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“Ajax?” A baritone voice sweetly filled his ear, even when it held a slightly concerned tone. “Is something the matter?”
Ajax bit his lip to keep from gushing at how adoring it was to hear him sounding ready to drop everything and come for him without a moment’s notice. “Nope! Can’t I call my husband to hear his voice? I miss you.”
Zhongli chuckled warmly after a brief pause. “Is that so? We just saw each other this morning.”
“But I can’t wait until work’s over to see you!” Ajax pouted. “What’s worse is that I have to work overtime!” His playful tone slipped into an apologetic one as he winced. “Sorry about this, you can eat first. There are leftovers, but I know you wanted your Black-Back Perch stew.”
“Ah, actually, I was going to tell you the same thing," Zhongli replied. “I am getting held up at work as well. If you are home before me, please get some rest. But if I get home first, I’ll still wait for you.”
Ajax felt his face heat up from the affections in Zhongli’s tone. His husband was too cute. “Geez, if you put it like that, how could I head to bed if you’re willing to wait for me?” There was a loud thud on the other end, followed by a shriek. "Uh, what was that?"
“Hm? Ah, one of the employees hurt themselves. They’re fine now.” Zhongli explained. “That aside, should we stay up together to make up for lost time, then?”
His earpiece started to static, but it quickly cleared up as an irritating voice spoke through the device. “Tartaglia, you may be on mute, but I know you’re talking to your husband. Get the fuck off your phone and pay attention to the mission.”
Childe made a face in the direction his colleague was supposed to before Ajax returned to his call. “Break’s over; I have to get back to work before my coworker skins me.”
“I do like my husband in one piece. Take care, Ajax.”
“Oh, oh, one last thing. Mwah!” He grinned cheekily at his phone as Zhongli chuckled.
“Hmm. Listen close.” Curiously, Ajax waited to hear what Zhongli wanted to say when a “Mwah.” whispered in his ear. Ajax let out a high-pitched gasp, almost choking on air as he stared bugged eye at the now disconnected call. He nearly knocked his rifle out of position in his glee.
“Teyvat to Tartaglia.” Scaramouche's voice instantly cut through his good mood. “The target is heading your way.”
Childe wrestled his emotions under control and tucked Ajax away. “I hear you.”
Making sure his weapon was secured, Childe looked through his scope just as a middle-aged man stepped through the back doors of the building across from him. He seemed to be in quite a hurry with his many henchmen surround him.
No matter.
He fired twice. One struck the man’s chest, just barely missing his heart, but the other created a gaping hole in his head, and he fell. Panic quickly ensued.
A finger jerked up in his direction. “He’s up there!”
“It’s the Fatui!”
Childe smirked as the minions rushed his way. Grabbing his weapon, he jumped off the building as he blindly shot at one of the men below him. Using his corpse as a cushion to soften his fall, he quickly rolled to his feet and fired again. It wasn't a surprise that most of them missed, but it doesn't discourage Childe.
Dancing away from the spray of bullets, he ducked for cover as the men retreated to a more organized formation.
As smart as it was, it was amusing at their attempts to hide the panic and fear rolling off of them.
Childe grinned as he stepped out of hiding. His casual stroll steadily gained speed, and soon, he was rush toward them as bullets flew past him harmlessly.
Gripping his rifle firmly, he swung.
Scaramouche and La Signora finally arrived at Childe’s location to see him surrounded by carnage as the man himself was trying to rub the blood from his face.
Signora stared at his battered weapon in distaste. “When will you learn that a rifle is used to shoot, not for you to use as a bat?”
“When I'm not the one doing most of the dirty work?” Childe scoffed. “It's not my favorite anyway; besides, they end up getting fixed in the end. No harm, no foul." He sighed dramatically as he stretched his arms above his head. “Let’s go already! There’s no need to waste time here.” Slinging his rifle over his shoulder, he whistled a tune as he walked away from the two.
"He still doesn't have a clue, does he?" Signora asked once Childe was out of earshot.
“He doesn’t even suspect it.” Scaramouche rolled his eyes. “Pathetic.”
"I'm waiting for my payment, Balladeer."
“Oh?” Scaramouche smiled amiably. “He still doesn’t know. I say I won this bet, Signora.”
“It’s been over half a year. Pay up.”
++++
Zhongli could clearly picture the flustered look on Ajax’s face after the unexpected kiss. His husband was adorable.
He smiled fondly at his phone's wallpaper, where it was a photo of him next to a sleeping Ajax. (A similar picture was in his spouse's phone but in reverse. After Ajax demanded to take one of his own after catching sight of it.)
“M-mercy… please…”
Zhongli sighed, twisting the knife in the man’s hands to shut him up, but it only caused him to whimper louder. The interruption was slightly annoying but not surprising. He pocketed his phone, deciding to admire his husband later.
“Mr. Severin Dunst,” Zhongli started, tugging at his glove. “Do you acknowledge your failure in holding up your side of the contract?”
“I-I need more time. Please give me more time, and I can repay you!”
“Time?”
Severin flinched at the soft tone, cowering under the other man’s bright gaze.
Zhongli tilted his head. “I have given you plenty of time, but it seems human greed knows no bounds.”
He touched the handle of the blade with a finger and rocked it back and forth. Severin snivel in pain, unable to escape for both of his legs were rendered useless by this very man—no, he resembled more of a monster with each passing minute.
“I offer one of my daughters!” He cried. “You can hold her hostage until I—Argh!”
“You misjudge me, Mr. Dunst. I have no need for a hostage.” He sighed, disappointed. “You will face your punishment.”
“P-please. My family needs me! You have a family, too! Ajax, right? Y-you understand, right?" The man begged desperately.
Zhongli looked considerable for a moment, lulling him into a sense of security before he pressed a foot over Severin’s neck. “I will send condolence money to your family after your passing, Mr. Dunst. I’m sure they won’t be too distraught by your sudden departure. There is no need for concern about that.” The man gurgled under his foot, struggling for another plead of mercy. “And another thing,”
Zhongli leaned down, slowly putting all the weight to crush his windpipe. “I’ll see to it that my husband’s name will never be uttered from your inadequate tongue again.”
++++
As soon as he opened the door, footsteps pattered against the tile floor until Ajax appeared from the kitchen. At the sight of Zhongli, he beamed.
“Welcome home, babe!”
A soft smile graced his lips as he hung his coat up. “I’m home, my love.”
Ajax snickered, already in front of him to he helped him undo his tie. “Gosh, you’re so sappy.”
Zhongli hummed and then tilted his head to catch Ajax’s lips. His husband sighed happily into the kiss. They both took a moment to ignore the world and familiarize themselves with each other’s touch.
Ajax pulled away with a grin. “Come on, I just finished making dinner.”
"I'm glad you didn't have to wait long," Zhongli said, sitting down at the table. “How was work?”
Ajax shrugged, still struggling to hold his chopsticks current as he tried to pick up a parcel. “Nothing exciting ever happens at the bank. Someone called sick at the last minute, so I had to fill in. Thankfully, it didn’t take very long. What about you?”
“Last minute planning with a family. The usual.” Zhongli replied. “It went rather well.”
“Hm,” Ajax leaned forward with a grin on his face as he waved a stabbed parcel his way. “Are you sure these last-minute appointments aren’t excuses for people to see my husband’s handsome face? I feel like I should be jealous.”
Zhongli smiled in amusement at Ajax's attempts at teasing. “You should know that it is only you in my thoughts.”
“Sap, saaap!” Ajax crowed despite the sudden flush of his cheeks. As he stuffed his cheeks with his food, Zhongli couldn’t help but compare him to a squirrel.
Catching sight of something, Zhongli frowned.
Just as he nearly succeeded in picking up another parcel, Ajax was surprised when Zhong reached out and pulled his free hand toward him.
“Zhongli?”
Zhongli pulled up his sleeve, frowning deeper at the red line across his arm. “You’re hurt…”
“Oh, uh, um, I cut myself on a letter opener!” Ajax hastily explained. “I already cleaned it, so don’t worry about it. It doesn’t even hurt!”
Zhongli was silent, studying the wound, and before Ajax knew it, Zhongli was kissing it. Ajax flushed at the gesture as Zhongli’s lips trailed down to kiss his fingers.
“My dear husband is working so hard," Zhongli murmured.
“You work hard, too.” Ajax protested, trying to will the heats in his cheeks to go away. Really, even with being married for nearly a year, Zhongli still made him feel like they were on their second date.
(They don’t speak of their first date, which was a disaster in itself.)
Zhongli leaned forward to kiss him again, tasting those sweet lips on his tongue. Ajax moaned softly, opening his mouth to let Zhongli slip in. They stayed like that for a while until Ajax is forced to trade the kiss for gulps of air. Curse Zhongli and his lungs that trombone players would kill for.
Ajax laughed when Zhongli nipped at his neck, pushing him away. “Eat your food before it gets cold. Then you could play.”
Zhongli's lips quirked up in a faint smirk as he leaned in for one more kiss. “I’ll hold you to that.”