Work Text:
„Gods this shit fucking sucks.“ Tartaglia whispered while he was gulping down another glass of Liyuean alcohol. Yet he screamed „Another glass!“ in the so well-mannered restaurant and slapped another bag of Mora on his table. It should be a usually so peaceful night. Gentle moonlight putting the market life of the harbour to rest and enticing the relaxing time to be had at late, late times.
„Mr. Zhongli! Do you not have any more work to do? Do you want me to clean the place up?“ the young housemaid asked. „Thank you so much for the offer, but it‘s not necessary. Just continue your work. I‘ll be able to handle my office myself.“ the older man said with a gentle smile while putting on his long, elegant tailcoat. „You may tell director Hu that I just had to go earlier, however the paperwork will still be finished until dawn.“ and he rushed out of the door. It was uncharacteristic for the elegant consultant to be in such a hurry, leaving his work behind so fast. Walking down the red stairs, the man caught a glimpse of the tall ginger sitting at a restaurant, just as he expected.
He neared the mans table lit up by yellow lanterns. „Greetings, Mr. Zhongli! Would you like a seat?“ a chef asked him. „No thank you, he sighed. I know where I need to go.“ he said while leaving the person alone to continue his determined path.
„What the fuck do you want?“ the ocean blue eyes were empty. As if they were lifeless they stared into the shining amber glowing irises. „Come with me Childe.“ his dark gloves hand grabbed the back of Childes hand. „Don‘t fucking touch me.“ he slapped the contact away.
„Childe you’re drunk.“
„So what if I am. Why the fuck should i listen to anything you say?“ he scoffed. „Because you’re not in a right state of mind.“ the consultant answered. He knew the young man could be reckless at times. However, this behavior was none of the usual thrill of life he seeked to feel. It was nothing but drowning oneself in alcoholic beverages.
To numb ones feelings. To drink and drink and drink evermore.
“No you’re coming with me.“ he whispered when he grabbed him by the wrists. „Please, if you may excuse me. Put his receipt on my name. I‘ll make sure to pay it tomorrow. Just make sure Chef Xiangling remembers.“ the elder told a waiter and he pulled the young warrior away from the table in a rushing pace.
„Leave me the fuck alone!“ he tried to free himself from the grasp, but the grab was strong. Stronger than he could ever imagine the gentle looking man to be able to. There were no words to be spoken the whole way that Zhongli dragged the young man to his office and residence at the funeral parlor.
„Stop it!“ Childe cried out.
„Tartaglia you’re not in a right state of mind.“ he tried to explain while entering the quiet building. Even the housemaids have left. By now, Childe has freed himself from the grasp.
The moonlight shone through the curtains and lit up the room paired with the yellow lights scattered across the clean office.
„Right state of mind my ass. I don‘t want your help. I don‘t want hick I don‘t need your pity.“ he said. „You fucking asshole did nothing to protect me and now you come running to me and want to help me- what the hell are you thinking.“ Zhongli kept staring him in the ocean blue irises, eyelids swollen. „Tartaglia.“ he called him out but got interrupted by a sharp but messy voice. „Tartaglia, wow that‘s me. Don‘t you ever think you could surpass hick me you ex-archon.“ he stepped closer and leaned in. „Think you‘re all high an mighty but you gave up your entire fucking nation. Unlike you, I stay loyal.“
Zhongli had to restrain himself. He did not feel an urge to hurt the one in front of him, but the words were hurting his head - maybe even his heart. Loyalty. What a word to be educated over. „You betrayed everyone you hick knew. You used me you scum.“ Childes gloved hand pointed at Zhonglis chest, putting a light pressure against his clothed body. The consultant stood silent. „You fucking used me for my abilities. I know I‘m a pawn in all of this bullshit but you- you- hick i thought I could trust someone for once but noooo~“
„Ajax, do you not realize I have not said a word about any of this. This isn‘t about anything either of us have done. I just wish for you to stop hurting yourself with dangerous beverages.“
„Oh don‘t you fucking dare use that name. Mr. Ex-Archon. I talk about whatever I want and if I wanna bitch about you using me like some pile of dirt I will hick“ he continued his steps forward in a provocative manner. „Go worry about all your people I almost killed. Maybe I should‘ve done so. Maybe I should‘ve killed you in the process as well, no? I can’t believe I ever wanted to lure Rex Lapis out. I never would’ve if I knew hick that scumbag of a god was someone like you. Stop pretending you worry about me.“
Zhonglis eyes widened. A slap on the face. The black gloves rushed against Zhonglis face and left him looking to the side, not moving a muscle. He just stood there in complete silence.
„I don‘t fucking care.“
His cheek was turning red.
But he was not doing anything.
„Should‘ve done a better contract, maybe then you wouldn‘t be here getting slapped by some foreigner. Who am I kidding. You‘re a pathetic archon without a gnosis.“ Childe chuckled. „Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to this contract. Maybe I shouldn’t agree to everything the Tsaritsa or Signora tell me. Maybe I shouldn‘t agree on anything YOU tell me.“ With one last smirk he continued his sentence. „You bet I‘m gonna keep drinking hick I dont‘t care what you think. I just want to get you out if my mind you vermin. You‘re like a parasite. The worst one I‘ve ever had.“ The moon was painting the indigo eyes in a soft light.
It was softly glowing on the pale, scar-filled skin. Many scars, oh so many scars tainted the porcelain skin. Zhongli had longed oh so often to trace over each and everyone.
Zhongli longed for many things.
Not only to satisfy his own needs and desires, but to not let the ones he loved be victims of the cruelties of life.
He always has been one himself.
Neither did he want to afford others getting hurt, nor did he strive to feel an aching pain in his heart again.
Not again.
He couldn‘t afford any more unfortunate events, not again.
Tartaglia walked back and stumbled onto the sofa behind him. He was laying there lifelessly, his chest moving up and down being the only evidence of a spark of life still resting inside of him.
Zhongli kept standing in silence for a while. He had to think, gather himself.
Mr. Zhongli was a particular man, but not to forget an ex-archon. He has led multiple lifetimes as Rex Lapis, Morax, the prime of the adepti.
To see someone he loved get hurt, be in this state, he couldn‘t bear it.
Not wrong was it, that Zhongli used Tartaglia. He did. Morax used Tartaglia for his own good. But what started as an objective contract for the greater good, turned out to be a mistake for an individual. One he cares about.
Maybe it wasn't only the Cryo Archons fault. Maybe the undying loyalty to the Tsaritsa was another burden to be beared on Tartaglias shoulders. But this was no reason to give Zhongli an excuse to be innocent in all of this.
To not be able to handle change is a disastrous personality trait that could destroy decades of an enjoyable lifetime.
And maybe being betrayed and used after a trusting relationship was a change that Tartaglia couldn‘t handle.
Maybe it hurt more and kept hurting more the more he had thought about it. Maybe it was more than a relationship of trust that made it hurt so badly. Maybe it was an attachment. An intimacy. A longing.
I just want to get you out if my mind you vermin. You‘re like a parasite. The worst on I‘ve ever had
The words stuck with Zhongli the way Zhonglis actions stuck in Tartaglias mind
To not be able to handle change.
Oh how disastrous.
The ginger man found himself snuggled up in light brown sheets on a leather sofa once the bright sunlight hit his closed eyelids. His hair was ruffled, all of his muscles hurt. His throat was dry, eyes burning.
He looked around the unfamiliar room, not knowing how to identify anything in here.
His head was dizzy…fuzzy. Until he saw a tall figure sitting at a dark table. It seemed as though he was filling out paperwork but stopped, when he grasped the eyes staring at him.
Only when the sound of steps on the wooden floor got closer to him, he realized all the rumbling of the rooms around him and it made his head hurt and spin.
Tartaglia realized that he did not remember much from last night. He remembered that he felt a heat in his heart, an anger. Though right now, it was as if he felt nothing but the lack of emotions.
Emptiness, he felt like the husk of a man.
„How are you feeling?“ but he did not answer. He stared into the room with no goal in mind. „You feel onto the ground yesterday, therefore I made an effort to make you feel comfortable. For the night at least. I do not care if you don‘t appreciate the action nor if you seek to scold me for it.“
Fell onto the ground? Oh that‘s right. Drunk was he. He drank to numb everything. To numb the pain.
Numb. He still felt numb.
Not able to move. Did he want to? Or did he long to stay. Nonono he needed to go. He could never be taken care of by this gnosis-less god which betrayed him! Never!
But maybe now. But maybe now there was a lot more to the both of them. Maybe there have been more reasons, more motives, more things which they did not wish for, more emotions.
„Do you wish to go? I will not object if you have the desire to leave.“
Maybe he would‘ve wanted to object, but couldn‘t.
More emotions involved. And unfortunate events.
Oh how unfortunate everything turned out. Maybe everything could‘ve been better.
„I‘ll stay.“ the harbinger said with a raspy worn-out voice.
But only maybe things could‘ve turned out different - better.
But only maybe it wasn‘t all over. Maybe an unfortunate fate could be turned to be in their favor.
Even though it was disastrous.
Disastrous to not be able to handle change.