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There was always something strange about the man he married, but he could never place a finger on it. Of course his husband wasn’t a criminal, he was a daycare owner, who preferred to spend time fixing the daycare on his day offs compared to relaxing and lounging around.
He was a man who always put others before him, so much that sometimes he would forget to take care of himself. He would come home from work and immediately step into the kitchen, preparing a meal before walking into the living room, slouching into a chair and closing his eyes.
He would take a nap, waiting to be awoken from a kiss after his husband got home. He would open his eyes, smile, and ruffle his lover’s hair. Specifically, he liked messing up the hair on the right side of his lover’s head. He called it “his lucky spot” and said he felt happier after touching his hair.
He was a peculiar man, who preferred his eggs sunny side up compared to scrambled, he liked buying garlic and herb butter from the local farmer’s market, when he baked he would make one dish over and over again until he perfected it.
He liked buying black gloves for his husband, he wears slippers everywhere around the house, he sleeps with a salt lamp on his bedside table, he once painted the front door himself as a home renovation project.
He liked squeezing his husband’s wrist before holding his hand, and calling it a reflex. He always wakes up first, and likes watching the morning sunlight fall on his husband’s face. He liked to make the morning coffee, as his lover’s coffee would always be just a touch too bitter.
He preferred using claw clips to pin up his hair, even having a bucket of them just in case his current clip broke. Whenever his hair got too long he would put it in a braid, letting the daycare children put flowers in it.
He said he was a dog person more than a cat person, but would always set out wet food for the neighborhood strays, and would read books to them after sending children home from his daycare.
He was a peculiar man, who knew Childe’s likes and dislikes so well it was almost like he had a manual hidden somewhere in the house. Ten years of marriage and nothing ever gets boring.
“Hi honey,” Childe poked Zhongli’s nose, waking the man before softly kissing his lips.
“Hi honey,” Zhongli echoed back, smiling into the kiss and ruffling Childe’s hair. The right side of course. “How was work?”
“Same old, same old,” Childe shrugged off his jacket, “I would say the most interesting thing that happened to me today was tripping in front of my boss.”
“I’m pretty sure you trip in front of everybody at least once,” Zhongli chuckled. “Remember when you tripped in front of me?”
“Yes I remember, every bit of it,” Childe stuck out his tongue. “And no I will not recant the story back to you.”
After bantering over a hearty meal of seafood soup, the couple settled on the living room couch, a bowl in Childe’s lap to catch orange peels as he fed Zhongli orange slices. Zhongli was immersed in a book, one hand carefully holding the hardcover novel up, the other stroking Chile’s thigh.
“What are we doing for Christmas at the daycare?” Childe popped an orange slice into his mouth. “Are you setting up a tree again?”
“Of course I am,” Zhongli set down his book, focusing his attention on Childe. “I’m planning on buying gifts later, do you want to come?”
“Yes!” Childe held another orange slice to Zhongli’s lips.
Later, they bundled up in winter clothing, pulling hats over their disheveled hair as they stepped outside, stepping into the car to drive to the local mall, a list of Christmas gifts in their pockets. After a couple detours, the couple found everything they needed to give the daycare a Christmas party, waking up the next day to set up a tree.
It was a Christmas miracle, seeing Zhongli dressed up in a Santa Claus suit, a pillow stuffed under his shirt to copy the jolly man. Childe was laughing the whole party, between helping little children get food and locating their presents for them, helping parents take pictures.
It was a Christmas miracle, kissing under mistletoe after they closed the daycare, giving each other their gifts after cleaning up from the party.
“I know this isn’t like our usual Christmases, but this was fun.” Childe laughed as he stacked chairs. “I don’t mind doing this again.”
“I don’t care where we are, or what we’re celebrating as long as you’re by my side.” Zhongli ruffled Childe’s hair. “We can celebrate Christmas in a gas station for all I care”
“Well,” Childe laughed, “I don’t think that will ever happen.”
With Christmas festivities over, Childe now had another holiday to focus on, Zhongli’s birthday. Zhongli never complained about the gifts he got from Childe, saying he liked everything his husband gave him, but that only makes Childe try harder each time for birthdays.
Today was Zhongli’s birthday, and Childe was a bit nervous to show his husband his gift. On weekends he’s been learning how to crochet from a family member, clumsily threading his hooks with thick wool, fingers fumbling as he made his first knot.
He peeked into the paper bag he was clutching, just to make sure that the gift wasn’t going anywhere. Gently setting the bag in the passenger seat, Childe got into the driver’s seat, setting up his GPS to a nearby bakery.
Although he tried to bake a cake, he didn’t want to poison his husband, and chose to order one instead, a luscious mango crème brulee cake that Childe was sure to get Zhongli’s mouth watering.
Picking up the cake, and securing the box with a seatbelt in the backseat, he quickly drove home, smoothing his suit as he got out of the car, cake and gift in hand, slightly nervous as this was his first crocheted gift.
“Happy birthday Zhongli.” Childe set down his parcels at the kitchen table, enveloping Zhongli in a hug.
“Thank you Childe,” He laughed, “You didn’t have to buy me a cake, I was alright with keeping it casual this year.”
“I know, but I knew you couldn’t resist this one so I got it anyways.” Childe grinned, unfolding the box to reveal the cake. “I can see you drooling, you know.”
Zhongli turned away, coughing into his hand.
“With the cake out of the way, what’s in the bag?”
“Well, that’s your present.” Childe scratched the back of his neck.
“Can I open it now?”
Childe watched as Zhongli moved aside the tissue paper, revealing the crocheted navy blue scarf.
“Wow, did you make this?” Zhongli wrapped the scarf around his shoulders, covering his mouth before pulling it down and laughing.
“This smells like oranges!”
“I, I might have been eating oranges while making that. Do you like it?”
“Of course I do,” Zhongli unraveled the scarf, tossing it on Childe’s shoulders and pulling him closer. “It was made by you so I will treasure it forever.”
“I’m glad.” Childe leaned in for a kiss, his nose tickled with the scent of citrus delicately hidden in the scarf.
“Though, I wish you chose to learn crocheting from me,” Zhongli dramatically sighed, pulling Childe closer to him. “I saw the calluses for weeks.”
“That defeats the purpose of a surprise gift though.” Childe rested his arms on Zhongli’s shoulders.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
And the next year was Childe’s birthday, in the summer when his hair looked like it was spun from gold and his smile never ended. Zhongli hoped that his gift was just enough to make his treasure smile even brighter.
They were walking around their neighborhood after deep cleaning the daycare, ice cream from a truck stuck in their mouths, the sun slowly sinking behind houses, children playing on their front lawns savoring the inviting weather.
“Can I give you your gift?”
“You don’t have to ask,” Childe took the popsicle out of his mouth, “Honestly it’s fine if you didn’t get me anything either.”
The summer air ruffled Childe’s hair, his mouth was slightly stained red from the strawberry popsicle, he was wearing a shirt zhongli bought him years ago, the print on the front faded from being worn too much.
“I want to renew our vows,” Zhongli kissed Childe’s knuckles. “I have everything planned out.”
“Really?” Childe almost dropped his popsicle, hearing the words ring in his head.
“Happy birthday, Childe.” Zhongli held out his arms, in which Childe leapt into, actually dropping his popsicle this time.
Their kiss tasted like strawberries.
And just like Zhongli promised, he planned out the whole ceremony, from catering to the guest list, everything for Childe’s birthday.
It was a small and private affair, with only close friends and family, yet the venue was decorated like they had just gotten married.
Tiger lilies on every table and decorating an arch where they would renew their vows. Pale pink lilies here and there to accent the white. Guests positioned at tables waiting for Childe to walk down the aisle.
Zhongli secretly took their old wedding suits to a tailor, resizing the suits and turning them into something more magical than before. Lace accents dotted with tiny crystals, fit pants that accentuate their curves, a more contemporary feel compared to the traditional white suit.
After all, a couple like them deserved anything but the ordinary.
It was a last minute idea, but Childe won Zhongli over, and so they decided to add veils to their look. White mesh with a little flower to hide the hair clip. Exquisite.
Childe was walked down the aisle by his father, who wore the same suit from when he first walked his son down the white aisle. He still held a smile, gripping his son’s hand as he gave him away for the second time.
In place of a minister was Zhongli’s family friend, the first one to know about their relationship, and the one who continuously supported them. He was dressed in a black suit, contrasting to the white around them. A centerpiece for the ceremony.
“Childe,” Zhongli cleared his throat. “Before I met you, I never thought I would be married, I never thought I would live with someone I cared for. I never thought I would come to like someone this much.”
He paused, chewing on his lip.
“I didn’t think our marriage would bring me so much happiness. I read fairy tales when I was younger, about Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, about princesses finding their princes. I never thought I would meet the love of my life in a Target, where he tripped and fell into my shopping cart.”
The crowd laughed, Childe clamped a hand over his mouth, determined not to laugh.
“You became a person I wanted to look at everyday, you became a person that I wanted to become, you became a person that meant everything to me. I knew that I wanted to marry you a week after we dated.”
“We had our challenges and hardships, but we always bounced back, loving each other more and more, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is a fairy tale I want to keep living in, always.”
“Man, my vows are going to sound like trash compared to yours.” Childe teased.
“Zhongli, you are a man every woman and man would want. Fearless, selfless, kind, always smiling, well, I could list more adjectives but we would be here all day, so I will talk about a time that made me realize I wanted to be with you forever.”
“We were shopping for Christmas gifts a couple years ago, and I kept staring at a store selling baby clothes. There were these cute duck-patterned shoes in the window, and I couldn’t stop looking.”
“You were quiet for most of the trip, and when we got home you immediately went to the office computer. After you left I got curious and went to look at your recent searches. They were all about adopting children.”
Zhongli looked away, embarrassed.
“I wasn’t thinking of having children, actually, I saw a baby boy being dropped off at your daycare and wanted to buy the shoes for him because he was wearing a yellow raincoat, but I digress. I knew right then and there I would never have a worry around you. We’re the first thing on each other’s mind. We share our worries with each other and work through them. You take care of me and I take care of you. I fell more in love with you just for the little things you do.”
“Grabbing my waist to steady me, ruffling my hair, making your signature coffee, biting your lip when you’re deep in thought, and tapping your fingers on the desk when you’re reading a book. I could watch you all day and never get bored.”
“It’s been ten years and my heart still flutters every time I see you. And in ten years, when I plan our vow renewal ceremony, my heart will flutter again.”
They exchanged new gold rings, pushing them against their worn wedding bands, lifting their lace veils to uncover their faces.
“Thank you.” Childe mouthed into their kiss.
The rest of the day was spent drinking and laughing, listening to friends and family fight to tell anecdotes on the microphone, getting fed drink after drink by the bartender, clumsily dancing to music blasted from speakers.
The group picture taken at the end looked just like their wedding, with the only difference of everyone aging up or wearing different clothes. Childe smiled as he set the picture frame on the wall again, waltzing into the kitchen to wrap his arms around Zhongli.
“I can’t wait to plan our next ceremony.” His voice came out muffled as he spoke into Zhongli’s back.
“I guess I have to start preparing my vows for next time.” Zhongli set down his cut vegetables, turning around and taking care not to touch Childe as he gave him a kiss.
“What are we eating today?” Childe peeked over Zhongli’s shoulder to peek at the cutting board.
“Your favorite of course,” Zhongli smiled. “Seafood soup.”
And just like Childe promised, he planned their next renewal ceremony, renting part of a private beach, laying a smaller circle of guests on white blankets and using lanterns as light, a softer, intimate atmosphere, for their thirty years.
This time, it was Zhongli’s turn to walk down the aisle, wearing a flowing white shirt as he approached the makeshift altar, where Childe was waiting in matching clothes, carrying a lantern in his hands. A tiger lily in his shirt pocket. Two rings shining on his left hand.
Their new vows were in the sky, floating around them before landing in the ocean, turning into seafoam pushing against the wet beach. They held hands, their four rings clashing against each other as they lit a lantern and released it into the sky, watching as the yellow glow slowly faded, turning blue to match the sky.
One by one, the sky was dotted with yellow light that wanted to fly up and join the stars, before being pushed down by ocean air and landing back on the sandy bank, never to fly again.
Zhongli and Childe walked away from the main party, hand in hand, finding a spot a while away. A blanket wrapped around their shoulders, Childe’s head on Zhongli’s shoulder, eyes closed as Zhongli tousled his hair.
“I don’t think we can do another ceremony after this,” Zhongli chuckled, “I felt tired just walking here.”
“It’s okay,” Childe murmured, “I can have the ceremony anywhere, even in our kitchen. Maybe I’ll just tell you parts of a vow everyday instead.”
“I’d prefer that.” Zhongli wrapped an arm around Childe’s shoulder. “Thank you, for this. It was perfect.”
Childe took his head off Zhongli's shoulder, watching the ocean ripple and the stars reflect in the waves, twinkling.
“I used to be afraid of growing old, you know,” Childe turned to face Zhongli. “I didn’t want to grow old, because I thought it would affect our relationship.”
“You don’t think that anymore, right?” Zhongli squeezed Childe’s wrist.
“No, like I said all those years ago, my heart’s fluttering again.” Childe broke into a smile, interlocking his fingers with Zhongli. “I think the only thing that changes in our relationship is just our bone health.”
They broke into laughter, the blanket falling off their shoulders as they attempted to regain their composure.
“Hey, let’s go in, for old time’s sake.”
“Ah, what if I fall Zhongli? At least five bones cracked while I was laughing.”
“I’ll catch you of course, I’m always here for you.” Zhongli held out a hand, which Childe grabbed as they slowly walked into the water.
“It’s cold!” Childe shivered, gripping Zhongli’s hand harder as they walked deeper into the ocean.
Soon, the cold disappeared as they were waist deep, sand between their toes, shirts completely drenched.
“Can we get out now?” Childe laughed. “I think they started drinking without us.”
“Dance with me.” Zhongli started moving, guiding Childe’s hand to his waist.
He started humming a waltz, as they slowly turned in the water, eyes closed as the water splashed around them.
“Let me dip you.”
Opening his eyes, Childe let himself get dipped, feeling the water touch the back of his head.
“I feel so young again!” Childe laughed as Zhongli pulled him into a kiss.
“Feels like when we were twenty again.” Zhongli smiled, holding Childe’s hands.
“I feel like I could say the most embarrassing things right now.” Childe hugged Zhongli again, pressing his face against the man’s chest.
“Tell me, I want to hear them.”
“Well, for one, I just keep thinking we’ll be together forever, like age isn’t going to stop us from loving each other, you know.”
“I know.”
Childe felt Zhongli’s heartbeat quicken, pulling his head back to smile at Zhongli’s flustered face.
“Your heart is fluttering.”
“The love of my life is saying we will last forever, how could I not?”
Slowly, they walked back to the beach, their feet caked in wet sand as they made it back to everyone else. It was quieter from earlier, but everyone was still talking, congratulating the couple as they approached.
The group picture hung up next to their wedding picture, and their first vow renewal. All in a row, capturing the smallest memories that could have been forgotten, capturing an unforgettable history. Smooth faces that slowly became worn over time, family who passed away, aging and growing up, happiness and sadness.
They quit their jobs, Childe resigning from his office job and Zhongli signing over his daycare to a trusted employee. They spent their evenings slow dancing in the living room, hand in hand as they shuffled in their slippers to classical music played on the television.
They grew old together, slowly settling in a gentler routine, waking up early for long walks in the quiet neighborhood, feeding the neighborhood strays together, learning how to paint in classes at the local mall.
They started cooking breakfast together, buying a new coffee machine to practice different types of coffee from around the world. So far they mastered cappuccinos and flat whites, currently working on perfecting the mazagran.
They started making scrambled eggs instead of sunny side ups, learned to appreciate avocado toast, tried that bagel seasoning that social media was so obsessed with, they even downloaded a new social media app to watch videos when they were bored.
The only thing that hasn’t changed however, was Zhongli always waking up early to watch sunlight scatter on Childe’s face, gently rubbing Childe’s cheek to wake him up. Childe would blink a couple times, rubbing his eyes with his fist, before breaking into a smile and saying good morning in his half awake half asleep voice.
Zhongli’s bones would disagree with him when he would prop himself up on one elbow but he didn’t pay attention, not until he had to get a brace per his doctor’s orders. But he didn’t mind either as Childe would start laughing whenever he saw it, which was every morning when he was woken up.
They decided to buy plants to spruce up their home, gathering an assortment of succulents and herbs in their kitchen. To supplement their new hobby, Zhongli bought a small match green watering can and a matching set of gardening tools so they could eventually take care of bigger plants.
They have a Heartleaf philodendron in the living room, a hoya pot set on their bedroom window, more green than Childe expected from their “little” hobby. Eventually they started naming the plants, post-it notes with marker scrawled names stuck on pots.
Slowly, the plants wilted and turned brown as they got older, the herbs in the kitchen garden became inedible as they spent more time in the hospital compared to home. It can’t be helped, not everything can survive.
“I guess the only upside to growing old is worrying about what blanket the nurse gives you.” Childe laughed, tightening the scarf around his neck. Although it's been washed plenty of times, there was still a citrus scent if Childe focused enough.
“I can bring you one from home if you’re cold.” Zhongli shifted in his chair. “I don’t want you feeling uncomfortable when you are sleeping.”
“My nurse gets me an extra blanket at night,” Childe soothed his husband, “Besides, I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
“You told me you wouldn’t be melancholic,” Zhongli slowly got up, walking over to the window to let in more sunlight. “Maybe not having enough sunlight in here is rubbing off on you.”
“Can you peel an orange for me, honey? I don’t think my fingers are cooperating today.”
“Of course, of course.” Zhongli hummed, pulling an orange out of his grocery bag. “Remember when you would peel oranges for me? I guess it’s my turn to return the favor.”
After polishing off an orange, and splashing some juice into his scarf, Childe wordlessly took a nap, the sunlight pooling on his body, Zhongli by his side watching the man’s chest slowly rise and fall. Soon he fell asleep too, succumbing to the warm afternoon and resting his head on Childe’s bed.
He woke up to Childe gently rubbing his cheek, the sun replaced by clouds in the window.
“How do you feel, Childe?” Zhongli rubbed his eyes, his blurry vision sharpening to show Childe’s face.
“I think today’s my last day, Zhongli.” Childe tried to smile, holding back the quiver in his voice. “I feel more tired than usual.”
“I’m not going anywhere, you don’t have to worry.” Zhongli chuckled, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening as his eyes smiled.
Even with decades of aging, and years of being in the sun, Zhongli still looked as beautiful as ever, with the same smile he wore on their wedding day, with the same fingers that always brought comfort.
“I had a silly dream last night,” Childe pulled the thin blanket up to his chin. “I wore funny looking clothes, and I had a mask on my head, I was fighting side by side with you, and your hair was in a simple ponytail and you had a staff.”
Childe looked over at Zhongli, who was speechless.
“Then something hit me, and I fell down, and you were leaning over me, crying.”
“It was real, wasn’t it, Zhongli?” Childe coughed. “It simply wasn’t a dream. It felt too real to be a dream.”
“It was real, a long time ago.” Zhongli whispered. “In our first life.”
“You were looking for me all this time,” Childe whispered back. “So this isn’t a goodbye, right? I’ll see you soon, later.”
Zhongli nodded, feeling tears threaten to fall from the corner of his eyes.
“Do you remember what I told you? As you laid under the rain in the battlefield?”
Childe shook his head, realizing he didn’t hear it in his dream, closing his eyes as tear drops trickled down his chin.
Zhongli caressed Childe’s cheek, softly stroking it as tears slowly dropped down his own skin.
“I told you that I would follow you wherever you go, no matter who you became.”
Zhongli paused, sliding his fingers against Childe’s wrist, gently squeezing it before reaching for his fingers and interlocking them.
“So, Childe, do not be sad, I’ll find you again, and again. Over and over, always.”
“It’s not fair, Zhongli, how can you say that when you know I will forget everything? How can you really love every version of me you come across?”
“Well,” Zhongli leaned in, softly pressing a kiss to the man’s forehead, “It doesn’t matter what skin you have, whoever you become, nor your personality. I love you, I love everything about you, I accept everything of you.”
Zhongli smiled, making sure he comforted Childe, as the man took a last, deep breath.
“You told me, in our first life that you wanted me to always come home.”
He paused, placing a butterfly kiss on Tartaglia’s worn knuckles.
“You are home. I will always come back to you.”
Time of death- 4:05 PM