Chapter Text
"Alright, you lot are dismissed." Childe waved his hand at the new recruits. He smiled blankly as they one by one left the training field. Sighing, Childe picked up his bow from the ground, twirling it a little before slinging it across his back. Just his luck that he was required to address these new recruits , on the account that he was "the only contactable Harbringer in Liyue."
Not that Childe minded, though. The man had never passed up an opportunity to show off his skills to the younger recruits-- smirking as their jaws drop from his wonderful display of well-handled hydro blades cutting though enemies like they were made of paper. The only downside was that it was rather time consuming, and Childe was now running late.
Clicking his tongue, Childe began to make his way back to Liyue.
As the Harbour faded slowly into view, Childe felt himself picking up speed, his legs subconsciously bringing him faster and faster down the streets, stright towards the building he visits every so often in the recent months, the Wangshun Funeral Palour, where he met Zhongli.
Childes eyes scan the scene like crazy as the building fades into view, his heart skips a beat, actually more like two beats, as his eyes fix onto a certain familiar figure exiting through the front doors. Childe hopelessly fails to contain his excitement, breaking into huge smile as he rushes forward.
"Xiansheng!" Childe calls out.
"Childe." Zhongli smiles warmly, amused as the other man practically runs over to him.
Childe comes to a stop mere centimeters away from Zhongli, and it takes a whole lot out of Childe to ground himself, holding himself back from pouncing straight onto the man. He silently settles for slinging his arm around Zhongli's, his skin tingling at the touch.
"So, dinner?" He asks.
Zhongli nods, before his eyes drop and widen. "Childe.." he begins, "I may have forgotten to-"
"Bring Mora?" Childe cuts in, giggling when Zhongli nods slightly. "Don't worry! I've got us covered." He did, in fact, always bring a lot of Mora on him when going out with Zhongli. The man always had an interest in purchasing items that piqued him, and Childe was more than happy to indulge in him.
"Thank you, Childe." Zhongli smiles again, tugging on Childe's arm. "In that case, let us commence."
Childe lets Zhongli pull him down the streets to Wanmin restaurant, where they always eat together, smiling dumbly to himself as he replayed the sound of his name on Zhongli's lips in his head again, and again, and again.
God he loved that man so much.
As the duo neared Wanmin restaurant, it was painfully clear that is was rather crowded, for there were no empty seats. A steady queue had also started to form at the counter of the restaurant, stretching out rather far.
Childe bowed his head, "Ah, I'm sorry Xiansheng." Childe mumbled. "If I had made my way to Liyue Harbour sooner, we could have beat the queue and we'd be eating right now.."
"It's quite alright, Childe." Zhongli replied. He didn't fully understand why Childe was so upset. Afterall, there were many other eating choices in Liyue. "Perhaps we should find another place to eat at today."
"Mhm, okay!" Childe agreed, perking up. "But most of the other places to eat at Liyue requires a before-hand reservation, and uh-" Childe continues, "I don't suppose you made one."
Zhongli furrowed his eyebrows for a moment. Childe had a point. Thinking for a moment, he replied after awhile. "Well, how about my place?"
"Huh?" Childe took a second to process what had just happened. Did Zhongli j-just invite him over to his house? Childe shook his head slightly, Zhongli definitely did not mean it in THAT way, he thought.
"I live not too far away from here, and seeing that it would take us some time to get food should we stay here, heading to my place would be a reasonable decision, yes?" Zhongli explained. "All we have to do is stop by the market to pick some needed ingredients."
"Ah, uh, alright..uh.." Childe stuttered, his face flushing red.
Zhongli smiled silently to himself, quietly admiring how cute Childe was being. Truthfully, their frequent dinners together was rapidly becoming Zhongli's favourite part of the day. He enjoyed Childe's company more than he would admit. Being close to the man just made him warm inside.
"Let's go."
After a quick stop at Second Life (with Childe paying, as usual), the duo slowly walked towards a much quieter part of the Harbour. Zhongli swiftly searched his pockets for his keys as Childe looked around.
Childe had been to this part of Liyue Harbour before, he faintly remembers casting his glance at the same door he was currently standing in front of. Though it had never crossed his mind that it was Zhongli's...if he had known..
The door clicked open suddenly, snapping Childe back to the present.
With a soft (adorable) grunt, Zhongli pushed the door open, taking off his shoes. Just before he invited Childe in, however, Zhongli seemed to pause a little. "My home may not be what you would expect..." He said, uncharacteristically hesitant.
Childe shot Zhongli a tiny smile, sliding off his shoes as well, placing a palm softly on the man's shoulders.
"Quite frankly, Xiansheng," he said, "I could care less for what is inside, for all that catches my eye is who i see inside."