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Whirlwinds screamed as it raced across the land. Waves towered over civilization and dragged its prey into the water as flames ate everything it touched.
Survivors ran past him, running as far as they could, away from the wrath of monsters. The Traveler had taken off earlier, chasing after someone similar.
Childe pushed past the people, head whipping around in search of one man. “Zhongli!” He tried to shout above all the screams. “Zhongli! Zhong—” A flash of brown and amber disappeared behind a hill. He ran toward it.
A familiar back came into sight. Relief swelled in him as he reached for the man. “Zhongli, we have to—” Instincts forced him to leap back right as a spike shot from the ground where he once stood. Childe stared at it, baffled. The uneasiness in his chest continued to grow as Zhongli turned around.
Childe’s chest stuttered. He didn’t dare breathe as cold sweat slid down his neck. Something was very wrong. “Zhongli?”
There were golden markings on his face and horns protruding from his head.
And his eyes, unfamiliar and chilling, glanced at Childe with disinterest. “Who are you?” His voice vibrated through the land, almost shattering his bones from that alone.
Childe laughed nervously as water swirled around his hand. “What are you saying? It’s me, Childe.”
Zhongli tilted his head, familiar yet unfamiliar. “Am I supposed to know what an insect is called?”
“Quit playing around! Listen, we have to go. We can’t fight this disaster!”
He turned his head to look at the calamity around them. His lips quirked up ever so slightly. “Yes. They are struggling, aren’t they? It’s amusing.” He raised a hand, sending rock slides toward the running people. Wails and screams pierced his ears as Childe gripped his blades tightly.
Forming a polearm, he slashed a streak of water toward the god, only to have his attack toss back at him. He dodged swiftly and spun around to see Zhongli in front of him. His eyes widened.
Zhongli placed his thumb and middle finger together and gave his forehead a flick. Childe flew back, coughing as he smashed into a pillar. Before he could regain his senses, his body jerked forward. A hand clamped around his throat as it held him off the ground.
Childe gasped for air, scrambling at Zhongli’s grip in an attempt to loosen it. “Zhongli— you have to wake up! Your people are suffering! And you promised—” He wheezed at the tightening grip. “T-that you would have dinner with me today….”
Something flickered in Zhongli’s eyes, giving him hope. “Ah… I know now.” Childe clawed at his hand as it completely cut off his air. “You’re an obstacle.”
His hand shook as he reached out, pressing his fingertips against the harden skin of his cheek. His eyes burned. ‘Zhong—”
CRACK.
++++
Childe’s eyes snapped open with a gasp. He turned quickly to see his Zhongli breathing softly beside him.
It was a dream… “It was a dream.” He repeated to himself. But despite that, his heart was still beating frantically. He placed his trembling fingers against the smooth skin of Zhongli's face, brushing his bangs aside.
He rolled closer to the other man and pressed his cheek against his chest. There was a sharp inhale from above.
“…Childe…?” Zhongli’s drowsy voice ceased some of the uneasiness from Childe chest. His hand clung to Zhongli's shirt as he inhaled the light fragrance that only Zhongli had.
Zhongli shifted slightly to make them both comfortable. “Is something wrong?”
Childe closed his eyes and hugged him tighter. “Can we stay like this?”
A warm and heavy arm draped over him without hesitation as he tangled their legs together. Zhongli’s warm breath ruffled his hair as he sighed. Like this, it felt like nothing could bother them. The world was calm, and Zhongli’s touch was warm.
Zhongli pressed a kiss on his head and dragged his fingers back his back as Childe listened to the light pulsing of his heart. “I’m here, Ajax.”