Chapter Text
The morning started out like any other, overly sunny with multiple clouds in sight. Groaning, he gets out of bed and starts gathering supplies for the trip ahead of him. Considering the dirty looks he’s been receiving as of late (probably due to…..the osial accident, let’s be honest) deciding to embark on a journey with Aether and Zhongli wasn’t too difficult of a choice. While he’ll miss the food and ambience of Liyue, the time away should surely help the tenseness the citizens give off at his presence.
Aether had told him they would be received at the docks near Inazuma by an ally he had made on his first visit while scouting the terrain. A Goro...fellow? He wasn’t very sure on the spelling or pronunciation of the name, as he’s never heard anything like it before.
Finished retrieving what he would be taking with him, he goes to open the door only to be met with it opening and Zhongli barging in; barely avoiding slamming straight into his chest.
“Xiansheng! I thought I was going to swing by your place, not the other way around. What brings you here in such a hurry?” Childe steadies Zhongli, then bends to pick up the few bags he dropped at the near impact.
“Ah, Childe. I’m very sorry for almost knocking you over. I believe I am doing us a favor by making us leave sooner rather than later. We could stop by a couple of food stalls on the way to Aether; savour our last moments in Liyue till our return. Are you amenable to this?” Zhongli gazes at him with a tilt of his head, question obvious even in his eyes.
“Hm...I guess I am rather hungry now that I think about it. Sure, lead the way. Do you have all you need ready to go?” Looking at him up and down, he seems very empty handed. Where did he put all his belongings? “Li, where are your bags? Are you not taking anything at all?” He sighs, shaking his head. Wouldn’t be the first time he’s made to compensate for the items Zhongli forgets to pack. Good thing he’s used to this by now. He looks at Zhongli with a fond look, waiting for him to reply.
Zhongli has a hand in front of his mouth, a classic thinking pose for the man. “Oh my, you’re right. Seems in my hurry to retrieve you I left them all back at the parlor’s entrance. Accompany me, would you?” He reaches out and grasps Childe’s empty hand. “Come, it shouldn’t take us too long to do so.” Humming, he drags Childe out of his apartment near the bank.
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“Zhongli…..you can't be serious. Are you really expecting to take all of this?” Exasperated, he looks at the mound of bags and satchels strewn across the entrance to the funeral parlor. “Will there even be any room for the rest of us on the boat the traveler owns? It didn't seem all too big from what I’ve seen of it. Maybe you should look over these once more and cut down on some things?”
“You may have a point, Childe. I found myself to be uncharacteristically excited yesterday while preparing as this will be the first time in thousands of years where I step foot out of my dear Liyue. Ah, but what to leave behind in that case, hmmmm..” Zhongli squats down to the nearest bag to him, opening it to check its contents and rummage through it. Deciding to be of help as well, Childe does the same to a couple placed on a nearby table. So much for leaving early, he thinks with a reluctant smile slowly growing across his face.
“Remember, clothes and non perishables are of most importance. Food wise we should have easy access to campfires when the need arises. Also, please leave your teapot set behind. I know you hate it going unused but it’s not a necessity, ok?” Childe says, laughing at the silent annoyed huff that leaves Zhongli at that last part.
“If you must insist, fine.” Zhongli grumbles some more but deems himself ready to depart. “Okay that should be sufficient. Lets stop by Wanmin and order food to go. Do you think Aether would appreciate us getting something for him and his friend?” Grabbing a couple of his companions' bags, Childe answers somewhat muffled. “Sure I don't see why he wouldn't, but let's get something vegetarian too just in case that person is on the same diet as Aether himself tends to be."
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Arriving on time at the agreed upon location, Childe finishes up his snack in a rapid 2 bites. “Do you see Aether anywhere? It's a bit crowded for it being so early in the morning.”
“I see him over by that merchant stall, come along. Don't get lost again. Hurry now, he must be looking for us as well.” Gripping Childe’s left hand, Zhongli goes to where he spotted their shorter ally earlier.
“Hey comrade! Over here!” Hearing the distinct voice of the harbinger, everyone within earshot whips their head over to them. One long braid whips around as well, belonging to the intended target. “Childe, Zhongli! Just on time, my boat is stationed over here.” Aether nods at them in greeting and starts making his way through the crowd to an emptier area of the dock. Just as stated, there's the boat floating in the clear crisp water, ready for the long journey ahead. “How long till we get to where your friend is waiting for us, do you think? Less than a day maybe?”
Hopping into the boat, he drops his bags onto an empty patch of wood and turns to help Zhongli into the boat as his actions caused it to wobble a bit. “Easy there, wouldn't want you already needing to change out of a pair of clothes so early into the expedition, hm?” Smirking, he shoots Zhongli a teasing wink. Zhongli huffs again, but there is a redness spreading across his cheeks regardless. “Very funny. Here, help me put these down somewhere and make yourself useful.” Catching the two bags tossed at him, Childe laughs. “Now, now; don't be like that Li-Li. "
He turns to where Aether is making his way onto the boat as well. “If we don’t have to make any sudden stops on the way we should make it by evening and no later. Are you two ready to leave? Not forgetting anything?” Aether says as he goes to control the boat, Paimon popping into existence near him with a burst of sparkles. “Yeah! Don't forget anything you two! I hope Aether already told you we have someone waiting for us. He better have something for Paimon to eat. I'm starving!” She yelps as she’s suddenly shoved aside by a palm, Aether pushing her to float further from his ringing ear. “Hey! Watch it! Paimon’s delicate!”
Laughing at their antics, Childe settles himself on the floor with a rucksack under his neck as a makeshift pillow. He plans to take a nap, and Zhongli seems to be on board as well as there's a sudden pressure near his shoulder. Snuggled together as they are, he has no trouble slipping into a dream-like state. Comfortable and warm with someone he cares for so close to him.
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He's sharply jolted awake by the boat jostling in place. Had they arrived already? How long has he been napping? Looking to his left, it seems he's not the only one who's barely waking. Shaking the sleep out of his eyes, he slowly gets up and lets his gaze wander the area ahead. Yep, they've made it to the meeting point. He bends momentarily to further shake Zhongli awake as well, and once that's done, calls out to Aether while grabbing his bags and slinging them over both shoulders. “Aether, buddy! Where’d you go?” A responding shout comes from up ahead. “Over here guys! Gorou’s here already. Come meet him!”
Aha. Go time. Leaving the boat exactly as he got on, he hops out with minor help from his vision for some extra flair, and just as quickly comes to a near perfect stop, his wide eyes falling upon their new travel companion. Adorable, cute kittens fill his mind for a handful of seconds until Zhongli walking up next to him snaps him out of his minor daze. Embarrassed, he walks forward a few steps and goes to shake the strangers hand. “Hey there, my name is Tartaglia but most people call me Childe, what about you, kitt-...cutie? Cat eared fellow? Uhm..Foxy?” Nervous chuckling. Archons, what a way to make a first impression. Nice going, idiot. The stranger lets out a laugh that somehow also reminds him of a cat, HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE. He didn’t think his love for cats would come to bite him in the ass like this one day. Archons above.
“Hahaha it's okay, you can call me whatever you want, but most others usually stick to Gorou. It being my birth given name and all.” Amused eyes, sparkling with humor look at Childe in unhidden interest that Zhongli immediately picks up on and does not feel happy about. Childe himself, still unused to talking to a person with attributes he has a weakness to, does not notice this at all and instead is zeroed in on the minor twitches the left neko ear is having. “Uhhhhh yeah okay got it, yeah. So, cat or fox? What kind of ears are those if I am allowed to ask? Also, let me know if it's rude to ask this, but may I touch them? They look really soft and cute.” Zhongli glares at him but he's none the wiser once again at the discontent rolling of him in waves.
“Oh no, I don't mind at all! Just uh, over here maybe? I don’t want everyone watching, that would definitely make me feel awkward about it. I myself am not 100% sure what feline hybrid type I am but it leans heavily towards the domesticated kind.” He wanders over to below a blossoming large pink tree and beckons Childe after him. Perking up, Childe rushes to him, cups his hands over the twitching ears, and beams.
“Wow, they're even softer than I suspected at first glance! Archons I'm so sorry for all this, I have an unbearably large soft-spot for cats and because of your traits you also fall into that cat-egory. Haha! Get it?” Laughing once more, but at his own terrible pun, Childe continues stroking the ears with the goofiest smile and an awed look on his face. Gorou slightly rolls his eyes at the pun but it melts off his face just as soon, unable to look even mildly irritated while someone exactly his type is petting him as tenderly as this. Due to him also being overwhelmed by the bliss of it, he is unaware of the purrs his chest is emitting.
Childe’s eyes widen even further. Not just cat ears then? He’s stopped before he can voice his very positive opinions on this by a heavy weight hooking over his shoulders in the form of arms. Zhongli! He completely forgot the whole reason for coming here in the first place, shoot. He blames it all on the cute kitty cat in front of him. “My bad Li, is Aether wanting to find a place to stay?” He looks over his shoulder at his beloved for just a second before his attention is snatched once more by Gorou speaking. “I know just the place, follow along you two.” Being the one to snatch Childe’s arm first this time, he throws a sharp fanged smile in Zhongli’s general direction before taking the arm in his grip and the person attached to it farther ahead of where Aether and Zhongli are left standing. Childe yelps but goes along willingly, poking at the ears he's so ensnared by occasionally.
Furious, Zhongli stomps after them while Aether sighs and follows at a slower pace. He’s dreading the rest of the trip already. Archons help him, he did not sign up for this.