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It's early evening.
Although Liyue Harbour has been basked in sunshine all day and the temperature has been pleasantly warm, the afternoon had brought heavy, grey clouds hanging low in the sky. Soon it begins to rain and it does not seem to stop anytime soon.
Childe is propped up against the headrest of the bed, a letter in his hands and multiple others scattered around him. There's a stack of documents on the nightstand to his right.
The soft, steady drum of rain against the Harbour's slanted, red-tiled rooftops creates a pleasant lull. Through the window, which is opened just a little, a fresh breeze carries in the petrichor scent.
Childe reads over the letter. It's from Teucer, boasting about his little brother's adventures in Snezhnaya, about how he went fishing and then helped Tonia feed the animals. Mundane things. He hums to himself.
He's not alone, of course. Zhongli is right by his side, or rather: Liyue's former Archon is snuggled against Childe, his head resting in Childe's lap. Both of them have shed most of their clothing, ready for a simple dinner whenever they decide to get up.
When Childe glances down at his lap and, more specifically, at Zhongli's hands, a beautiful golden ring with a Cor Lapis insert sparkles back at him, the colours contrasting beautifully against Zhongli's black skin.
It's been over a month now, since Childe put that ring on Zhongli's finger and asked him to marry him. The sight of it still is new, enough so that Childe finds himself looking at it every chance he gets, just to make sure it's still there.
When they're out together, walking Liyue's streets, he holds Zhongli's hand to feel the ring underneath Zhongli's glove.
"Zhongli?," Childe asks into the silence.
"Yes?"
Childe settles one hand carefully on the other's dark hair, running his fingers through the strands. Zhongli melts into him and it still feels special, to have someone like him, a God , be so at peace in Childe's presence.
"Tell me about Liyue's traditions for marriage."
There's a pause. Zhongli's body tenses, as though he is about to sit up but Childe trails his hand from Zhongli's hair down to his shoulder and lets it rest there. An anchor. A subtle request for Zhongli to stay where he is.
Amazingly, Zhongli complies, settling once again before he begins to speak.
"There are… many traditions, when it comes to uniting two lovers. Some have changed drastically over the centuries, some have remained mostly the same."
Zhongli trails his fingers over Childe's thighs while he talks, reciting rituals and traditions, common gifts and ceremonies done before a marriage. Then the motion stops, as though Zhongli just remembered something.
"Ah," he says. "I believe we should honour tradition as best as we could, yet I realize there might be one obstacle."
Childe opens his eyes. "Hm?"
"One of the most important requirements of getting married is to meet each other's family. In my case, this might be… difficult to realize."
There is an edge of sadness to Zhongli's voice when he says it and Childe's fingers tighten on his shoulder momentarily.
"That's not quite true," Childe objects after a beat. Zhongli cranes his neck to look at him, confusion written all over his face. Childe beams at him in return. "Family doesn't have to mean related by blood , does it? Take that adeptus from Wangshu Inn, for example. And Miss Hu Tao as well! They're protective of you." He winks. "Like siblings"
Zhongli looks surprised. Then, his eyes soften and he gives a soft little laugh.
"I suppose I have not thought of it this way."
The next morning, Childe finds himself on the road to Wangshu Inn, nerves a little more frayed than he'd like to admit.
He's older than Hu Tao and has seen things that would drive a normal person to madness - but the way she'd stared at him this morning, unusually serious, when he'd told her about his engagement to Zhongli? It had made him nervous.
"Don't go around breaking his heart," she'd said in the end. The smile on her lips was sharp enough that Childe wouldve called it threatening. "Or else, who knows? You might find yourself wandering into the realm of the dead by accident?"
He shakes his head, shrugging it off. See, Zhongli?, he thought to himself. She's your family, alright. Giving me the shovel talk.
Childe doesn't expect this next encounter to go differently.
He climbs up the stairs of the Inn, all the way to the highest balcony where no one ever comes by. This high up, he can overlook all of Dihua Marsh and it's magnificent.
"No wonder you prefer to be up here," Childe says out loud, seemingly speaking to no one. "Isn't that right, Adeptus Xiao?"
He looks over his shoulder and up towards the roof of the Inn - a place that is suddenly occupied. Xiao's face seems impassive, but he furrows his brows when their eyes meet.
"What do you want," he asks flatly.
Childe laughs. "Hey now, buddy, no need to be so cold. I didn't come here to ask for a favour or a blessing, you know? Or, well, maybe a blessing actually- Anyways! It's good news that bring me here!"
Xiao doesn't move. They've only met a couple of times but Childe knows that the guy doesn't exactly like him. Yet he is the one closest to Zhongli and his approval is… kind of important.
Childe schools his face into a serious expression.
"I'm going to marry Zhongli!," he announces.
Xiao's eyes widen comically.
"You-?! What? "
"I said, I asked Zhongli to marry me and he said yes!," Childe repeats. He knows it's not the right time but saying it out loud (they're really going to get married, Archons -) warms his heart as if a fire is being lit in his chest. "And since you're kind of his next of kin, I thought I'd let you know."
Xiao's answer is a string of words that Childe cannot make out, but he guesses he's cursing up a storm.
All things considered, that went better than expected-
Suddenly, faster than lightning, Xiao is down on the balcony, right in Childe's space and the tip of his spear presses uncomfortably against Childe's throat.
"If you dare to hurt him," Xiao begins, his voice a dark promise of endless pain." If you dare to hurt him, there will be no place in any realm where you will be safe from me."
Childe meets those golden eyes, blazing with fury and otherworldly power and his hands itch. His lips curve up into a smile that's all teeth and sharp as knives - oh, he would love to fight this guy one day-
"If it's in my power," he answers instead. "I will make sure to never be the one to hurt him."
It's late when Childe returns to the Harbour and crosses Yujing Terrace, climbing up stairs until he reaches the place he's bought for himself and for Zhongli.
Technically, Zhongli has a room at the funeral parlor but having a place where no one else lives aside from them grants some much needed privacy.
Childe finds Zhongli sitting on the bed; only in a simple shirt with the sleeves rolled up and comfy pants, a book in hand. The scent of black tea mixed with qixing flowers lingers a the air, creating a thoroughly domestic, comfortable scenery.
Childe flops down face first with a dramatic sigh, draped across Zhongli's lap.
Immediately, a hand finds his hair and pets it gently.
"You have a scary family, Zhongli," Childe complains, his voice muffled by the sheets. A low, rumbling laugh answers him; the hand falls down to his neck, tenderly caressing the skin. He shivers. "They're very protective. I've been threatened three times today!"
Zhongli makes a small noise. "Three times?," he prompts gently.
"Our dear comrade has become quite protective of you."
Zhongli laughs freely at that. His whole body shakes with it and jostles Childe along. After a moment, Childe joins in, feeling happier than he has ever before. He turns and wiggles around until he can look at Zhongli.
His fiancé. His soon to be husband .
Zhongli kisses him, tasting of bitter black tea and qixing flowers and home.