking in with Northland or heading back to his own apartment, right?

That wasn’t clearly an act that went beyond close associates or friends.

Right?

As time went on, Childe was realizing just how awful he was at not being an obvious fool. His
saving grace lied within the fact that the Prime Adeptus was impossibly considerate, never reading
into Childe’s motives because he assumed they were based off of friendly intentions.

Zhongli kept that perturbing gaze on him, awaiting some sort of dignified response.

“Haha, well,” Childe stuttered through a full mouth, trying to finish the doughy bite of bao before
speaking, “we never had a chance to debrief following Snezhnaya, you know. You were one of the
first to hear about Scaramouche’s location, so it seemed like an appropriate place to start.”

There. that sounded much more Tartaglia-esque. Clever and systematic.

Zhongli made a sound of understanding before motioning to the empty cup hanging off of Childe’s
index finger.

“A word of caution,” he stated, “this may make you feel quite lethargic. You should eat a proper
meal to avoid the side-effects, although considering how much time has passed since your last
meal, it may be futile.”

“Lucky for me you have that prepared!” Childe chuckled, finishing off his bun and relishing in
how his insides sung with glee, finally getting some proper sustenance after a meager diet of raw
vegetables. “Alright, I’m feeling better already. The power nap really got me through; tell me,
Zhongli-xiansheng, what did I miss?”

The two of them shared details of their weeks spent after splitting up in Snezhnaya; Zhongli had
returned to Liyue immediately following their goodbyes to Childe’s family, both returning to work
at Wangsheng and taking time out of his schedule to alert Xiao and the other Adepti of a possible
threat traipsing the realm.

Alatus was commanded to be especially vigilant, should he run into any foreigners within his
domain.

Not that Childe thought the Yaksha knew how to be anymore cautious than he already was, but
apparently Zhongli saw some room for improvement. He wondered if the office incident was
partly at fault.

“I don’t doubt that your guard dog would be able to handle Scaramouche,” Childe grinned
apologetically when Zhongli chided him with the usual, I would appreciate it if you used Alatus’
given name, considering how you are now better acquainted, but Childe was nothing if not a
creature of defiance, “however, he isn’t what I would call a typical opponent. The Sixth is
notorious for playing dirty. If he has one trick up his sleeve, assume there’s three more where that
came from.”

Over the course of the few weeks Childe spent away from Liyue, there had barely been a peep out
of the Sixth Harbinger; Zhongli wouldn’t have the intel that Northland and Childe’s Fatui
subordinates would be able to provide, but so far, nothing of note had changed both inside and
outside the harbor.

The Balladeer seemed to be biding time.

“So no news of his whereabouts on your end, either.” Childe huffed, the weakness in his bones still
very much present but ebbed by Zhongli’s time-refined herbal mixture. “That’s fine. He’ll have to
do something sooner or later, and when he does, I’ll be right there waiting.”

Zhongli cracked the slightest grin, one side of his lip drawing upwards. “I am glad to see you are in
high-spirits.”

“Always the worrier, xiansheng.” He scooted himself a little closer to the man, their knees nearly
lined up together. Although he was aching less and his stomach felt sated, there was a looseness to
Childe’s body that usually only came with ingesting alcohol. The Adeptus wasn’t joking when he
said the tea would make him woozy. “I just overdid it a bit. Nothing you haven’t seen before.”

There was the quietest snort; Zhongli clearly agreed with Childe’s statement.

“Tell me more about the inescapable domain in Inazuma.” Childe watched as Zhongli poured him
more of the astringent tea, which he quickly consumed before the Geo Archon could pull his hand
back; he had to make up for being an injured inconvenience. “I would like to think all of your
destructive efforts weren’t completely in vain.”

“Not at all,” Childe’s voice grew giddy, “it was actually a very entertaining journey! You should
have seen how many leviathans there were, xiansheng. I was having the time of my life; no one to
interrupt my battles, no way to pause the bloodshed, nothing but the echoes of carnage…”

If it were anyone else, Childe knew that the honest-to-gods excitement in his voice, words
quivering with barely-concealed glee while retelling his experience, would be frightening. Kill-or-
be-killed situations were unkind at best and petrifying at worst, and the Harbinger’s lack of like-
minded friends most likely stemmed from how his favourite things consisted of those smeared with
blood.

Zhongli was a fortunate exception.

He valued Childe’s stories, kept an open mind for the Harbinger, and listened intently, eyes
crinkling whenever Childe’s enthusiasm got the best of him.

“…and the Traveller, of course, made their way into the fray… they clearly have a knack for
knowing exactly where the action is everywhere on Teyvat.” A sliver of orange entered Childe’s
vision, and he blew a puff of air to move the bangs sliding across his brow bone away. They
reminded him of Anthon’s ever-growing locks, swamping him with fondness.

If Childe mentioned his contemplations to Zhongli, the Adeptus would almost certainly appreciate
the comparison, maybe even going so far as to suggest how the shade was more similar to Teucer’s
than the scarlet-tinged locks of Anthon and Tonia.

Zhongli had become an integral part of Childe’s life.

He had never allowed anyone to know his family in such an intimate way: what they looked like,
their thoughts, dreams and ambitions. Appreciating how he could discuss these things in more
detail with Zhongli whenever he wanted added to the deep-set happiness he had felt since heading
up the Adeptus’ front steps. He smirked, “maybe if I tagged along on their adventures,
Scaramouche would just appear out of thin air.”

A deep-throated chuckle. “A sound suggestion; the Traveller definitely attracts trouble at every
turn.”

The more Childe ate, drank and fell into the heartening routine of spending quality catch-up time
with Zhongli, the more he noticed just how off-balance he was becoming. The effort needed to
keep his head from wilting to one side became perceptible, as more of his weight slumped over the
tabletop.

It wasn’t purely fatigue; it felt like he had spent the last hour sucking back Fire Water.

“You weren’t kidding about th’tea,” Childe heard himself slurring and tried to force his tongue
into functioning, “isn’t this supposed to be a painkiller? Feels more like a Lawachurl tranquillizer
to me.”

Zhongli was inertly quiet; he didn’t even lift his head at Childe’s remark.

“Xiansheng… I know I’m a bother, but is that really any reason to poison me?”

The Archon looked insulted by the cheeky insinuation, eyes narrowing. “I already warned you of
the side-effects from the medication. The sedatives within that specific mix are natural and induce
a state of relaxation that is ideal for healing. The herbs are already powerful alone, but when
steeped, they are quite potent.”

Childe attempted to lift a hand and observed as it flopped back uselessly into his lap. He glowered
at Zhongli conspiratorially, who only calmly watched from the corner of his Cor Lapis eyes.

“I certainly wasn’t going to have you continuing your expedition tonight after no sleep or
sustenance without offering you the strongest treatment I have available, just so that you could
continue to be a hazard to yourself.”

Aggressively thoughtful. That was an accurate way to describe how Zhongli approached Childe’s
rashness. “You’re lucky I didn’t tell anyone when I was coming back. Otherwise, I’d need you to
carry me to Northland.”

Zhongli cleared his throat, the bob of it catching Childe’s attention. “You’re not required to stay
the night, if you have work matters to attend to. You may leave at anytime.”

“Wait.”

Childe blinked once, twice, his lids feeling like woolen blankets. “Does that mean you’re inviting
me to stay?”
“Of course.” The Adeptus tilted his head and offered Childe a clear display of his heavily-lashed,
amber gaze, full of consideration, “You are welcome in my home whenever you need. I am happy
to let you recuperate here, doubly so if it means you will avoid finding trouble so soon after falling
ill.”

Childe’s face exploded with heat; sleeping under the same roof wasn’t exactly new, considering
their stay in Morepesok, but this was Zhongli’s residence. It was the place where he wound down,
slept, and woke up every morning.

Did he sleep half-naked as he did in Morepesok?

Would he meander around his own home in the morning with nothing but a pair of silken pants
hung comfortably around his waist?

Did he ever wake up, the peace and serenity of slumbering in his own home lulling him into
complacency, with a fang or two poking out?

The Harbinger wasn’t sure if he wouldn’t throw another emotional fit if given the chance to find
out.

“Zhongli-xiansheng, sometimes I don’t think you realize how generous you are with your words.”

Either the warmth of Zhongli’s invitation was turning his sensibilities to mush, or the medicinal tea
was a fine replacement for liquor, because Childe was teetering over the edge of admitting some
very unsavory things.

“Good tidings should be easily passed between friends.” Zhongli’s curt sigh was unexpected.
“Speaking of such matters, I see you are still choosing to avoid my name.”

“Huh?”

The Adeptus must have been mistaken; Childe said Zhongli’s name constantly, possibly even to
the point of concern. “What do you mean?”

As the man stood and began tidying up the empty platters, Childe could see a small twitch at the
corner of his lips. “You have yet to stop referring to me as xiansheng; I assumed that as time went
on, you would grow comfortable enough speaking my common name, especially in private.”

The Adeptus paused to collect his thoughts before continuing. “Although I appreciate your esteem,
as your close associate, it is perplexing that you evade its usage.”

Hm. Between staying the night and Zhongli’s sudden urge to discuss their affiliation agreement as
close associates, the conversation was going to take every ounce of Childe’s brainpower to power
through.

A pity that the sedatives in the tea were only allowing a few scattered thoughts to exit his mouth at
a time, none of them the ones he wanted.

“You told me you liked xiansheng. What changed?”

The look Zhongli sent his way was abundantly too fond, albeit still dismayed.

Childe was perplexed by two things. One: that he failed to notice how many emotions had been
flickering across the Geo Archon’s face since he arrived, a mix of perceptible gladness, worry, and
now reservation that were usually masked by impassiveness, and two: that Zhongli had formed
opinions on things Childe did that he imprudently believed to be unnoticeable.

It was only a matter of time before Zhongli took to hearing how Childe actively avoided his casual
name when he could. “I am simply curious as to why. I feel no hesitation in calling you Ajax; that
is who you are.”

“Ah, well…”

How was he supposed to explain himself when the answer was so pitiable?

Childe avoided Zhongli’s name because if he used it casually, he would only be further pulled into
that senseless false-hope of what it would sound like, could sound like, in a different context.

A circumstance that couldn’t happen.

Zhongli’s honorific was the only thing he could rely on that was unchanging, professional; it
established a boundary that Childe couldn’t manage to set himself.

“…I don’t want you looking all distraught,” he began, the strain of the conversation’s change of
pace making him all the more unsteady, “but I feel like this is about more than just your title.”

Childe wasn’t stupid; for the Adeptus to bring up how they regarded each other in the midst of
conversation, there must have been something larger bubbling underneath the surface. “Was it the
fainting? Wait, maybe because I came over on such short notice?”

“No, not at all.”

Now Zhongli seemed to be flustered, which was an anomaly in itself; once the dishes were in the
kitchen, he dropped beside Childe in one effortless motion, eyes sliding shut as he took a
thoughtful breath.

Childe figuratively patted himself on the back for noticing just how troubled Zhongli was while
heavily under the influence of Adepti medication.

“Apologies,” he expressed in a carefully even tone, “I think I am trying to overcompensate for the
contract formed between your sister and I.”

Childe’s eyes widened as his mouth popped into an ‘o.’

“Oh.”

They hadn’t spoken about it; how Zhongli made a promise to Tonia that was not only extremely
difficult to uphold, as a deity watching over someone as hazardous and volatile as Childe, but also
bizarrely one-sided.

Zhongli never made a pact without an equal expectation in return, as was the proper way for the
God of Contracts.

And yet, he had never asked Tonia what there was to gain if he were to maintain their agreement.

There was an uncertainty surrounding the reasoning behind it; no way the ex-Geo Archon had
slipped up and accidentally drew a contract that wasn’t on fair terms, but Childe couldn’t help
thinking that if anyone were to force Zhongli’s hand, it would be the almighty doe eyes of his
littlest sister.

“So the tea, and the food, and the sleeping here…”
“All of my offerings are genuine,” Zhongli clarified, “but I cannot pretend that attempting to
follow through with the contract’s conditions aren’t overshadowing my actions. What I would
customarily do now feels weighted with much more significance; I am still working on finding an
equilibrium.”

The look on Zhongli’s face was that of a man confused, much more so than when the Adeptus
“misplaced” his coin purse.

It was an utterly human expression of confliction; Zhongli was struggling with balancing his
natural affiliation with Childe as a friend, while also introducing the sudden responsibility that
Tonia had contracted with the Adeptus as a god.

“Xiansheng. Have you been stressing out over this because you weren’t there?”

Zhongli grimaced. “You are a grown adult; keeping an eye on you wherever you go would be less-
than respectable, in more ways than one.”

The weeks Childe spent in Inazuma clearly left Zhongli too much time for contemplating all of the
ways his contract could conceivably fail.

The Geo Archon attempting to be protective all while still ensuring Childe’s autonomy was, in all
probability, the most uncomfortable contract he had ever agreed upon; a god who endured for
centuries with his will inscribed into stone, only to crumble when faced with the secular reality of
unrealistic expectations.

Childe couldn’t have loved the man more.

“Hearing that directly following the creation of the contract, you went off and incapacitated
yourself while I could do nothing to stop you, made me act a bit rashly.” Zhongli self-admonished
himself to no end, as per usual. “I am sorry for the slight coddling, but I've never formed a contract
quite this… particular, before.”

“Hey, Zhongli-xiansheng.”

Childe leaned over, fully aware that he was using the table for leverage, but decided to forego
looking suave for being genuine. He waited for Zhongli’s eyes to lose their edge and to regain the
open, calm brightness that always sent Childe’s ribcage fluttering. “No one’s expecting you to be
my keeper. Everyone under the Teyvatian sun, including my perfect little Tonia, grasps that trying
to keep a Harbinger safe is next to impossible. But I ‘ppreciate—" Tsaritsa, save his speech from
that forsaken tea, “—appreciate what you did to pacify my family more than I can say. So let’s just
keep doing what we’ve always done; you watch my back and I’ll watch yours, even if neither of us
need the extra set of eyes.”

He emphasized the last statement with a slight tug to the ex-Geo Archon’s long, slim ponytail and a
dopey grin; if the medicine made him bolder, then it could be blamed on Zhongli’s liquid-version
of being overly thorough in making sure Childe recovered.

Being able to run his hand through hair that felt just as soft as it looked was one-hundred percent
worth it.

Childe watched Zhongli’s posture relax, shoulders lowering from the tightness that had been
present since Childe had been caught in his arms. It was a huge relief when his eyes revivified the
room with their golden glow; the Harbinger had to look away, the dazzling light even brighter
within the small apartment.
Zhongli must have been happy, which inevitably meant that Childe was happy, too.

When his fingers remained lodged in Zhongli’s tangle of ochre strands, the man not saying a word
about it, he decided to push his luck; it wasn’t every day that Childe was offered an insecure,
marginally vulnerable Geo Archon.

“And about the name…”

If it were to make Zhongli feel more assured in his ability to maintain good relations, then Childe
could get over his own self-made restrictions. “I promise to use it when it’s just us from now on. I
didn’t know the formality was beginning to bother you.”

He could do it, at least when they were alone in each other’s company.

Even if it did spark heat into his soul every time, the concept of Zhongli and Ajax being said in
harmony overtaking his mind.

It coiled something low and wanting in his stomach; a hunger that couldn’t be slaked.

Zhongli smiled. “This was a recent change. After meeting your family and seeing a new side of
your existence, it seemed like a justifiable time to broach the subject.”

“Fair enough.” Childe was completely distracted by how the pieces of hair in his hand changed
color the more he fiddled with them; at some moments, they appeared to pulse with energy, while
when he wrapped them tightly around his thumb, the locks turned a vivid amber. It reminded him
of the Geo Archon’s horns, their structure also flowing with Geo energy, and how their
imperviousness contrasted the softness between his fingers.

Zhongli sat next to him, staying close so that his hair flowed easily into Childe’s reach; it felt too
good to be true. It was exactly the tiny amount of touch Childe had been longing for.

And yet.

Childe thought he could read Zhongli now more than ever; the god wanted confirmation that he
was still doing a decent job as a man of his word, in regards to keeping Childe (somewhat) safe for
the sake of his sister.

Closeness could be a form of reassurance.

He wouldn’t do anything to push the man’s limitations. Not if he just…

“Do you happen to know a Liyuan girl by the name of Xinyan?”

Childe tried to be as casual as possible as he leaned down—a natural movement, considering his
muscles were hindered by sedatives and his body truly was down for the count—before his head
grazed the top portion of Zhongli’s thigh.

The leg underneath his ear was lifelessly still, and Childe had half a mind to pull back, except he
hadn’t been joking about the tea being akin to a human anaesthetic; there wasn’t a bone in his body
that would help support him, now that his neck rested near Zhongli’s knee.

The rest of him followed suit, a heap of bulky Harbinger sinking back to the floor, his head braced
very-much-intentionally on Zhongli’s lap.

He knew for a fact the Adeptus would be able to feel the heat from his crimson cheeks through the
fabric of his pants, but Childe couldn’t let the opportunity go to waste.

He tried again, Zhongli stock-still underneath him.

“Zhongli?” He queried with only the slightest waver in his voice, as casually as one could when
performing an act more hazardous than entering a Hillichurl camp unarmed; nothing in the Omyou
Mystic Chamber had felt as perilous as Childe’s current position, staring up at the Geo Archon
while trying not to lament over the cast-iron, substantial muscles buoying his neck. “Do you know
her?”

Another few seconds had passed and still, the ex-Geo Archon said nothing.

Childe was horrified. And that meant something coming from a man who baulked at creatures ten
times his size and met with individuals like the Tsaritsa regularly.

He knew it was a bad idea; damn his drug-induced fog, combined with not seeing Zhongli for the
longest period since he had come to Liyue. Childe was despicable, throwing away an entire year of
trust-building and confidence for a chance of intimacy with a person who didn’t deserve the mess
that he always, intentionally or unintentionally, caused.

Paimon had been correct in her initial thoughts; he really was the worst kind of person.

Childe’s panicked effort to will his dead weight into action only lasted a moment before Zhongli
began moving; politely taking Childe’s head and transferring it somewhere more appropriate,
perhaps, like to a genuine pillow.

However, the Adeptus only shuffled his thighs so that the Harbinger’s neck was properly
supported; the light shifting paused once he seemed satisfied with their arrangement, to which
Zhongli began to speak.

“If you are referring to Xinyan, the rock musician, I am quite familiar with her and her work. Why
do you ask?”

Wisps of amber hair remained clutched in Childe’s fingers, their glow slowly and steadily growing
warmer and warmer. He never would have known that their light exuded heat; these little facts,
ones so intimate to Zhongli’s physical being that there couldn’t have been more than a handful of
individuals privy to them, were invaluable. Childe felt fondness bloom in his chest so suddenly that
he was afraid it would set off his Vision.

The last thing he needed was to soak Zhongli with a mortifying splash of Hydro.

“I, uh, she also aided the Traveller and I in the domain,” he was unprepared for how Zhongli
looked from this angle; how his eyes bore down with a permanence that made it impossible to look
away, “Xinyan mentioned that an odd man had invited her to play a concert at the Wangsheng
Funeral Parlor, back when she was hoping for someone to take a chance on her songs. I assume that
eccentric individual was yourself?”

Zhongli smiled and Childe was one runaway breath from the butterflies in his ribcage spilling out.

The way his cheeks lifted, how Childe’s unique location depicted just how beautiful the Archon’s
lips curved when he grinned, the tilt of his throat when a slight chuckle reverberated through it.

Zhongli was the most striking, impressive, and beautiful being Childe ever had the privilege to
meet, and even that was an understatement.
“Mmm, I did. Her fiery personality and dedication to music were quite inspirational. Given the
opportunity and time, she will certainly continue to flourish as a talented rock and roll prodigy.”

“How kind of you to give her a shot.”

The Archon chuckled. “It cannot be called an opportunity if her success is foreseeable.”

Zhongli didn’t seem at all planning to move from the floor. There were no signs of hesitation or
uneasiness, but Childe still felt as if he was suspended in a moment that could be taken away at any
time.

“Look at you, calling the trends even after all these centuries,” Childe started laughing and didn’t
stop; the light, happy sounds continued, and he couldn’t find it in him to care. “Rex Lapis, the most
up-to-date Archon, an ancient soul with an open mind.”

There was a gentle hum from above as Zhongli contemplated Childe’s words. “It seems I still
cannot distinguish your teasing from your flattery.”

“It’s always a bit of both.” His hands were combing through the holographic ends of the Adeptus’
ponytail, coiling loose curls with each finger; if Childe stopped now, he was afraid the occasion
would never present itself again. With his body made of lead and no clear plan for the remainder
of the afternoon (or was it evening now? When had the sun set?), Childe took Zhongli up on his
offer.

“Spending the night here would be a better option than heading home in this condition. Guess I’m
all yours for the night.”

As if he would ever turn him down.

“You still require more time to properly recover,” a murmur came from above him; Childe blinked
before Zhongli’s ethereal face, leaning down ever-so-slightly with a smooth, kind expression, was
all he could see. “Shall I get the bamboo mat for you?”

Childe frowned. The tea had liquefied his cognitive processing skills; his only desire was to stay
exactly where he was, like a reward for his risk paying off. “This is fine.”

An upside-down brow lifted from where Childe was staring at Zhongli’s face.

“A pillow and mat would be additionally adequate for your neck. Unless you would like to sleep in
my bed chamber, in which case, I would be content with taking the mat.”

Childe wouldn’t get a wink of sleep if he attempted to rest on the mattress Zhongli slept on every
single night. The thought alone was hilarious; and making the Prime Adeptus sleep on the floor?
His capacity for taking advantage of the man’s kindness was all used up for the day, most likely
even the week.

“How about we just stay here until I doze off…” which wouldn’t be much longer, if Zhongli’s
sedatives had anything to do with it. “Promise to be out of your hair once the sun comes up.”

He stated, as his hands most definitely created knots in the ex-Geo Archon’s long, previously tidied
locks.

A very good way to return to Liyue, indeed.

Scaramouche and the Harbinger’s assignment could wait until tomorrow.

 “Wait, why are you—”

“Don’t be alarmed; I am simply reaching for a book.”

“Xiansh-Zhongli, don’t let me sleep too long, alright? I have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”

“It would be best if you slept until your body has healed.”

“Are you saying you won’t wake me up?”

“…”

“Zhongli-xiansheng.”

”…”

“Zhongli.”

“The sooner you rest, Ajax, the sooner you will improve.”

Chapter End Notes

Where are my Itto owners at? How does it feel, having the funniest, most relatable
character on your team now?

(I'm not jealous. I am simply poor and must wait for Zhongli. *sniffles*)

I am very soft for Zhongli's character development as a god attempting to balance his
newfound freedom from no longer being an Archon, while learning more about what it
means to be human, but still not being able to ignore the fact he is forever, without a
doubt, a god who presides over contracts. His last contract "to end all contracts," in my
understanding, was an end to contractual agreements as the Geo Archon and the
contracts he held with Liyue Harbor; his role as the God of Contracts is still a part of
him, whether he chooses to reflect on that often or not.

And where would Childe be if not falling apart because of his recklessness need to
FIGHT? You would think after so many in-game scenes of him being an idiot, he
would learn when to chill.

The next update will be at a TBD date because of Christmas falling next weekend, but
I'm off for the next two weeks from work, so who knows if that means I can be even
more productive with this story and bang out the chapter on time?

Your comments make me proud to be in this fandom; when this fic hit 40,000 hits, I
felt so overwhelmed. It's so crazy to think that people have come to read this, and then
have even gone back to re-read it, and continue to share their love for it with me in
their own words. Is it weird that your comments feel like Christmas presents? Maybe
I'm just lame, but they really feel that special. I am a sensitive, sappy soul.

Chat with me about genshin, check out my other links/support my work and see new
chapter posts? Twitter
 When Shadows Reign
Chapter Notes

FANART ALERT + MORE

Phi gave chibi life to the "lap scene" from last chapter! How freaking cute. I'm
obsessed. Their EXPRESSIONS. The Lap Scene

The multi-talented Bee at @ElByBy1 on Twitter has begun translating this fic into
French! They have given me permission to post it under my AO3, and I am beyond
grateful and touched that they saw enough inspiration here to put it into another
language. Give it a look here! French Translation

Support the artists + translators! ~

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Lord Harbinger, I’ve found another one.”

Their boots squelched through the mud as rain came down in blinding waves, making seeing what
the foot soldier gestured to near-impossible. Childe’s crimson Fatui mask was positioned
seamlessly over his face, concealing his expression from the many Fatui soldiers who awaited his
response in obedient silence.

Rain this heavy within the Tianqiu Valley was a topographical nightmare; there were only pools of
murky water and muddied grasslands for miles, now swamped with sludge that tugged at Childe’s
every step with gnawing, monstrous force. Even the enormous ruins carved into the mountain were
distorted by the relentless downpour that ravaged the typically-sunlit region.

“How many is that now?”

“Three, Lord Harbinger.”

Childe wanted to curse, but found no value in letting his underlings see Tartaglia at a loss. Instead,
he leaned down to check the unconscious Fatui Skirmisher’s pulse, noted that there was the
faintest tremor below his fingers, and hummed.

Beside him lay the soldier’s Delusion, the vivid violet Electro dulled to a hazy mauve, its glass
cracked. Small snaps of electricity continued to whizz out of the openings. He snatched it up,
wincing at the way the Electro energy which hit his palms singed far worse than usual.

As if it were tainted.

“This one’s still alive; get him back to the city for treatment immediately.”

Two of the larger agents positioned near Childe worked the man up into their arms before darting
off in what was hopefully the direction of Liyue Harbor; it was difficult to tell through the sheets of
rain. Childe had left Northland Bank only what, an hour ago? Two at most? And already there
were three Fatui, one dead and two in critical condition, found littered across Liyue like uniformed
bags of garbage.
Even with the Fatui inferiors all donning their masks to hide their unease, the dread was as
palpable as the static in the air; with every new suspicious body found and Delusion obliterated,
the more apprehension spread.

It wasn’t as if these Fatui were wounded or killed in combat; no, that could be easily explained and
would never require a Harbinger to step in for investigations.

But the attacks corresponded to Childe’s arrival much too methodically, and as if that weren’t
enough proof of foul play, the three Fatui found during the expedition (who knew how many more
were left out on the plains to rot) all had one thing in common: an Electro Delusion.

Childe clenched his fists, gloves crackling with stripes of purple.

“If any of you are feeling jumpy because a few soldiers have been downed, then I have some bad
news for you.”

His voice took on a hair-raising quality; Tartaglia didn’t need any last-minute desertions because
of a little subterfuge. This was all part of Scaramouche’s game, and the Eleventh Harbinger would
never allow himself to fall one step behind.

“Don’t even think about calling yourself a recruit of mine if you’re scared of a minor threat.” A
few of the recruits flinched, ultimately grasping that the only Harbinger they should be fearful of
was the one directly in front of them. “It’s only going to get worse from here on out; keep your
guard up, follow protocol, and until the Sixth is under control, never assume you’re out of
danger.”

A unanimous understood, Lord Harbinger! echoed off the ruin walls; Childe wagged his gloved
fingers towards the east as they continued searching for the man in question.

His return to Liyue had set off a chain of events so swift that even Ekaterina had a hard time letting
Childe know what was happening and when; one second the nation seemed quiet, with only a few
possible sightings of a large-rimmed hat out on the dunes of Liyue, and the next, Fatui were
dropping like flies. It didn’t take a genius to connect the dots, what with the soldiers attacked being
members of Childe’s faction and practiced Electro Delusion users. Scaramouche on the loose with
the Electro Archon’s Gnosis made him the evident perpetrator.

However, it did beg the question as to why.

There were theories he wanted to toss back and forth with someone who had a working knowledge
of the Gnoses and what Scaramouche would have to gain from flooring a few Fatui members, but
Zhongli was currently negotiating prices and services with an affluent family at Wangsheng. It was
a process that likely wouldn’t be completed until evening, and Childe certainly didn’t want to
bother the man anymore than he already had.

After he awoke from his drug-induced slumber in Zhongli’s apartment, body snuggled into a light
blanket and head comfortably cushioned on a silk pillow (the fabric had been cool, as if it were
fresh and unused), he found the Adeptus by the doorway, slowly buttoning each of the three clasps
on the front of his vest.

The room was exceptionally well-lit now, making the details on Zhongli’s clothing refract light;
each piece of his tailored, impeccable suit sparkled like genuine dragon scales.

Good thing he was too busy preparing for work to notice the eyes on him, because Childe’s staring
was highly improper. It couldn’t be helped; each movement Zhongli made, from the way he
straightened his cufflinks, to how he swivelled his coat to rest perfectly across his shoulders before
sliding his arms into each sleeve one at a time, felt like watching grace in the flesh.

The sun was perched over Liyue Harbor, its midday heat already converting the apartment into a
sauna. It was only when Zhongli turned his primordial gaze towards the balcony, the trace of a
smile on his lips, that Childe made his attentiveness known.

“Good morning,” he uttered, basking in the satisfaction of catching the Adeptus unprepared;
Zhongli’s hands slipped from where they had been flattening his collar. He glanced down at
Childe, pupils gleaming, “or should I say good afternoon.”

There was a beat before Childe sighed, rubbing his eyes to rid himself of any embarrassing
sleepiness that was still present on his face. “I thought I told you to wake me up, xiansheng.”

The Geo Archon straightened; he took a good look at the half-asleep Harbinger, Cor Lapis clear
and glistening, before purposefully choosing not to respond.

At Zhongli’s feigned indifference, Childe groaned before accepting that a permanent blush was
something he would need to endure in order to mollify the man’s uncertainties. “Zhongli. Zh-ong-
li. Happy now?”

He continued to grumble, face unquestionably aflame, “I told you, using xiansheng is a habit of
mine. At least give me a second to process...”

“Mm.” Zhongli wore the teensiest smirk on his stupidly handsome face, and if it wasn’t so damn
breathtaking, Childe would have pestered him about it. “You seem very well-rested now; I trust the
Northland Bank ran smoothly, regardless of if you slept for an extra hour or two.”

Judging by the crowds of people on the streets of Liyue Harbor shouting and haggling, Childe had
missed more than an hour or two of the day, but it was a little too late to mourn the loss. He readied
himself quickly, folding up the mat and blanket in a chaotic pile before standing in front of Zhongli
with a sheepish smile. His clothing was wrinkled and he hardly looked presentable, but wasting a
few extra minutes straightening himself out would mean missing out on more time with the ex-Geo
Archon.

“Want to walk to work together?”

Cor Lapis waned into two perfect crooks as Zhongli nodded his approval at the idea.

If Childe were to sleepover at Zhongli’s more often, it could become a routine; falling asleep to
Zhongli’s calming breaths and waking to the sight of warm, magnificent amber.

One of these days he was going to get caught; Childe’s feelings were much too potent. They
saturated his entirety, from the way he watched Zhongli with nothing but adoration sparkling in his
eyes, to his pressing need to spend time with the man. He was working so hard to continue as the
Adeptus’ good, even best friend, but his physical reactions to just being close by were beginning to
overtake his carefully-honed restraint.

Childe had never known this type of love prior; there was no off-switch or a method of toning it
down. But for Zhongli’s sake, he needed to keep himself in check.

For the good of the Archon who provided him with so much happiness, the least he could do was
rein in his mortal affections.

He would love him with everything he had as Ajax, Childe and Tartaglia, none of which would
ever know what it felt like to have their love acknowledged.

Two days had passed since then, and already the tranquility Childe found on his return was
nowhere in sight; with assassination attempts on his underlings to worry about, in conjunction with
locating Scaramouche and putting a stop to his efforts at plucking off all of the Electro-wielding
Skirmishers in Liyue, the Harbinger had more on his plate than he would have liked.

The more time they wasted huddled together in Tianqiu worrying about the Balladeer’s next move,
the more likely another body would surface, dead or alive, amongst the Sandbearer trees.

There was a rippling of wind by Childe’s side; the changes in air pressure were noticeable enough
that even the rain stirred with the current, drumming Childe’s mask from both directions.

“Lord Harbinger, to your left!”

A few of the Fatui on his flank warned him to move, but Childe recognized the shadowy tendrils of
black smoke anywhere.

In fact, he was relieved; observing the overpowering Anemo force was a solid reminder that there
were other individuals in Liyue that could be useful regarding the Fatui’s current investigation.

If, of course, they were willing.

The concentrated tempest faded, leaving behind a miasma of shadows and the figure of a young
man cloaked in green and gold, an elaborate Yaksha mask dangling from his waist.

“Well, fancy meeting you out here!” Childe waved before strolling over to Xiao; his juvenile,
deceptively virtuous expression was warped into something akin to strained disinterest. In a way, it
was almost like he was attempting to imitate the Geo Archon’s naturally stoic demeanor.

The disparity was hard not to laugh at, so Childe didn’t bother fighting his mocking tone. “Long
time no see, guard dog. I hope all’s been well in the land of Adepti while I was gone.”

The Yaksha’s lips curled inward as he tch-ed, the rain bowing away from his figure and vigorously
thrashing in Childe’s direction instead. There was absolutely a one-hundred percent chance that
Xiao was lobbing the rainstorm in his path on purpose. “Every time trouble brews within Liyue, I
find you at the core of it.”

“Hmm,” Childe shrugged, laughing when Xiao’s fiendish miasma grew in size, corresponding to
his degree of aggravation, “must be a happy accident, I suppose.”

Gilded hawk eyes flicked across each soldier’s face, earning one or two nervous breaths from
Childe’s hunting party. “You have no respect for the Adepti or our land; roaming here and leaving
remnants of your aberrant Delusion influence everywhere.”

“It’s wonderful to see you too, little Yaksha.”

The Fatui underlings who stood by, observing their chief officer playfully conversing with an
easily-agitated immortal, were once again reminded that Tartaglia was just as impressive, or
impulsive, as alleged.

Xiao had yet to send Childe flying backwards with his primordial spear, which proved that he
indeed came to him with a purpose; just as well, since the Harbinger wanted to speak to the
Adeptus confidentially. Whether or not they had the same idea in mind was still up for debate.
Childe swooped his arm towards the cluster of inferiors, flinging his sopping-wet scarf backwards.
“I want a full sweep done from here to the edge of the Western fortress; we don’t leave until the
area is secure. Is that understood?”

“Sir!”

It didn’t take long for the many armored bodies to vanish into the downpour, only the vivid colors
of their regalia and Delusions marking them in the distance.

“Tell me this, Fatui Harbinger.” Xiao came prepared today; Childe’s faction had barely made it to
the base of the first tower before he reappeared immediately in front of him, those glowing,
unnerving eyes narrowed into predatory slits. “Why is it that immediately following Morax’s
caution of an encroaching threat, you arrive, and an abnormal power emerges within the regions
belonging to the Adepti?”

So Xiao did know something about Scaramouche. “You’re going to have to be more specific; does
this so-called ‘power’ have anything to do with a short, purplish youngster sporting a hat the size of
Giuli, by any chance?”

Childe could feel the cold seeping into his bones from the uniform he donned, copiously soaked
through, which stuck to his skin like paper mâché. No amount of his Hydro Vision could keep him
dry in torrential weather like this; Xiao was no help either, looking neither moved nor sympathetic
of Childe’s condition.

Perhaps something as trifling as the weather didn’t concern Adepti.

He didn’t appear affected at all by the droplets splashing across every surface of the marsh. Childe
thought he caught some loose raindrops hit the edge of the Adeptus’ black collar, but it was
difficult to tell if the garments were actually getting damp, or if the rain was whisked away at the
last second.

Some sort of Anemo Adepti sorcery was at play, and Childe felt petulantly at a disadvantage.

What he wouldn’t give for Zhongli’s Geo shield right now.

Although his brow puckered at the description of Scaramouche’s appearance, Xiao didn’t have any
recollection of seeing the Sixth Harbinger.

“There has been a disturbing amount of Electro energy manifesting all over the areas where the
Adepti domains are situated.” It was bizarre that Childe could hear the Yaksha so clearly; even
with the droning of thunder and percussive rainfall, Xiao’s voice was smooth and distinct. “The
most prominent levels of energy seem to be harboring around Morax’s domains specifically;
extending from his forsaken, submerged mansion at Tianshan, to the few in Jueyun Karst.”

Childe’s breath hitched; the sound was immediately noticed by the stern Adeptus. He honed in on
every reaction Childe had like an animal, which would have been more unsettling, if not for the
fact this new piece of information set all of Childe’s nerves on edge.

That little seed of curiosity the Sixth Harbinger had shown in the ex-Geo Archon had evidently
blossomed into some sort of full-fledged fixation; everything Childe wanted to avoid at all costs. If
he desired to find Zhongli, all Scaramouche would have to do was head into the harbor.

Childe would never let him in without a fight, but it wasn’t as if the Prime Adeptus attempted to
hide himself or his presence from the world.
Was the Sixth searching for something, then? An object or sigil related to Rex Lapis?

“Have there been any suspicious attempts to break the protective seals cast around the domains?”
Childe longed to remove his mask, the metal freezing his skin underneath, but it was the only thing
keeping the rain from entering his eyes. “I have a few theories, but I’m missing some key
information: like, for example, if those surges in Electro were followed by the discovery of Fatui
nearby.”

There had to be some sort of connection to the Fatui attacks. On first inspection, Childe considered
that the Fatui who were critically wounded by their own Delusions’ recoil were injured by an
internal or external force; both would have had to be limited to Electro users.

After running a simple maintenance check on all Delusions, however, it was clear that they were
each adversely flawless; there was no interior tampering of note.

If it weren’t for Childe recognizing the Electro discharges emitted from the broken Delusions as
atypical, a completely different degree of energy when compared to his own, that line of inquiry
would have run cold.

“Not near the areas in Jueyun Karst,” the Yaksha touched his chin as he focused on the spot where
the Fatui had previously lay unconscious, “however, this explicit potent spike of Electro from
where the simulated Vision had burst is similar to what I’ve sensed across the region.”

“Hm.” If Childe used his Elemental Sight, he could still catch faint traces of energy that had yet to
dissipate; it ran in waves from every direction, making tracking it to one source impossible. “Fatui
Delusions are powerful, but nowhere near enough for an upsurge this large.”

The Delusions shipped over from Inazuma were locked up tightly within the confines of Northland
Bank; inspection or not, Childe wouldn’t trust anything delivered by Scaramouche. Just knowing
that they were specifically manufactured by the lilac maggot was enough to deem them unusable.

“Every one of my soldiers are fitted with a Delusion from Snezhnaya, properly and painstakingly
made the way they always have been.” Childe used his index finger to follow the direction of the
Electro miasma, which branched into several directions. “Although the risk of using a counterfeit
Vision isn’t exactly a secret, backlash of this magnitude only happens once every thousand or-so
recruits.”

Not several in the span of two days.

“Generally,” Childe continued, seeing as Xiao had yet to voice his judgment, “critical recoil occurs
under two conditions: a basic lack of control, or overuse to the point of ignition.”

If even Childe had yet to make his Delusion detonate from overexertion, then there was absolutely
no way a few foot soldiers could manage that kind of power.

“It hasn’t escaped my notice that this source of Electro is also wielded by an individual with the
Electro Archon’s Gnosis,” Xiao spoke up before flitting across the field in bursts of black and
white, his body appearing in so many different spots at once, it was as if he had cloned himself, “if
one of your own has gone rogue and is trying to destroy your faction, then that is an issue you
should have to solve for yourself. Morax and the rest of the Adepti shouldn’t have to clean up your
mess.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Childe countered, “I planned on dealing with this quietly, without anyone
else having to get involved. Unfortunately, though, this involves more than just the Fatui.”
Xiao looked the opposite of pleased with that deduction. And yet, the Yaksha was being much
more forthright and civil than usual; for him to act this agreeably around Childe, he clearly treated
Zhongli’s caution with momentous urgency.

“If this Fatui fugitive has only recently stolen the Gnosis, perhaps they are still learning how to use
it.”

“A possibility,” Childe nodded, “but Scaramouche was created by the Electro Archon herself; if
anything, the guy was made to know what to do with it.”

A shadow crossed Xiao’s face. “This being… is the Electro Archon’s retainer?”

“Something like that. He was a failed prototype.” A few of the elemental pathways were a vivid
violet, fresher than the others, and Childe mentally jotted down their routes. “Say that to his face,
though, and you’re guaranteed to get quite the lightning show.”

Scaramouche might have been playing with his new Gnosis abilities, but Childe wasn’t fond of that
assumption. Toying with the Electro Delusions and warping them to his advantage did sound like a
way the Balladeer would amuse himself…

Was the puppet prepping to wage an all-out war?

“Tell me everything you know, mortal.” Xiao’s voice carried an edge that hadn’t been there
previously; the storm was slowly beginning to let up, making his words carry all the more weight
as the area grew silent. “A retainer holding their Archon’s Gnosis is given power similar to that of
their creator, whether they are the intended vessel or not. This is more than just another one of your
associates causing trouble.”

As if that was something Childe didn’t already know.

Xiao’s fists clenched at his sides, the jade-colored patterns on his arms flaring with a brilliant light.
He looked as if he was struggling with something that went beyond Childe’s understanding; the
Adeptus’ mask whirred at his waist with malevolent force.

His voice trembled with an abrasive, rumbling timbre. “This is going to affect Morax directly, isn’t
it?”

Rex Lapis’ Sole Yaksha would never stand around humoring Childe for this long, not unless even
Xiao believed that whatever Scaramouche was planning was a cause for concern.

The Adeptus was worried.

The sky had faded into a more manageable grey, thunder rolling over the mountains and away
from where the two of them stood. Now that Childe had a clear line of vision, he wanted to get
back to the hunt as soon as possible.

Xiao’s sole purpose was to hunt, wasn’t it?

Time to put the tiny warrior to good use.

“There’s another few elemental traces I’ve yet to follow,” he motioned to the east, in the direction
of Luhua Pool, “I promise to tell you everything if you help me search the area.”

When Xiao looked at him with an expression of impatience, undoubtedly only here for Zhongli and
not to aid a Harbinger with menial tasks, Childe clenched his jaw. “I can’t have anymore of my
people winding up wounded or worse, and two pairs of eyes are better than one. Maybe we’ll get
lucky and find Scaramouche on the way.”

The admission of failing some of his novices was a permanent stain on his reputation; even though
Childe wasn’t wholly accountable, what with a raging psychopath armed with a Gnosis on the
loose, the lack of control he had on the situation was already frustrating enough as it was.

More so when detailing it to Xiao, who already thought Childe was the last person anyone should
trust with their life.

“Let’s get this over with,” the Yaksha vanished into thin air; a far-away voice murmured, “I can
hear a human heartbeat in this direction. It’s extremely weak, so you’d better move.”

Hydro trickled beneath Childe’s boots as he used his Vision to leverage himself, sliding over the
mud now that the downpour no longer hindered his advances. Bursts of black smoke marked the
direction Xiao was travelling in, and although Childe could barely see the Adeptus, it was obvious
his search was already more fruitful with the Yaksha’s help.

Childe certainly couldn’t perceive heartbeats.

“Over here.”

The wave Childe rode splashed over the brambled pathway leading to Luhua, where Xiao stood
over a body that would have easily been missed by ordinary eyes; the Fatui Agent had been cast off
to the side of the road, his figure cloaked in mud and debris. Only the slight shudder of his chest
proved that the man was still alive, but just barely.

Childe hunched forward to check the recruit for injuries, but Xiao placed a firm hand against his
shoulder before he could move any further. “Don’t touch him.”

He didn’t get a chance to ask why; Xiao’s index finger gleamed a bright yellow before he inscribed
a sigil into the air and placed it over the Fatuus’ chest, where Electro immediately began bursting
forth. The energy chased the Sigil of Absorption until there was nothing but tiny slivers of Electro
weakening on the ground, the bulk of lightning soaked up by the glowing symbols that dissolved
with a snap of the Yaksha’s small, pale fingers.

The Fatuus took a deep breath, the inhale marginally stronger than before.

A small, satisfied huff escaped from Xiao as he raised himself up from the dirt, “He’s unconscious,
but will survive.”

Huh. Childe rarely witnessed Xiao perform actions of benevolence; he figured the Yaksha wasn’t
all barbs and claws (those seemed to be especially saved for himself), but it still took him a moment
to grasp.

Perhaps there was a lot more to the whole “Yakshas exist to protect humanity from evil” than
Childe originally thought. Evidently, all of those tomes on Rex Lapis’ guardians weren’t a waste of
a read.

“It’s odd to see you do something out of the kindness of your heart.” Childe chuckled. “Usually, all
that space is taken up by devotion to Rex Lapis.”

The side-eye Xiao sent Childe could have liquefied his Fatui mask on the spot; the Yaksha shook
his head before lifting the lifeless recruit into a sitting position, his face no longer half-lodged in
the wet soil. “I am contracted to protect Liyue and its citizens only; this act is purely for the benefit
of understanding what your Harbinger rogue wants with Morax.”

Childe smirked. Making sure the unconscious guardsman didn’t drown in muck was definitely the
answer to solving Scaramouche’s strategy. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“You have no respect for the ways of the Adepti; I rarely sleep, as you humans do.”

“It’s not a literal—” Childe had to hold himself back from slapping a hand over his face in second-
hand embarrassment, “you know what, never mind.”

As they inspected the Agent, whose Delusion, conveniently also Electro, sat broken a few feet
from the pathway, Childe held up his end of the bargain; he disclosed the entirety of what he knew
so far, from Scaramouche’s intent to find out more about the Geo Archon prior to his attainment of
the Gnosis, to his involvement in Inazuma. Xiao couldn’t offer any insight on whether or not the
faulty Delusions built by Scaramouche’s factory would have produced an electrical voltage of such
magnitude, but he could convey that the Electro energy was pushed to the brink by force.

“So Scaramouche is channelling his own energy into their Delusions?” Childe sighed a relieved
breath when the figure he spotted on the ground nearby was only a malformed tree root and not
another one of his men. The Electro radiating around it must have come from somewhere close by;
it was crisp and new. “I wouldn’t put it past the worm to experiment with his newfound power, but
there has to be a purpose. One besides trying to blow up Fatui soldiers like human-shaped
firecrackers.”

If only the Fatui found so far had been conscious; that would have aided Childe’s investigation by
leaps and bounds. Scaramouche was famous for running his mouth, and if he stopped to converse
with any of Childe’s soldiers before assaulting them, bits of his plan would have been spoiled for
certain.

“Assuming this man is attempting to keep you busy, then job well done,” Xiao had taken them in a
broad circle around Tianqiu Valley, where they found two more downed Electro-users. Luckily,
the both of them had still been breathing, “This is taking up an ample amount of our time and
energy. For all we know, he’s left these numerous Electro trails to spite you, forcing you to run in
circles; it makes a fine diversion for…”

Realization dawned over Childe’s face a second sooner than Xiao; the blood in his veins seized
and froze instantly. Xiao’s eyes glowered a terrifying white before he scowled into the plains,
towards the glowing lights of Liyue Harbor.

Had they fallen into a trap?

Childe couldn’t believe he missed the signs; a wild goose-chase served only one constructive
purpose:

Distraction.

“Don’t be too hasty.” Childe bellowed before Xiao could vanish into smoke; the Yashka’s entire
body vibrated with rage. He was taking the oversight dreadfully. “Even if Scaramouche is trying to
divert the Adepti’s attention with energy surges, that doesn’t mean xiansheng is in any danger.
You can sense him, can’t you?”

A few bursts of Anemo swelled into the air, gathering speed as Xiao lifted himself to see over the
enormous trees and rock formations that dotted the sky. Even from where he hovered, a blip of
gold from Childe’s perspective, his voice resonated.
“I can; he remains in the harbor. There appear to be no new streams of Electro heading into the
city; if this is meant to be an interference, there’s a chance that we fleshed it out early. But I want
to go and make sure.”

“First you help me out, and now you’re willingly planning to enter Liyue Harbor… little Yaksha’s
just full of surprises today.”

Xiao didn’t react to Childe’s derision; maybe he preferred the less derogatory pet name. He dove
headfirst from the clouds before setting a brutal pace, skimming through the air enroute to the
marina while Childe kept up with his Hydro. “I’m sure you would also like to go and see for
yourself if Morax has been visited by the Electro Archon’s retainer, correct?”

Hopefully the Adeptus’ incredible eyesight couldn’t catch just how red Childe’s cheeks and ears
had turned. Even if Xiao didn’t mean to tease in that sense, this was not the time for him to get
distracted.

It was extremely hard for Childe to ignore the unease harboring within his stomach; there was no
telling what Scaramouche would do once he finally got the ex-Geo Archon alone. The possibilities
were endless, and that was the only thing Childe could focus on.

The problem with the Balladeer was that he largely avoided fighting; he enjoyed staying behind the
scenes, watching as tragedy unfolded without ever lifting a finger, denoting a striking distinction
between Childe’s idea of respectable warfare and his own.

Scaramouche may have centuries on Childe’s experience with mind games, but what he overtook
of Childe’s, he lacked against Zhongli.

The funeral consultant could take care of himself; that was a given. He was the Prime Adeptus. An
Archon’s retainer, when compared to Zhongli’s eons of wars waged and won against gods
countless times more formidable, was practically dust in the wind. Dirt underneath the Geo
Archon’s perfectly shined dress shoes.

If there was anyone in the nation who could deal with the Balladeer, it would be Rex Lapis.

It was only Childe’s foolish feelings and Xiao’s melodramatics that made him near-sprint back to
the city to check on the retired Archon.

But his concern refused to fade.

“I have another possibility.” Xiao’s voice rang clear as a bell, the Yaksha drifting low, finding a
rhythm next to Childe’s waves; to anyone who witnessed them sailing over the ruins and foothills,
they would have seen a cyclone of wind and water, too swift to notice the individuals influencing
the elements.

Childe was grateful for the disturbance. “I’m listening.”

“You and Morax spend a ludicrously large amount of time together.”

Xiao spoke directly over Childe’s wheeze of what does that have to do with anything— and
silenced him with his own voice, loaded with exasperation. “That isn’t up for debate. It is a fact,
one which makes me question Morax’s interests in humankind indefinitely; however, the rogue
may be trying to get a better understanding of your association. Either to try and bring you down
without the Geo Lord interfering, or to get Morax in a position where he would opt to listen.”

Scaramouche seeking out Zhongli just to have a little chat sounded far-fetched, but with how
bizarre all of the Balladeer’s ploys had been so far, nothing could be ruled out.

The harbor was already coming back into view; it felt as if they had skipped a few steps, what with
how swiftly the glistening port appeared before them. Childe barely noticed, but Xiao’s Anemo
must have been pulling him along in its stream to allow for possibly the quickest Vision travel
across the nation he ever managed.

“Something the Sixth wants to ask Zhongli...” Childe murmured, “If I had to guess, I think it would
have something to do with why he gave up his Gnosis willingly.”

For a retainer who was once destined to hold onto a Gnosis only to have emptiness fill his vessel
instead, that would make a clear motive for why Scaramouche would want to find Zhongli. If the
Gnosis wasn’t everything he imagined, then the Geo Archon would most likely have the answers
he was looking for.

They slowed their descent to avoid suspicion, Childe already hurling himself over the mounds of
rocks and hills that shadowed Wangsheng to get an aerial view of the building. Xiao crouched
down next to him; his eyes glazed over, scanning the structure for any signs of misconduct.

“You said his name,” he whispered, eyes still glued to the crimson funeral parlor.

Childe needed a second to understand what, exactly, the Yaksha meant, before he feigned a cough
into his fist. What was with the Adepti and names? “Well, I mean… Zhongli is his name.”

“You’ve always said xiansheng, or something along those lines.”

“And since you’re such an old friend of his, I thought it would be okay to drop the honorific in
your company. Is that so shocking?”

“Yes.” Blunt as ever. Golden eyes, apparently satisfied with how the parlor was outwardly secured,
now gazed at Childe with incredible weight. “Have you called him that personally?”

“I don’t know why you’re being so nosey…” Childe sniffed, “but I have. Zhongli,” it would take
time, but eventually Childe would stop flushing from the waist-up whenever he said the Geo
Archon’s human name out loud, “has explained that he prefers it, so I’m trying to use it more.
There, have I shared enough?”

Childe knew that Xiao was much too overprotective of the ex-Geo Archon, if any of their previous
run-ins acted as proof, but this line of questioning was… out of the ordinary. It didn’t relate to the
problem at hand, Zhongli’s general safety, or anything that could affect the immortal’s quality of
life in Liyue.

The silence paired with Xiao’s unwavering stare made the Harbinger want to shuffle down the
crag, to rid himself of the uncomfortable scrutiny being placed upon him.

“He must be glad.”

The tiniest smile adorned Xiao’s lips, so thin and obscured it was nearly imperceivable. It stunned
Childe into stillness; he didn’t think the demon hunter had a joyful bone in his body, let alone the
capability of showing warmth visibly, all reserved satisfaction and endearing reticence.

“You’re—” If Childe brought attention to it, there was a chance the Yaksha would never smile
again, not for another thousand-or-so years. He managed to zip his lips at the very last second.
“—cough, you’re right, he did look happy about it.”
That was the entire point of everything, really; from calling the Geo Archon Zhongli and throwing
Mora wherever those Cor Lapis eyes glanced a second too long, to every slight smile Childe
earned from the Prime Adeptus in-between.

Zhongli’s contentment would always come first.

Knowing the man was only a few feet below them made the urge to see him, explain the day’s
events, and wait eagerly for Zhongli’s thoughts and guidance on the matter that much harder for
Childe to disregard.

“I propose we stay here for a bit, just to see if anything changes.” He rested his bow on a nearby
stone, making sure he had the best view of Wangsheng’s exits. “You can look out for your boss,
and I can slit Scaramouche’s throat if he dares to make an entrance.”

The Tsaritsa wanted Scaramouche alive in all technicality, but sometimes accidents happened.
Surely, he couldn’t be faulted if things got out of hand.

Murdering an immortal sounded like a highly gratifying experience; Childe welcomed the rush.

“Morax is not my boss,” Xiao growled, not that Childe felt intimated by the puny Yaksha; today
had probably been the most talkative and amicable the Adeptus had ever been towards Childe, and
that on its own kept him feeling light, “and your rogue will show up. I am sure of it.”

“I like your confidence.” There was movement behind the veiled screens of the funeral parlor; the
shadows were difficult to make out, but Childe swore he could see the silhouette of a tall, robust
gentleman guiding a couple into another room. “You’re being awfully helpful, guard dog; I’m a
little touched and slightly disturbed by your amiability.”

When Xiao neither shoved Childe off of his roost nor sent an Anemo gust his way, he chuckled.

Leave it to the Geo Archon to keep his obedient servant on a tight leash.

“Zhongli told you to play nice with me, didn’t he?” he asked, eyes tracing the outlines within
Wangsheng with public interest, “You can say it. I know he still believes he’s directly at fault for
the conflict at Northland.”

At the mention of Xiao’s transgression, his entire body tensed like it was pinched. Childe must
have hit the nail on the head.

“Morax has made his feelings on the subject clear. It can’t be helped anymore; Zhongli, as you call
him, has chosen you over the customs and conventions of the Adepti. But no matter where his
regards lie, I will always remain faithful to him and his wishes.”

That was an extremely… cryptic response, one that had Childe scrunching his brows together in an
attempt to better understand.

What did Zhongli’s regards have to do with Xiao acting well-behaved or the Adepti’s beliefs?

Again with the peculiar choice of words; maybe Adepti had their own tier system concerning how
mortals were favoured by the gods, and Childe’s closeness with Zhongli put him a cut above the
rest.

He would be lying if he said the thought didn’t make the possessive, competitive thing dwelling
within his chest warm with great satisfaction.
“Chosen me? Heh, little Yaksha, are you saying I’m his favourite?”

Judging by Xiao’s intense silence, followed by a miasma burst that nearly ripped Childe’s bangs
off with brute Anemo force, it could be deduced that Xiao truly believed that Childe was
Zhongli’s….

Preferred company.

“What happened at Jueyun Karst and every event which followed act as validation; his faith in you
rivals his trust in the Adepti. It is unorthodox, to say the least, but the Geo Lord has always
surprised me over the centuries with his ability to find decency within all beings.”

Xiao’s expression grew confused, as if this was information Childe should have been privy to
months ago, and not finding out while staking out the Geo Archon’s workplace. “Do you really
think Morax would journey to another Archon’s land, after centuries of remaining in Liyue, with
just anyone?”

“He’s trying to better-adapt to human life.” Childe refuted, feeling unusually light-headed. There
was more movement within Wangsheng; nothing worth worrying over. Yet. “I understand that you
were concerned when he left, being his protector and whatnot… but xiansheng is quite literally the
most powerful being I’ve ever encountered.” Next to the Tsaritsa, of course. “No need to be
apprehensive or envious over him tagging along on my excursions.”

There was a moment where the heavy breeze Xiao sent Childe’s way paused as if blocked by a
wall; said-wall being Xiao’s own thought process, directly halting his Anemo like a palpable
object and not the air itself.

“Is that what you believe?” The Yaksha blinked slowly, still attuned to his surroundings, allowing
Childe just enough attention to warrant a response. “Because if so, you have greatly misjudged my
allegiances; no amount of fraternizing with mortals would ever make me consider Morax weak.
His activities as a “mortal” only concern me if they disrupt his modern-day, lenient lifestyle…
which is specifically why I am here, with you.”

Childe shrugged to feign nonchalance; the Zhongli-related vibrations beneath his skin returned
with a vengeance as he pondered. Unrealistic ideas popped into Childe’s head; the Yaksha didn’t
realize how easy it was to misconstrue his statements as declarations laden with possibilities.

Being thousands of years old and having no idea just how suggestive certain words could be must
have been something all the Adepti had in common; Zhongli’s inability to keep his opinions and
earnest addresses to himself were solid proof.

That Zhongli had chosen him, sounded like something Childe envisioned in one of his shameful
fantasies.

Childe nodded thoughtfully. “We can agree on one thing, then.”

“…Which would be?”

“That the ex-Geo Archon has found a comfortable rhythm existing as Zhongli.” It was strange to be
sharing so much with Xiao, especially while in the midst of a stakeout, but that could have been
why Childe didn’t mind letting his feelings flow so openly; it was their parallel desire to watch
over Zhongli’s wellbeing that made the Harbinger yearn to prove his worth. Demonstrate his
loyalty to the Prime Adeptus.

Particularly to Alatus, the last Yaksha, who had been establishing his devotion for centuries.
Childe let out a long exhale before turning to face Xiao head-on. “I’m going to be frank with you;
Zhongli is extremely important to me. The misunderstanding you witnessed after I visited his
domain in Jueyun Karst may have given you the wrong impression, but… our friendship is
possibly the most significant one I’ve ever had.”

He knew it sounded kind of like an appeal for approval, but not having the Yaksha second-
guessing all of Childe’s motives would be a preferred change. “Believe it when I say I’m more
than willing to acquire anything that sparks his fancy, take on anyone who has the nerve to
inconvenience him, and bring your Rex Lapis anywhere, if it means he gets to enjoy retirement
with me by his side.”

Ah. Childe lost himself there for a moment.

That came out rather sappy, and considerably more earnest than he would have liked.

The expression Xiao sported shifted radically; in the span of five seconds, the Yaksha wore a look
of open-mouthed astonishment, lost in perplexity, followed by what could only be described as
“introspective blankness,” to the most human expression he had ever donned in front of the
Harbinger.

He looked completely and utterly unimpressed, lips curled as if Childe just told him an asinine
joke.

Kind of rude, honestly, seeing as Childe had just shared a little piece of his heart with the fiend.

“I am still failing to understand…” Xiao muttered to himself, so quietly the Harbinger wasn’t sure
if he was even meant to overhear, “but perhaps this is something I am not intended to grasp.”

His eyes whisked over to meet Childe’s, blazing with newfound awareness. “Hmph. How
frustrating.”

“What did I do now?”

The doors to Wangsheng were brusquely thrown open, interrupting their chat; a small, older couple
was ushered outside by a woman dressed in black, none other than the enigmatic Ferrylady.

She appeared just as modest and petite as that one summer’s day Childe had first encountered her,
back when he made a fool of himself at Wangmin Restaurant.

Zhongli did not make an appearance alongside the patrons, much to Childe’s chagrin.

“I’ve never been very good at stakeouts,” he muttered; his hands were itching to grip a weapon
instead of squatting to stay hidden amidst the rocks, “we could at least go explain the situation to
Zhongli instead of, well, standing here.”

“No need to wait any longer.” Xiao lifted himself into a higher crouch over the tallest rock; he had
slipped on his Yaksha mask when Childe wasn’t looking, ready to pounce through the thin
bamboo coverings lining Wangsheng’s windows. “Do you feel that?”

There was a slight, barely-noticeable shift in the air, but Childe wasn’t the Eleventh Harbinger
because of his charisma and ferocity alone.

Hydro whirled in a long, dense channel to create a slidable pathway towards the funeral parlor;
Childe felt the exact moment the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
It was the telltale presence of Electro static.

A sudden bang rang out into the air as a combination of violet and amber lights flashed through the
openings of Wangsheng; Childe and Xiao moved in harmony, the Yaksha descending on the parlor
from above and Childe from below, hurtling into the back room at warp speed.

If it weren’t for the fact Wangsheng was located in one of the more discreet areas within Liyue
Harbor, the explosion would have gathered much more attention.

Hopefully they would have ample time to nullify the crisis before a crowd formed.

The energy output from within was enough to make both Childe and the Yaksha shield their eyes;
even with masks offering protection, the miasma shrouding the office was overwhelmingly
forceful. It felt like the push and pull of an Archon’s influence, unrestrained and at full power,
leaving Childe’s knees quivering as he attempted to use his Hydro to clear his senses.

“Xiansheng!”

Gusts of jade wind travelled across the parlor, sending some of the rubble that was scattered
around the room flying. Xiao’s spear glistened across from him, still unsure of where to target.

“Childe.”

The sound of Zhongli’s deep, distinct resonance sent Childe’s heart into a spasm, one that Xiao
could most likely hear, to Childe’s mortification, from where he stood.

“I’m here.”

A golden, ethereal glow broke through the fog, revealing a silhouette of glistening amber and
brown, along with a bright pair of Cor Lapis eyes.

The dust began to settle; Childe could see that much of the splintered wood and objects
surrounding them were hovering, held in place by an incredible amount of Geo energy that was
slowly dispersing the leftover Electro. Copious objects lingered midair, ready to be used as
missiles at a moment’s notice.

Ripples of electricity scattered across the floor, and Childe felt a small shockwave flee over one of
his boots; the powerful impact of Geo and Electro colliding must have created the huge blast heard
from outside.

Zhongli stood in the center of what Childe had previously recalled as his consultant’s office; he
was posed dazzlingly with one arm straight out, reaching towards the furthest corner of the room.
A thick, crystalline Geo shield indented the ground like an impermeable stone.

He never took his intense stare away from the ochre-colored safeguard, not even as Childe came to
stand beside him.

It was difficult to make out what was beneath the shield; Zhongli had reinforced it until the armor
was nearly opaque. Xiao surged next to the ex-Geo Archon, his Anemo haze clearing the man of
any debris that had fallen onto his embellished tailcoat, while Childe advanced towards the
massive, sigil-shrouded section of the room.

“About time you showed up.”

A wide, deranged smile broke out within the shield’s confines, bright enough that Childe could see
it through the safeguarded panes; slowly, the multicolored details of the person’s apparel could be
made out, along with the distinguishable sound of airy, pleasant tinkling.

Even though Childe was expecting this, knew Scaramouche would show up to pursue Zhongli, it
still made him feel like a bomb ready to detonate.

Just looking at the Sixth Harbinger set Childe’s Delusion off; zigzags of Electro ran up both his
arms.

“You have a lot of nerve,” Tartaglia reared his ugly head as Childe coursed his own Electro around
the Geo shield and spat, uncaring if he sounded more monster than man, “coming back here after
my previous warning. Breaking into Zhongli-xiansheng’s workplace. No one was ever around to
teach you manners, huh?”

Scaramouche wasn’t phased by Childe’s crude insults; he was trapped underneath Zhongli’s Geo,
immobilized and surrounded from all sides, and yet still appeared as if everything was going his
way.

It only added fuel to Childe’s fury.

“No comment, Balladeer? After targeting my Electro-users and scattering their bodies all over
Liyue, I would think you’d want some time to gloat.”

“Oh, that?” Scaramouche laughed, piercing eyes gliding around the room with no regard for his
own welfare, “Just a little controlled experiment. But Tartaglia, you’ve really outdone yourself! I
only just arrived, and no sooner had your charming pal of an Archon locked me up before you
popped out of thin air to find me.”

His unearthly cackling sent shivers down Childe’s spine; he yearned to grab that treacherous purple
nightmare by the throat again, irritated by the rocky barrier between them.

“You’re lucky the Tsaritsa wants to speak with you personally,” Childe sneered, “because
otherwise, I’d skewer you right here and now. A perfect setting for where you belong.”

“Haha, it’s always such a pleasure getting under your skin.” Indigo eyes locked onto Childe’s; their
usual barrenness was gone, replaced by an otherworldly gleam. “Too bad this isn’t the right place
for long conversations. I think I have everything I need now; the next time we meet, I promise to
indulge the both of you a little more.”

The very idea of the Balladeer trailing Zhongli, interrupting his otherwise calm, corporeal existence
again, made Childe’s vision bleed red.

As the static coating the room began to build, he shot out a hand to mould his Hydro spear; having
to bring a fugitive back alive was very different from being required to bring them back unharmed.

“Xiansheng,” he called, “Can you alter your shield’s access points?”

Copious waves of electricity surrounded Scaramouche from inside of the Geo prison. The
partitions shimmered with crafted viscosity, Zhongli making the walls passable from the outside;
Childe was forcing every muscle in his body to move against Zhongli’s devastating influence, now
united with Scaramouche’s newly destabilizing Gnosis energy.

And the Balladeer wasn’t even trying.

The pricks of lightning that managed to pass through the shield were so sharp and painful that the
lance Childe held sizzled from the Balladeer’s presence alone.

“Thanks for being so predictable,” the Sixth Harbinger’s figure became more and more shrouded
in Electro, even concealing the edges of his huge, showy hat, “and also for helping me decipher my
final course of action. I wasn’t completely sold on this strategy at first, but now I’m more than
convinced.”

“Do you ever stop running your mouth?”

Childe’s ears were going to haemorrhage if he had to listen to anymore of the Electro rat’s
ramblings.

He rotated his spear through the weighed-down fog and thrust it directly into the spot Scaramouche
had occupied, putting all of his weight into the lunge.

Return to the husk from which you were born.

Lightning spurt in every direction, the heaviest burst coming straight for the opening made by the
polearm; it reeled forwards, using Childe’s Hydro spear as a conductor. The Harbinger quickly
dropped his hands from the lance but continued forcing the liquid-based weapon to remain lodged
into the shield, Hydro gathering at its base for added propulsion.

Zhongli resealed the hole while maintaining the armour; Xiao worked on disbanding the remaining
electricity that continued making its way across the floorboards. All of their movements were
focused, accurate and potent, enough to stop a prevailing being in their tracks.

Too bad Childe was already well-aware that they were all half a second too slow; it was cruel, how
he could sense his failure even before it had properly come to pass.

Nothing that involved the Balladeer would ever be so easy.

He hissed under his breath; a threat, a forewarning, and a guarantee all in one at the shadow of
purple that laid beneath the shield of amber.

“If you lay a finger on him, I promise there will be nothing left of you but that repulsive, obnoxious
headpiece.”

Laughter bubbled up from behind the golden wall of Geo.

“I can’t wait until our next meeting, Tartaglia. Don’t miss me too much until then.”

A wave of energy enveloped the funeral parlor, forcing Childe back a few steps and into Zhongli’s
outstretched arms; the shield of amber oscillated at Childe’s sudden intrusion before disintegrating
completely, leaving only Electro remnants and a vacant space behind.

The Sixth had escaped.

And Childe still had no idea what, exactly, the retainer sought; only that it certainly involved
Zhongli, all of which was entirely Childe’s fault.

This was becoming an unflattering trend, Childe dragging the Geo Archon down. Whether it be
with his incessantly violent urges to fight or spar, or because of his connection to the Fatui, Zhongli
would never catch a break if he remained close to the Harbinger.

His incredible lucky streak seemed to be coming to an end.

“Childe, are you alright?”

Childe glanced up into luminous Cor Lapis, as Zhongli continued to steady him with strong,
composed hands. He didn’t look perturbed by the Balladeer’s abrupt invasion in the slightest;
instead, his attention was all on Childe, the frown he wore specific to the Harbinger’s comfort.

Gusts of weighted jade winds spiralled out of the funeral parlor; most likely Xiao attempting to
track down Scaramouche before he could get too far, although the pursuit was in vain.

It was hard to perceive anything other than the Prime Adeptus’ calming presence as he reeled in his
godly influence and replaced it with soothing concern, making Childe want to sigh and scream all
at once.

The way he felt whenever he was pushed in close to the Geo Archon just wasn’t fair.

“Zhongli,” the words crept onto his tongue, the admission weary and so very worn-out, “I’m sorry
about all this.”

The statement was burdened with numerous emotions from various occasions, all rolled into a few
tiny syllables; nevertheless, the Geo Archon comprehended. He said nothing in response; Childe
appreciated the silence for once, watching contritely as Zhongli straightened up and set himself
apart from the Harbinger.

He placed his hands behind the curve of his back, the image of opulence, and began walking out
towards the entrance of the parlor.

Surrounded by rubble, the consultant’s office left in shambles, Zhongli glided to the front doors
where the pale and cowering Ferrylady stood; next to her rested a giddy, flowery-eyed Hu Tao,
grinning from ear-to-ear and reeking of inexplicable enthusiasm.

“Hu-shifu,” Zhongli spoke to the funeral director, who seemed to be unable to keep her eyes away
from Childe’s unexpected presence and the trail of dust he brought with him into the foyer, “I will
be stepping out briefly. Please allow me to tidy the mess in my office upon my return.”

The chaos which was Zhongli’s office would require much more than a cleaning; the flooring had
all but been removed, and the door swung precariously off its hinges. Papers, furnishings and odd
rock-based objects coated the ground as if a hurricane had passed within the four walls holding the
funeral consultant’s belongings.

The only sound punctuating the silence within the parlor was Zhongli’s elegant light fixture
swinging back and forth, six of the eight elongated crystals decorating the feature lodged into the
nearest wall like mineral projectiles.

Any superior would have been furious, or at least flabbergasted by the display.

“Hmm, okay, sure thing!”

She was much too chipper for someone whose place of business was just infiltrated by a homicidal
immortal, but who was Childe to judge? He generally reacted quite similarly at times just as
frenzied.

The seventy-seventh director of the Wangsheng funeral parlor had always been a little eccentric.

Hu Tao’s smile grew in size, growing just a touch wicked. “But remember; if the person who
snuck in here uninvited shows up again, and for some reason or another, finds themself in need of
 an affordable burial on short-notice…”

Zhongli would never roll his eyes at another; it was a gesture lost upon his centuries of conducting
himself as a leader and a respectable man who valued etiquette and intuitive communication.

But if Childe could imagine a situation where the Adeptus would use such a trivial, human motion,
it would have been right then and there, listening to Hu Tao slide in entombment advertising as if it
were as casual as speaking about the weather.

Zhongli remained impassive, a true model of integrity and strength. “If an opportunity arises, I will
attempt to persuade him to select your amenities.”

As Hu Tao clapped her hands together with glee, the Geo Archon pulled open the front doors to
Wangsheng, rotating his body so that Childe could see the way he signalled forward with his gaze.
The ochre within his irises burnt as bright as the post-storm sunset that found its way back to Liyue
Harbor, as if Zhongli himself had willed it to return.

“Childe, are you coming?”

“Of course, xiansheng.”

His feet were already moving before the words left his lips.

Chapter End Notes

Happy Birthday, my dearest xiansheng, 生日快乐, I hope this offering treats you well.

Also I'm sorry you're not in the chapter much. You get lots of time to shine in the next
one.

If anyone had told me six months ago that I would be more excited for a fictional god's
birthday than for New Year's, I would have... probably believed them because I over-
fixate the minute I find a beautiful animated character and not much would change. I
still celebrate Halloween as Wei Wuxian's birthday, so why not add another holiday to
the mix? Pfft.

This chapter was a lot, and building relationship dynamics between Childe and Xiao
took some time, but I hope their ability to work together for the sake of Zhongli came
through naturally! Scara finally returned, and I am SO ready to have my fun with him.
Look out, Childe... I'd take that prune-colored murderer seriously, if I were you.

Also, "cough cough" I have 225 wishes saved. 60 of those from Christmas, but still.
I've decided to skip Xiao and go straight for the Mora Man. He will FINALLY come
home. Do you think I can C2 him by then if I spend no wishes?

Thank you as always for the comments last chapter; some of them really got to me.
They honestly kept me writing this holiday when I was swamped with family stuff,
stomach issues, not to mention the fear of COVID coming back to bite me in my
anxious butt (it got really bad here again and I was really worried for family), so I
thank you from the bottom of my heart. This community is a literal godsend.

Chat with me about genshin and see new chapter posts on my Twitter, which I just
got? Twitter
 Implicit Details
Chapter Notes

~~Fanart alert~~

I received two absolutely STUNNING works of art this morning and have to share
them immediately.

@ccmberart made this MASTERPIECE of Childe and Zhongli on horseback in

Snezhnaya back from Chapter 19: it's glorious. Childe's face is perfect. Their
expressions are everything. I cried, which is always a little embarrassing, but it
happens. AH. Horseback Scene

@kl0f1 made this PERFECT drawing of Dragon-hybrid Zhongli within his domain
lying in furs? With his Exuvia in the background!? The details are to my exact
imaginings, and I was floored when I saw this. Dragon's Den

Support the artists! <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

For some reason or another, Zhongli chose to bring Childe back to the Northland Bank.

The rainstorm left without preamble; sunlight blanketed the harbor in hues of shimmering crimson
and sepia, setting each of the glazed ceramic tiles on the bank’s walls alight. At this time of day,
when the shops were beginning to tidy up their storefronts in preparations of closing, Childe
affirmed that Liyue Harbor was at its most picturesque; the whole city was bathed in red,
vermillion covering every edifice from Yuehai Pavilion to the horizon’s edge. Even the ocean
waves were tinged with the sun’s potent dye.

The wharf transformed into a scenic landscape of blazing gold; a stark contrast to Snezhnaya’s
harbourfront of icy white, yet nevertheless just as breathtaking.

Their walk over was quick and uneventful, save for a few strange looks from passersby who eyed
Childe’s grimy clothes and fatigued appearance. The Harbinger’s mask was removed and returned
to his hair, exposing just how infuriated he was with himself and the Sixth Harbinger’s
disappearance.

If a meek jewelry merchant made eye contact with him and heavily flinched before shrinking
behind their shop curtains, it could only be blamed on the permanent pinch between Childe’s
brows that most likely wouldn’t fade until tomorrow.

So sorry he couldn’t always appear as put-together as the ex-Geo Archon, who certainly didn’t
look as if he was just ambushed by a very vicious, very sadistic member of the Fatui.

“Why are we at Northland?” Childe inquired as Vlad held the door for them both; he offered a
quick welcome back, Lord Harbinger, Mr. Zhongli, and Childe responded with a wave before
entering. It was nearly time for his shift to end, and Childe pondered whether he and the nightguard
(Nadia?) ever interacted, on the off-chance they managed to cross paths before their respective
shifts.

“It is the most suitable setting for discussing occupational matters,” Zhongli replied, “as well as
the most private. Your office is neutral ground, a satisfactory location for you to simmer down.”

Simmer down?

“Coming back to work isn’t going to magically make me feel better about letting Scaramouche get
away.” In spite of his words, Childe had still trailed the ex-Geo Archon all the way there, very
mindful and conscious of the established route taken. But taking five now? Not possible, even with
Zhongli to appease him. “You can’t actually expect me to ease up following a confrontation like
that.”

Childe’s muscles were wound up as tight as they could go; fresh air and the hasty stroll over while
staring at Zhongli’s perfectly-straight back could only do so much.

The Balladeer was treating Childe like a piece of an ominous puzzle, one whose finished product
was shrouded in obscurity.

It was driving him mad.

The Adeptus let his eyes wander across Childe’s face, vivid in their scrutiny. “I can when you are
exuding the same internal distress as you did the night we fought in your homeland.”

“I—”

Images of that night flashed across the backs of Childe’s eyelids whenever he so much as blinked;
of their intense skirmish, resulting in Childe being forced to come to terms with his own feelings,
and bottling up the sensation of forfeiting as a direct trade-off for Zhongli’s contentment.

Childe had wrestled with the disappointment of realizing that loving Zhongli, in the way he
desired, was unrealistic; even though he was a steadfast completionist at heart. He fought with his
longings and ambitions until everything ached, driving down the urge to conquer, to succeed, and
filling the void left with reminders of why the Geo Archon would be better off free from his self-
seeking requests.

How he wanted and wanted and wanted, and would never be able to stop. If he were given an inch,
he would take a mile, two, ten.

Everything he could get until there was nothing left.

Nonetheless, human lives, when compared to that of immortals, were short; inconsequential things
that came and went like the tide. An eternity to a mortal rarely even lasted a century and could
hardly be considered noteworthy.

But if Childe told Zhongli the truth and the Archon reciprocated out of pity, because of divine
leniency for someone he trusted and cared for as a friend…

Surrendering a few of his hard-earned decades as Zhongli, free from his godly responsibilities and
woes, for Childe’s short-term happiness…

Well. Childe wouldn’t be able to handle the guilt.

Maybe the blunt reminders of Scaramouche’s ties to the Fatui and Childe’s inability to keep
Zhongli out of his affairs, supplemented by the disaster at Wangsheng, were throwing the
Harbinger into an emotionally imbalanced collapse.

“—You saw what just happened, Zhongli-xiansheng. You can’t blame me if I’m feeling a bit on
edge.”

When Childe and Zhongli stepped into the bank’s foyer, the few patrons within turned their eyes to
the floor; even Ekaterina looked somewhat stupefied.

It wasn’t as if the Harbinger hadn’t waltzed around Liyue caked with blood (usually never his) and
other various, distressing traces of slaughter.

Was his discontent manifesting like some kind of perceptible raincloud over his head?

“Good evening, Lord Harbinger. You’ve returned quite soon from your search…” Ekaterina
offered him a bow before perking up at immense speed, noticing the Adeptus right away, “Mr.
Zhongli, welcome back to Liyue! Did you enjoy your visit to Snezhnaya?”

Childe was in no mood to make small talk, one of the reasons why he would’ve preferred meeting
with Zhongli somewhere besides Northland; Andrei was already glancing in their direction, his
expression one of clear eagerness. No doubt the two shady-looking individuals piling gold bars on
the table adjacent to where the manager stood needed some sort of firm talking to regarding why
loans from Northland were to be paid on time or else. Who better to intimidate them than the
Eleventh Harbinger?

“Although short, it was extremely pleasant.” Zhongli quirked a brow at Childe’s slow retreat
towards his office, “The vast landscapes, distinctive cuisine and architecture were all superb.
Childe’s family also made it an excursion I will indefinitely cherish; they left quite the positive
impression, and I do hope to return again for a longer duration, if time permits.”

Ekaterina cooed as if Zhongli had said something exceptionally tender, her smile annoyingly wide
and fond.

“It’s wonderful that you enjoyed yourself! What was your favorite part?”

“Hmm…” Childe’s expression grew progressively cloudier the longer Zhongli reflected on the
inquiry, raising his amber eyes to the ceiling in thought. “It is difficult to say, although I did
partake in the assembling of something called a snow-man for the first time. Childe’s siblings are
experts; perhaps, since you are Snezhnayan, you have also taken part in such activities? As
arduous as it seemed at first, once you comprehend how to mould the snow to your liking, it
becomes a relatively enjoyable task…”

The sparkles in Ekaterina’s eyes could be seen from Dragonspine, with how large and brightly they
shimmered.

As if it weren’t enough for the Northland administrator to find the man enchanting and attractive;
now Childe had to deal with her knowing that he was an absolute softie with children.

The woman was going to melt at his feet if this kept up.

“Alright, that’s enough—you can chat more about the journey later.” Childe placed a hand on
Zhongli’s shoulder before motioning the man away from the front desk, his underling looking
much more forlorn with the obvious time-to-get-back-to-work gesture than the Adeptus,
“Ekaterina, in about five minutes you’re going to be receiving a report on an incident at the
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. It involves the Balladeer, so prepare yourself. I need to speak to
Zhongli-xiansheng concerning the events personally; don’t let Andrei or anyone else interrupt.”
He cut his eyes in the direction of the bank manager; once Andrei caught sight of the Harbinger’s
glare, he judiciously spun back around to deal with the predicament himself. Clever man.

“Sir? The Sixth Harbinger has…?” Ekaterina floundered as Childe near-dragged Zhongli around
the staircase to his office, leaving the inferior panicking at her desk.

“Five minutes.” He clicked open the door before adding, “Oh, and if that short, green-haired fellow
appears… remember him? The one who’s rather feisty?”

Ekaterina paled at the casual mention of Xiao, eyeing Zhongli. “How could I forget. The… entity
that is afraid of Mr. Zhongli.”

Childe barked out an ironic laugh, recalling how his poor underling witnessed the Yaksha with his
claws two inches deep into the Harbinger’s shoulders, only hesitating once the Geo Archon had
come to his humbling rescue.

Granted, if Childe was given just a few more minutes alone with the Yaksha, he might have
overtaken him.

Possibly.

“That’s the one; if he comes looking for either of us, just let him in.”

There was a pregnant pause; Ekaterina stared back at the Harbinger, looking overwhelmingly
nervous.

“I promise you won’t need to bulk order any new furniture,” Childe sighed, “so quit worrying over
nonexistent invoices and get back to your post.”

Although somewhat chastised, Ekaterina hardly looked convinced. It wasn’t exactly classified
knowledge that Childe invited conflict wherever he went, workplace or otherwise. Zhongli’s
presence was probably the only reason his subordinate managed a nod and sat back down,
concluding their conversation with a quiet “Yes, Lord Harbinger.”

Even though Zhongli was a rather enigmatic figure in Liyue, his aura radiated security in a way
Childe couldn’t; the man had a knack for soothing other’s troubles just by being nearby.

Childe heaved a sigh once Zhongli entered the office, slamming the door shut behind them with
enough force to shake the entry; privacy was good. Privacy meant that he could have the Adeptus
all to himself while simultaneously preparing for Scaramouche’s next encounter.

There was a swoosh of movement as the ex-Geo Archon removed his overcoat, folding it up gently
to rest on the back of the armchair centred across from Childe’s desk. The lounger, replaced once
again following the Balladeer’s visit, had curved armrests, a tall, wide backing, and ochre details.

When Zhongli proceeded to seat himself, it fit his broad, statuesque shape perfectly; he rested
there, hands cusped under his chin and head titled upwards, a king positioned on his throne.

Childe gulped before murmuring, “Why do you look more at home here than I do…”

There was an instant where the Geo Archon surveyed Childe with mild curiosity, expecting him to
take a seat at his own desk, but the Harbinger was too occupied gazing at where Zhongli’s vest
coiled around his middle. The fabric embraced his figure like a scabbard, and Childe could
illustrate what hid underneath by memory; he called to mind mental images of a bare-chested,
sleep-tussled Zhongli, back in his childhood bedroom.
A slight cough jostled the ornaments detailing Zhongli’s attire; Childe glimpsed up to see two Cor
Lapis jewels staring back at him, lingering there until he couldn’t hold eye contact any longer.

Perhaps privacy wasn’t so good of an option, after all.

“I understand you have your reservations regarding the Sixth Harbinger,” Zhongli spoke while
Childe got comfortable, head still churning with intrusive thoughts, “and for good reason. Catching
me off-guard is difficult, to say the least, so his approach to unexpectedly appearing at Wangsheng
was… interesting.”

“Interesting.” Childe repeated blandly. “Just how did you find that interesting?”

“It tells me plenty about his foreseeable objective.” That made the Harbinger’s brow raise
immediately. Had Zhongli noticed something Childe missed? “As well as a newly pressing matter;
he clearly intends to involve me in his subversion.”

Right. Childe glared holes into the desk top, wishing that he knew how to explain this predicament
without having to blatantly spell out the fact that he kept Zhongli in the dark on purpose, in the
hopes that this whole thing would’ve blown over without the Adeptus ever needing to know.

Somehow, if anything, it had spiralled more out of control; now Childe was faced with the
ramifications of not telling the Geo Archon sooner.

Maybe Zhongli didn’t suspect Childe of knowing anything about Scaramouche’s plans. Especially
considering the grub was full of surprises.

“Ajax,” his tone remained thoughtful, with the tiniest hint of sternness, “you purposefully held
back knowledge regarding the Sixth Harbinger’s pursuit.”

Never mind; the Prime Adeptus saw right through Childe’s sad attempt at keeping him out of the
loop.

“Why would you avoid informing me that this Scaramouche wants something directly from
Liyue’s Adepti?”

“It really doesn’t change anything,” he could feel heat trickling at the back of his neck; Childe was
hardly held to the spot like a cross-examination, but for some reason, having Zhongli openly
asking about his indiscretions unnerved him, “and to be fair, I didn’t know just how deep his
scheme involved you, only that he was interested in our association and would most likely return to
Liyue.”

It hurt to say the word association out loud, because Childe knew that their relationship was so
much more than a mere business transaction. He knew that Zhongli understood that, as well.

But at face value, maybe Childe wanted the word to be heard with more connotations, desired for
Zhongli to pause and consider the different kinds of associations that could exist between them.

Zhongli was right; Childe wasn’t in the right frame of mind.

“So then this isn’t about the Adepti, nor does it involve your contrived unawareness.” Zhongli’s
brows knitted together, voice flat and steady; how he could call Childe out in such a scholarly way
while overlooking his missteps for the sake of problem solving was astonishing. It must have been
a god-grown experiential talent, honed from spending millennia after millennia dealing with
problematic people. “What you are implying is that Scaramouche already set his sights on Liyue
following the meeting you two shared. Since then, you chose to seek guidance from your Cryo
Archon, correspond with your emissaries, and even involve Alatus, all while leaving me ignorant.”

The Harbinger winced.

When he put it like that, the whole thing sounded so much worse.

Childe’s “thoughtful” gesture of trying to handle everything without roping Zhongli into any more
of his troubles was beginning to look more juvenile and illogical by the second.

He gestured vaguely to nothing, hands needing something to do while Childe sorted out the mess
he himself had created. “I was planning to deal with Scaramouche before he made his way to you.
Obviously… that was a failure.”

“Even so, why couldn’t you tell me?”

The Adeptus really wasn’t making this easy on him, was he?

“Zhongli,” Childe willed the aggravation out of his voice; he could feel himself tipping over the
edge again, that slippery slope he had narrowly avoided falling down within the confines of that
freezing storage shed, dangerous words hovering underneath his tongue, “I thought I was doing
you a service. I just want you to keep your carefree existence, which is hard to do when you have a
Fatui Harbinger nearby attracting danger at every turn.”

Before the Archon could interject, which he most definitely planned on doing, if his pointed scowl
meant anything, Childe shook his head. It was a movement vigorous enough to dislodge a side of
his scarf. “It’s generally because of me that trouble continues to find you in retirement. So yes, I
kept a piece of information that was important from you, not because I thought you wouldn’t be
able to handle it, or whatnot, but because I just…”

His phrase had turned into an incoherent mumble. Honesty had always been the best policy
between the Harbinger and the Adeptus; why he even bothered trying to keep Zhongli uninformed
in the first place was tactless.

“…don’t want you to see me as an inconvenience.”

Childe watched the drop of Zhongli’s jaw into an expression of disbelief, followed by a lengthy
sigh. His weight shifted away from the chair as he leaned closer to Childe’s desk, the ponytail
always clasped so elegantly behind him falling in wisps into the Geo Archon’s lap. The golden
ends were duller than usual, echoing the brooding vexation behind amber eyes.

“How absurd.” The Adeptus folded his hands across the table, gloved fingers overlapping. “That
you would ever consider yourself a burden to my life, and furthermore, that you ignored how
beneficial it would be if we worked together regarding this issue.”

“That’s part of the problem, though,” the irrational side of Childe’s brain had taken over,
completely ignoring Zhongli’s supportive statements and instead focusing on his own misgivings,
“you shouldn’t have to stick your hands back into Fatui business, not after handing over the Gnosis.
Dealing with individuals like Scaramouche should be my weight to shoulder and mine alone.”

Something dark flickered across the ex-Geo Archon’s face. Zhongli’s lips straightened into an
unimpressed line, only the smallest jut of pink still visible.

“It sounds as if you think you know what is best for me.”

The shiver that ran up Childe’s spine was wholly attributed to the grating, rumbling irritation that
dribbled into the Adeptus’ tone.

“I know you would rather be perusing the marketplace or watching Yun Jin at the Heyu Tea House
than dealing with someone like Scaramouche.”

“What I prefer to do in my leisure time is unrelated; I have always been more than willing to
support you.”

Childe bit his lip to keep himself from pushing this into an argument; they were at a stalemate, and
if there was one thing Zhongli retained no matter what form he took, it was his intransience.

They weren’t leaving that room until Liyue’s fallen god said everything on his mind.

“There is no appropriate time to have discussions such as these, but you must know that I cannot
have misunderstandings between us go unresolved,” Zhongli toyed with the Cor Lapis paperweight
on Childe’s desk, a mundane, human action that Childe would have grinned at if he weren’t so
busy feeling the heat of the figurative spotlight the Adeptus arranged over his head, “thus I must
bring up something that I believe is pertinent, but may only upset you further.”

The sensation of impending doom hit Childe like blunt-force trauma. “Zhongli-xiansheng, we
don’t have time for this kind of conversation, not when I should be out there looking for—“

“Scaramouche will find us when he deems fit.” The Adeptus’ tone deepened, and Childe’s throat
grew unbearably parched. He knew exactly how a deer felt now, frozen before a bow landed
between its eyes. “Until then, we have plenty of time to speak.”

Childe had the fleetest urge to pull his Fatui mask over his face as an escape from Zhongli’s
penetrating gaze; he felt vulnerable, with the light outside disappearing into dusk, his loss still fresh
in his mind.

If the ex-Geo Archon decided to interrogate him on certain personal matters, Childe wasn’t sure if
he would be able to avoid the inevitable anymore.

“While we were in Morepesok…”

бля. May the Tsaritsa help him.

“… before Teucer’s interruption. You stated that finding your happiness would negatively affect
my own. I am beginning to think you have accepted your ties to the Fatui as an eternal hinderance
for those around you a constant truth.”

Ever the overanalyzing deity.

“It’s much more than that.” Childe forced his face to remain steady no matter how hot it felt; the
blend of weariness and the stupid ever-present warmth that coated his every interaction with the
Adeptus, especially when he was this close, was leaving the Harbinger a red and splotchy disaster,
“And I couldn’t care less if my career choice gives others the wrong impression.”

Zhongli gave a pensive hum.

“This is specific to myself, then.”

A slight gleam of amber light glowed from within Zhongli’s eyes before dissipating as quickly as it
appeared. The Adeptus scooted his chair inward until their knees were nearly hitting underneath
the table, as if the few inches gained would help him see Childe’s thoughts better. “…You are
afraid that your presence threatens my security as an “ordinary” mortal in Liyue.”

Ah.

Minus the declaration of Childe’s desire to spend the rest of his short, human life next to the ex-
Geo Archon and an ugly, tragic love confession, Zhongli had summed up his worries quite
concisely.

Childe huffed. “More or less.”

He was never a fan of his doubts being publicized, but if it would keep the Adeptus from prodding
any further, Childe could admit to that at least.

Zhongli’s face relaxed a fraction, his forehead smoothing. “Ajax, so long as you are
straightforward with me and stop attempting to handle everything on your own, there is no way
that I could be unhappy in this lifetime, posing as a mortal or continuing on as a god.”

Normally, a comment like that would send Childe spiralling into a pit of affection so deep, he
would lose his train of thought.

Now, though, it lit a flame in his stomach that poked at his ribcage, spurring him onward, making
Childe impatient.

He wanted something out of this conversation; if he couldn’t get Scaramouche on a silver platter
today, nor a taste of Zhongli’s loving, open arms, then he would settle for the next best thing.

Quickly, while the mood remained open and loaded with candidness, Childe decided to delve into
the questions he wanted to ask Zhongli back before they had grown close; before he realized his
feelings in the first place, only grasping the intense curiosity that plagued him over everything and
anything related to Liyue’s God of Contracts.

“If you want me to be more frank, then I’d like something in return.”

The Balladeer would be rolling in a puddle of tears, right now, laughing himself dry if he saw how
deep Childe’s feelings ran. The parasite most likely already knew. In a sense, a part of this was his
doing, after he coerced Childe into envisioning La Signora and Zhongli together, sending him
down a rabbit hole of greed and longing ever since.

He owed Childe a spare minute to seek some clarity.

The Geo Archon tilted his head, leaving Childe an opening to continue.

“Zhongli, xiansheng, I know you have your reasons for retirement; I was confused and furious at
the time, back at the Golden House when you explained yourself, but since then I’ve come to
understand you much better. Even though you skirt around the subject every time I ask, I’m sure a
large part of why you surrendered your Gnosis was to protect the future of Liyue, and I came to
respect that; a contract is a contract, after all.”

“You’ve told me countless stories about your millennia spent here on the region you carved, the
people who’ve impacted it, and the histories of how this well-loved nation came to be, but I know
for certain I’ve barely cracked the surface yet of all there is to know about you.”

Childe’s voice grew tight as a plucked wire; this was more important to him than he originally
thought. He could feel it in his limbs, how lightly they trembled.
He already attempted to fight his way out of talking it out once; that strategy was guaranteed to
fold if he tried it again.

Words were all he had left.

“What I’ve come to appreciate is that you are extraordinary; everything you’ve endowed to this
nation, what you do for others without even trying, what you’ve done for me… tell me then, what
do I offer in comparison?”

Silence floated between them in Childe’s office, only the soft thuds of footsteps and chatter outside
of the room interjecting. Zhongli’s face was set in stone, as if he hadn’t digested the question.

Childe, a true Harbinger of chaos, couldn’t stand the peace.

“Well, Zhongli?”

A vibration quivered beneath Childe’s desk; it was followed by Zhongli raising himself up from
the plush chair to lean straight over Childe’s tabletop, making sure that his glowing, amber gaze
was the only thing the Harbinger could see. The quaking continued, stemming directly beneath
each of the ex-Geo Archon’s feet, though minor enough to only vibrate the nearest furniture.

Golden-dipped hair came so close that Childe could smell the soft fragrance of sandalwood; he dug
his fingers into the underside of his chair, already unsteady before the sudden trickle of tremors
begun.

How pathetically hungry for the Geo Archon’s closeness could he be?

“What do you offer?”

The Adeptus’ face was deceivingly calm, but Childe knew that his question wounded him. Even
so, there were some things the Harbinger had to clarify; he needed to grasp exactly where the two
of them stood.

“Your value is not something physical, Ajax. Why do you still, after all the time we have spent
together, think of yourself as an object with a price tag?”

“That isn’t…” The more he thought about it, the less ground Childe had to stand on. His stretch in
Liyue did involve him dishing out his wallet more often than not; in all honesty, it didn’t bother
him. If Mora was the easiest way for him to gain access to information or keep others satisfied, he
was happy to use it. “Spending Mora isn’t exactly the noblest way to make friends, xiansheng.”

For Zhongli, he would spend all of it, not out of obligation or necessity; just because he wanted to.

But what if Childe couldn’t provide Zhongli with everything he desired?

Zhongli wouldn’t abandon him as a friend, certainly, but someone else could arrive and take his
place. Someone who would cater to the Archon just as Childe had, only this time, they would
manage to catch his eye in other ways.

They would indulge and cherish the Adeptus using all of the same methods Childe did, minus the
relentless pressure of looming danger that lurked around every corner.

And that would make all the difference.

There were anxieties laced into all possible outcomes Childe imagined for Zhongli’s future, and
every single one that didn’t involve him being the man’s first choice drove him crazy.

The Adeptus’ nostrils flared. “You cannot be so foolish as to think that your largest contribution to
our friendship is Mora.”

“Of course not.” Or at least, he appreciated that Zhongli didn’t think so. “I know that you see me
as more than a walking coin purse.”

The Adeptus crossed his arms, body still slanted over the desk; he was almost sitting on the edge of
it, now. The sides of his trousers hiked against the wood, creasing them.

An abrupt buzzing sounded from the desk speaker, making Childe flinch; he had forgotten about
its infernal existence. The amplifier and button were both placed precariously close to Zhongli’s
thigh, enough that when Childe shot out his hand to respond (at lightning-speed), he was a hair’s
width away from skimming the man’s leg.

“Lord Harbinger,” Childe resigned himself to being spread thin until Scaramouche was another
bloodstain under his belt, “I have the report. Is it alright if I take it to you?”

As if the acting Eleventh Harbinger could say no. “Bring it over.”

Before Zhongli could politely remove himself from the bureau, Ekaterina was already at the door,
knocking politely and entering in the same beat.

“Ah… apologies for intruding.” If a fruit could describe the underling’s face at that moment,
Childe believed a sunsettia would be very appropriate.

Ekaterina’s gaze shifted hastily from Zhongli, to Childe, and then to the ceiling, in that order, for
what felt like minutes before the document was handed over. There were only two papers in the
folder; as expected. Scaramouche didn’t leave them with much to work with. “This is everything
gathered from the attack on Wangsheng. Mr. Zhongli, I trust you were unharmed?”

“I am perfectly fine. Thank you for your concern, Miss Ekaterina.”

She slanted her masked head slightly, a flustered, besotted blush lighting up the visible portion of
her face, and Childe wondered.

Ekaterina was pretty; she led a simpler life than Childe, as a low rank within the Fatui, and was
hardly a threat nor a magnet for hardship. Her and Zhongli mingled whenever the esteemed funeral
consultant came to visit on his spare lunches or between meetings, a sufficient amount for the clerk
to grow palpably fond of the Adeptus.

Then again, many people were fond of him, but sometimes these things were inevitable.

Could someone like that appeal to Zhongli someday?

“Would you like me to read over anything for you, Lord Harbinger, or…”

“I think we’re fine here.” Ekaterina recoiled; Childe snapped before he could hold back his
displeasure. “Thank you, Ekaterina. That will be all for now.”

What was going on with him today? Childe was usually very good at handling indiscretions; when
plan A failed, there was always option B, some method or technique that still needed to be tried
and mastered. When something aggravated him, there were ways to cope. He shouldn’t be taking
out his frustrations on Ekaterina, of all people.
The fucking Balladeer was ruining everything. He strongarmed the Eleventh Harbinger’s resilience
into overdrive, brain running amuck for no good reason.

Childe would capture him. He would ship him off to the Tsaritsa and no longer have to worry
about that jingling, lavender mosquito, and then…

Then he would…

“Are you going to read it?”

Zhongli observed as Childe shrugged his shoulders. “Later. I’m not sure if there’s anything in there
that’ll be useful; and besides, I know you still have something to say. It’s written all over your
face.”

Said-face was hardly moved into more than an unyielding glower, but Childe considered himself
well-versed in reading Adepti mannerisms.

“What brought on this irrational train of thought...” Zhongli started; Childe shot him a skeptical
glance, which was matched with a heated, resolute stare. “It reminds me of Alatus’ compulsive
urge to defend my honor. Perhaps you were right; the two of you may have the potential to become
friends, yet.”

“See? Me caring shouldn’t be something worth reprimanding. Your Yaksha’s been at it for ages.”

“It is when you place me on a pedestal of your own design.” A puff of exasperation left the
Adeptus’ mouth. “Our differences are what make our interactions so pleasant; I have never sought
to understand a mortal more than during my time with you. Learning how to exist in the human
realm, truly walking alongside people instead of only gazing at them with an Archon’s mindset…
none of that could have become possible without meeting you.”

Thump. Childe felt his chest constrict painfully.

“You’re giving me way too much credit, here,” Childe chuckled in spite of himself, seizing up
when Zhongli walked to the opposite side of the desk to loom over him directly, “When we met,
you were already doing a fantastic job of blending in. Everyone in Liyue flocked to you, sought
your company and assistance… you’re a natural people-person.”

“Perhaps,” the darkness made the golden flecks within the Adeptus’ irises all the more dazzling,
“but finding an individual who disguises themself with many masks, each of which hides away a
precious stone of immeasurable value, is a rarity in itself.”

Childe made a face akin to a squished lavender melon. “Can you simplify that for me?”

The ex-Geo Archon’s glower grew lax as he continued, the words leaving his lips like a prepared
oration. “Your many facets each present something remarkable. Witnessing the contrasts and
parallels of who you are—Childe, Tartaglia, Ajax—stirred something in me; that day you broached
the subject about my various identities as Zhongli, Rex Lapis and Morax, when you were so
troubled… I saw myself reflected in your madness.”

A vice-grip clenched around Childe’s heart; there was so much he wanted to admit to the man
standing mere inches away from where his hands could touch, where his words couldn’t reach—

“Conviction and self-determination are your chief assets, Ajax. It pains me to see you doubt
yourself.”
A gloved hand made its way to rest on the underside of Childe’s chin, almost caressing his neck;
Childe’s eyes enlarged, breath hitching directly underneath where the Adeptus’ palm laid. It was
likely he could feel the bob of the Harbinger’s throat, where a lump of hysteria descended into his
windpipe.

This was too much. Way too much.

The lap incident must have broken new ground for Zhongli’s comfort level, and Childe wasn’t sure
if he was pleased with the progression.

“And as much as I enjoy sharing these moments with you to explain my thoughts, conflict is a part
of life, human or otherwise. It is the one branch of existence of which I am most accustomed. So
please, allow me to help you from now on.”

Zhongli’s fingers traced around the soft skin of Childe’s cheek, bordering the line of kindness and
something that Childe was desperately trying so hard not to assume, because Zhongli didn’t get it,
couldn’t see how it was affecting him.

The Adeptus was only being the flawless, compassionate immortal he always had been. The one
that compelled Childe to fall in love with him in the first place.

“Hopefully you are no longer ill at ease. Now, if you are willing, we can continue discussing the
next course of action regarding the Sixth Harbinger.”

Childe’s hand gripped Zhongli’s arm; the Geo Archon stilled, his relaxed ministrations coming to a
pause.

“Zhongli.” The name came easier to Childe’s tongue, but with it also surged a wave of unmatched
passion; he was about to fall.

“When you—say things like that,” was speaking always so challenging? Childe felt an unearthly
pull forward from his extremities, both hands now holding Zhongli in place as if simultaneously
asking him to stop touching him like that and to never pull away, “I get dangerously optimistic.”

It was evident Déjà vu; Childe felt like he was back on the precipice of Wangshu Inn, inviting the
God of Contracts to spar for the first time.

He was filled with the uncontrollable excitement before a grand encounter. The adrenaline rush of
being unsure of who would walk away from the battlefield, Childe or his opponent, and jumping at
the chance to find out. He was surging ahead into new, uncharted, territory, only this was infinitely
more terrifying, and could possibly,

no, probably,

wreck everything.

But if Childe had to spend one more instant with Zhongli in this physically debilitating limbo of
emotions, without at least asking how the other man felt, he was going to implode.

“Optimistic?” Zhongli’s expression wavered with uncertainty, though his hand never dropped from
Childe’s face.

“You make it sound as if I can give you everything,” staring up into those Cor Lapis eyes, ancient
and surging with potent energy, Childe murmured, “but what do you really want from this life?
What would a person, human, god, or in-between, need to do to make you content in every way
possible?”

In other words:

What do I need to do to keep you?

The room was filled with an emergent, soothing light; the tips of the Adeptus’ locks were shining,
casting otherworldly shadows across Zhongli’s jaw, while his eyes sparkled enough to blind. Every
golden feature casing the walls lit up, vibrant as daylight. Childe would be blinking away the spots
in his vision for hours.

His entire figure radiated brilliant Geo energy, but the Geo Archon’s face was marred by a deep-set
frown, wrought with confliction.

Childe took Zhongli’s contemplation as an opportunity; he pulled the Adeptus in closer, just
enough so that Zhongli would bend down, bringing them face-to-face. He had to make sure that
when the Geo Archon gave his answer, there would be nothing left to mull over or misconstrue.

Zhongli had given him an inch, and Childe was willing to remeasure it until it became limitless.

“If all you desire out of retirement is living out a lifetime in Liyue in peace, doing exactly what we
do now, then I’ll make sure that’s exactly what happens. But if there’s anything else I can provide,
maybe something that you haven’t really given much thought to yet… I would dedicate myself to
accomplishing it, and definitely not just out of friendly obligation.”

The heat from fingertips still petrified on the cusp of Childe’s jaw slowly disappeared as Zhongli’s
hand slipped back to his side. There was no way Childe could say anything else; that was as
forward as he could be before his questioning became pushy. His body was also at its limit,
blushing and strained indefinitely. Even the exposed bit of skin where his uniform separated by his
navel was flushed dark red.

It wasn’t a blunt declaration of the Harbinger’s affections, but it allowed the Adeptus some leeway.

If he understood the underlying message, Zhongli still had the option of feigning obliviousness to
help save face, both for Childe and himself.

Pretending nothing happened would certainly be the kinder choice.

Although, the ex-Geo Archon was never one to avoid something just because it was
uncomfortable.

And if he still didn’t see just how deep Childe’s fondness went…

Well, then it was only a matter of time.

Please don’t hate me once you realize, xiansheng.

“Those are powerful words, Ajax.” The heat radiating from Zhongli’s body could be felt from
where Childe sat, his Geo energy unrelenting. Childe hung onto his every breath, slouched over
and exhausted; he wished someone had warned him about how draining love could be.

Still, the Adeptus remained at eye-level, luminescent eyes searching Childe’s face with captivating
speed, “They sound suspiciously like a contract, of sorts. Contracts cannot be used to measure
friendship or sentiment.”
“No, no, this is nothing like that.” The last thing he wanted was a contract; that involved
obligation, which was nowhere near what the Harbinger sought from the Adeptus, “You don’t
have to do anything. I just want to know if in this lifetime, of which mine is probably shorter than
most, I could give you…”

Every happiness a person can experience.

Childe hung his head. It was difficult to keep meeting Zhongli’s gaze, especially when he looked at
him as if everything that left his mouth was important, worth noting, but possibly not enough to get
the message through.

A beat had passed of no movement from either of them; the bank grew noisier, the nighttime
patrons making their deposits in the shadows of twilight. Northland was notorious for serving the
upscale, evasive individuals of Liyue who required discreetness and secrecy above all else. In a city
famous for its wealth, it was no wonder the interior of the Snezhnayan bank was bursting with gold
from floor to ceiling.

Muffled voices were speaking from beneath the staircase that led to Childe’s office, loud enough
that Childe could tell it was Ekaterina. She was rarely shrill with clients; hearing her panicky, high-
pitched voice was a bit alarming.

Thank the Tsaritsa the Harbinger had distractions to focus on, because the loaded pause that
Zhongli left mounting within the office was painful. The Geo Archon’s habitual routine of
pondering everything over would send Childe to an early grave.

Maybe it wasn’t too late to smooth all this over with a late-night spar.

A light, cautious weight settled atop of Childe’s hair, slowly moving downwards until it paused by
the mask on his head. Zhongli’s touch sent a shudder running through Childe’s limbs; he kept his
eyes locked on the man’s dress shoes, catching his reflection in their polished sheen.

He looked overcome.

“I think,” Zhongli spoke gently, resuming his slow ministrations while his fingers brushed through
Childe’s hair. He rendered the Harbinger completely immobile, as Childe fixated on the entrancing
rumble of the Adeptus’ tenor, “that the days following your return to Liyue Harbor have been
immensely demanding of you. Only a few moons ago you collapsed in my doorway; perhaps the
strain is compelling you to make impulsive decisions regarding your, as you defined, brief human
lifespan.”

The hair-stroking continued. Zhongli said nothing else; Childe wondered who, at that moment, was
more akin to stone: Zhongli or himself?

“Ha.” The chuckle that fell from his lips was flat and empty. “Maybe you’re right. Sorry about
that.”

A gentle Mmm reverberated from Zhongli’s chest, and Childe’s heart flopped pathetically.

It was the softest, most Zhongli-esque rejection Childe could have anticipated; in a way, he had
been expecting it.

Sure, the ex-Geo Archon didn’t flat-out turn him away, but it was enough. The sympathetic head
pats and tender, repentant tone said it all.

Childe couldn’t bring himself to glance back at his reflection.

“Ajax, look at me.”

When the Harbinger felt his head tilt upwards, he had no choice but to follow the direction until he
was met with Cor Lapis, brimming with benevolence and reprieve and celestial glory.

And truly, how could he not remain forever-entangled with this divine being, when every time
Childe looked at him, he fell in love all over again?

A sudden bombardment of wind screeched from the corner of the room; Zhongli drew his hand
back immediately, while Childe found his bearings enough to summon his Hydro spear. The wisps
of black sent a few loose papers flying as the rest of Xiao manifested from the squall, his body
posed into a deep, beseeching crouch.

Childe’s tone could have cut glass; he felt more than heard his frostiness as he addressed the
Yaksha, “excellent timing as always, guard dog.”

Clearly no amount of praying would grant Childe a minute to lick his wounds in peace.

Whatever Xiao saw in Childe’s eyes was enough to make him overlook the rude reception. He
straightened, glittering yellow stare taking in the Harbinger and the Prime Adeptus. “The woman
out front allowed me direct entry.”

The Harbinger seethed with morbid humiliation.

Ekaterina. No wonder she had sounded so frightened.

Xiao crossed his arms before grunting in irritation. “There were no traces left of the retainer; I
followed his energy trails but there were multitudes all leading in different directions. They must
have been prepared in advance.”

He bowed his head low in Zhongli’s direction. “I’m sorry I wasn’t of more use, Morax.”

If Zhongli felt awkward following their intense conversation, he didn’t show any sign of it; the
Adeptus sauntered over to the Yaksha and motioned for him to stop his prostrations. “You’ve done
just fine, Alatus. If this immortal wants to meet with me, it may be best to wait for him to approach
on his own. The situation cannot be resolved with brute force alone; he has proven that already.”

The ex-Geo Archon’s face turned shrewd, his mind already lost to the fathoms it so often searched
through for answers, leaving Childe waiting for his counsel.

Nothing had changed.

From what the Harbinger could see, the Adeptus remained composed, back on track to figuring out
Scaramouche’s next move. His body language was calm and languid, as if an impending assault
was nothing more than a fly needing to be swat.

Maybe it was always meant to be this way. In the end, Childe was still the Tsaritsa’s weapon of
choice; he had a duty to provide, and a Harbinger to crush. Laying waste to his enemies was what
he did best.

He could take comfort in that.

“Childe?”

Molten amber pinned him to his chair.

 “What would you like to do?”

Childe felt like the ground beneath Zhongli’s feet; easily mouldable, tumbling like sand through
the cracks. A weight had been taken off his shoulders and replaced by a newfound resolve.

He was steadier. Dejected, but more at ease than he had been in awhile.

The Harbinger cracked his covered knuckles in a steady rhythm—one, two, three—before a surge
of Electro rattled through his fists. He managed to smile, and relished in the fact it was genuine.

“You wanted in on this, Zhongli-xiansheng, so let’s hash out a plan.”

Xiao turned his head and sniffed. “Whatever Morax conjures up will be sufficient enough without
your input.”

“I don’t recall asking for your opinion, little Yaksha.”

Zhongli muffled a chuckle as the green-haired Yaksha sent a torrent of vicious karmic energy at
Childe’s desk, wiping it clean of every document and decoration in the blink of an eye, before
subtly apologizing to the Adeptus only.

Nothing had changed.

Childe was still madly in love with Rex Lapis, God of Contracts, Zhongli of Liyue.

Zhongli was still Childe’s closest associate, the one being on Teyvat who knew him better than
anyone else, the reason he called Liyue a second home.

And that in itself was already more than Ajax, Childe and Tartaglia ought to have.

Chapter End Notes

We're almost at the climax, everyone.

Are you excited?

I hope this chapter didn't hurt you too much; do remember the tags. Our endgame is
strong. Be hopeful.

This chapter was draining to write; I had this conversation in my head for weeks and
finally brought it to light, but wow, it took a lot out of me. Now if only Childe could
show his feelings in a way that was more straightforward without being a bit of a
basketcase everytime.

2 and a half more weeks: Zhongli's rerun. I am SO excited it actually hurts; the
countdown on my phone makes me giddy. If you ever want to... you know, help me
out with my Zhongli fund... hehe. I would cry ugly tears. But for real, though, I am
going to be a blubbering mess on January 25th. Catch me waltzing around the entire
map of Teyvat just flying around with the Mora Man, big, stupid smile on my face and
all.

Next chapter should be up on this following Friday; follow my Twitter for updates in
case of any changes! Sometimes life gets in the way <3

Your beautiful comments have gotten this fic to where it is; I couldn't do it without all
the lovely readers. Sharing my passion for these boys has been an absolute delight to
share with you all. <3

Twitter
 An Unconscionable Contract: Part I
Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

“For what it’s worth, I’m impressed by your stamina.”

Childe wiped his upper lip, drenched in sweat, as the glowing Adeptus materialized above him;
Xiao was perched on one of the dilapidated columns in the middle of the Dunyu Ruins, where
Childe had spent the last three hours or so combing through the region for suspicious Electro
currents.

Blood was caked onto the front of Childe’s jacket. The air smelt of ozone and petrichor even
though there wasn’t a raincloud in sight; Childe had been using his Vision and Delusion in the
quickest rotations he could manage without his Foul Legacy, Hydro and Electro marking the land
with its earthy, humid fragrance.

His palms hissed with the familiar pain of swapping between elements too quickly. A blade had
sliced a small opening along the Harbinger’s knee. Other than getting too close to the edge of a
samachurl’s axe (a rookie mistake), he was in perfection condition.

“Much appreciated, little Yaksha, but let’s save the niceties for after we find the Sixth.”

Childe kicked at the ground beneath his dirt-stained boots, where a cracked mask rolled across the
grass. Around him lay over twenty (closer to thirty? He lost count after the fourth wave) hilichurls
of various sorts and sizes, along with two abyss mages and a lone geovishap. Not one of the
battered, unconscious bodies strewn around the area looked as if they would see the light of day
again.

With the way Childe had torn into the bunch, he honestly couldn’t say for certain if they were alive
or not.

Xiao looked down upon the bloodshed, eyes grazing over each limp creature as if he were tallying
up the damage. “Was this camp of monsters hiding a clue to the retainer’s whereabouts?”

“No.” Childe whisked his scarf to the side, unsatisfied. “They were just in my way.”

The many creatures on the ground had made the unwise decision to disturb him while he was very
clearly preoccupied, hellbent on finding the Balladeer, and suffered the consequences.

Lately that was becoming a large problem in Liyue; anyone who crossed the Harbinger’s extremely
destructive path, especially those of the criminal-and-creature variety, were in for far more
punishment than usual.

“It’s been nearly five days of this now.” Xiao hopped down from the pillar, gracefully evading the
various appendages scattered on the land as he moved. “I thought mortals needed to rest. Does
your foul Abyss magic also influence your energy levels?”

“Not even close.” Childe snorted as he removed a stray piece of fur from his hair. “I’m just
persistent. And if I wasn’t taking care of myself, Zhongli would never let me hear the end of it.”

“Hmph. You don’t seem like the kind to heed good advice.”
Childe’s face relaxed, a malicious grin pulling his cheek upward.

“It’s difficult to slow down, is all. When I fix my sights on a firm objective, it’s dangerous to try
and stop me.”

A slight quiver ran along his arm; there was another static flow of Electro that Childe had yet to
track. Following all of the trails Scaramouche set originally seemed unthinkable, but the word in
and of itself was one the Harbinger relished in proving wrong.

It could be done; it needed to be done. One of these paths led to where Scaramouche was holed up,
secluding himself until whatever it was that he planned could be set into motion, and Childe would
put an end to the miserable little maggot’s campaign once and for all.

Following the Balladeer’s assault on the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, a general overview of the Geo
Archon’s thoughts was shared; the discussion was short yet beneficial.

“Although a patient approach is most favorable, it would also pose the most risk to the common
people.” Zhongli clarified back in the Northland Bank, relaying his ideas for finding and capturing
the Balladeer, “Childe’s soldiers are still in jeopardy. If the Sixth Harbinger continues to use live
bait as a distraction, one cannot stand by and do nothing.”

“He must know we’re on high alert.” Childe threw himself into the deliberation, a beautiful
diversion from everything else. “Liyue Harbor will soon be, as well; the Qixing can only be kept in
the dark for so long. I bet the Millelith are circling Wangsheng as we speak.”

With the ex-Geo Archon’s involvement, Scaramouche may switch tactics; pinning him down was
already difficult enough.

The Harbinger murmured pensively, raising a finger to his chin. “How do you propose we do
this?”

Zhongli couldn’t just take time off work to aid the Fatui; not only would that be exceedingly
suspicious, but Childe made his feelings about the ex-Geo Archon shifting his standard routines
very clear. Taking chunks out of the man’s schedule (when it wasn’t for leisure or Zhongli’s
enjoyment) left him guilty.

The Adeptus could help if he really wanted to, but just to an extent.

“The only provision I would like made is that you allow me to aid you, should the Sixth emerge
when you are alone.” Zhongli crossed one long leg over the other, completely at ease in the guest
chair near Childe’s desk.

Xiao stood by the door like an unwelcomed visitor; Childe thought he belonged on the opposite
side of it.

Good for the Yaksha, being able to read the room for once.

“Alatus will always be within my reach.” Sharp, ochre eyes watched Childe’s expressions
carefully, as if he were afraid the Harbinger was going to argue. It was bothersome that he was
fairly correct in his assumptions. “Should anything happen outside of the harbor’s borders, he can
inform me immediately if you require my support.”

The remark was both comforting and mildly irritating, considering Childe worked tirelessly to
make sure the Adeptus wouldn’t have to stress over such a responsibility.
It was hard to say whether some of that was also influenced by Zhongli’s impromptu contract with
Tonia; she did a number on the god with her teary-eyed pact, considering how discouraged the
Archon had been after Childe returned from Inazuma. Even though it was made with Childe’s best
interest in mind, the Harbinger was still reeling over the intensity of Zhongli’s conviction.

The ex-Geo Archon placed one gloved hand on the desk, luminous eyes beseeching. “Permit me to
offer you this much, at the very least.”

Ever-the-hypocritical god, asking for Childe’s consent, when he knew damn well there wasn’t
much else the Harbinger could do but fold to his whims.

The Harbinger breathed out a lengthy sigh. “I can’t say I’m happy about you getting involved, but
it’s crystal-clear that you won’t take no as an answer for this one.”

The Adeptus’ lips crooked into a small smile; Childe screamed internally at his chest for reacting
as if he had inhaled chlorine. Fresh from his feelings being dismissed, and still his body responded
unbecomingly to every move Zhongli made.

“Fine. If something happens that’s especially dire, or the Balladeer makes an appearance, it would
probably be best that you be present anyways.” Childe’s brows furrowed. “Considering that he
wants something from you, too, being together might offer the best form of offense.”

Or the worst. It really depended on what Scaramouche had in store.

But Childe had already lost this battle; the only option left was to pray that a Gnosis-wielding
Scaramouche would offer Childe a gratifying challenge without Zhongli getting too caught up in
the clash.

He yearned to finally smash in the hollow shell which housed the Balladeer’s corrupted mind. A
fight this big was exactly what Childe needed to reclaim his sense of purpose.

It brought him back to his core objectives as a Harbinger, before the Geo Archon had crept into his
soul and fashioned a residence there.

The days following the Wangsheng altercation were tumultuous to say the least; there was a surge
of Electro energy so large around the border of Jueyun Karst, that one of the renowned Adepti had
reached out to Xiao to inquire about a possible ambush.

Nothing was altered or destroyed in the vicinity; it was unexplainably calm, although the air was
charged with a current that could ruffle feathers. For a few hours into the investigation, Childe
speculated that the Balladeer had blown up like an Electro confetti bomb. Maybe the Gnosis was
too much for his incompetent frame to handle, and the devices’ implosion left nothing but
disbanded currents behind.

The imagery it invoked was rather delightful.

Until, of course, a cluster of Fatui wandered into the area and had their Delusions crackle and
detonate like sticks of dynamite.

It was a phenomena Childe had never seen before; Delusions being set off without taking damage
was unheard of. More so because the Fatui who suffered the wrath of the Balladeer’s newfound
amusement weren’t even Electro users, but Pyro and Hydro.

Their manmade Visions were overloaded in an instant.

The Balladeer’s capabilities were growing.

Scaramouche was playing with Childe’s soldiers like paper dolls, tossing them aside when they
fulfilled his needs, making sure that Childe witnessed the experimentations before leaving him
devoid of any clues or ways to properly find him.

But to what end?

By the second day, Liyue was purged of the lethal static accumulation. Once the shock currents
manifesting across the Adepti’s land dissipated, Childe called back all of his forces, no matter the
status of their Delusion or their ranking. There was no reason for anyone else to lose their lives at
the hands of a maniacal Harbinger; not when Scaramouche’s blitzes were warning of something
much worse on the way.

“I’m not sure what to do.”

It was day three; Childe sat with Zhongli in the confines of his tranquil, homey apartment,
exhausted and hardly indulging in the Fire Water the Adeptus had so-graciously poured for him.

“Why hasn’t that showy scum of a Harbinger come out of hiding yet? I feel like the Sixth is trying
to drive me insane.”

The fragrance of silk flowers and sandalwood never failed to qualm some of Childe’s anxieties,
even if they were now conceivably laced with a little more melancholy than usual. It was
unavoidable; having the one he adored indefinitely just out of reach would never be great, per say,
but Childe learned to endure life’s injustices a long time ago.

This specific challenge was merely atypical: a rarity that was too fresh with hurt. He would adapt
and overcome, like he always did.

Eventually.

“Perhaps that is his aim exactly.” The Adeptus sipped soundlessly from his porcelain tea cup, eyes
warming the dimly lit room with their ochre radiance. “You have proven yourself a strong and
sound commander. Removing your recruits from the battlefield before more were wounded was a
sensible choice; it leaves Scaramouche empty of manoeuvres for which to provoke you.”

A grass owl could be heard from outside; their distinct calls, paired with the crickets’ gentle
whirring travelling down from the hillside, were making Childe’s eyes droop. He didn’t want to be
rude company and fall asleep overtop of Zhongli’s elegant kang table.

“You would think so…”

But Childe knew the Balladeer. He had seen the child-sized Harbinger wreck nations through
schemes that took months, years to accomplish, all so that when everything fell apart, he would be
the last one standing.

Persistence and preparation were what the marionette knew best.

“I just can’t help thinking that all of this is some kind of trial-and-error. All that leisure time spent
with Il Dottore intensified his interest in ‘creative approaches’ to conflict.”

Who knew what kind of modifications the mad scientist made on the Electro Archon’s broken
vessel back when he first found him? Childe never delved too far into the details, but having a
working knowledge of all of his colleagues was essential, should he ever need to engage them in
the future.

It came with the Harbinger job description: keep friends and enemies close. Once any of the
Harbingers denounced the Tsaritsa or left the Fatui, they were as good as dead to Childe.

The Adeptus placed a lone, lengthy finger into the crook of his neckpiece, loosening the vivid Cor
Lapis stone that sat at the base of his throat. The gesture was casual, something Zhongli would
never do unless he was enveloped in his own home’s comfort, and it took all of Childe’s self-
control not to groan when the Adeptus’ collarbone peeked out through a mere two inches of open
fabric.

Pathetic.

“If his focus lies with the Fatui’s Delusions, of which he already has ample experience tampering
with, then you may be in danger.” Zhongli eyed Childe warily, “What would be the consequences
of removing it?”

Childe felt his muscles tense. “It’s not that simple.”

He didn’t want to head too far down that line of enquiring; Delusions were tricky things, and the
longer one remained bound to its user, the harder it would be on the body to detach. They instilled
an Elemental ability that became a portion of Childe’s skill, in a sense; not only did his specific
Delusion bond him to the Tsaritsa, but it was also a key piece of his Foul Legacy Transformation.

Without it, there was no way he would defeat Scaramouche.

He could re-learn how to fight Delusion-less, but during that time, the Balladeer would
undoubtedly strike to kill. Childe’s work would have been for nothing.

Zhongli seemed to head down a similar train of thought, because the next words out of his mouth
were:

“Even though from time to time your instincts prove irresponsible, I trust you will do what is best
in this situation.”

Childe sent him a fatigued grin, looking up at the ex-Geo Archon through his unruly, auburn
bangs. Somehow he had ended up resting his head on Zhongli’s table anyways, chin cushioned
above his arms.

He raised a sceptical brow. “Even if it isn’t best for me?”

The scowl Zhongli wore, equally parts striking and fearsome, exclusive only to the human form of
Rex Lapis, was intense; it wasn’t his usual irritation at Childe’s pro-battle antics. It didn’t hold any
of the guilt from when Childe burned his palms after their first spar or the exasperated partiality he
portrayed when the Harbinger fainted in his foyer.

Zhongli looked mad.

“Do not misinterpret my words, Ajax.” His voice maintained a potent depth, forcing a loose
shudder out of the Harbinger. “What is best in this situation, above all else, is making sure that you
stay alive.”

The Harbinger gulped.

Remember the Geo Archon’s nature.

Remember Tonia’s promise. Remember the God of Contract’s adherence to his bonds.

Remember that he is as thoughtful as he is unachievable.

“I always do my best to pick my battles wisely,” Childe replied, voice sounding suspiciously
hoarse, “so there shouldn’t be any reason to worry. Right, Zhongli?”

It took the Geo Archon a moment, but he eventually gave a curt nod, his brows retaining their
troubled furrow even after the topic was changed. Nevertheless, his Cor Lapis gaze was just as
immaculate and reassuring as always.

Zhongli hummed. “Just be sure to take care of yourself.”

Childe blushed under the attention; he hid his face underneath the folds of his jacket, waiting for
the heat to dissipate. Knowing the Adeptus was likely still gazing at him with that sincere
expression didn’t help with the flush, but it did settle his unease.

It was enough sanctuary to knock Childe into a spontaneous catnap.

Right on top of Zhongli’s enticingly-comfy tabletop.

Two days had passed since he had last seen Zhongli, as Childe took it upon himself to ramp up the
search for the Sixth, rendering free time nonexistent. By the time Childe could evade bank duties,
hunting obligations and delegate errands, all of which had tripled because of Scaramouche’s attack,
the light of dawn poked out from behind Liyue’s horizon, reminding the Harbinger to rest his eyes
before doing it all over again.

And then there was Xiao to deal with.

“Why am I seeing you everywhere lately, little Yaksha?”

The Vigilant Adeptus was suddenly turning up to accompany him more and more often; his
spontaneous entrances had become an expected part of Childe’s day.

Zhongli was obviously to blame.

Just because Childe asked the Prime Adeptus to be less involved, didn’t mean any other Adeptus
couldn’t be exploited for the extra protection.

Then again, there were slight advantages to working alongside someone as strong and competent as
a centuries-old immortal; Xiao’s presence stirred up the Harbinger’s bristling competitiveness.
Who could cover more ground in less time? Who could follow more Electro trails without needing
a break from the shocks?

…Xiao had discriminating advantages in both categories, but that didn’t stop Childe from trying to
overtake him at every turn.

It was childlike, sure. But it made the agonizing chase and incessant dead ends tolerable.

“Morax wants to know if you are well.” Xiao was keeping up with Childe’s ruthless speed
effortlessly while he weaved his way through a narrow path, bringing them both to an opening
which held a pool of tranquil waters. The Electro energy appeared to stop there, before heading
directly into the ginormous pillars of debris behind it.

Childe chuckled. “If I’m well? I’m sure you could provide him with a solid judgement; I’m fit as a
fiddle.”

Xiao rolled his eyes to the lightening sky; the sun would be up soon, another night entirely spent
on the plains instead of in Childe’s warm apartment, or even better, one filled to the nines with
jewels and collectables.

“He requested for your response specifically. I was not asked to make an assumption.”

“…” It would be nice if Childe could let Zhongli know himself. Having Xiao act as a go-between
was infuriating; maybe they really had been spending too much time together.

Even just two days apart from the Adeptus while in the same city felt longer than the Harbinger’s
expedition to the southern islands.

Did Zhongli miss him? Or was he only asking out of friendly courtesy?

“I’m fine. I’ll be even better when the Balladeer is no longer with us.”

The small Adeptus tapered his eyes broodingly; black wisps of smoke rose from his feet. His voice
carried next to Childe’s ear as if he were far away, a tell-tale sign he was about to vanish.

“You would tell him you’re fine even as you took your last breath, wouldn’t you?”

Childe smiled.

“Smarter than I give you credit for, guard dog.”

Even though the Adeptus was little more than a miasma of black, Childe swore he could see the
being’s face scrunched in annoyance. Conversation was easy with Xiao; perhaps because he didn’t
seem like the type of person to share anything told, or because he himself was so guarded. The
Yaksha’s heavily-fortified walls made Childe all the more willing to tear his own down.

“I will let him know.” Only two glowing, yellow eyes remained visible in the darkness before Xiao
teleported out of Dunyu. The figure cloaked in black turned itself away from Childe before
decidedly needing to have the last jab.

“Try not to die out here by yourself.”

Clever and thoughtful? Clearly, Zhongli’s sole Yaksha had warmed up to Childe more than either
of them had expected.

Childe saluted at the spot where Xiao had been only a second before, tendrils of translucent
shadows left in his place. Judging by how the sky transformed from gradient blues to warm hues of
orange and gold, it would be sunrise by the time Childe made his way around the mountain to
where that last irksome Electro coil was travelling.

He would follow it until it faded out and call it a night; no point in overexerting himself straight
into daybreak without at least giving himself a few hours to sleep. Ekaterina would have his head if
he showed up for another conference looking as if he had crawled straight out of the Primo
Geovishap’s pit.

The purple strands of Electro seemed to run endlessly through all of Dunyu, taking Childe far out
into the depths of the valleys; the area was clear of monsters, which was rare. Usually, he could
enjoy infinite battles while walking the road to Luhua, but it was unexpectedly peaceful.
It only made Childe all the more wary. He used his Hydro to carry him over the ledges and
boulders swamping the ground, eyeing his surroundings while the violet current grew brighter the
further he trekked.

If this last pathway ended up being his ace in the hole, the Harbinger needed to commit every path,
cave and exit route to memory.

One by one, gleaming pillars of energy popped into the clearing where Childe skidded to a stop;
Cuijue Slope was splayed out beneath his feet, where the electric trail bluntly came to a halt.
Although the sky had been generously clear of clouds moments prior, the air surrounding the gorge
was thick with dampness. Childe was tempted to wave a hand in front of him to see if it would
clear away the smog that had developed out of nowhere.

He spoke idly to himself, analyzing every crevice of the canyon he could see from his elevated
location. “This certainly looks like a good spot for a rabid animal to wait for death.”

There was a pinching, angry sensation coming from underneath Childe’s clothing, where his
Delusion was hidden away from prying eyes. It sparked angrily, fizzing about as an absolute
shockwave of unstable proportions was let loose into the air. He forcibly quelled the Electro that
was attempting to make its escape before summoning his dual Hydro blades, noting that keeping
them stable took more effort than usual. The violent atmospheric disturbance was affecting
everything, from his surroundings to his Vision.

Every hair on the Harbinger’s body stood on end; the clouds spoke of rain, but the air was dry
enough to shrivel the mushrooms by Childe’s boots.

Finally.

Childe dove down into the pit of darkness, where even more static was hovering, making his way
to the stone tablet at the centre of the cavity; this was one part of Liyue he rarely frequented.

He really should have focused more on the terrain in the land of Geo instead of searching for
worthwhile opponents or chasing after its Archon; the Harbinger’s favorite distractions always
came in the form of a difficult challenge.

His eyes trailed over the inscription inlaid on the tablet, and Childe tried to recall if Zhongli had
ever told him about this place. Was it significant to Liyue and the gods?

All the turmoils in the world have their root in human vice...

Greed, nostalgia, vision, jealousy, anger, lust, self-aggrandizement, competition, turmoil...

These nine mortal desires may heal the world, or do it great hurt. Their fire will never diminish,
and it will never fade...

“Ah, there you are.”

Jingling; it came from all directions, echoing off of the massive columns and walls of stone that
enclosed the slope. The sweet, joyful peals of noise that followed the Sixth Harbinger wherever he
went were hard to confuse for anything else; as Childe gave himself a wide birth from every
possible standpoint of attack, he spotted a flicker of purple beneath the elaborate entry of the
unidentified ruins.

“I was hoping you’d bring the Geo Archon along.” The Balladeer was tailed by a ferocious
quantity of Electro; it dragged behind him like an unearthly cloak. “Whatever. I’ve grown tired of
waiting.”

Other than the raised intensity of his elemental abilities, the Harbinger looked no different than
before. His caerulean eyes twinkled with a unique insanity that could only be honed from acute
emptiness, while his innocent, amiable expression never failed to unsettle.

“Besides, he’ll show up sooner or later.”

A cherub-like face paired with a stare bursting with every vile, ugly emotion was what made
Scaramouche such a distinctive individual, simultaneously pitiable and petrifying.

But Childe felt no sympathy for the immortal who was dead-set on making his life just as
miserable as his own.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to settle this one-on-one, Harbinger to Harbinger?” Childe rotated his blades,
bringing them together in a splash of Hydro until they reformed into an aquatic spear. “You have to
agree, that would be a more respectable battle. I wouldn’t want to take you out two-on-one;
where’s the fun in that?”

“Always so preoccupied with combat, but never stopping to look at the big picture.” Scaramouche
chuckled; Electro flooded the ground, the parched soil making for a poor yet still sufficient
conductor.

Childe raised himself high with a mighty wave before landing on a nearby pillar; even if he was
unquestionably itching to fight, that didn’t mean it was the right time. He still needed to devise a
proper approach. “That's always been your problem, Tartaglia. You’re too hot-headed.”

Says the violet gnat who stole an Archon’s Gnosis and earned the ire of not one, but two Archons in
the span of a few weeks.

“What makes you so sure that xiansheng will come all the way out here? He has better things to
do, you know.”

Childe knew that if Xiao had even the smallest inkling that something occurred at Cuijue Slope, he
would alert Zhongli instantly.

But the Balladeer’s confidence in the Adeptus’ eventual appearance made him uneasy.

If Childe could keep him talking a bit longer (not his typical or ideal joust, but this was a different
kind of fight, as it always was when the Sixth was involved), then perhaps he would reveal a
limitation: a drawback to holding onto the Gnosis.

“Oh,” the Sixth snickered coldly, “Like I told you the last time we spoke, right before you oh-so-
desperately tried to impale me. I’ve done my research.”

He flashed an ear-splitting grin, baring a set of perfectly white, straight teeth.

“He’ll come.”

The violet bolts of Electro on the ground appeared to grow and shrink sporadically, giving Childe
opportunities to close some of the distance between himself and the Balladeer without warranting
too much concern. Scaramouche was still the one with the upper-hand, after all; it was unclear if
the area itself was one giant, unavoidable trap.

“Humor me, then, since you’re clearly in the mood for a chat.” Childe surveyed the precipices and
vantage points while he spoke; closing the distance was really the only way to cut Scaramouche’s
offensive, but with his incredibly wide range of attack, it would be difficult.

Focusing on strategy was much easier when he wasn’t worried about Zhongli’s wellbeing;
Childe’s frantic slipup at Wangsheng would not repeat itself. “The Delusions; why are you so
determined to destroy them?”

Scaramouche’s hat slanted to the right as he scoffed, ornaments billowing freely in the static-dense
wind. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to control them. And you know what? I’ve had pretty
good success. Thanks for loaning your recruits to me as guinea pigs; they’ve been exceedingly
helpful.”

It was gruelling not to jerk at the Sixth’s provocations. He was an expert at pressing all of
Tartaglia’s buttons, and losing control for even a moment with an opponent so erratic could be
fatal.

But wow was it ever difficult not to chuck a wave the size of the Jade Chamber straight at the
Balladeer.

Childe felt for his Delusion’s presence; he had dwindled its powers since arriving at Cuijue, before
getting a sense of the Electro in the air. When he pulled for its influence, the energy within flared
at his command, the atmosphere only enhancing its searing force to a slightly more bothersome
level.

Nothing Childe hadn’t surpassed on his own before.

There must have been a second factor to Scaramouche’s Delusion-shattering ability that he couldn’t
see.

The Balladeer took Childe’s thoughtful silence as an opening to prod him further. “Hm, you went
quiet. Scared, Eleventh?”

“Terrified.” Childe wore a brazen smirk, weapon comfortingly steady in his palm. “Of what the
Tsaritsa will do when I have to explain to her why I couldn’t bring you back to Snezhnaya in one
piece.”

“Haha! You’re always so amusing!”

The Balladeer took a few steps towards Childe, each one cushioned by the sizzling sound of his
element. His extravagant attire shone all the more vibrantly in the wake of his sparks. “This is why
I had to put in all this work; I hope you appreciate the lengths I’ve gone to just to get you here.”

Childe was grateful that the ex-Geo Archon hadn’t shown up; having the Sixth point out just how
much planning and involvement went into the Harbinger’s vendettas, that others were put into
harm’s way because of a selfish little game, would only enrage him.

“How flattering. Too bad I couldn’t care less about your future plans.”

There was no way of Childe escaping the gorge, not with the electrical field Scaramouche had
fashioned; luckily, leaving was the last thing on the Harbinger’s mind.

“My only task is to deliver the pilfered Gnosis to the Tsaritsa, right after I’m done wiping the floor
with you and your impractical headwear.”

His muscles vibrated with unexpended energy, prepared to strike.

Nothing Childe said phased the Balladeer even a little; his carefree attitude made Childe want to
rip him apart limb from limb all the more.

He shrugged, adornments tinkling with the movement. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long
time; since your wretched failure at obtaining the Geo Archon’s Gnosis, actually. Your Delusion
was overused and that armored Abyss weapon of yours left you drained. I knew Tartaglia’s
threshold for pain was disturbingly high, and your Delusion control was always applauded by the
Cryo Archon, but pushing against backlash like that on a constant basis?”

The Balladeer whistled, high and impressed. “To think, for a second there I thought you were just
like me.”

“Is there a point to your babbling,” Childe felt his irritation rise the longer he let Scaramouche
ramble, but getting the puppet’s guard down was of top priority. The fact he loved to hear his own
voice only aided in that venture, “or can we just get on with it?”

“You were the one who wanted to know, so I’m telling you.” He stood with his feet widely spread,
arms crossed confidently over his embellished chest. The smugness radiating from the immortal
could be felt from across the gulch. “You’re an “impressive specimen,” as a certain researcher
would say. I had to practice with the Gnosis, testing how much of a Delusion’s powers belonged to
the elements instead of the user, until I had it down right.”

Huh.

“Now I know exactly what I need to do in order to stop the oh-so-fearless Eleventh for good.”

So Scaramouche had been plotting to kill Childe from the very beginning.

Relocating from Inazuma, figuring out the inner workings of Delusions, knowing the consequences
of turning his back on the Cryo Archon…

“Even before you ran off with the Gnosis,” Childe’s patience for chitchat was growing thin; now
that he was almost certain his Vision and Delusion could both handle Scaramouche’s miasma, for
now, anyways, it was a good a time as any for battle, “you knew the Tsaritsa would send me.”

“I know you would do whatever your dear Cryo Archon asks of you, and that makes you a
problem.”

Scaramouche lifted a delicate hand into the air, calling a bout of sparks to swarm above his head
before being thrown like a whip in Childe’s direction.

Good. Childe was getting unbearably antsy.

He was expecting nothing but the best from a Gnosis-holder; Childe couldn’t hold back the
enthusiastic grin on his face as he shot into action, preparing his body for a relentless onslaught of
Electro in the same way he did before donning his Foul Legacy.

“Don’t flatter yourself though, Tartaglia.” Scaramouche clasped his hands together, resulting in a
resounding boom from above; Childe was inches away from striking the Balladeer when the hairs
on the back of his neck suddenly prickled in warning. “You’re only one small part of the master
plan.”

The skies overhead were ripped apart by purple; clouds separated for seamless bolts of lightning
that rampaged the field, Childe moving at top-speed to avoid being electrocuted by their incredible
range. The sudden electrical storm reminded him of Yashiori Island, where the Electro Archon’s
will had overtaken the land with ravaging, unending flashes.

Childe had enjoyed training there immensely; it aided in his Vision control when forced to attack
in an environment that did not favor his aquatic attributes, all while experimenting with the buildup
of static charge for a sudden release of his Delusion.

Overall, he was very pleased with his preparations. He had no idea it would come in handy quite
this soon.

That didn’t mean the Balladeer would be a walk in the park to fight, however. Enemies who
favored distance and striking from afar were always a little more taxing, but a lot more interesting.

Scaramouche’s body flickered before disappearing completely, forcing Childe to backtrack before
another resounding wave of Electro shot out from behind him; either the Balladeer had been
working on his speed, or the Gnosis had some truly terrifying affects on the retainer’s agility.

He was just as swift, if not more so than Xiao.

“Try and keep up,” the Balladeer goaded before zipping around Cuijue Slope like an Electro Seelie;
for a man who generally abused his long-ranged attacks for a more leisurely approach to warfare,
Childe was almost startled to see the Sixth moving so much. Arrows would be useless with that
kind of swiftness, “that is, if you don’t want to get fried.”

Stretched, bright lines of lilac tailed Scaramouche whenever he shifted, followed by a generous
amount of electricity that was already putting strain on Childe’s body. Small pricks were attacking
the Harbinger’s muscles every time he managed to evade a large beam of potent, scorching Electro,
only to send him headfirst into another haze of static.

It was impossible to find a clear spot on the field without sparks swarming his every move.

Thank the Tsaritsa for Childe’s groundwork with this kind of unfavorable elemental balance;
although potent and uncomfortable, the Harbinger was keeping up with evading Scaramouche’s
onslaughts just fine.

“Stop avoiding close combat like a coward,” Childe seethed as the Balladeer whizzed away from
an intimate blow; Childe’s polearm was sputtering from the nearby currents, but the pain was more
than manageable, “Letting off a little spark here and there is hardly intimidating.”

Childe thought it was worth noting that the familiar sway and pull of an Archon or their Gnosis
was barely noticeable while fighting Scaramouche, even when he slid in close and the Balladeer
set off a chain of shockwaves nearly as high as the gorge.

The heavy weight that nearly brought the Harbinger to his knees at Wangsheng was merely a
minute tug at his ankles, now; had the majority of that influence belonged to Zhongli? Or was the
Balladeer still having difficulties controlling his newfound capabilities?

Asking would be easier than speculating.

“I’ve had tougher fights against Violet Abyss Lectors than what you’re presently offering. Is the
Gnosis worth anything if it can’t help you win against me?”

As the charge in the air wound down and Scaramouche began slinging tangible beams of light
instead of dropping all-encompassing static, Childe could focus better on the man’s movements;
though his attacks were aimed at Childe and forcing him into the center of the field, they were still
lacking the vicious bite the Balladeer was so famously known for.
As if he were biding for time.

“You wouldn’t understand, Tartaglia.” The Sixth used no weapons; he was keeping his catalyst
hidden. “Eventually, the Tsaritsa’s war will be underway, and maybe you’ll live to witness the
outcome. Then you can see for yourself what a Gnosis requires, and why your treasured Geo
Archon sought to transfer its ownership.”

Irritation flared within the Harbinger.

It was always expected that Childe would only do as he was told and follow orders, same as
Scaramouche; retainer or not, why was the Balladeer suddenly so knowledgeable on the subject?

If the Gnosis held information regarding Zhongli’s contract with the Tsaritsa…

“From what I can see, all the Gnosis has done is upgrade your superiority complex.” Too bad said-
upgrade didn’t provide a growth spurt for the runt. Childe’s eyes roamed over Scaramouche; his
Delusion was still nowhere to be seen. “Interesting battle tactic, by the way, snubbing your own
Delusion. Don’t need it anymore, Electro puppet?”

The Balladeer’s eyebrow twitched.

There were things that just weren’t said to the Sixth unless one sought after death; anyone who
brought up the Kunikuzushi’s past was begging to piss off the already unstable Harbinger to a
lethal degree.

But Childe wasn’t just anyone, and an angry Balladeer was an unfocused Balladeer.

Scaramouche wielded lightning as if it were a mouldable lash, taking care to keep his lengthy
decorations away from the curls and coils of the Electro cords. There was still no sign of his flashy
catalyst; he must have been attempting to polish Childe off without the use of his own weapon.

“Overconfident and arrogant, just like the Fair Lady,” a hint of anger resonated in the Balladeer’s
voice, “and look where that landed her.”

Being compared to La Signora was a pet peeve Childe never knew he had until that moment.

The Balladeer’s hands filled with Electro energy before being thrown up towards the center of the
gorge; purple streaks of light travelled across Liyue in six directions, each disappearing over the
stone ridges encasing the arena.

He hummed, lazy smile plastered back on his face. “I don’t need anything given to me in order to
end you; not a Vision, not my Delusion… those so-called blessings and offerings are worthless in
the grand span of things. I’ll use only what I’ve taken with my own two hands, what was mine to
hold in the first place, and find the answers I seek unassisted.”

Bang.

An explosion of echoing proportions could be heard from somewhere far in the distance.

Bang. Bang.

Another two, then three, six altogether; Liyue was reverberating with the music of chaos,
Scaramouche the untimely composer. His smile widened as pinpricks of violet hovered above
them, the blasts so large they tinged the sky.
Childe did the math; the trails of Electro had headed off into several directions, which would mark
them almost central to all of Liyue. Some might have erupted in the middle of nowhere, while
others may have burst in areas with innocent people.

The Wangshu Inn was perfectly aligned with the southeast blast.

It was a flawless disturbance, while also being an uncompromising assault against the land and its
inhabitants. And it would keep Xiao, as well as anyone else who might have come to Childe’s aid,
preoccupied.

Scaramouche had undeniably done his research.

“My final experiment is complete,” Childe could feel the air tingle with excessive voltage as
Scaramouche sighed a breathy laugh. “Now where were we…”

With the field already a pure conductor and growing more explosive by the second, there wasn’t
much room for Childe’s Hydro to shine.

It was time to ramp up his efforts.

“Not bad: trying to distract the Adepti with some cheap party tricks.” Childe slipped the cold,
crimson Fatui mask that rested in his hair over the planes of his cheeks, settling it in place before
activating his Delusion in tandem; his fists crackled viciously, overwhelmed by the sheer insanity
that was Electro buzzing within the arena. “But the only enemy you should be thinking about
engaging is me.”

The amount of force that pulsed out from his Delusion nearly made Childe keel over in agony; his
spine went stiff as his nerve endings shrieked their disapproval. The Harbinger hastily fought to
rope in the excessive lightning ricocheting within his body, all while keeping a steady expression
so as not to alert the Balladeer to his struggles.

Ah, this must have been what pushed many of his underlings over the edge.

There was no way someone unprepared and less skilled than a Harbinger would be able to keep
their Delusions in check during a power surplus of such magnitude. The electric buildup from the
Balladeer’s own abilities had infused Childe’s Delusion to the brim with Electro, so much so that it
was flooding out of Childe’s hands and down his torso.

Childe had said that he wanted a challenge.

From Scaramouche’s perspective, the pause was virtually unnoticeable, but it had been a strenuous
few seconds of Childe reining in his Delusion to the best of his ability. His heart palpitated from
the extra effort, from the Electro that had found refuge within him instead of being properly
released.

But Childe controlled it.

As expected of the Eleventh Harbinger.

“Hmm, I thought as much.” Scaramouche descended on Childe at the speed of light, his own
Electro abilities keeping him just out of reach. “You’re pretty strong, Tartaglia, I’ll give you that.”

Childe thrust his lance, now an imperial shade of Electro-generated violet, right past the
Balladeer’s ear. It sent a few of the man’s many headpiece streamers whipping into the air.
The Sixth had the nerve to look glad. “Or maybe you’re just a masochist.”

Childe tch-ed.

“Takes one to know one.”

It was almost impossible to keep up with the movements on the battlefield; wherever Scaramouche
went, Childe followed, their speed increasing the longer they remained at an impasse. The
Balladeer avoided each of Childe’s attacks, teleporting from one side of the chasm to the other in
the blink of an eye, while Childe continuously grazed the air around the Sixth without ever feeling
the satisfaction of a successful blow.

Lightning whirred by Childe’s head as he pushed into Scaramouche’s space, allowing his spear to
hurdle each incoming shockwave off to the sides of the slope. All he needed to do was immobilize
the Sixth without letting the nasty burning sensation spreading through his fingers affect him.

Nothing he hadn’t dealt with before.

Even with the speed they were parrying at, the Balladeer somehow managed to keep his hat
perfectly secured at top of his head.

“You’re in a rush, Eleventh,” Scaramouche’s fingers twitched before a massive thunder strike
forced Childe to roll to the side, “I would expect you to draw a fight like this out; are you worried a
certain funeral advisor is going to make an appearance?”

If Childe could grip the puppet protoype by the neck, he would shove an Electro-ladened fist far
down his esophagus; so deep and mutilating that Scaramouche could never again drive anyone else
to madness with his voice.

“I won’t prolong a mediocre battle.” A short burst of his Electro Shield managed to absorb the
harshest brunt of Scaramouche’s strikes. There was nothing but purple on the battlefield. “And I’m
not the one who should be afraid of the ex-Geo Archon’s arrival.”

There was a low chance of either Zhongli or Xiao coming, now; with the sudden explosions set off
all across Liyue, no doubt the Yaksha would have his hands full fulfilling his duties as protector of
the people, and surely the Prime Adeptus would see to it that everyone was safe, even without his
commitments as Archon.

Childe certainly wasn’t going to call for the man on his own accord. This was exactly how it
should be, the Eleventh Harbinger completing his obligations without weighing Zhongli down.

Maybe after his victory, the Adeptus would let Childe rest on his thigh once more; considering he
was already feeling his muscles going taut from wrestling with the elements, the possibility
beckoned to him like a delicious incentive. It always felt so incredibly nice to see Zhongli’s little
half-smile, warm with fondness, whenever their eyes met.

Something must have been loose in the Harbinger’s head, for him to be visualizing Cor Lapis when
walled in by nothing but dynamic, aggressive lilac; love really knew how to divert and distract.

How utterly unhelpful.

“Ha! Why would I ever be scared of that washed-up god?”

The Balladeer paused his assault to speak, his words as bracing as a slap in the face. “It’s amazing
that even after all the time you two have spent together, you haven’t milked the man of everything
he’s worth! Do you even comprehend the treasure trove of knowledge you’ve been idly sitting
on?”

A small opening appeared; the Balladeer was growing cocky.

While Childe waited for his cue, Tartaglia seethed red, livid.

“No, you don’t. Instead, you spend all of the Fatui’s money on buying him gifts and indulging his
fleeting whims like a fool. That ancient immortal is the oldest god alive still willing to walk
alongside humans, and he’s my best option for finding the answers I seek.”

A miniature hurricane of lightning swirled in the Balladeer’s palms, his wrists revolving around the
cyclonic energy.

He was still smiling.

Childe forced every infuriated bone in his body to please, just please, wait a second longer.

Training with Zhongli on Yaoguang Shoal, where the Harbinger had the opportunity to study his
illustrious fluidity, steadiness built over eons of repetition, and the centuries-old skill of waiting for
the opportune moment to strike, paid off.

“If you’re not willing to use Rex Lapis to the best of his abilities, then I’m happy to pick up where
you failed.”

A ripple of thunder echoed across the gorge.

Childe stood beside the Sixth, his Electro spear sizzling as if dropped into a pool of oil; the
Harbinger’s hands seared from the irrepressible energy, but he never released his grasp.

On its tip was the faintest traces of blood. The liquid hissed violently, coating the knife’s edge.

“It’s your lucky day.” Tartaglia stated, tone dripping with malice. “I missed.”

Scaramouche’s potent, sapphire eyes fell from where they had only just been watching Childe to
the ground, where small droplets of red were gathering.

It was comforting to know the puppet bled like a mortal.

“Oh.” The Balladeer pressed a hand lightly to his side; Childe eyed the immortal’s fingers as they
grazed over the wet fabric of his obi belt. An opening had been cut clean through, ruining his shirt
and sash with a growing stain of crimson.

It was a shame the wound was so shallow; Childe’s fury bent itself into tunnel vision the second
before he plunged his spear into the Sixth’s chest, misaligning his jab.

Oh well. Second time’s the charm. If not the second, then the third. He wouldn’t stop until the
Balladeer hacked his last breath, right on the plains of Liyue.

It was one thing for the Sixth to taunt and ridicule Childe; it ticked him off, but at the end of the
day, the jeers were nothing more than the Balladeer’s vulgar attempts at crushing his spirit. A
spirit which many already tried to squash with zero success.

But insulting Zhongli?

Inexcusable.
“Well done, getting in this close,” the purple rat managed a chuckle, both of his hands smeared
with his own gore, “But you didn’t miss.”

The currents which spread from the Balladeer’s skin to Childe’s Electro spear began to grow, their
sparks and intensity snowballing; if the blood tinting the Eleventh Harbinger’s weapon could act as
a conductor, there was no telling what other abilities the Sixth had hidden.

Before Childe could make a fast enough decision (should he use his knives at this angle for a
speedy onslaught, or switch to close-ranged arrows and riddle the Sixth with holes?), Scaramouche
released a chain of electricity that sent Childe flying backwards, his back making impact with the
cold, rigid ground.

Beside him sat the tablet denoting the heart of the gorge; the inscription was oddly fuzzy. Had
Childe hit his head wrong when he landed?

He didn’t do well with concussions; the Harbinger already suffered through several in the past.
Another would be pushing it.

One more thing to add to the list of reasons why Scaramouche was the least-liked Harbinger.

However, it was also a good enough justification for Zhongli to let him sleep close by. Keeping an
eye on an individual with a head injury was of the upmost importance, after all.

O Tsaritsa, he really did have a concussion, didn’t he?

It was unfeasible for Childe to reform his Electro shield; not with how Scaramouche was
influencing the surrounding elements as if he had ripped them from the very Ley Lines themselves.
Instead, he channeled the Electro still overflowing from his Delusion back towards the Balladeer,
in an attempt to both empty himself of the excess energy and to buy him enough time to get back
on his feet.

The polearm in his fist continued to sizzle and pop, its shape bringing to mind the God of the Sky’s
loose thunderbolt from the legends Childe’s father used to read to him as a boy. Perhaps if he
hurled it in the same manner, it would take Scaramouche out in one fateful, satisfying blow.

A pity his luck was far from that of the gods.

“Not the best time to stop for a nap, Tartaglia.”

A bomb of Electro crashed directly beside his head; Childe’s ears began to ring, a cacophony of
hellish buzzing that spread to his vision.

It was a blessing in disguise that the Balladeer’s clothes were so vibrant. He was the one thing
Childe could still make out amongst the fuzz coating his eyesight, even as he bowled over to avoid
an incoming Electro orb hurtling towards his downed figure. It made aiming every attack much
easier, even if the shockwaves he released were beginning to prick his muscles more and more.

There were purple strands of electricity hovering over his arms in spots where they hadn’t
previously. Flinching that took him an extra half a second to get under control before he could
finally return to his feet. His head remained greatly unfocused, and an eternal dinging came and
went as he regathered his bearings.

Not good. There were no spare moments to let his Foul Legacy charge up; it was his last and best
line of defense against Scaramouche’s seemingly endless currents.
“Whose napping?” Childe wiped at the back of his head and felt dampness between his fingers.
Great. The glove on his hand pulled back mottled red. “I’m just getting warmed up.”

Flashes of lightning rained down from above, forcing Childe backwards until his spine hit the
curved surface of the bluffs lining the arena. He was pressed into a defensive position, raking his
Electro spear above to keep the thunderbolts at bay. His Hydro begged to be poured out and
expended, but managing the two elements in such a hostile environment would cause more harm
than good; Childe didn’t have much of a choice, given the circumstances.

At least the Sixth was putting up one hell of a fight.

“Come on, come on, I’m waiting—”

It was unclear who Scaramouche was speaking to as he protested, taking unhurried steps along the
deep-fried grass towards Childe, who was primed to launch himself directly at the other Harbinger
with everything he had. His assault would have to be soon, before Childe’s muscles grew
exhausted and donning the Foul Legacy impossible due to its substantial impact on the body.

Maybe Childe had underestimated Scaramouche just a bit.

His weapon had yet to make an appearance, and the Sixth Harbinger was nowhere close to looking
ready to stop. His infamous grin glowed with a cool tint of magenta from the beams of light
following him as he moved, just a few feet from where Childe stood.

It was only fair to say, begrudgingly, that the Balladeer made the Conquests Per Tartaglia list of
enormously difficult challengers.

But the Eleventh Harbinger was nothing if not persistent, and pushing his limits was what he did
best.

“Fine. You want close combat?” The Sixth seemed to glide over the ground as he closed the
distance between himself and Childe, the mesh veil attached to his hat fluttering close enough that
its movement was audible. “I’ll oblige you, even if I was saving this for later.”

There was a burst of power before a symmetrical droplet of purple jadeite hovered above Childe’s
head, embraced by a gilded ring of Taiko drums. It pulsed with the eternal radiance of an incoming
storm, of percussive, ambitious bedlam.

Things were about to get serious, then; the Balladeer had finally drawn his catalyst.

Childe’s Delusion and Vision throbbed at the sudden rise of Abyss magic Childe called into his
being. A smile tugged its way onto his lips, ever-prepared to meet death if it meant fighting to his
upmost ability.

Zhongli would be displeased.

“Ready when you are.”

Just as Scaramouche finally began to crack, signs of impatience starting to show on the
autumaton’s youthful face, the walls around them began to tremble.

It was soft at first; the tremors could have been mistaken for the electrical disruptions still
ricocheting off of the rocks. The pebbles by Childe’s boot soles flipped onto their backs, shoved by
an unseen influence.
The Balladeer’s eyes narrowed a miniscule amount, enough that Childe caught the change, before
tiny cracks and uneven bulges besieged the ground.

Scaramouche beamed.

“It feels good when things fall into place.”

There was a sound from below, as if Teyvat’s core itself was being ripped in two. It didn’t take
long for the noises to become deafening, and in a matter of seconds, the underground shudders
transformed into an earthquake of seismic proportions.

Neither the Eleventh nor the Sixth had the capabilities to tear the land apart.

Pillars of stone rose up in front of Childe, waves upon waves of glowing steles which forced
Scaramouche upwards, his lithe figure flying straight to the other side of the gorge. He laughed as
he soared, latching onto his hat before it was swept up by the wind, all while evading the sudden
barrage of never-ending columns.

They filled the valley with their shining influence; there was remarkably no change to the dirt
where Childe stood, giving him time to watch and stare while the Balladeer made his way back to
hostile ground, still shifting and collapsing beneath his unsteady feet.

Childe’s heart hurt with the number of embarrassing palpitations it produced.

He recognized the emblems on each lustrous stele immediately.

“Haha! What did I tell you?”

Loose sediments fell from atop of the crag Childe stood under; he gazed up to where Scaramouche
was looking, the Sixth’s expression frighteningly ecstatic, and saw nothing but gold.

The peak was swathed in it, bathing the entirety of Cuijue in streaks of endless amber alite with
Geo; what could only be described as a marooned sun had overtaken the slope. The sheer power
which emanated from the light itself made it feel as if a ball of fire would drop into the valley at
any moment, its radiance and sweltering heat unrivalled.

If Scaramouche’s smile grew any wider, Childe swore the man’s face would become permanently
stuck that way.

A clown for eternity. Rather appropriate.

At the sun’s core stood a lone figure; even when veiled by the largest and brightest Geo safeguard
the Harbinger had ever seen, their Cor Lapis eyes cut through the might of both the shield and the
densely charged air, bright enough to burn.

Childe’s knees shook from the recognizable pressure of an Archon’s sway; Zhongli really knew
how to make an entrance.

“Xiansheng…”

Scaramouche dusted himself off from where he was unceremoniously discarded. The ground grew
still, and the Balladeer’s tone turned bone-chillingly vile.

His smirk never wavered.

“Told you he’d come.”

Chapter End Notes

Cuijue Slope: I recently completed the Nine Pillars quest (thank you to the lovely
Discord group I shyly join sometimes for showing me I had never done it) and became
fascinated by the inscriptions and what, exactly, the ruins symbolized. The wording on
the tablet was so optimal a spot for Scaramouche to fight Childe.

Remember how I said writing and planning out fight scenes exhaust me? This is the
mother of all that exhaustion and it's only halfway done. Oi. Childe, why must you
fight so much? My brain only has so much knowledge on how the human body bends
and maneuvers its way through a scuffle.

4 more days, everyone... I am internally screaming. I cannot WAIT for Zhongli any
longer. I joked to a friend that I just need to stay alive long enough to main the Geo
Lord and ended up having to go to the ER Tuesday night because of a gallbladder
attack... here is her message:

"Don't make jokes like this, everyone. Karma can hear you."

If you need a little more insight into Scaramouche's motives and are a newer player,
take a look at the Unreconciled Stars 1.1 Event. I have pulled a lot of lore into this
because I love/hate that purple brat and I love when things make sense.

And of course, as per usual, your comments on the last chapter were incredible. They
warm my socks, fluff my pillows and I (pathetically) reread them sometimes when I'm
feeling down about writing or life in general. So when I say thank you every chapter,
please know each thank you is just as heartfelt and meaningful as the last.

Twitter
 An Unconscionable Contract: Part II
Chapter Notes

PSA: A very important message for all of my readers.

In case you do not follow me on Twitter:

·̩＊*•̩
̩̥͙ ✩•̩
̩͙ *˚
̩͙ ˚*•̩✩•̩
̩͙ *˚＊·̩
̩͙ ̩̥͙ Zhongli came home·̩＊*•̩
̩̥͙ ✩•̩
̩͙ *˚
̩͙ ˚*•̩✩•̩
̩͙ *˚＊·̩
̩͙ ̩̥͙
That is all. Enjoy.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Zhongli descended from the peak directly for Scaramouche; an explosive meteor shower fell in his
wake, jagged boulders plummeting into the gorge like a legion of stones. His trajectory was lit by
the golden sheen of Geo, which managed to overtake the once all-encompassing purple Electro in
regards to its brilliance.

Childe had always held the belief that Liyue shone brightest when alight with the lavish, inimitable
hues of Cor Lapis.

Scaramouche was knocked onto his backside in an instant; the Sixth wrapped himself in a generous
coating of Electro, only for the ex-Geo Archon to slice the screen open like a hot knife through
butter. Even his headpiece sat crooked, knocked off-centre, covering the Balladeer’s face. A
gratifying display of being caught off-guard.

The first time Childe sparred with the Adeptus, he was blown away by his ability. Everything from
the man’s form to his agility was drool-worthy; he was a prime example of what most warriors
aspired to become, only to never reach such a lofty goal due to corporeal limitations. Sparring him
always left the Harbinger thirsting for more, yearning for every piece of vital wisdom the Geo
Archon could provide with his eons of experience.

Scaramouche was mistaken; Childe certainly used Zhongli for his own gain. It just wasn’t the kind
of coerced, manipulative kind of return the Sixth sought for himself.

It was a small reward for properly befriending one of the most incredible beings to ever walk
Teyvat.

The ex-Geo Archon’s innate fluidity, either borne from his Adepti heritage or sheer godliness,
intertwined with numerous fighting styles honed over millennia, created a system that left no room
for errors. The battlefield molded to his whims; Cuijue Slope moaned as it acknowledged its
creator’s arrival. His hair, eyes and skin shone with a golden light that could never be replicated,
illuminating the valley and breathing life back into the region.

As if Childe needed a reminder for how embarrassingly enamored he was with the Geo God.

A Cor Lapis-tipped spear lifted the edge of Scaramouche’s hat upwards, just enough so that he had
a clear view of the striking pair of ochre eyes staring him down. Even from where Childe stood
halfway across the gorge, it was impossible to turn a blind eye to the ex-Geo Archon’s intimidating
aura.
His face appeared calm and impassive, yet his eyes were brimming with a seething, profound
disdain, as if the Balladeer had deeply offended him.

“You really know how to make an impressive entrance.”

Scaramouche leered at the Adeptus with no fear or hesitation, broadening the frown marring
Zhongli’s face. “But for someone so incisive, you sure are predictable.”

The ex-Geo Archon disregarded Scaramouche’s taunts completely. He angled his chin downwards,
as if locking the Sixth in place with the weight of his stare, before peering in Childe’s direction.

“Childe,” the voice which travelled throughout the slope was fortified with Zhongli’s familiar
concoction; one-part divine influence and two-parts cordial concern. The Harbinger caught himself
before he awkwardly responded in a pitch much too shrill, “are you injured?”

He had to think about it for a second; the adrenaline high made it hard to concentrate.

That, and the absolute euphoria of witnessing Zhongli in all of his archaic, deific glory; it would
never cease to scatter goosebumps across Childe’s entire body, his blood bursting with the desire to
battle and conquer, all while simultaneously yearning to worship at the man’s Archon statue.

But besides the (possible) concussion and the painful build-up of Electro in his system, Childe was
fine.

Technically. “All clear, xiansheng.”

Zhongli nodded, the ends of his hair gleaming slightly before his focus was dragged back to the
little Harbinger on the ground. Scaramouche remained still, a wise decision while sitting before a
livid Prime Adeptus.

“You are becoming a nuisance, Sixth Harbinger.” Zhongli sent a wave of Geo pulsing through the
dirt, sinking the Balladeer a foot deeper into the ground. If the sudden drop startled him,
Scaramouche hid it well. “You destroyed a chamber of the Hu Family’s ancestral place of work,
showing no remorse for your actions. You have murdered and wounded Fatui soldiers; innocent or
guilty, killing for sport cannot be forgiven. And now, barraging Liyue with explosions…”

He trailed off, eyes closing. There was a quiet anger exuding from the Adeptus that Childe had
seldom witnessed.

“The Hu Family…?” Scaramouche chuckled, “Oh, yes. Sorry about how our previous engagement
ended. But to be fair, I thought you’d be more reasonable.”

“Capturing an unwelcomed guest within my workspace would hardly be deemed as unreasonable.”

Xiao’s whereabouts were still unknown; he must have been out amongst the destruction, aiding
those who were affected by the blasts.

It was obvious now that the bombs the Balladeer had sent across the nation of contracts were
indeed nothing more than distractions for the Adepti to handle, all while Scaramouche had his fun
with Childe and the ex-Geo Archon. It was cruel and inhumane and self-serving.

And quite comparable to Childe’s own actions during Osial’s release, if he thought about it
reasonably.

He had freed a knowingly-vengeful god in the hopes of forcing the Geo Archon out of hiding,
saddened but accepting of the necessary casualties his acts would undoubtedly cause. He was also
a Harbinger; in the end, a Harbinger’s activities never left much room for the wellbeing and
security of others. Each of them had a greater goal in mind, an objective that needed to be
accomplished no matter the obstacles.

A looking glass was being held up to Childe’s past transgressions, and though distorted, the
parallels were easy to spot.

Were he and Scaramouche all that different, really?

“I just wanted to talk!” Scaramouche’s smile loosened a fraction as he surveyed Zhongli with more
interest than before; Childe yearned to move a little closer, but was too busy trying to figure out if
an immediate strike would be advantageous. With Zhongli’s presence, there was a possibility that
the Balladeer could be captured alive. That would certainly please the Tsaritsa.

But every voice in his head—Ajax, Childe, Tartaglia—called for only one outcome.

A very dead Sixth Harbinger.

“Whatever you desire from me,” Zhongli’s spear tip dropped to Scaramouche’s Adam’s apple,
“know I will not accept.”

“I figured you’d say that.” The violet Harbinger gave a thoughtful hum before carelessly letting his
guard down to look at Childe; his expression was much too engrossed, as if he were sitting back
and watching his favorite performance unfold instead of in the midst of combat. It made Childe all
the more ready to surge over, Hydro no longer as impaired by Electro with Scaramouche somewhat
incapacitated.

He landed carefully alongside Zhongli, the Sixth’s eyes never leaving him as he surfed through the
air. “The God of Contracts would obviously be picky with his judgement. Considering you’ve
lived out the majority of your existence as Morax, who controlled every negotiation laid out within
the borders of Liyue, it doesn’t surprise me that you assumed my request would be one-sided.”

Childe watched as Zhongli’s face fell slightly. “The citizens of Liyue have managed their own
transactions for longer than I have walked as Zhongli; you assume things about my realm that you
do not understand.”

“Assumptions? Your realm?” Even as Zhongli’s spear nudged into the thin skin along his
windpipe, Scaramouche’s voice never wavered. “I see… then you probably have mixed feelings
about what took place at the Golden House.”

The Adeptus’ eyes of Cor Lapis wavered to Childe and then back to the Sixth so quickly, the shift
was nearly impossible to detect. “Mixed feelings?”

“Xiansheng, don’t let this parasite put ideas in your head.”

Childe knew exactly what the maggot was trying to do; Scaramouche’s taunts and mind games
aimed to throw Zhongli off. And as resilient as the Adeptus was, the Balladeer’s hateful malice and
keen insight weren’t sitting right with the Harbinger.

He readied his Electro spear, the Fatui mask on his face feeling much heavier with Zhongli’s gaze
weighing down upon it.

“Sure. I bet you feel somewhat guilty about using someone like Tartaglia over here as your
Snezhnayan scapegoat. Even though he’s a Harbinger; one who, in case you forgot, was ready to
plunge your beloved harbor into the sea just to get his bony fingers on your Gnosis.”

Goddamnit; could a Gnosis grant someone the ability to read minds? Just how did Scaramouche
pick up on Childe’s restlessness over the sudden Gnosis-mission Déjà vu?

Childe didn’t imagine it when Zhongli’s gloved hand grew tighter on the length of his weapon,
though his facial expression did not change.

“But no matter, that’s all in the past.” Scaramouche glared at the ex-Geo Archon from his body-
shaped pit. “Right? I mean, you two get along so well now. You even came to his rescue,
neglecting the affectionate, devoted citizens of your realm, who were caught up in my Electro
bursts. I imagine some of them even cried out your name, and yet here you are. How… sweet.”

The implications weren’t subtle; Childe’s Electro flared violently, his muscles tensing around the
outburst. Either Zhongli was overlooking the Balladeer’s insinuations through practiced self-
control, or he was politely attempting to retain some of Childe’s dignity.

Both of those possibilities left the Eleventh Harbinger feeling as if his layers were being peeled
back in an ugly, exposing manner.

Zhongli’s voice was cavernous. “The people of Liyue have nothing to fear, so long as the Adepti
and Qixing are nearby.”

Scaramouche scoffed as if he were being told an overused joke.

“Say,” he mused aloud, “if the Eleventh Harbinger could gain your trust, why can’t I? Even the
Eighth coaxed her way into your schemes.” At the mention of La Signora, the Sixth gave Childe a
spiteful sneer. “I think I deserve a fair chance.”

“Zhongli,” Childe was feeling the beginnings of desperation in his veins; there were more reasons
than the ones he had stated previously for why he wanted the ex-Geo Archon to stay out of this
battle. More than just being seen as a nuisance, although that would always be the rationale which
took precedence.

No, Childe didn’t need Scaramouche tainting the Adeptus with his poisonous words, making the
man reconsider all of his prior choices, ones the Harbinger knew had already caused him grief,
confusion and dissatisfaction.

Who was the Balladeer to try and invalidate the assessing, sensible mind of someone like Zhongli?

“For you to even consider that I would trust you proves to me that you are not of sound mind.” A
slight relief; Zhongli didn’t sound phased at all. “If you are trying to corrode my regard for your
fellow Harbinger, know that it would take much more than a few elaborate insults for me to doubt
Childe’s intentions.”

Ah.

Scaramouche whistled. “That’s a strong statement.”

Zhongli’s customary sincerity was not only placating in how it made the Harbinger feel
simultaneously elated and faint-hearted, but it was also a very blunt declaration that revealed the
utter confidence the ex-Geo Archon had in Childe’s integrity.

Sometimes that sureness felt a tad misplaced (Childe certainly wasn’t squeaky clean of
wrongdoings), but right then, when both Childe and Zhongli shared the same objective, it felt as
invigorating as a late-night shot of Fire Water.

Zhongli swung his spear in a beautiful arc before lowering it to the ground, giving Scaramouche
some feigned leeway to move. With Childe at the ready and Geo infiltrating every crevice of the
gorge, there wasn’t too much that could be done. Scaramouche bristled before leaning on one
sullied knee; his hakama were blissfully soiled with dirt.

A small pulse of energy bolted out of the Sixth, one Zhongli easily deflected before raising an
inquisitive brow.

“The Gnosis must be giving you difficulties,” a flash of light lit the Adeptus’ eyes from within,
“perhaps because it was never meant for you.”

Childe smirked when the Balladeer’s grin finally dropped.

“So you do know how to play dirty; and here I thought only Tartaglia would offer me that kind of
fun.” He pinched the ends of one ornamented ribbon before flicking it over his shoulder. “Listen
well, old Geo God. I know you and that fickle Cryo Archon are holding back the vital truth; the
reason you traded out your Gnosis, why the Tsaritsa continues to collect them in preparation for
war… now that I have what is fairly mine, I think I'm connecting the dots a little better.”

“You've gained some enlightenment from the energy held within the Gnosis.” The ex-Geo Archon
took a step closer, radiating amber. “It may have offered you a new perspective, but at what cost?”

He turned to look at Childe, who was quickly losing his patience with the conversation time
allotted to the garbage still kneeling on the splintered ground. Of course, insight into what
Scaramouche wanted was important. Of course, Zhongli had every right to know what the
Balladeer was planning and why he sought out the Geo Archon specifically.

But every minute squandered was another moment gained in the Sixth’s favor. He hoarded
information on others like a reference library; surely, he already noticed the way Zhongli had
swivelled his lance to angle in Childe’s direction. An understated yet undeniable position of
defence.

Little things such as that shouldn’t have made the Harbinger’s heart ache in such a juvenile
manner. They had agreed to look out for one another back in Zhongli’s apartment, the day Childe
had simulated lethargy into Zhongli’s lap, and the Adeptus was following through with their
agreement.

Friends aided and protected their friends.

But allies made for easy leverage during something as cruel as a Harbinger’s game.

Scaramouche’s provoking triggered a still very tender spot in Childe’s heart. His Harbinger mask
was his only saving grace; he knew how easily Zhongli could read him.

Childe couldn’t remain silent any longer. “Hurry up and talk, before I act on the urge to continue
where we left off.”

The Balladeer seemed happy to oblige. There was an odd sheen to his wraithlike eyes as he spoke.

“This world is corrupt. The gods are all tainted; no matter what side you’re on, all of you, along
with Celestia, must fall.”

Behind him, his catalyst jade floated ominously, void of any charges but still present. “You could
help me, you know: rebuild what’s already been lost and destroy what needs to be crushed. The
legendary Morax has witnessed the Great Wars and has learned from the mistakes of the past. All
you would need to do is lend me your wisdom.”

He tilted his head. “And a bit of your power.”

Scaramouche wanted… a partnership?

No, maybe even less than that. Childe couldn’t see the purple rodent being able to work amiably
with anyone, even if his life were on the line.

He sought to rifle through the deepest compartments of Zhongli’s memories, scour the tragedies
witnessed and the experiences better left whisked away by the dusts of time, empty out whatever
could be useful to his inquiring, until there was nothing left but void recollections and dimly lit
memoirs. One of the exquisite things about the Prime Adeptus was that he could wander into the
partitions of his own mind and simply appear side-tracked; when really, there were ruminations
within that weren’t meant to be seen. Happenstances that needed to remain only known to the Geo
Archon, and he alone.

It was awhile before Childe could accept that. Which was why every small detail the Adeptus
shared with him was so valuable. Immeasurably so.

The most priceless treasures in all the world that Scaramouche could never afford.

There was a hand placed lightly on Childe’s wrist; when he looked down, a leather, stone-adorned
glove held him to the spot. He wasn’t even aware that he had been leaning into Scaramouche’s
space, preparing his double-edged lance until Zhongli brought his attention to it.

Childe looked up through the opening slits of his mask into a face of pure jade, clear and refined.

Patience, the Adeptus mouthed, his eyes resolute in their appeal.

“I have done what I can to protect the populace, not to prepare them for a future of destruction
aided by my own hand.” Zhongli’s palm remained steady on Childe’s wrist, three fingers resting at
his pulse point. His verses, though mysterious, were teeming with finality. “I see no need to induce
insurgency; rather, it would be best for the hands at play behind the scenes to continue their work.
Why try and appeal to someone such as myself, a retired Archon who has no use in re-establishing
himself in the chaos that is Celestia, when the Cryo Archon shares so many similar values?”

That was a question Childe had been asking for some time, as well. The Tsaritsa’s goal had always
been to burn away the old world; Scaramouche’s aspirations echoed her ideals. It was strange that
he would turn away from an Archon who held the power and ability to support his ambitions.

“Because I need to unravel it all.”

He rose to his feet, a good few inches beneath ground level as Zhongli’s Geo had broken the
foundation below him, “Teyvat, the stars, the purpose of the gods… I’m ready to start fresh in a
place where there are no beings who can reign from above without being properly punished for the
sins they commit. Where destruction can be distributed properly, equally, and no mortal nor god
can do anything to stop it.”

The misplaced clarity which resonated behind the Balladeer’s words was chilling; he truly believed
that whatever Zhongli knew about Teyvat would be the key to unscrambling the universe.

Just what did Il Dottore and Pierro spoon-feed the Electro husk to make him doubt the world itself?
Curiosity was gnawing at the back of Childe’s mind. Lucky for him, he was easily preoccupied
with more violent, physical tasks instead of the philosophical, and the one being who could
(possibly) answer the questions he held stood assuredly beside him.

“Wow,” Childe chuckled unrepentantly, “You’ve really lost it.”

The Balladeer narrowed in on Zhongli, his one-track mind whirring like an engine out-of-control.
“I know you’ve grown weaker, Morax.”

Scaramouche’s catalyst lowered itself into his open palms; Zhongli released his grasp on Childe,
which was good timing, too, because the Harbinger could already feel a build-up of Electro
emitting from the immortal on the ground. “You’re more humane. Soft. It’s abhorrent, and almost
endearingly easy to influence.”

A faint rumbling sounded from all directions; small stones cascaded down from the cliffs
overhead. Zhongli’s expression grew as tranquil as the pools of Luhua.

“Great wisdom can seem foolish to those who cannot comprehend it,” he stated, each word more
thunderous than the last, “but one who stands tall does not fear a crooked shadow.”

The blast of Geo energy that set the gorge aflame in gold had Childe seeing stars; one moment
there was nothing but a lengthy, bone-crushing tension, and the next, Zhongli had the Balladeer
swaying like a newly sprouted mint plant. It was easy enough to avoid incoming steles because
none of them were meant for Childe; instead, they surrounded Scaramouche like prison walls,
curving around him without remorse.

It was a good a time as any for Childe to use his Foul Legacy. He had to pull his trump card; in that
situation, at that moment, it was the best decision he could make.

Zhongli trusted him to use good judgement when it counted, and Childe would make sure not to
squander his conviction.

“Huh. How sagely.”

Bursts of Electro came forth, puncturing static-filled holes through the largest pillar. There was the
telltale sound of buzzing coming from the Balladeer’s taiko ring, endlessly circling his weapon.
When the Sixth dashed out from the stone prison, he looked revitalised, as if the surprise attack
was a much-needed disruption. “Fine. I see your mind’s made up. I’ll just have to fix that.”

“Xiansheng!”

Zhongli gazed at Childe, his lips straightening into an understanding, assenting countenance before
nodding. It was the smallest symbolic gesture of faith the ex-Geo Archon could give; he said
nothing as he submerged the Eleventh Harbinger in a Geo shield thicker than Mt. Tianheng itself.

Five.

The luminescent shield surrounding him allowed for a second of reprieve from Scaramouche’s
Electro; it permitted Childe to harness his own powers without interruption, the extraordinary push
and pull of his Vision, Delusion and Foul Legacy congealing within him to mould his form into the
ultimate weapon.

It hurt.

Four.
Scrapes of what sounded like steel could be heard from outside of the muffled safeguard; the
Balladeer must have been attempting to get through Zhongli’s defenses. Childe couldn’t tell; he
was too absorbed on striving to rush his transformation to its upmost speed, wanting to shout as he
propelled the Abyss power to spread through muscles which were already heavily incapacitated by
excessive Electro.

He grit his teeth; it had been a while. The agony which came with donning the Foul Legacy was
never easy, but today it seemed exacerbated tenfold. The scalding heat from each piece of armor
was intolerable, as if Childe’s nerves were all set on high alert.

Well, Childe had been expecting this. Limits had to be pushed in order to win.

Three.

“I expected nothing less from Liyue’s old Archon!”

Laughter teetered into Childe’s ear from outside of the Geo globe; if he squinted, he could see a
surge of gold rushing across the area like a beacon of light, slicing at a short form of purple with
perfect precision.

And yet, Scaramouche was keeping up. It was enough to make Childe bite through his bottom lip,
rushing through the shift from man to beast and forcing out a surge of energy that numbed his
spine.

Now that the ex-Geo Archon was here, Childe wanted more than anything to prove to the man he
was a worthy companion in a skirmish. That he could fight alongside a god and offer dependable
support.

That he could prove to be of service to the one who had enlightened him in so many ways.

Two.

His hands sparked with Electro. Hydro pooled at every internal crevice. It would have been
exhilarating to get drunk on the first tastes of power that came with the transformation, but Childe
didn’t have any time to waste today.

Fighting together with Zhongli for the first time officially was more of a rush than any cursed
Abyss power.

As the darkness shrouded him completely, leaving no part of him recognizable other than his
Vision and his warped, crimson Fatui mask, Tartaglia was once again reminded of his status as the
Tsaritsa’s weapon of war.

His Delusion shone brightly at his midsection, sizzling with enough potency to bring down the
entire valley.

One.

Zhongli must have sensed the alteration of Childe’s elemental abilities, because as soon as the
Eleventh Harbinger completed his transition, the shield dam erupted into blinding, ochre dust.
Childe used the distraction to hone in on the Balladeer instantly; the Adeptus and Scaramouche
were everywhere at once, almost impossible to see with human eyes.

Luckily, Tartaglia was a cut above in this form.

There was Electro manifesting all over the field; fragments of Geo mixed with the element to form
crystallized gems, turning the ground into a jagged minefield. Childe soared above the shards, his
cloak of cosmic shockwaves harnessing electricity as he moved.

“Childe,” Zhongli didn’t sound the least out of breath as Scaramouche ripped wave after wave of
lightning showers overtop of him; he dodged with movements akin to flowing water, “I wanted to
apologize for taking so long.”

“I had it under control,” he responded casually, moving jointly with Zhongli in a way that would
have been unachievable had they not sparred together so often, “and I already told you, xiansheng.
No need to apologize. Not when it comes to me pulling you into my messes.”

A rippling of sparks swept underneath their feet; Childe lifted Zhongli lightly into the air, the
Adeptus moving with the evasion as if it were planned, before placing him down just as quickly.

Could the Prime Adeptus have evaded the barrage himself? Unquestionably.

Was Childe going to take advantage of every little aid he could provide while in his hulking,
overpowered form? Absolutely.

A small smile appeared on Zhongli’s face once he found an opportunity to return the favor,
shielding Childe’s side from an orb of pure Electro with his enormous supply of stone pillars. From
Childe’s view, almost an entire person taller than the Adeptus now, the man looked more delicate
than usual.

It was a novelty to be able to observe Zhongli from this perspective, being so much larger, but still
feeling helpless whenever he so much as flicked his lips upward.

The first and only time Zhongli had witnessed Childe’s Foul Legacy, he had interrupted his
conversion before the transformation finished. He hadn’t gotten a chance to observe just how much
of Childe changed once the Abyss suit was fastened over his body; from his height to his strength,
he became a new being entirely.

“Well, now that you’re here,” Childe’s voice was altered dramatically by his Foul Legacy, making
what would have been a fun lilt a chilling timbre, “let’s get rid of the Sixth, once and for all.”

Zhongli didn’t flinch at the surprising depth of Childe’s low tenor.

“Tartaglia’s showing his true colors.” Scaramouche had paused his onslaughts to eye the two of
them, “About time, too. Otherwise, how could we continue our game?”

The Balladeer wasn’t given another opening to continue; Zhongli sent a cluster of spears rolling in
his direction, each weapon slicing high and deep into the air to cut off the Sixth’s advances. A
boom sounded from above; at some point, Scaramouche had levelled his catalyst above the
battlefield, which was now crying out with the sound of a resounding drum. With each thump came
a thunderbolt much bigger than any of the ordinary ones the Sixth had been slinging. The violet
monstrosities coated the gorge in enough Electro to cause convulsions.

Childe could feel them; shudders that wouldn’t quit, even as he continually sent out sweeps of
electrical energy to clear his own body of the excess. Zhongli was maintaining a thin shield around
the two of them, all while preserving a steady offense of steles that for anyone else would have
been more than unrealistic. The Geo absorption helped with the shocks; it allowed him to power
through and push the Balladeer back, so much so that he was nearly against the farthest bluff’s
high wall.
“Your tenacity is commendable,” Scaramouche insisted before nearly disappearing, speedily
making his way behind Childe like a skittering cockroach, “but it’s your Foul Legacy that will be
your downfall.”

“Where are you looking, Balladeer?”

The shrill sound of rock-slicing-rock rang out into the air; Zhongli plunged his spear into the
depths of the ground, missing Scaramouche purposefully to cause an earthquake right below his
feet. The jostling flung the lilac Harbinger to the side, where he quickly picked himself back up to
continue erratically attacking from all directions.

“Prepare yourself, xiansheng.” Childe pulled at his Hydro, emptying out every drop at his disposal
into an iridescent orb of water precariously balanced in the air. “There’s going to be a downpour.”

He worked tirelessly to disregard the excruciating backlash from the sparks assailing his nervous
system in favor of trying to relish the strain of his Foul Legacy’s ultimate Hydro abilities; Childe
was an expert. This was simply another step towards becoming more powerful and increasing his
elemental resistance.

And with that thought bolstering him, he unleashed a devastating wave that swept the entirety of
Cuijue Slope underwater.

Zhongli elevated himself high above the surfs next to Childe, who drifted smugly over his
manmade lagoon. The water occupied every fissure and crack, crackling with violent purple sparks
as all of the Electro released found an opportune conductor to travel through.

Scaramouche had stilled beneath the ripples; bubbles of air rose ominously from where he
previously stood.

As if it were that easy.

The look the Adeptus sent Childe’s way was one of deliberation; the former warrior god knew how
to voice his questions without saying anything at all in the heat of battle.

Being able to communicate this way with Zhongli was strangely exhilarating. He wasn’t sure
which emotion dominated most; his unease over the Adeptus providing backup with a fight against
someone as treacherous and devious as the Balladeer, or the ingenuous joy of fighting together
with the god who had turned his world upside down.

In a good way, of course. Childe would never regret feeling so much for someone so worthy of
admiration.

“My Lady wants him delivered along with the Gnosis alive,” Childe jeered, still somewhat
distracted by how small the Adeptus appeared; with his arms crossed over his chest, the normally
large, golden hands of the Geo Archon looked so much daintier, “but in all honesty, I don’t think
that’s possible. He’s been giving me a… bit of a hard time.”

A gleam of gold caught Childe’s eye as the Adeptus’ bangs began to faintly glow with Geo
resonance. “You are implying that this may be a fight to the death.”

Childe paused, his eyes still skimming the water for movement as Zhongli continued.

“In other words, you are presenting me with the option to leave, should I wish to avoid bloodying
my own hands.”
“Exactly. I’m glad we’re finally on the same page.”

Zhongli released a contrite chuckle at the exact moment the flashing lake that was once dry land
exploded with a surge of Electro. The Inazuman weasel could swim, apparently. “That is generous
of you, but do keep in mind; I am here to assist you, Ajax. No matter the final verdict.”

He paused. “If, for your own protection, as well as the safety of Liyue, the Sixth must vanish from
this world…”

Rocks hurdled down from each crag surrounding the slope, tumbling into the Electro-charged pool
without mercy. The Balladeer was a blip of lightning, narrowly avoiding each enormous boulder
that sought to squash him like the infuriating insect he was.

“…then I am happy to oblige.”

Childe needed a second to breathe; he would forever be caught off-guard by the feeling of having
earned someone’s conviction so honestly and completely. Let alone the privilege of that person
being Zhongli.

“You’re going to be the death of me one day, Zhongli-xiansheng. Saying things like that with no
remorse… give a man a warning before unleashing your inner sentimentalist.”

Purple flickered into Childe’s periphery.

“I see you’ve decided to take me more seriously.”

It was unclear when, exactly, Scaramouche had moved from the pit up onto the leaning wall next
to the two of them; Electro rested at his heels, the static buildup offering him leverage. “Last
chance to accept my proposal, Morax.”

Zhongli activated his shield as Childe slashed his way back into Scaramouche’s space, sigils
lighting his path. “I am no longer the Geo Archon.”

“Zhongli, then. What if I made you an offer you couldn’t refuse?” At his words, the safeguard
swayed; Childe tensed, recognizing the shield’s connection to the Adeptus’ own physical
fluctuations. Was there more to the Balladeer’s strategy than just straightforward electrocution
until one side succumbed? “A fair agreement for both parties?”

“There is little you could offer me,” the Adeptus responded slowly, creating a pathway of eternal
columns for Childe to rampage across; Scaramouche was leading him around in an infuriating
game of tag, “and even less that I would accept in agreement to forming a contract.”

Something was wrong; Scaramouche ought to have been working harder to slaughter Childe. He
should have switched up tactics by now, or focused on a getaway plan now that there was a clear
disadvantage of two-against-one. The never-ending chase was growing old and certainly wasn’t
helping him bargain for the Geo Archon’s alliance.

As powerful as Childe was in his Foul Legacy armor, if he couldn’t catch the Balladeer, then their
impasse would never cease.

“I don’t know about that,” The Sixth vanished into thin air, leaving Childe mid-swing without a
target once more and Zhongli eyeing the area with hesitancy. The pulsating beat from the catalyst
above grew in speed, “I think I have the perfect trade-off.”

“No one cares about your little negotiations,” Childe barked, his words bellowing like the taiko set
overhead, “so stop running and fight.”

Zhongli descended from the pillars to block the exits within the slope on both sides, using his
safeguard to force the entire cavity within its confines. The amount of power necessary to create an
infallible Geo screen that spanned nearly a mile wide was unfathomable; yet somehow, the ex-Geo
Archon pursued. He positioned himself as close to Childe as possible, spearhead back to taking aim
wherever the smallest Electro crackle went off. This time, it was prepared to see blood.

The retainer would have to attack one of them if he wanted to break free.

“He keeps evading,” Childe whispered to himself, knowing well that Zhongli could hear him as
they stood back-to-back. The Harbinger’s cloak grazed the Adeptus’ back with small snaps of
energy; he couldn’t rein in anymore of the Electro.

The continuous surges and slashes dulled his senses, making it more difficult to control the
accumulation. There was a limit to how much longer Childe could hold out for, and the dull ache at
the back of his skull was beginning to grow alarmingly prominent. “What’s there to gain from that?
You’re not exactly the kind of opponent who relies heavily on stamina, xiansheng.”

Childe knew firsthand; the man practically invented endurance.

“No,” the Adeptus shook his head, amber strands flying, “he intends to exhaust in more ways than
one.”

A burning current of Electro surged between them from an unknown direction; Zhongli darted to
the side before he could be skimmed, but Childe wasn’t so lucky. The electricity stuck to his armor
like tree sap, sending jolts vibrating up his back and shoulders. Any Hydro he had depleted began
to gather within his fingertips, only adding fuel to the electrical fire marring Childe’s mortal body
beneath the Abyss shell.

He couldn’t help the shallow grunt that left his mouth as he fought with the elements, taking a
second longer than usual to move against the flux of static that hung at his right side.

Zhongli formed a fortified shield within the massive Geo dome encasing Childe, clearly noticing
his delay.

“Childe?”

“I’m fine, xiansheng,” no way was he going to concern Zhongli over his condition right now, not
when another zap was heading straight for—

“Come on, Morax,” Scaramouche lunged forward, boosting himself with his vibrant, purple
element; the Adeptus maneuvered himself out of range, making to follow the Balladeer’s
inconsistent advances, “If you agree to help me now, I won’t resort to my other measures.”

Zhongli frowned, eyes blazing. “I have already given my answer.”

Childe couldn’t allow Zhongli to finish up what he started.

He splayed his metallic, glazed palms to the sky and sucked in a wobbly breath.

Then he tugged.

He yanked on all of the Electro thrashing within his unstable Delusion, drew on the Hydro shifting
uncomfortably beneath his skin, suffered through the stinging and corroding and oh-so mind-
numbingly familiar pain as if welcoming home an old friend.

This was how Childe learned to master his own limitations.

This was how Tartaglia won battles.

There was the slightest opening between Zhongli’s swift, succinct strikes and Scaramouche’s wild
displays of power, but Childe couldn’t miss the opportunity. His chance was small and sweet;
Zhongli could be angry with him in the morning for overusing his abilities, even after the countless
warnings he reiterated time and time again.

Maybe there was some truth to the concept that humans never learned from their mistakes.

With a quick glance at Zhongli, who was just as ethereal and imposing as always, twisting through
the air using gleaming masts as stepping stones, Cor Lapis eyes lost to the intensity of combat,
Childe stepped out of the shield and launched his attack.

In unison, Scaramouche’s catalyst erupted.

Earth-shattering booms rained down from above the slope; at the exact moment the Harbinger
freed his hold on the elements, releasing a concentrated outburst of Electro and Hydro straight at
Scaramouche’s expected location, the catalyst which had been hanging idly at the precipice of the
gorge thumped out three consecutive notes.

Each of them discharged a bolt of lightning wide enough to engulf the sky, promising a hopelessly
accurate strike towards the Geo Archon, the loftiest individual within the mostly vacant ditch.

“Xiansheng, overhead!” Childe moved without thinking; his deadened muscles carried him
forward, slowed but determined in their desperate race to block some of the blast.

The Harbinger wasn’t blind. He could see the sprinkling of scales already molting around the
edges of the Geo Archon’s cheekbones. Even from afar, their glittering sheen was impossible to
overlook.

Zhongli, in his own, transcendent way, was tired. And all of Childe’s bones cried out with an
overpowering desire to come to his aid, even if he knew the mighty Adeptus, Morax incarnate,
would be alright. Rationally, the ex-Geo Archon didn’t need a mortal’s protection. Ajax, Childe
and Tartaglia all knew that very well.

But besides wanting the Balladeer six-feet-under, they all came to an entirely separate agreement:

The heart wasn’t rational.

Childe sent a lengthy surge of Hydro out towards the Adeptus, strong enough that some of the
current would be transferred away from Zhongli’s position. The man was obstructing the massive
beam of light using his buffer, while also blocking rounds of excessive Electro nipping at his heels
with his sinuous influence over the ground.

He was doing fine alone, but still offered Childe a small smile, as if appreciating the gesture.

It made the near-unstoppable pain from the currents in his body a little less excruciating.

Tartaglia was reaching his limit.

“Aha!”
Jarring laughter echoed next to Childe’s ear just before a small body stopped directly in front of
him, a loathsome grin slapped across his otherwise guiltless-looking face.

There was a peal of jingling, a second where the Eleventh Harbinger noticed the lesions and burn
marks dotting Scaramouche’s front, and a half a second more where Childe realized exactly why
the Balladeer had spent so much time fleeing the fight.

Getting in close to a weakened opponent was much easier once they became used to the flow of
battle.

It was a simple rule; don’t let yourself grow complacent or distracted. Even soldiers who had never
trained a day in their lives knew that much.

When Scaramouche had mentioned how much work he put into this plan, he hadn’t been kidding;
this wasn’t a single encounter. This was weeks of amassed preparation to destroy the Eleventh’s
stamina through rigorous surprise attacks across the region, all while guaranteeing that the one
person in Liyue Childe cherished remained in conceivable jeopardy.

This was why Childe would never get along with the other Harbingers. Their conspiratorial,
underhanded ways of going about getting what they wanted was dishonorable. Obnoxious.
Arrogant.

And it was even more frustrating when their machinations succeeded.

A lone, pale finger reached out towards the vibrantly purple Delusion secured to Tartaglia’s
breastplate, and not even the God of Geo himself could move fast enough to rip the Balladeer away
from Childe in time.

Scaramouche had been holding back his true speed.

Time slowed down to a near standstill as the Sixth raised his chin to meet Childe’s eyes, his
hollow, depraved stare dripping triumph with every blink.

“Checkmate.”

A crackling noise came from Childe’s waist as he peered down, his Delusion gradually changing
from purple, to lucent lilac, before it converted into a blinding, incandescent white. His Foul
Legacy suit was receding along with the light, pulling all of the elemental accretion and sizzling
pain along with it.

For a moment, Childe was left in utter bliss; all of his muscles were headily numbed. The entire
degeneration of his armor had likely taken less than a second, but Childe’s mind was absorbing
things at a sluggish pace; he watched the Delusion on his waist continue to fill with every bit of
energy harbored within.

Before coursing all of it back through his nervous tissue like a catapult.

“Ajax!”

It was hard to tell when his body hit the floor; Childe was definitely looking up at the sky, if the
grey, murky clouds were anything to go by.

He couldn’t feel his right side; was he sliced in two?

Impossible, he would be dead. Besides, the deceased couldn’t feel pain.

And the side he could feel...

Well.

There were muffled screams coming from somewhere nearby. They were hard to make out, garbled
groans and chilling sounds of anguish that rippled through the gorge, tortured cries of pure agony.

Distantly, Childe comprehended the sounds were coming from him.

The ground shook; his seized body shuddered as something went soaring overhead, a human-
shaped blur colliding with one of the gleaming nine pillars closest to the ruin doors. The impact
itself was nearly enough to knock the ancient column over.

Hasty footfalls, trailed by a winded laugh.

“Get any closer and I’ll splatter Cuijue with Tartaglia’s entrails.”

“What have you done?”

“Me?”

Colors bled in and out of Childe’s vision, but the ringing in his ears allowed for sound to trickle
through.

Touch.

He needed to touch the Delusion to imbue his control. Why hadn’t Childe thought of that sooner?

Childe had a well-known partiality for close combat. Scaramouche made his intention to avoid it
clear; they fought from a distance until the Eleventh craved the contact, the intimate glimpses of
fear and panic when piercing through an opponent up-close and personal, enough so that he
wouldn’t giving it a second thought if…

Бля.

The Electro retainer really thought of everything.

“This is all your fault, Morax.”

A light of golden warmth, more uncomfortably dense than gentle, bled across the slope.
Scaramouche was definitely speaking. He sounded breathless, but his characteristic hostility was
clear as day.

Hanging onto consciousness was like grasping the edge of a dull cliff.

“If you had agreed to my proposal beforehand, I wouldn’t have needed to resort to such a devious
ruse.” A snort. “The Eleventh Harbinger despises backhanded fights. Likes to act like he’s a
virtuous warrior. Can’t say that’s the most effective battle approach now, can you, Tartaglia?”

A piece of rubble bounced off of his cheek, which felt unusually cold. If Childe had the ability to
move his fingers right then, he would have flicked the rock right back at the Balladeer with the
intent to disfigure.

There was an unexpected rumbling from somewhere behind Childe’s lifeless form; he couldn’t see
Zhongli anymore, but the throbbing underneath the dirt grew in intensity. The Geo influence taking
over the space was starting to suffocate, permeating the air and making the Harbinger’s chest feel
ten times heavier.

He grunted a wet, ugly cough; his throat was too dry to shout anymore, but pitiful, uncontrollable
whimpers slipped out persistently. They were impossible to keep down; not when the only
sensation left in Childe’s neglected form was pain.

“What did I say about moving?" A pause, followed by a brisk ha. "That human form of yours needs
to be tuned, old man. Or is the ex-Geo Archon just as deaf as he is sluggish?”

The agony came in waves; Childe knew he was slowly being cooked from this inside out. These
were sensations the Harbinger grew acquainted with; previously, when he had only just received
his glorious Delusion from the Tsaritsa, his training had been brutally shocking (no pun intended).
Mastering Hydro and Electro was no easy feat, and even with total control, there was no guarantee
of a painless segue between the elements.

The mastery he previously felt was long gone; Childe had little to no control over his Delusion at
all. It was as if he never received the gift of Electro in the first place, and the currents that were
once small discomforts had grown into torturous afflictions.

Fuck the Balladeer.

“What are the requirements of your contract?”

Wait.

What?

Another upsurge of pain engulfed Childe’s windpipe; warped, cursed moans escaped without his
consent as trickles of electricity made their way over his neck, dispelling onto the rough floor.

Had the Geo Archon lost his mind?

Hearing about Childe’s perilous missions and near-death experiences was not the same as
witnessing them; that was something the Harbinger could understand. But even so.

Childe wished he had the strength to turn his head; something about Zhongli’s pitch made him
desperate to catch a glimpse of the Adeptus. He needed to tell him that he was achingly accustomed
to this pain; it wasn’t new, so there was no reason to worry. He would find a way out of this, just as
Childe always did.

His tongue felt glued down, uselessly taking up space between his teeth.

“Oh? You changed your tone quickly; so much for having an unbreakable will.”

The dreadful lack of sensation, followed by the white-hot intensity of new shocks, sped through
Childe’s system so quickly he yelped; the Balladeer was proving he was in full command of the
Eleventh’s Delusion, toying with his Electro like a toggle switch for Childe’s pain receptors.

Whatever Scaramouche was forcing the Adeptus to watch was making his responses immediate,
voice stretched taut.

“Indecision offers nothing in the face of an unconscionable contract; just name your terms.”

He had to move. Now.

Scaramouche and his noxious tongue had been given too long to run wild. Childe being
pathetically out of action was now a minor detail; the Adeptus had to take the Balladeer down
pronto, while he thought the cards were shuffled in his favor. In the meantime, the Harbinger
would figure out a way to free himself from whatever enchantment Scaramouche had cast on his
Delusion.

Zhongli once called him the human embodiment of determination; an embarrassing, highly
flattering compliment that squirrelled its way into everything Childe endeavoured to accomplish
thereafter, whether purposefully or not.

The Geo Archon had an uncanny ability to see the beauty and possibility in every mortal he came
across; after spending so long in his presence, perhaps it was time to channel a bit of the confidence
the Adeptus so-easily bestowed.

The Eleventh Harbinger wouldn’t be taken out by the Sixth.

Childe just needed to get up and prove it.

“It’s simple; you agree to my aforementioned conditions, and I won’t let Tartaglia's Delusion fry
what's left of his brittle, mangled body.”

“Zhongli,” Childe managed to find his tongue between the fluffs of cotton stuffing his mouth, “just
kill him alrea—”

Childe’s muscles convulsed with reckless abandon while Scaramouche tutted, clearly irritated that
the Eleventh could still form coherent thoughts.

The earth groaned below his jerking arms and legs. Stones trembled while the nine pillars ringing
the slope pulsed and vibrated, prepared to split from Liyue indefinitely.

Cuijue sounded as if it were weeping.

Childe bit his tongue; blood gushed down the Harbinger’s throat, threatening to choke him. The
ruins were no longer visible, nor was the Balladeer, as violet sparks blocked out every line of sight.
They came and went like fireflies.

Zhongli was still there. His presence was easy to sense.

Some comfort could be taken from that.

“Ajax, please, stay silent.”

The words resounded with the snarling, imploring rumble of a divine being.

All Childe could see were ambiguous, fluctuating splotches of color behind his eyelids.

“Ajax?” Scaramouche was enjoying himself a little too much. “How intriguing.”

“I will agree to nothing if you do not cease his suffering.”

When the current was dropped and the Harbinger’s head fell back against the slope floor with a
heavy plop, it took him a minute to reorient himself; his body had spasmed to lay on its side, and
any vision he had left was nebulous at best, coming back in fragmented pieces. However, the new
position afforded Childe an unobstructed, watery view of the Prime Adeptus.

Oh.
He had never witnessed that expression on Zhongli’s face before.

The Adeptus’ feet were pivoted towards Childe, as if he were one sudden movement away from
careening to his side. His jaw was clenched so tightly that a single, faint vein poked out from the
edge of his chin, the tension concentrated enough to crack teeth. The scales layering his cheeks and
nose were more prominent now; no doubt the blackened skin where the man’s wrists were visible
led to claws dark as night.

But it was his gaze that made the Harbinger wheeze, air finding its way from his lungs back out of
his mouth in an undignified manner; the usual light of the Adeptus’ eyes, which routinely gleamed
the inimitable hue of Cor Lapis, were now morbidly, uncharacteristically dark.

His dragonesque slits of burnt amber simmered and boiled, a volcanic underbelly decanted from
molten rock, fusions of ochres and crimsons lurid as the scarlet scales lining his bottom lids. They
painted an image of turmoil; anger shackled to withhold a cataclysmic detonation that could shake
the very foundation of Celestia itself.

It was an introspective stare lost to the tragedies of war, tormented by the possibilities of the past
reliving itself, even after coming to terms with the inevitable erosion that came with existence.

So that was what anguish looked like on a six-thousand-year-old god.

“If you kill me, I can’t promise that his Delusion won’t detonate on its own. I haven’t exactly had
an unlimited amount of time practicing with anyone this resilient; for all we know, Tartaglia’s
heart might give out before we settle our deal.”

Childe couldn’t disagree with that statement; if he had to watch Zhongli look like that for another
moment, his heart would surely fracture into a thousand pieces.

All he wanted was to make Zhongli happy.

“You need to assure me that he will be unharmed. Confirm immediately that you can fix the
damage you have caused.”

“Ah-ah-ah, I can’t provide the goods unless the contract is in effect.”

“Prove to me that your claims are legitimate.”

“Is my word not sufficient enough?”

The gorge was filled with nothing but the internal howls of Teyvat’s crust as Zhongli steadily tore
it apart.

A groan. “Fine.”

Feeling slowly crept back into Childe’s limbs one agonizing second at a time, and although the
pain coursing through his bones remained, the excessively potent Electro drew back within the
confines of the Delusion beneath his jacket.

Without the spasms forcing the Harbinger’s muscles to constrict, the sudden release left him
fighting a fit of violent coughs, spit and blood coating the dirt. It was a fresh wave of agony and a
humiliating presentation of feebleness.

Thank the Tsaritsa that said-Tsaritsa couldn’t see him right now, dirtying himself with his own
fluids.
“See?”

Childe attempted to bring his focus back to that sadistic, acidic voice; Scaramouche’s hat shielded
his face from the harshness of Zhongli’s Geo, its lustre blinding.

The Balladeer motioned to the Eleventh Harbinger, still hacking up a storm and hopelessly
battered, but otherwise, alive. “Breathing on his own, and everything.”

“Can you ensure he will stay that way so long as the contract remains in place?”

The soberness with which Zhongli posed his question was alarming.

“Surprising as this may seem,” the Sixth smirked, “this is an agreement far too important for my
future plans to breach.”

No way was the ex-Geo Archon actually considering signing his life away to Scaramouche just for
Childe.

That was preposterous; it wasn’t logical. It went against everything that the God of Contracts stood
for in regards to forming a sound contract, because there was a colossal disparity between
comparing the life of one mortal to handing over the knowledge of the universe.

And to a corrupted sociopath, at that.

It was a flawless plan; use Childe’s hastiness and tenacity to wear him down, while also exploiting
the reputable empathy of Liyue’s fallen god. Scaramouche had done an excellent job of getting
them both exactly where he wanted them.

But this crusade was far from lost.

Now that all of Childe’s nightmares had more or less come true, and Zhongli stood on the
precipice of sacrificing his hard-earned future just to save the Eleventh Harbinger from probable
death (a fate he never shied away from in the first place), it was time to make a choice.

And just as Xiao, or his loving, attentive siblings, or the all-knowing Traveller liked to point out, it
was an easy choice for Childe to make.

Because between Zhongli’s wellbeing and his own suffering,

Childe would choose Zhongli every time.

He didn’t need Zhongli to love him in the same way that he loved the Adeptus; the fact Zhongli
would lay everything on the line just to keep Childe safe was already more than was justified.
Much, much more.

An eternity more. Six-thousand years, give or take, too much.

The Prime Adeptus advanced towards the Sixth Harbinger, the rocks beneath him crunching under
an invisible, colossal weight. His hair waned with primordial power, and Childe recognized the
onsets of a contract’s formation; after witnessing the spectacle through pinky promises, of all
matters, the lightshow was hard to forget.

He looked like a man lost at sea; a hopeless conviction had overtaken the Geo Archon, calm and
compliant. Like this was the best possible option, the obvious one, and not an end to his life as
Zhongli as he knew it.
Childe begrudgingly thought about his tiny, almost invisible half-smile, and how it suited the
Adeptus more than any other embellishment or extravagant adornment Mora could buy.

Before Zhongli could open his mouth to begin his pronouncement, Childe mustered through the
sting of his gnawed tongue, lifted his head up with the wild grit of dying prey, and spat:

“No.”

His tone was gnarled and ugly, the word coming out more like an unintelligible outcry than
anything, but it stopped Zhongli in his tracks and had Scaramouche peering over.

He looked exasperated. Good. Childe would never tire from making sure that man suffered.

The ex-Geo Archon watched him on the ground as if he were seconds away from another Electro
blitz, beseechingly tender.

There wasn’t a trace of pity in sight within his glassy, reflective gaze; only compassion. That was a
nice touch.

He echoed him in a much stiffer tone. “No?”

It took a lot of effort, but Childe managed to smile through the rubbery sensation afflicting his
facial muscles. “No.”

It was barely a discussion, but hopefully, it was enough.

He stared at the Adeptus, took in all of him; the power of Morax, the grace of Rex Lapis, and the
beauty that was Zhongli all intertwined to form the person Childe had fallen in love with.

Thank you.

I get it now.

I’m so in love with you.

He latched onto the single strand of energy he could feel within his Delusion, one brightly burning
current that was untainted by Scaramouche’s influence, and infused it with whatever Hydro he
could muster. None of his muscles were inclined to heed commands any longer, so Childe based
his aim off of instinct more than anything.

Luckily, his hands were already positioned in front of him, and the majority of his arrows were
fired in a similar, imprudent manner.

He’d been freed from the Sixth’s control out of Zhongli’s good faith, and that was all he needed to
take his shot; the possibility of Childe’s Delusion exploding with the sudden release of power was
only adding to the thrilling terror of knowing this would all blow up in Scaramouche’s face.

It was a touch gratifying to discern that even with a Gnosis, the Balladeer couldn’t overpower him
in the way he had originally assumed.

When it came down to the basis of honed ability, who was really the more powerful Harbinger?

White light shone through the fabric of Childe’s uniform; Zhongli’s eyes widened an unfairly
attractive degree as he grasped the fine straws that made up the Harbinger’s half-baked plan.

With any luck, the Adeptus would eventually come to empathize with Childe’s recklessness, a
necessary evil. It felt a little bit like coming full circle, after everything that had taken place
between the two of them.

Childe once sought to destroy Liyue to force their Archon out of obscurity. Rex Lapis was a
walking Gnosis; a god with no face, someone meant to be exploited and left behind.

Now, after so much time spent strolling side-by-side with Liyue’s historic incarnation, learning
about the primordial beings who watched over the land’s traditions, and endowing his heart to the
Adeptus whom inspired it all, everything was different. He and Scaramouche were different;
Zhongli made that crystal clear.

Rex Lapis might have been an indefinite, faceless entity at one time, but Zhongli was never
anything less than one of a kind to the Eleventh Harbinger. Childe had always understood that
much, even before he realized just how deep his affections ran; it was simply the Funeral
Consultant who made the Harbinger see love in an entirely new light.

The Adeptus would ultimately forgive him.

If Childe survived this.

“You wouldn’t—” The Balladeer gaped, clearly underestimating just how much the Eleventh
would, actually, as he projected a maelstrom of elemental energy enroute for the Sixth. Each of his
appendages squealed in objection, the Delusion’s blast launching Childe to the side where he felt
his consciousness slipping. The dregs of Electro taking refuge in his body bounced across his
nerve endings like a freshly-popped Anemo slime; idly, Childe pondered whether the discharge
from his own Delusion would recoil on the Balladeer. He had to have stockpiled the Electro energy
somewhere after he failed to empty it fully.

It was too complex a thought to continue; darkness fringed the outer corners of Childe’s vision, and
his head injury had untimely decided that cognizance was no longer a viable possibility.

Big Brother, this is no time to fall asleep!

Childe—no, Ajax—was already slipping into unconsciousness.

It was a dream, surely; no other near-death experiences ever involved Childe hearing Tonia’s
doting, beatific voice. After skimming the surface of the afterlife as many times as he had, it was
safe to consider himself a professional, to some degree.

You’re so lucky the Mora Man is there to help you!

“Ha,” he chuckled to himself, already feeling lighter as the warmth of the pechka soothed him.
There was nothing but Tonia’s soft words and the emblematic, everlasting hues of Cor Lapis to
keep him company, “I am lucky, aren’t I?”

There was a hum in agreement, or perhaps it was merely a far-away sigh.

You must stay awake, Ajax.

The dream changed; although the amber tinge of the illusion remained just as vivid, Tonia had
been replaced by a sonorous, melodious voice that gave Childe shivers.

Stay with me.

His cheek was gently tapped in warning; the ethereal glow that framed the illusion grew in
 strength. It nudged at Childe’s consciousness, compelling him to answer.

He liked to think he nodded in the direction of whoever spoke, the Harbinger’s senses lost to the
fragrance of sandalwood and silk flowers tickling his nose. The scent reminded him of a place he
longed to be.

With a person he ached to be with.

“Don’t worry,” Childe pledged to the voice that was much too tender for its sonorous timbre, in
what he hoped was a self-assured tone, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter End Notes

I can't believe I finally got to write this SCENE; it has been eating at me for months. It
felt so good to get it all down. I feel invigorated.

Many of you guessed correct: of course Scaramouche would use Childe against
Zhongli and vice versa. If you find a weakness, go for it! It's all fair, in my book.

Kudos if you can spot the Chinese proverb. Because I can't see Zhongli not waxing
proverbs before a dramatic battle.

Also: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WISHED ME LUCK OR HELPED

OUT WITH ZHONGLI. I can happily say he is C1'd, along with Jean and Diluc (I
consider that incredible luck). I couldn't be happier. I have been taking him to photo
ops every single day without stopping, and NO, I will never tire of hearing him talk
about wine. He clearly needs a walking companion, and I am happy to oblige.

This journey is almost complete! Though I may need to add (1) more chapter at the
end (not including extras, which I do have planned). They will be added to this story in
ficlet collections, not as actual new updates to this fic, so if you're interested, please
subscribe to this fic and its collection so that you won't miss out once it's done.

And as usual, let me know what you think! This couldn't have been possible without
so much support and kind words that have kept my chin up through these tumultuous
months, and the incredible friends I've also made along the way. Any comments,
musings, questions, or even just hearts you stick in the comments means the world to
me.

Twitter
 What I Cannot Put Into Words
Chapter Notes

PSA: Some more incredible fanart!

@Katanaramen did this amazing art of Zhongli from Chapter 14! The Geo God at the
beach? Perfection AH. Collecting Starconches

Support the artists!

Also, @xdreamerryx sent me this song and I wrote a good half of the chapter while
playing this on repeat. I truly believe it will aid in the experience if you also listen to
it, especially halfway through and onwards. It's kind of become the chapter's anthem,
in my mind. Poet's Path

I hope you all enjoy.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Celestia.

The island of the gods which hovered above the clouds was said to be a magnificent region; one of
resplendent grandeur, constructed out of immaculate materials that could never be replicated on
Teyvat. Clouds hung near the palaces like feathery decorations, and if one listened closely, they
could hear the faint, sparkling resonance of stars burning off in the distance.

Childe awoke to find himself within the heavenly confines of what must have been Celestia itself;
it certainly fit the description.

Soft, transparent puffs of white hovered just above his face, while cooling mists floated as far as
the eye could see, bearing the floral, pungent scent of remedial herbs.

For a place akin to paradise, however, the Harbinger certainly felt worse for wear.

Wasn’t the trip to the afterlife supposed to be painless? A reprieve from worldly discomforts?

His eyes weighed a thousand pounds; keeping them open was a Herculean labour. Lifting a finger
sounded as conceivable as gliding from Mondstadt to Inazuma. The infernal ringing in Childe’s
ears had converted into a bothersome hum, a continuous pianissimo piece with no rests in sight.

He was certain now that he suffered a concussion, amidst other things.

The acerbic fragrance wafting throughout the room continued to assault Childe’s nostrils, the one
part of his body that miraculously didn’t hurt. It was an odd perfume for a place so unearthly, but
Childe wasn’t one to question how the gods in Celestia preferred their living quarters to smell.

The deities he did know enjoyed very different atmospheres; the Tsaritsa always donned the crisp
scent of frozen wastelands and fresh air. She wore the fragrance of Snezhnaya like an intangible
shuba that stung the noses of all who had the pleasure to bask in her frosty company; it singed the
senses with a biting chill, but Childe basked in the aroma whenever the chance arose.
It was nostalgic. The essence of his homeland.

In comparison, Zhongli never carried the scent of frosted pines or the bitter winds of a blizzard.

He was warm, so, so warm; Zhongli diffused balmy, heady aromas that were reminiscent of
primeval forests and ancient kings. He exuded Liyue with every measured step he took, as Silk
Flower and sandalwood notes held to his being like lush climbing vines. When merged with his
Geo influence, the scent transformed; it grew devastating, a natural disaster of sulfur and magmatic
vapours, enough to make eyes water and hearts quiver.

The unique scent of Teyvat’s scorching, omnipotent core.

Childe sniffed lightly; unless he was having another vivid hallucination that was also affecting his
senses, there was definitely an odour among the clouds that stood out above the rest. The trace of a
scent unfitting of celestial ascensions or Snezhnayan comforts.

It was astringent, humid, and gratefully familiar.

Ha. Childe was alive.

His body was numb in certain places; most likely a result of the medicinal fog Childe had been
inhaling for however long he rested within the heavenly dwelling. The heaviness filling his bones
was intoxicating when compared to the agony concealed below the airborne sedatives, but
inhalation could only do so much; intense burning covered every inch of his torso and didn’t seem
eager to recede anytime soon.

Childe’s pain threshold had been thoroughly tested.

No Delusion backlash the Harbinger ever had the misfortune to endure could hold a candle to the
pain gnawing at his limbs; many thanks to the Sixth Harbinger for pushing Childe’s physical form
way past its mortal limits.

Ugh. He would have to take another leave from work. And perhaps a bath or two, to wash off any
remnants of the Balladeer’s obnoxious, revolting residue.

But the concentrated throbbing, unpleasant aching and overall weakness Childe was forced to bear
acted as a solid reminder that he was still breathing.

Evidently, his last-ditch attempt at defeating Scaramouche wasn’t completely futile.

The Balladeer had never been known as generous when it came to a battle; just the fact Childe
retained each of his extremities proved that the Sixth failed to complete his objective.

And Zhongli…

The golden, unnerving transcendence of the Adeptus’ eyes, as he stepped forward to bind himself
to an inconceivably prejudicial contract for eternity, would haunt Childe’s foreseeable nightmares.

Stay with me.

Childe had to push away the dreams still suspended within his consciousness.

No way would the Adeptus have followed through with accepting Scaramouche’s ludicrous
contract after Childe so adamantly displayed his disapproval. Not after he had risked it all to keep
the Geo Archon’s life unfettered by the lunacies of the Sixth Harbinger; Zhongli’s welfare should
have been perfectly intact.

Should being the key word.

He needed to find him immediately to make sure.

Between the heavenly environment and soothing vapors that humidified and calmed, it would be
easy to misjudge Childe’s whereabouts as a final resting place for the living. Celestia certainly
wasn’t a space deemed fit for mortals, and in his present state, coming to such a conclusion wasn’t
exactly unreasonable.

The air itself was potent; it was difficult to tell whether Childe’s breathing was labored because of
his injuries, or because of the low air pressure from the room’s altitude. His consciousness was
being pushed back down, barely giving Childe more than half a second to keep his eyes open
before the flooring strength of whatever hovered in the air urged them shut.

Childe should have been pushing for answers, but he found himself much too drained.

The mild, clement scent of Silk Flower tickled his nose through the mist, reassuring him.

And if it weren’t for the fact Childe paid a little too much attention to every living, breathing
aspect of the Prime Adeptus, down to the way his earthy, pleasant scent wafted amidst the vapours
the very first time he visited the Jueyun Karst dwelling, he would have been a little more unsettled.

His thoughts drifted back to a memory, clinging to the ethereal golden glow illuminating the back
of his eyelids from every direction.

The smell of Silk Flowers hung in the air; Liyue Harbor became cool and fragrant when the sun
disappeared beneath the horizon, and Childe sought out Zhongli’s company to enjoy the temperate
weather.

He had hoped that the Wangsheng Funeral Consultant would come alone, as he usually did; on this
specific occasion, however, he was tailed by the tiny ball of energy that was the seventy-seventh
Wangsheng Funeral Director. Her hat was easy to distinguish as it bobbed behind the Adeptus’
backside.

Childe did his best to hide his disappointment.

The more the merrier, right? “Director Hu, what a pleasant surprise.”

Hu Tao smiled cheekily, “Good evening, companion of Zhongli!” Childe scowled. “Mind if I join
you two? I’m expecting a friend.”

He looked to Zhongli, who appeared content with either decision, being as tolerant and accustomed
to Hu Tao as he was.

At least the conversation would be gripping; the young girl was bursting at the seams with bizarre
tales, most of which revolving around the deceased and the afterlife. All of which made for
stimulating dinner chatter.

“Why not? Pull up a chair while you’re waiting.”

They ended up on the subject of death much sooner than the Harbinger had expected.

“Walk me through what the border is again, exactly?”

As Hu Tao put it, once she managed to hustle herself a table at Third Round Knockout adjacent to
Zhongli and Childe’s, “the border is the only thing separating the living from the realm of the
deceased; as they cross over, the spirits depart to find happiness and everlasting peace.”

She had been met by the expressive, well-read scholar of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, who nearly
choked on his Crystal Shrimp to gripe, “must we discuss the afterlife while eating? I would like to
avoid jinxing destiny before my final draft has been finalized.”

Hu Tao sighed dreamily before bursting out into a bright giggle. “How else are you going to write
a book that’ll get readers on the edge of their seats? You need to make it memorable, Xingqiu.”

“With superfluous allusions to the spirit realm?”

“Death in and of itself is something hard to overlook.”

Childe had a habit of reserving most of his attention for Zhongli, who immediately entered the
conversation to impart his own two cents on the matter of novel writing, but death was a topic that
piqued his interest. After all, it was a recurrent setback; a threat which nipped at the Eleventh
Harbinger’s heels wherever he went.

“Tell me more about the place after death, Director Hu.” The Harbinger swirled his drink,
suggesting deep contemplation. “I’d like to know exactly where I’ll find myself if I end up kicking
the bucket within Liyuan borders.”

Zhongli looked less-than-amused by Childe’s witticism.

Hu Tao chatted more about the border, some metaphysical place in Liyue that separated the living
and the dead, as a spot where the souls of past relatives and the spirits of those with unfulfilled
aspirations lingered.

Childe had nothing to regret in life; besides wishing he spent more time with his siblings, there was
little he shied away from trying to accomplish.

Including falling in love with Rex Lapis; the oldest and most venerable of the original Seven.

There would always be a lingering disappointment, should he go too early, that Childe would miss
out on future endeavours with the ex-Geo Archon; unfortunately, that was a frustration which
could never be resolved.

There wasn’t enough time in the world for the Harbinger to absorb all of who Zhongli was, from
his original creation to his current existence.

Perhaps that made every moment they shared together all the more special. For Zhongli, their
mutual exchanges were blips amidst the sands of time, constantly shifting. But for Childe, who
would gladly spend all of his limited time on Teyvat indulging Zhongli in every way he knew how,
in any manner he was permitted…

They were golden memories worth cherishing.

It was strange to hear the Funeral Director’s voice, of all people, lingering in his half-conscious
state, but Childe listened. He fought with the fog, prying his cognizance from the persuasive
clutches of sleep.

“The closer a person is to death, the easier it is for them to push away all of life’s distractions;
they can see with a clear eye what was most important.”
Childe agreed with the sentiment; distractions moved aside, he had a pretty clear idea of just what,
or more specifically, who, he pledged his reckless, undying devotion.

“I’ve been close to death countless times, Director Hu. I suppose I should know exactly what’s
important to me already.”

The Harbinger’s heart had burned with a powerful dedication to the Tsaritsa and his family for as
long as he could remember; and yet, his feelings for Zhongli felt just as constant, running and
surging like a conquered element.

A part of Childe that was indefinite, committed exclusively to the Prime Adeptus.

There was a permanence to it that was no longer frightening; Childe had grown to welcome its
weight.

Gold continued to swathe the hazy chamber, making Childe feel like a wounded animal trapped
within a hollowed-out Cor Lapis gemstone. Ochre dust twinkled like fireflies as it reflected off of a
light source nearby.

The right side of the room shone brighter than the encircling expanses of the cavity; that should
have alerted Childe to the fact that he was definitely not alone.

But paying attention to his immediate surroundings sounded like a lot of work, especially when
sleep was only a few blinks away; and besides, Childe was safe. That much he knew for certain.

It was in the way Cor Lapis hugged him from all sides; a supernatural, pervasive reassurance.

Once the bleariness cleared and Childe could move his eyes from side to side without discomfort,
he tilted his head slightly to get a better view of the chamber’s light source.

At first, all Childe could focus on was the enormous seat stationed not even a foot away from
where he rested; the jewel-encrusted throne had been raised from the amber floor, its intricate Cor
Lapis details and craftsmanship second to none. Just the legs alone looked sturdy and luxurious
enough to sell for more Mora than many of the objects hidden within Zhongli’s apartment.

Its spacious seating and wide armrests were taken up by a lone figure, so bright and magnanimous
that Childe’s dreary vision had to focus on one aspect at a time to truly get a proper appreciation
for what he was seeing.

What he was permitted to see.

Nearest to his chest leaned a pair of blackened feet, lined with vein-like markings travelling up and
underneath white, billowing fabric. They sat languidly by the base of the throne, their golden
strokes and contours depicting gilded rivers over skin stained like a primordial sunset. Polished
scales were scattered across jadeite ankles, reaching beneath where Childe’s gaze couldn’t breach;
countless more likely ornamented the Adeptus’ knees and chiselled, sturdy thighs.

His gaze roamed upwards, higher past the loose tie of rope swung around a tapered waist, to reveal
a sinewy, golden chest; the decadent robing draping the rest of the figure parted from shoulder to
shoulder, allowing for a generously unobstructed view. The amber and ivory material hung idly,
framing the Geo emblems which pulsed and glowed over a profile of solid muscle. Numerous
pathways of liquid gold travelled beyond their confines to arms dipped in black and orange dyes;
claws infused with amber and scales smooth as river rocks crowded the Harbinger’s vision.

Childe’s throat ached as he swallowed.

Once his eyes began to strain from staring, Childe paused; it became easier to put aside the pain
behind his lids from the strenuous effort of just staying open when faced with something so radiant.

Tired or not, he couldn’t look away.

“Xiansheng.”

Zhongli slept noiselessly on the elaborate armchair; his eyes were drooped in slumber, the softest
of crescents tilted towards the ground, their arched peaks adorned with shimmering, crimson
flakes.

Four identical Cor Lapis horns poked out from beneath the hood strewn haphazardly over the
Adeptus’ head, their bases surrounded by multitudes of sparkling flecks of citrine and smoky
quartz.

The Archon robe he donned did nothing to hide every aspect of his divinity; if anything, the
shimmering material only enhanced Zhongli’s exquisiteness while skimming the edge of human
and Adepti.

Sometimes Childe wondered if Zhongli was even a being of this world, and not one sent from afar
just to make the rest of Teyvat look lacklustre in comparison.

One fist rested beneath his chin, just holding up his slumped head as he dozed. Every place Childe
could see, from his speckled cheeks to his Geo-kissed limbs, shone like honey; he looked utterly
glorious, an unearthed masterpiece for Childe’s private viewing.

With every inhale he took, the scales that twinkled like diamonds across his skin scattered light
along the chamber. Flowing, golden-tipped locks were splayed over one side of Zhongli’s chest,
the Geo power brightening with his breaths, moving in tandem with the rest of the ex-Geo
Archon’s gilded patterns.

His skin was the sole provider of the incandescent light livening up the otherwise dim cavern in the
clouds.

It was difficult to tell just how long the Adeptus had been sitting there, watching over Childe while
he slept; judging by his lethargic, tussled appearance, and the fact he was essentially sleeping
sitting up (if it weren’t for the casual stance of the man’s Seven statue, Childe would never believe
for a second that Zhongli could slouch), he must have been there awhile.

The thought brought a small smile to Childe’s face.

Leave it to the Adeptus to incessantly put others before himself.

As if he could sense Childe’s gaze, two bright, dragonesque eyes cracked open, vividly alert and no
longer the broiling, liquid amber of their previous encounter.

They glanced downward to where Childe lay, scrutinizing him with a habitual, thorough diligence.

“Morning, xiansheng.”

Zhongli’s eyes widened a fraction once he realized that the Harbinger was awake, quietly staring
back at the god with a rueful grin.

Childe had no idea just how long he was unconscious; only that he was alive, Zhongli was right
there, and Scaramouche was nowhere in sight.
It was as good a way to wake up as any, really.

Zhongli’s statuesque exterior fractured, as his mouth curved up into a smile so bright it touched his
eyes; fangs, sharp and pointed, protruded from the Adeptus’ lips.

“Ajax.”

He released a sigh; it was so deep and swollen with relief that Childe could feel the burden behind
it.

He said Childe’s name the same way the children of Snezhnaya said their prayers to the Tsaritsa
before bed.

Zhongli smiled as if the sun had entered the dimly lit dwelling and warmed him from the inside
out; there was the sound of rustling silk, a forewarning before he slipped out of his throne chair,
robes cascading down to the floor. He came to a graceful kneel by Childe’s head, where the
Adeptus’ knees rested on the multitude of furs piled high on the comfortable floormat.

Childe hadn’t even taken stock of his own appearance; he was buried beneath the comforting pelts
of Zhongli’s sleeping quarters in Jueyun Karst.

No wonder he felt so overheated.

It couldn’t have been the way Zhongli’s thighs were cushioned within the layers of fur, his golden
planes of skin and satin only a mere arm’s length away.

Even on the brink of death, Childe’s brain refused to let his yearnings lie.

“Ah,” Childe worked to form words with a tongue that felt chewed and spit out, “aren’t you a sight
for sore eyes.”

The Adeptus’ smile grew crooked, eyes never losing their brilliant yellow shine. His golden
colorations gleamed brightly.

“Hm, well…” Zhongli coughed as he sought to explain why he was donning his more natural form;
as if Childe minded and wasn’t completely captivated by the incomparable vision of a Zhongli
bearing talons and fangs, “I am afraid my energy is all but spent. It will be some time before I can
revert back to my human form; surely, this is not what you expected to see immediately after
waking.”

No, Childe thought, this is much better.

“Xiansheng, I wasn’t teasing.” Childe attempted to lift his head, which turned out to be a larger
struggle than anticipated. He moved about an inch off the floor before Zhongli hastily cushioned
the Harbinger’s neck with something soft; some sort of Archon dwelling-approved pillow.

Whatever it was, it gave Childe enhanced support and an equally enhanced view of the Adeptus.
“It’s really so good to see you.”

He had no idea how good.

Zhongli placed a clawed hand over Childe’s forehead, the delicate action at odds with its daunting
appearance. Not that Childe could ever feel threatened by Zhongli’s touch; he would eat up every
tender, caring head pat the Adeptus chose to provide. “How are you feeling now?”
Childe responded with a weak chuckle. “I see those herbs you coerced me into drinking back in the
harbor are just as potent as ever.” He motioned with his eyes to the mist wafting along the cavern
floor. “I feel light as a feather.”

A fib; Childe felt closer to weighing as much as Zhongli’s Exuvia, but there was no use in
worrying him.

“The one drawback, though, is the smell.”

The Adeptus narrowed his eyes in mock-exasperation when Childe’s nose scrunched in
displeasure. His fangs were still very visible from the edges of his smile. “Now your whole
dwelling reeks like the Bubu Pharmacy.”

“Mm, I see. Apologies if the fragrance is overpowering, but I imbued as much treatment into the
mist as possible.” The hand on Childe’s head began moving backwards in a repetitive motion. “Is it
assisting with the pain?”

It was hard to say; Zhongli’s ministrations were distracting him from feeling anything other than
the scrape of fingers against the roots of his scalp. “Very much. I’ll be good as new in no time.”

Technically, the mist was keeping Childe’s muscles lax and numb, repressing the worst of the
pain. There were no more Electro shocks racking his nerves, but the exhaustion and burning under
the layers of his clothes weren’t letting up. He was also unbearably itchy; most likely a result of his
singed skin.

Human or god, some wounds couldn’t be healed overnight.

“Are you having any blurred vision? Memory loss?” Zhongli heaved a breath. “Your head was
bleeding, prior to when you became unconscious. Between that and the Electro you synchronously
consumed and expended, it would be unsurprising if you had difficulties recollecting the last few
days.”

“I could recite a play-by-play of the Balladeer’s subpar performance without breaks.” Childe was
blessed with a hard-wearing physique and a sound mind; his luck seemingly knew no bounds,
“Trust me, I’ve had enough practice with my Delusion’s element to toe the line of the human
body’s limit. That, or Scaramouche was a mediocre opponent.”

The way the Adeptus’ face contorted proved Childe’s joke was badly timed.

He had come very close to death.

Time was the only proven fix for injuries of such intensity; sharing this with Zhongli would
probably result in him being even more indulging, but could also lead to that prized, soothing grin
sliding off his face.

There was a spell cast over the cavern; one which made Zhongli more prone to physical gestures of
attention, and Childe less concerned about the heartache that would follow. It was selfish, but this
was the kind of moment the Harbinger could bask in for eternity.

“You know, you really had me covered back there.”

Zhongli hummed in acknowledgement while Childe stared upwards into bright eyes, watching a
few strands of hair fall into his face before the Adeptus’ careful thumb pushed them back.
“Fighting by your side was a privilege. Although, I do hope a similar situation shall never arise.”
Eventually, the spell would break, and the dreamlike state of being holed up in the Geo Archon’s
divine residence while being taken care of would have to come to an unceremonious end.

Even with the weight of what took place during the battle hanging between them, Zhongli’s smile
never faltered. Childe couldn’t bring himself to ask when the inevitable scolding would come for
doing everything the Adeptus warned him not to do.

But Zhongli was no better. In fact, he was worse.

“You’re going to have to fill me in on everything I missed.” Childe yearned to scratch at the spots
which must have taken the worst of Scaramouche’s Electro. “Is Scaramouche…”

Zhongli completed his drifting sentence. “Dead?”

At Childe’s light nod, the Adeptus shook his head, lips straightening into a contemplative pout.
“Your final blow incapacitated the Sixth Harbinger, giving me an ample opportunity to strike. He
has been imprisoned with a petrification seal that will only be lifted once I know for certain you are
completely rehabilitated.”

“Petrification…” Childe would have to ask about the details of said-imprisonment later, when he
could offer his utmost attention to the Adeptus without feeling like a soppy bowl of congee. What
was more pressing was the fact that the purple rat was still alive, and remained on Liyuan soil.

“I told you to go ahead and kill him if you got the chance—”

“—and risk your Delusion being activated?”

Zhongli’s hand grew still on Childe’s head; the Harbinger realized his Fatui mask was no longer in
its rightful position. Just where did the Adeptus hide it?

Amber light pulsed defiantly through the air as Zhongli spoke. “There was no way to know for
certain that you would survive, should Scaramouche be torn from this world.” He exhaled, bringing
Childe’s attention to the wide expanse of chest situated close enough to touch. “That was not a risk
I was willing to take.”

“Well…” It was very easy to get flustered by a determined, protective Zhongli swathed in dragon
scales, but Childe pushed through. “Thank you. For that. I tend to ignore my own safety when there
are more important things to consider during the heat of battle.”

Zhongli raised a golden brow.

“Hmm, I would have never known.”

“Now who’s teasing?”

It took Childe a moment, but he managed to maneuver his way out of the first few hides,
uncovering his jacket-free torso, only his basic shirt shrouding his midsection. Every rub of fur on
his bare arms seared as if boiled; he held in a gasp before the Adeptus could fret over it.

Zhongli had undressed his bloodied clothes and patched him up; there were spots Childe could feel
more than see, now that he was exposed to the humid cave environment. Places which were
stitched, wrapped and everything between.

“I’m sorry you went to all this trouble,” Childe beckoned to himself with a long eyeroll. Although
there was the light of the Adeptus illuminating the room, the Harbinger couldn’t get a good view of
his wounds; shadows made it difficult to tell where his limbs began and the multitudes of fur
ended, “using your own dwelling to hide an injured Harbinger, while also healing yourself.
Although this all worked out better than expected, I still became a nuisance to you. Whether you
agree with that statement or not.”

Claws reached down the base of Childe’s skull, resuming their ministrations while carefully
avoiding a very tender mass of what must have been sutures and bruising.

It was hard to be upset at his skull’s fragility when Zhongli’s cautious touch made the damage
almost worth it.

“It was the closest location to move you, as well as the most secure; I did not know the full extent
of your injuries, only that you were in critical condition and needed the Electro removed from your
system as quickly as possible. Time was of the essence.”

Childe cringed.

No doubt he was doubly the cause of Zhongli’s fatigued Adepti form; he recalled how absorbing
Electro into crystallized fragments took focus as well as significant amounts of energy. “How long
have I been out?”

The Adeptus’ eyes softened. “Nearly two days.”

Oh.

Certainly not the longest Childe was put out of commission, but still too long to have Zhongli
babysitting him like a toddler.

He really had the Funeral Consultant to thank for saving his puny, pathetic life, didn’t he?

No use in overthinking it now. The fight was over; Childe could feel insignificant at a later date,
when there wasn’t an ex-Geo Archon holding his head like a costly collectible. “What about the
neighboring areas: Wangshu Inn?”

Zhongli reached behind him and lifted what looked like a small vial of liquid; he urged Childe to
drink it before answering. The fluid was dreadful, but no doubt brewed with the Harbinger
especially in mind, so he sucked it all back without complaint.

“Alatus safeguarded the Inn,” he stated with approval, “and from what I have been told, no serious
injuries were caused by the surrounding blasts. The battle within Cuijue Slope was, thankfully,
contained.”

That was excellent news. At least all of the trouble Childe brought back into Liyue was
manageable enough to avoid any interference from the Qixing.

Unless Zhongli had managed to clear up any questions while Childe uselessly slept.

“That’s a relief,” Childe struggled against a new wave of wooziness that plagued his system, most
likely another side effect of Zhongli’s never-ending arsenal of medicinal mixtures, “I was worried
about your guard dog’s reliability, but it seems he pulled through.”

A deep chuckle. “Your keenness for crude diminutives suggests a promising recovery; Xiao has
visited, as well as Cloud Retainer. Her abundance of knowledge assisted me in creating this healing
mist. Should you ever need to know the rudimentary stages of all things developed, she can
provide you with more wisdom in a casual sitting than one can gain over the span of a lunar phase
cycle through independent study.”

Zhongli actually went to the trouble of calling upon his Adepti for Childe’s sake.

His heart squeezed in a way that jostled a fractured rib.

Was this how it would always be?

Would Childe forever find himself lost to the kindness and sincerity that was Zhongli, never to
grow used to his continuous acts of compassion?

“You’re too good to me,” he near-whispered, losing himself in muddled thoughts and piercing
smiles, “now how am I supposed to be angry with you?”

“Angry?” Zhongli nearly scoffed. “I believe if anyone should be infuriated at the present
circumstances, it should be myself. For underestimating your recklessness, I blame my own
naivety. But you, Ajax.” He paused, and Childe felt a quiver of vibrations within the cavern.
“Jumping at the opportunity to forfeit your brief life expectancy for my sake…”

The conversation veered into sombre territory.

“You say that like it's a bad thing.” Now that everything had more-or-less been laid on the table,
and Childe was sheltered within Zhongli’s safe haven, his candour poured out uninhibited.

The fight altered something within him; with the aid of enough medicinal drugs to take out a
Rockfond Rifthound, and the carefree ecstasy that came with surviving the unthinkable, Childe felt
his self-control slacken. “But come on, Zhongli. You know I think the world of you—I would do
anything to guarantee you a life unbound by responsibility or unfair contracts. It’s the least you
deserve.”

The grazing against his scalp stilled, predictably, before Childe was suddenly hoisted upward to
lean against the throne chair’s sturdy legs. The abrupt movement jostled his sore joints and lesions
enough for a low hiss to escape his lips; Zhongli carefully guided him backwards, until his
shoulders touched the cushioned edge.

“Look down, Ajax.”

Childe saw something dark set into the Adeptus’ expression; a forlorn resignation. It took a
moment before he could wrench his eyes away and down towards his dishevelled appearance,
where Zhongli could properly shed light on what was hidden beneath the textured bedding.

Unfamiliar patterns wound their way across one of Childe’s arms, disappearing beneath the hem of
his shirt.

Huh.

Those were definitely new.

Curiosity and confusion led to Childe lethargically stripping himself of the loose top, an action
which Zhongli mercifully aided in, much to Childe’s dismay; two taloned hands reached over to
tug the fabric off, cautious to avoid angering the bandaged wounds scouring Childe’s front and
back.

If the movement wasn’t so painful, the entire ordeal would have been much more exciting. A
scene taken directly from Childe’s desire-induced, late-night fantasies.
Blackened claws included.

“Wow.” Childe whistled once he got an enhanced view of what could only be called destruction
laid out across his frame. “This may come as a surprise to you, xiansheng, but I’ve never seen
anything quite like… this, before.”

Fractal patterns of crimson and purple forked across the expanses of Childe’s body like miniature
trees of lightning.

The burns varied in hue and brightness; the branches closest to where the Harbinger’s Delusion
still sat, gleaming quietly as if nothing had happened, were a violent, bloody red. Others further
away were dappled divisions of lavender.

“I left your Delusion untouched,” Zhongli mentioned softly, “should removing it possibly cause
supplementary impairment.”

The cords of color criss-crossed in randomized directions, some kissing the inclines of timeworn
scars to create marred silhouettes of blooming cuihua saplings.

In a way, the outlines were beautiful; Childe let his gaze follow every path to their jagged tips,
Zhongli’s pleasant gleam doing nothing to hide just how vivid the burns were against his pale skin.

He could feel the ex-Geo Archon examining him, the man still kneeling at Childe’s side while he
wilted against the chair’s seat cushion like a lifeless Glaze Lily. Even just sitting up and lifting his
arms over his head was a hefty undertaking for the battered Harbinger.

“They are Electro markings, a rarity conferred to those unfortunate enough to be struck by
lightning. Or in your case, absorb the elemental phenomenon through the recoil of your Delusion.”

The Adeptus brought his hand towards Childe’s chest and followed the trails of lightning with a
single, shimmering finger; although he never made contact with the irritated skin, Childe swore he
could feel goosebumps form along the path Zhongli’s hand travelled. “The branching electric
discharges are broken blood vessels and burnt tissue. They generally last a few days at most;
however, because of the intensity of your wounds, these may take weeks, possibly months, to
fade.”

The golden strands of Zhongli’s hair nearly reached the ground as he leaned forward, getting a
closer look at the designs drifting down Childe’s right arm. It had taken the brunt of the blast
before he fell into darkness.

The Adeptus made a sound of disapproval. “Do you see why I cannot simply accept your actions?”

He lowered himself to Childe’s height, allowing them to be face-to-face while Zhongli continued
to mindlessly map out the broken vessels with a hovering touch, “Whether your boldness was an
act of defiance or a rash decision based off of goodwill, you are not immortal. This,”

Zhongli indicated to Childe’s midsection with an outstretched, Geo-pulsing arm; now they both
carried elemental markings on their skin, and wasn’t that kind of poetic? Childe certainly thought
so,

“could have been avoided, had you only told me from the start of Scaramouche’s proposals. You
were seriously harmed and have suffered dearly. In my presence, no less.”

Childe watched the Adeptus’ mouth lose its uplifted curves and internally mourned. “I think you’re
exaggerating a little. It looks much worse than it is.”
Then again, without the distraction of Zhongli’s Adeptus form or the heavily laced fog, that may
have been a bit of an understatement.

The Adeptus’ mouth was downturned in incredulity; with his mangled chest on display, Childe
couldn’t let his apprehensiveness show. Not when they had so much to talk about.

Even if it did lead to an overdue scolding session.

“It does not look like an exaggeration.”

Childe let out a shallow exhale when the Adeptus turned his Cor Lapis eyes back to his, expression
sobered. “As long as no infection takes root and your skin remains cooled, no scarring should take
place.”

“I’m not concerned with scars,” the Harbinger laughed, though the volume of it hurt his head, “all
that matters is that I’m still breathing and Scaramouche has been taken care of, thanks to your
capable hands. Though, I’d like to think I weakened him for you towards the end.”

There was a glimpse of a smile. It was discomfiting how Childe’s stomach swooped at the drop of
a hat, monitoring the emotions on the Adeptus’ face.

“There is truth to that, in a sense.”

The Harbinger experimented with lifting a blistered hand, moving it this way and that to see how
much he could manage. The pain manifesting beneath the sores was piercing, but the strength in
his bones was returning.

In the teensiest increments imaginable, but still. Returning nevertheless.

Staring at the perfectly wrapped bandages, cushioning his palm tight enough to protect the wounds
but loose enough to allow for movement, brought Childe back to the evening he and Zhongli
sparred for the first time.

“I remember the first time you patched me up. I was terrified you wouldn’t seek out my company
anymore, because of the Foul Legacy.”

Not unlike then, Childe was gauzed-up, taken into Zhongli’s care, and endured the man’s gentle
chiding. Their close proximity, what with the ex-Geo Archon acclimating to moderate gestures
effortlessly, would eternally set Childe’s nerves on fire.

The differences, however, were notable.

Such as, for example, the lack of the Liyuan sunset; the only light source available came directly
from the Adeptus’ inner elemental emblems. Arguably, the view was just as striking, if not more
so.

Zhongli looked stricken. “What an illogical thought. Though hazardous and volatile, it is a part of
who you are.”

Childe no longer doubted Zhongli’s acceptance of his Foul Legacy, or of his many roles that he
required to don in order to survive as the Eleventh Harbinger. They had come to a seamless
understanding of each other; the Harbinger’s imperfections, insecurities and individualities were
accepted instead of feared or misunderstood. There was nothing but reassurance behind the sturdy
walls of the Stone Dwelling, and even miles away from the sweltering heat of the harbor, the
comfort found within those primordial eyes of Cor Lapis would follow Childe anywhere on
Teyvat. Surely even beyond it.

And yet.

“Zhongli-xiansheng.”

The Adeptus tilted his head forward, seemingly lost to his own chasms of thought. No doubt still
worrying over the fern-like contusions spread over Childe like strands of ribbon.

“You didn’t…”

The inquiry was clear.

“… Did you?”

There was a passing silence, drawn-out by how large the spacious cavern ceiling reached; his
lengthy pause bellowed before the Geo Archon chose to answer.

“I did not.”

Childe felt his shoulders fall; they had tensed to his neck involuntarily.

Thank the Tsaritsa.

“Once you successfully disabled the Balladeer, granting me an opportunity to end the battle via a
more… direct method, substantiating the agreement was no longer a priority.”

“Good. None of my actions were in vain, then.”

A bubble of frenetic laughter left Childe’s throat. “Why would you do that? What were you
thinking?”

He was recollecting every feeling of frustration as he watched Zhongli undertake a damned fate;
the difficulty of being overcome with simultaneous esteem and desperation for the man who would
willingly throw his newfound way of living away for a mortal ally who sought danger for sport,
and would for certain end up in harm’s way, over and over again.

A waste of a promise, though appreciated nonetheless.

“I was going out of my mind just watching; put yourself in my shoes, xiansheng. All this time, the
effort put into living a life of normalcy, of living as Zhongli instead of Morax…”

He brought the back of his hand to his face and wiped, feeling a sheen of sweat building over his
forehead.

Childe wanted to squeeze the Archon. He wanted to shake him. “And then, to almost form a one-
sided contract that would give Scaramouche your legacy, the knowledge that you’ve collected over
the millennia, just like that? You’re the God of Contracts, Zhongli. Surely you know better than
anyone that your deal would have affected all of Teyvat.”

The adrenaline was gone; all that was left in Childe’s system was burning and the forceful dulling
of herbal tonics, leaving his body hollow but mind buzzing.

Only fools did something so reckless. Like Childe.

Or forbearing, benevolent gods.

“You were screaming, Ajax.”

Light flickered across the room as Zhongli moved to sit directly in Childe’s line of vision, making
avoiding eye contact impossible. Childe knew his face would be much too exposing in the light of
his ramblings but couldn’t do anything about it. “Was I supposed to watch you writhe in pain and
do nothing until Scaramouche burnt your body to ashes?”

“I—I would have managed. My roll was to keep the Balladeer from succeeding and to keep you
from getting too involved. That contract would have single-handedly destroyed the future you
fashioned for yourself and Liyue!”

“It was the best viable option for saving your life.”

Emotion began to seethe into Zhongli’s voice; not anger, but just as immobilising. It was pained,
and Childe recoiled once he recognized the tortured darkness returning to the depths of the
Adeptus’ face.

His voice was hardly raised, but each word was loaded with enough intent to shatter glass.

“You must understand that it was a selfish choice.”

“Selfish?” Childe couldn’t understand; the near-vow was anything but.

Zhongli’s brows furrowed. “When the offer was first presented, there was nothing to gain; no
worthwhile reason to accept. However, we have a contract, you and I; one entreated by your own
kin. I vowed to protect you, and protecting the integrity of our pledge through the corrupted
establishment of another was a choice I was prepared to make.”

Silence returned with a vengeance. The mist coating the room was growing thinner; Childe could
see his surroundings better, as well as Zhongli in all his celestial excellence.

Of course he would have been thinking about Tonia’s promise. Zhongli was open-handed by
nature; he held his relationships with mortals dearly, and would overwrite his own beliefs to
mollify the concerns of the ones he came to treasure. There was no doubt that the man valued
Childe’s family, and had been heavily impacted by the weight of his oath.

Childe made his choice based on devotion, and Zhongli, predictably, made his out of a sense of
duty.

“It would have been the wrong choice, xiansheng.”

Thoughts and words flowed like river water from the Harbinger’s lips, sinking into the dirt of the
dwelling. “As glad as I am to still be here, if it meant you walking off to assist that… thing, things
would have been far from solved. He would have made us enemies. The Tsaritsa would have
gotten involved.”

Having you roped into Harbinger affairs would lead to nothing but chaos.

Forget remaining friends; their affiliation would be torn apart at the seams.

“I know you have given this a great amount of thought.” Furs were moved to huddle around
Childe’s back as he sank lower from his position against the chair, “but trust that, in this lifetime,
our allegiance will remain untainted.”

There was a bubble stuck in Childe’s chest; it was too large to burst free on its own, hovering
during their conversation like an unnerving observer.

Zhongli was soft and golden, and Childe was thorned, rough, calloused from head to toe.

In the throes of comfort, buoyed by Zhongli’s company, the Harbinger had things to say that would
be cutting. Words and phrases that he had spent so long holding down that if the dam were to burst
now, it would never be rebuilt.

“You’re right about that; I could never turn on you.”

Unlike his untimely rejection at the Northland Bank, he wasn’t overcome by turmoil, or anxiety, or
the uncontrollable clashes of Ajax, Childe and Tartaglia. Childe’s mind was bizarrely clear.

“I don’t regret a thing about how the conflict ended. Fighting with you was one of my greatest
accomplishments in life, and I would happily do it all over again, down to the very last second.”

Childe’s phrasing hadn’t been the best, when he asked if he could protect Zhongli with his life; he
was too distressed following the surprise assault on Wangsheng.

He accepted the hand that was dealt.

But that didn’t mean it was too late for blunt, uncompromising honesty.

The Harbinger grinned, even as Zhongli watched him with an assessing expression, prepared to
refute Childe’s declaration. “You’ve been carrying the burden of Tonia’s contract ever since we
left Snezhnaya, and I’ve been dedicating so much time to making sure it wouldn’t interfere with
your happiness.”

The idea of saying such sweet nothings used to make Childe sick with nerves; now, he just felt
impatient. He needed Zhongli to hear it clearly, no matter the outcome. “But my decisions aren’t
fuelled by obligation or an excessive concern over accountability. Risking my life is easy,
especially if it’s for your sake.”

There would be no more room for doubt going forward.

“After all,”

Childe deserved that much, after a near-death experience or two.

“I’m in love with you.”

Zhongli froze.

He stared at Childe, eyes held open by crimson-lined surprise; not a muscle moved from his
graceful, straight-backed posture, minus the continual flow of Geo that enraptured Childe to no
end.

No way the god could be startled by the statement. It was practically written in all of the
Harbinger’s thoughts, actions, and now, words.

Every sliver of his fragile, steadfast being screamed its adoration for the ex-Geo Archon; it felt
freeing to let the sentiment taste air, instead of festering within like a tolerated corruption.

“I know you care deeply for me as well,” Childe chuckled, gazing at the strokes of gold closest to
Zhongli’s ankles instead of at the face which was still radiating confusion; a blatant confession was
most likely not what the Archon anticipated, “though not in the same way. And that’s perfectly
alright. I just want you to know that I’m happy, right now, with how everything panned out.”

Childe closed his eyes and huffed, a satisfied smile slipping onto his face. “No hard feelings.”

Exhaustion hit him like a punch to the gut. Pouring his heart out was apparently just as tiring as a
lengthy skirmish with the Electro Archon’s retainer.

In its own intricate way.

“I would like to impart a few words, though they may become longwinded.”

“Xiansheng?”

Childe resisted cracking an eye back open; it had already taken so much effort to keep them that
way throughout their discussion.

And perhaps he was also a little self-conscious.

A light fell over the Harbinger’s face, the glare strong enough to have him seeing stars behind
closed lids.

“My contract with Tonia, and by affiliation your family, the few individuals on Teyvat whom you
treasure more than any others, has never, for even a moment, felt one-sided.”

That caught Childe's interest; he opened his eyes to find himself face-to-face with Zhongli, so close
that he could count the speckled scales lining his cheekbones.

“It has been frustrating; my resignation as the Geo Archon has forced me to rethink many of my
actions as a free being, no longer tied to the role of Rex Lapis. Likewise, it has been a learning
experience, even for someone as old and experienced as myself. But under no circumstance was it
ever a by-product of divine duty like you have come to believe.”

Cor Lapis watched him with enough intensity to melt Childe from the inside out.

“When I invoked an oath of protection in your childhood home, as you attempted to beseech your
siblings’ qualms and fears, I did not concern myself with the notions of burdensome mortals or the
fleetingness of life.”

A wave of Geo influence cascaded down upon Childe’s chest, pushing a strangled breath out of his
already-constricted throat. The Adeptus bid a low apology before continuing.

Zhongli always spoke with veiled magnitude; this time was no different, except all of his attention
was solely trained on the Harbinger’s cherry-tinted face. “In fact, the pinky promise conflicted with
every contract authenticated under my authority, solely because its formation was founded out of
personal investment. Specifically, my own.”

“You don’t need to explain yourself, Zhongli,” Childe warmed as fondness flooded his veins; their
proximity was startling, more so because the Harbinger’s muscles were about as useful to him as
chopsticks, “I didn’t mean to make you—”

“Please.” A sudden rush of air brushed Childe’s face as Zhongli inched closer, his eyes imploring.

This was noticeably important to him.

“Let me finish.”
Warmth spread across Childe’s cheek as the Adeptus caressed it with an open hand, allowing him
to lean into its strength, which the Harbinger did so willingly.

Love could be unsympathetic, but loving Zhongli made it worthwhile.

Childe relented. “Sorry, xiansheng. I just don’t want you overthinking this.”

“Tonia’s covenant is one I voluntarily bear,” Childe fluttered his eyes to blink away gold while
Zhongli spoke; from his striking horns, to his matchless Cor Lapis gaze, and skin streaked with the
elemental origins of Geo embodied, everywhere the light touched was blessed by the Adeptus’
ethereal glow, “and as per our previous conversations, there should never be any reason for you to
fear that your existence by my side is a nuisance. I consider this nothing less than a gift.”

Zhongli angled Childe’s head closer, making sure the Harbinger’s focus had nowhere to run.
Forcing him to take in all of his heavy, potent gaze.

“Protecting you is, and always will be, an honor.”

An honor. A gift.

They were words with significance; held in high esteem, leagues away from obligation or burden.

Childe yearned to close the distance between them. Felt the urge curl his toes and clench his fists;
the Harbinger wanted and wanted and wanted, and seeing his lightning-embossed marks
complimented by the inscriptions woven into Zhongli’s form… having the Archon extinguish his
doubts, one by one…

Not for the first time, Childe wanted to kiss him.

Taste the lips of the Archon who made him feel everything but unloved; consume from the mouth
of Liyue’s history, a peerless sample of immortality.

He thirsted to drink the eons of linguistics, architecture, warfare, and modernism that sat poised at
the ready on Zhongli’s tongue.

Closer to the six-thousandth time, Childe wanted to kiss him.

So he did.

His body carried him a few inches forward, barely the smallest of efforts needed. His lips were met
by the soft, parted shape of Zhongli’s mouth; a short gasp of breath left the Adeptus once Childe
pressed them together, the sensation nothing less than victorious.

It was simple; a quiet concession, an artless action, but one filled to the brim with weeks, months,
an eternity of longing.

And then Childe realized what, exactly, he was doing.

“Ah, Zhongli, I’m—”

Was he even sorry?

It was hard to make the distinction when Childe’s lips were still singing out in abashed joy, reeling
to dive back in and get a proper savour of heaven descended.

The palm on his cheek never left; he must have given the Adeptus a nasty surprise with such an
emboldened move, and right after the ex-Geo Archon made the effort to reassure him, as well.

There was only so much that could be blamed on medicinal herbs.

“That was completely impulsive, if it made you uncomfortable…”

Childe blinked once, twice, before realizing he couldn’t see a thing; the room blanched into white
nothingness, a solar eclipse within the crags of a mountain.

A gentle, compelling pressure settled overtop of his lips, tender in touch but firm. It sent a ripple of
shudders to the base of Childe’s spine.

Energy pulsed through him; a swell of divine influence that seeped its way into his bones. The
unexpected caress brought with it a calm before the storm, and suddenly, the Harbinger was on
fire.

If whatever paradise Hu Tao prattled on about really existed, even for those as crooked as the
Eleventh Harbinger, then Childe could look no further. He’d found it.

“Mmph?”

The throbbing and stinging radiating from his palms to his calves sailed away like sand grains in
the wind. Childe’s lungs froze with the pungent air of the dwelling, strong and filled but failing to
respire. There was strength in his muscles that had been nothing but crumpled fatigue beforehand;
through all of this, the lips grounding him to reality never hesitated.

Zhongli was kissing him. There was no mistaking the unwavering press of his acquainted, lyrical
mouth sinking Teyvat’s transcendent bounties into his very soul.

It was a realization of epiphanic proportions.

The Adeptus mumbled, voice carrying its tenor over the chapped skin of Childe’s lips, “Is this
alright?”

He wavered—Childe could feel the hesitation in Zhongli’s words, in the staggered breaths by the
edge of his mouth.

“да…yes—”

When two scaled palms cupped both of Childe’s cheeks to hold him still, the heat grew in intensity;
never in all the years the Harbinger had spent on Teyvat would he have thought a god’s influence
could snake into someone’s being so completely.

Zhongli’s touch rewrote his genetic makeup; warmth saturated his spirit as if Childe were the sole
owner of the sun’s rays. He gasped into the Adeptus’ mouth, a breath of much needed oxygen
while drowning in desperation.

Was this how Zhongli felt on a daily basis? The Harbinger had never heard of a god sharing their
innermost powers in such a tangible way, though he never concerned himself with the idea.

Unless the sensations were caused by the kiss itself, and a reaction to Childe abruptly being handed
everything he ever wanted.

But why?

“Wait.”
Ripping himself away from Zhongli’s lips was agonizing, but the Harbinger felt overwhelmed; he
had turned a furious shade of crimson, converting his Electro contusions from unpleasantly distinct
to downright ghastly. “I tried to tell you before. Once in Snezhnaya, then again after the attack on
Wangsheng. You—you overlooked my admissions.”

Childe stared back at the Geo Archon, whose body was now nearly flesh with his own, and
regarded Zhongli’s mouth with a newfound captivation. His lips remained parted, eyes smouldering
with the same compelling heat that was currently voyaging through Childe’s bloodstream. There
wasn’t a single strand of hair hanging down into Childe’s lap that wasn’t bursting with dazzling
amber.

“You have my sincerest apologies; I never meant to make you wait.”

Wha-

The dreamlike atmosphere had yet to lift on the enclosed space of Zhongli’s dwelling, and Childe
was beginning to dread that this was all a concussed illusion, and he would soon wake up alone, or
to an overexcited Hu Tao explaining that it was almost time to cross over.

“Why now? You seemed so honestly satisfied with remaining confidantes, xiansheng. I’m—”

Terrified this is a reflexive response to my pathetic confession, only made even more despicable
with my sorry state.

The hands closing in around Childe’s face brought him closer; Zhongli held him in a way that had
goosebumps forming in spots the Harbinger had never felt before.

A kiss; directly above his left brow, tender and saccharine.

“How could I accept your sentiments when every time you attempted to share thoughts of such
high significance, you suffered from unbearable confliction?”

A splash of gold before he kissed Childe again, this time directly over his cheekbone. The spot
beckoned to the ex-Geo Archon as his mouth left a searing imprint where it strayed, and Childe felt
his soul slip out with a harsh breath.

“You are an autonomous, unpredictable individual; appreciating all of your aptitudes and
idiosyncrasies is immensely gratifying on its own, and thus I never sought to adjust who you are
for my self-serving wants.”

Zhongli grasped Childe's jaw, holding his head in place as his lips slid gently up the Harbinger's
neck; the Adeptus was particularly invested in the fragile skin by his jawline, and Childe worked
on regulating his heartbeat, which even he could hear in the stillness of the chamber.

“Befriending a man such as yourself is already time well-spent masquerading as Zhongli.”

Childe was wrong. He was not safe here; no wonder Hu Tao had visited him in his dreams.

This would most likely be Childe’s final resting place.

Zhongli worshipped Childe as if he had thought about placing a kiss to each of the meticulously
chosen spots countless times, all while speaking words of praise that had the Harbinger wondering
what he did in a past life to warrant such euphoria.

“Once you raised the concern of your happiness negatively afflicting my own wellbeing, I
understood. It was an apprehension that only you could resolve; I am no Harbinger, and thus can
only provide guidance from the wealth of my personal observations.”

A razor-sharp thumb was resting at the hollow of Childe’s neck, tilting him to the side as Zhongli’s
lips conquered the base of his throat. Each gesture was attentive, consuming, and the ex-Archon
pulled Childe into his embrace as if he mastered the balance of gravity.

He marked him slowly, with the patience of an ancient being. Childe could feel blood rise to the
surface of his skin with every bruising kiss, blooming heat and sparking all his nerves to life.

And still, the Adeptus managed to avoid the bandages and lightning bolts of wounds converging
over Childe’s figure.

It was a cruel, gradual crawl of sensations mixed with hymns of adoration, all especially written for
Childe.

Zhongli’s effusions would be the death of him.

“What I can offer you, in response to your misgivings, is my sincerity.”

“Zhongli, please, you need to—”

Childe chased Zhongli’s lips when they nearly returned to his face, only to avidly watch him
switch to the opposite side of his throat. The kisses grew insistent, the Adeptus' typical fortitude
replaced with an unprecendented fervor.

“We have spent many suns and moons together, dining in each other’s company,” he paused to
litter the Harbinger with featherlight nips, teeth grazing with every press of warmth, “discovering
our differences, along with our unique and cherished likenesses.”

I merely gave you the reasons you were seeking for why I appreciate you as a friend, as well as
why I admire you as a person.

“Waking up to your bright, inquisitive face within this dwelling the first time, months ago, was a
fresh experience; not only have you enhanced my experiences while adapting to the modern world
of Liyue, but you also accepted all of my various aspects without fear, nor judgement.”

That day you broached the subject about my various identities as Zhongli, Rex Lapis and Morax,
when you were so troubled… I saw myself reflected in your madness.

Little shivers of pleasure zipped through Childe when Zhongli’s mouth opened the tiniest bit wider
against the sensitive skin of his collarbone.

“You’re going to kill me, Zhongli…Zhongli-xiansheng…”

A pair of fangs scraped languidly as the Adeptus offered a scalding, open-mouthed kiss to the same
spot, clear of injuries; Childe threw his head back into the seat padding before a broken whine
escaped from the back of his throat. He could feel the wet press of Zhongli's tongue on him, tasting
him, devouring him like a man starved.

Zhongli’s Geo emblems crackled like fireworks.

He slid one of the hands cradling Childe’s cheek to the back of his neck, making sure that the
Harbinger was close enough to hear the assurances being whispered by the sensitive skin of his
earlobe.
“As a god who has reinvented themselves countless times, there is still much you do not know
about me, nor I of you. However, meeting your family and cementing my place among them with
every technique at my disposal made you happier than I have ever witnessed.”

Just how did the Geo Archon know how to pull Childe apart touch by touch, syllable by syllable?

This was not the way he thought today would go in the least.

The probability of Childe going into psychological shock, or already being in the throes of it, was
very likely. He continually tried to get a word out, anything for Zhongli to pause his overwhelming
sermon of affection before Childe’s heart collapsed from exertion, but his mouth refused to obey.

All he seemed capable of doing was reclining between an Archon’s throne and a captivated, overly-
earnest god, wild-eyed and ravenous and on the brink of cardiac arrest.

It was unclear if the Adeptus was aware of his filtering influence, vehement to the point where
Childe could do nothing but endure it. He choked on air when the Geo energy warming his insides
pulsed along with Zhongli’s own searing, golden contours.

The merciless ex-Geo Archon had the audacity to keep going.

“I knew, then, that my time as a wanderer of Teyvat had transformed for the better; you opened my
eyes to perspectives unknown, the exquisiteness of the mortal experience, and the pricelessness of
every moment spent together.”

This was not a simple I love you. Zhongli was making the Harbinger’s confession look like child’s
play.

This was far, far worse.

Cor Lapis eyes bore into Childe’s soul, glinting from beneath gilded lashes, before Zhongli leaned
back onto his haunches to bring their foreheads together. He sighed, the sound familiar and yet so
foreign in its delight.

“You’ll have to excuse my outspokenness; I have an opportune moment to show my gratitude

without looming dangers or misunderstandings between us. Yesterday, nearly losing you... shook
me to my very core.”

“Zhongli,” Childe finally croaked, memorizing the sensation of Zhongli’s happiness, sovereignty
and energy surging through him like a tangible substance, “I don’t even know where to start.”

How else could Childe explain how much this meant to him, other than to show him?

“You have said more than enough by risking your life for my own sake.” His smile was audible,
while his gleaming skin and hair spoke a thousand words. “Permit me to take this time to
appreciate the fact that you are alive.”

The joy welling within Childe’s chest was more than a human should be able to endure; this time,
however, Childe knew it was completely his own.

He mustered up all of the strength offered to him through Zhongli’s inescapable influence and
crushed their lips together, pouring every inch of himself into the gesture.

The chamber was blanketed in an eruption of light.

Zhongli met Childe halfway in every way that mattered, and this was no different; he kissed him
with raw ardor, the patience of his crawling, deliberate worship fizzling out to match Childe’s
thirst. It wasn’t gentleness that the Harbinger wanted, not now, not after all this time. He could
finally take; take the Adeptus’ bottom lip into his own, savouring the way it made Zhongli’s hands
curl around his waist and goad him closer, while he hastily tried to commit the taste of the Archon
to memory.

“Ajax, mind your wounds,” Zhongli muttered half-chidingly, half-distractedly, and Childe swore
he had never heard the Adeptus sound quite so unfocused before. His eyes were overflowing with
the heat and brilliance of a falling star.

Childe wondered how many more opportunities he would get to do this; it was difficult to accept
that the answer could be countless. That sounded fictitious. Concocted by his yearning, battle-
addled brain.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

He dragged two uninjured fingers down Zhongli’s emblazoned torso, taking in the evenness of his
skin, the rough, granular touch of the scales speckling his abdomen, before shuddering a wet
exhale.

He was far from fine.

“It’s just that I’ve imagined this an unhealthy number of times, ever since....” he clutched his
blistered fists in the folds of Zhongli’s robes, uncaring of the way they would throb later, and
struggled to finish his sentence; lips wandered to the side of his mouth, making it hard to think.
Even though there were sounds reverberating from the Adeptus’ chest that were far more draconic
than human, his embrace was exactly how Childe imagined; indulgent and generous, thorough and
consuming.

He allowed the Geo Archon to kiss him as if he were something precious. Something worthy of a
god’s reverence.

“It delights me to see you so overjoyed,” Zhongli breathed between kisses, leaving one, two, three
from the Harbinger’s cupid’s bow to the tip of his chin, “but you have already aggravated your
injuries.”

Childe groaned, chasing Zhongli’s light as he began to gradually move away. “I can’t even feel
them anymore, Harbinger’s honor. And anyway, it would be cruel to stop now, don’t you think,
Zhongli? Xiansheng? We should continue celebrating my unbelievably good fortune.”

Rambling was the only way Childe could cope with observing the ex-Geo Archon crouch over him
with the gentlest smile on his face.

He looked happy. No, he was happy.

Childe was confident in his assertion.

“We will have plenty of time to enjoy each other once your bleeding has stopped.”

Blood usually brought Childe a bizarre form of thrill; now, the mere mention irritated him to no
end.

“As if a little blood could slow me down; I'm done waiting, thank you very much.”
The corner of Zhongli’s mouth, closest to where a fang poked charmingly out from a golden-tinged
lip, grimaced unexpectedly.

“Ah, I had nearly forgotten.”

Eloquence was Childe’s strongest attribute. “Huh?”

Forgotten what?

To clean up the remains of gooey, liquefied Harbinger fixed to the chamber’s floor?

The Adeptus outstretched an ochre hand, where a dainty, violet chess piece materialized in a burst
of amber. It hovered above the scaled palm, revolving while releasing small pinpricks of Electro
with every rotation.

It took Childe a solid minute to recuperate his ability to process before he realized.

“… Is that the Electro Archon’s Gnosis?”

“Indeed,” Zhongli stated calmly; it was a small relief to see that the flecks of crimson and gold on
the Adeptus’ cheeks were emphasized by a lingering flush. Oh, Childe would be playing the sight
over and over again whenever he so much as blinked. Getting work done was going to be near-
impossible for the foreseeable future, and not just because of his battered body, “I plucked it out of
the Sixth Harbinger once he was appropriately incapacitated; this will save some time, should you
choose to deliver it to the Cryo Archon personally.”

The ornate item stared back at Childe silently, radiating hues of amethyst and gently pulsating with
the rhythm of the gods.

He laughed.

“Hah, Zhongli!”

Giggles bubbled to the surface, overflowing and echoing brightly off the rounded walls of the Cor
Lapis dwelling. Once Childe started, it became difficult to stop.

Rex Lapis was presenting the Eleventh Harbinger with a Gnosis.

It wasn’t his own, nor was it under the same circumstances as that fateful day many moons prior,
before Childe had come to recognize who Rex Lapis truly was, but the irony behind it all was
enough to send him over the edge.

His ribs hurt and the stirring stung something awful, but nothing could stop his eruption of
unrestrained, juvenile laughter.

“Ajax…?”

Zhongli rested an elbow on the throne seat, his head sloped in curiosity. It didn’t escape Childe’s
notice that the Adeptus kept one hand on his shoulder, as if incapable of dropping his touch for too
long.

The physical contact had new meaning, no longer carrying a response of guilt or disappointment.

“It’s, ha, nothing.”

Perhaps the Tsaritsa’s prediction of a future where Childe would catch up to the late Signora’s
 Gnosis count was nearer than expected. “I’m just appreciating the circumstances.”

Childe held out a waiting, semi-bloodied palm (Zhongli hadn’t been jesting when he mentioned
that Childe was less-than-kind to his blisters), and watched the Gnosis transfer over, hovering just
above his hand.

He expected obtaining the chess piece to feel like reparations due or sweet revenge. Like a
champion, standing high above the conquered and basking in his achievement, Childe would be
rushed by the adrenaline high of a hard-earned victory.

The Eleventh Harbinger had won.

Reclaiming the Gnosis would set him apart from others, and place him on a swift course to
becoming even more prevailing in the eyes of the Tsaritsa.

Her Royal Majesty’s bloodhound should be slobbering at the thought of his next conquest.

But instead, he laughed. Chuckled as he watched the celestial piece in his palm swivel,
backdropped by the dazzling, Cor Lapis eyes of a dragon.

Childe could easily pinpoint which one brought him closer to Celestia.

Chapter End Notes

The fern-like patterns on Childe's body, known as Lichtenberg figures, occur when an
electricity surge causes blood vessels to burst. Being struck by lightning can leave
lightning-shaped scars on the skin. In most cases, the marks are not permanent and can
even disappear in just a couple of days.

I was captivated by images I found while studying up on how electricity affects the
body and had to include them, as well as a quick definition.

It took me two weeks to plan out and organize, as well as hours upon hours of me
getting emotional, but it's here. I feel so overjoyed.

They did it.

The story is not finished; there is one chapter left, as well as a few extras, which will
be attached as a collection. But this scene certainly felt like months of build-up and
eons of pining exploding into what I fondly call "my baby."

I'll also be linking the Spotify playlist for the fic that I personally use at the end, for
those who enjoy rereading with music that specifically inspired each moment.

For updates, post notifications and more, please follow me on Twitter. <3

Your beautiful comments have gotten this fic to where it is; I couldn't have done this
without the insight, giddiness, emotional outbursts and intense happiness seen within
the comment section. I hope this scene treats you all well; it certainly has been a long
time coming.
Twitter
 Promises of Gold
Chapter Notes

PSA: I will add fanart as it comes to the appropriate chapters where they are relevant.
It will forever be appreciated and I will make sure others get a chance to revel in your
talent in the future, even after the story is complete.

The incredible @ccmberart brought Dragon Zhongli to life in Snezhnaya, shuba and
all, and I will never, EVER recover. WOW. Zhongli in Snezhnaya

The lovely OreganoGremlin made this fanart of a hybrid Zhongli; look at HOW HE
GLOWS <3 Zhongli Art

Here is the official Weight of Gold soundtrack as made by me. Give it a listen while
reading the final chapter; I hope it adds to the experience! Weight of Gold Playlist

Please enjoy; it's the last hurrah!~

UPDATE: It's been a year since I completed this badboy, and @flanarian made a
celebratory fanart. I cried. As per usual. Nothing's changed in that regard. Happy 1
Year, Weight of Gold!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“So let me get this straight…”

Paimon hovered ominously over the top of Childe’s desk, her tiny body at odds with her oversized
head. She had paused to linger in the Harbinger’s personal space after incessantly fluttering around
the Northland office like a fly trapped in a jar; Childe couldn’t help but feel a little irritated every
time the floating, fairylike creature came close.

Her eyes were much too bright and uncomfortably probing.

The Traveller didn’t look bothered in the slightest by her antics; rather, they seemed completely
used to Paimon’s nonsensical flight patterns.

"You ran around Liyue for weeks, trying to get the Electro Archon’s Gnosis, duelled with
Scaramouche, nearly died before Zhongli interfered to save your guts…”

“Keep in mind that I wouldn’t mind bursting a blister or two to strike you down…”

“and now...” kudos to Paimon for learning how to disregard Childe’s very loaded threats, “you
obtained the Electro Archon’s Gnosis, managed to lock that scary Sixth Harbinger away in a Geo
prison, and plan on delivering him to the Cryo Archon like a giftwrapped souvenir?!"

Childe smirked. When she put it like that, it was tough not to feel a little self-satisfied.

“You got it. With a bow and everything.”

Almost five days had passed since Childe awoke to Zhongli’s soothing presence, safe in Jueyun
Karst, following the destructive aftermath of his encounter with Scaramouche. With the largest
threat to Liyue’s safety taken care of, as well as the Balladeer imprisoned in a Geo-strongbox
fashioned by the Lord of Geo himself, there was ample time for the Harbinger to get the rest he
urgently needed.

Paimon made an impressed noise. “Then I guess congratulations are in order! Or something.
Actually, should we be congratulating you, or is this all just a bigger part of the Fatui’s
schemes…?”

“Such a cautious toy, always looking out for the greater good.”

“Hey!”

He never returned to his apartment in Feiyun Slope; rather, Childe spent the entirety of his
recuperation period living out what he still slightly considered an erroneous hallucination. If it
weren’t for the earthshattering caresses and words that followed his obscure cognizance like dust
on the wind, all Zhongli’s doing, the Harbinger would have been seeking proper medical aid for an
acute concussion.

The world had shifted within the boundaries of that amber, otherworldly refuge.

Zhongli insisted he remain there to heal, where the god could keep an eye on him and restore his
own energy consecutively; as if Childe would refute that option.

As accustomed as the Harbinger was to isolating himself so the world couldn’t see him at his
weakest, nothing sounded better than spending an off day or two with the person he loved most.

Who, by the luck of the gods, also loved him back.

“It’s good to see that you’re already out and about.” The Traveller chimed in, inspecting Childe’s
polished appearance. The Electro markings beneath his clothes were fading, albeit sluggishly, and
besides a nasty cut by his ear and the stitches on his scalp giving him permanent bedhead, it was
hard to tell that the Eleventh Harbinger had been on the brink of death just a few days prior.
“Although, I did catch sight of a slight stagger before you walked into Northland.”

Childe winced.

“Ever the keen investigator, Traveller.”

Coming to work did feel a bit like a congratulatory event; it was the first morning Childe could
actually move his body without crumpling like a leaf after a minute or two of standing.

It was pathetic, but supporting his own weight after taking a coldblooded Electro beating was
something worth noting; meandering out of Liyue’s wilderness and back into the city had been an
embarrassingly exigent task, aided by none other than an Adeptus with accommodating hands and
time to spare.

Having Zhongli alter the mountain formations enroute just to give Childe routine hillsides to lean
on was an unbecomingly-flustering experience.

“Zhongli,” he protested, focusing on the pathway’s smoothest sections to reduce his chances of
flailing. The sun was nestled high above Childe’s head, fulfilling its role in heating the plains to a
near-crisp, as the Liyuan sun did nearly every morning. It was sweltering; hot enough for the sting
of sweat to seep into still-healing gashes, “I’m not some helpless newborn. I’ve walked this route a
thousand times.”
There was a twinge in his calf muscle that made Childe’s mouth twist up conspiratorially; he
mentally prepared himself for the toil on his body and the unpleasant gait he would be sporting
after the journey.

The shortcut through Cuijue to reach Liyue Harbor before noon was familiar, yes, but also
incredibly uneven. The natural crags and curves to the land’s silhouette made for difficult travel; a
struggle which Childe naturally leapt at, no matter his condition.

After all, why take the manmade trail when adventure was better found on the path untamed?

He thought of the god who fashioned the bluffs; the escarpments, from the teeniest pebble to the
loftiest precipice. The amount of pride instilled within every detail, and the perseverance infused
into the land itself, crafted from time’s harsh adversity.

How Cor Lapis blessed the landscape, decorating the mountain bases in the Land of Geo like
unanticipated gifts of grandeur.

All of Childe’s thoughts turned to gold.

Oppressive heat, shaky limbs and all, the Harbinger ignored them in favor of giving his full focus
to the man by his side, clothed in hues of amber and honey. Zhongli’s body seemed to hum along
with the cicadas; little pulses of Geo radiated from his hair while he kept an eye on Childe’s wary
movements, maintaining a gradual, dignified stride.

After spending so many days in his Adeptus form, Childe wondered if the man was unconscious of
his seemingly constant otherworldly glow; had he grown so comfortable alone with Childe that he
didn’t see the need to draw in his element?

It was a quiet, self-indulgent thought, but the Harbinger felt the trickling sensation of satisfaction
ease his pain while they travelled.

“I have full confidence that you are not only familiar with the pathway, but can also handle the
journey unescorted.” Zhongli tried and failed to hide the way he was leaning inwards towards the
Harbinger, continuously acting as a steadying support should Childe want it. “I simply sought to
accompany you on the way.”

Childe learned that he would never get used to the Adeptus’ blatant shows of affection, now that
he properly understood their significance.

“Zhongli-xiansheng, you’re always welcome to join me.”

The Adeptus observed him with an eye-crinkling smile. “While I have continuously found
partaking in walks through Liyue calming, I have seldom felt this at peace.” He looked to the
cerulean sky, bringing attention to the wisps of gilded locks still gleaming inexplicably bright in
the sun. “Being with you like this is truly a precious and joyous experience.”

A painful squeeze assaulted Childe’s chest, completely unrelated to his wounds.

“I believe that’s my line. You’re just savouring the bliss of some much-needed fresh air, after
spending so much time supervising this lowly Harbinger.”

That earned Childe a good-natured chuckle.

“Perhaps, though the climate this morning is far from refreshing.”

The time passed in Zhongli’s care within his Adepti abode was quite uneventful, as Childe blandly
spent more than half of each day unconscious, and the other portion insisting he was well enough
to move, only to result in aggravated injuries and an exasperated ex-Geo Archon. The restorative
mists sped up Childe’s healing process by noticeable increments; enough for him to continuously
test the limits of his body whenever he could so much as take a painless breath.

Though that didn’t mean the medication made him immortal, no matter how much he tried to act
like it did.

Needless to say, he wasn’t exactly a doctor’s dream.

Zhongli placated him whenever he caught Childe beginning to get antsy, which was often. The
Adeptus shared both the lengthy, sombre epics of ancient Liyuan poets and the modern works of
Liyue’s lyricists with the intimacy of a soft whisper.

Poetry came to him unbidden, and Childe found himself happily wasting away the minutes of
restoration following the jut of Zhongli’s bottom lip as he recited reflective verses written by his
people.

“… Time after time, ships will set sail like brave little river fish bound for the sea.

Sooner or later, the tides they will turn and drown out the ones who dismiss poetry.”

“That one’s nice,” Childe sighed dreamily, staring up unabashedly at Zhongli’s mouth, “which up-
and-coming Liyuan author wrote that one, I wonder?”

Zhongli huffed a chuckle. “A young woman by the name of Linling. Her poetry is unpolished and
minimalist in nature, though I do not necessarily consider those negative attributes. Some prose,
when intended for the common folk, are best kept simple.”

He took a finger around the lobe of Childe’s ear, a gentle contact which immediately emptied the
Harbinger’s brain. The ex-Geo Archon rarely allowed Childe a moment untouched while resting;
whether they were small, lulling strokes down his cheek, or the press of warmth on the back of his
palm, Zhongli left his lingering presence wherever he could. Only a few stingy weeks had passed
since Childe nearly short-circuited on the Adeptus’ thighs, and now…

Now, the Geo Archon made contact with Childe like it were the most natural thing in the world.

Childe delighted in each and every caress, big or small, hasty or lingering.

“I’ll give Linging this; her poems are much easier to understand than some of the other verses
you’ve delivered in the past.” A claw, significantly short than the day before, scraped along the
underside of Childe’s chin. He shuddered violently. “Ancient Liyuan scholars certainly enjoyed
flexing their ornamental prose.”

“In Liyuan culture, poetry has always provided a format and a forum for both shared and reserved
expressions of deep emotion,” how Zhongli could expect Childe to remain still as he bombarded
him with soul-fleeting touches was a thing of mystery. The man continued his clarification,
seemingly unaware of Childe’s internal struggles, “offering insight into the complex lives of
Liyuan writers. It is the author’s thoughts, and their explicitly selected expressions used to divulge
them, that bestow life to poetry.”

There were countless things that the Harbinger thought about doing; things which he had little by
little mentioned, casually and not-so-casually.
Picking up where the two of them had left off the day he had first awoken, for one.

“Speaking of thoughts…” he attempted to tug the Archon down at an angle where lifting his head
for a kiss would be less exertion, but was met with calm resistance. It had become a dangerous
pattern; Childe would pull Zhongli towards his mouth, capturing his bottom lip with a winded
noise of victory, which Zhongli would then thankfully reciprocate, only for them both to wheeze
with displeasure when Childe unsurprisingly hindered his recovery by moving too much, too
quickly.

Zhongli was busy touching up the abrasions on Childe’s chest, the cool sting of ointment aiding
with his skin’s perpetual burning, ears attuned to the Harbinger’s voice. “...see if you can figure out
what I’m thinking right now.”

The burning intensity of Cor Lapis gazed down upon Childe’s unprepared face, remorseful but
fond.

“Focus on making a full recovery.” He held Childe’s head in his lap, looking over the sutures
instead of at the not-so-subtly glowering Harbinger. “I will dedicate a plethora of time following
your improvement to making sure your body and soul never go a moment without feeling wholly,
undeniably loved.”

Two sidereal days later, finally out and about without the seclusion of Zhongli’s cavern distorting
reality, and Childe still hadn’t recovered from such a proclamation.

The Adeptus held out a gloved, open palm when Childe wobbled on the inclined ground leading to
Cuijue Slope; he left it there to hang while the Harbinger grew lost in his considerations, waiting
patiently.

It took every ounce of Childe’s self-control not to combust into flames on the spot when he latched
their hands together, wordlessly allowing Zhongli to pull him along with some added balance.

His hand was warm.

The supple leather of the Adeptus’ glove slipped seamlessly between the fabric of Childe’s own;
even through the layers of cloth and the thin bandaging overtop of mending burns, there was a
reassuring pressure beneath the touch.

“Mm,” the Adeptus hummed his approval, assuredly directing Childe to the smoothest trail before
the memorable sight of elevated, emblazoned pillars broke the horizon, “as you can see, the areas
adjacent to the slope were largely unscathed by Scaramouche’s explosives, and the sections that
were subjected to the discharges are already convalescing. Liyue is tenacious in spirit; the vast land
of rock, soil and sea cannot be subdued without difficulty.”

Childe peered over the edge as they walked; he half-expected the ex-Geo Archon to steer clear
from the battle site, considering its destructive and rather recent culmination, but instead they
meandered directly through without pausing.

He spied an odd dip within the already enormously-sized crater of Cuijue, a cavity which hadn’t
been there while Childe fought tooth and nail against the Balladeer’s vast range of assaults. It
looked as if a bolide the size of Morepesok had hurdled its way from Celestia straight into the
depths of the slope, digging it two steps closer to Teyvat’s core. “I certainly don’t mind assessing
the damage, but…”

You were so distraught, he didn’t say, because pride, whether or not the Prime Adeptus had
renounced such a worldly notion, was a factor Childe exhaustively understood.

Zhongli smiled, eyes rising into two earnest crescents.

“Just like the land itself, you are resilient.”

There was the lightest of squeezes; Zhongli tightened his grip on Childe’s hand as he spoke, face
alight with enduring tranquility. “What transpired here has resulted in suffering; that, in my
memories, will never be denied or forgotten. But you have on no occasion let anguish affect your
ambitions. Thus, I too shall continue to concentrate on the beauty of the present.”

“Zhongli—” the Harbinger couldn’t help the lament that escaped him, as the Adeptus pulled him
through encroaching brush to get a better look at the desolated grounds where Electro had
eradicated all of the neighbouring fauna, “—ah, you know what, there really is no helping it, is
there?”

Golden eyes glanced back to Childe, evaluating him curiously. “Helping?”

The Geo-gleaming Adeptus, in all of his sincerity, would sooner leave the Harbinger a befuddled,
self-conscious mess before ever going a day without giving him a reason for why he was
cherished.

For every moment Childe had spent entombed with his own musings, listing the ways Zhongli was
flawless and unattainable, Zhongli, too, had collected an overabundance of commendations that
made Childe’s heart race. He was never shy when it came to sharing praise; should the ex-Geo
Archon see even an inkling of promise in an individual, Childe knew Zhongli would let them know
in the most genuine, poignant way possible, making them feel as if they were offered a deity’s
patronage.

It used to make him a little envious, how the man spoke so highly about the citizens of Liyue.
Jealousy was a dreadful emotion; Childe would make useless comparisons, wondering if he fell
short in any of the categories which made the Adeptus smile so pensively, so cheerfully after
retelling the small success story of another denizen who grew up in the harbor.

Zhongli threw around his benevolent endorsements like hongbao during the Spring Festival; easily
showering praise on all forms of effort, big or small.

Childe tried to understand, but the continuous acclamations of positivity for others wasn’t
something that could be honed overnight. It came effortlessly when he thought about those he
treasured, like Tonia, Anthon and Teucer, but otherwise, the Harbinger was used to weighing the
value of others by their abilities. How useful they could be.

But then Childe fell in love.

“Never mind, Zhongli-xiansheng. I’m just going to have to work harder. Speaking of which, care to
explain that brand-new crater at the base of Cuijue? You wouldn’t have had anything to do with
that, did you?”

Zhongli cleared his throat before not-so-subtly bringing them further away from the gorge. “That is
the result of my accumulated powers being released simultaneously. Incapacitating Scaramouche
took all of my strength.”

“I didn’t see anything close to that when we sparred.”

“Of course not; I try and avoid such large-scaled destruction whenever possible.”
“… So you were holding out on me.”

The ex-Geo Archon wore an expression of incredulousness. “Surely, you jest.”

Childe allowed himself to be hauled along by Zhongli’s comforting hand, the same hand that
brought a meteor shower down from the sky to take out the Balladeer, and grinned. “When do I
ever kid about an honest fight? Next time we spar, I expect to see some asteroids plummeting out
of the clouds, otherwise I’ll know you were going easy on me.”

They had parted at Chihu Rock, Zhongli heading off to Wangsheng, most likely to catch up on the
week’s events with the seventy-seventh Wangsheng Funeral Director, while Childe ambled his
way to Northland and spent a good half of the day getting mistreated by a very frenzied Ekaterina,
in the form of stacks of paperwork and incessant business meetings.

According to her logic (said in the most business-appropriate way manageable), if Childe could
make his way back to the building without issue, then he was fit enough to do the bare minimum as
Northland Bank’s Chief Diplomat and Debt Collector.

The circles under her eyes and shaky sigh of relief when Childe made himself comfortable at his
desk, ironically looking better than he had the last time he visited Northland, exhausted and on the
brink of mental collapse, told the Harbinger his reappearance was more than welcomed.

It had been a very long few days for the Fatui at Northland Bank, apparently.

“Just admit you were worried,” he pestered, as his underling’s cheeks and chin turned the shade of
a ripe tomato. Ekaterina heatedly trudged out of his office, muttering something about
appointments to rebook, only to return to voice her concerns moments later.

Heated grievances of there had been no news of your whereabouts, and, when I thought to seek out
Mr. Zhongli, I was informed that he was also nowhere to be found. I assumed you were both in
serious danger.

It was foolish for Ekaterina to get worried at all; he was the Eleventh Harbinger. He was
permanently in serious danger, more often than not.

And when he wasn’t, he was either shrewdly preparing for it, or the definite cause.

Childe barely got a word in before she quietly explained, much to the Harbinger’s shocked chagrin,
that the green-haired entity (whom she was still vehemently afraid of, judging by how she paled
after mentioning his unforeseen visit) had come to her the day before yesterday to let Northland
know Childe was out of harm’s way.

“He doesn’t seem like the type of being to relay messages of his own volition…” she coughed,
looking intently at the ground, “so I assumed… Mr. Zhongli may have…”

Ekaterina was right on the money; Zhongli most certainly sent him.

The Prime Adeptus had likely implored Xiao to go; not as his Archon, but as a dear friend
requesting a favor from his last, most trusted Yaksha. There was no way Alatus would ever refuse.

But nonetheless, to go so far as to make Xiao a messenger boy…

The thought was kind of hilarious.

It was hard not to burst out into an unrestrained chuckle; the little Yaksha was probably scowling
the whole time, leaking demonic miasma and making a scene at Northland’s front desk.

“Well, Zhongli-xiansheng may have had something to do with that.” Childe cleared his throat, “But
rest-assured, we’re both perfectly fine.”

“I believe that Mr. Zhongli is alright,” there was a glint in the secretary’s eyes, even as she flicked
them back down to the Sumeran carpet, “since he is very special. No doubt that’s why he
accompanied Lord Harbinger to arrest the Sixth Harbinger.”

Her gaze skimmed back to Childe’s, where they shared a quiet stand-off; the Harbinger lowered his
brows, attempting to regain control of the conversation with an intimidating expression, but with
little luck. Clearly his dazzling baby blues did nothing for extortion purposes.

Ekaterina was getting too brazen; damn Childe’s admiration for her subtle-yet-compelling
certitude.

Since when did everyone besides Childe become so observant?

“He is certainly extraordinary, Ekaterina. I only surround myself with the best of the best;
xiansheng fits the definition to a tee.”

He could be a tad more authentic with his top operative; especially since all she wanted to do was
to gush about the Funeral Consultant. And Childe was, awkwardly, an expert in that category. “Is
that what you wanted to hear? Now may I return to skimming this ridiculously high mound of
repayment forms?”

The underling bowed quickly, uttering a high-pitched, “Yes, Lord Harbinger!” before heading out
the door. It was impossible to ignore the tiny smile she donned, clear as day.

That was hours ago; now, with Paimon and the Traveller’s social call marking the onset of
evening, the setting sun outside of the red-rimmed windows casting Childe’s office in the pale,
soothing tint of marigold, the Harbinger was reminded of the battle yet again.

“Have you gotten a chance to speak to Scaramouche about his objective?”

The Traveller’s arms were crossed; they were clearly back in Liyue for business, seeking answers
about the incident at Cuijue Slope. Too bad for them that this time, Childe was the one with the
upper hand.

“Spying for intel, are we?”

This would have been the moment where Childe customarily threw his feet up on the centre of his
desk, the picture of nonchalance; unfortunately, his sore muscles wouldn’t even allow for a simple
leg-cross. “Lucky for you, I don’t mind sharing a bit of what I did learn. The Balladeer doesn’t
trust Celestia or the gods; the Tsaritsa included, although their ideals seem to go hand-in-hand.
From what I understand, he wants to find the “truth” behind Teyvat, and was intending to have
Zhongli-xiansheng aid his cause.”

“Zhongli?!” Paimon gasped, “But he would never side with someone as dishonest and evil as
Scaramouche!”

“That’s true,” the Traveller’s eyes narrowed, scarily pinpointed in Childe’s direction, “I can’t
imagine what the Balladeer could possibly say or do that would convince Rex Lapis to carry out his
dirty work…”
Childe felt his shoulders stiffen as pale eyes held him to his seat.

He had a feeling the Traveller already had a hunch concerning the battle at Cuijue Slope’s
denouement.

“Well,” Childe trusted that the blinding sunset hid the reaction on his face, “With his immeasurable
knowledge and experiences, xiansheng was the best candidate for inciting a war against Celestia.
However, that’s really all I know. Every time I ask if I can have a quick, harmless chat with the
Sixth, xiansheng finds a way to change the subject. I suspect that he doesn’t want to let the little rat
out of his cage, just yet.”

Golden locks of hair sparkled with the last few rays of sunlight. “Or perhaps he’s just trying to
protect you.”

“Do I look like I need protecting, Traveller?”

“Not exactly,” Paimon butted in, “but you’re definitely the type of guy who runs into a battle
without thinking about making it out alive. We’ve seen you do it too many times to count.”

Childe’s battle lust was turning into one of his most memorable attributes.

“Hmm, fair point.”

“Regardless,” the Traveller leaned across Childe’s desk, taking a good, hard look at the bandages
sticking out around the sides of the Harbinger’s fitted gloves, “the whole outcome is still
suspicious; you taking the Gnosis to the Cryo Archon isn’t exactly what I’d call a step in the right
direction. But then again, Yae Miko did exchange it in the past pretty casually… so this entire
situation is probably out of our hands. The correlation between the gods, the Gnoses and Celestia
are still beyond understanding.”

"Believe me when I say my questions regarding the Gnoses and Scaramouche’s role in all of this
also far outweigh my answers." Childe groaned. "I hope xiansheng will enlighten me in the future;
there's so much I'm curious about. It's plain as day that he holds a stake in Tevyat’s celestial
paradoxes."

Whether ancient contracts would hinder his progress, or block Childe from attaining the
information he so desired to gain, was another issue that could only be solved over time. Zhongli
was eternally tied to his many contracts made as Rex Lapis, and the Harbinger knew better than to
try and wrench a primeval agreement out of the Adeptus’ piercing claws.

It would be slow going.

He didn’t want to pressure the god into anymore gruelling choices, especially when it came to
agreements. Not after the last one nearly destroyed both of their lives.

Childe wanted to avoid the subject at present in a similar manner to how he avoided La Signora
before her sudden passing; ad infinitum and with maximum vigilance.

Paimon broke the comfortable silence of his quiet musings with a shrill, discerning hmm.

She tilted her head and tapped a tiny finger against her chin, all while rendering an expression of
complete mistrust directly at Childe. "You know, you're in an awfully good mood."

“Naturally,” he huffed with a playful smirk, “I've just won a lengthy battle and finally obtained
another Gnosis for my beloved Archon. Can't I bask in the pleasure of success?"
The two guests looked at each other with faces akin to the stoic Rex Lapis statues situated across
Liyue, only with straight-lipped vexation instead of the Geo Archon’s standard solemnity.

“No,” the Traveller reasoned, holding up a shushing palm when the Harbinger let out an offended
grumble, “that's not it; it's something else. In the last few months, whenever our paths crossed, it
always seemed like you were heavily distracted.”

“Yeah, yeah!” Paimon squawked, adding her two cents on the matter, “Conflicted, even!”

The Northland office fell into the pale shadow of the evening sky, the only source of illumination
being the last remnants of daylight fading over the horizon and the relentless vibrancy of Liyue
Harbor. The Traveller watched Childe with that look; the one they saved for special occasions,
when they were about to impart contemplative statements that the Harbinger would reminisce on in
the future.

“You look… like a weight’s been lifted."

Childe glanced up to the ceiling in thought.

He certainly felt like a burden had been taken off his sturdy, resilient shoulders. Scaramouche ate at
his insides for months with no remorse; now that the Fatui’s largest problem in Liyue had been
properly disposed of, it made sense that discerning eyes of those like the Traveller’s would notice
the difference.

Oh, who was he kidding. The majority of his sudden, intoxicating weightlessness was brought on
by Wangsheng’s magnanimous, amber-eyed Funeral Consultant.

“Haha, in any case, it's actually quite an exciting week; I'll be leaving for Snezhnaya soon, off to
savor the Tsaritsa's praise and the substantial bonus that'll come with delivering such unstable
‘cargo.’ Following that, I plan on visiting my siblings. They’ll be ecstatic to see me so soon; I have
to prepare some gifts to make up for the last time.”

Paimon raised a microscopic white brow. “What happened last time?”

Childe beamed. “Let’s just say I won’t be bested again. Remember something, Traveller; once I
take on a worthy challenge, I don’t stop until I taste victory.”

The thought of Zhongli’s picture-perfect presents being given to his picture-perfect sister and
brothers spurred the competitive older sibling within him; it wasn’t a contest, per say, but that
didn’t mean it would hurt to pamper his family as much as possible at his homecoming. “Buying
out all of Liyue Harbor to please them wouldn’t be out of the question. Oh, that reminds me; I
should write them a letter."

"With what?” Paimon, in all of her exasperating, hovering glory, pointed rudely at the dressing
peeking out of Childe’s gloves. “Those useless things?"

Either the Harbinger was growing used to the snippiness of the Traveller’s floating companion, or
he was still riding the high of contentment that refused to fade even after a long shift of
monotonous work obligations.

Paimon was a very lucky toy.

"Just a minor setback. So Traveller, care to join me on the journey to Snezhnaya this time around?
Everyone back in Morepesok would be more than delighted to meet you; not to mention the
monsters we could massacre together!"
The idea sent a thrill down Childe’s spine.

"Practically mummified, and still thinking about battling monsters..."

Childe didn’t need to channel any Electro into his fists in order to swat the fairy down a few pegs,
sending her glittery, lopsided body spiralling towards the half-open window. By the time she found
her equilibrium, Paimon was hanging upside down, whining about the cruel, deceitful Harbinger,
followed by who would want to visit Snezhnaya anyways, if you’re going to be there—Traveller,
what are you waiting for? Send Childe packing while he’s still injured—

To the Harbinger’s great delight, the Traveller only gave Paimon a wearied squint. “As fun as that
journey sounds, I’m afraid we’ll have to pass.”

“Oh? That’s too bad.” More monsters to hoard for himself, but the formidable companionship
would have been entertaining, “No time to relax in-between all of your gallivanting, searching
Teyvat for your own answers?”

“Something like that.” There was a smirk forming at the corner of their lips, immediately setting
Childe on edge. The Traveller may have been a genuine mystery, but their expressions were
always ominously easy to read. “Besides, it'll be a pretty cramped boat, what with Zhongli
accompanying you as well."

It was hard to hide his surprise; whoever was feeding information to the Traveller was someone
Childe needed on the Fatui’s side, and stat.

He had only asked Zhongli yesterday, while the Harbinger was preparing to sleep after a long day
of doing absolutely nothing except feasting on the bland, albeit nutritional bamboo shoot soup the
Adeptus prepared for him (knowing he cooked it with his own two hands made the meal infinitely
tastier), popping multiple Adeptus-recommended pain relievers, and plotting the constellation of
scales between the dips of Zhongli’s shoulder blades.

The novelty of it all still hadn’t caught up to him; Childe secretly wondered if it ever would. Being
permitted to rove his eyes across the Geo Archon’s bare back while they rested together, sheltered
and snug beneath the luxurious pelts of primordial beasts, was beyond any happiness the Harbinger
could have imagined for himself.

Zhongli remained perfectly still while Childe connected the shimmering Cor Lapis fragments with
his thumb; the ex-Geo Archon was keeping himself occupied, skimming a scroll taken from the
immense collection just outside of the chamber.

When Childe’s hand came to pause by the denser gathering of scales on his clavicle, his amber
gaze was drawn away from the tome, down to the Harbinger’s curious strokes.

“I see you have grown fond of the attributes which mark my Adepti form.”

“Grown fond?” Childe let out a breathy laugh, “Zhongli, I hate to break this to you, but every time
you so much as sprouted a fang on those first few occasions, I convinced myself I had developed a
heart murmur.”

“Most humans would claim such a sensation as an undesirable one.”

“Most humans don’t spend their lives searching for that thrilling sensation on the daily.”

That made a short, loud spurt of laughter sound from the Adeptus’ throat. “Mm, that cannot be
denied. You are indeed exceptional in many ways, seeking out danger and the unfamiliar in all
aspects of life.”

Childe wriggled himself closer to Zhongli, though it was ineffective; they were practically attached
at the hip. Zhongli’s Archon robe grazed Childe’s legs with its shivery fabric, all of which was
pulled low to indulge Childe’s personal requests (“layers can’t be comfortable for your own
healing, xiansheng; plus, I wouldn’t mind a little close-up examination of your Adepti features. For
future spar purposes, of course”).

The burns littering Childe’s body no longer acted up at the slightest rub or tug of skin, and really,
he was feeling much better. Rough around the edges, but heaps stronger than just a few days prior.

It was bittersweet to think that this level of relief would be ending soon, no matter how irascible
the Harbinger got when coerced into bedrest.

“I’ll be heading to Snezhnaya once my body is up for the journey,” he began, scrutinizing the ex-
Geo Archon’s midnight dorsal scales that outlined the bright Geo markings running across his ribs,
“which should be soon, so long as I take it easy at Northland.”

Zhongli made a verbal sound of affirmation. “I am certain the Cryo Archon will be more than
satisfied by your performance. Are you looking forward to visiting your family?”

“Incredibly so.” Even his father; though it was hard to voice such a childish, eager notion. “This
time will be different; surely, now that Scaramouche is out of the picture, we’ll have much more
time together.”

A warm, exquisite smile fell upon Zhongli’s lips, one that distracted Childe from his next few
words. Luckily, the Adeptus didn’t comment; he allowed Childe’s happiness to simmer, until
gradually he found the nerve to express the very obvious question at the tip of his tongue.

“How would you feel about… coming back with me to Morepesok?”

He knew it was foolish to feel nervous; the chances of Zhongli saying no seemed very unlikely. It
was clear in his gifts and in the way he handled Childe’s mother, father and siblings that the love
and respect shown to them were nothing but genuine; the Adeptus had taken a liking to them in all
of the ways the Harbinger had hoped.

But what if the hasty, painful goodbyes from last time made the Geo Archon less inclined to make
the long journey? From the Adeptus’ perspective, there may have been enough family tension,
contractual pressures and Archon-related friction to keep him from wanting to revisit so soon.

It was only fair to ask. Considering the man was always so thoughtful and selfless whenever it
came to Childe’s wellbeing, extending the same courtesy was appropriately due.

“You could finally have the opportunity to see all of the places I never got the chance to show you
last time, meet a few of the residents whom I think you would admire,” he continued, finding
solace in the fact the Adeptus’ body remained still and at peace beside him, “not to mention how
ecstatic my mother would be. She really took a liking to you, by the way, almost as much as Tonia
did—”

Ah. The telltale glimmer of Geo energy illuminated the silver pelts until they shined hues of gold
instead, reflecting the warmth of Zhongli’s radiance.

“I would be more than happy to continue where our last journey left off.”

A luminescent hand plucked Childe’s from where it had been caressing Zhongli’s wrist; Zhongli
kissed the soft skin of his knuckles, one by one. “Surely, after a few days spent giving your family
the undivided attention they deserve, there will be plenty of time leftover for all of your
supplementary proposals.”

Childe flashed him an effusively jubilant smile.

Clearly, cheerfulness had filtered into his entire being; that, or the Traveller’s friends in high places
kept tabs on Childe in devious ways even the Harbinger had to commend.

He rocked in his chair, feeling the Fatui mask atop his head dig into the back cushion. "How did
you know xiansheng would be coming along for the trip?"

The slight smirk on the golden-haired youth’s face morphed into one that reeked of sly
satisfaction. Under the cover of darkness, it was especially sinister.

"I didn't; your bright-red blush says a thousand words."

“Wha-“

The Traveller’s insolence grew more and more terrifying the longer Childe conversed with them; it
wouldn’t be that much longer until they surpassed even his own tier of brashness.

Paimon wore an expression that oozed smugness, and if the Harbinger wasn’t suddenly in a much
better temperament after being reminded of his upcoming journey, he would have sliced her down
like a pierced kite.

"What are you prattling on about..." he attempted to deny it, but the fond smile creeping its way
onto his face was irrepressible, "...it would only be fair to him, considering our last trip was cut off
so abruptly. Now we... he can spend a little more time getting to know my homeland, and entertain
Teucer, Anthon and Tonia a smidge longer. They really did think the world of him.”

The Traveller sloped their head to the side, sending a cascade of blonde bangs off to the left of
their face. The grin they wore was one of genuine hopefulness.

"I'm sure it'll be a wonderful voyage. A trip to remember.”

“Mm.”

Hadn’t every moment spent with the Geo Archon been a moment worth remembering?

There were blank spots in Childe’s memories from years passed; violent expeditions that, although
exhilarating, left him void of company or safety for longer than even the Harbinger would have
liked. Drastic times when he had to cooperate with other Harbingers, which he preferred to wipe
from his mind the minute their assignments were complete.

All of these hardships were necessary for Childe’s own self-improvement and to further the
Tsaritsa’s goal, and he would never consider them wastes of his precious time…

But the last year or so spent in Zhongli’s presence had him memorizing the way the clouds
appeared on the evenings they dined together; had the number of steps from Northland Bank to the
Adeptus’ crimson cupola committed to memory (it was ninety-two, when the Harbinger took
consistent strides). He was completely, absolutely obsessed with making sure nothing from their
time together could ever be taken from him, down to the tiniest, flimsiest Silk Flower petal, so that
one day, if all he should have left are his memories, they could keep him content until death.
The sentimentality of it all was embarrassing. Thank goodness the Traveller and their buoyant
familiar weren’t mind readers.

Or were they?

It would explain a lot.

“But this trip, comrade... I think this one will be different.”

There was something in the air, tonight; something that made Childe feel effortlessly optimistic
about the future. “Somehow even better than the last.”

And to think that a little while ago, Childe didn’t think that were possible.

Their conversation was interrupted by three consecutive knocks, each weighted identically.

Childe laughed internally. Perhaps the true mind reader was Zhongli, after all.

Paimon swivelled around the office, clearly having regained her composure after Childe flicked the
fairy into a cyclone of glitter. "Are you expecting someone?"

“Sort of.” Time had passed much faster than expected; he uttered a swift “Come in” before the
doorknob shook, revealing a man swathed in elegant, ochre business attire, hair glowing gently in
the dim brilliance of twilight.

Childe’s foolish heart did an invisible flip.

“Zhongli-xiansheng, good evening!”

Behind him was Ekaterina, who looked far too chipper and excited when compared to the
exasperation she had shown Childe that morning.

What had Zhongli said to her in the span of the thirty seconds it took from the front desk to his
bureau?

“Lord Harbinger, Mr. Zhongli has come to see you," she smiled so wide that the Fatui mask
concealing her face lifted slightly. The secretary was giddier than Childe had ever seen her.

The Prime Adeptus was surely at fault.

“Childe.” Zhongli greeted him with a genial reception, followed by a matchless smile that had the
Harbinger’s breath stuttering. “And the Traveller with Paimon, what a pleasant surprise. Have the
two of you perhaps come to check on Childe’s recovery?”

Childe scoffed. “They’ve stopped by purely to steal top-secret Fatui intelligence and verbally
harass me, xiansheng.”

“Zhongli! This is very… predictable, actually. Every time we see Childe in Liyue Harbor, you
never seem too far behind!”

Scratch what Childe had said previously; the day couldn’t end soon enough.

Ekaterina clearly agreed with Paimon’s outburst, as she unconsciously nodded her head along with
Paimon’s ramblings.

Not that Childe would ever mind Zhongli’s continuous presence, but there was something about
Ekaterina’s countenance today, specifically, that rubbed him all the wrong ways.

She was going to be insufferable. Absolutely infuriating.

"Ekaterina, I believe I left some work on your desk that still needs completing."

She turned her besotted face, which had been completely transfixed on Zhongli up until that point,
towards the Harbinger.

The woman was sulking.

"But the day is nearly over, Lord Harbinger, I believe I've done..."

"Please,” for the love of the Tsaritsa, “go check again."

There was a five-second stare-down where the underling actually looked as if she were going to
protest further, but deflated under the heavy, distressed gaze of the Eleventh Harbinger.

"As you wish, Lord Harbinger. Mr. Zhongli, Lord Harbinger’s esteemed guests, good night."

“Have a splendid evening, Ekaterina.” Zhongli bid her a polite farewell, one that had the
administrator staring up imploringly at the Adeptus, as if he had the power to allow her to remain
in the room. Fortunately, this was perhaps the only place in Liyue Harbor where Childe’s authority
surpassed that of the ex-Geo Archon’s.

In theory, anyhow.

“Xiansheng,” he wanted to stand, throw his arms around Zhongli, pull him closer than where he
stood nobly at the edge of his desk. And if the Traveller weren’t there, Childe mused light-
headedly, he could.

The possibilities of having himself embraced by the Archon during work hours suddenly assaulted
his frontal lobe with images, and wow, where was he going with this? “Did Ekaterina say anything
to you on the way in? She was acting awfully spritely.”

Zhongli, without warning, reached over to peel Childe’s right glove clean off; he inspected the
bandages he himself had arranged the day prior while heat rolled off his fingers, the Traveller and
Paimon leaning in subtlety as he did so. They looked positively captivated by the action.

"I did; Ekaterina was concerned with your wellbeing, after returning to work so soon. I assured her
that although you are still recuperating, you have been doing much better."

"Has Mr. Zhongli been keeping tabs on your health the last few days, Childe?"

Paimon’s eyes went wider than the Harbinger thought possible; Childe's own quickly followed suit
when the Funeral Consultant stated, as easily as if discussing the Liuli Pavilion’s exclusive lunch
menu, "Well of course. Childe has been staying in my care; naturally, I would be aware of his
current circumstances."

The unintelligible sputter that left Childe’s mouth as he attempted to find a way to explain such a
situation to the Traveller without them employing the look was not only unattractive, but also
futile. He could physically feel the potency of how rigorously he was being observed.

Thank goodness for the Adeptus, who could redeem a conversation just as quickly as he could
devastate it.
“You two have been very active in the Harbour recently. If there is anything I can assist with,
please never hesitate to ask.”

"Ah, you know,” Paimon waved a dainty hand in the air, “things come up… there were a bunch of
rumors about some big fight involving that no-good Inazuman Fatui Agent and some explosions...
but once we came to see for ourselves, the battle was over!”

“I see.” Childe lost track of just how many times Zhongli had grasped his hands today, either to
hold, look over or kiss; he was beginning to think the god enjoyed the small, intimate exchanges
almost as much as he did. “You've come to inquire about Scaramouche.”

“Childe told us everything, more or less." Traveller stared hard at the space between them, where
Zhongli carefully dropped the Harbinger’s hand back onto the desk; he lingered within touching
distance, and it made something inside of Childe curl with deep-seated approval. “But thank you
for the offer.”

Paimon, whose attention span was fleeting at best, found a lasting interest in the Adeptus’
behavior. "You’re in rather high spirits too, Zhongli! Everyone around here must be really relieved
that the Balladeer was put in his place, huh?"

A slight flash of golden energy ran through Zhongli’s hair, too quick for most to catch. "That is
certainly a relief worth rejoicing over, but it is not the only reason. The harbor tonight is especially
teeming with life; cooler winds from the north have morphed the usually balmy evening into one
that can be appreciated even at dusk, leaving many shops open for stragglers to peruse to their
heart’s content... it is the kind of night best shared with those whom one treasures dearly, and so I
have come to do just that."

It had been less than a day. Around eight hours, actually. Zhongli had arrived less than ten minutes
ago; yet somehow, the god had managed to render Childe dumbfounded, flushed all the way from
the tip of his nose to his kneecaps.

There really was no helping it; he was doomed to endure an uncontainable amount of disbelief
every time Zhongli confirmed that his love was reciprocated. It felt erroneous, unfeasible,
unwarranted, and it would most likely take another thousand-or-so reminders before the Harbinger
stopped questioning his good fortune.

He had a feeling the great and mighty Prime Adeptus would never give him an opportunity to hold
onto those doubts.

“Erm,” Paimon’s chubby cheeks were dusted with pink, her eyes shifting all over the room before
landing on a spot just past Childe’s ear, “Well, it sounds like a very good night indeed! Maybe the
Traveller and I should go take advantage of it, too. Right, Traveller?”

“I had the same exact thought, Paimon.”

Zhongli looked confounded at the sudden excusal, though Childe couldn’t have been more
thankful.

“Always a pleasure to have you visit, Traveller. Let’s meet again soon; train relentlessly and get
stronger, so that we can finally make good on that promise.”

“If you would stop getting critically injured so often, maybe we could.”

He huffed; it was hard to argue with such gallingly sound logic.

The Traveller and Paimon made their way to the door, turning around to give Childe and Zhongli a
bright, cheerful wave goodbye. Although surely, it wouldn’t be that much longer until their paths
crossed again. The Traveller had a knack for getting themselves into trouble, and Childe was more
often than not part of the reason. “Enjoy your picturesque evening, Zhongli. And Childe…”

“Hmm?” The Harbinger perked up, “Yes?”

The softness in their gaze was reminiscent of how his siblings would often look at him, when
Childe did something remarkable or heartening; it left Childe exposed in a way only the enigmatic
Traveller could manage.

“I’m happy for you, truly. Good luck with everything in the future.”

It was curiously encouraging to hear those words.

The door closed behind them with a gentle click, leaving Childe and Zhongli alone in the room
with nothing but the light of the moon to keep them company. The day was taking a toll on
Childe’s stamina; he released a long sigh, the exhaustion of expending energy after a long period of
rest catching up to him.

A gloved hand found his cheek and raised it upwards, so that Childe had no choice but to look into
a gaze so fond it could break hearts onsite. “You are fatigued.”

Childe chuckled, rubbing his cheek against the buttery feel of Zhongli’s glove like a mollified cat.
He could bask in the attention as much as he wanted; after all, he was still wounded. Zhongli
would never look down on him for softening under his touch while injured.

“If I’m being honest, a bit. But don't let it worry you.”

Best to eat up the special treatment now while he still could.

“So Zhongli, what would you like to do tonight? I was thinking we could take a walk through the
marketplace; if the stalls are still open, we could pop into that miscellaneous antique booth you
like to frequent so much. Who knows; maybe during evening hours Old Jiang brings out the rarer
collectibles, something that might catch your discerning eye.”

The Adeptus supported his weight on the arm of Childe’s executive chair as he bowed down to
place a chaste kiss on the crown of the Harbinger’s head. Golden strands of hair brushed across the
Harbinger’s shoulder, Zhongli’s ponytail slipping forward; he was poised over Childe in an
affectionate huddle. “As lovely as your suggestion sounds, I do believe it would be best to keep any
more physical exertion to a minimum. Perhaps we could sit by the water with a light snack before
turning in.”

Childe shook his head; he wanted to spoil the Adeptus properly. After being so thoroughly
overindulged within Zhongli’s mountainous dwelling, he desired nothing less than to give Zhongli
a perfect, stress-free outing.

No skirmishes, no looming dangers, and certainly no threats to Zhongli’s nation.

“A quick walk will be good for me after being cooped up in this office for the majority of the day,
and besides, you yourself mentioned how the weather was optimal for a moonlit stroll.”

Childe could finally follow through with the undertaking he worked so hard to achieve. He could
present the ex-Geo Archon with a life of normalcy; one he would protect with everything he had,
without ever having to worry about getting too involved or devoted.
Though he wasn’t naïve, either; Childe knew his life was far from the basic human existence
Zhongli craved after epochs of war and destruction.

But at that moment, he could offer Rex Lapis the perfect gift.

A wander through the city he adored, doing the activities he enjoyed, with attentive, lively
company.

Company who loved him more than words could say and Mora could buy.

Zhongli’s face was unexpectedly much closer than it had been a few seconds ago; the man raised
Childe out of his chair to clutch him in a warm, sweeping embrace, so tight that it stole the air from
Childe’s lungs in an instant. There was an embarrassing moment where Childe had no idea what to
do; his hands scrabbled before settling on the low of Zhongli’s back, dazed by the sudden squeeze.

A hand guided the Harbinger’s head into the dip of his shoulder, where Childe shakily drew a
breath, inhaling the scent of sandalwood and home.

He couldn’t help the way his words left his mouth in a whisper . “What did I do?”

Childe felt the smile on Zhongli’s lips as they parted, his mouth brushing the rim of the
Harbinger’s earlobe. His small ruby earring tinkled with the movement. “Nothing worth worrying
over, Ajax. Although…”

The fingers at the nape of Childe’s neck combed through his unruly hair as they held him there,
turning Childe’s already weak legs into mush. “You have been very happy as of late. It appears
even the Traveller has taken notice.”

Childe snorted. “They’re too insightful for their own good.”

Zhongli gave a hum in agreement before separating himself from Childe, just enough so that they
could be eye-to-eye. The Geo energy ablaze behind the Adeptus’ stare was even more potent in the
darkness, turning Childe’s every blink into a wash of light. “And this. Does this make you happy as
well?”

Being in Zhongli’s arms?

“Haha,” at that, Childe intensified his grip around the Adeptus, while something deep in his chest
constricted just as tightly, “forcing me to say the obvious, are we?"

He took a much-needed pause before murmuring, "Every time you demonstrate to me that this isn’t
all some drawn-out, pathetic dream of mine, I discover a new side of what it means to be lucky in
life.”

A harsh breath was released into Childe’s hair; Zhongli was laughing, mirth coloring his deep
tenor.

“I, as well, am so very happy. Perhaps that is why I found the desire to hold you so staggering the
minute we were alone; I am greedily growing accustomed to having you close.”

Childe’s heart lurched. “Be as greedy as you want, xiansheng. I’m all yours.”

The minute vibrations that emanated from within Zhongli’s chest as his Geo energy began to surge,
making the embroidery of his elegant tailcoat glisten in the shadows, had Childe feeling hot all
over; it grew into a sonorous rumbling that could only be described as near-purring.
Zhongli’s contentment overflowed into an abundance of vibrations that he could feel beneath the
man’s vest. Childe placed a hand over the main source of the sound; a pulse of divine influence
was the only warning he was given, before Zhongli caught the side of his mouth in a swift, eager
kiss.

He swooned as light illuminated every corner of the spacious, secluded office, the overwhelming
adoration more than even the Eleventh Harbinger’s dauntless, spirited heart could bear.

A six-thousand-year-old deity could be filled with newfound surprises.

Time was lost in the heated touches of Zhongli’s possessive, searing hands, leaving Childe
breathless, while the Adeptus’ energy cleared the soreness from his body like a tender breeze.

It allowed him to focus on nothing but the devastating want that coursed through his veins like an
elemental power; Zhongli’s lips marked Childe inside and out, the vibrations within the Geo
Archon’s torso spilling out into each and every kiss. He keened when teeth nipped at his pulse
point, followed by whispers vowing how much more could be done once Childe recuperated
mouthed into his skin between harsh, restrained pants. Childe yearned to fight back properly: even
the playing field, bring the god to his knees, and leave the Geo Archon just as desperately wanting.

His full recovery couldn’t come fast enough.

By the time the two of them finally found their way down to the pier, after Childe committed the
sight of a dishevelled, ravenous Zhongli to memory, the entire harbor was alite with the sight of
dazzling pendant lanterns; patrons were bustling to-and-fro, buying street food to enjoy at the
wharf and making whimsical purchases spurred on by the exuberant nighttime atmosphere.

“Before I forget,” Childe spotted a splash of orange by a narrow flower stand, squished between a
ceramics table and the quayside stairway, where a small bouquet of Windwheel Asters gently spun
in the wind. He plucked the largest bloom with the plumpest petals, tossing a small sachet of Mora
to the shopgirl before handing it to Zhongli, “I need to send a letter to my family before we set off
for Snezhnaya. Surely, you wouldn’t mind helping out again with the process? No doubt Tonia
would appreciate receiving another letter in your lovely handwriting instead of my blocky script.”

The Funeral Consultant held the blossom to his nose and sniffed lightly, a small half-smile
appearing on his otherwise passive face. “It would be a pleasure. Please do give them time to
prepare for our arrival; I believe your mother would be enormously grateful.”

“True, but where’s the thrill in that? Unexpected visits are the most unforgettable.”

“So mischievous.” Zhongli tutted, motioning his disapproval as he tucked the Wind Aster
delicately into the lapel of his coat. The tawney petals complimented the Cor Lapis accent that sat
at the base of his throat, and if the sight brought Childe some petty, childish delight, well, no one
had to know.

They walked side-by-side, Zhongli’s arms elegantly placed behind his back as he inspected the
food stalls for something which suited his tastes. Store clerks and pedestrians alike found their
gazes drawn to the charming man in pristine, sophisticated attire; their fixation couldn’t be helped.

It was in the way the Adeptus carried himself, as if he had all the time in the world to appreciate
life’s intricate, tiny details.

“I’ll have to make a lengthy stop at Zapolyarny Palace immediately after landing to transport
Scaramouche and the Electro Gnosis to My Lady. Considering your role in capturing the Sixth, it
may not be a bad idea for you to tag along.” Childe hummed kindly, noticing another civilian
ogling Zhongli with unabashed wonder.

Of course, they couldn’t control themselves; the Adeptus was captivating. He was a god amongst
mortals, a man of stone carved from the ideals of an immortal who had witnessed beauties older
and more stunning than all those who wandered the harbor.

Childe sighed internally; the novelty of Zhongli’s splendor would never fade. Each time his eyes
landed upon the Adeptus, he only fell more in love.

The innocent souls of Liyue didn’t stand a chance.

“I wonder if the Tsaritsa expects you to make an appearance, to explain why her Sixth Harbinger
is being delivered in a chunk of Cor Lapis.”

Which brought Childe to another, more pressing matter. One which shocked him out of his
exuberant mood, even as Zhongli remained unshakeable, cascading his gloves across a silken sheet
set. The shopkeeper eyed him expectantly; he certainly appeared like a well-off patron who would
easily drop a substantial amount on luxurious draperies.

“бля. Zhongli, the Tsaritsa. I… it would only be right to explain to her our circumstances.”

True, the Cryo Archon had seemed very positive regarding their partnership and the added aid of
the ex-Geo Archon, but this was still an unsettling complication.

What if she asked Childe to choose again, without the veiled guise of teasing?

“If you are concerned,” the Adeptus began, seemingly pleased with the ivory silks weighted along
the sleeve of his arm; Childe dropped a large sum of Mora onto the table without hesitation,
“please feel at ease; she has long-been prepared for my possible interference.”

Childe baulked.

“Pardon?”

How would the Tsaritsa expect Zhongli to deal with Scaramouche, when Childe himself had
planned to keep the Adeptus in the dark over the entire ordeal from the beginning?

“…” The god had the nerve to look surprised by his sudden slipup; staring back at Childe’s face,
hardened into one of consternation, Zhongli sighed.

“I had many concerns during our prior encounter with the Cryo Archon. We discussed my various
apprehensions, including what should happen if I were to become more… involved. In many
aspects of your life, Fatui-related subversion included.”

If it weren’t for the way so many eyes were keeping tabs on the lovely Liyuan gentleman in ochre
and his suspicious, wealthy Fatui companion, Childe’s voice would have been much louder when
he exclaimed, in the most crowd-friendly tone possible, “So what you’re telling me is the meeting
you two shared that day—where you told me you had come to some sort of understanding—was
on the subject of the two of us, possibly, if the chance arose…”

“The details are unimportant.”

Another two shopkeepers were blessed by Zhongli’s “generosity” as Childe followed the man like
a dumbstruck fool; he tossed coins to a burly spice seller, whom Zhongli declared to have a
 complex comprehension of differing, yet complimentary flavors, as well as a confectionary stand
with sweets crafted out of crystallized fruits. The Adeptus inquisitively asked for several, one of
each color and texture.

Slowly, other curious shoppers eyed his purchases and followed Zhongli’s lead, wanting to acquire
a sample of his refined choices.

Of course people would flock to him; he was Rex Lapis, the last Geo Archon to rule over the land
of Liyue, the six-thousand-year-old God of Contracts; Morax, the God of Wealth, who formed the
harbor where Mora flowed like the Bishui River.

The god who stole the young, brash heart of a Snezhnayan warrior and intended to preserve it like
a priceless gem.

“Just know that all of your uncertainties have been taken care of; this journey will be nothing short
of a proper vacation.”

Even with the attention of so many, the illustrious eyes of Cor Lapis, renowned and repetitively
cited in Liyue’s legendary tomes on the subject of Rex Lapis, fixated solely on Childe.

“You deserve nothing less.”

Love.

Childe was drowning in it; each strangled breath he took was painfully sticky with emotion, as if
the air was infused with the tangible evidence of Zhongli’s reverence.

And just like that simple stroll which took place almost a lifetime ago, when Childe had only just
begun compiling his understanding of how Morax, Rex Lapis, and Wangsheng’s Funeral
Consultant intertwined to make one such individual as the man standing before him, he was left
speechless.

Rex Lapis may have held the hearts of everyone in the nation of Liyue, his unquestionable loyalty
and indomitable strength forever worthy of praise, but it was Zhongli who stole Childe’s heart in
the center of the harbor; seized it without remorse, only to present the Harbinger with everything he
had ever wanted, ever dreamt of, in return.

He was left to accept the rare gift bestowed upon him in silence.

As Zhongli beckoned to him from a further-off stall, the sound of “Ajax?” echoing across the dock
and jolting Childe’s spirit, a small voice from within offered absolution:

Maybe I deserve this after all.

Chapter End Notes

So here we are. This officially marks the end of Weight of Gold. I'm ... feeling so
many emotions right now: relieved, proud, saddened, excited-- relieved to finally have
finished this incredible journey, my longest piece of writing; proud that I even finished
it in the first place and it actually panned out exactly how I envisioned it; sad because
it's over (even with the extras, the main story has closed, and wow, I didn't realize how
EMOTIONAL I would be); and excited, because I feel like I've done something great
 for a fandom I adore.

I started this fic out of a pure obsession with these two characters and an
uncontrollable NEED to give them a satisfying, incredible buildup to what could be a
sensational relationship. 5 months have passed. I started out with Raiden being the
only 5-star on my team, to now maining a beautiful Childe and a C4 Zhongli. What
even happened?

Above all, I'm grateful. So, so grateful. This got so much more love and adoration than
I ever thought possible, and I've gushed and cried over the art, fanmail, and all of your
lovely comments. Having written this at a time where I felt late to the Genshin party,
I'm flattered by the attention this has gotten. Thank you to every single person who
ever gave this fic a chance and actually read all of my brainrot. It means the world.
I've made so many friends and have met so many incredible people, and just... ahh,
here I go. I'm going to be incoherent by the end of this.

I hope you all are safe during this terribly difficult time for the world, and that this fic
can bring, and has brought, at least a little bit of happiness. That's all I ever wanted; to
share my passion for the Geo God and the Eleventh Harbinger with others.

There will be extras written, more stories posted, and new fics already in the making. I
am not done with my favourite duo. Not by a long shot.

Thank you all for being the most incredible readers <3 I await crying with you in the
comments.

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