Chapter Text
“Kiddo! Kiddo no..!” His guardian lightly scolded.
“Your kid has a Vision???” Childe sounded happy and impressed ! Maybe excited even?
Pantalone hesitated on telling him but, sighed as he knew that it couldn’t be helped, nodding as a response. “Yes- but you can’t go around telling people.”
“Fine fine, but you do worry way too much!” Childe laughed, not even touching his cup of tea.
“So why is it a secret? Don’t want him to get any praise that’ll make him cocky eh?”
“You know that’s not what I meant!” The two Harbingers bickered at each other with little restraint while Bilal kept trying to understand what the conversation was even about-
What were they even arguing about? Were they mad at it? Had it done something wrong? Should it have not used their Vision to protect their Guardian?
It was so confused.. And with these new emotions for a person that had only just been born a couple days ago, it overwhelmed them entirely. Their lip quivering before they inevitably-
The tears start, it feels like it cannot breathe as their tears start sliding down his cheeks. It brings its own hands up to its eyes to try and rub away the tears that hurt its eyes. It tries to get another breath in, and it feels like it cannot breathe, so it starts to scream, feeling air leave its lungs. It can breathe...
Suddenly, its whole world is moving, as it opens its eyes-- it isn’t sitting on his guardian’s lap. It can see his face across the table. It’s- somehow- even more jarring to look up and see the taller man.
New tears form, but it feels like they can breathe now- tucked close to the taller man’s torso, supported by his arm. It’s new, but comforting as the man starts to gently wrap an arm under its legs to gently rock him.
The taller man starts humming as its eyes start to droop. It could take another sleep... It was sleepy, after all. and, its guardian told it not to attack the weirdo with the orange hair. Pantalone would be fine. It felt their eyelids slip shut, and accepted its nap.
Its previous dream was very scary. There was lots of screaming and swearing. They hurt... "Alhaitham?" The man in the mask was there, the one who showed up at Alhaitham’s home covered in blood. He was always smiling when Alhaitham was twisting and writhing, jerking erratically, often screaming until his voice gave out. It hurt to watch. It hurt to know this was what Alhaitham went through.
What hurt more, was knowing that they couldn’t communicate that clearly enough.
This nap didn’t have dreams, thankfully, that calmed it down even more than getting to ride on its guardian’s shoulders did. It made them happy. He couldn’t wait to play with Pantalone’s hair.
Wait he? Not like this really mattered, but he could try and fix it later if people got it wrong. There was time to correct. First he needed to learn, but he needed to try and talk first. The little sounds had been trying to figure out everything about this body. Speaking would provide a new way to try and navigate this confusing world.
When he woke up, they were inside the same area where he fell asleep. He was in his guardian’s arms, sitting on his lap. He looked up and couldn’t quite help when his hands got stuck on the man’s hands. “Ah- baaa~!”
“Yes, yes.” his guardian looked down, a soft smile on his face. “Did you have a good nap?”
“Pah-ssss,” Bilal was more annoyed that his words were so bad right now.
“Uh-oh.” Somewhere behind him, he heard that orange haired man who he wasn’t supposed to hurt start talking. “Looks like someone woke up grumpy from their nap~. I wake up like that too often, ehh~ Zhongli?”
Bilal could feel himself pouting outwardly in spite of the clawing of his anger in his chest and throat.. A gentle sound humming from somewhere until he realized-- it was himself. He stopped, his expression then started doing that again. “Mmmmm. Mmmm-mm?”
The tall man chuckled,- he was named Zhongli. “Is the word you are looking for ‘no?’ to reply to Tartaglia?”
Bilal pointed at Zhongli’s mouth, then tried to copy what he say, “mo!” then frowned.
Zhongli smiled, pointing to his mouth. “Look at my mouth again. MMM. NNNN. You need to open your lips for a different sound. Try it again.”
“Mmmmm. Maaaaaa.” Bilal frowned, then looked at Zhongli’s mouth. “Mmmm.” then frowned again, a little pouty.
“Try putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth and making that sound again. Then pull the back of your tongue back down until you get a sound that feels more in your mouth.”
“Mmmm. mmmmnnn! NNN NNN!!!” Bilal looked up happily at Pantalone who was looking down at him like he hung the moon and the stars. He looked back to ‘Tartaglia’ and started going “Nnno! No. No. No!”
Across the table, Zhongli chucked. “Another word you might like is a way to agree, or say yes is MMM-hmmm. Want to try that, so you can add to our conversation?”
Bilal nodded happily, “Mmm? mmm?” frowned and tilted his head, then tried again. “Mmm-hmm?” Then his mouth fell open in surprise as he looked over to Zhongli like he had presented him with a great treasure-- which he had to be fair.
Pantalone looked down at him with the soft smile that made him feel at peace. “So, did you have a good nap, Bilal?”
“Mm-hmm~!” Bilal’s answer seemed to make his guardian even softer. He looked like he was about to start crying. The way his eyes shone wobbly with the lighting of the room around them. Bilal tried clumsily to wipe the tears away before they fell, which got a chuckle from his guardian."No... no.. cwa ee..." (no cry.)
Unfortunately, this seemed to have the opposite effect that he wanted it to, as Pantalone’s eyes got ever more watery. "No cwy. No... nee fou tea-ooosss. No cwy. Juss t- t- taw ck wiss zzemmm." (no cry. No need for tears. No cry. Just talk with them.)
Bilal could feel the tears in his eyes start to form as he looked over to Zhongli,“Szzon’g wee, ta... tar-ta-we-ah. pa-na-low coo-eye.” (Zhongli, Tartaglia... Pantalone (is) Cry(ing).)
“I think it’s because you have surprised him in a way he wasn’t expecting. I'm fairly certain Pantalone was not expecting you to want to talk and engage in conversation compared to how you were before your nap.” Zhongli made sure to smile warmly. “Try giving him a few moments to collect himself. He will either cry or he will have to resume trying to talk Tartaglia out of a sparring match.”
“Spa?” Bilal tilts his head, unfamiliar with the word.
“Spar. rrrrr. Bite your teeth together and put only the sides of your tongue onto the roof of your mouth. Rrr.”
“Spa. rrr. Spa-rr sparr. Spar.”
Tartaglia finally chimes back in. “He is so quick on picking up new sounds, huh? Give him a few days and he might be talking better than I do.”
“Naw da...” (Not the...) Bilal paused and tilted his head as he thought, holding up a finger towards the conversation to indicate a pause. "Puh piss." (Purpose)
“Ah, but... He may still be overwhelmed even so, kiddo." The orange haired man smiled at him and gently wagged his finger. “Afterall, he is new to children in general. All the joys and all the sorrows that come along with caring.” There is a hint of a twinkle in those blue eyes as he turns to Zhongli before planting a kiss on his cheek.
“I not ‘Kid-Oh~’. Nemd Bih lil. Bih lel.” (I am not "Kiddo". (I'm) named Bi-lal. Bih-lal.) his face scrunches for a moment as he tries one more time. “Bilal. I Bilal.”
He feels it more than registers the words, Pantalone talking. “Yes. Yes, you are, my Bilal-Thais.” His eyes are still lined with tears, but he looks less like he is going to cry.
“No cwy. Just tah-h... wiss zem... and me.” (Don't cry. Just talk with them- and me. More remarkable things to be done than cry over words and associations.) Bilal says looking straight into Pantalones eyes. “Moh weh-mawk-bull fings t’ be dun then cwy over woods and a-sew-sea-A-shuns.” ([There are] More remarkable things to be done than cry over words and associations.)
Childe cuts in. “Big words out of such an inexperienced mouth. Do you know what they all mean?”
Bilal hums in approval again. “No... eck-sack deh-fin-ih-shuns. Buh cull you duh fine ‘till-ren’ ah da spot?” (No exact definitions. But, could you define "children" on the spot?)
Tartaglia laughs back. “I could give examples, but an exact definition would best be left to the EX-God of Contracts.”
Bilal looks over at Zhongli expectantly, who is busy side-eyeing and glaring at his partner. “You are such a piece of work, Lord Tartaglia.”
Zhongli sighs before he looks over to Bilal. “Most people would consider you a child. This is both because of your size and how you stick to the side of your guardian. Both of these factors feed into you appearing younger.”
Bilal stares even more intently at his mouth, absorbing all the new shapes and word pronunciations.
“I have worked with protecting children, who were often named directly in contracts, but if I was to propose a contract regarding the safety or a new curfew for children, I would likely define them as ‘young human(s) below the age of their legal majority and/or before the age of puberty’.”
Bilal looked over curiously, not overtly mischievous, “wha oh-we hue-mensss? Whah no... pup-peas or whop a fowrs? Whah nah hili-trull? Nah uh... awe-con?” (Why only humans? Why no... puppies or whopper flowers? Why not a hilichrul? Not (an) Archon?)
“The only contracts I have made in terms of monsters...” Zhongli replies with a tired smile. “They all exclusively involve culling the monsters. The other reason is because- for the better part of the almost 6000 years that Rex Lapis ruled- one focused on the wellbeing and safety of the humans in one’s lands. Many of the still upheld contracts are from well before the Archon War.”
Bilal nodded, pleased with this answer, then posed back. “Den, whab’ bough waces wike ... In-uh-zoo-ma yo-ka ee? Or Zoo-ma-roo Vull-puss?” (Then what about races like Inazuma Yokai or Sumeru’s Vulpas?) Bilal also looks over to the other people at the table, looking for an answer.“If nah include... den how pro-tec?” (If not included, then how (would they be) protect(ed))
Tartaglia looked over incredulously at the child, before Zhongli answered smoothly. “While they are guests, they are protected as any human would be, it is in the by-laws. If they were to move into Liyue, they would also be protected as a human, should a need arise that a particular need isn’t getting met, they would have to go through the whole bureaucratic process for specific legal protections. But, most are already covered in various bylaws. The Tainsheng has been working through some of the very human-centric wording to redefine the people of Liyue. Rewording laws that are older than some of the archons is not something most people would take on.”
Bilal nods, satisfied with this answer. Then, he looks over to Tartaglia. “Peas eck-spain ‘spar’. Deh-fine an’ ex-am-pulls.” (Please explain ‘Spar’. Examples and definition.)
Child smiles, it is more toothy and his eyes almost shine at the mention of ‘a spar.’ “Sparring, or rather fighting as a whole, is its own language. For me it is both a love language and the second language I learned. It's also a way to keep myself sharp. Sparring is akin to play-fighting or fighting for fun. People often pull punches... so strikes and attacks are not generally at full force. Sparring can be done with or without weapons, but I am competitive and haven’t ever stopped nurturing my own need to fight, not since I left home for the first time.”
Pantalone rolls his eyes. “You mean you have goaded everyone you know into a sparring match at full power and you could only get 4 of the 11 Harbingers to ever take you up.”
“Huh?” Bilal pipes up, titling his head to help get his point across in duplicate.
“The Harbingers? Or who has he goaded into fights?”
Bilal hums before settingling on, “Boff. Need t’ know moh.” (Both. (I) need to know more.)
“Pantalone, you gotta be careful with how much you share. He might be your child, but he is not with us...” Tartaglia still has that glint in his eye. “yet.”
“Jusss ta bay-sick-ss... no- ex-sack plans.” (Just the basics, not exact plans.) Bilal has been picking up speed with his syllables, but he is still speaking at about half the speed of even long-winded Zhongli's meandering pace while talking.
“Oh-ho!~ We are the sworn protectors of the Tsartisa’s will, her hands if you would go that far. It is an honor to see and stand amongst my fellow Harbingers- they have been recognized for their work within the Fatui- in carrying out the Tsaritsa's will. So, we've all been reassigned to work directly with the Tsaritsa to ensure her will be done. Though I could complain about how vague some of my orders have been, it is our job to figure out the how and then plan.” Childe’s little speech slid to a stop before he outed one his plans, restarting with something safer.
“We are granted almost anything we could need, from knowledge and martial power to money and the greatest minds we can find and recruit. I have had my fair share of department moves to better use someone's assets.” Tartaglia flashes a threatening smile after his initial answer. “My reason was for my loyalty and martial strength. Even before the additional power. To give up my name was such a small thing for what we now have access to.”
“Fank-oo.” (Thank you.) Bilal smiles over to Tartaglia. He looks up to Pantalone to make sure he has his attention before starting his next thought. “Rest-rhiss. Awe furr of em-er-gii. Won-ahh... run?” (Restless. Full of energy-- want to run?)
“Give us a little bit, we need to pay the check first” Pantalone flags down a waiter.
As the waiter walks up, Tartaglia cuts in “Could you put everything on my tab for the week? I’ll be over to pay it tomorrow. Could I also get two glaze lily cookies and two violetgrass cookies to go?” The waiter nods and disappears into the kitchen- for but a heartbeat- before walking back out with a small bag with a stamp of Tartaglia’s mask. “Oh perfect! You had them all ready to go! You guys are the best.”
If Pantalone didn’t know better, he would assume the other Harbinger’s smile was all for show. He knew that Tartaglia was different in that he meant what he said. He had almost missed that straight forwardness in all his time with Dottore and the other Harbingers. Almost.
“Alright! I need to go stretch my legs, and I heard someone else just echo that sentiment. Let’s get going so we can show you around Liyue and into some of my favorite locations just outside the city.” Zhongli took Tartaglia’s hand and leaned up close to his ear before Tartaglia started laughing. “No-nO! I am NOT taking them there. That is a place of battle now. Between me and the Traveler, we broke the first floor. I kind of wish to fight with them again. It was exhilarating to be able to really let loose like that.”
Pantalone could only stare in barely constrained horror. “You lost?”
“Handily. They were barely winded. It was amazing,” Childe’s eyes seemed to regain a glimmer of light as he thought about that fight. “They handed me my ass and were busy causing minimal damage to the structure with their skills. They are clearly much older than they look, like my Xiansheng. A real wonder at combat, too.”
A gentle chuckle from Zhongli pulls Bilal’s attention from the orange haired man. “Keep up like that and even I might get jealous.” There was an unspoken something that was shared between the two of them. “Ah, We’ll just have to talk about this in detail later. I’m sure I’ll have all your attention then, baobei.”
Bilal looked on at that interaction with curious eyes, not understanding everything that wasn't said. He knew there was more to this he was missing within those words, and so he turned the words over and over in his head as he walked next to his guardian. His hand held in Pantalone’s as they walked down the pier, Childe monologuing about something that had happened since their last meeting, Bilal more focused on the prior words and the underlying meaning.
He was only pulled out his thoughts about the words as he felt a gentle tug on his arm, indicating the group had stopped walking. He looks up to the group to see what was going on.
“You seem to be lost in thought, kiddo. Are you all good over there?” He wasn’t exactly sure who said that, he was still thinking about the double meaning.
“Jusst thee-king ‘bough the sec-on mean-ing of your words er-lee-er. It easier to rue-min-ate on the me-ning dan cree-ate new con-septs.” (Just thinking about the second meaning of your words earlier. It's easier to ruminate on (the) meaning than create new concepts.)
“One would think him a scholar with how he uses words.”
Pantalone cringed- nearly tensed up- at that, and Bilal could only summon a small ball of water in his hand to come to the defense of the one who helped rescue him. “No. Bilal. Not out in public. He is... partially correct. I just hate hearing it.”
“Awe, I promise a little fight in public can’t make MY reputation worse than it is. I’m dating a consultant of The Wangsheng Funeral Parlour, who is the right hand to the weirdest woman in all of Liyue. I’m- rightly- blamed for Osial and all of his destruction.” Childe puffs his chest out in pride for a moment, before Zhongli summons a spear and taps Childe’s chest with the haft just before it disappears into a fine dust of geo particles.
“I have challenged half of the Liyue Xinging to personal duels, most of which get turned down due to them having too much paperwork. I am very transparent in what I want from them. Should they fail to maintain piece...”
The lull in the conversation gave Bilal a moment to realize he had the wrong ‘peace’.
“I’d hate to see how that turns out for the Milileth who haven’t really had to fight for something. To protect is different than to fight FOR something. For your life, for honor, for victory.” The shine in Childe’s eyes seemed to glow the more he talked. “For your Gods.”
“And if you do that, then I will have an obligation- by contract- to turn my blade against you. To really let Xiao have his way with your trachea. And I do love getting to hear you Blaspheme more than Xiao ever could.” Zhongli has clearly had to think about this before.
“But an all out no hold bar duel with an Archon? A chance to see if I might be as strong as Colombia? Strong as Dottore?” Childe’s eyes finally, fully, sparkled.
“I love how your eyes sparkle like Noctulious Jade when we talk about fighting, but we are in polite company.” Zhongli gently scolded his boyfriend. “It is rude to talk about such things in their company. As sure as I am that Bilal would love to hear about everything we do in our spare time, I still think him too young to be hearing of any exploits we might partake in or have partaken in.”
“Tar-tag funny! Zong-li not Archon.” Bilal giggled.“He is juss a man. May have been, but he miss somefing- still act like he halve power, may have more than us come-bind. But he is now juss a man." (He is just a man. (he) may have been [an archon], but he is missing something- [he] still acts like he has all the power, may still have more than us combined... But, he is not just a man.) Zhongli’s eyes seemed to sparkle a little bit at that, a wobbly sparkle. Zhongli kneels down to his level as he- “Oh no... doe cwy.” (Oh no... Don't cry.) Bilal was about to learn what it really meant to be a Sympathetic Crier, and he was about to hate every second of it. “You make me cwy, too. So... rwude.” (You'll make me cry, too... So... Rude.)
“My plans were never anything so sinister.” Zhongli let the tears fall down his cheeks. “Very few have been able to look past my history and everything that has happened. I think I can count on one hand everyone who treats me like just a man. You just helped soothe a wrinkle I thought was set in stone.” Zhongli kneeled down to him, at Bilal eye level. “If you want to take a break over at the funeral parlor, I have an office where we can both go cry together, let these two go to Childe’s office to work out all their big fancy Harbinger stuff.”
Pantalone piped up. “I would rather be able to help keep an eye on him. Nothing against you nor Tartaglia regarding him. I have just only gotten overly attached compared to my work with and for the Doctor." Pantalone gently reaches to stoke Bilal's cheek. "I am almost itching back and forth to see about setting up another branch of Northland in Sumeru, and I know a couple people-- Tartaglia, we need to go to your office to start drafting a few documents.”
“Oh? Finally gonna tell us what’s up? With you and the kiddo? I’m almost surprised that the Tsaritsa hasn’t sent me new orders with how close we’ve been geographically-- To check up on you.. Then again, she does trust us to see through our orders as needed.” Tartaglia cast a single hurt glance over to Pantalone. “Guess It’s time to get back to work. We haven’t even had a good debt collection all week. I could honestly go for anything to do!”
“Fine, I need to head to Northland Bank. I want to grab a quick snack for him in case he gets hungry while I’m drafting these documents.” Pantalone is already walking towards the square.
“Whanmin?” Zhingli and Childe ask at the same moment, then laugh together gently. Their minds are already in sync about where to get the best food.
“If it comes so highly recommended that you both think of it off the top of your head, then yes. I would rather it be faster than another place to sit and eat. I need to get these documents drafted and brought back to the old Scribe before day’s end. I might be able to work with a standing... But, if we can get word that The Scribe agreed to it, it will get me out of his house sooner-- Unless!” Pantalone snaps his head up. “One of you will lead me- oh, please. I am working on something else. I’ll pay you back for what you put on your tab, Childe. Have fun hanging out with him today.”
“Ah, and here I thought the two lowest ranking Harbingers might just be on friendly enough terms for me to just buy some treats for you. I’m heartbroken, my dearest colleague.” Childe's smile made it clear he was lying. This was all in jest, something he found funny.
“Off we go. I will need to get these drafted before noon, I’ll need to head out after they are drafted to get the approval of the old Scribe- out on indefinite medical leave- and then the Acting Scribe- newest pain in my ass- so that we can hire on and out a Sumeru branch for Northland. Hurry up or I'll start drafting these documents on napkins, there is only so long I can hold both sets of terms in my head.”
“Zhongli, can I trust you to take my guest to the Northland and to tell Ekaterina that he needs my office.”
“I shouldn’t take too long to draft this. I trust you to NOT take Bilal out to kill machines of Khaenri’ah and monsters. Wherever you go, make it quality. I know you hate feeling like you're being used, but I have to get busy. This will be a long night coming. You may have the truth by the end of the week... Should she accept my reasons.” In all his years, he had never doubted the Tzaritsa’s will nor her motives. And here he was, assuming he was about to be struck down for High Treason... Something that he probably should be.
“She will or she won’t.” Childe put his hands back into his pockets as he walked off. “She is most often just after the truth between her children and her people. We are agents of her will, ones given great power and greater even: Her trust. Anyway, just snacks and receipts?”
“Yes. That will be plenty.” Pantalone turns expectantly towards Zhongli as he picks up Bilal. “I’m going to be busy for a while. Once I get into the office you’ll be free to go run around in town with Zhongli and Tartaglia. If you find Alhaitham, Kaveh, Tighnari or Cyno, then you can also hang out with them. I doubt the Scribe and Architect would want to play though. I want you to have fun while I am working. My job shouldn’t take more priority for you over having some fun while you are still so young.” Bilal could only hum along in agreement as he was set back down. “Don’t get too hung up on me. I will be safe, I am just doing paperwork, my little one. Go have some fun in Liyue Harbor while we are here.”
Bilal reached up to place a clumsy kiss on Pantalones cheek. “Stay safe. In town. Have fun. My missin’!” (Stay safe, in town. Have fun. [that is] my mission)
“Sure kiddo, your mission is to go have fun out in the harbor with Tartaglia, and to get any receipts for things he decided to buy for you.” Bilal nodded as he waved to join Tartaglia. “Now, we need to get to the bank sooner rather than later. I need to get this shit started last week. I am not going to have fun with this cover up.”
Childe was ever the good big brother, a wonderful tour guide when he had the time. He knows what kids like to do in their free time. And that one was as simple as ever. To be taken as seriously as an adult, to be given autonomy and having some rules explained. “So? You're on a mission for Pantalone, huh?”
Bilal looked up to the Harbinger, his look much more calculating than someone his age should be. “Self uh-sigh’d missin. Goin’ to hang out wiff you for a while. Have fun in da har-bur. Den... find some where quite t’ reed. Want Book Dime.” (A self assigned mission. Going to hang out with you for a while, have fun in the harbor. Then find somewhere quiet to read later. (I) want book time.)
“Got it, got it. Quiet spot in the harbor to read, huh? I’m not gonna pretend to be an expert on that.” Childe couldn’t help but be truthful, not like it would cause REAL issues with his job. “I am much more interested in running around and causing trouble than I should be. I don’t have the best public image because of it, but there are seldom few things that could make it worse due to that. Many here see me as a young troublemaker with too much time and power.”
Bilal nodded, he could see where they got that from him. “Bee-ing straight fore word has it sewn perks too.” (Being straightforward has its own perks too.)
“Yeah, alright. Fair enough. I'm thinking we should go see what cool things all the booths have today. I know a fair few of the owners and who might have some nicer things to enjoy.”
Bilal nods as he reaches up to grab the harbinger’s hand.
A smile blooms across as Childe takes the small hand into his. “I’m thinking we should loop by Granny Shan, see if she has any cool toys that look interesting, then head on over to the booths by the harbor. See if anything strikes your fancy, then back to the bank to see how Pantalone is doing with his thing. Maybe steal a kiss... hmmmm”
Bilal giggles and nods his head as the two start walking off towards Childe’s favorite toy seller in all of Liyue- Granny Shan. Her booth has the normal kites and small carved and painted wooden figurines, nothing that calls to Bilal.
“Not even a small statuette of Rex Lapis?” Childe gently suggests, eyeing it up for himself if not for Bilal. He can easily put in an order for another one to be made and pay a little too much. Granny makes toys that last.
“Eye rather have uh-pep the Den-dro drag-in. No leg. Lots uh leaf and vine along da body.” (I’d rather have an Apep- the Dendro Dragon. No Legs. Lots of leaves and vines along their body.)
“Hmmm-- Granny? Do you have the time to rush an order for a custom soft toy?” She nods as she turns on her stool to look over at the pair with a smile. “I would like a Green Rex Lapis Plush without legs, but lots of soft leaves and vine.” She nods and pulls out a small board and a paper as she quickly draws up a design and shows it to Childe. “Ah, It’s gonna be for this kiddo right here.”
Bilal scoots closer to see the details. Granny Shan hands him the paper to make any needed changes, which he is quick to make notes on the side in a beautiful and crisp script, adding smaller details and changing certain features to better fit. Once he is satisfied, he passes the paper back to her with a little bow.
“Hmm. This would take me a few hours- less if I start from one of my other Rex Lapis Softies. I would be more than happy to have it finished by dinner...” She trails off in thought. “If you give me longer, I can make it exactly up to these specifics. That would take me a few days though.”
“Ah, I can swing by to pick this up later in the week for better quality. It is a present for something big he did, and I would rather it be something everyone is proud of- to have made and to receive.” Childe smiles as he reaches out and catches Bilal hand in his. “We can make it a normal order if it won’t be ready before dinner- he needs to be back to his papa before dinner time. They have big plans to celebrate. I’m just here to help keep him busy.”
Granny Shan smiles and laughs, gently passing a paper to Childe, who nods and writes out a check for her. “Do have fun today. Make it a day worth remembering fondly, children.”
Bilal looks up to her. “uh course, Ma’am.”
The two start walking away from Granny Shan, Bilal fidgeting with Childe’s gloved fingers. “Ready to head on down to the Harbor Booth Area? They usually have some cool things down there.”
Bilal looks up at him and nods and hums in approval.
“You seem to pick up everything so quickly. That is amazing. Any other big rule we have to follow so Pantalone doesn’t try to skin me and use me as a rug” Tartaglia’s grin is toothy. The way his face tilted down make him look just a little bit like the Comedy Masks used in theaters.
“Wouldn’t you’s you as uh rug. Wood make ewe into sum-fing much wess pity. Pwiddy. Leh-thers are more prac-tick-all s’well” ([He] wouldn’t use you as a rug. [He] would make you into something much less pretty, leathers are more practical as well.)
“Ooo scary, he might really be your papa.”
“He deh won raise-ing me? No?? Shape me as uh per son and train me in skills to thribe and sur-bibe- shape my beliefs and values.” (He is the one raising me, no? Shaping me as a person and training me the skills [needed] to thrive and survive alike. Shaping my beliefs and values.)
“You have a sharp tongue there kiddo. I might even say it’s silvered.”
“Sill Verd Tongue? Wha mean? It new it-EE-uhmm.” (Silvered Tongue? What [do you] mean? It [is a] new idiom.)
“Silver tongued persons are usually people who are INCREDIBLY good at talking, have a way with words. Too many people use the word too lightly- not sparingly enough for my tastes. Pantalone has strength to back up what he says, but he is the kind of person who is truly silver tongued.” Childe trails off as he stops on the little walkway bridge and watches the mountainous spears of the archipelago over the water of mountains.
“Whah-ee?” (Why?) Bila also walks up to the railing and releases Childe’s hand to hold on to his pant leg just below the looser fabric of his pocket.
“He is the first of the Harbingers to step up to negotiate and trade. He makes many of the things we do possible with money from his own pocket or by turning over the economies where he is staying to play the markets like fiddles. He will also always try to de-escalate and talk down the Harbingers when fights are about to occur. He is half the reason why I haven’t fought Collumbia. His words carry weight akin to how Morax’s did here.”
“Fankoo, uh-genn. Ex-pan-ations help watts for me to get uh under stand-ing of da world around me. I feel boff out of my depf and wike a fish in’a wad’er at da same time.” (Thank you, again. Explanations help lots for me to get an understanding of the world around me. I feel both out of my depth and like a fish in the water at the same time.)
“Like a giant horned whale floating in a sea of stars?”
“Uhhh...?”
“Yeah ok, that one's on me.” Childe pushes himself off the rail as he spins on the ball of his foot to look up to the cliff behind them. “So, how has Panatalone been treating you?”
“We boff pro-tec-tive of ee-ch oth-her. He save me from wha... Da? Tore? Plan for me. An’ I save him from dat fff-week.” (We [are] both protective of each other. He saved me from what ... Dottore? [had planned] for me. And, I saved him from that freak.) Bilal is moving his free hand like he was monitoring the pitch and rhythm of his voice. His hand bounding with each syllable.
“Is he kind to you? Does he treat you with respect? Does he cower everytime you move your hand a little too fast- scared of a blade that isn’t there?”
“No fear. Takes time to be ll-ess pro-tective... ‘specially wiff how’re ‘lation ship started.” (No fear. [It] takes time to be less protective- especially with how our relationship started.) Bilal switched from bouncing his hand with the syllables to rubbing his thumb along his pointer finger slowly. “He do his besT.”
“You didn’t answer the first half there, kiddo.” Childe can’t help but smile as he looks back down the face of a child he hadn’t known more than an hour ago. To the child he watched bawl their eyes out and sleep soundly in his boyfriend’s arms.
“He kind and do his best ta fig’r out wha go through my head. It... messy. Bal-an-ss-ing my mem’mories- an da won’s not my own. Al hay-tem’s mem’ories. Awe of it... shape ME wiff Pantalone’s... Care? Love? Lessons?” (He [is] kind and [does] his best to figure out what goes through my head. It [is] messy. [I’m] balancing my memories- and the ones that are clearly not my own. Alhaitham’s memories. [Shaping] me with Pantalone’s... Care? Love? Lessons?)
“Good to hear you’re getting a better childhood than me.” Childe does that sighing laughing thing again.
“Panna low is kind- not all ways nigh-ss. But he kind...” ([Pantalone] is kind- not always nice. but he is kind.") Bilal smiles like he is reliving the memory of a sunny afternoon curled up with a good book. “Like Kabeh. Kah-Veh. Who is all ways kind. And do he best ta be nice. Memories of him are ssso... soft? But they strong. Feel like I felt them too. Like a nice throw.” (Like Kaveh who is always kind and does his best to be nice. [Alhaitham’s] memories of him are so soft and yet so strong. Like a nice throw...) Bilal is running the hem of his shirt over his hands, eyes closed as he feels the fabric with all of his focus. “Like home? In Awl hay-tham’s memories.” (Like home? In Alhaitham’s memories.)
“How nice that must be... to find a home somewhere. With someone. With a parent who isn’t scared of you showing back up home after being missing for three days.”
“Grow ‘round trellis of mem-ories- not own- wah'dud wiff da love uv doze ‘round me. How dis-sim-you-lar to norm all ch-child?” ([I] grow around a trellis of memories [that are] not my own. [I'm] watered with the love of those around me... How dissimilar [am I] to [a] normal child?)
Childe huffs out what could either be a laugh or a sigh, only he could really tell you what it was meant as. “I wouldn’t know, kid. I didn’t really get to finish being a child before I became whatever my personality solidified into.”
“That time in my life was heaven- it taught me to survive, to live. But it was also hell. There isn’t any world where a Boy from a fishing village should be fighting-- for his life against an endless amount of monsters in an endless darkness, on the border of drowning and thriving. Of living to fight and fighting to live. It isn’t something I would wish on someone I hate. But this is my burden. The burden to become strong enough to keep going.”
“Soun’s com-pl’ih-kate id” (Sounds complicated.) Bilal frowns with this new information. “Talk about it wiff Zhonk lee or me. At least make it knot YOUR problem. Let me... help. Tell Zhon’gli so he can try and help." (Talk about it with Zhongli or me. At least make it not only your problem. Let me help or tell Zhongli so he can try and help.)
“I hope you don’t mind if I live a little vicariously through our playdate today. I’m craving sweets and playing something like hide and seek.”
“Fine. Wanna tell me ‘bout over uh snack? I fink we get somefin’ sweet- den go get your kiss..” Bilal’s face has evened back out to his normal expression. [Fine. Want to tell me about it over a snack? I’m thinking we get something sweet and then go get your kiss.]
“Only if I can convince you to get something for this Kaveh.”
Bilal has to think, to jog around in his memories for this, before his face lights up. “Oh-tah. O’tay! Hast be SO ugly! Kabeh will hate! Lot of uh-muse-ment! Better if it also useful- uh side from annoying Kabeh!” (Oh... Kay. OK! [It] Has to be SO ugly! Kaveh will hate [it]! [It'll bring] lots of amusement! [it's] Even better if it's also useful-- aside from annoying Kaveh!) Bilal’s smile seems to grow brighter and brighter with the intensity of his joy.
“VASE!! Pretty!! Put in plants! Also pretty! Make it extra uh'glee with pic-toe-grams AND eye-con-ugh-rough-ee! OH!!! He will hate it! SO perfect! PERFECT!!!” (VASE!!! [they are] pretty! [we] can [put plants in it]! And make it extra ungly with pictograms and iconography! OH he will hate it!! It's SO perfect! PERFECT!!) Bilal is all but vibrating as he thinks about how this will play out.
“Alright. We have our plan then Bilal. Lets get started. There should be a sweets booth around here. It is a little pop-up booth that appears on and off. They have the best Tang Yuan, and the best Tangulu in Liyue Harbor. Their Liu Sha Bao and Dragon’s Beard Candy are also so good-- but when I can get Zhongli to make them his are better” Childe smiles over to Bilal as he stops leaning on the railing and offers his hands again.
“What Lee-oo Sha Bah-oh?” (What [is] Liu Sha Bao?) Bilal takes the offered hand.
“Salted Custard Steamed Buns. An easy to eat on the run snack.”
“Tang goo loo?” “Tang goo loo?” (Tangulu?)
“Hard candy coated fruit. Very sweet and crunchy.”
“Drag-on Bear’d Can Dee?” (Dragon’s Beard Candee?)
“Threads of Sesame flavored sugar wrapped around a peanut core. It’s Zhongli’s favorite.”
“And the Tang you-an?” (And the Tang-Yuan?)
“Mochi in a brown sugar broth. Yun Jin makes a wonderful version too, but we aren’t going to bother her today.”
“Mow chi?” (Mochi?)
“uhh-- A very chewy snack made out of rice. The dough itself is generally very bland but very chewy. It’s very good for a snack any time of day.”
“Want to try the. Tang You’an and! The li’oo shhha ba’oh. sound good! Not bad tex’ your foods- Sound safe.” ([I] want to try the Tang-Yuan and the Liu Sha Bao! [they] sound good! [like they won't be] bad texture foods- [they] sound safe.)
“Alright. So three orders of Liu Sha Bao, an order of Tang yuan and a few sticks of Tangulu?”
“Panta’low need treat. too! And Zhon-Glee!” (Pantalone needs a treat, too! and Zhongli!)
“Alright and a Dragon’s Beard. But what for Pantalone?”
“Panda-lown like st-wahh bewwies, maybe Tangulu? Or Liu Sha Bao?”
“We’ll get him both, just incase.” Childe’s smirk as he walks up to the cart seems obvious until Childe comes down to a knee and whispers into Bilal’s ear. “Want me to pick you up so you can see everything they have?”
Bilal is quick to nod his head and throw both his arms up in the air. Childe titters as he grabs Bilal just under his arms and lifts him up to counterbalance himself.
Bilal’s eyes light up as he is able to see everything this stand has. “You right! Liu sha looks so good!”
Childe can’t help but chuckle at Bilal’s reaction. It was almost a one-for-one recreation of his the first time he found this stand. His eyes lingering over all the snacks he wanted to try. The liu sha bao, the tang yuan, and tangulu. His eyes all but slittering as he takes in the smells and the colors. This little stall was clearly a little spot of heaven for both of them.
“Bilibili, if I didn't know any better I would say you were my kid.” Bilal points to himself as he registers the nickname. “Yes you. You're being a Silly Bili right now.”
Bilal scrunches his nose so hard that Childe almost drops him when he looks back down.
“Bad Jokes are for Sigh-No two make. And explain. Not you.”
“Cyno?”
“Classmate of Kabeh. Different Darshan. Same year.”
“Friend of a friend situation?”
“Kinda? He is cordial with me- with All-hay-fum, but there is an air of generally not-talking between zem. The jokes do NOT help. Language scholar having puns explained to him. Haiyi does find it mildly uh-mew-sing.”
“Is ‘Haiyi’ Alhaithm?” Childe gently probes.
“Yep. Cyno is currently the General Ma-ha-mah-tra.”
“Ah Sumeru’s Judicial System. Not my brand, but I’ve heard he is Strong.”
“Haven’t fought him. Can’t say.” Bilal pats on Childe’s arm and motions to the snack again.
“Alright, alright. Treats first then more talking through what you do and don’t remember from Haiyi.”
Bilal’s nose scrunched up again. “You no call him Haiyi. Don’t know him. I no call you by nicknames. No call him by nickname from school friends.”
“Then tell me all about Alhaitham.”
“Snack first. You say so!”