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Chapter Text

Ajax's mother hummed with a smile. She sat on her armchair in front of a large fire, the small ginger sitting on the floor in front of her as she braided a small section of his bangs, tying it with a string the same color as Ajax's eyes.
Their house was cozy; like the rest of the houses in the quiet village of Morepesok, theirs was small, but filled with warmth. A nearly constant fire crackled in the main room, with two armchairs beside the fireplace and a thick carpet on the floor. In the corner there was a crib made of thick pine wood, where, at the moment, two twins lay fast asleep - these were Teucer and Anton, the newest arrivals to the household.
On one armchair, as mentioned, was Ajax's mother - she was a strong woman, short and burly, chubby but with arms like a warrior. She was bundled up in a warm dress and a shawl, to stay warm from the harsh Snezhnayan winter. On the floor in front of her was Ajax himself, a small child of twelve, with ginger hair as messy as the pine forest just outside their home, big blue eyes shining with life. In front of him, on an armchair clearly too big for her, was his sister Tonia, watching her older brother and mother with a sleepy look on her face.

Ajax leaned into his mother's warm hands as she tied back his hair into a short, fluffy bun. "Ajax.. When you grow up, you'll be such a handsome man." his mother smiled. She had a pair of dimples that only showed when she smiled. Ajax loved her dimples because he had a pair exactly like hers.
"My, my.. You'll be the strongest and most handsome in Snezhnaya" the woman continued, shutting her eyes. "I'm sure you'll find a good, strong wife, and you'll look after Mama and Papa, won't you?"
Ajax nodded, turning to face his mother, his freckly cheeks red from sitting in front of the fire. "I'll look after Mama and Papa, and Tonia and Anton and Teucer too!"
Then he tilted his head, "... do I have to find a girl to take care of you? Why can't I do it by myself?"

Ajax's mother chuckled. "Oh, Ajax.. Marrying a girl has nothing to do with looking after us- but it would make your mother happy to see you happy and taken care of too, and maybe you'll give us grandchildren to play with.. wouldn't that be nice?"
Ajax pouted, shrugging. "I guess so..."
"Ah." his mother shook her head, then leaned down to pick up her son, pulling him up and onto her lap. "You still have a long, long time to find the right girl though, so don't worry, mm? Me and Papa only met when we were already all grown up!"
The boy nodded, leaning his head on his mother's shoulder.

SIlently, in his mind, he promised himself he'd find a good woman to marry, and that he'd look after his family, and make his Mama proud.

-

Growing up, Childe had no interest in girls. They never seemed to be interested in him, either.
After being thrown out of his house and sent to the Fatui, Childe had grown into the kind of person you don't want to bring to a bar. He was reckless, loud, completely oblivious to any external cues of how to behave, and had little experience of life outside of the Harbinger's brutal training regime.

By the time he was 17, Childe decided he had to start making an effort, or he'd be cast out of society like the rest of his team. And he didn't want that. He had a promise to keep.

The Harbinger would often tag along with his subordinates, hopping from bar to bar when he wasn't busy. All the local taverns knew him, and he made a great effort to keep up his reputation - over time, he crafted a mask specifically for occasions like this. Childe was an expert at handling his liquor, and could drink an impressive amount of Fire Water before even feeling tipsy - all the regular bar attendees knew him as cheerful, a constant 'life of the party' type of guy, who offered drinks to any lonely fellow that caught his eye. Most people almost forgot he was a Harbinger to begin with.

He tried his hand at romance a few times, too. But that never went as well as he had hoped.

Childe had no interest in romance. Or - to phrase it the right way, Childe had no interest in romancing a woman. For as long as he could remember, he had never felt any desire to get "up and personal" with a girl.
He made a promise to himself, though, and he was willing to do anything for his family.
So the Harbinger tried, again and again, to buy drinks to the lonely ladies at the taverns. He'd look in their eyes, smile, ask about their life. Compliment their hair. Ask about their outfit, 'is that coat leopardskin?', he'd use his honey scented words to capture their hearts.

It was all scripted, planned, predictable. It never went anywhere, though.

Nothing ever lasted more than a one-night stand - no woman wanted to settle down with a Harbinger, much less one that was infamous for charging into battle like a rabid animal.
And even if his reputation didn't get in the way, Childe had no idea what to do beyond the flirting stage. He never felt anything towards the women he courted - he grew bored of them soon, and they all ended up dumping him, complaining that he was emotionless, confusing, a liar.

This didn't discourage him, though.
He'd try as many times as he needed - he promised himself he'd do anything for his family. And his family wanted him to get married.

-

The crisp ocean breeze stung Childe's nose as he looked out from the bow.

'Dear Mama, dear Tonia,

I'm boarding the next ship to Liyue tomorrow, at the break of dawn. I have warm clothes and food, and writing material. I promise I will write to you as soon as I get settled in at our headquarters. I believe I'll be staying at a bank?
I'll send gifts for you and the boys - I am safe and well, and hope you remain like that as well. Look after Father while I'm away. I will return home as quickly as I can.

With love,
Your loyal knight, Ajax.'

The Harbinger thought back to the letter he'd left on top of the kitchen table. He smiled at the thought of his family, sound asleep, safe and warm in their home. He was sure they would be alright - he'd send money often, and Pulccinela of the Harbingers had promised to keep an eye out for them as well. So Childe relaxed, snuggling into his thick scarf - it smelled of his mother, and made him smile a little wider.

The trip was boring and uneventful - for the first few hours, Childe had tried (really, he did try) to sit still and read a book. Something titled 'Rex Incognito'. He reasoned he should learn about Liyuean culture before his arrival, anyways.
When that proved to be too boring and when his legs began itching for movement, Childe stood and began pacing the ship. Back and forth he went, bundled in a wooly coat and a beanie a little too big for his head. He tried counting the icebergs that faded from view as they got further away from their homeland. He tried making conversation with a seagull that soon abandoned him.

Childe was growing restless, and the more restless he grew, the deeper he sunk into his thoughts. He grumbled, sitting back down on the floor, crossing his arms much like a fussy child.

What would he do once he arrived in Liyue?

Childe stared up at the blue-gray sky above. First, he'd get settled - if need be, he'd change clothes. He had heard that Liyue was hotter than Snezhnaya, but just how hot?
Then he'd take the liberty to explore the city - he needed to get used to its layout for maximum efficiency, he reasoned. (In reality, he just wanted to explore this foreign city like a child visiting another country for the first time.)
Once he'd taken in the scenery, Childe would visit the nearest tavern or bar, and get a taste for Liyuean alcohol and the people living there. He had always defended that the best way to judge the people of a country is to watch them get drunk, and see what happens.

"If I don't tell anyone I'm a Harbinger, maybe I'll finally get me a wife." Childe mused, then snorted. The idea of getting married sounded completely stupid to him - outlandish, even. He couldn't imagine himself settling down into a cozy little home when there were still battles to be fought, enemies to be decimated-

'Although..' he shut his eyes, breathing out a sigh. 'I suppose it'd be nice to have something to come back to after a fight. Someplace that isn't the Fatui headquarters..'

He entertained that thought for a moment. The trip was taking long enough anyways, so Childe indulged in his little daydream. He imagined himself, coming back from a thrilling fight, and opening the door to a warm cabin. He imagined the warmth that contrasted the snow he'd just emerged from - he imagined the smell of food, soup or bread or maybe even seafood, coming from the kitchen, and smiled.
Then he tried introducing someone into the scenario.
He pictured a woman, with strong arms, as tall as Childe himself, welcoming him home. He frowned a bit. No, that wasn't what he wanted. It looked out of place in his mind - why, he didn't know. He assumed this must be the norm for soldiers returning home, to be greeted by their wives, right?
He sighed. Letting his mind wander, he let his thoughts start over, from the beginning. He pictured the strong wooden door, he imagined pushing it open and feeling the gust of warmth from inside the house. He imagined the smell of dinner waiting for him, and this time, he didn't force the image of a woman at the door.
He pictured an old friend of his - someone he knew from before his Harbinger days - a man with long hair, as dark as stone, welcoming him with a warm hug. Childe instinctively squeezed his coat, imagining the comfort of his friend's arms.

Oh. This felt much more.. right. This is more like what Childe wanted.

The Harbinger opened his eyes, scrunching up his nose.

'Ridiculous. What would Mama think if I brought home a guy?'

Chapter Text

The first week of settling in is always the hardest. Even for a seasoned Harbinger like Childe.

On his first day, the second he'd stepped out the ship and onto Liyue harbor, he realized that despite his planning, he'd made a terrible mistake when packing clothes for the trip. The Liyuean heat clung to his thick shirt like a vicious slime, making him sweat a little more than he cared to admit. Childe immediately unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt, hoping for a slight breeze to alleviate him. Thankfully, the seaside did carry a soft wind that worked - at least for now - to cool down the very innapropriately dressed agent.

Undeterred by this minor setback, Childe walked up the stone stairs that led up to the flourishing city, staring with wide eyes at the sights in front of him. He'd long abandoned the rest of the Fatui that came with him back at the harbor, merely taking his own bag and setting off to explore the city while he could. He tried to pass it off as a patrol, 'assessing your surroundings' kind of ordeal, but the childlike wonder inside of him burned bright at the new scenery before him.
Brightly-colored stores littered the streets at every turn, a blur of yellows, ocre and reds everywhere he turned - a jarring contrast to the snowy whites and blues of his homeland, but there was nothing Childe found more exciting than brand new visuals, the possibility for new battles he was yet to fight.

The Harbinger skipped through the city, backpack slung over one shoulder, shirt unbuttoned down to his chest, Fatui mask tugged off to the side of his head. He stopped at every store he found, quickly questioning the owners, happily exploring this new territory until the sun began descending on the horizon.

-

"Welcome-"
"What do you sell here?" The ginger asked expectantly, eyes wide, grin even wider. The woman over the counter blinked in surprise, then smiled back in a practiced manner, the way shopkeepers usually do.
"We sell precious stones and other treasures handed over to us by the Adventurer's Guild. Are you interested in buying?"

Childe studied the woman's wares, beaming. He picked up a number of unfamiliar stones, turning them over and studying them, holding them up to the setting sun. The piece of Cor Lapis in his hand reflected the light, turning the stone a fiery amber color in a way Childe had never seen before.

As he stared the stone over and out, the woman chided at someone behind Childe, immediately brightening. "Ah! Welcome, Mr. Zhongli!"

The Harbinger glanced up from his stone as a tall man - a few centimeters taller than himself - stepped over, a calm smile on his face. Brown hair with orange tips framed a high, elegant face, thin eyes accentuated by red eyeliner.

"Good evening, ma'am. I only came by to see if you have anything new."
"That we do!" The woman smiled, cheerier than ever, motioning the man over to a spot near where Childe was. "We just got these Cor Lapis pieces, from an area at the edge of the Chasm- they are of excellent quality, and one of our experts said they might even be the finest we've had so far!"
The man nodded, studying the Lapis, apparently unaware of the ginger next to him. Childe stared at him from the side, studying the man's face up close. His nose has straight and elegant, giving him an air of royalty, and his hands, though hidden by leather gloves, Childe knew must be strong and able. In short - he was handsome.

Childe was snapped out of his sightseeing session as the man gathered a few of the rocks and smiled faintly, "I'll take these, if it's not too much trouble."
"Ah, not at all! You are one of our most avid customers after all." the woman gathered the stones carefully, wrapping each individually in paper before storing them in a bag. "I trust you brought your mora this time, though, Mr. Zhongli? Or will Director Tao pay for your bill again?" she asked with a playful tone.
The man - Zhongli - blinked twice, raising his eyebrows. In a slightly exaggerated manner, he looked through the endless pockets on his coat, on his pants, and even his waistcoat, then laughed. "Ah... My apologies.. It seems I must have left it at my office again.. I will ask the Director to pass through tomorrow morning--"

"I can pay" Childe piped up, before even realizing he'd done so.

At last, Zhongli turned to face him. He gave him a once-over look, taking in the details of his outfit before landing on the mask on his head. Then he tilted his head, "Ah.. Please, that won't be necessary.. You seem like a foreigner, you mustn't be so careless with your mora."
"Could say the same to you, sir" Childe raised an eyebrow. In truth, he had no idea why he'd offered to pay - but something told him this man would be a good ally in the future. Fatui intuition, perhaps.

"Please, young master, there is no need.. Our dear Mr. Zhongli here has a fantastic memory for everything except his salary, this is quite the common occurance" the woman laughed playfully. Childe would have taken it as an offence if this were Snezhnaya, but as Zhongli also chuckled, he held back. 'I guess Liyueans aren't so easy on the trigger..?'
"I was gonna buy anyways" the Harbinger pressed on, "Add this one to the bill. I have more than enough, I assure you." he smiled, searching in his bag before pulling out a temptingly loaded pouch of mora.

The woman blinked in surprise, but quickly returned to her calm shopkeeper smile. She packaged up the Lapis along with Zhongli's, labelling it so he could tell it apart from the others later, then handed them the bag of rocks. Childe gleefully gave up his mora, then smiled at the taller man.

"You didn't have to.." Zhongli smiled calmly, once again staring down the ginger as if inspecting a precious stone. Then he straightened his back, looking him in the eyes. "Have you seen the city yet? It's much more pleasurable if you have a local to guide you. Allow me to escort you back to your inn before it gets night, I wouldn't want a guest of ours to lose himself on his first night."
"I wouldn't mind getting lost. It's a nice city." Childe returned the look, eyeing down the brunette once more, as if to challenge him. "But I guess company wouldn't do me any worse. Do you know the way to the Northland Bank?"
"I most certainly do. Follow me." Zhongli raised his hand in farewell at the shopwoman, then began walking. Childe followed suit, right after grabbing the bag of rocks he'd just impulsively bought.

"Tell me, what is your name?"
"Tartaglia. But please, call me Childe. As in, with an 'e' at the end." he smiled. "You must be Mr. Zhongli then?"
"That is my name, yes. But please" he turned to Childe, expression calm, but his eyes betrayed a mischivieous glint in them. "You may call me Xiansheng while you're here."
"Xian... what?" Childe furrowed his brows. "What's that mean?"
"Xiansheng." Zhongli repeated slower, then sighed with fake disappointment. "Seems you have a lot to learn."

----

Childe lay on his back, arms behind his head, staring at the red ceiling above him. He could hear the shifting of the bank workers on the floor below as they prepared to close up for the night.

Contrary to popular knowledge, the Northland Bank had a set of rooms on the second floor reserved for workers and the Fatui alone. Childe, as a representative of their beloved (and feared) Harbingers, had been given the largest room, an elegant suite with a little bathroom attached and a window turned to the harbor, where Childe could watch the moon rising from the ocean, nearly hidden by the bright streetlights of Liyue.

"Xian..sheng.. sheng?" the word rolled awkwardly off his tongue, and Childe cringed at his own pronounciation, thinking back to Zhongli's honey-coated voice. Whatever it was that he was supposed to call him, the ginger was sure he was butchering it horribly.

He'd have to buy a dictionary or something the next day. Something told him it wouldn't be the last time Zhongli would present him with more inpronounceable words. Childe shuddered at the thought.

He sat up in his dark room, looking around. Childe had just barely unpacked everything he'd brought. His clothes, he realized, were all wildly inappropriate for the weather, so he kept the majority of it under his bed so as to not waste space in his wardrobe until the next time he went shopping. Other than that, all he'd brought were some weapons, mora, enough documentation to make even Pantalone cringe, and some food from home, of which now only remained some cookies and a few dirty plates that he'd forgotten to put away.

He suddenly remembered his family back home. Childe wondered how they were doing- he often left for days on business trips, yes, but this was the first time he'd be gone for months without visiting.
"I hope they'll be okay. I trust Pulcinella to look after them, but.."

He sighed, then pushed himself off of bed. He kneeled by his bag, taking out a notebook and a pen, then sat on the floor by the window, letting the moon and the streetlights illuminate the blank, empty page.

'Dear Mama, dear Tonia
I've arrived in Liyue Harbor. It's way hotter than expected, and I'm afraid I'll come back with more clothes than I started with. If this is Liyue, I don't even want to imagine the faraway deserts of Sumeru!
I have settled in safely though, so please do not worry. It's in our blood to complain, but a little heat never stopped me. Also, I met someone on my way to our headquarters who calls himself Zhongli. I trust we'll be good friends, and I can't wait to write to you about him.'

Childe blinked, hesitating. Maybe it was too early to call Zhongli a friend? Maybe he should scrap this letter and start over-
But then again, it would make his family happy to see him make friends. He decided to keep writing.

'How are you all? Is Father's illness any better? And how are my boys?
I want to hear everything you have to say. I've never been away this long, and I can't lie and say that I will not miss you all with my whole heart. But I promise I will do my job to get this over with as soon as possible. Until then, please take care.

With love,
Your loyal knight, Ajax.'

Childe held the notepad to his chest for a moment, shutting his eyes. Yes, he'd make his family happy. No matter what it took.

He stood up, folding the letter and placing it inside an envelope. He quickly scribbled out his family's address, then walked downstairs.
At the front desk, he greeted the woman working there, who nodded her head respectfully. "Good night, Master Tartaglia."
"'Night, Katya" Childe slid the envelope over the counter with a relaxed smile. "Do me a solid and deliver this to the postal office as quickly as you can, alright? Top priority."
"Yes sir. And refrain from calling me that. On business, it's Ekaterina." the woman replied coldly, taking the envelope.
"Yeah. But Katya is cuter" he winked.

Chapter Text

The warm Liyuean sun shone down on Childe's face, effectively waking him from his shallow slumber. The ginger blinked, eyes sticky from sleep, groaning softly as he turned his back to the window, pulling the blankets up until his nose, so if anyone came in they'd see nothing but a fluffy mount of auburn hair sticking out of a colorful quilt.

He had to get up. It was morning, his brain reasoned, time to get out of bed, get working, kill a couple hilichurls...

Childe groaned again, snuggling into the covers even more. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't get up. Not yet, at least. He wasn't prepared for what today had in store for him.

-

A few days earlier.

Childe paced the inside of the store - a large establishment focused on tourism, walls filled with photos of Liyue's landmarks with pamphlets attached, with cheesy, flashy slogans like "Guyun Stone Forest - a mythical boat trip you can't miss!", or even worse, "Nantianmen - a view you're sure to FALL for!".
Childe cringed inwardly, but refused to let it show for the shopkeeper's sake. He, of all people, knew how business made you do stupid things sometimes.

"Can I help you with anything?" the shopkeeper asked, thankfully in a language Childe understood.
The harbinger turned around, wearing his brightest smile, looking endearingly bashful. "Ah, I was just wondering if you have a dictionary? See, I moved in recently and I've been struggling here and there with the vocabulary.."

The shopkeeper beamed, nodding, "Yes, yes, of course, follow me, young sir!"
The man led Childe behind the counter, taking a few small books from a shelf on the wall, handing it to him. "Here- I'm guessing from your attire you hail from Snezhnaya, yes?"
"You have an astute eye."
"You flatter me, young sir. But yes, yes.. Here, the latest edition of the Liyuean-Snezhnayan dictionary- I'm confident this little book will get you out of any trouble you might find!"

Childe raised an eyebrow, weighing the book in his hand. It was small, small enough to fit in his bag, or maybe his pocket if he tried hard enough, but thick enough that he trusted its contents. He smiled, "It's perfect. How much for this?"
"That will be 750 mora!"
The harbinger placed a pouch of mora on the counter, pocketing the book. He thanked the shopkeeper with a smirk and a nod, who in return bowed and bid farewell to Childe.

As he stepped outside the shop, the warm sun illuminated the busy street before him. It was a nice scene to get used to, he thought - compared to the quiet, snowy streets of Morepesok, Liyue was constantly buzzing with an air of hard work, businessmen and children alike running from one end of the street to the other, vendors calling out all at once in an attempt to get more customers than the next. Childe walked through the busy streets cheerfully, caught up in the glamour of the city.

As he walked, he flipped through his newly acquired dictionary, eyes grazing the pages until he found what he needed.
"X... X... Ah!" he stopped by a small restaurant, leaning against the wall outside so he could read. "Xiansheng... Mister or teacher.. What the hell?"
Childe frowned, thinking back to his encounter with the ever elusive Zhongli. He'd given him this small mystery to solve, and now that he'd figured it out, it only left Childe more confused.
"Teacher my ass.. He didn't seem that old, there's no way..." he furrowed his brows, subconciously sinking down so he was sitting on the pavement, mumbling under his breath.

"Xiansheng... Xi.. no.. Xian.. sheng.."

"I'm afraid you're pronouncing it wrong. Forget that 'a', try pronouncing it as an 'e' instead."

Childe startled, shutting the book and looking up. He blinked, recognizing the elegant brown tailcoat and serene figure of his Mr. Zhongli, standing in front of him with a grocery bag in one arm. He smiled faintly, just barely visible.

"As.. as an 'e'? Then why would you write it with an 'a'?"
"It's not exactly at 'e'. It's a mix of both. But it might make it easier to pronounce." Zhongli bent over, opening the book again, pointing at the word that Childe was struggling with. "Go on, try it."
"Xi.. eh.. Xiansheng..?" Childe's ears felt hot from embarassment, syllables rolling awkwardly off his tongue. His shame only solidified when Zhongli smiled, standing up again, saying "Well, that's already much better. As I've said, though.. You have much to learn if you want to integrate into the city."

The man turned to leave, carrying his groceries, when Childe bolted upright, shouting "Wait!! Then- then can't you teach me?"

Zhongli turned, eyebrows raised only the slightest bit.

"Since.. since you're so insistent on me calling you a teacher.." Childe continued, shoving his tiny book in his pocket again, "maybe you could act as my tutor-? I'll pay whatever needs to be payed, finances are no problem to me-"
"I don't need your mora" Zhongli said simply, "but if you do want to learn.. I can never turn down a curious soul. How about we meet on the following weekend, at Liuli Pavillion for a small session?"
"We have a deal!!" Childe blurted out. The older man smiled, turning again. "It is settled then. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get going. The Director will have my head if I do not bring these groceries."

-

Childe rushed downstairs, still tugging his scarf-esque banner over his shoulders in a rush. It had been somewhere around four days since he'd agreed to meet Zhongli, and with Saturday afternoon rolling by, he realized he forgot something a little important.

"Katya!" he walked quickly to the front counter, the woman there greeting him with her usual cranky expression.

"Hello, Master Tartaglia. And it's Ekat--"
"Katya, I need urgent help. Very, very urgent." he leaned over the counter, hands clasped together, eyes wide and begging in hopes of the woman listening. She blinked coldly.
"What can I help with, Master?"
"Where the hell is Liuli Pavillion?"

Ekaterina sighed, slipping her senior a map. "It's just across the street from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. It should take you about twenty to fifteen minutes by foot from here to Liuli Pavillion. Anything else?"
"Katya, you're a lifesaver" Childe pocketed the map, then thought. "There's no like.. specific restaurant etiquette I gotta follow, right?"
"Why, do you have a date?" even when mocking him, Ekaterina's tone was as flat as ice.
"No-!! No, no, absolutely not, I just- I'm just meeting someone" Childe shook his head, "of course it's not a date- silly Katya!"
"So it is a date." she continued, rolling her eyes.
Childe groaned, gripping at his hair, "Kaaatyaa- It's not a date, it's just- It's a guy-"
"My Master's preferences are no business of mine. Is there anything else you need or not?"
The harbinger pouted, shaking his head as if to physically brush off her jabs. "N..no.. I think I'll be alright Katya.. Thanks.."

"At your service, Master." she paused. Then to Childe's surprise, the slightest hint of a smile showed on her face. "Have fun, young master. Don't stay out too late, or at least, be sure to have a convincing excuse for your report."
"What's that supposed to mean-?"

-

Childe hesitated, staring across the street at the restaurant he had agreed to meet at. Sudden anxiety gripped him as he realized he and Zhongli hadn't actually planned a proper day, much less time - he'd just assumed it would be today for dinner. For all he knew, Zhongli could not even be inside, and he'd make a raging fool of himself. Childe shuddered, shaking his head.

He'd just ask. If Zhongli wasn't there, he'd just walk back home. Maybe shoot a smirk at the waitress and tell her he'd be back tomorrow, something to distract the staff from his mistake. That seemed like a solid plan. Nothing he hadn't done before.
With a deep breath, he crossed the street.

Liuli Pavillion was lit by a few warm lamps outside, bathing the building in an air of comfort, of homeliness. The perfect atmosphere for a restaurant. A woman stood at the door, greeting the few guests who occasionally stepped inside with an elegant bow. When Childe came close, she smiled, bowing to him too.

"Good evening, welcome to Liuli Pavillion! Table for one?"
"Actually.. I was here to meet someone, I was wondering if you'd seen a gentleman with a brown coat? Brown hair, kinda orange at the tips, tall?" Childe chanced, forcing himself to appear relaxed, lounging on the stairs with his hands in his pockets and a soft smile.

"You must mean Mr. Zhongli! Indeed, he went inside already"
"Really--? How long has he been here-?"
"You're just in time, sir, he arrived merely twenty minutes ago!" the girl smiled, not sensing anything wrong. Childe nodded with relief, "Thanks. And he's inside, then?"
"Yes, you should see him right away. Mr. Zhongli is very particular when picking a table." she stepped aside, motioning towards the door.

"Thanks, girly." Childe smirked, stepping inside.

As he looked around the beautifully decorated walls, filled with old-looking paintings of dragons and deities, Childe couldn't wrap his head around how lucky he was that he had actually found Zhongli. He took a deep breath, summoned his confidence, and stepped out from behind the screen dividing the entrance hall and the dining area.

As soon as he did, he saw an empty table, the only thing in it being a tea set, and sitting on one end was Zhongli, drinking his tea quietly, completely absorbed in a book. Every once in a while, the corners of his eyes would crinkle as if in silent laughter, and he'd shake his head slightly in amusement, flipping the page.

"Oi, comrade!"

Childe strutted over to the table, pushing up a table and sitting next to the man. Zhongli, in turn, raised his eyebrows in surprise, setting down his book on his lap.
"Ah. I was not expecting you, Tartaglia."
"What?"
"I reckoned you would only wish to meet on Sunday" Zhongli smiled ever so faintly, picking up his tea again. "I must say, you surprised me."

Childe felt his cheeks burn with embarassment. So he'd just accidentally crashed this guy's dinner? How embarassing.

"Since you're here, though." Zhongli started again, looking at Childe over the rim of his cup, "We could just have dinner together today. I haven't ordered yet."
"Are you sure though-? I didn't mean to interrupt ya- I'll pay for dinner, how about it?"
"You sure are fond of buying me things" Zhongli smiled, "Thank you, though. Here, please look at the menu- I am more than familiar with it, but I'm afraid you might need some time to pick, yes?"

Childe took the menu that was handed to him, flipping through it. He marvelled at the dishes on display - every piece of cuisine seemed made of a piece of Celestia itself, and as he read through the ingredients, he couldn't help the way his stomach tightened with hunger.
Finally, his eyes rested on what he could only describe as the perfect dish - a bowl of warm soup with a plethora of seafood floating in it, from squid to shrimp. Childe grinned. shutting the menu, "Alright, I've picked."

"My, that was fast. You make up your mind easily" Zhongli observed.
"If only you knew. It runs in my family to be stubborn as a bull" Childe chuckled, oddly at ease in Zhongli's presence.

"I see." the older man smiled, then waved a waiter over. "The usual, Mr. Zhongli?"
"If you would, yes. And for my companion, here?"
Childe perked up, "Oh- Just a Prize Catch please. What can I get to drink that has alcohol in it?"
"We have some wine imported from Mondstadt"
"I'll take it"

The waiter nodded, bowed, and scurried off, leaving the pair of men alone once more.

As Zhongli quietly sipped at his tea, Childe watched him, lost in thought.

'My companion', he repeated in his head. He felt a warmth in his chest, smiling faintly. He liked the sound of that. Something about Zhongli made it obvious he was a good companion, too.

The older man carried himself with an air of elegance and superiority combined. The air of someone who effortlessly took the role of leader, who left no questions unanswered and no stone unturned. It reminded him of his superior, Il Capitano, but with an added gentleness that would have him mocked if they were in Snezhnaya.
With all the leadership he exuded, Zhongli also seemed extremely kind. His eyes were gentle and slow, as if he'd seen everything in this world or had the time to still witness it all. His movements as he drank tea - which Childe studied with keen eyes - were calculated, slow, something he'd done countless times before. It was a shame his hands were hidden away by leather; Childe wanted to study his hands too, see what kind of person he was. Were they rough? Calloused? Smooth?

"Do all Fatui generally stare so much?" Zhongli asked nonchalantly.

Childe stuttered, suddenly snapped out of his thoughts. He silently thanked the Tsaritsa as the waiter placed down their food, giving him just long enough to clear his throat and respond. "W-well- We are very observant folk. It's part of the job description." Childe smirked, then looked around the table.

"Ah.. Mr. Zhongli, where are the forks?"
"You Snezhnayans are very adept at comedy."
"What-?"

Zhongli handed a pair of chopsticks to the harbinger, "Here. I trust you know how to use them?"

"Uh..."

Zhongli shook his head, but his face showed no real disappointment. He shifted his chair, sitting closer to Childe, then gently reached for the young man's hands. "Here. Just hold them like this.. This one goes over your pointer finger.. There, exactly.. Try grabbing something."
Childe gripped the chopsticks. Shakily, slowly, like a youngster first learning how to eat, he managed to grab one of the tentacles floating in the broth. He grinned, victoriously holdind it up on display. Zhongli made a face that could only be described as dismayed.

"What? Did I do it wrong-?"
"It's not that, I just ah... I hate seafood.."
"... What do you mean you hate seafood?!"

Chapter Text

What a disaster. A complete, utter, embarassing disaster.

The memories flashed in Childe's mind, as if taunting him.
He'd dropped the chopsticks so often that not even a Liyuean child could compare, and Zhongli had leaned over on more than one occasion to discreetly wipe sauce and seafood off of his chin as he ate his meal like a man starved.
His manners were only made to look worse *exactly* because of the brunette sitting across from him; all of Zhongli's actions, from the way he held his chopsticks, the careful lean forward, even the way he *chewed* were perfect, surely practiced over the past twenty, possibly even thirty years -- in fact, Childe had tried to pry about his age, but Zhongli had only said he was 'begining to feel like an old man', which provided absolutely nothing to go off of.

Childe wanted to think he saved their rendezvous by paying off the man's bill, but in the back of his mind he could only imagine how embarassed his new companion must have felt.
It wasn't at all usual for Childe to feel embarassed of what others thought; he'd long since grown desensitized to it, he knew people disliked him for being a Harbinger, and he decided to make the most of it. But all of a sudden, with Zhongli, everything changed.

He imagined this proper gentleman, quiet and well-liked, with that scholarly aura of his, and imagined how awful it must have looked to see him sitting next to a Snezhnayan slob, covered in sauce and unable to even hold his chopsticks correctly.
His shame soured and turned into anger, as all his emotions eventually did, as the young soldier hiked up a mountain trail, ruminating on the events of last night.

The warm sun lit his way, and the landscape around him was breathtaking - it was no wonder many famous painters credited Southern Liyue as their unmovable muse, with its honey-colored mountain ranges and view of the ocean, glistening in the sunlight.
Childe surely would have appreciated this, maybe even wrote about it to his family, but his mood was only growing worse the further he walked. He trudged through tall trees, kicking small rocks if they dared disturb his march, focusing only on his closest surroundings, looking for something to let off some steam on.

Along his hike, Childe had found half a dozen small Hillichurl camps - no big nuisance, unfortunately, all things he dealt with quickly. Nothing that really helped sate his anger with himself, or his circumstances. He left a small trail of destruction in his wake, but not nearly enough to clear his head.

'Stupid restaurant. Stupid chopsticks. Stupid Zhongli.' He chanted in his head, stabbing away at a Hillichurl as it ran from him. He shot an arrow into its back leg, sending it limping away pathetically.
'Stupid scholar. If he wants to think badly of me, so be it!!'
And he began carelessly stabbing at a Hillichurl tower in a now abandoned camp.
'So what if he's embarassed of me? He wouldn't last an hour in Snezhnaya!!'
The fatui threw his blade on the floor and switched to using his hands, fistfighting the poor tower.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid!! He wouldn't survive a minute in battle with me!!!'

Childe finally stopped, wincing as the skin on his knuckles gave out from the beating. As he stood, catching his breath and staring at the slow stain taking over his gloves, the young man heard something moving a few ways away. His head snapped up.
From the sound of it, it was maybe a few meters away, just past some nearby trees. He heard weapons clashing, and suddenly forgot all about his injuries, his anger making way into excitement - as it always did, eventually.

The young soldier grabbed his weapons from the floor and began running towards the noise, slipping through the trees like a deadly predator honed in to kill. The sound of a blade clashing against something grew louder, and Childe finally hopped onto a stone in his way to finally get a clear look at his upcoming opponent.
His breath caught in his throat.

Surrounded by trees and stones as tall as pillars, was a clearing so well hidden, Childe had never even noticed it. In the center was a lean figure, with defined but slender muscles. They were wearing a pair of paggy pants and a sleeveless top, kicking a thin spear with almost exclusively their legs - it was more akin to a dance routine than a battle practice, their entire performance dripping with elegance. And yet, the way the spear came crashing down after each kick proved that hidden behind all that elegance, was terrifying strength.
And how could Childe miss the most incriminating detail, the long brown ponytail with golden tips that seemed to glow in the high sun of Liyue, fluttering around as the figure danced, playing the part of not hair, but an accessory in itself, like a handkerchief of gold, swaying in the breeze of the man's movements.

Childe stood petrified, watching as the man - Zhongli - performed his showing, unable to tear his eyes away from the flexing muscles, the air of serenity and the *deadly* precision with which he brought his spear down. The ache to get down there and fight, to experience that style up close - it made his mouth water.

"... You may stop staring. You're distracting me."

Shit. When had the older man stopped-?!

Zhongli stabbed his spear into the ground one last time and sighed, wiping his forehead. His skin shimmered with sweat, chest heaving, and something about it was so delightfully tempting, that Childe could barely hold back from getting a taste. (Of his fighting style, of course, he quickly corrected himself.)

"What are you doing, practicing for a dance recital?" came the ginger's teasing response as he slid down from his spot on the rock, and he gleefully made his way closer to the older man, stalking like a playful fox.
"Is that what it looks like to you?"
"Compared to the way we do it back home, yes. You're too pretty to be on the battlefield." the last part blurted out without Childe even registering it, and he flushed.

Zhongli chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm flattered. Although I'm afraid I have seen my fair share of battlefields, and would much prefer you take this as only a dance routine. I am honored you enjoyed it enough to watch until the end."
"What do you mean, fair share of the battlefield?" Childe piped in, eyes widening, "I haven't heard of any big conflicts in Liyue in decades, when was the last time you went up in arms? Surely you're not that old, to still be this agile?"
The older man blinked, taken aback by the onslaught of questions. Then he stammered, face flushing, "Oh, ah-- oh no, not battlefields, I'm sorry, I merely meant... commissions, from the Adventurer's Guild-- yes, yes, that's it!"

His answer was quite obviously suspicious, but Childe didn't realize it. He could only register Zhongli's flushed face, the little wrinkles at the corner of his eyes, that looked particularly gentle without their usual red eyeliner - like two pools of molten Cor Lapis, glimmering in the light.
His chest tightened, and he snapped back. Strange. Childe shook it off, and grinned, playing along, "Ah, I see. So you haven't ever been in an actual battle, huh? Shame, I would have loved to go up against you. You seem strong."

"Is this how you Snezhnayans cultivate relationships with one another? By fighting?"
"Oh-- somewhat. I like it more than most though." Childe's smile dropped slightly, "most people are too scared to go up against me, though."

Zhongli blinked slowly, then simply said, "We can have a sparring session this week, if you'd like. We can meet here."

Childe shot up, as if someone had sent a wave of Electro up his back. "Really-?!!"
"Yes. If you so wish it."

--

Later that night, Childe lay restless, unable to sleep.
Someone had actually agreed to spar with him. And Zhongli of all people!!

He stared at his ceiling, imagining the man's elegant movements, the flexing of his back, his lean arms. He imagined tossing him over his shoulder, getting toe-to-toe with the man, imagined his strained expression--
Just the thought of staring into his amber eyes gave him shivers, in the most thrilling way possible.
Oh, how he loved fighting. (Exclusively, he thought. It didn't matter that it was with Zhongli, of course, he was just excited about the fight. Which was partially true.)

Chapter Text

The rest of the week passed slowly, too slowly, painfully even, for Childe.
Him and Zhongli had bumped into each other the day after their chance meeting, and formally decided on a date for their spar; exactly a week after, to be precise, at the clearing where Zhongli usually practiced.

The older man had given him plenty of odd warnings;

“Childe, I must warn you, are you sure about this?”
(“Why wouldn’t I be?!”

“You’re quite the curious lad, I’ve never met someone so excited about fighting.”
(“What can I say, I like the thrill!”)

“Childe… Please be prepared, I don’t wish to hurt you. Shall I hold back for our first spar?”
(“What do you mean, ‘hold back’?!”)

“I do not wish to hurt you”, had said the older gentleman. That was the entire point, though, wasn’t it?

That night, Childe relished in the thoughts of what might happen; he wondered just how strong Zhongli was… the man looked slim from afar but well-built; he was agile and elegant, so surely brute force wasn’t his strong suit. And even if it was, Zhongli was an aged man, and Childe was young and full of energy, surely he could outrun him!
In a rush of energy, he stood and walked to his moonlit table, once again taking out his little notepad and pen, and began writing.

‘Dear Mama, Tonia

You will be pleased to hear I have a sparring session in a week from now!! I will be fighting with my new friend, Zhongli–

He hesitated, staring at the page. He could consider Zhongli a friend by this point, right? They were planning to spar after all.
He shook his head and continued writing.

‘-- whom I imagine is incredibly strong. I hope our fight will strengthen our bond, and maybe I can convince him to make this a tradition! Even monthly would suffice to keep your son happy.
I am adjusting well to Liyue, the heat does not bother me as much anymore and I’m growing fond of the menu here. Mama, Tonia, right now my heart aches to bring you and the boys to come see the city, and to meet Mr. Zhongli!

I shall write to you again after our spar! With love,
Your loyal knight, Ajax.’

Childe stared for a moment at the last few lines.

‘...and to meet Mr. Zhongli.’

Would his mother approve of the older man? Childe recalled that his mother was often skeptical at best of anyone he became comrades with, since most were fatui warriors, but Zhongli was not a fatuus, so surely it was alright!
Zhongli was, after all, calm and collected. He was gentle and educated, much more than Childe was for sure; he could ramble for hours on end about geology, history, literature, folklore, anything that crossed his mind. He had the look of a self-respecting gentleman, but would easily flush with embarrassment when a local woman complimented him on any trivial matter.

In short, he was the type of man that the village babushkas would coo over and offer their granddaughters’ hands in marriage to, much to everyone else’s embarrassment.

Yes, his mother would approve.

—

The days leading up to the spar were pure torture.

Childe’s thoughts were consumed by the countless opportunities and possibilities of what might happen. His limbs itched to fight, but each day seemed to pass even slower than the last.

Sometimes, he’d catch his soon-to-be opponent on the street. However he’d always feign being in a hurry, simply flashing Childe a smile and hurrying off, arms full of groceries.
Teasing him, Childe thought. He was purposefully avoiding him to create anticipation. And it was driving the young master absolutely insane.

For a week, all he was granted were fleeting gazes, the sight of Zhongli’s ponytail swishing past, and the occasional “Good afternoon, Tartaglia.” as he rushed past.
And the low timbre of his voice as he called out his name, so dismissively, like some sort of insignificant word with no weight to him, made Childe furious. Furious, because he craved more; he wanted Zhongli to treat him like a threat, at least!

Childe’s feelings were, in fact, very black and white. He was usually appreciative of Zhongli and his presence, but this sudden act of ignoring him turned his feelings on their head, and now, Childe felt like a wave about to crash, full of expectancy and barely-contained annoyance.

The young man was on the brink of going feral with anticipation by the time their scheduled date arrived.

As soon as the sun began rising, Childe stumbled out of bed, putting his clothes on with such energy that he nearly tripped over his own feet at least three times while pulling up his pants alone. Taking nothing but his vision and his room key, he ran down to the first floor and towards the door.

“And where is Master Tartaglia headed with such joy?” Ekaterina called out from the front desk, monotone as ever.

“Fighting!!” came the short reply as Childe stormed out, slamming the bank doors shut behind him.
Ekaterina sighed, organizing the pile of letters she planned on sending today on her master’s behalf. At least she would have a nice, calm day of errands, since he would be out all day.
‘Where do children get all this energy from… just thinking of going to the post office is already ruining my mood.’

—

The poor fatuus waited all day. He had expected to arrive first, but this was ridiculous. Insulting, even.
The morning passed, and Childe spent it warming up, running a few laps, fighting the air.
The afternoon passed, and Childe began to sulk. Had Zhongli forgotten him? Had something come up? What if he bailed out? Was he afraid after all, or did he not think Childe was worthy?
The sun began setting, painting the clearing in orange and gold hues, and Childe stood in the middle, pacing in a little circle. He turned to leave, when he heard a familiar voice calling out.

“Tartaglia, you’ve arrived.”

Childe nearly shot up.
“What do you mean, I’ve arrived?! I’ve been here since sunrise!!”

Zhongli finally climbed past some large rocks, entering the clearing. He was wearing some loose clothes that seemed to be traditional attire, and he pushed his hood off his head, eyes widening slightly.

“Since sunrise? Oh dear… It seems I left you waiting for much longer than I intended. I assumed you might still have errands in the morning. My apologies.”
“I cleared out my schedule for this, are you kidding?! I thought you’d bailed on me! I even thought you might have forgotten me-!!”

Zhongli shook his head, “I assure you I did not. My apologies, Childe. Next time, I’ll be sure to come early in the morning, if you wish.”

Although his voice was as deep and steady as always, there was a hint of genuine embarrassment as well, as though the older man’s apology was sincere. Childe sighed, shaking his head.

“Don’t worry about it, what matters is you arrived, eventually. Can we get started now? I haven’t been able to get a good night’s sleep with how excited I’ve been.”
“Yes, let’s begin. I can smell your impatience from here.”

Finally, finally the moment Childe had waited for all week had arrived!!

His hands itched with excitement, using his vision to summon his twin blades. His excitement finally came bubbling to the surface as he mapped out where he wanted to strike first. He was just getting ready to pounce at his adversary, ready to take his first step–

– when before he even had time to think, something slammed his face into the ground.

He hit the floor with a groan, quickly pushing himself up and twisting around. Zhongli had somehow hopped right onto his head and off again- there was no way he was that agile or light, right-?!
The younger man stumbled right back onto his feet. So what if Zhongli was faster and lighter than he anticipated? At least, he had already proven himself to be a good match. At least, not a boring one.

Childe charged at him next, one hydro blade pointed directly at the older man, only for it to clang loudly as it collided with a polearm.

‘Where the hell did that even come from-?!’

With each hit directed at him, Zhongli swiftly moved out of the way, his ponytail drifting along like a brown and gold tail, as Childe furiously stabbed at the air.
Aside from his initial move, Zhongli had seemingly opted for exclusively defensive moves, letting Childe thrash and attack wildly while he dodged, barely even blinking.
His vicious strikes fell on deaf ears - or a deaf polearm? - as Zhongli dodged, swiftly moving out of the way with nearly inhuman speed.

“Fight me, you bastard!!”

Childe shouted, kicking one of Zhongli’s legs in an attempt to unbalance him. The older man simply jumped over it, landing a kick straight into Childe’s chest, sending him tumbling backwards until he hit a rock.

The ginger coughed, gasping slightly for air. He moved slightly to get up, but Zhongli slammed the end of his polearm into the rock behind him, just next to his neck, successfully pinning Childe in place.
“You are incapacitated. I won. I told you to come prepared, but it seems you didn’t heed my warnings.” a faint, almost imperceptible smile graced his face, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Silly child.”

—

As the sun set completely and was replaced by a gentle moon, Zhongli walked the slightly battered fatuus back to Liuli Pavilion. The pair had stopped by the Northland Bank to fetch Childe a pair of clothes without dirt and blood, and Zhongli was once again in his suit.

Despite having lost the spar, Childe’s grin made it seem like he’d won effortlessly. He was holding onto Zhongli’s arm loosely as he followed the consultant, rambling excitedly as they crossed the brightly lit streets.

“...you know, you’re really remarkable!! You’re so agile, for a moment I even doubted you were human! Do you know of any nonhuman creatures in Liyue, Mr. Zhongli? And I don’t mean like hillichurls, I mean, something I can fight, or something that can fight back as well as you? Or even better, if you want to fight again–”
“Master Childe, are you always this happy to lose?” Zhongli asked with a faint smile.

Childe blinked, then shook his head. “It’s not because I lost, of course I’m unhappy I lost– but I’m so happy I found a worthy opponent!! Zhongli, I’m gonna have to train hard to be able to fight you again, which, can we? Please? I want to–”

“Wait.”

Zhongli stopped the pair in the middle of the crosswalk. He licked his now gloved finger and gently wiped some dried blood from Childe’s nose. Then he continued walking, as if he had never stopped.

“I’m afraid we will have to postpone our next spar until you are healed. I must apologize for going a little too harsh on you, young master.”

Childe’s face flushed, nearly as bright as the lanterns overhead. His head buzzed, still feeling the lingering cold from where Zhongli had wiped his nose, the phantom feel of leather, and the promise that they might spar again.

‘Postpone the next one. That means he considered fighting me again. That means I have a sparring partner!!’

—

Dinner went smoothly, for Childe’s standards. He was still having trouble with using chopsticks, but he was pleasantly distracted by Zhongli’s own rambles about geography and literature.
The more he stared at the older man in front of him, the more he *did* remind him of something inhuman. In a good way, of course.
Maybe it was his golden eyes, and the red makeup that emphasized them. Maybe it was his gentle demeanor, like that of someone who had seen the horrors of the world and moved past them with ease. Maybe it was just his general wise aura, his poise, his grace– everything put together, Zhongli certainly gave off an air of sanctity.

They parted ways after dinner, Zhongli affirming that Childe should rest, and if any pain persisted he should consult the local pharmacy. The young man affirmed he was just fine, and that a good night’s sleep should fix him up.

Childe’s bedroom seemed emptier that night, and he replayed the memories of his spar over and over, trying to find the pattern behind Zhongli’s attacks. Studying them, committing them to memory, to better counter them next time.
He fell asleep still with the memory of the consultant’s vicious agility in his mind.

And when he did fall asleep, he dreamt of a brown-haired adeptus, polishing a polearm on the mountaintops. A Glaze Lilly bloomed over his chest, yet he seemed unaware.