Chapter Text
there’s something very comforting about the way that water rises and falls. being so inclined with the geo aspect of the world, zhongli has always been so intrigued at the sight of hydro. rocks are his specialty, so he envies how lively water can behave. he carefully watches the suds that form after a wave gives out beneath his feet.
sometimes he will walk down at night and note the way that the tide reaches much further during the late hours of the day. why is that? he wonders. centuries of experience in this land, and he could never understand how the moon and water are drawn to each other. what is this pull that they share? how strong is this connection that they have?
no matter how far the water reaches, it always ends up in the same place it began.
he remembers childe explaining these concepts to him. astrology and whatnot. zhongli has never been beyond this world, so he knows nothing of the spaces of heat and gas that form millions of miles away. “you should speak to this young girl in mondstadt named mona. she knows all kinds of things about astrology.”
ah, but zhongli has heard about this mona megistus. aether told him once of the adventure they went on - saying that she reminded them a lot of zhongli since she never has mora on her. “if you suggest it, then i must.”
they had been sitting cross-legged on the balcony of the funeral parlor. childe explained different stereotypes within these things called horoscopes - which are supposedly different for each person. he smiled, shifting closer towards the other as he called him a silly name - capricorn. zhongli has never heard that nickname before..
“do not rely that much on the fate of the stars, ajax,” zhongli once said. “i believe destiny is what you make of it.”
“yeah, yeah.” childe would say, pointing at the light. “i just think that the sky is freaking cool.”
zhongli nostalgically blinks up at the sky as it begins to turn into its peachy orange -- meaning that zhongli should start to head home. he sighs as the wind knocks his hair back and forth. maybe another day .
he turns in his boots and slowly walks down the path he originally came. zhongli liked to get away from the crowds sometimes. he has to remind himself that he isn’t exactly like the rest of the citizens of liyue, for obvious reasons. being a former archon among others was something he had to get used to over the years. he still may be a bit rusty to human interaction time and time again.
even though the man is a familiar face in liyue, and is quite loved by many, it is a given that he would feel lonely as well. not many know the things that the god has experienced over the millennium, and most of those things will stay unsaid, forever. therefore, it has been difficult in the past to create a strong bond with another.
zhongli continues down the streets, arriving almost near the outer markets. he traces over the geo resonance across his arm and sighs once again. the pain under his skin may not ever be healed, but there is one person out there that makes it all worthwhile.
“fancy seeing you here,” someone calls to zhongli, and he sees that it is childe, who is sitting casually on a bench beside mingxing jewelry. “lost in thought?”
“yes, somehow i always gravitate towards these shops.” zhongli replies.
“this time, it seems like you’re gravitating towards me.” childe grins.
zhongli smiles in return, walking over to accompany the younger by sitting beside him. “mind if i..”
“of course, of course,” childe begins, shifting himself over on the bench. he picks up a few items that zhongli assumes are from the souvenir shop next to them. childe shows him the different lazurite gems in his hands, and then reaches to display the miniature blade that lay in a cushioned box. “‘s a few gifts for the family back home.”
“i see,” zhongli widens his eyes at the shimmering gems, and reaches to caress one that catches his eyes; he holds it up to childe’s, “very lovely - these match the color of your irises.”
childe’s smile deepens at the compliment, and he grabs the gem from zhongli before he ends up taking it for himself. “are you heading back to the parlor?”
zhongli shakes his head, still watching the gems as childe stuffs them in a small pouch to keep them safe. “home.”
childe then nods, standing up to reach his hand out for the consultant. “may i accompany you on your way, then?”
zhongli takes his hand to stand up, nodding. he whispers an of course at the other, so quietly that he could hardly hear himself. it didn’t matter though, because they had walks like these quite often. childe never has to ask for the way to his home -- by now, he knows exactly where the consultant lives.
they stroll past many familiar faces, zhongli waving at a few of his acquaintances. the nostalgic air continued to linger, and zhongli couldn’t tell exactly why this night felt almost somber.
the sky fades into its endless black, as the stars shine in their individual lights, leaving zhongli with a tight feeling in his chest. he catches his eyes on the gleaming moon that appears to be bigger than usual, even in its crescent shape.
the two walk side by side in the comfort of their silence, inches closer than they were moments before. zhongli felt as if there was something he expected childe to say. this ajax was usually the talkative one of the two, making lighthearted jokes about the way zhongli reminisces on osmanthus wine, or pointing at the stars in the sky and laughing at the shapes that they create in his mind.
however, this night was brought with a persisting silence that even childe somehow couldn’t work his way around. zhongli opens his mouth to speak once, and then again, trying to think of something to make note of as they walk.
“hey, i’ve been wanting to tell you,” childe starts, and something deflates in zhongli’s chest. here it is. childe pauses, and zhongli’s mind begins wondering what could be wrong. zhongli’s eyebrows dip into a furrow, and childe notices the slight difference in his expression. “it’s nothing bad, i promise you. i just wanted to let you know that i’ll be leaving liyue tomorrow.”
and, oh .
this wasn’t exactly the news zhongli expected to hear tonight. he somehow couldn’t imagine himself without the power to walk down the street to accompany his favorite person. is it strange that he thought of childe as that? he never thought so, really, since childe seemed to enjoy his company as well. but what was he to do if he weren’t here with him?
“leaving?” zhongli mutters, painting the same expression across his face.
“mhm -- only for a week though!” childe pokes at the other’s shoulder, attempting to enlighten his mood. “i’m needed back for some business, so i figured i would bring the siblings these gifts.”
zhongli looks down at his hands..
hmm , he ponders. what kind of feeling is this? is it sadness? no, he wasn’t sad. he still felt that strong admiration toward childe’s thoughtfulness. he respected how much he cared for his siblings - it’s something that zhongli will never be able to do. he hoped to meet these children someday, maybe.
but enough with this self-reflection, those thoughts would get himself nowhere. zhongli quickly straightens up to gaze back at the man in front of him.
the words then tumble out in the utmost fondness, “i wish you the best on your trip, ajax.”