Chapter Text
Tonia was excited as she walked back from home. This morning, her beloved big brother swore he would do waffles for the snack. WAFFLES!!
Her big brother was the best to make waffles! And… well, approximatively anything he cooked was delicious. But she loved waffles, so!
Crossing the village, Tonia could only run as she approached her home, and, in front of her house, she dashed to the mailbox. She loved to pick up the mail so her brother always let her do it. Happily, she broke the ice around the door mailbox, and she pulled on it to free the cold letters. Taxes letters, bill, bill, a letter from the school she wondered if she had to open so she could hide bad news, and… oh what was that? The writing on the letter was so precious, noble, soft…
And it was addressed to…
“Sweet Tonia, gentle Anthon & Baby Teucer’s big brother”
“Why they hadn’t write ‘Ajax’?” she whispered to herself.
And why they had blacked the first words?
Tonia entered the house, and let a happy sound came from her lips as she smell the waffle’s perfume.
Tonia dashed in the kitchen, where Anthon was doing his homework under the care of her big brother who also managed to drink water, and prepare the waffle, and Teucer was drawing another Mr. Cyclops, his precious toy standing just in front of the page.
“Ajax! You got mail!”
“Thanks! I’ll pay the bill later.”
“No, I mean… you got mail.”
Tartaglia put down his glass, and held out his hand to receive the letters. He put down the brief with the bills, and watched at the writing of the letter addressed to him. This writing… He had read more than once this writing. He remembered once, where he had his chin pressed on the shoulder while the writing appeared under his eyes…
“It can’t be…”
Feverishly, he opened the letter, ripping the precious writing. There was nothing more than a billet for a boat trip ending at Liyue.
“You want me to come, Zhongli Xiansheng?” he whispered.
The man had never lacked words. So why there was no letter with it?
As Tonia, he had noticed the blacked words… He lifted the brief, placed it in the light, and the light let appears the delicacy of words that Zhongli tried, vainly, to censor.
“The one who truly won my Gnosis”
“Who is Zhongli Xiansheng?” Tonia asked.
Tartaglia could have fully talked in Liyuan, and be sure his siblings wouldn’t hear anything, but how could he when it was just his heart whispering to the man he loved and wished to see again. The man he loved so much to call in the Liyuan way because it was sexier in his opinion.
When they left each other, Zhongli was on the wharf, and Tartaglia begged for him to use his god powers to jump on the boat, and they’d elope.
But Zhongli stayed on the wharf, and they never contacted each other again. Tartaglia tried to get some information from his beloved Archon, how was he, did he mentioned him? Tartaglia had written so many letters he never dared to send.
What if Zhongli said nothing because of that?
“Big brother Zhongli is Ajax’s boyfriend!” Teucer said.
“What?!” Tartaglia hiccupped.
“When I went to Liyue, before I left with the nice person to do the tour of the town, Ajax comes with us! And there was this Sir coming from a place nearby! They barely talked! But Ajax was all blushing! And they were all shy-shy!”
“We…”
“And I found the letters while putting the paper trash outside!” Anthon said.
“You… You looked at those?!”
“Yes!” Anthon replied. “And I saved them!”
Tartaglia pouted, and looked away. “And can I have them back?”
Anthon, and Teucer giggled at those words.
“I was sure you would be sad not having them anymore!”
“You need to go at Liyue!” Tonia said, who had noticed the billet.
“No! I have to take care of you,” Tartaglie replied. “I left two months, and you managed to lose Teucer, An… Tonia?!” Tartaglia approached her as he saw the blue eyes filling with tears. “I’m not saying it’s your fault! I’m not blaming you. I’m blaming myself. I have to stay here to take care of you because I love you so much.”
He opened his arms to her and she jumped to him to snuggle.
“I’m doing my best…” she whispered.
“I know. You’re doing great.”
He pressed a kiss on her hair, tenderly caressing them.
The truth was that he knew what she was living for he had to live it by the past. He was barely fourteen when he raised his little brother, not that he hadn't already took care of his other siblings before that. Their mother worked too much, their father was always sick…
“We will be extra-kind!” Anthon said. “No bad behaviour! No kidding aound!”
“Yes! I’ll gently stay home!” Teucer said.
“Please, please, please, go see your boyfriend!” Tonia said.
“He is not my boyfriend,” Tartaglia protested.
“Please, please, please, go see the man you are in love with!” Anthon corrected.
Tartaglia opened his lips to protest, still holding his sister against his heart. The waffle was burning behind them, but they didn’t care about it. Though their father might spurt in, and complain about the steam that would give him even more headache.
“And what if…” Tartaglia hugged her a little more. “You come with me at Liyue? Zhongli talked to me about a celebration, it will be around this time. It could be fun if you could see that!”
“Can we?!” Anthon asked with excitation.
“Yes. Let’s prepare our bags! I’m going to book more billets!” Tartaglia held out his hand to his brothers, both dashing to him for a hug. Tartaglia kissed a forehead, then the other. “Soon, you’ll see Liyue, baby Anthon. You’ll see!! It’s beautiful!”
“I’m so excited to meet the Adepti! Can we meet the Adepti?!”
“I’m sure you will meet at least one Adeptus…” Tartaglia softly said.
Tonia chuckled as Teucer was excited about seeing Mr. Cyclops again.
“IT’S HERE, IT’S HERE, IT’S HERE!!!!” Anthon jumped on the deck, looking at the outline of the Harbour. “Ajax! It’s here! Liyue!”
“Well…” Tartaglia approached him, circled his body, and lifted him with a smile. “We are already in Liyue.”
“WE ARE IN LIYUE?!”
Anthon was so excited.
“We are! Look!! There, it’s the Bubu Cottage, you see it? It’s a pharmacy.”
“Ooooh!!”
“And behind the Harbour you can see the Mount Tianheng. This whole part of Liyue is called ‘the Sea of Cloud’ and we passed next to the Guyun Stone Forest. It is said the mounts of the Guyun Stone Forest…”
“… have been made by Morax!!! He used them to slay bad guys and protect the World!!” Anthon excitedly said, betraying his knowledge of the situation and how much he had read about Liyue.
“Yes!”
“Do you think he will be there at the Festival?” Anthon asked. “I’d ask him an autograph!”
Tartaglia was supposed to tell him Morax was, technically only, dead, but how could he?
“Who knows!” Tartaglia said.
Anthon was so excited, Teucer too for he didn’t got the opportunity to see everything last time, and the Harbour appeared even more prodigious, ethereal, divine, than last time. Tonia was also excited but she seemed more excited about the idea of shoving her brother in the arms of that Zhongli.
She approached Teucer, and leaned at his ear. “You have to show me that Zhongli when we’ll see him.”
Teucer nodded frenetically with a smile.
The boat sailed at the wharf, and sailors started to make sure it was well anchored while other sailor got ready to lower the footbridge that would release the tourists in the fever of Liyue Harbor.
But, as Tartaglia get ready to leave with his siblings, he noticed someone who was taking care of everything. Huixin from the Yuehai Pavillon, tightly working with the Civil Affairs, but also Keqing overviewing everything.
Shit.
What if he was recognized?!
Perhaps he should let his siblings get out first, but on the other hand, if he couldn’t come down, he was too afraid… Zhongli didn’t expect them to be there, so who would take care of them? No, they were more important than anything. Perhaps they would have forgotten him. With a bit of chance…
Tartaglia walked down the footbridge with the little one.
“Wait a minute,” Keqing said.
“Hello!” Anthon said. “Are you an Adeptus?” he asked with excitation. “You’re so pretty!!!!”
She blinked, then smiled. She had no difficulties with the Snezhnayan for, as a Qixing, it was requested for them to have so many knowledge. Ningguang herself would say talking every language was the best way to secure their position no matter what.
“Thank you, little boy. No, I’m not an Adeptus, I’m a Qixing.”
“Omfg!! Ajax! She is a Qixing!”
“She is! Miss is the Yuheng.”
Anthon looked at her with stars in the eyes. Keqing smiled to him, but when she looked up to Tartaglia, her expression was more closed. Tartaglia opened his lips to whisper ‘please’ but a voice came out from the wharf.
“Keqing! Keqing!!”
Tartaglia turned the visage towards the young lady with long wavy hair that dashed to them. She slightly bowed her head.
“I’ll take care of him,” she said in Liyuan.
“Will you, Ganyu?” Keqing asked.
“He is Mister Zhongli’s guest.”
He was Zhongli’s guest! Tartaglia felt his heart so light. Tonia couldn’t understand a thing, but she had recognized the name so she smiled to her big brother.
“Mister Zhongli… the gentleman from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? I respect him a lot, and value his judgment usually, but… it’s the Lantern Rite!”
“And isn’t it why they should enjoy it too? He is with children, I don’t think he will bring problems. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Keqing sighed. “Fine. I supposed it would be bad to cause issues with a Harbinger. But keep an eye on him!”
“Yes, even two!” She turned towards Tartaglia. “Please, come with me, Zhongli has booked an inn room for you!”
Tartaglia thanked Keqing, then asked his siblings to follow him.
“He booked a room? With what money?”
Ganyu laughed. “My money!”
“I’ll refund you,” Tartaglia swore.
“You don’t have to. We didn’t expect you to come with younglings.”
Ganyu was used to walk in those streets, she knew everything, and more important again: she was used to walk fast to never get late. The little ones had difficulties following her pace, even Tonia who was barely tinier than Ganyu. Tartaglia crouched to grab Anthon and Teucer, and he gestured to Tonia so she would climb on his back. The three children in his arms, he quickly followed Ganyu.
“I couldn’t let them alone at home.”
“Alone?” she repeated.
“Technically my parents are there but… they are not very present. I paid the billets myself,” Tartaglia said. “I didn’t expect Zhongli to be bothered by my siblings.”
“I don’t think he will. But it’s difficult to have a room at this period of the year…”
“I think the little ones can stay with me if the room is big enough. I’ll sleep outside if needed.”
“I will see to bring you a futon or… ah! But perhaps we should talk your language,” she said in Snezhnayan. She turned and was surprised to see him holding the three siblings. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes! We follow you!” Tartaglia said.
“Sure?”
“Sure!”
“Don’t worry, pretty Lady! Our big brother is the strongest!” Teucer said.
Tonia nodded, and Anthon was too busy looking everywhere around with excitation.
Ganyu brought them to the inn, got back the key, then walked up the stairs, Tartaglia still following her with the children, and the bags. They reached the room that seemed to be one of the best one: it certainly had a beautiful view on the sea, and so of the beauty of the lanterns mirrored in the darkness of the waves, when the night would fall, at least.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“It’s just a roo…”
Ganyu opened the door, making him go silent. The room extremely cold, but especially it was filled with flowers.
“Mister Zhongli wanted you to know there are exactly 3 399 roses.”
“Three… Three thousands… 3 399?” he hiccupped.
“Yes. He picked them all by himself. We cooled the room for your arrival, but you can heat It again!” Ganyu said. “Mister Zhongli will pick you up tomorrow evening, if it’s fine for you.”
“But I want to see him now…” Tartaglia whispered without noticing it.
Tonia smiled as she stamped her feet. “We should go say ‘hi’!! Let’s throw our baggage on the bed and we go see him!”
“Tonia, I…”
Anthon jumped down his arms too, hopping up and down. “I want to see all Liyue, please! Please! Can we go pray Rex Lapis?!”
“I like your little brother,” Ganyu said.
Tartaglia stared at her with a soft smile. He gently hugged Teucer that was still snuggled in his arms.
“Anthon is actually very interest by Adepti… would you mind?”
“I need to come back to work because the Rite requests all our attention. But I will come back, and talk to your brother, when I have a bit of time. After the Rite, if I have to.”
“Thank you so much,” Tartaglia replied. “I don’t mean to bother you. And thank you again for saving the day. I wasn’t ready for…” He sighed. “All of this with my siblings around.”
“You will have to thank Mister Zhongli for that. He is the one who took care of all of this.”
“I think I’ve no other choice than being on my way for it,” Tartaglia replied.
Tonia was so excited, installing the baggage somewhere that would fit without damaging the precious flowers. Which was… well, difficult.
Ganyu left after a few words.
Tartaglia kissed his little brother’s face, then put him down, and looked at those roses spreading everywhere… 3 399 roses.
What did it mean?
Why was it so important for Zhongli to pick up 3 399 roses exactly, and specify the amount?
3 399 roses… Zhongli picked up 3 399 roses for him.
He walked carefully. While a lot of roses were just spread everywhere, others were installed in beautiful vase. Tartaglia caressed a petal.
“Tonia… You win, let’s go see Zhongli Xiansheng.”
“YES!” Tonia dashed to him. “Come with me.”
“W… what?” he said, as she tugged him towards the bed.
“You need to be extra pretty to conquer him! Makeup! Nails! A pretty flower in your hair!”
“Tonia, I don’t…” He sighed as he sat on the mattress. “Go on, have fun!”
“Yeah!”
Tonia hopped up and down, then dashed to the bags so she could grab everything she had prepared. She was so ready for this moment! She should have done that before they arrive in Liyue but that was better like that! She could have time to pamper him, and make him extra pretty for the meeting.
“When you will be done with the flowers, can you take care of the candles?”
“Yes, what do you want me to do? Arrange them by colour?”
Zhongli walked towards Hu Tao, who held a box of incense in her hands. He passed in front of Ferrylady who watched at the window with a low sigh.
“Is everything alright?” he asked.
“Oh yes, yes… The Rite is beautiful, and I wish we could go there…but people really don’t appreciate us at this time of the year. I don’t want to bring bad omens over the town…”
“You deserve to find pleasure,” Zhongli said. “When our work is over, I propose we change our formal attire for something more casual, and we go for a stroll on the wharves, eat at the stands.”
“Zhongli,” she softly said. “And who will pay for the food?”
“Well…”
“You, my dear!” Hu Tao smiled. “Zhongli, can your amazing behind comes here now?”
“I wouldn’t want to disturb…” Ferrylady started.
“Or paying the food,” Hu Tao commented.
“Are you done with your lanterns?” Ferrylady asked.
“Why do you make so much lanterns?!” Hu Tao asked at her turn. “And what’s with all those Plaustrite you’re storing in your room?! Are you trying to make fly the Funeral Parlour because… oh wait, that looks funny. Let’s do that!”
“No, I’m preparing a surprise for someone,” Zhongli replied. “I’m coming Hu Tao, and Ferrylady, if you want a stroll, don’t hesitate. You deserve rest and happiness, and Rex Lapis would want you to feel the bliss of the Rite.”
“Oh… Rex Lapis would want that, uh?” Hu Tao smiled.
“Yes.”
“And for me t…”
Hu Tao turned her head when she heard knocks on the door.
“Someone would want to come here?” Ferrylady whispered. “At this period of the year?”
“People die all the time, after all,” Hu Tao replied. “As amazing our beloved Rex Lapis was, and how strong are the Adepti, no one can run away from death. A good thing for our affairs!” she added. She walked to the doors. “Already wondered what you’ll do if this wasn’t this job?”
Zhongli thought about this.
“I’ll sell flowers I had cultivated myself,” Ferrylade replied.
“Oh, that’s an amazing idea. Would you mind if I’d worked with you? Flowers are so precious, and…”
“You still work for me! Don’t go start a mutiny!” Hu Tao said with a smirk, as she opened the door. “Yes?! What can we do for us?”
“Hi, we…”
“Hello!!!! We come to shove our brother in the arms of Zh…”
Tonia suddenly couldn’t talk anymore, a hand over her mouth.
“Ah! Children are so cute, right?!” Tartaglia said.
“Childe?”
Zhongli felt his heart beat so strong. He was hoping for him to come, but he certainly didn’t dream of seeing him earlier than planned if Tartaglia fulfilled his selfish request! But he was there, in some elegant bustier with long sleeve, quite fluffy, and the delicacy of the belly flesh offered to his view; and a delicate makeup that could only make his blue eyes deeper… How could anyone not drown in those eyes? He was sinking so fast as they gently brushed his face…
And what he had in his hair… a rose? One of the rose he offered him?!
“Hi!” Childe smiled. “I arrived like one hour ago, and we wanted to say ‘hi’? I came with my siblings. Here is Tonia,” he said moving his hand.
“Hiiii!!! You’re pretty!”
“Toniiiaaaa…”
“Thank you,” Zhongli said with a smile.
“Here is my little baby Teucer.”
“The little rascal who managed to come in Liyue all alone to join you, isn’t it?”
Tartaglia approved as Tonia and Teucer looked at each other with excitation.
“And the last one… Where is he? Anthon?!”
The little boy appeared from the street. He was amazed by everything!
“Sorry, Ajax!” he said, coming to hug him.
Tartaglia caressed his black hair with a low sigh. “It’s fine. But stay close, there are lot of people, and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Don’t worry!”
Tartaglia leaned to press a kiss in his hair.
“And here is Anthon!”
“I’m so glad to meet you all, your brother had talked about you very often,” Zhongli said. “You look as adorable as he said so.”
“Hu Tao, may I help you?” Ferrylady asked. “So Zhongli, perhaps…”
“You were working!” Tartaglia said. “We can come back later, the children wanted to visit Liyue, anyway.”
Zhongli opened his lips to ask him to stay with him anyway, but he knew he had to work, and that was the most important thing.
“I can take care of the children,” Hu Tao started.
“Say ‘no’, or you will regret it,” Zhongli said. “Listen, I had booked the room from the Liuli Pavilion, but only for tomorrow. I… expected you to be here tomorrow only, if there was a day. Perhaps we can meet at the Wanmin restaurant tonight?”
“That looks amazing to me. See you tonight, then?”
“Yes.”
Tartaglia wanted to thanks him for the roses, but why did he have no words? What was this atmosphere between them? This tension…
“Come on, Monsters, let’s go! I’ll show you Liyue!”
“YEEEEEEEEES!!” Anthon screamed out, running in the street.
“But Ajax! Your future boyf…”
Tartaglia pressed his hand on his sister’s mouth, and smiled to Zhongli as he pushed her outside. He checked Teucer followed, and couldn’t help a relieved sigh when they were outside.
“Tonia!”
“Come on!! He is so cute!!” she said with excitation.
“He isn’t cute!” Tartaglia protested.
“Come on, I’m sure you find him cute and you should be allowed to spend time with him.”
“First, he is working. We don’t disturb people working. We will see him tonight, and tomorrow he would perhaps invite us over the festival.”
“And secondly?” she smiled.
“He is very sexy, and beautiful,” Tartaglia mumbled. “Now, let’s visit the town! I’m sure you will love Wanmin Restaurant tonight!”
“Yes!” Anthon said. “I’m so excited! Do they have a library? I want to… ah, but I don’t talk Liyuan?”
“They have one in the Yuehai Pavilion but we need an authorization. I’ll see if I can have one, they must have Snezhnaya-Liyue dictionary. Though… the festival got visitor from all over Teyvat… let’s see if we can find you a dictionary!”
“Yes please!”
“Teucer, what do you want us to do?” Tartaglia asked.
“I just want to visit Liyue with you this time.”
“I’ll stick with you,” Tartaglia swore, grabbing him and lifting him so he could land kisses on his cheek. “And you, Tonia?”
She smiled. “Just you to confess!”
“Stop it! We’ll check for clothes! I’m sure you would be so cute in a dress from Liyue!”
Tonia kept smiling as she followed him. But she had the firm intention not to let her brother be sad.
The festival would have his start at the nightfall, so they could see the stands behind rose. While the celebration started tonight, and would last for two weeks, the real spectacle would be in seven days, so most of the tourists actually arrived in five to six days. Tartaglia wasn’t surprised Zhongli didn’t expect him so soon, and to be honest… If the boat he had booked hadn’t have to make so many stop–partly to bring back everybody for the celebrations–he would have come even earlier.