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Childe was shaking as kind strangers help him put on the beautiful and strikingly red robe on his wedding day. Oh, Tsaritsa, it was his wedding day today. Thinking about it makes him want to throw up from anxiety.
"Sir, are you alright?" one of them asks, and he laughs nervously.
"Just... insanely nervous" he answers breathlessly, trying to keep the want to barf on the down-low.
The mature woman smiles understandingly, nodding as she tightens the robe and examines his light makeup. Childe didn't dare to look himself in the mirror, it'll turn too real if he does that.
He's going to marry Zhongli today.
He takes another deep breath. He sees the mature woman nod approvingly and told her assistants to help him out of the room and to the aisle.
"You are beautiful" she assures. "Focus on your groom as you walk, it will help you remember why a wedding is necessary"
Childe smiles gratefully, taking her advice to heart and trying to walk as straight as possible on trembling legs. He hears chatter die down as he steps on the aisle. He gulps thickly as he forced himself to look straight ahead.
His family was here. He could hear his mother's gasp and barely contained sobbing. His friends (and the Fatui members which were mostly in a separate category) were here too. Some gasping, some holding in their laughter. But all seems to fade away as he spots Zhongli.
The man was wearing a black coat over a robe similar to his, a dragon intricately embroidered onto it. His amber eyes were accentuated with the similarly colored earrings. Flowing black hair on his to-be husband's back. A soft, determined smile on his features. Like a moth to a flame, Childe walks to him. Drawn by his literal ethereal beauty.
And now they were face to face. Zhongli's hands in his.
They're getting married.
The humor of getting married to Rex Lapis in his own place of worship was not lost on Childe. He wonders how Zhongli felt as the priest prays for his own blessing over his wedding.
It assures our blessing if I'm the one to give it no? he can practically hear Zhongli say.
"Yes, I will take him as my husband" he hears Zhongli say, snapping Childe out of whatever trance he was in.
"I- Me too. I mean- I also take Zhongli as my husband" he fumbles with his words despite their rehearsal just a few days ago.
He hears soft laughter from their witnesses. Zhongli's smile becomes just a little wider. Then as they put on each other's rings, Childe sobs, ruining the wonderful makeup he's put on. Zhongli leans in and softly whispers,
"Childe, baobei, what's the matter?" concern lacing the question.
He sobs harder, unable to put in words the overwhelming feeling this simple oath has given him. This show of intimacy and love. This ever binding contract. Zhongli just sighs fondly, cupping his cheek and planting a soft kiss on the foreigner's lips, just as elated as he was.
Their witnesses celebrated as Childe cries like a baby on Zhongli's chest.
His husband's chest.