Chapter Text
Childes eyes snapped open, paired with a dramatic gasp that escaped his lips,
“Wh- dont call me–” his eyes widened as he fully comprehended who was in front of him.
“Why are you here!?”
The weak man continued to blabber as Zhongli busied himself, using geo energy to seal the nasty wound on the youngsters' side. He looked concentrated, lost in thought. His calm demeanor was rhythmic and eagerly peaceful.
Until it was interrupted by a loud,
slap.
Not nearly as strong as it could be, Zhongli paused to look up at Childe, Zhonglis face looked comically shocked: his mouth agape, and his eyes widened. Zhongli peered at Childe, he noted that even in a venerable state such as this one, the boy looked strong, and very masculine. Realizing that he found Childe’s angered face very attractive, he caught himself staring at the ginger's flawless, clenched jaw line, before the god spoke.
“Childe.. I understand your anger, but please let me help you,”
looking optimistic, as if Zhongli hadn’t broken his way into Childes small apartment, he pleaded with the man.
Rightfully looking apprehensive, Childe stared at him. He stared and stared, long and slow, trying to find anything that would put his thoughts into words. But he knew he had to yield when he felt another larger wave of exhaustion hit him.
“Noo, answer my question,” he slurred, tiredness heavy in his voice.
Barely coherent, and unsure if his surroundings were even real, Childe collapsed onto his bed.
Zhongli couldn’t help himself, he sighed lovingly, with a soft chuckle ending his response. Petting the ginger's head, he shushed him.
“Sleep Childe, I will answer you in the morning. Let me heal you.”
Childe looked like he wanted to press further, but before time to feel embarrassed hit him, Zhongli’s loving tone helped lull him into a deep slumber.
_____
Blinking the sleep from his eyes, the young man woke up. Temporarily forgetting what happened, Childe took the first few seconds of his day to rub his eyes and peer around the room. Nothing was different.. Except for the suspicious man sleeping on a chair, perched in the once empty corner beside him.
What?
Memories flooded his mind as he recalled his prior events. Despite the wounds he thought he still had, he felt better than ever.
But, as scrambled his hands to feel his side, with the realization that Zhongli literally healed him, (and broke into his house,) he found himself wide awake; the grogginess of the morning long forgotten.
“Shit, Zhongli why– how are you here?!”
Childe wanted to scream at the man, beat him, show him how true pain felt. Show him how much damage the gods' actions had done to him.
With the man's questions, Zhongli awakened surprisingly fast, almost seeming as if he wasn’t asleep to begin with.
“Ah, yes, Ajax—” he cleared his throat, “---I'm sorry for barging in unannounced, but as an adeptus, we can sense whenever people dear to us are in pain- whether that be mentally or physically. I thought it right to help you, as I feared you would be in great danger if I hadn't intervened. Please accept my apology.”
Childe deadpanned and blankly stared at Zhongli, looking at him as if he was just told the most absurd news of his life. Maybe it was.
“‘People dear to us?’ Zhongli, do not act as if we are acquaintances. I know that you are not fond of me, so do not feel the need to live in a lie. Also do not call me that. Childe or Tartaglia is plenty fine.”
As he sighed dramatically, the sharp edge to Childe’s voice was clear as he spoke, refusing to make eye contact with the man in front of him.
“C-childe, I am more than fond of you. I had not known which harbinger the Tsaritsa would send, but whenever you entered my life, I had changed. You have changed me for the better. I could not avoid the betrayal that overall happened in the end, and for that I am so, dearly sorry.”
Zhongli was not used to love. Even if his demeanor displayed him as being a calm gentleman, with no idea how to express his emotions, he panicked. He prayed- even if as a god he couldn’t really do so, that his love would never leave him again.
“A half-assed apology isn’t going to save you, Mr. Rex Lapis. You have given plenty proof that you do not—”
Childes next cutt-off sentence was not picked carefully. His rage made it almost impossible to figure out which words needed to be said to get his point across. But, none of that mattered, as his words were eventually cut short by Zhongli walking up to the bed, and sharing a passionate kiss, one so filled with emotion and love, there was no doubt it was sincere. Sometimes actions are clearer than words, thought Zhongli.
As shocked as he was, Childe could not find himself to dislike it. Zhongli’s mouth was warm, and so soft, softer than he could have ever imagined. Something he had dreamed about constantly, something he thought he could never have.
Practically melting into each other, Childe stood up, as they embraced one another in a tight hug. They hugged so fiercely, it seemed they were worried that each one could fall apart in an instant.
When they eventually parted, Childe was a mess,
“wh- you.. I–”
“I love you.”
Zhongli cut him off once again. He confessed with the most love and demotion in his voice that it was clear that his words were more than sincere.
Childe could have continued arguing. Could have left Zhongli alone again with no contact for god knows how long. Or he could’ve screamed at him, shouted at him until his voice went out. There were so many ways that he could have hurt the man, but deep down, he knew that he had no desire to do any of them. So, he smiled at the god who clung to him,
“yeah, me too.”
_____
Around two hours had passed, during which, both of the men were basking in each other's company. Currently they were cuddled upon a couch, watching the rainfall– both unsure when it had even started– in a calming silence. Occasionally they would share a few kisses, and Zhongli would massage the head that held those ginger curls he loved so dearly, but they hadn’t spoken much. Both of them were involved in very chaotic lives, whether it be in the past or now. With no time to spare for little things such as love, experience was something they both lacked.
“So, what are we?”
Childe spoke, unsure what to say, or even do.
Without skipping a beat, Zhongli responded,
“I presume lovers, if you are comfortable with that title, but I am sure there are many others as well.”
Zhongli smiled at the thought and unconsciously raked his fingers through his lover's head, his other hand tangled in one of Childe’s.
“Boyfriends. I’d probably call you my boyfriend in public. That is, if you want this to be public. I don’t mind if it isn’t, I’d imagine keeping an average mortal life wouldn’t be easy with a fatui as your man.”
Childe nervously responded, slightly laughing at the dig he directed towards himself. It wasn’t ‘Childe’ at all to be like this, but he found it hard to keep a persona with the man he loved for so long tangled next to him. His unoccupied hand found itself fidgeting with his fingers.
Zhongli hummed in thought,
“Maybe my mortal life doesn’t have to be so average afterall.”
Smiling, Zhongli found himself staring at his beautiful boyfriend, thinking about how lucky he was.
“Public it is then!”
Childe laughed, and then paused.
“Oh, and Zhongli, you can call me Ajax, I’d prefer it now.”