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Chapter Text

Being a fox and having fox-like instincts was a whole new experience for Childe. He didn’t know how to handle it. He didn’t know who to turn to. He didn’t even know how to stop making these embarrassing sounds. 

It was all Zhongli’s fault. Or should he say Morax or Rex Lapis? 

This all started because of him. Because Childe just had to love him and accept him. He was lucky he escaped Liyue when he did. When Zhongli betrayed him was the last straw for him to stay in Liyue. 

Childe was tempted. He was so tempted to give up being in the Fatui and being a Harbinger. He was so tempted to stay with Zhongli had he only asked him to. 

But… instead, he was lied to and betrayed. It was too late to stop the process though. Childe was now in enemy territory with new instincts and a new form and he just couldn’t get a grip on it all. (He tried to ignore the fact that Skirk would be so disappointed in him) 

******

Childe huddled under a tall tree. His ears were flat against his head. His fur was soaked and very uncomfortable. His fox form was so small and he can’t get warm. 

Rain fell to the ground in sheets and thunder boomed so loudly, hurting his ears and making his head hurt. The worst was the wild wind that blew the rain in every direction, mostly into him. 

Another pitiful whine escaped his throat involuntarily. A full-body shudder ran through him from the tips of his ears to his wet bedraggled tail. Childe was curled up into a ball under a tall tree. He was hidden amongst the sopping-wet blue-green grass and plants. 

His entire being just wanted to be warm. Warm and curled up with a certain person who shall not be named. 

A louder whine got through his clenched teeth. 

Why did he just want to run in a certain direction? Why did it have to be him that he loved? Why did he change into a fox? What was happening? 

Childe was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn’t hear the footsteps approaching. Cold gentle gloved hands picked him up. One went under his front legs the other caught his back paws on a fairly large hand. 

Childe let out a startled bark and scrabbled with his paws, trying to get away from the person holding him. 

“Easy. It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” A deep masculine voice spoke above him. 

“What is it, brother?” A softer female voice called from farther away and over the rain. “Did you find the poor thing that was making that noise?” 

Childe let out a soft growl. Poor thing? He was not a poor thing! He was Tartaglia! The eleventh Fatui Harbinger! Her Majesty’s Vanguard! Whoever said that clearly lived under a rock. 

“I don’t think he liked you calling him that Milady.” Yet another voice reached Childe’s sensitive hearing. 

How many people were out here? How many tracked him down? Were they going to hurt him? Were they going to attack him? Were these people Ronin or Treasure Hoarders? Was this a plot by another harbinger?

Childe felt something wrapping around him, shielding him from the cold wet rain. He fought for a few minutes before he gave up. There was no escaping these people. He would have to wait for another opportunity. He survived the Abyss when he was fourteen. He was stronger now. Nothing these people could do would ever be as bad as the horrors he faced there. He settled into the slightly scratchy piece of fabric. He was so cold. 

“Let’s get him home. He needs warmth and food right now.” The first voice (the person holding him) wrapped their strong arms around him. They started moving. 

Childe flinched when he looked down. He was so high up. It was a little uncomfortable. (Not scary. Tartaglia was never scared) What if he was dropped? 

He deliberately turned his gaze away from the fast-moving ground. He stared up at the human who carried him. 

He couldn’t see much. All he could see was white and light purple. These people were not like any Ronin or Treasure Hoarders he had ever seen. Who were these people and where were they taking him? 

Yet another whine slipped out. Damn it! Why couldn’t he get a hold of these noises? If any other Harbinger saw him now, he would be a laughing stock. 

Childe looked up when the rain stopped falling. They were under a covered walkway. 

“Thoma, get the door please.” The man holding him ordered the other man with them. 

“Yes sir.” Thoma brushed past them.

Childe almost sneezed at the campfire and the warm stew scent coming off him. Was this yet another new thing he needed to control? 

Scents flooded into his nose once he thought about it. He got spice and a refreshing mountain lake from the man holding him. The female, the sister, smelled like sweet pastries on a cold snowy day. He also got wood from the floors, a cleaner that must have been used recently, flowers in a vase on a side table, and wax from a candle. 

More and more scents poured in until he couldn’t tell the difference between them. 

Childe forced his mind to focus on something else. Like learning the names of his kidnappers rescuers. 

“Ayaka, would you please… thank you.” The man holding him lowered him to the floor carefully. 

Childe shivered as the piece of slightly scratchy fabric was lifted off him. Childe stared up at the people who saved him from freezing to death. 

The one he had still to learn his name looked familiar. He had fair skin, purple eyes, and light blue hair that was longer on one side. He wore a light purple kimono and white pants. Black gloves were on his hands and two gold ropes were draped across his body. One around his neck and one down by his hip. A blue hydro vision swung against his side. 

Ayaka, the sister, had the same shade of hair but hers was much longer. From what Childe could see it was up in a high ponytail with a black and gold headdress holding it back. Smaller shorter locks of her sky-blue hair were tied by her face with a small pink rope tied in a knot. Her eyes were a silvery blue and she had a beauty mark under her left eye. All that Childe could see of her outfit was a deep blue skirt, a blue-to-white shirt, white socks and black sandals tied with the same pink cords as her hair.  

Thoma, the third one, had hair like Zhongli’s in the sense that it looked deceptively short except for a long ponytail down the back. Thoma’s hair was blonde instead of the brown-gold gradient that Zhongli had. Thoma’s green eyes were watching him carefully. Thoma had on a red short jacket and a black shirt. Something silver dangled from around his neck. Thoma had various pieces of Inazuman armor on his body. Childe saw a red pyro vision on one side of his belt and a carefully polished crest on the other side. His skin was slightly darker than Ayaka and her brother’s. He also didn’t seem like a native Inazuman. He seemed a little… free to be a true native. Was he from Mondstadt? 

Childe lifted his nose and tried to scent an elusive smell that was bothering him. He got up on shaky legs and tried to walk closer. Keyword being tried. He was still not used to walking on four legs with a tail. Despite all these new sensations and instincts, he still wasn’t quite getting the hang of them. 

Childe tripped over his feet and faceplanted on the floor. His snout was inches from bashing into the brother’s white-covered knee. 

“Let’s get you warmed up, little one.” The brother reached across him and grabbed a calming blue towel. 

Childe huffed a little offended. He was not a little one. He was… oh. That felt nice. 

A hand scratched at his head behind his ears and down his back. Childe leaned into the feeling. That felt so nice. It would be even better if the scent of warm rocks and glaze lilies was… 

Childe shook his head to get rid of the thought. Water splashed off him. That felt even nicer. He got up to his feet. He distributed his weight the best that he could. 

“Ayato you might want to…” Thoma began to speak. 

Childe ignored him and shook himself like a dog. Water flew everywhere. It got on the floor, the towels stacked next to him and all over Ayato’s pants and shirt. 

“Back up.” Thoma finished with a sigh. “I’ll go get a mop.” 

“No need. This is going to get a lot messier. Might as well wait and clean it up in one go. You, hold still.” Ayato reached for him. 

Childe froze when a hand slid low under his belly and lifted him up. He lifted his lip in a snarl. Ayato better hopes he moves his hand or he was going to lose a finger. 

Childe was quickly set down on a light blue towel. The ends came up around him and then Ayato began to rub him. 

Childe didn’t like it. He was rubbing his fur the wrong way and now he was going to have to fix it. Up his back, up his legs, up his neck, and up his chest. He was thoroughly rubbed from ears to tail. At least he was dry but his fur was a mess. 

“Done.” Ayato took the now-hated blue towel off his body. 

“My turn. Scoot over brother.” Ayaka’s black sandaled foot nudged at Ayato’s white-clad knee. 

Ayato got up, only to be replaced by the sister. 

“Oh, you poor thing. Your fur is a mess. Ayato messed it up a lot didn’t he?” Ayaka held out a hairbrush and comb. 

Childe huffed in defeat and lay down. This was humiliating but at least he wouldn’t have to fix his own fur. Slowly the brush stroked through his fur making most of it lay straight. There were a few details he would need to fix here and there. 

Childe snorted in derision. What could you expect from a human? They had no clue how to properly groom a fox’s fur. It took a fox to do a fox’s job. 

That made Childe freeze. What was he thinking? He was human. Was that yet another thing to get a grip on? How many was that now? Four? Five? 

Childe buried his nose in his front paws. He needed to snap out of this. How did he turn into this form? Was it something he ate? He knew for sure he wasn't hallucinating. Did someone poison him to take him out of commission? It has to be Dottore if it was this theory. 

Childe refused to think of any other theory. He refused to think of golden cor lapis eyes as they shone in the low lantern light. He refused to think how they turned sad and wistful as he told about adepti pairs. The scent of glaze lilies was strong in the air when he leaned in to brush a piece of rice off his cheek. 

"Is he sleeping?" A soft male voice called out. 

Childe jerked and sat up. His fluffy tail wrapped around his legs. 

"Well, now he's not. You woke him up, Thoma." Ayaka frowned and set down the brush and comb. 

Thoma hesitated. He slowly stepped closer with a black bowl in his hands. "I got him some food." 

Childe's stomach let out a rumble. He sniffed the air. Whatever that was smelled delicious. He looked over at the blonde. Thoma set down the dish before him. 

"I know it's not much. We can get you some proper food tomorrow when the rain lets up and if you stick around." Thoma pushed the smooth black bowl closer to him. "Go on. Eat." 

Childe nosed at the dish. It looked like it was some cooked chicken and rice. Good enough for now. Now how did he eat it? Did he just lick it? 

Childe stuck out his tongue and tried to lick up some food. A piece of chicken rolled away. He tried some rice and the grains scattered. Okay. Licking was a no. Did he just bite then? 

Childe stuck his face into the bowl and immediately had to sneeze. He pulled his face out quickly only to stare in dismay when the food tipped over and spilled all across the floor. 

Childe looked up at Ayato, Ayaka, and Thoma. He let out a whine and hunched down. This was bad. He was just making a bigger mess and he was going to get thrown back out into the rain. It wouldn't be the first time that it happened but he was so cold and hungry and… 

A gloved hand reached for him. Childe flinched back and got lower to the floor. 

The hand stopped. The black-gloved encased fingers to the hand uncurled and spread out. The person showed them their open hand. 

"It's alright." Ayato wiggled his fingers. "We aren't mad. Come here, little one." 

Childe bristled at being called little one again. He was not little, thank you very much. He was a perfectly good-sized fox. 

Childe slowly inched forward. He touched his nose to the fresh spiced mountain lake-scented wrist. 

Ayato rolled his hand up and petted him behind his ears. His other hand held up a piece of chicken. Ayato offered it to him. 

Childe stared at it for a moment. Did he dare eat from someone's hand like a common pet? Something in him flared up at that. He was no common housepet. He was a fox. The most brilliant fox there ever was and ever will be. No one would ever match his wit and power. No. There was no way. He was not going to… 

The hunger won out. Childe's stomach growled. He reached out and snapped up the piece of chicken quickly and carefully. He didn't want to accidentally bite Ayato and be tossed back outside to brave the cold and rain on his own. 

Another piece of chicken was offered to him by Ayato. Childe snapped it up. Another piece. Childe took it. Another. Childe ate it. 

Once all the chicken was gone, Childe couldn’t help but nose at the hands before him, looking for more food or more pets. 

“You are spoiling him, brother.” Ayaka came into his line of sight. She had a light blue and white pillow in her hands. 

“He seems to me to be spoiled on his own. I wonder if he is from the shrines. The Guuji Yae will know. I will take him tomorrow on my way to my meeting and see if he belongs with them.” Ayato petted him behind the ears again. 

Childe jumped when something crashed outside. He bristled and spun around to face the threat with teeth bared and claws ready to tear and shred. 

“Easy. It was just the wind, Little One.” A gentle hand smoothed the fur on his back. 

Childe huffed at being yet again called ‘Little One’. He didn’t like it. He lifted his lip in a half-hearted snarl. A tiny growl rolled up through his chest. 

“I don’t think he likes being called that, Milord. How about a different name?” Thoma bent down with a broom to clean up the grains of rice. 

Childe felt really bad for making a mess. He wanted to help clean it up but he was a fox at the moment. He headed closer to Thoma and couldn’t hold back the sneeze at his scent. Warm stew being cooked over a campfire had never made him sneeze before but somehow, Thoma had an underlying scent that made it seem a little more smoky than usual. 

Childe let out a big sneeze. He looked startled that a sound like that could come from something the size of him. 

The three humans let out soft chuckles of varying intensities. 

“That was so adorable.” Ayaka cooed at him. She held out her hand for Childe to come to. 

Childe lifted his nose in the air and turned around. His tail wrapped around his cold paws. Ah, that felt nice. 

“Oji.” Ayato’s voice had an attention-grabbing tone to it. 

Childe moved his head to look at him through narrowed eyes. If he was calling him something not very nice, Childe was going to…

“Oh! Prince. It fits him perfectly.” Ayaka set the pillow down next to a low black table with fabric draped down the sides. “Come here Oji. You can sleep here for the night.” 

Childe slowly approached the table. It was giving off this strange heat. It felt really good to him. He sniffed at the pillow. It smelled like Ayato. A spicy fresh mountain lake scent. It was good enough for now. He would honestly prefer a lap that smelled like sun-warmed earth and sweet glaze lilies. This would have to do until he could get back to his…

Childe sat back with a short bark. No! Zhongli was not his anything. Zhongli betrayed him and lied to him. Zhongli did something even worse and used him like a pawn in his games. He was no better than a Harbinger. No, Zhongli was worse than a Harbinger. At least with a Harbinger, Childe had come to expect their little games. 

Something deep in Childe whined at that. Childe ignored it and curled up on the pillow. He breathed in the scent of Ayato on the pillow to cover up the longing for someone he would never ever have close again. 

Childe closed his eyes. He was so tired and was finally warm and dry. He would sort out what to do in the morning. He needed to sleep now that he wasn’t in danger. Ayato, Ayaka, and Thoma didn’t seem like they would do him harm. They were nice people. Nice enough to take in a stray fox that might be dangerous or have an illness or fleas or anything like that. 

Childe himself didn’t have any of that personally, and… 

The lights went out. The only source of light in the room was something glowing under the table through the fabric hanging down. Probably a pyro slime core. 

Childe huffed a breath and settled to sleep. Hopefully, this was all an elaborate dream and he would be back in his bed at the hotel. 

*****

It wasn’t a dream. Childe was well and truly stuck in this small fox form. 

He stared at what he could see before him in the window reflection in dismay. Red fur the same color as his hair when he was human greeted him in the morning. A long fluffy ginger tail with a white creamy tip brushed against his nose when he lay down. Triangle-shaped red ears with white floof on the inside and black tips swiveled to catch every little noise of the household waking up around him. 

Childe sat up. There was no use going back to sleep. Not when the noises were too loud. He yawned and stretched his front paws out in front of him. He arched his back like a cat to get his backside. Childe opened his mouth and felt his tongue lolling out in a huge toothy yawn. 

A black-tipped ear tilted towards the sound of birds trilling outside. The fierce rain had stopped. Did that mean he was going to be kicked from the house now? 

“Good morning Oji! Did you sleep well?” Thoma breezed into the room with a smile on his face. He was carrying a plate this time. “I brought you breakfast. Sorry, My lord is not here to feed you this time.” 

Thoma set the black plate down next to his pillow. On it rested some cut-up pieces of sunsettia and lavender melon. 

Childe took a piece of lavender melon into his mouth. It was really juicy. Childe licked the fruit juice off his jaw. A small bowl of water was set next to his plate. Suddenly, Childe had a mouth drier than the Sumeru desert. He instantly moved to the water and lapped at it. He used his tongue like a scoop. It was a little strange but something inside him said it was perfectly natural to drink that way. 

Childe finished his water in record time. He moved back to the fruit and began eating pieces of sunsettia and lavender melon. When he was finished he sat back and licked the remains of his breakfast off his chin and lips. 

He lifted his head when he heard the name that Ayato had given him. (He still needed to know why Ayato looked so familiar. Was he important to Inazuma or something?) 

“Is Oji ready to go?” Ayato was coming down a hall. He appeared in a doorway. He was wearing something that made him much more recognizable. He had on a white formal jacket over his light purple kimono and white pants. The sleeves had extra fabric draped off them and ornaments showing who he was to Inazuma were sparkling on his shoulders and chest. 

Childe wanted to curse. Just his luck to be found by the freaking Yashiro Commissioner and did he really eat out of his hand like… like… some common pet?! 

Childe let out a moan and buried his face in his paws. His tail came up and wrapped around his face in his mortification. Forget being a laughingstock of the Harbingers. Childe would be laughed out of Snezhnaya at this point. He, a feared Harbinger, brought so low. Dottore was going to pay for this. Childe was going to destory him!

“Is he okay?” A black gloved hand came down to touch him. 

Childe squirmed away. No! He wasn’t going to be carried by one of the heads of the tri-commission of Inazuma. Childe leaned away from the hands and bolted across the hall. He headed for an exit point. All the windows and doors were closed. Why did they have so many screens!?

He needed to get out of here. He needed to go home! Back to golden cliffs and a beautiful city by the ocean and blooming flowers and softly scented glaze lilies and warm earth smelling… 

Childe screeched to a halt. His claws dug into the floor. What was he thinking?! 

He collapsed to the ground and buried his face in his paws again. His red tail came up to wrap around his face. All his saw was a sea of red and white.

No. What he needed to do was get to Snezhnaya and her majesty the Tsaritsa. He needed to show what Dottore had done to him. He needed to get a freaking grip on all these new instincts and emotions coursing through his small little body. 

Childe yipped when the floor suddenly got further away in his vision. He looked up to see who dared capture him, Tartaglia, the eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers. He, Childe, a friend to the Outlander Traveler and their sparring partner. He, Ajax, mate to the mighty Rex Lap- 

Childe roughly shook his head. His ears slapped against his face from the force of it. 

“None of that now, Oji.” Ayato scolded him. “I hope you got all of your running out of your system. We need to leave before we are late.” 

“Is he leaving already, brother?” Ayaka was waiting by the door with her hands behind her back. “I brought him something to make him look nicer.” Ayaka held up a thin blue rope tied in a circle like a collar. 

Childe balked. No way was she putting that thing on him. He was ready to fight. He didn’t care if he was tossed out on his ear at this point. No way was he wearing some blue fashion accessory and being carried by Kamisato Ayato, the Yashiro Commissioner, through the streets of Inazuma City. He would fight, he would draw blood and he would… 

“Ayaka. He is not ours to keep. He belongs with the shrines. He is a shrine guardian. Not a pet.” Ayato scolded her gently. 

Childe deflated in his position in Ayato’s arms. Thank the Tsaritsa. He could kiss Ayato for that. Everything in him shied away from that thought. No kissing anybody. Got it.

Ayaka let the blue rope dangle from her fingers down by her side. “Right. You are right. I’m sorry. It’s just…” 

“Maybe you and Thoma can head into town and go to one of the shelters? I will admit having Oji here really livened the estate for the night. Nothing too large, understand Ayaka? Keep in mind that it will be yours and yours alone.” Ayato started for the door. “We will be off. I will see you tonight.” 

Ayaka scratched Childe behind the ears once more. “Goodbye Oji. It was nice having you here. It’s time for you to go home now.” 

Childe allowed her this for one last time. But home? Where was he actually going? To the Guuji Yae up in the Grand Shrine? He needed to escape before then. He needed to find a way to Li- Snezhnaya. He needed to get back to Snezhnaya. 

That seemed like a long journey ahead of him. He was up for it. He was Tartaglia after all. Nothing scared him. (Not even the fact that he might be stuck like this permanently. Absolutely not.)

The last thing he heard before they were out of earshot of the Kamisato Estate was Ayaka talking about what kind of pet she would get. Good luck to them and he hoped they didn’t mind wearing fashion accessories. 

Childe shuddered and looked ahead. Now how to escape the clutches of the Yashiro Comissioner. 

*****

They reached Inazuma City in record time. Childe was a little overwhelmed with all the new noises and scents assaulting him. Everywhere he looked he was crowded with new things that captured his interest. From the scent of food sizzling on a grill to the perfumed scents of the ladies gathered by a clothing shop giggling and watching them walk past, it all made his nose burn. 

Childe tried to readjust in Ayato’s grip. If he was going to be carried it was not going to be like a parcel under his arm. 

Ayato shifted with his movement. Childe twisted and turned until he was being held with his front paws at Ayato’s shoulder and his back paws braced against his strong forearm. His head was looking behind Ayato at all the new sights. 

Ayato hummed. “It’s like you have never seen people before. You are getting more and more mysterious, Oji.” 

They went down a set of steps that jostled Childe. Childe yipped and hunched closer to Ayato, despite him not wanting to. It was a self-preservation instinct. That was all. 

Ayato came to a stop by a bookstore. “Excuse me? Is your editor in? It’s an urgent matter and I must see her.” 

Editor? Why did Ayato wish to speak with a publishing house editor? Weren’t they supposed to be going to see the… 

Childe’s thoughts trailed off. He whined low in his throat. Everything in him wanted to back away and hide from the dominant presence coming closer to them. This wasn’t right! He needed safety! He needed warm earth and soft glaze lilies and smooth brown scales defending him and… 

“Oh.” A sultry female voice crooned. “Apologies little one.” 

The dominant presence seemed to vanish and Childe stopped whimpering. 

“Where did you come from?” The voice was still there. 

“Do you know him? Is he one of yours?” Ayato’s shoulders shifted trying to get Childe to get off him. 

“No. I have never seen him before.” The voice continued softly. “But whoever you are supposed to be with must be missing you terribly.” 

Childe snorted a sad laugh. He wishes. Zhongli was probably sipping tea and listening to a performance and not missing him at all. 

“Where did you find him?” 

“Outside my estate. He was lost in the rain last night.” Ayato’s grip loosened on him. “Since you know where he goes will you take him?” 

“I have an idea of who this little one is supposed to be with. I will let them know and I’m sure there will send someone to-” 

Childe had heard enough. He was not going with this lady and he was not going back to Liyue. Zhongli wasn’t missing him! Zhongli lied and betrayed him! Childe was never going back! 

Childe leaped from Ayato’s arms and took off in a streak of red. He was gone! No weird lady who made him cower with her mere presence was keeping him and sending him back to Zhongli. 

Childe heard someone coming after him. He ran down a set of steps and past a weird-smelling restaurant. He dashed down more steps and turned on a dime down an alley. It was a miracle he managed to run so fast on four legs and not trip. 

Now that the thought crossed his mind, Childe gave a startled bark when his legs stopped working in tandem. His front paws crossed with his back paws and he tumbled head over tail into a stack of empty boxes. 

Childe lay there, panting for breath. Was he safe? Was he hurt? 

Nothing seemed to be broken. He was fine. His fur was matted with sweat and he was a little winded but everything seemed to be okay. Childe peeked his head out of the box he landed in. 

Nobody was after him. He could relax. Or relax as much as he could being a fox and all. 

A new scent seemed to make itself known. Mineral powder and smoke teased his senses. 

Fireworks? Where was he? 

Footsteps approached his hiding place. A fruity citrusy scent entwined with the scent of fireworks heralded the presence of this new person. 

“Oh. Hello. Was it you making all that racket?” A female face framed with blonde curls peered at him from above. 

Childe huffed. Here he goes again.

Chapter Text

Childe stared at the girl who had deftly scooped him up from the box unafraid. She had brought him inside a small cluttered home filled with nicknacks and pictures on walls. Currently, she was fretting over what to do with him. 

“I could take you to the Guuji Yae. But that means going to the shrine and I doubt I can make a walk like that with you. No offense little guy but I don’t think you would care to be in a bag while going up a mountain. I could keep you. But dad might not like it and I never had a pet before. What would I even do to feed you let alone for your messes? No. I’m not keeping the stray fox I found in the back alley.” The girl paced back and forth in front of a small kitchen counter. 

Childe sat on a box full of string and threads. He examined his surroundings. Pictures in frames on the walls were shining in the dim light. Various trinkets filled every available bookshelf and surface. Bins were stacked against one wall full of things Childe couldn’t see from this spot. The small table had a vase with a lone red flower in it. Yellow placemats were at two spots across from each other. Two rickety chairs were pushed in under the wooden top. 

It was a… nice place. It was a little cramped and messy but not like in a chaotic way. More like a lived-in organized chaos. 

This girl was obviously not a neat person by nature but she tried to be. Childe had to give her points for that. 

Childe huffed and stared down at his paws. He lifted one carefully and studied the bottom of it. He had small pads on his equally small-looking paws. Why did he have to be so small? Why couldn’t he be a big fox? 

In any case, he needed to learn how to walk with these things. He couldn’t depend on other people to carry him or move him. He had a long way to go to Liyue and home. He needed to learn how to handle all this. Who knows he might get that small pleased smile he loved so much from Zhong-

Childe shook his head. No! Bad thought! Learn to walk now, think of how to get to Snezhnaya later. First step. Jumping down to the floor. 

Childe looked at the distance between his place on top of the box and the shaggy orange rug on the floor. It looked about a few… 

A loud clang made him jump. He leaped down from the box and got ready to fight and defend himself. His teeth were bared and his claws flexed. 

“Sorry.” The girl called from the kitchen. “I dropped the pan. How do you feel about some meat for lunch? Are foxes carnivores? Or are you a herbivore? I don’t know for sure. What do you feel like eating? I can make some really great dango that is my specialty. It looks like a fish! Oh, but if you are a carnivore you can’t have it. What about some…” 

Childe tuned her out. Okay. Walking. How hard can it be? It’s just two extra legs than normal. Is it like crawling? He placed one foot forward. Now what? Maybe his back paw? 

He stepped forward with his back paw. Now the other front. Now his last one. There! Childe had moved a whole set of steps. Now to keep going. He looked around the room for something he could walk to. A goal of sorts. 

His nose twitched when the scent of cooking seafood came to his attention. Food? He shot a look at the girl in the kitchen. No. She already dropped a pan once. Best not to get underfoot and make a worse mess. 

Um… there! That bin smelled interesting. Now. Just place one paw in front of the other. Front, back, front, back. Now again. Faster. 

Childe was soon walking around the room with ease. He kept his long bushy tail out of the way as much as possible. 

Childe investigated the goal box. Nothing but scraps of red and silver paper. Another box caught his eye. Hmm. Nope. Coils of wire. Next box? 

Childe let out a startled bark and skittered backward in shock. That was… 

Childe swung his head from the box to the citrus-scented girl humming away in the kitchen. Okay. This girl was nuts. There were freaking explosives just sitting in a box in the middle of the living room, inches away from a fire source! 

The crazy girl laughed when she saw him. She reached into the box and pulled out one of the small white packets of explosives. 

Childe let out a yelp and ran for the door. He was leaving this insane girl’s house before she blew them all sky-high. 

“Wait! Silly fox. They aren’t what you think. Look.”

Childe watched warily as the crazy girl unfolded the top and poured something into her palm. It was a small white paper-wrapped thing. It was no bigger than his thumbnail if he was human. The paper was twisted on both ends. The girl smiled and dropped it on the floor. 

Childe let out a yip and cowered into the wall. When no boom happened he slowly uncurled and moved to sniff it. What was it? It wasn’t exploding. It wasn’t even smoking so what…

The girl stomped on it and a loud snapping noise happened. There was no smoke. There was no fire. There was no explosion. They were harmless. All that happened was the loud noise. 

The girl shrugged and poured the rest back into the white bag. She tossed the pouch into the box. “It’s something I’m working on. Something fun for the kids. They get upset at the fact that they don’t have a lot of fireworks that are safe for them to set off, you know. I, uh, experimented a little and came up with those. Fun right? You can throw them down on a harder surface and they will pop. Or you can set them on something and step on them too. Perfectly safe.” 

Childe sat down carefully. Okay. She wasn’t that crazy but she still had to be a little to be talking with a fox as if they were human. (Even if he technically was. Any other fox and he would have issues.) 

Childe lifted his snout into the air and sniffed. Was something burning? 

“Oh! Lunch!” The girl turned and bolted for the kitchen and the smoking pan on the stove. 

Childe edged away from the bins. That was enough exploring for one day. Who knew what he would find next in those death traps? Though, those popping things might be fun. He could just imagine Zhongli’s face when Childe hides a few in strategic places in his cupboards. Ooh! Or he could give some to Xiangling and have her put them under his plate or teacup. 

Childe shook his head. Bad Thoughts again. 

Childe let out a sigh and walked closer to the kitchen. What was for lunch? He was a little hungry. 

The crazy girl let out a shout of victory. She balanced three plates in her hands. “Come on, Red. Let’s go drop this off to Dad and then we can find a spot to eat ours.” 

Childe rolled his eyes. Red. How original. He’s never heard that one before. (He almost preferred the name Oji from the Yashiro Commissioner) 

Childe headed for the door after the bouncy girl. He was glad he knew how to walk now. What foot was first again? 

*****

Childe’s ears were still ringing from the encounter with Yoimiya’s dad. Yep, Crazy Girl now had a name. All the misunderstanding and shouting from the father-daughter pair made his head hurt. Could foxes even get headaches? If they can’t, Childe is going to be the first. 

Childe walked next to Yoimiya through the tall grass. She seemed to be heading for a tree overlooking the ocean on a cliff. 

Childe lay down in the shade when Yoimiya finally came to a stop. Childe watched the girl flatten the grass as best as she could before setting his plate down. Yoimiya plopped down next to him and set her plate on her lap. 

“I didn’t know if you ate meat or vegetables so I made a stir fry with a little bit of both. Go on. Eat, Red.” Yoimiya gestured with her fork at his own food. 

Childe sat up and nosed at the pieces of shrimp and pea pods with other vegetables on a bed of rice. He tried for a bite carefully and ate a piece of shrimp without making a mess. 

“So. Carnivore. Good to know.” Yoimiya popped a bite in her own mouth. 

Childe grabbed a piece of pea pod with his tongue and chomped down on it. 

“Wait. Did you just eat a vegetable? Are foxes like humans and are omnivores?” Yoimiya tipped her head to the side. Her blonde bangs slid across one golden eye. 

Childe turned his face away and snagged a piece of baby corn. He hated to admit it but Yoimiya was actually a pretty good cook. Much better than what he could do. 

They ate in silence. The only noises were the sloshing of the waves, the chirp of birds, the rustle of the grass, the scrapes of Yoimiya’s fork, and whispers on the wind from much further down the beach. 

They were too far away for Childe to clearly make out what they were saying. He caught a few words something about hunting foxes. Hunting foxes? Probably just some ronin or treasure hoarders and not his problem. 

Childe finished his food first. He moved a little ways away and lay down in a patch of sun. Oh, that heat felt really nice. Childe sprawled his limbs and relaxed as much as he ever did. Part of him was ever vigilant and on guard. That part never truly relaxed. 

“May I?” Yoimiya’s voice was hesitant. 

Childe lazily lifted an ear and eyelid. He huffed and lowered them both again. Whatever. He needed this heat to calm himself. 

If he closed his eyes, he could almost hear Zhongli’s soft rumbly voice. He could almost smell the glaze lilies from the soaps the dragon preferred. (Childe knew he had a stash of them hidden somewhere in his hoard when glaze lilies were abundant and they made soaps and perfumes out of them.) Childe could even feel the hand that would comb through his fur with ease… wait a minute! 

Childe opened his eyes to see Yoimiya’s hand running down his side. He wished he had eyebrows to raise at her audacity. 

Her small delicate but work-roughened hands parted the fur on his ribs. She didn’t go down to his belly. She instead veered up closer to his back. 

Childe bristled. Just what did she think she was doing? Did he look like some pet people can just pet? What, in the name of Morax, was going through her… 

Yoimiya sighed and stopped moving her hand. “You must have a big family. I heard that foxes have more than just one kit. I bet you have lots of brothers and sisters. Me? It’s just me and my dad. He loves me, I know he does. And I do have friends, it’s just… I’m so busy all the time. We have back-to-back orders some days and I chip in and help out when I can. I just wish…” 

Childe lifted his head and nosed at her fingers. Maybe they weren’t so different after all. 

Yoimiya ducked her head to hide her smile. Her hand began moving through his red fur again. “At least I’ll have you for a few days. The summer festival will be here in a few weeks and I want to get a head start on some orders. There is a couple who got together at the summer festival over fifty years ago with one of our fireworks and every year they set off another one to remember their love.” 

Childe closed his eyes and listened to Yoimiya’s soft talking. Her hand stroked down his side and up over his head every so often. This was… nice. He couldn’t wait until Zhongli heard about this. Childe was such a good fox for him. There was no way he would turn him down. 

Childe was lulled to sleep by the soft voice of the girl above him and the soothing motions of her pets. 

******

Childe woke up quickly. Something was wrong. He leaped to his feet with his teeth bared and claws ready to fight. 

A cold wind whipped by him, rustling his fur and making his eyes sting. The ocean sounded angrier, now a loud roar, and was a dull gray reflecting the clouds overhead. Thunder rumbled in the sky. 

Great. Another storm. Just his luck. Childe moved in a circle. Was he abandoned out here? Where was Yoimiya? Did she just… leave him here? Alone? 

A whine slipped out through his mouth. Childe’s ears went flat on his head. His tail lay limp in the grass. Alone. He was alone with a storm on its way. 

“Psst. Red. Over here. Quietly.” Yoimiya poked her head out from behind the tree. 

It was then Childe heard it. Voices coming closer to them. 

“-a ordered it. She wants it found. Something about upsetting someone even more important, I guess.” 

“I heard it belongs to another archon. Though, why an archon would keep a fox as a pet is beyond me.” 

“An archon you say?” 

Another snorted in dismay. “This is what we are brought to? I signed up to make a difference and make my family proud. Not to be a glorified lost pet finder.” 

“Quiet. We will find this fox and then we will-” 

Childe heard enough. The voices were coming closer and he needed to hide. Childe crouched down and slid on his belly through the tall grass to Yoimiya’s side behind the tree. 

Yoimiya didn’t hesitate. Hands reached down and scooped him up. Yoimiya slung him across her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. One of her hands steadied him while she scaled the tree with her other hand. 

Once they were high up in the branches Yoimiya stopped. She peered down through the leaves at the guards walking underneath. 

“How will we know what fox it is? There are literally hundreds of foxes on this island alone!” The Make My Family Proud guard scoffed and kicked the grass. 

“If it’s the pet of an archon, won’t it have something that makes it different?” Gossip guard followed behind the first one, scanning the area around them. 

“We will just have to go through all the foxes then until we find this one.” the Leader spoke up. “Hey, I don’t like the look of this storm. Let’s head back. We can keep looking for this pet later.” 

The three guards turned around and headed back the way they came. They joked around about pets and foxes until they faded in the distance. 

Childe’s mind was whirling. They thought he was Zhongli’s pet? Childe let out a growl. He was no one’s pet. He will show them! 

Soft hands clenched tighter around his middle. Yoimiya’s bright golden gaze met his dull blue one. Yoimiya watched him for a long moment. 

Childe stared back. What was this girl going to do? Would she turn him in and get whatever reward the lady from before was offering? 

Yoimiya sighed deeply. “I trust you have your reasons. Come on, Red. Let’s get home for now. I might have a way for you to escape if you need it.” 

Yoimiya climbed down from the tree. Childe was still held braced against her shoulder. She didn’t let him go as she sprinted across the grass to her small home at the edge of the city. 

*****

Childe sat on the window sill, watching the storm light up the night sky. 

When the storm hit, Yoimiya and her dad both came inside. With a lot of shouting, Yoimiya’s dad settled down at the table with a small slim tube in his hands and a stack of paper scraps. Yoimiya was at the stove cooking something on top of it. 

They ate a dinner of soba noodles. (Childe’s portion was cut into smaller bite-sized lengths.) The whole time a comfortable silence fell across the small house. Yoimiya’s dad worked on his project after dinner. Yoimiya had gotten out a box of those noisemaker fireworks and sighed as she spun them around the table. Her golden gaze fell on him every so often. 

They finally went to bed after giving Childe a blanket in the corner of the living room. Yoimiya had given him a chipped bowl of water. She looked at him carefully before propping open the back door. 

Her dad was already asleep. Yoimiya had stood in the doorway of what must be her room for a long time just watching him. 

“I don’t think you are a pet. You are too… different than a simple fox. I don’t know why you are here in this country and not your own. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like to but…” Yoimiya sighed. She crossed her arms over her chest. “It does make one wonder why you ran away when whoever you ran from wants you back so badly.” 

Childe didn’t answer her. He had turned away to lay down on the fruit-and-fireworks-scented blanket. 

“Goodnight Red. I’ll see you in the morning.” Yoimiya went into her room. 

That was a few hours ago. Childe couldn’t sleep. 

Did Zhongli want him back? Based on what he heard, it was that weird lady who sent out the order to find him. What if he was taken back to Zhongli and he didn’t want him? What would he do then? 

Thunder rumbled and rain flooded the streets. Lightning cracked and struck the earth in a tell-tale blue glow. 

Childe’s ears flattened on his head. So noisy. 

What was he going to do? Did Zhongli want him back? What about the Fatui? Were they looking for him too? What if Dottore didn’t do this to him? What if it really was… adepti magic? 

Childe laid down and pressed his nose into his paws. He sighed and his breath fogged the window, obscuring his vision. 

What was it that Zhongli said happened when an adeptus loved someone so much that… 

******

Childe laughed loudly. “Xiangsheng, now you are pulling my leg.” 

Warm golden light from the lanterns filled the private room at Liuli Pavilion. Warm cor lapis eyes framed by thick dark lashes blinked at him. A small smile quirked at the corners of that full mouth. 

“I assure you, Childe, I am not joking.” Zhongli set down a lightly steaming teacup. “It is a really ancient story.” 

“But it sounds like some romantic fairy tale you’d find in a book at Yae Publishing House.” Childe tapped his chopsticks on his plate, trying to get them to line up again. “I mean when an adeptus falls for someone with a shorter lifespan the other will magically change into an adepti as well? That sounds… impossible.” 

Zhongli’s voice sounded disapproving. “It is not a very well-known story in Liyue so perhaps you haven’t heard of it. But I can assure you that it is very true.” 

Childe didn’t look up from his attempts at trying to pick up some sticky rice. He was getting better with chopsticks. He was much more adept with getting dumplings or bigger things like that. Even though it made his hand cramp after a few minutes. 

A warm gloved hand covered his. The rings on the thumbs pressed into his hand. “You need to loosen your grip. You will only hurt yourself if you hold them that tightly. Here, Baobei, like this.” 

Childe’s hand instantly went limp. He licked his lips nervously. “You know, I still don’t know what that means.” 

Zhongli ignored him. He closed his hand around Childe’s and squeezed gently. “A little bit tighter, there. Like that. Now try.” 

Zhongli helped him pick up a bunch of rice and then let go of his hand. Childe immediately tightened his grip on the chopsticks. One skewed sideways and rice went everywhere. 

Childe blinked in shock. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to…” 

A gloved hand reached for his cheek and brushed something off. Childe’s breath hitched in his throat. Zhongli’s hand froze on his jaw. 

“Baobei, I-?” Zhongli’s hand fell away from his face. 

Two seconds later the door slid open and their waiter stepped in holding a white slip of paper. He set it by Childe’s hand. 

The moment was ruined. Childe lifted his teacup to his mouth in his shaky hand. Tea sloshed out onto his thin black gloves.

The waiter left the room as quietly as he entered. 

Silence fell between Zhongli and him. Childe reached for his mora pouch. He set it on the table. He stood up on weak legs. His knee banged into the table. “I have to... I have a debt and…” 

“Thank you for lunch. Stay safe Childe.” Zhongli reached out. 

Childe froze when he thought Zhongli was going to grab him. No. Zhongli grabbed the teapot and poured some more into his cup. He settled back against his chair. 

“Goodbye, Xiansheng.” Childe backed towards the door. 

Golden eyes looked up at him over the rim of a white porcelain cup. “Goodbye Baobei.” 

“I will find out what that means.” Childe leveled a finger at Zhongli. 

Zhongli’s lips turned up at the corners. “Good luck.” 

Childe never did learn what Baobei meant. One week later saw him standing in the middle of Northland Bank as Zhongli betrayed him and revealed his lies to him. One and a half weeks later and he was boarding a boat for Inazuma, hopefully leaving Liyue far behind him. Never to return. 

****

A crashing noise woke Childe from his sleep. 

“Sorry!” Yoimiya whisper yelled. “Dropped a pan. Again.” 

Childe stretched out his front paws and then his back paws. He let his jaw open into a wide toothy yawn. Did he really fall asleep on the window sill? 

Childe blinked and looked around himself. He was on the blanket Yoimiya had given him. Childe tensed. How did he get here? When did he get here? Why didn’t he wake up? Who moved him? 

Unknown to him was the growl rumbling in his chest. Childe blinked when Yoimiya came past and gently flicked his nose. 

“I moved you about ten minutes ago. You looked really uncomfortable and I didn’t want you to get cranky from having a sore back.” Yoimiya headed for the kitchen again. “Since you are still here, I take it you are not going back just yet?” 

Childe huffed and sat up on his haunches. His tail went to its spot around his legs. The tip was twitching in annoyance. Why didn’t he wake up? 

“Here you go. Some breakfast. I have errands to run today so you are welcome to join me or you can go off on your own. If you need an escape off the island, I’m leaving behind this paper. Take it down to the beach just a little north of here. There should be a boat with a guy fishing. Give it to him and he can take you off the island.” Yoimiya placed down a white plate painted with fireworks on it. Pieces of cold shrimp from yesterday’s lunch sat on it with a few pieces of vegetables. 

Yoimiya pulled out a rolled-up piece of thick paper and shook it at him before placing it on the floor by his blanket. 

Childe stuck his face into the food and began eating. He was so hungry and he better fill up on water. Who knows where or when he will eat next? 

Yoimiya dashed out the door a few moments later. “Bye Red! I’ll see you around someday.” 

Childe finished the food and water. He sat down in the empty home and studied the paper. He huffed for breath. Yoimiya was right. He couldn’t stay here. He needed to move on. He needed to leave. He was putting her in danger the longer he stayed here. Who knew what that weird lady would do if she found him here? 

Childe would leave, but he needed intel first. Was it truly the weird lady who wanted him back or was it Zhongli? Also, what did the fatui think happened to him? 

Childe pushed open the back door with his snout. He squeezed out the opening and into the bright sunshine. He went around the corner and to the street.

Childe looked back at the small shop and home sitting on the edge of Inazuma City. He might have to come back here someday. Maybe meet Yoimiya when he actually had arms and hands and a voice to talk back. 

If he ever had that again. 

Childe set off up the stairs back to that weird lady’s place. Time for some recon. 

*****

Childe was hiding in some bushes a few yards away from the bookstore. He watched it carefully. 

People came and went but there was no sign of that weird lady or anyone resembling the feel she had given him. 

Childe was about to give up and head back to Yoimiya’s home when his ears flattened and his body lowered to the floor. Who was making that feeling? Was it the lady? 

Childe peered through the leaves on his bush. A young man was walking up to the bookstore wearing Liyuen-style clothes. 

The man had dark hair with teal undertones. Baggy purple pants, dark purple boots, a white sleeveless shirt, and black and teal gloves. He looked small and unassuming. 

Childe knew different. He radiated ancient power. He smelled like a windstorm on a mountaintop in Liyue. Fierce and wild with the scent of qingxin flowers. He also had a faint acrid scent like smoke or something burning. There was something else… Childe inched out of the bushes to get a better grasp on the scent. Bird. He smelled like a bird flying above a flaming forest fire on Jueyun Karst. 

Childe hastily scrambled back into the bush. This was bad. Really, really bad. This guy was clearly an adeptus. He needed to leave. Now. 

Sharp yellow eyes seemed to be headed in his direction. 

Yep. Childe was out of here. He booked it away from the city in a streak of red fur. He needed to see what the fatui was up to. Hopefully, Forest Fire Bird Guy didn’t see him. 

*****

Childe knew of one fatui camp and luckily it was on the way to the spot where Yoimiya had said her friend was waiting. 

Childe crept closer to the tent hiding a fatui anemo boxer and a hydro gunner. He hunkered down behind a box. Now to find out what they knew. 

At first, they made idle chatter about this and that. What they wanted for dinner, whose turn was it for patrol, and what they were going to do tomorrow. Not much of interest. 

His ears perked when his name was brought up. 

“Did you hear about how the eleventh is missing?” The hydro gunner raised his hand out at the island. 

The anemo boxer grunted. “No.” 

“Yeah. He was supposed to have a meet-up with some agents yesterday and never showed. People are saying he deserted for some guy in Liyue. Everyone knows he fell for that funeral guy on his last mission. Do you think there is an opening for a new Harbinger? Oh man, can you just see the fights for the replacement?” The hydro gunner might as well have ripped out his guts and left them hanging out to dry. 

If these were Childe’s men he would give them a lesson to remember. 

The anemo boxer didn’t talk much. He just glared and bit into his meal. “What do I care about the eleventh?” 

The hydro gunner laughed. “I wish I was a part of his men. He’s much nicer than the others.” 

The anemo boxer threw down his chicken in disgust. “Niceness never won any wars and we are supposed to be fighting for the Tsaritsa and for glory. Who cares about nice?” 

Childe let out an involuntary whimper. Is that really how they saw him? 

“Who’s there?” The anemo boxer stood up and came closer to Childe’s hiding spot. 

Childe quickly fled down the beach. 

“What is it?” The hydro gunner ambled next to the boxer. 

“Just some fox.” The anemo boxer grunted. 

“Hey, do you think it’s that fox that has everyone so-” 

Childe was too far away now to hear anymore. So nobody cared that he was missing? They all thought he deserted the fatui for Zhongli. That wasn’t true! Childe would have given the Tsaritsa official notice if he really wanted to leave. 

Speaking of leaving, maybe he should let Yoimiya know he was going and pick up the scroll. He needed to leave if not this island then Inazuma altogether. He needed to be in any other country than this one where people were hunting him. 

*****

Childe snuck back to Yoimiya’s home. He went around back and pushed through the backdoor. 

No one seemed to be home but that citrus fruit and fireworks smell seemed fresh. Childe headed over to his bed last night. He drank some water that was left in the bowl before he left. 

Childe headed to Yoimiya’s room. He carefully pawed at the door. His claws scratched the wood. He stopped as soon as he heard movement. A chair creaking and soft rustling sounds. 

The wooden door opened and Yoimiya looked down at him. “So, you are leaving, Red?” 

Childe yipped once in a yes. 

“Okay. Thank you for letting me know.” Yoimiya reached down before pausing with her fingers outstretched. 

Childe pressed his nose into her hand. He barked and ducked his head so her palm rested between his ears. 

Yoimiya carefully scratched him behind one ear. “Oh! You need food.” 

Yoimiya headed for the kitchen and put a few dried pieces of meat in a small red pouch. She knelt down next to him and held it out. “I don’t know where you are going, but I can tie this onto your shoulders and all you need to do is pull a long cord to get it undone.” 

Childe thought for a moment. He was going on a boat and who knew when the extra food would come in handy. Childe slowly nodded his head at Yoimiya. He stood still while she tied the pouch to his back. Just as she promised a sort of long end of the rope dangled by his shoulder in easy range for grabbing with his teeth. 

Yoimiya stood up and held the door open. “Goodbye, Red. Safe travels. May you find what you are looking for.” 

Childe set out to the beach. Where did he even want to go? Did he truly want to go to Sneznhaya after what he learned? Or did he want to go back to Liyue where pain and heartache awaited him? He needed to make a choice.

Chapter Text

Zhongli knew the instant Childe had turned into his adepti form. He was working at his desk on a few documents for Director Hu when his senses flared and a bond with foreign emotions not his own snapped into a space in his mind he didn’t even realize was empty. 

It startled him so much that he accidentally jerked his hand in the middle of writing a letter and a long jagged line snaked across the paper. 

Zhongli clenched his hands as the burst of ‘ fear/panic/what happened?/what do I do?’ washed over him. 

Zhongli felt his mortal form slipping away from him. He wanted to go fly off and find his mate and make sure he felt safe. To bring him home and care for him and give him lots of…

Zhongli carefully set down the writing bush before he broke it. Again. Hu Tao might be an understanding boss but even she won’t take kindly to him requesting another writing brush after he had already broken ten of them in the past two weeks. 

Two weeks since Childe had left Liyue on a boat. Zhongli had lost most of his connection with him after he had left Liyue soil. Until now. When his mate transformed into one of the adepti. 

He hoped Childe remembered the story he had told and the fact that Zhongli loved him or his transformation would be impossible. 

Zhongli zoned out as he got sucked into his mate’s emotions. Fear, confusion, panic, and a faint sense of danger lurked in his mind. 

Zhongli let out a growl. His mate was in danger! He needed to go and… 

Zhongli was halfway out the door before he managed to break free from the grip Childe’s emotions had on him. Patience. He needed patience. Childe would come back to him. He had to. He would. Right? 

Zhongli hated feeling so uncertain.  

*****

Zhongli felt terrible. His mate was radiating misery so strongly that he couldn’t focus. Where was he? What could he do? He needed to be with him. He needed to help him. 

A burst of startled emotions came across the bond before it faded into resignation. 

Zhongli clenched his hand. Snap! There went the writing brush. Shards and splinters of wood fell to the desk with a soft rustle. Zhongli couldn’t help the growl that came up from his throat. He shoved back from his chair with a short suppressed roar. 

Damn it! He needed to go and comfort his mate! He needed to…

Zhongli froze and took a deep breath. Calm. He needed to calm down. Inhale, exhale. He had more control than this! 

Zhongli braced his hands against his desk and took a few more deep breaths. What was Childe feeling now? 

He took a quick peek and felt misery but quietness. Asleep. He was asleep. Good. That will give him a few hours to compose himself and remember who and what he was. 

He was Morax. He was over six thousand years old. He was not some impatient young hatchling that was emotional and out of control. 

Childe would come back. He had to. Liyue would call him home and then he could work on trying to court his mate the right way. He did it the wrong way last time. No more being subtle about it. He needed to be upfront and clear with what he was doing. 

Zhongli sank into his chair and ran his hand down his face. He took one last glance at Childe’s calm sleepy emotions before turning back to his work. He needed to finish these papers and then he needed to ask Director Hu for some time off to settle the bond and his urges. 

A trip to Jueyun Karst was in order. He needed to access his adepti realm and find that gift that would help him. 

Zhongli worked as fast as he could over his desk late into the night. He needed to be gone from the city before Childe woke up.

*****

His urges were getting worse. Zhongli glared moodily into his cup of warm jasmine tea. 

Before Director Hu would let him leave, she requested for him to attend a staff meeting. Luckily there was tea. 

“Zhongli? What are your thoughts?” Director Hu watched him from under the brim of her hat. 

He barely followed along. All his attention was on controlling his urges and wondering what he was going to do. 

“I think it’s a wonderful idea.” Zhongli looked up from his cup just in time to catch the surprised glances from the other members of staff and Director Hu’s arched eyebrow. 

“Oookay. That was a trick question and, obviously, you are not listening.” Director Hu studied him carefully. Her face was blank. “Zhongli? A word in my office after the meeting. Now, back to the rites for the chief at Qingce Village.” 

Zhongli tried really hard to pay attention and add his input. It was hard and at one point he had to tune out to focus on keeping his mortal form. Childe’s appalled and ready-to-fight feelings bombarded him and he nearly revealed to the whole staff at the parlor that he was not as dead as he led them to believe. 

Finally, the meeting was over and Zhongli made his way to Director Hu’s office. He knocked politely on the door and waited for the director to give him admittance. 

He purposely blocked Childe’s terror and gritted his teeth. Soon. Childe had to be back soon. Then Zhongli can give him all the love and care his little mate deserves. 

“Come in.” Director Hu called through the door. 

Zhongli entered her neat office and made sure the door was shut behind him. He stood in front of her desk. “Director Hu. I am requesting some time off. Something has come up and I need to take care of it.” 

Director Hu sighed. She sat back in her chair. “Zhongli, you have been on edge ever since Childe left. Recently you look like you are on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I will give you your time off and will pay you only for a week. Take the rest of the day off. I will handle the passing of the village chief in Qingce Village without you.” 

Zhongli nodded his head at her. “Thank you, Director Hu, and my apologies for my behavior as of late.” 

Director Hu steepled her fingers and stared at him. “Just get your head straight, Zhongli. I can’t have my best consultant out of sorts.” 

“I will.” Zhongli turned to leave. He had just closed the director’s door when he heard called through it. 

“Have fun at Jueyun Karst. Give my thanks to the rest of the adepti.” 

Zhongli froze in place. What gave him away? He checked his reflection in a mirror to make sure his teeth were the appropriate length and no horns or scales were showing. Everything looked good. His eyes were normal as well and not his slit-pupil dragon eyes. 

Oh, well. He would deal with that later. He trusted Director Hu to keep her mouth shut. 

Zhongli headed for his apartment in the city. He needed to gather a few things before leaving. 

*****

Zhongli came to a stop a few feet away from his front door. An electric Seelie was buzzing by his plants. It was probably sustained by Ei’s power. Why Ei would be contacting him was a little worrying. Had something happened? 

Zhongli’s heart leaped to his throat. Childe was in Inazuma. Had something happened to him? 

Zhongli hurried forward and grabbed the letter that the Seelie had attached to its body. He ripped it open and read the contents quickly. Oh. Not Ei. From Ei’s friend. Yae Miko. 

Dear Morax, 

Lost someone, have you? Don’t worry. He’s safe. For now. If you would please send someone to come get him or to even check out the situation if you do not believe me. He’s unharmed. 

Congratulations on finding a mate. He’s a really cute one. 

Yae Miko. 

Zhongli took a deep breath. Childe was okay. His mate was fine. 

Zhongli dismissed the electro Seelie. It vanished in a poof of purple sparks. It would hopefully return to Inazuma unharmed. 

Zhongli’s head was a mess as he quickly grabbed a few items from his apartment. He packed up some of his tea and came across his favorite teacup sitting on the shelf. 

Zhongli sighed and picked it up. He traced the dragon design on it with his thumb. Childe had gifted him this set. Zhongli remembered very well his surprise when Childe had given it to him. 

Childe had claimed that it reminded him of Zhongli and that if he didn’t know better, Zhongli was secretly a dragon in disguise. Childe didn’t know he had hit the nail on its head so to speak. 

This was Childe’s gift to him that prompted Zhongli to gift him one in return. The dragon and phoenix chopsticks rested on his mantle. They had been sent to his work with a note saying just one word. Goodbye. 

Zhongli was so distracted he missed the new presence materializing in his apartment. 

“My Lord,” Xiao’s husky voice was at his back. 

Zhongli jumped and fumbled the teacup. It fell from his hands and would have smashed on the floor had Xiao not leaped forward to catch it. 

“My apologies.” Xiao lifted the teacup to his face. His eyes darted from the design on it to the chopsticks displayed in the middle of his living room. Xiao let out a soft sigh. “So what Ganyu said is true. You do have a mate. Please tell me it is not that red-headed menace from Snezhnaya.” 

Zhongli didn’t respond to that. Childe’s sorrow filled his mind. Zhongli clenched his fists. His gloves creaked with the motion and his rings bit into his skin through the fabric. 

Xiao let out a scoff at his silence. 

“Why are you here, Xiao?” Zhongli plucked the cup from Xiao’s hands and carefully placed it back in its spot on the shelf. 

“We have noticed that you seem a little… off. Cloud Retainer said you were moody.” Xiao wandered over to the mantle and the black velvet box holding the chopsticks. “They sent me to make sure you are okay.” 

Zhongli spied Yae Miko’s letter on the counter. “Xiao? Would you be willing to do me a favor?” 

Xiao looked up at him with a wary expression. “Why do I get the feeling this is not going to be good?” 

Zhongli walked over to the box of chopsticks and closed the lid. He pulled it off the small shelf and tucked it into his pocket. “I need you to go to Inazuma and check on someone for me. Yae Miko is waiting for someone to come by. She should be at either the Grand Narakumi Shrine or at her office in Inazuma City. She is the main editor for Yae Publishing House.” 

Xiao raised an eyebrow. “And she is waiting for me specifically?” 

Zhongli crossed his arms over his chest. “I swore I would give him space. I would not go after him. Xiao? He’s changed. I can feel it. He’s mine and he’s constantly in danger. It’s taking all my many years of patience to not go after him.” 

Xiao mimicked his movement. “And why am I going?” 

“Because I swore that I would not go after him.” Zhongli placed emphasis on where it was due. He arched an eyebrow at Xiao. 

Xiao sighed and loosened his stance. His arms fell to hang by his sides. “You didn’t say you wouldn’t send someone else.” Xiao nodded his head. “Very well, My Lord. I shall depart at once. I will keep an eye on your mate until he returns safely to Liyue.” 

Zhongli felt a little better. His hands eased their tension. His shoulders relaxed from their stiff posture. At least Childe will have someone looking out for him if he cannot be there for him. “You have my thanks, Xiao.” 

Xiao stepped back to leave. “Someone will need to keep an eye on the land while I’m gone.” 

Zhongli nodded. “It will be done.” 

“Where will you be staying?” Xiao took another step back. 

Zhongli looked around his apartment. All the little things Childe had bought him were proudly sitting on shelves and on top of tables. “I think a trip to Jueyun Karst is in order. It has been a while since I last visited.” 

“I will check in there.” Xiao bowed his head at him and disappeared from his apartment with a gust of anemo and black energy. 

“Good luck,” Zhongli murmured, careful to not say Xiao’s name. “Keep him safe and bring him home to me. Oh, Childe. Where did I go wrong?”

Chapter Text

Well, that was a trip. Childe shook the water off his body quickly. The sea spray had gotten him soaked. 

Yoimiya’s friend only had a small boat that he chartered between islands in Inazuma. Childe had ridden with him to the farthest one away from Narakumi Island. He was now on Watatsumi Island. And it was… trippy to see with his own eyes. 

Blue cliffs, pink coral, lavender-colored plants? It looked like something from an underwater palace. It was like something straight from one of his sister Tonia’s stories about mermaids. 

Childe was on the beach. He didn’t know where to go from here. He knew there was the Sangonomiya Shrine on this island and a small village. (He forgot the name). But there were no big ports, no ships coming or going unless they were smaller ones bringing supplies between islands. 

Childe sat down and huffed. Well, he did say he needed time to think about where he was going from here. Childe tipped his nose up and tried to scent the air. He needed to find a place to hole up for the next few days. 

He could hunt for food and there were plenty of water sources. He will be fine for a short while. It wasn’t his first time having to eat raw food that his normal body wasn’t equipped to handle. (There really wasn’t a way to cook food in the Abyss. That is where his foul legacy came in handy.) 

Childe had eaten Yoimiya’s pouch of dried meat she had given him. The boat captain had given him small bits of food as he steered between islands. It wasn’t nearly enough food for his liking. Childe had found a quiet spot behind some barrels on the boat and pulled the pouch off his back. He had happily munched on the pieces of dried shrimp, dried fish, and dried fowl. It was perfectly spiced and delicious. 

Childe shook off the memory before it made him too hungry and set off down a path that hopefully led to the village. 

****

The village was small and remote. Not many people were there. Of the ones that were outside, sixty percent of them were soldiers. The people looked tired and weary but they had a joy to them that shouted they fought hard for their victory. 

Childe skirted around the soldiers and village. He didn’t want anyone to spot him. Hopefully, he could… 

Childe skidded to a stop. That was a really long way down. Especially for someone his size. What did he do? He sniffed at the edge of the rope bridge spanning across a massive drop. Nope. Not going that way. 

He was going to have to find… 

A scent teased his senses. It was old. Did it smell like… old books? Yeah, old books, some soft floral scent, salt water, and a hint of dragon. 

That wasn’t Zhongli. He knew that for sure. But, if there was another dragon around here, then Childe needed to check it out. For Zhongli. Because if Zhongli’s territory was going to be threatened by another dragon then it was Childe’s duty to find out and report back. 

Childe tracked the scent down to a small cave south of a huge blue tree. It was a little ways past the village and hidden enough for privacy but not so hidden that you couldn’t find it if someone really needed the owner. 

And what a cave it was. 

Childe slowly took in the sheer amount of books shoved on shelves and in stacks on the floor. There was a desk in one corner with papers in piles on it. A blue quill pen lay next to a corked ink bottle. 

Childe wanted to investigate the papers really badly but he didn’t want to disturb anything on the desk to alert the owner someone had been there. 

Childe was nosing around a crate when footsteps rapidly approached the cave. Childe dove behind a bookshelf and squeezed his small frame through the gap. He watched through the books as a man with ears and a tail came to a stop, panting harshly. 

“Hello! Come out now! You are trespassing on her Excellency’s private property. If you come out we will be lenient but if you persist in making trouble then I will have to arrest you and possibly imprison you.” The figure called out with his hands cupped around his mouth. 

“Gorou.” A soft female voice chided him gently. “Hello? Is someone in here?” 

Childe froze as the scent of the woman hit him. Old books, mild floral scent, salt water, and a faint hint of… dragon. 

Childe cursed himself an idiot. He walked right into the dragon’s lair. How stupid could he get? Zhongli would scold him for this. He literally walked into another dragon’s cave. Who wants to bet that her hoarding treasure of choice is books? Zhongli’s he knew was little trinkets. 

Well, let’s hope she will have leniency on a cute little fox. 

Childe inched his way out from behind the bookshelf. His belly was low to the ground as he walked closer to her and her… mate? 

Childe scented the air for additional smells he might have missed. The man with the tail smelled like… the female dragon but also of metal and the… earth. He smelled like a sword jammed into stone. Like honor, victory, and distinguished pride if those had scents. 

Childe let out an involuntary whine. He wanted to clamp his mouth shut when it echoed in the cave. 

“What was that? It sounded like…” The man summoned a bow and notched an arrow. He pointed it at the ground but Childe knew just from his stance that he could bring it up faster than anything and fire it quicker than he could dodge. 

Childe was now in the light. He widened his eyes and let out a whimper. He hunched lower to the ground and did everything he could to look cute and innocent. 

“A fox.” The dragon sounded surprised. 

Childe held his breath as the dragon approached him. Everything in him screamed he was in danger and he needed Morax to protect him. 

DANGER! RUN! 

Childe wanted to bolt. This was a dangerous predator approaching and… 

Childe shook his head harshly. What in the abyss was wrong with him?! He was no cowardly little helpless creature who needed another to protect him! He was Tartaglia! The eleventh Fatui Harbinger! He was no weakling. 

With that thought, Childe shoved down those instincts and approached the drago- woman. 

Wait. Didn’t the man with the tail (What was his name? Gor something?) call this woman her Excellency? That meant this was the lady Childe was supposed to meet with to get the remaining fatui off her island. Well, he was here. On-time. In a small fox form. Complete with ears and a tail. 

A white-gloved hand curled under his chin and scritched it gently. 

Childe went boneless. He sank to the floor and his legs even splayed out beneath him. That felt so good. He closed his eyes in bliss. The scent of a dragon was there but it was the wrong floral scent and instead of the earth she smelled of water. 

Childe shook himself. He needed to stop this, but that felt so nice. The thin white-gloved fingers moved to a spot higher on his jaw almost to his ear. 

Childe’s muscles felt like goo. He gave a small contented chuff and leaned into her scratches. 

“Aw. Gorou, he likes the same spots as you.” The dragon smiled over her shoulder at the man with a tail. 

Childe looked up in lazy contentedness only to freeze at the icy glare the other male gave him. Childe pulled back reluctantly. Right. These two were mates and he wouldn’t like it if another person approached Zhongli like that. He could imagine what this guy was feeling and thinking. It wasn’t good. 

Childe sat a few feet away from the dragon. Just out of her reach. His tail curled around his paws. He studied the two before him. The woman first. 

The dragon wore a dark blue kimono-like jacket with one shoulder hanging off. She had on a white lilac body suit that ended mid-way up her thighs in shorts with a fancy hem. The most eye-catching thing about her outfit was a huge blue bow on her chest. A hydro vision was pinned to the center. She had pale pink hair and eyes that took a moment to figure out. They were blue but either had a slit pupil so slim it wasn’t visible or had no pupil at all and just had a white line at the very top. Her hair had an ornament that resembled fins. Not fish fins. Dangerous dragon fins. 

Childe huffed a snort in his head. He didn’t know for sure, having only met Zhongli and this lady but did all dragons display what they were in their clothing options? Zhongli had embroidered scales on his coat and this lady wore fins in her hair as an accessory. 

Childe turned his attention to the dragon’s mate. Gorou was his name. 

Gorou had fair skin and orange-brown hair with a white streak. His eyes were a rare teal blue. Currently, they were narrowed into a glare on his small form.  Gorou wore more armor than anyone he had seen in Inazuma so far. Pieces of it were on every part of his body, except for his lower torso which was bare. He was covered from the tips of his fingers to his shoulders and wore long pants but his middle had nothing. His fingers twitched by his sides like he wanted to kill Childe. His ears were raised and showed awareness. His tail was the worst warning he got. It was lashing from side to side displaying his ire at having Childe so close to his mate. 

Childe whined low in his throat and backed away from the two of them. He scooted back until he was flush with a bookshelf. The books on the bottom row pressed into his spine. 

Childe couldn’t fight the instincts that had him laying down and rolling over to show his belly. Childe seethed in his mind but he instinctively knew this was the only way to stop Gorou from being mad. Gorou was a stronger animal than him. He needed to show that he was no threat. 

The dragon lady frowned and looked up at Gorou. “You scared him.” 

Gorou’s cold teal eyes finally looked away from him. “I was just telling him who is…”

Childe breathed a little easier and instantly rolled back onto his paws. That was… disconcerting. If this happened every time he met a person like Gorou then Childe wanted to steer clear. 

Childe inched away from the two and towards the cave entrance. This was a massive mistake. He needed to find somewhere else to… 

Hands grabbed him under his front paws. Another one braced his back paws against an arm. The scent of metal in stone came from the person behind him. 

Childe let out a frantic yelp and tried to fight his way out. No! He would not die like this! He didn’t survive the abyss at fourteen only to be killed by a jealous lover when he did nothing wrong! 

Childe kicked with his back paws trying to slash open the person behind him’s exposed middle with his claws. He scratched with his front paws at thick gloved wrists. He shouted and yelped and finally a very loud vulpine scream came from his throat. 

“Gorou! Stop!” The dragon lady came up to them. “You are scaring him. Let me.” 

Childe was passed over to the woman and he stopped fighting immediately. Childe did not hurt women unless they attacked first. Childe’s entire body was shaking uncontrollably. Little whimpers and whines rose up from his throat. 

Childe was held with his front paws on her shoulder and his back paws carefully pressed to her stomach. His tail hung limply down her front. Her hand was on his back petting him soothingly. Her other one was wrapped around him, bracing him so he didn’t fall. 

“It’s okay. I won’t let him hurt you. He’s not going to hurt you. We just want to help.” The woman murmured to him as she carried him out of the cave. It was getting dark as she carried him past the tree and out onto a sturdy rope bridge heading past the village and towards a grouping of large pink coral in the middle of the island. 

Childe dared to peek behind him and met cool teal eyes watching him warily. Childe pressed his face to his front paws. Gorou knew something was up with him. Did he know the full story like Yoimiya? Or was he going to do something worse? 

Those teal eyes narrowed when Childe rested his chin on his mate’s shoulder. His tail flicked anxiously. He hated being so uncertain. 

****

Childe was carried through the Sangonomiya Shrine and into a set of rooms that smelled like the two who found him. 

This must be their home. It was decorated in a mix of pale pink, light blue, gold, and earthy brown. A couch was against one wall, pressed between two shelves overflowing with books. A weapon cleaning kit was out on the table. Polishing rags were in a small tin box. Various bottles and tools were laid out in a specific way. There were paintings on the walls of various sea-themed pictures. The room was small and warm. 

Childe was set down on the couch. He curled up and tucked his face into his paws. His tail came up around him to hide him better. What was going on with him? He didn’t like all these instincts coursing through him. 

“... one night, Kokomi.” Gorou was saying. “I don’t like having strange animals in my den.” 

“He’s just a fox.” Kokomi sat next to him and ran her fingers through the fur on his back. 

Gorou shook his head. “He’s not a normal fox. He smells like a dragon and foreign flowers. Not you. It’s very faint. There is something very unusual about this fox.” 

Childe let out a chuff of air in surprise. Did he smell like Zhongli still? How embedded was his scent to be able to still be smelled weeks later? 

Kokomi took a deep breath. “You are right. That scent is familiar but distant. There are only two other dragons that are known in Teyvat and are close enough for this little one to be here. One is Dvalin from Mondstadt. Now from what I remember, Dvalin spends all his time as a full dragon and doesn’t care for humans. The only other one would be…” 

“Isn’t he dead?” Gorou took off a part of his armor and set it on the table. His bow followed. 

“Apparently not.” Kokomi reached for Childe but froze with her fingers extended about three inches from Childe's ears. "Nod if you are a real person." 

Childe looked up at her. He studied Kokomi carefully. He chanced a glance at Gorou. He gave a slow dip of his head. 

Kokomi blinked at him. She looked back at Gorou. "Can we help you get back to your mate? I'm sure they are worried." 

Childe shook his head. He didn't want to go back to Zhongli. Zhongli betrayed him and lied to him. He needed a little more time to get over that than two weeks. 

Childe turned his head away and tucked his head onto his paws. He stared at Gorou and watched him start to polish his armor. The smooth rhythmic motions calmed him and Childe was starting to drift off to sleep on the couch of Kokomi and Gorou. 

“Let him sleep. I’ll make dinner.” The couch dipped. “Only for one night. I love you.” 

A sigh. “I love you too.” 

Childe hoped his tail hid his tears. He wished he could have that. 

*****

Childe woke to the scent of food cooking. His black nose poked out from between his paws and into the air. He smelled cooked rice, eggs, and seaweed. Were they having some kind of sushi?

“Is he awake?” Kokomi poked her head through the archway leading deeper into the house. 

Childe looked over at Gorou to see him sitting in a single padded chair watching him carefully. His bow was leaning next to him by the wall in easy reach. 

“He is.” Gorou straightened up. His ears pricked when Kokomi stepped back into the kitchen. 

“Dinner will be ready in a moment.” Kokomi hummed as she cooked. 

Childe turned back to meet Gorou’s eyes. He winced when he saw those teal blues locked in a stern glare at him. 

“We both know you are not just some lost helpless fox. You smell like another dragon and I don’t like you being here in my space. I’m a territorial guy. You seem new at this so a word of advice… don’t ever walk up to another’s mate and do what you did today. You are lucky all you did was show your belly.” Gorou placed his hands on his thighs and leaned down so he was level with Childe. 

Teal eyes bored into his own blue ones. Childe knew this was a dominance thing. He would not look away! He was… damn it. 

Childe whined and lowered his gaze. 

Gorou sat back. “Interesting. You are that type. Why are you here and not with your mate? Better question, why can’t you shift back? Have you not finished the bond? But that means…” Gorou hummed and stood up. “Poor guy. Whoever your mate is must have the patience of one who has lived for millennia. One night and then we are sending you on your way.” 

Childe understood that on some level. He was intruding on this guy’s space with his mate. But did he really want to go back to Zhongli so soon? Or at all? Gorou made it sound like he would be stuck in this form until he did what…? Finish the bond with Zhongli? What did that entail? 

Oh well, Childe had a night to decide. 

Kokomi came out into the main room. “Dinner is ready.” 

*****

Surprisingly, Kokomi and Gorou let him eat at the table as if he was an actual human instead of a human-turned-fox. Childe made sure to eat his bird egg sushi as neatly as he could. The whole time Kokomi and Gorou made conversation as if he was a house guest just spending the night out of necessity. 

Childe gripped that like a lifeline. It was nice to have a reminder that he was human and not a fox. Childe had to pause in his eating when the subject of his status as a Harbinger missing in action was brought up. He quickly scooped up another bite. 

Gorou already didn’t like him being here. Childe could just imagine the pain of being tossed out if he knew he was part of the fatui. 

Childe finished his dinner and followed his hosts into the living room where he was given a spot on the couch. At first, they made more of the same polite conversation from dinner. Gorou had pressed a kiss to Kokomi’s temple and whispered something in her ear before leaving them alone. The man had sent one last warning look to Childe before going out the front door, taking his bow with him. 

Childe scooted back away from Kokomi and pressed himself into the arm of the couch farthest away from her. Gorou’s warning was loud and clear from one animal to another. Childe didn’t want to act submissive and show his vulnerable belly again. 

Kokomi sighed as she watched him move away. “I may not know about your side of it all but I am a part dragon. I may know a little bit about what your mate is going through. Dragons are loyal creatures and we care fiercely about what we deem as ours. We protect our things and our mates until we die. Once we trust someone, until they explicitly break it, it is really hard to lose it. My point is… you are here and your mate is out there. Think of how he feels. Because trust me, he is feeling everything you are. Every ounce of your pain, your misery, your fear, your danger is being broadcasted to him as clear as if they were his own no matter how far away you are.” 

Childe wanted to protest. Zhongli didn’t… 

“I can assure you he loves you dearly.” Kokomi continued with a sad smile. “You would not be like this if he did not. I may not know your issues with him or why you are here and he is not with you. I don’t even know who you are really. Though if the rumors are true and you are who I think you are, let’s just not tell Gorou any of that. But, I think something happened. Something that he swore to give you space on. If it was Gorou in the situation you were in today, I would have been by his side in a heartbeat.” 

Childe dropped his chin on his paws and whimpered. What did he do? All this Kokomi was saying couldn’t possibly be true right? Zhongli was feeling his emotions. Zhongli was loving him enough that his entire body changed. Zhongli was giving him the space he needed. Zhongli knew he was in danger and kept his promise. Zhongli, Zhongli, Zhongli… 

The new information went around and around in his head. What did he do with all this? 

A soft hand tapped once on his front leg before immediately drawing away. “I didn’t mean to bombard you with all that. I just wanted you to see it from a dragon’s perspective. I’m not going to tell you what to do. It is your relationship, your life. Your choice. It’s not like you will get any older. You have all the time in the world to choose what you want to do.” 

Childe’s mind stalled on that one little fact. He… wasn’t aging? Okay. Nope. Childe was officially on information overload. Any more and he will implode. Childe was going to curl up on this soft piece of cushion on this nice plush couch and he was going to go to sleep. No more. He was done for the night. 

“Ah. Sorry. Goodnight, Tomodachi. I will see you in the morning.” The couch dipped as Kokomi stood up. 

Something was draped over him. It wasn’t touching his fur but it was braced over the arm of the couch and a pillow propped by the back. It was like a safe, warm, dark, den. He felt safe for the first time in days. 

Childe slipped to sleep, safe in the strange den of a dragon and her mate. 

*****

Childe was dreaming. He must be. This was no memory he had ever seen or remembered. 

Zhongli looked like a mess. His usually neatly combed and tied back hair was hanging loose, free from his tie. His cor lapis eyes which usually glowed with warmth and steadiness were frantic with panic and restraint. His skin which was blemish free and had a healthy rosy glow was now pale and taut like he had spent hours up late at night and was going on a three-day no-sleep binge. 

Childe was floating in front of him unseen and unheard. “Xiansheng. What happened to you? I thought you would be glad for me to be gone.” 

Zhongli was sorting through a bunch of dusty boxes. He absently brushed the specks of dust off them. He would pull out various trinkets and things. His face showed his dissatisfaction and desperation with each box emptied. 

Zhongli was holding a small extravagantly painted clay pot when something seemed to strike him. Zhongli’s hands clenched and the pot shattered to pieces. “No! I have to…” 

Zhongli was on his feet and charging for the exit to the place he was. Zhongli was almost there before he seemed to twitch and freeze. Zhongli visibly took deep breaths. “I will not go after him. He can handle himself. Whatever that was has passed and he is still alive. I need to find where she put it.” 

Zhongli let out a very startling draconic snarl. “Find it first. Let him come home next. Court him properly. Then destroy whoever made him feel that way.” 

“Think of how he feels. Because trust me, he is feeling everything you are. Every ounce of your pain, your misery, your fear, your danger is being broadcasted to him as clearly as if they were his own no matter how far away you are.”

Kokomi’s words floated through the dreamscape. 

Childe felt something unusual press against his hair. The sound became muffled. Something wrapped around his thigh, nearly giving him a heart attack. He looked down to see a large fluffy red and white tail (a very familiar tail) curled around his leg and brushing his hip. Childe raised his hand to his head. Sound blasted back into focus. He felt bendy cartilage and soft fur. Thicker in the middle and sharply pointed at the top. Childe would bet that if he looked in a mirror equally familiar ears would be on his head. 

Zhongli was back to digging in boxes. His entire being sagged when he pulled out a small object. “I found it. Finally. A little peace.” He pressed the small thing to his chest. It glowed a bright blue before sinking into his chest. “Come home soon, Baobei. I will wait for you. For however long you need me to. We have forever now.” 

Childe woke up, somehow more troubled than he went to sleep. What did Zhongli put in his chest? Where even was he? Did he really still love him? 

Childe had the really bad feeling he might have jumped to the wrong conclusion back in Liyue. 

He really needed to figure out what Baobei meant. That seemed like his biggest clue. 

*****

Childe got out of Kokomi and Gorou’s home the instant breakfast was done. Kokomi had told him she would have a way out of Inazuma in a few hours. She wished him a good time exploring the island but he had to be back before noon or he would miss his ride. She advised him of a few places to steer clear of. 

Childe was tempted to explore those very places but Gorou’s expression told him to try it and see what would happen. Needless to say, Childe left those places alone. 

He went down to the beach for a couple of hours. He spent them walking along the waves and digging in the sand for hidden shells. He found a really pretty star conch he had to leave behind. He was currently a fox. Stuck as one until he met with Zhongli again. He had no pockets or hands to carry a sea shell all the way from Inazuma to Liyue. 

But it would look so pretty sitting on the shelf next to Zhongli’s display of ‘finely crafted polished noctilucous jade glaze lilies that were carved with the finest most delicate touch.’ Those were Zhongli’s words, not his. 

Childe’s thoughts were disrupted by a faint scent flying on the wind. He couldn’t get a grasp on it. Whoever his prey was, they were downwind and way too good at hiding. They were watching him though. 

Childe lifted his eyes to the sky around him. Nothing but blue sky, clouds, birds (birds. Why did that sound familiar?), and an almost direct overhead sun. 

Childe let out a startled bark. The scent forgotten Childe tore off for the Sangonomiya Shrine. He was going to be late! Hopefully, he could make it in time. 

Childe was going so fast he didn’t know all the others saw was a speedy zip of red fur, there and gone before they could even register it. 

Late, late, late, he was so frickin late. 

It seemed like no time before he rounded the final pink coral shell and was skidding to a stop in the courtyard of the Sangonomiya Shrine. 

The stones were slick for some reason and when Childe tried to stop, he slid all the way from his intended stopping point all the way into a pair of boots. Very familiar black, thigh-high boots with gold embellishments. 

Childe looked up into the bright red eye of Captain Beidou. He sat down a little way away from her leg like he intended to slide like that and bump into her. 

“Oh good. He’s here.” Kokomi sighed in relief. 

Beidou’s head instantly shot towards the entrance to the courtyard. “But there’s no one here but us.” 

Kokomi nodded at him. Childe let out a little bark as if to remind her of his presence. Beidou’s gaze lowered to meet his with one eyebrow raised dubiously. 

“You don’t mean…” Beidou sighed deeply. “Your Excellency, when you said you had a friend who needed to be taken out of Inazuma I thought he would be a little more… Human. What business does a fox need to do outside of Inazuma?” 

“He is human.” Kokomi frowned. “How much do you know about immortals in Teyvat?” 

“Clearly, not enough. You mean to tell me that that little fox is a human who is what… cursed to be a fox?” Beidou didn’t sound like she believed that. 

“Not exactly. Think of him more as a Liyuen Adeptus. He’s fairly new so he doesn’t know how to get around on his own.” Kokomi smiled down at him. “Tomodachi just needs a ride.” 

“I’m not going to Liyue.” Beidou clamped a hand to her hip. “I am heading somewhere away from Liyue. I can’t take a wayward adeptus home.” 

“Who said you were taking him home?” Kokomi looked up at Beidou. “Captain Beidou, he does not wish to go to Liyue.” Kokomi cast him a glance as if to confirm his wishes. 

Childe thought for a long moment. He was not ready to go back to Liyue. He wanted to explore a little more. Zhongli had something to keep him stable for now. Childe knew about the emotions part of it and knew to keep a lid on what he was feeling. He could manage for a month or so while Childe made his way to Liyue. 

Childe yipped and nodded his head at Kokomi in agreement. No. He wasn’t ready to go home quite yet. 

“Alright. Fine. I will take him with me out of Inazuma. “Let’s go, trouble. We ship out in an hour so you better be at the beach by then.” Beidou turned to leave. “Goodbye, Your Excellency.” 

“Safe travels, Captain.” Kokomi knelt down next to Childe. Her hand scratched at his ear. “Safe travels, Childe of Snezhnaya. I pray you will find the answers you are looking for.”

Chapter Text

Childe was so happy to feel solid land under his paws that he laid down with a happy roll when he touched the sandy earth. Don’t get him wrong, he loved the ocean and traveling by boat but he had been at sea for the past three days. He needed land under his paws and the sensation of the ground beneath his feet, not pitching side to side with the waves of the sea. 

“Alright men, you know the drill. You lot help unload. You two go with the quartermaster to check on our supplies. The rest of you…” 

Childe took a few steps forward into Mondstadt. The land of freedom had a gentle breeze flowing through the land, teasing at his fur and urging him to run, play, hunt, and be… free. Everywhere he looked he saw green hills and blue sky with white clouds. 

It was peaceful. Just what Childe needed. 

“Hey, Trouble!” Captain Beidou came down the plank leading to the docks. “Here.” Beidou held out a pouch. “I know it’s not much but I thought you would like them. I hope you find what you are looking for. If you need another ride, we will be here for four days. We are heading to Sumeru next if you want to tag along. Port Ormos is a big city though. Not one meant for such a small person. But you might just be able to handle it. You are not a normal fox after all.” 

Childe sat still as the pirate captain tied the pouch to his back the same way Yoimiya did a few days ago. (Had it really only been six days he had been stuck as a fox? That was less than a week.) 

Childe yipped goodbye and set off for the lush path leading out between two towering stone-gray cliff faces. 

A few days. Sumeru seemed like a good next stop on his trip. And if he could bypass Liyue altogether he would take it. Come rain or shine he will be at the beach in three days. 

Now… where to go first. 

**** 

Childe was enjoying the scenery. Despite what people said about Mondstadt, it had some pretty epic views. Walking along this path alone had him coming across a hidden waterfall and a great viewpoint with an awe-inspiring view of the famed City of Freedom set smack dab in a lake. 

It had high stone walls and was only accessible by one long bridge connecting it to the mainland. It was easily defensible and Childe could see the appeal in having a city like that. You would be able to see an attack coming from any way they might approach. It was a smart move. Especially with Mondstadt’s history. 

Childe looked down the path leading by the edge of the cliff. It gently sloped downward and to a sparkling lake with a statue of Barbatos resting on an island in the middle. 

Childe gave a shiver looking at the water. That would just make him miserable. Yeah, best avoid the water. He would need to go around that. And… avoid the hilichurl camps he could see spotted in the valley. They were almost invisible to the normal person’s eye. If it wasn’t for his extensive training, he likely would have missed them as well. (Skirk was a very efficient teacher and fear was a very efficient motivator) 

Childe started down the path toward the lake. He might not want to visit the city but he heard about an abnormally large tree in a field just east of the city. Childe wanted to see it. 

He huffed a laugh as best as he could through his fox-like mouth. Here he was taking the tourist route. Next thing he knows he will be sampling the wine at a tavern. He snorted and gave his tail a shake. Yeah, like the bartender will serve wine to a fox. 

Childe approached the lake and studied the terrain for a way to go around. If he took the short way around the lake, he would have to climb over a few rocks. If he went the long way around, he would be dangerously close to a hilichurl camp. While he loved a good fight, in his current form, he would be caught and roasted over the open fire before he had any chance of hurting them. 

Childe heaved a heavy sigh. Better to climb the rocks and chance landing in the water over being a hilichurl’s dinner. At least with water, he knew how to swim. 

Childe headed to the right and began climbing the rocks along the edge. It took him a few tries but he finally managed to jump across to the little outcrops. He got over the edge and faced yet another obstacle. 

Childe sighed and stared down at the steep drop-off where the path continued on through a small pond and between two large hilichurl camps. If he was human all he would need to do was jump down. It wasn’t that big of a drop for a human. 

Childe stared down at his paws a little moodily. Why did he turn into a fox? He gets that Zhongli was the most likely outcome at this point. (There was no way anything of Dottore’s would last this long no matter how brilliant the man claimed he was.) But why a fox? Why not a bird so he could easily fly across this danger-ridden path? Then again, a bird didn’t suit his personality. A fox was much more his style.

Childe set off along the ledge looking for an easier drop-down. One that wasn’t likely to break all four of his legs. 

He was so focused on examining the edge for a safe way down he didn’t notice the danger until it was too late. A small camp of two hilichurls (likely a scouting camp) noticed him. 

Childe looked up when he heard the grass rustling. His fur stood on end. He felt hunted. He got ready to fight. Something was coming for him. Childe let a growl escape his lips and bared his teeth. 

Something came sailing out of the bushes, aimed for his head. Childe jumped back, but it wasn’t far enough. A medium-sized rock slammed into his front paw with a thunk. 

Childe gave a wounded yip. That hurt! He stared down at his paw in horror as blood matted the red fur. Did that thing actually cut his…? Another rock was thrown from the bushes. 

Childe barked and turned to run. His heart was racing in his chest as he ran away on three paws as best as he could. His mind was screaming at him to RUN! HIDE! DANGER! 

Childe fled down the edge of the small rockface, through some tall grass, and into the woods. As soon as the shaded canopy covered him, he instantly began looking for a place to hide.

He didn’t look back once. It was a pity. He would have seen a massive teal bird with purple and gold tail feathers fly down, form into a short man dressed in Liyue-style clothing, and kill those hilichurls that dared attack him viciously. 

****

Childe didn’t know why he was hiding in a hollow tree stump just off the main path to the city. The danger was gone but he couldn’t seem to break free from the instinct of fear/panic/hide/danger/hurt/pain . 

Childe whimpered and licked at his injured front paw. Yet another instinct thing he couldn’t seem to stop. The bleeding had stopped but the pain was still there. Childe just hoped that the licking would stop soon. Another whine escaped his throat. And that the noises would stop. 

Childe couldn’t get a grip on any of these new instincts and feelings. It was starting to piss him off. He wasn’t some animal! He was a person! No amount of remembering that was going to stop him from following these compulsions and urges. 

Another whine escaped his snout followed by a growl. 

Every time he turned around there was another new instinct or thing that was against his nature and completely incomprehensible to him. What would it take for him to get a handle on all this? He wasn’t scared about being killed. (He was a little fearful about a lot of things but not of him dying.) He wasn’t starving. He wasn’t fighting for his life for every second of every day. 

Another little whine crept out and Childe licked at his paw. 

Okay. Maybe he was going about this the wrong way. He was treating this like he was taught in the Abyss by a teacher who literally threw him into fight-or-be-killed situations for tests to pass her training. (Nothing that she knew he couldn’t handle but still… It was harsh.)

He needed a different way to treat this situation. He needed a different outlook. A different mentor to help him. No way was he going to Liyue and ask the adepti. With his luck, they will beat him up and leave him to die for what he did to their land. 

No. Liyue was not an option. Maybe there would be someone here in Mondstadt who would… 

“Hello?” A soft meek female voice called out. “It’s okay. I can heal you if you would only show yourself.” 

Childe paused in licking his paw. His instincts said to stay hidden. Screw his instincts. He was more than them. He was Tartaglia. He was not so full of himself that he was above seeking help from a kind passerby. 

Childe limped his way out from the tree stump. He casually observed the girl wandering the forest with only a basket full of herbs. 

The first thing he registered was her scent. She smelled like soft muted flowers and a fresh pond. Like… Springtime. 

The second thing he noticed was her bearing. Her hair was in twin ashy blonde pigtails that curled down her shoulders. She wore some kind of white uniform dress with a unique blue streak through it. A blue and white hat rested between her pigtails. A blue hydro vision on the back of a book with a cross was around her waist. She must be a nun with the Church of Favonoius then. 

Childe let his presence be known after his silent assessment was done. This girl was no threat. 

Childe let a whimper escape and slowly limped up to her. 

“Oh.” The girl gasped. She raised her hands to her mouth and came up to him carefully. “Are you hurt?” 

Childe whined and lifted his leg off the ground. Yeah. He was hurt. When he was human he was going to come back here and obliterate those hilichurls. 

The sister took his paw in her hands carefully. Before Childe could even yip in pain, soothing hydro was pouring over the wound stitching it back together. 

Childe sat there and let the freeing sensation of the pain leaving him course through him. He knew hydro could heal, had heard a few stories, but never managed to master the skill himself. It felt surprisingly nice and refreshing.

“I knew those hilichurls camping out there could not be a good thing. I will have to have a talk with my sister. Maybe she can post a commission or something. I love my sister, I do, but Barbatos knows that those under her are not skilled enough to take on all those hilichurls. I bet even you are fiercer than one of her knights.” The girl muttered under her breath as she worked. She sighed and sat back when she was done. She raised her hands and let them drop in her lap. “Look at me. I’m starting to sound like Master Diluc. Maybe I should skip this next monthly dinner at his place. They are always awkward. Especially when Adelinde invites Kaeya.” 

Childe stepped down on his paw carefully. No pain. He was fully healed. Childe barked happily. He took a few more steps before running in a circle around the sister who healed him. 

He came to a stop a few seconds later and sat by her side. The sister was smiling as she watched him. A troubling thought crossed her face because her delicate brow wrinkled and a frown set in her mouth. 

“You… I have been all over Mondstadt and have never come across a fox like you. Most of Mondstadt’s foxes aren’t this… people friendly and they usually run away when approached. Not to mention your coloring…” The sister trailed off and held out her hand. 

Childe came up and pressed his nose to her fingers. Her small dainty hands scritched under his chin and smoothed the fur behind his ears. 

“That settles it. You are no ordinary fox.” She reached for him and picked him up. 

Childe sighed. He was ready for yet another meeting like Kokomi and Yoimiya’s. It was nice to be seen as a person and not a fox but… 

“You must be someone’s pet that got loose. I will have to take a look at a book but I’m sure you are not native from here. Maybe Liyue or Inazuma? I heard Inazuma has a lot of foxes roaming around. I think it’s because someone in charge of the shrines is a kitsune.” The sister began walking down the path with Childe in her arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you and help you find your owner. It won’t do for someone’s pet to be cooked in a hilichurl camp. Can you just imagine the pain they would feel?” 

Childe blinked. Okay. This was new. 

*****

Childe’s new caretaker spoke to him the whole trip to the city in the lake. She told him random bits of things she remembered about a plant or a memory of something happening in a specific place. (That story about finding ingredients for chilibrew and coming across some treasure hoarders with the Traveler sounded interesting. He made a note to get the full story out of them when he saw them again.) 

From what Childe could gather, this sister seemed lonely. She claimed she had a sister but they didn’t sound close. She claimed she had friends but where were they when she was out gathering herbs? She could have been attacked and no one would have known but him. 

Childe knew she wasn’t totally defenseless. That hydro vision wasn’t just some pretty decorative piece of jewelry. She could take care of herself. But she wasn’t more than a child. She looked to be in her mid-teens. Around his sister Tonia’s age. Maybe that was what made his protective instincts flare up. The fact she was young enough to be his little sister and seemed to be left all on her own. 

Childe made another note to himself. When he was human, he would come back here and check in with this sister and give her sister a talking to. Older sibling to older sibling. 

“Almost there.” The sister whispered as she approached the gates. As soon as the main gates were in view she slipped off to the side and around the stone wall. 

Childe was confused. Where were they going? She was too kind to dump him in the lake or abandon him. Where was she taking him?

“Hold on.” She murmured. She entered the city through the side gates. “I don’t want people to scare you off. I just healed you.” 

The young sister moved through the city like a spy on a mission. She avoided the main areas and used back stairs and side streets like a professional assassin. 

Who taught her this stuff? Just who was this girl that she had to sneak around her own home like this? It made all the fur on Childe stand on end.  Who was this kind girl who saved a hurt fox? 

Childe grew more and more upset when she literally sprinted the last few stairs past a group on the front steps of the cathedral and into a side door. 

Childe wanted so badly to ask her what her name was. She hadn’t introduced herself yet and maybe with her name he could find out who she was. 

Childe scented icy cold frosted pines and a cool voice coming from the shadows. 

“You are late. You better hurry or they will send a search party.” A tall pink-haired woman in a nun’s habit stepped out of the corridor with a frown on her face. “What is that? You know they don’t allow pets here.” 

“Oh. He’s not mine. I found him in the Whispering Woods. He got hurt by some hilichurls.” The sister holding him shifted him slightly. “I think he’s someone else’s pet that escaped somehow. I was going to keep him until I can find his owner.” 

The pink-haired woman let out a low sigh. “You better hide him then. Sister Victoria does not take well to rule breakers. I’ll cover for you. You have ten minutes.” 

The sister smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Rosaria. I will be back shortly.” 

“Be careful Barbara. We don’t know where that thing has been or who it belongs to.” Rosaria watched them as Barbara hurried away. 

Childe wanted to scowl. That was rude. He was a person. Not a thing. Even an animal had genders. 

“Don’t mind Sister Rosaria. She means well. She’s just very protective. She’s one of those who are cold on the outside but is really caring on the inside. Deep inside with Rosaria. She’s just a really suspicious person by nature.” Barbara murmured to him as she climbed the stairs swiftly. 

Barbara pushed open a plain wooden door leading to a bright cheery room. Barbara set him down on the floor. She hurried over to a small countertop area and pulled out a bowl from the sink. She filled it with water from a jug and set it on the floor. She looked around quickly for something before sighing and opening a door. 

“I don’t have time for much more than this. Here’s some water and if you have to go, please don’t make too big of a mess. I will see if I can find something later. I will bring you some food as well.” Barbara scurried over to the door and pulled it open. “Don’t make a mess. I will be back in a couple of hours.”

The door shut behind her and Childe was left alone in her room. His protective instincts were raging in full force. He knows it will be rude of him and not to mention an invasion of privacy but he needed to find out who this girl was. It wasn’t like he was going to go rummaging through any closed drawers and cabinets. No harm in exploring his surroundings. 

Childe knew he would make it up to her later. A small gift would do. 

*****

Childe was seething in anger. His claws flexed and kneaded into Barbara’s plush light blue rug. He was careful to not destroy it but oh boy, he will be talking to this so-called older sister. 

So-called because if Barbara was his little sister, these people would not be left alive for long. Barbara was so innocent did she even understand what half these letters mean? 

Childe scowled over at the stack of fan mail left on her desk. He wanted to shred them beneath his claws and teeth. He wanted to find those… men and rip their balls off. He wanted to find this particular one named Albert and mess him up so badly he’d think twice before propositioning a young girl like this. Barbara looked barely eighteen if even that. 

Childe seethed but only the fact that if he destroyed anything of Barbara’s he would be kicked out and not be in a position to protect her saved him. Because he would. He swore. One day he will come back as a human and will teach these guys a lesson. 

There was a turning of the door knob. Childe took a deep breath and sat back on his haunches. He had to be nice to her. No anger. No blood. (Even though his body bayed for blood like you wouldn’t believe.) 

Barbara came into the room with a small plate in her hands. “I saved you what I could from dinner. It’s not much but hopefully, I can get more tomorrow.” Barbara set the plate on the floor in front of him. 

Childe sniffed at the piece of thick browned roast on the plate along with half a cooked carrot and potato. This must be Mondstadt’s famous sticky honey roast. He’s never had it before. When he comes back he will treat Barbara to some in a true style. No one would dare approach her with him around. They could sit at some restaurant and have a nice meal together.

Childe ate his dinner as Barbara looked around the room. She went into the bathroom and came out a few seconds later. She looked confused but shrugged. 

Childe looked away when Barbara got a nightgown and went into the bathroom. She came out a few minutes later wearing it. 

“I need to sleep.” Barbara yawned and stretched her arms over her head. “I have to be up early for my usual show. Then we are meeting Jean, my sister, for lunch after. I can take you outside and you can hang out around there for the morning.” Barbara crawled underneath her covers on the bed. “You can sleep wherever. Just don’t…” Barbara yawned again. “Make a mess. I’ll take you out… tomorrow.” 

Barbara was asleep before the word finished leaving her mouth. 

Childe found a spot on the rug to curl up on. He too needed sleep. It had been a long day fraught with a lot of emotions. Childe was too tired to finish that thought. Wasn’t there something he was supposed to remember about emotions? 

*****

“Barbatos! Please! I have to get to him!” 

Zhongli looked like a mess. His long dark and gold hair was unbound. His skin was pale. His eyes were wide with panic. That wasn’t what worried Childe. What worried him was the fangs peeking from between his plush lips. The shining long horns that were curling back from his head. The scales on his temples and cheeks. His usually warm golden gaze had gone slit pupil like a reptile. 

Or dragon. This isn’t Zhongli. This is Rex Lapis. 

“I’m doing this for your own good.” A voice that would sound better full of playfulness was now serious and stern. “You go to him now like this and you will only drive him further away.” 

Childe tried to look for the other person but they were unseen. Like the wind. 

“He’s hurt. I felt it.” Rex Lapis growled out from deep in his chest. 

“He’s fine. Do you feel his pain now? Is he hurt now? Concentrate, you big blockhead. Use that massive brain of yours.” The unseen voice seemed to move closer to Zhongli. “Morax. I’ve kept an eye on him since the moment he stepped foot in Mondstadt. I sent my best healer in the whole country for him. He is fine. Not to mention the other one dealt with them swiftly. There is nothing you can do here except drive him away from you.” 

Rex Lapis seemed to deflate. His shoulders slumped out of his perfect posture. “He’s… It’s…” 

“I know. Luckily I don’t have a mate. Between Buer’s tragic angst, Ei’s obliviousness, and your drama, I’m kind of glad I don’t have one.” The unseen voice sighed deeply. “Alas, it is kind of sad. None of you have happy endings yet.” 

Rex Lapis growled again. He seemed to shudder and take a deep breath. The horns, scales, and fangs faded with a soft golden glow. He turned back into the Zhongli Childe knew. “You know, Barbatos. One day your time will come and I will sit back with my mate and watch your drama unfold.” 

Barbatos laughed in derision. “The day the wind will be tamed will be a sad day indeed. Feel better?” 

“Marginally.” Zhongli sighed and straightened his back. “I’m sorry for disturbing you.” 

“No worries. Just come by for a drink sometimes and we will call it even. I’ll keep an eye on him.” Barbatos laughed again. This time it was happier. “Oh, Morax. You never change. I’ll see you around, Blockhead.” 

The soft breezy presence was gone. Only Zhongli remained. He almost seemed to stare right at him. His strained golden-eyed gaze was off by a few inches. 

“Come home safely Baobei. Please don’t get hurt again.” Zhongli turned and walked away from him. “I don’t think I could stand it.” 

Childe woke up feeling a sad longing in his chest. He wanted to believe him. Oh, how he wanted to. But Zhongli had already lied to him once. Did Childe dare trust him again? 

*****

Childe was being watched. From multiple sources. It raised the fur on the back of his neck and made his tail poof out. 

Childe counted three different directions he was being watched. One was more obvious than the others. 

A dark-purpled-haired girl with a large blue hat decorated with a lot of Compass Roses watched him from behind a pillar near the edge of the crowd singing along to the choir. 

She wasn’t very good at watching him. She would sneak glances at him but would quickly look away. It was that quick part that gave her away. That sudden movement would let anyone know she was watching them. You needed to be slow and steady when you looked away and timing was everything. 

The other two were harder to pinpoint. They seemed to come from above. Yet when Childe looked up to scan the eaves of the cathedral there was nothing. No, these other two were professional. He wouldn’t have even known they were watching him if not for the sense of feeling someone’s eyes on him. 

Childe looked back at the grass in front of him. He was laying on a patch of greenery in the sun letting the warm rays soothe him. He lay his head on his paws and listened to the sweet singing around him. 

Barbara was doing some kind of morning show. People were gathered on the cathedral's front steps and Barbara was singing along with the choir to welcome the morning or something like that. 

Childe wasn’t really religious. He was only here to keep an eye on Barbara. Childe was lying on something he had stolen from Babara’s room. He knew it was bad but he had to leave her today. There was no way he was leaving her unprotected. That older sister was going to listen or be smacked in the face with the proof he had to show her. 

Finally, the singing was over and people seemed to be leaving. A large group was headed for Barbara. Childe was instantly on his feet. He watched as people gave her greetings and little things. 

The dark-purpled-haired woman with the large blue hat was lingering near the edge of the seats. 

Childe avoided her and started stalking the people around Barbara. There was one really pushy guy, Childe wanted to bite and… 

“Hold it.” Icy cold frosted pine trees teased his senses. A hand with metal claws reached down and picked up the letter. 

Childe froze in place. He looked back with wide eyes to see Sister Rosaria raising an eyebrow at him. 

“I don’t know who you are or what you are but you are no one’s pet.” The scary sister swung a knife between her fingers idly with one hand. 

Any other time and Childe would have liked her and maybe would have persuaded her into a spar. Not now when he was under two feet off the ground and had no real weapon to defend himself with. 

“I’ve asked around. No one seems to know anything about a domesticated fox. So I had to wonder. What exactly are you doing here and where did you come from?” The sister slunk around him, studying him. “You are not native to Mondstadt. And then I catch you stealing this?” She held up the letter like it was evidence. “What were you going to do with this?” 

“Threatening little foxes, now Sister Rosaria?” A playful voice came from behind him. 

The sister seemed to freeze and compose herself. “Bard. Shouldn’t you be passed out in an alley by now?” 

The breeze kicked up a notch before going back to its lazy glide. “This fox belongs to a friend of mine. I’m just watching over him while he’s away.” 

That voice. Where did Childe know that voice from? Suddenly it came back to him. His dream. This must be… 

Childe spun around. The person behind him was rumpled and unassuming. He had dark hair in two braids that ended in turquoise. He wore a lot of green and had a big flashy anemo vision on his hip. 

Childe slowly inched backward. This was Barbatos. It had to be. That voice was unmistakable. He could almost hear him laughing in distaste and saying “The day the wind will be tamed will be a sad day indeed.” 

This wasn’t good. He was trapped between an overly protective sister and an archon. They seemed to be in a standoff. 

Nope. Childe was not sticking around for this. He looked desperately for an escape. 

That dark-haired woman with the large blue hat was slowly inching closer to them as the crowd thinned. 

Well, at least this girl was more open about what she was doing. And hey, any place was better than an archon gearing for a fight. 

Childe smelled cecilias and a fierce storm gale as someone reached down to grab him. Childe gave a yip and bolted. 

Nope. He was going to take his chances with the dark-haired lady. And to make sure she followed him, as he ran past her he leaped and caught her bag hanging off her arm. 

Dragging it behind him he ran down the stairs with the dark-haired lady yelling behind him.

Chapter Text

Childe could hear footsteps pounding down the stairs after him. Many, many footsteps. He could hear two sets behind him and one person was up on the roof but when he looked up all he saw were birds. 

Not important. He had to find a way to lose his pursuers and trap one of them. But how the heck do you lose an archon in his own freaking city and land?! 

Childe had to think fast. He was losing stamina faster than possible dragging this massive bag behind him. It was light like there was almost nothing in it but he needed to lose Barbatos. 

Childe came across some shops and bolted into one that looked like his sister Tonia could spend hours in. He ran past a startled shopkeeper and into a dressing room. One of his pursuers came into the shop behind him without hesitating. The other stopped outside. 

Childe panted and dropped the bag’s handles from his mouth. He sat down and licked his jaw to get the taste of leather out of his mouth. That was a little gross. 

“Ha! Got you, you little thief!” The door was flung open and the purple-haired lady stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. 

They both eyed each other. 

Childe took in her hair decorated with golden compass roses. Wait. Not just her hair. Her hat, earring, and necklace all had numerous golden compass roses. Her hair wasn’t just purple. Her twin tails her hair was tied into were red at the tips. She had on a dark blue body suit that had detached sleeves. It led into shorts which led into thigh-high purple and gold boots. Her short blue cloak billowed around her shoulders. No vision was visible but it could be on her back somewhere. 

Once done with the preliminary perusal he turned to his trusty nose in instinct. He had to sneeze. 

This lady smelled of spiced apples by a lake on a starry night. If that had a smell. It was a mix of apple, water source, and a touch of stardust. 

Based on past history with scents, this lady had to have a hydro vision. All vision holders he had met smelled like their element at least a little. 

Childe met the lady’s sea-green eyes casually. His examination was done. He tipped his head in a cute innocent way at her arched eyebrow. He had to sneeze again. That spiced scent made something in him, act up. Could a fox have allergies? 

The lady sighed and looked at the ceiling. “You don’t exactly smell like a rose garden yourself.” 

Childe was blocked in the small room. Was Barbatos gone yet? He was getting a little twitchy with no visible exit. Childe’s muscles tensed and relaxed as he got ready for a fight. 

The lady watched him carefully. “I’m Mona. You are not a normal fox. For one thing, what business would a fox have with my purse.” Mona bent down and scooped up the bag. She looked at him considering. “You wanted to get away from that bard and that sister, right? That is why you stole my bag and led me on a little chase.” 

Childe dipped his head in a nod. He was gearing up for a fight if Mona did not let him out of there right this instant. 

“Come with me. I can smuggle you out and away from that strange bard. We can go to my house. I want to talk to you.” Mona held open her bag for him to get inside. 

Childe just stared at her in dismay. This would rank up there with one of the most absolutely humiliating things he has ever done either as a fox or as a human. The other low was eating from the Yashiro Commissioner’s hand like some freaking pet on a leash. 

Childe sighed and gave his best ‘really’ look at Mona. 

“Yes, really. Unless you want to be caught and have to pay for damages. I wasn’t exactly nice to the shelves when I ran in here.” Mona chanced a glance at the shopkeeper. “You better decide fast we have three minutes before she gets over here. Looks like that bard has her distracted.” 

Any other time in any other form, Childe would have happily paid for the damages. He had money and it was kind of his fault. Not now when he was a fox with no mora pouches on him. (With nothing on him. He lost everything when he changed. His clothes, his earring, his money, and his vision. It had gone dark and sat on his clothes right where he had them on. Childe tried to not think about it.) 

Childe eyed the bag opening. He would fit. Barely. Childe leaped and landed in the large bag. He curled his tail around him and went into the smallest ball he could make. The top closed over him and all sound became muffled. 

Mona began moving and Childe was rocked from side to side. They must have escaped out the back door without too much fuss. 

Just when they were home free Childe heard Barbatos’ voice. 

“Mona right?” His bright cheerful voice was muted. 

“Yes. And you are the bard, Venti.” Mona seemed to be inching away from him. 

Childe sighed. His breath ruffled the fur on the tip of his tail. Someone needed to teach this girl how to be stealthy and inconspicuous. Backing away while talking to someone you want to get away from is a big sign that you are guilty. 

“You see the fox that stole your bag? I see you got it back.” Barbatos sounded closer. 

“He dropped it in the store and ran out the back.” Mona lied carefully. 

She actually lied about him. Wow. Something told him that Mona rarely lied. And to lie to her own archon? Damn. Childe really wanted to know this girl now. 

“If that will be all I must be going.” Mona began moving faster again. 

“Wait! You didn’t see what-?” 

Barbatos’ voice faded out. 

They walked for a few minutes before Childe heard the jangle of keys. A door opened and then Childe was set down. The top of the bag opened. 

Childe jumped out of the stuffy purse. He huffed in irritation at that thought. He was carried in a purse by some woman. What new low could he sink to that would ever top that? Being hand fed by the Yashiro Commissioner was a step above that but barely. 

Childe took a deep breath and sneezed at the stronger spiced apples on a starry night by a lakeside scent. 

Mona stared at him as she opened some cupboards. “I do hope you are not getting sick. I don’t think I would be able to take care of you if you are.” 

Childe watched her with concern. Those cupboards looked extremely bare and… 

There was a short growling sound that startled him. 

Childe got to his feet warily. He didn’t smell another animal here. Where did that noise…

Another short growl. 

Childe pinpointed the sound to Mona’s middle. He came up to her and sat down. If she was hungry, why didn’t she eat? 

Mona sighed and stared into her empty cupboards. She shrugged and shut the doors. “Let’s talk.” 

******

‘Talking’ seemed to include a lot of staring and Mona pulling out some kind of chart made of water. She would twist something on it and hum before glancing at him and back at her water chart. 

Childe had found a comfortable spot on the floor and settled in for a long wait. 

Ten minutes later, Mona let out a gusty breath that ruffled the uneven bangs on her forehead. “I can’t see anything. You are shrouded from my sight. Just like that bard. I don’t understand it. Most people I can read easily. You are different. All I can get is your constellation name.” 

Childe waited for his usual Monoceros Caeli name. What Mona said gave him pause. 

“Monoceros Dei.” Mona sat down in a rickety wooden chair at an equally unsteady table. 

Childe yipped in a question. Hopefully, Mona understood him. Monoceros Dei? Did that mean… What did that mean? 

Mona tipped her head and rested it on the chair's back. She looked up at the ceiling as she thought out loud. “That is your constellation’s name. Everyone has one. I have never come across one that has the name Dei on the end. And it is rare that one is hidden from me. The only ones I have come across that are hidden like this are the Liyue adepti and… hmmm.” 

Childe yipped again when Mona went silent. What was going through that girl’s head? 

Mona’s face went pale before she cleared her throat and sat up. “In any case that is not important. What is important is…” 

Mona’s stomach rumbled louder. So loud it couldn’t be ignored. Mona sighed. “Lunch. That is what is important at this moment. I don’t have much so don’t expect a lot to eat. This afternoon we will find someplace for you to stay because you can’t stay with me. I do not have the mora to take care of both you and me.” 

Childe looked around the home he found himself in. It was cluttered. Stacks of books and various expensive-looking equipment were on every available surface. The rest of the room seemed bare. There were almost no pans, no dishes, no art on the walls, and no homey touches. 

It was as if all the money was poured into this equipment and not on the necessities for living a normal life. Like food for example. 

Mona was at the cabinets combing through them. She put half a head of cabbage on the counter. She pulled two potatoes from another cupboard. She set an apple down. “Now I know I had some somewhere.” 

She pulled open a different type of cabinet. This one radiated the faintest amount of coldness. 

“Ah-ha. There you are.” Mona set a container of hardboiled eggs next to the rest of the ingredients. 

Childe just looked at it. That didn’t seem safe. He didn’t want to get sick from eggs that had been left out for too…

Mona laughed at him. “Don’t worry. Here. Let me show you.” Mona pulled open a drawer at the bottom. It had a thick slab of ice resting on the bottom. “It keeps food cold. You just put a bit of cryo-infused ice in here. And this vent makes the cold radiate up into here. Therefore it keeps food cold and fresh. It does have a few problems though. Like this…” Mona pulled out another drawer full of melted ice at the very bottom. “You have to dispose of it every so often. If only there was a way to make this more airtight and the ice to melt slower it would be perfect.” 

Childe barked at her. Did she come up with this herself? 

“Oh. It was something I had the inspiration to do. If I could work out the quirks it would be perfect, right?” Mona shut the drawer. “Anyway. Let’s eat before we die of starvation.” 

Childe stared at the cold cabinet. If Mona could work out the quirks she could easily make millions. Can you just imagine how popular this thing would be in say… Sumeru? Something that would keep food cold and fresh. All you would need is ice and Snezhnaya had a ton of ice. Maybe he and Mona could team up? That was something for another day. If the Tsaritsa even still counted him as a Snezhnaya citizen. (If he really changed into a Liyuen Adepti all because of his love for another archon, did he even still have a right to call himself Snezhnayan? Or was he considered a Liyuen now? 

That was a question for Zhongli when he came back to him.)

Childe was so deep in his thoughts it took Mona, placing a dish down in front of him, for him to snap out of them. 

Childe looked down at the plate of salad. It was presented nicely with some compass rose decorations stuck into a few slices of apple. The cabbage was spread on the plate and cooked potato and egg were laid on top. 

Mona was still standing by him. 

Childe looked up at her. He really had to crane his neck because she was tall to his small form. He was sure that, if he was in his human form, he would tower over her. 

Mona cleared her throat. Her hands were clasped neatly in front of her stomach. She looked bashful. “I call it Der Weisheit Letzter Schluss.” 

Childe could barely follow along with the long name and foreign words. He tipped his head to the side in confusion. One ear folded down across his eyes. 

“Oh just call it Life.” Mona snapped and turned around to her own food. She sat down with a huff and shoved a bite into her mouth. 

Childe took a bite of cabbage and apple. It was surprisingly filling and good. He only managed to eat half the plate before his smaller stomach protested more food. 

Now he was sleepy from having a full belly. Childe yawned a toothy stretch of his jaw. His tongue lolled out. He sighed and licked his lips. Where could he sleep? 

Mona had already finished eating her food and was now sitting at the table writing on a sheet of paper. Every so often she would pull out her water chart and fiddle with it before going back to scratching her pen on the paper. 

Childe owed her an apology. He didn’t mean to make her upset when she presented his food. Childe slowly crept up on her. She didn’t notice him until he jumped up on her lap. Careful of his claws he settled down and curled into a ball across her knees. His tail came up around his body to keep him warm. 

The lap was too small and the scent was all wrong. But it was fine for now. Childe closed his eyes. After a moment, Mona began working again. Her hand dropped down to carefully run through his fur. 

Childe felt the softest purrs rising from his chest. He didn’t know foxes could purr. Apparently, they can. 

“Oh. Are you…?” Mona’s hand stopped petting him. 

Childe opened one eye in a glare at her. 

“Okay then.” Mona combed her fingers through his tail. 

Childe huffed. He closed his eyes and felt sleep pulling at him. 

“Two things before you sleep. One, your apology is accepted. Two, you are getting a bath when you wake up.” Mona kept petting him even though he stiffened in shock. 

She was going to give him a bath?! Well, on second thought he did kind of smell. Bath it was. Later. Sleep now. 

Childe relaxed and let his purr come back. He hoped Zhongli was…

****

Childe didn’t dream of Zhongli. His dreams this time were disjointed things that were unclear. Only bits and pieces stood out. Running through the sky, having a race with a teal, purple and gold bird, snuggling with warmth and brown and gold, and watching a sunset from the peak of a mountain. 

None of it stayed in his memory for long. Childe yawned and stretched his back and legs. 

Where was he? The last thing he remembered was falling asleep on Mona’s legs. Now he was in the middle of a bed. It was worn down and had a hard mattress. There were a lot of pillows but they didn’t make up for the metal bar that ran down the middle of the bed. The whole thing smelled like Mona. A blanket fell off his haunches.

Childe sat up. Okay, note to self, when he is human and returns here to help with Barbara,  make sure Mona had a decent bed and encouragement to keep working on her cold cabinet. 

That little project right there will make a lot of mora. 

Childe looked around the room. Where was his gracious hostess? 

Mona poked her head into the room from a side door. “Good. You are awake. Bath time.” 

Childe bolted. No bath for him. He was perfectly fine and…

The bedroom door was shut. The window was shut. The closet was shut. The only way for him to go was into the bathroom. 

Mona was prepared. “Hold it right there. You can either come quietly or I can and will douse you with my vision and then haul you to the bathtub. Either way, you are having a bath. You stink like old blood and dirty mud.” 

Childe huffed and headed for the bathroom with his tail down near his legs. How humiliating was this? He hadn’t had a bath in front of a female since he was four. The last woman who saw him naked in the bath was his mother. 

Childe froze in the middle of the doorway. He wasn’t exactly naked, was he? He looked back at his tail dragging on the floor. Yeah. This wouldn’t be as bad as he thought. Childe took one step forward. 

Mona let out a huge breath of air and picked him up. “At the rate you are going, we will be here until the moon falls from the sky. Honestly, it’s not that bad. Stop dragging your heels.” 

Mona plopped him into a tub full of warm water. She pulled some soap to her and began scrubbing his fur. “When was the last time you even had a bath? Look at all this dirt.” 

She muttered and scolded him as she rinsed him and then washed him all over again. One final rinse and Childe was happy to be out of the tub. 

“I know you are a human in there so you better not get water all over the bathroom by shaking your fur. I’ll be right back.” Mona stepped out of the bathroom. 

Childe stood there shaking with cold and trying to resist the itchy instinct saying to shake to get all this water out of his fur. Where was Mona again? 

Childe waited for a few moments more. Mona stepped into the bathroom with a towel and a letter in her hand. She set the paper on the counter and sank to her knees before him. 

“Hold still. We need to get your dry and presentable as fast as possible. This might be a little rough. I’m sorry in advance.” Mona draped the towel over his back and scrubbed at his fur with her fingers. 

She had to use another towel to finish drying him. The first one was soaked so much it couldn’t hold any more water. 

“It seems your fur really absorbs water. Hold on. Almost done.” Mona pulled the towel up over his head and ruffled his ears and head. “And we’re done drying. Now to comb your fur.” 

Mona pulled out a soft-bristled wooden brush and a matching wooden comb. There was a compass rose design on both. Mona noticed him looking at them. “These belonged to my mother. It’s all I have left of her. Hold still. We are not doing my tragic backstory. We only have a few minutes.” 

Childe was brushed and combed until his fur was neat. He was then scooped up and carried out of the room. 

Mona had the letter in her hand. She was reading through it carefully. “Come on. We need to go.” 

Childe yipped and nodded at the letter before tipping his head to the side. Mona seemed to get his question. 

Mona looked at him. “It seems your little altercation at the church did not go unnoticed or my part in it all. We are being summoned to show up before the Acting Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius. I’m just glad we had time to give you a bath.” 

Mona carried him outside and shut her front door behind her. A lock clicked and they were off to the Mondstadt’s Knight’s headquarters. 

******

The oddest group of people was waiting for them when Mona pushed open the doors to the Acting Grandmaster’s office. 

A young woman, a little bit younger than Childe stood before the desk. 

Her light blonde hair was in a high ponytail. The ends of a black bow were visible. A dark blue coat with tails, white tights, white boots, and a glowing anemo vision was all Childe saw at first glance. His nose detected dandelions on a soft breeze. 

The other two people were what made him freeze. 

Barbara stood at the Acting Grandmaster’s shoulder talking to her with familiarity. Her hands were wrinkling the front of her dress in anxiousness. 

Barbatos was leaning against the bookshelves against the wall with his arms crossed and an unreadable look on his face. When Childe and Mona stepped into the room, those unique two-tone blue-green eyes narrowed on him. 

 “Mona. Thank you for coming so quickly.” The Acting Grandmaster had a nice soft pleasant voice. She turned around and Childe narrowed his own eyes. The similarities were too obvious. 

This was Barbara’s older sister? This was Jean? Oh, did he have words for her. 

Childe leaped down from Mona’s arms and stalked over to her. He wanted to lay into her so badly. Her sister was not even of age and was being propositioned by men double her age. 

Childe didn’t know it but a growl rattled from his chest. 

“Is there something wrong with him?” Jean put a hand on her sword. 

“He was perfectly fine a minute ago.” Mona stepped towards him. “He seems to not like you.” 

Barbara met his eyes with pleading in them. Childe gave her a pointed look before glaring at Jean. He stepped around her and reached Barbara. Childe sat next to her and rubbed his head against her leg in comfort. He pulled back and stared at her encouragingly. 

Barbara sighed and fiddled with something in her pocket. She pulled out a stack of letters and straightened their edges. “I- I think he wants me to show you these.” Barbara set the letters in Jean’s open palm. 

Childe watched as Jean read them. Her face got darker and darker with every letter she read. The last one must have been Albert’s because Jean’s face became thunderous. It quickly became closed off as she turned to her sister. 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jean asked softly. 

Barbara shrugged. “I didn’t understand them. He had brought one out of my room. Sister Rosaria found it and read it. She had me bring all of them and we read through them all. These were the worst in Rosaria’s opinion. I still don’t get half of them.” 

Jean scowled and tucked the letters into her desk. “We will talk more about this later. For now, we need to talk about him.” 

Childe met the gaze of the Acting Grandmaster without flinching. Dull blue stared into stern light blue gray. 

“Does anyone know where he came from?” Jean looked away from him first. 

“Allow me to answer that question.” Barbatos stepped forward from his place by the bookshelf. “He’s an old, old friend of mine’s partner.” 

Was it just Childe or did Barbatos shoot Jean a pointed look? Did that mean Jean knew he was the anemo archon? 

“He got stuck this way and I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on him. He’s a sly one though and escaped my watch for a few hours.” Barbatos gave a bright smile. “I will be taking him with me when we are done here. I promise he won’t escape again.” 

Childe looked back at Mona. She was studying Barbatos with a calculating gleam in her eyes. 

“I will come with you for a moment. I have something I want to talk with you about.” Mona looked away from Barbatos. 

Jean rested her backside against the edge of her desk. “As long as this is all sorted. This can’t happen again. I had to reassure Miss Monica that you wouldn’t go running through her shop like that again. She almost pressed charges for vandalism. Venti? Make sure you take him wherever he needs to go. Everyone can leave. Except you Barbara. We have things we need to discuss.” 

Childe pressed against Barbara in goodbye. He would be back in a few months to check on her. Hopefully, her sister will step up now that she knows what is going on. He owed Sister Rosaria one too. 

Childe yipped when he was suddenly picked up off the ground. Sharp storm winds and cecilias met his nose. Childe was pressed awkwardly to a fancy-clothed chest. He was carried from the room and all he could see was green and white. 

His meeting with the Acting Grandmaster was over. 

****

Barbatos carried him out of the Knight’s Headquarters and into a nearby park in the city. He had a tight grip on him when he finally moved him to sit on a bench. 

Childe tried to fight but Barbatos’ grip was unyielding. He whimpered and gave up on trying to get away. 

For such a small slight guy, Barbatos sure had a powerful strength to him. 

“You wanted to talk to me.” Barbatos clumsily patted Childe’s head with one hand. 

Childe growled and snapped at his fingers. 

“Can’t see your constellation. I can’t read you at all.” Mona was saying. “It’s the same with him. The only thing I got was his star group’s name. Monoceros Dei. That got me thinking. Dei in the ancient tongue means god. I can’t read anything off you and the only other person I have met like that would be him.” Mona gestured at Childe in Barbatos’ lap. 

Barbatos hummed and didn’t answer her for a few moments. “What is your question?” 

“Are you… him?” Mona glanced around at the other park visitors. 

“Yes. But let’s keep that on the down low. Only a few people know.” Barbatos’ hands moved to pick him up. “You have another question?” 

“Yes. Who is he?” This time a wave of the hand to him. “You said he was the partner to an old friend?” 

Barbatos’ hand went under Childe’s belly and lifted his front half up. It was awkward because his front paws had nothing to brace against and just hung there in the air. 

“This little guy is the partner to another archon. He just got stuck like this for a while.” Barbatos stood up. 

Childe growled lowly. This archon didn’t even know how to carry him the right way. 

“If that is all, I really must be going. I will see you around, Mona Megestius.” Barbatos began walking away with Childe dangling in his grip. 

“Wait. Let me at least say goodbye.” Mona strode up to him. She gave him a hidden sympathetic look. She carefully pet him under his chin and then behind his ears. “Stay safe Monoceros Dei. I have a feeling we will meet again.” 

Mona strode off down the street without a backward glance. That was okay with Childe. This wasn’t a true goodbye. This was a see you later type of thing. 

Childe realized something after Mona had disappeared. He was stuck with the Anemo Archon. 

Childe looked up at him only to meet amused blue-green eyes. 

“Are you ready to talk now, Childe?” Barbatos asked him with a soft laugh. 

*****

Childe was carried like a particularly unwanted bag down a back alley. And then through a random wall. Literally a hidden wall. Just right through it. 

He was now in a spacious if very messy home. Out the windows showed a view of an abnormally large tree and a statue of the anemo archon himself protected by its branches. 

Well, Childe did say he wanted to see that tree. Now was his chance. If he could only find a way through the mess of empty wine bottles and various dishes stacked everywhere. 

“Now. Let’s talk. Please excuse the mess. I haven’t had any company in here for centuries.” Barbatos shoved aside a stack of cups and sat down on a couch. “Now. I know you know who I am and you know I know who you are. I’m not here to force you back to Morax so relax.” 

Childe carefully sat down on a desperately in need of a cleaning rug. He stared up at Barbatos waiting for his lecture. Except it didn’t come. Barbatos just watched him back. 

“I say good for you to explore while you can. Being tied down is the worst thing I could ever imagine.” Barbatos grabbed a half-empty bottle of wine. He sipped a few gulps. “It’s just you need to tone down the emotions part. Despite what that old blockhead put in his body to keep him stable, strong emotions will still break through. That is where I come in. I know you need to leave in two days so that gives me one and a half to teach you shielding and blocking.” 

Childe tipped his head to the side and yipped in question. Shielding and blocking? 

“Yes. Shielding and blocking. Right now you are an open book and anyone who is even half as intuitive can read you and most things you are feeling and thinking.” Barbatos drank the rest of the bottle and sat up. “So. The first thing to know is, when your emotions are heightened, to imagine a door or something that you can close at will.” 

So began one and a half days of learning how to shield himself from Barbatos. The eternal anemo archon bachelor. 

******

Childe walked back along the path leading to the ocean and Captain Beidou’s ship. This time, he had company. 

Barbatos strolled alongside him humming a tune under his breath. When they reached the waterfall, Barbatos stopped. 

“This is as far as I go. I hope you had fun in Mondstadt. I look forward to hosting you again when you can actually clean up after yourself.” Barbatos laughed at Childe’s expression. “Spilled wine bottles aside, I just want you to remember to watch yourself out there and to at least think about returning to Morax soon. I can’t take much more of his angst. At least go visit him so you can get the ability to change between your forms and let the old blockhead know that you are okay. He will forever worry if you don’t.” 

Childe barked goodbye and took a step towards the sand. He enjoyed this trip to Mondstadt. Sumeru was next. Childe missed Zhongli. Sumeru would be his last stop before going home. 

Zhongli deserved a chance to make things right. If Barbatos was to be believed, he was pining hard. Childe had learned though, that with Barbatos, to take everything he said at face value. Barbatos tended to exaggerate a lot. 

“Hey, Trouble! You’re back! Welcome aboard. You are just in time. We set sail for Sumeru at nightfall.” 

Sumeru here he comes.

Chapter Text

Xiao didn’t think this task for his lord would be this grueling and long distance. He wished he could teleport but that would mean missing something about his journey and even having to wait for his charge to show up. 

No. Xiao made a promise and he always sticks to them. He almost failed that one time. He had gotten distracted talking to Barbatos and his lord’s mate got injured. 

Xiao was ever so vigilant after that. He stuck to that Snezhnayan fox like his shadow. From the point of him staying with that one nun to him charging that astrologist and stealing her purse to him staying with the anemo archon and then getting on the ship again. 

Xiao cursed his lord’s mate’s stubborn streak. Why can’t he just give in to the pull and head to Liyue? Must he take this long journey across all of Teyvat and back? 

Xiao could feel the pull to Liyue burning as strong as ever in his mind. He needed to get back and take on his duties. Letting his lord or anyone else handle it in his stead was not going to work in the long term. 

Xiao wouldn’t (couldn’t) stand for someone else getting affected by the miasma in his stead. Just the thought of sweet Ganyu infected or Yanfei having this darkness in them makes him want to abandon this bodyguard job and head back to Liyue. 

Xiao’s wings ached and he needed a rest but there was none to be seen in the middle of the ocean unless he wanted to land on the ship’s mast but that would be a massive red flag for both the brand new adeptus and for the captain of the ship. 

Xiao pushed aside the pain of overused muscles as easily as he pushed aside the whispers and darkness that taunted him on a daily basis. He could do this. It was only a little further. Maybe when it was nightfall, and they all were sleeping but the captain, would he rest on the ship’s mast. 

Xiao didn’t know how his lord could stand being away from his mate. From everything he had read it was a hard thing to ignore the bond of mates. Xiao shunted that thought to the side before more unpleasant memories cropped up. 

Xiao kept his gaze on the horizon and kept soaring through the sky. This is the longest he had ever spent in his beast form since his lord rescued him. Xiao much preferred his human form. 

How much longer until sunset? A couple of hours judging by the sun. He has this. It’s easy. 

*****

Xiao breathed a sigh and set down on the ship’s mast. He could sense them all dreaming below him. Those tasty-looking dreams were… 

No. Xiao forced himself to think of something else. Like the captain of the vessel steering the boat by herself. 

Her voice floated up to him. “I see I have a stowaway.” 

Xiao prepared to take flight again. Even though his wings were aching and his body was sore he would not stay where he was unwelcome and liable to cause trouble. 

“It’s alright. I won’t tell. Her Excellency did say that he was a Liyuen adeptus. I take it you are one, too? Here to keep an eye on him by my guess.” The Captain paused as she twisted the wheel to the side. “Go on. Rest. Flying all day would be tiring for anyone. I won’t tell.” 

Silence fell and Xiao relaxed as much as he ever did (read: not at all) on his perch on the mast. 

What he would give to be back in his human form. This one was less conspicuous and easier to make sure he wasn’t spotted. Plus it had the added advantage of being able to fly. He could teleport using a mix of anemo and adeptal arts but he could continuously fly and that was important for keeping an eye on his lord’s mate. 

Xiao started this mission warily. He had heard of the Snezhnayan that had captured his lord’s heart. He had heard from Yanfei how he had unleashed Osial using copycat sigils of permission.  Just for that fact alone, Xiao intensely disliked him. 

His list of crimes continued. He put his land, and his home in danger. He summoned an ancient god to draw out his lord in some convoluted plot. He even still didn’t know the full details. 

His transgressions seemed endless. Xiao started this mission hating every second of it. Then he saw the way he acted around the people who took him. Being courteous of others’ homes and needs. The way he went out of his way to protect a young girl who was being preyed on. The way he seemed to care about even the poorest of people. These were not signs of a bloodthirsty Harbinger of Snezhnaya. 

Xiao could almost see what his lord saw in him. Behind that lust for battle and the hard outer shell, Xiao could see the soft caring part of him that had been hurt badly. Maybe the two of them weren’t all that different. 

Xiao made an irritated clicking noise with his beak and shook his feathers. What was he thinking? He was not soft. He did not care about this Snezhnayan enemy agent who had stolen his lord’s heart. He did not feel sympathy for this bloodthirsty… fox. 

Xiao cast his gaze on the deck below him. He picked out red and white fur from between two crates. His charge was sleeping deeply. 

Rest. He needed rest. If they were going where he thinks they are going he had another long day of flying ahead of him. 

*****

Xiao needed a break. The new adeptus was safe on a boat. Not much could damage him there. If he took a quick two-hour break, he could be back before sunset. The southern shore of Liyue was in the distance. He could fly there, transform back and make a quick trip to Jueyun Karst to check-in. He would be back in two hours or less. 

Xiao let out a sharp call to the captain to let her know he was departing. He veered towards the distant land mass on the horizon. 

It took him half an hour to reach Liyue. Xiao landed on the abandoned beach and transformed back into his human visage. Xiao stretched his sore arms and back. Being in his beast form was so tiring. 

Xiao called on his usual adeptal arts and anemo vision to appear outside his lord’s realm. Xiao took a moment to steady himself. He did not carry good news. On the surface, Xiao knew his lord was not cruel and would not take the bad news out on him. Underneath all that, in a small little whisper was the fear of punishment for delivering bad news. It was left over from his old master. 

Xiao shoved it away and tentatively knocked on the abode’s door. 

It swung open quickly and Rex Lapis appeared quickly. 

“Xiao? Is something wrong? I can’t feel him. Not with this thing and Barbatos teaching him to shield.” Rex Lapis looked nothing like his refined self. 

Xiao clenched his teeth and cursed the Snezhnayan brat in his mind. He dared to not utter the words out loud. Who knew what his lord would do to him? 

“I came for a check-in and to tell you…” Xiao paused. There was no holding back. “He is headed for Sumeru.” 

Rex Lapis’ brow furrowed. “How? He hasn’t stepped foot in Liyue. So how would he get to…” 

“He went by boat directly from Mondstadt.” Xiao interrupted him carefully. “I have been keeping an eye on him and took the chance while we are near Liyue to inform you that this may take longer than anticipated.” 

The question of who was taking care of his duties pressed at his mind. He couldn’t ignore the uncertainty any longer. 

“My lord, who is doing my job?” Xiao kept his head bowed and his eyes carefully away from Rex Lapis. 

“We all are. Everyone who is capable to fight has chipped in. That is almost everyone but Streetward Rambler. She claims she is too old to fight for long.” Rex Lapis slumped against a rock placed to hide his door. “You will be in Sumeru with him?” 

“Yes. I gave my word to watch him. I will not break it.” Xiao was almost offended by his lord’s questions. 

Rex Lapis nodded his head. “I will write to Buer and hope she will allow you admittance and will help keep an eye on him.” 

Xiao frowned. He crossed his arms over his chest defensively. “Do you not think I can do it on my own?” 

“Xiao.” 

Rex Lapis’ gaze turned into something Xiao had seen often but never understood it. His lord took on a unique tone. Xiao would almost call it patronizing except it wasn’t that. Not quite. It was two parts sadness and something soft he had no name for. A hint of something stronger was threaded through the whole tone. 

“I have the utmost faith in you. I know you will do everything you can to fulfill what I have asked. It is him that I know will need the extra watch.” Rex Lapis gave a small smile. “Childe is a lot to handle. I can not ask her to help and only ask for you to be there if you prefer that?” 

Xiao thought it over. His jaw tightened when he thought of everything that happened in Mondstadt. How he had lost sight of him for a few minutes and he got injured. How in the space of a few seconds, he got the attention of a highly suspicious nun and had Barbatos ready to fight to get him. 

Xiao uncrossed his arms. He lowered them to his side. “The extra help would be nice.” He admitted reluctantly. “You are right. Your mate does find a way to get in trouble as easy as he breathes.” 

Rex Lapis gave him a smile with that same strong under-thread he didn’t understand. “I will write to her at once. Is there anything else you wished to share, Xiao?” 

Xiao shook his head. “No. That was all. Tell…” Xiao took a deep breath. “Tell Ganyu to not overwork herself. I don’t want to come back to her sick like the last time I went away.” 

“I will relay your wishes.” Rex Lapis turned to leave. “Xiao? Have you met your mate?” 

Xiao immediately shoved back the memories threatening to overwhelm him. “No.” He answered shortly and roughly. “And I pray I never do. I must be going.” Xiao turned to leave. The last thing he heard before departing was his lord musing on how he and Barbatos were similar. 

******

Xiao made it back to where he left the ship only to see with surprise that it was still there where he left it. Had the captain stalled her crew so he wouldn’t have to catch up with them? 

Xiao made an irritated clicking noise with his beak. Unnecessary. Unneeded. Xiao was perfectly capable of flying to catch up. 

Once Xiao came in sight the boat started making progress through the waves again. Xiao followed along easily. His mind wandered through various thoughts of worry for Ganyu to his worry of running into his mate. Again. 

Yes, Xiao had lied to his lord. He had met his mate. And that meeting was disastrous. Since then things had been stilted between them. He didn’t even think his mate realized they were mates. No, he was way too drunk most of the time to feel anything. 

Xiao shoved aside thoughts and memories of a flute being played in a marsh where he lay dying. (That flute and the person playing gave him the strength to keep fighting that day.) He shoved away the memory of his mate loudly declaring he never wanted to have a mate. (That stung worse than anything anybody could ever do to him.) And he set aside the feelings that he was never good enough. (All he wanted was to be home at Wangshu Inn taking care of his responsibilities until he died.) 

Xiao focused on the distant horizon and the setting sun. They would be in Sumeru by midday tomorrow. Based on his calculations. Xiao only hoped that this trip would be as brief as Mondstadt’s. 

He had a feeling it would be a very long time before he was home.

Chapter Text

Port Ormos was an interesting place. Just from first glance, it seemed like your average port town. Dock workers went back and forth doing their jobs. They were moving boxes, inspecting cargo, and giving out paperwork. Underneath all that, there was a darker undertone to the city. In the shadows, people were hanging around waiting for customers. Black market dealings. Childe could spot them easily. 

He had heard rumors about Port Ormos being the place to get anything you could think of. Some fatui members traded non-very-legal items for modifications for their weapons. The rumors seemed to be true. This city had a dark underbelly to it. 

Captain Beidou had advised him yesterday to leave the ship without being spotted and to spend as little time in the port town as he could. Apparently, lots of Eremites loved exotic pelts and his hide would definitely classify as one. 

Childe took her warning under consideration. He was trying to find a way to leave town. The layout was super complicated and it was worse because of how small he was. People were everywhere and he didn’t know how to leave the city besides the way he came in.

Childe had found a ramp leading up to a set of stairs when the fur was raised on the back of his neck. He was being followed. 

It wasn’t the same person who had been following him since Inazuma. (Childe was not stupid. He knew when someone was following him. Especially across the ocean for miles.) No. This person had bad intent about stalking him. He needed to hide or find someone that will help him. 

Childe cursed under his breath. He hated this! He couldn’t fight like this! He was helpless! It grated on his instincts and made him angry. When he was back to his human form he was going to the nearest capable person and asked them for a no holds barred spar. Most likely it would be Zhongli. Or maybe he could goad the adeptus that was following him. 

Childe went a little faster through the crowds. How did he lose his bad tail? Alleys were not a good idea right now. Not in this city. He could easily end up in a worse situation. 

What to do? What to do? 

He needed to find a vision bearer. Usually, they were the best ones to help him. Time to put his nose to good use. 

Childe raised his nose in the air and sniffed deeply. He filtered through the scents of the sea, cooking food, and the usual body sweat of most people. No. No. No. There! 

On the breeze was the faintest scent of a rich forest along with the usual human scents and thick Sumeruen spice. This person smelled like a vision bearer. No one could get that thick of a dendro scent on them unless they had a vision. 

He had to move fast. His tails were quickly becoming three. 

Childe kept his nose in the air as he tracked the scent through the streets. It became much clearer the further he went. Yeah. This person was definitely a dendro vision user. Thick lush forest and spice made his nose itch as he closed in on the person. 

Male. He had to be close by. Where was he? His tails were now four and he didn’t think the one neutral one would kill these bad guys. Liyue adepti were noble like that. 

Childe scanned the street he was now on. It was emptier than he liked and these persistent bad guys were closing in on him. 

Childe took deep breaths as he went down the street slowly. No. No. No. There! Him! 

His target was talking with one of the black market dealers with not much success. He was scowling and crossing his arms over his chest. He said some parting words and was going to walk away. 

No! Childe couldn’t lose him! 

Childe started running. He ran right up to the man and leaped into his arms at the exact moment he had them in the perfect position. Air cut across his tail as something was either shot or thrown at him. 

The man let out a huff as he caught Childe. “What the…?” 

Childe’s tails came to a stop a few feet away from them. (Well, the bad ones.) 

“Shit!” One of the men cursed. “Back off boys. That’s the acting Grand Sage. You do not want to mess with him. Forget the fox. Scatter.” 

Childe’s pursuers faded back into the shadows. Childe relaxed as much as he could and panted for breath. That was a little nerve-wracking. 

“What are you doing?” The man holding him scowled down at him. 

Childe blinked up at him innocently. He gave a short yip and tried to smile his usual charming oh-don’t-mind-me-I’m-just-passing-through grin. 

The man snorted at him. “Yeah. No. That’s not going to work. My roommate has a better innocent look than that.” 

Childe sighed. Oh well, it was worth a shot. Now how to get down? 

Childe yelped as he was shifted into a more secure hold. What was happening? He scratched with his paws, trying to push away from this stranger. It was no use. This man had clothes that were impenetrable. What did those men say? He was the Acting Grand Sage? Of the Akademiya? Yeah. No. Childe needed to get away. This was supposed to be a leisure trip, archons damn it!

“You are coming with me. After all that trouble you were in? You owe me. Your coloring is like no fox known to Teyvat. You have the markings of a Liyuen red fox but your white shades are from a Snezhnaya snow fox if I am not mistaken. If someone is transporting and breeding illegal animals, General Mahamatra and Nahida need to know about this.” The man secured his grip on him and started walking away. “My job is done here. It’s a long walk back to Sumeru City. What do foxes even eat?” 

Childe couldn’t escape. Looks like he is heading for Sumeru City a little earlier than he planned. Oh well, at least he had a way out of Port Ormos. Why did this city have to be so hard to navigate? 

****

Three days. Childe had been stuck with this guy for three days. He was carried through rivers and beautiful jungles and rainforests with this quiet guy for three days. At night, the man stayed at various places that all had doors and windows. He shut them all tightly. 

Childe was trapped. He didn’t like it. 

This guy was very quiet. He didn’t say much and seemed to be lost in thought ninety percent of the time. The other ten percent was him sleeping. He talked in his sleep. Mostly things that didn’t make sense. Something about a world puzzle and then the next thing out of his mouth was about needing lion keys to clean up his mess. 

Childe slowly got used to this guy who didn’t even introduce himself. All Childe knew was that he was the acting Grand Sage of the Akademiya. It was infuriating. 

Finally, finally, they reached Sumeru City. Childe had something to look at besides trees and water. Childe’s kidnapper took him through the city streets with a single-minded purpose. He gave no pause to the people watching him with wide eyes. He just strode through the streets with Childe in his arms like he carried random foxes every day around here. 

Childe huffed. They went up several ramps into a giant tree. Bigger than the one in Mondstadt. Bigger than the one Wangshu Inn in Liyue rested on. Childe was talking extremely massive in size. 

A curious thought ran across Childe’s mind. Each nation in Teyvat had an abnormally large tree. Sumeru had one that the Akademiya was built on. Liyue had one that the innkeepers of Wangshu Inn had taken over. Mondstadt had that one in the field that protected a statue of Barbatos. Inazuma’s large tree was at the Grand Narukami Shrine up on top of a mountain. (Didn’t that one have roots that spread to all of Inazuma and connected all the similar trees?)

There was something more to that. Curious. 

Cool air fell over Childe as they entered a large building. Here, they got more wide-eyed weird stares. A few seemed to be in longing. (So his mystery kidnapper had lots of secret admirers?) 

Childe tipped his head up and stared at him in consideration. Yeah. If he wasn’t taken with Zhongli and he didn’t know this guy well, he might have tried to flirt. Tried and failed most likely. This guy was a tough nut to crack.

Childe’s jaw dropped when they went through a set of double doors leading to a huge room. It had books everywhere. On every wall, on every available space were books. People were seated at tables with stacks of books next to them. Some looked absolutely exhausted. Those must be the students. 

His kidnapper paid them no mind and strode straight to a platform in the middle of the room. He nodded at someone and stood still. 

Where were they going? 

Up. The answer was up. That platform started moving on its own. 

Childe let out a loud startled yip that echoed in the quiet room. Heads turned to stare at him. Childe was thankful for his fur. It hid his blush rather nicely. That was embarrassing. 

The room below vanished and still, they went up. Finally, the room above appeared. It was a large office. Very ostentatious. His own office as a Harbinger was not this fancy. Who even was this guy? 

“Al-Haitham?” A deep raspy voice called carefully. “We both are here. You said it was urgent?” 

Al-Haitham nodded and set him down on a crowded desktop. One hand was on his back to hold him there. “Yes. I found him in Port Ormos. I think someone is transporting illegal animals across the borders.” 

Childe looked up at a short white-haired man with a jackal hood over his hair. Only one scarlet eye was visible. It showed his incredulousness. “I see. And you found this out how?” 

Al-Haitham tried to answer but a bright tinkling laugh echoed in the room. 

“That is no ordinary fox. That is Morax’s mate. A Liyuen Adeptus.” A small light-haired girl walked into the room carrying a piece of paper with a faint golden glow. “It all says so here.” 

Four things happened. 

The jackal-headed male’s jaw dropped. A muttered curse came from above him. Al-Haitham’s hand fell away. Childe bolted. 

“Easy! We mean you no harm.” The little girl had him entangled in vines that were restrictive but not harming him. 

Childe yipped and struggled for a few minutes more. He gave up shortly. Useless. He was useless. He lay there in the mess of vines panting for breath. 

Childe was beginning to think this young girl was no ordinary child. 

“Morax? Isn’t he… dead?” Jackal hood cleared his throat uncomfortably. 

The young girl shook her head as she skimmed through the letter. “No. He has merely decided to retire. He went about it in a bad way. His poor people. But no. Morax is not dead. You would know when a god truly dies let alone an archon. If Morax would have died where it says he did, Liyue Harbor would be a wasteland. You have seen the desert. That was where King Deshret, and I both died. When an archon or god dies it releases devastation on the land.” 

Childe had a feeling this girl was going overboard with information. She was spilling secrets that only the archons should know. Was she…?

Jackal hood’s eye widened. “So the desert…” 

“Wasn’t always a desert. No.” The girl looked up from the letter. “Sorry. Where are my manners?” 

Childe froze when she turned large green eyes on him. 

“Hello, Childe of Snezhnaya. I am Lord Kusanali. Please call me Nahida. This is Al-Haitham, my Grand Sage. This is Cyno. General Mahamatra and the head of the matras for the Akademiya. It’s very nice to meet you.” Lord Kusanali clasped her hands in front of her white dress and smiled at him with a hopeful look.

Childe renewed his struggles. He needed to leave this place immediately. 

They wouldn’t let Childe out of the vines. 

“Wait. Back up. Childe of Snezhnaya? That is one of the…” Cold red eyes narrowed on his form. A polearm appeared in Cyno’s grasp. “He’s a fatui Harbinger.” 

A sword was instantly in Al-Haitham’s hand. “He’s not like the Doctor is he?” 

Childe gave an offended huff and tried harder to get free of the vines that had him trussed up and offered on a platter to these two angry men. He needed to be free to fight, damn it! 

“Worse. He’s…” Cyno gave a short yelp when his polearm was yanked from his grip. 

A clatter of a sword was heard a second later. 

Heads turned to face Lord Kusanali. Her face had a deep frown etched on it. “No fighting. He is not bad. Morax would not love a bad person. Don’t believe all the rumors you hear.” 

Childe stopped struggling again. For such a young archon, Lord Kusanali sure had a lot of power. 

“Childe is here on a trip to see our country. Morax asked us to keep an eye on him and…” Lord Kusanali paused. “I think I will keep that bit to myself.” 

Finally, she keeps some secrets. 

Childe gave up and lay down in the vines. His sides were heaving and he didn’t have the strength to try to break an archon’s power. No matter how small she seemed. 

Childe’s eyes drifted closed. No matter how early it was in the day, he was wiped from meeting these people. He also had too much to think about that he was putting off for now. 

Childe was half asleep when the vines fell away. A small hand stroked down his back and head. 

“-tham? Will you watch him for a few days? I have to have a talk with some others. I will be back in three days. Please?” 

Childe was lifted up and placed in a hard set of arms. 

“What will I do with a fox, Nahida?” The voice came from above him. 

“You were doing fine before. I will be back in three days.” Lord Kusanali left the room. 

Childe cracked open his eyes to stare into wary turquoise and orange ones. 

Al-Haitham sighed. “Let’s go, Childe.” Al-Haitham’s mouth twisted at his name. 

Childe closed his eyes and dreamed. 

******

Zhongli was seated at a table. He was having tea. A steaming pot was in front of him and a familiar dragon-style cup was held between his palms. 

“What does one plan to do now?” A white and blue crane was opposite him with her own cup of tea. 

Zhongli seemed to shrug. “I have some plans.” He lifted his cup for a sip of tea. 

“And what do those plans entail?” The crane seemed to raise a metaphorical judgemental eyebrow at him. “Your past attempts at courting your mate failed.” 

“I know.” Zhongli set down his teacup carefully. He traced the design with his thumb. The ring clinked against the porcelain softly. “I was too subtle last time. This time I will be more direct.” 

The crane snorted and ruffled her feathers. “Subtle? Subtle? One claims you were anything but subtle.” 

“He didn’t know.” Zhongli pointed out. He lifted the teacup up. 

The crane gave a loud laugh. “Then you were made for each other. A more dense pair of buffoons one never did see.” 

“Cloud Retainer. Enough.” A woman’s voice, raspy with age, scolded the crane from the other side of Zhongli. “We are here to help him plan how to court his mate. Not drive him away even more.” 

“I still say one should give him flowers. I have a bunch of perfectly good qingxin petals. I have been saving them for a special occasions. One can give them up for a good opportunity like this. Nothing beats sharing some nice flowers with your mate.” A large stag walked up behind the group. 

“Qingxin flowers are good for eating.” Cloud Retainer mused out loud. “One will craft the finest dish to put them in.” 

“Guys.” Another voice spoke up. 

All heads turned to face the new speaker. 

“Childe was human. Humans don’t eat qingxin petals. Not usually. Despite how delicious they are.” 

“Her point is, Childe was human. He will have human expectations and wants. It probably hasn’t quite sunk in that he is one of us now.” A brighter voice chipped in. 

“Preposterous. He is a Liyuen Adepti. One should treat him as such.” Cloud Retainer turned back to Zhongli. 

Childe had to laugh at the look on the younger two’s faces. When he comes back he better be prepared for some elaborate event. 

Why didn’t that thought make him shy away? 

*****

Childe woke up on a soft bed. The softest one he has ever felt in his life. He sat up to examine his surroundings. 

He was in someone’s bedroom. The bed was messily made. Bookshelves were overflowing with tomes and scrolls. A large desk had stacks of paper and notebooks on one end. The other side had a lot of pencils and pens with a paperweight holding down a sheet of paper. The colors were flashy reds and golds. 

This didn’t seem like Al-Haitham’s room. Or Cyno’s. Or anyone he knew. Did Al-Haitham drop him somewhere when he was sleeping to get rid of him? 

Childe couldn’t blame him if he did. He wouldn’t want to take care of Al-Haitham either if he turned into an animal. He just needed to find a way to leave and…

The door flew open with a bang. Someone walked into the room with a bright smile. 

“Hey! You’re awake!” 

The man was flamboyant and brash. He had dirty blonde hair down to just past his shoulders. A flashy blue feather and a braid held part of it back. A high-collared white shirt with a chest window had another flashy ornament decorating it. His pants seemed almost normal compared with the bright garment on his back. On second thought… His pants had decorations too. 

“I saved you from Al-Haitham. I love the guy but he seriously doesn’t know how to take care of a plant, let alone an animal.” The guy went pale and shot a look out his door. “Hold on.” The man walked to the door and closed it behind him. “There. Now we can talk. I’m Kaveh. Al-Haitham’s roommate.” 

Childe bounced on the bed when Kaveh flopped down next to him. He shot an irritated glare at the grinning man. 

“Oh. Aren’t you a cute one? I don’t know where Al-Haitham got you from but I want to keep you.” A hand reached out and poked his nose. 

Childe barked and turned to leave. Yeah. No. He was not staying here with this loud flashy annoying child that never grew up. He jumped down off the bed. 

“Wait. I’m sorry.” Kaveh called after him. 

Childe looked back to see him sitting up with a serious look on his face. 

“Please don’t go. It’s just…” Kaveh let out a huge sigh that quickly turned into a groan. He fell back on the bed. “Don’t tell Al-Haitham. Not that you can but still. I don’t want him to know. He will kick me out of here faster than I can blink and then where will I live?” 

Don’t tell Al-Haitham what? Childe thought back through this man’s words. “I love the guy but he seriously doesn’t know how to take care of a plant, let alone an animal.” 

Childe winced and lay down. He hid his face in his paws. His tail automatically came up around his front. What kind of romantic mess did he get himself into? Didn’t he already have enough drama with his own love life? 

*****

Torture. This was torture. 

Childe ate his dinner between two ridiculously pining roommates who are too stupid to admit they love each other. 

The silence was stilted and thick with tension. Al-Haitham had made food for all three of them. Kaveh had given him a bright smile and a loud chirpy ‘What would I ever do without you, Haitham?’ 

Al-Haitham’s dry harsh retort of ‘You would wither and die of starvation long before I would’, was made softer by the gentleness in his eyes. Otherwise, you never would have known he loved Kaveh. You had to read his eyes. 

Only Kaveh didn’t seem to know that. He had made an offended huff and loudly declared that he could take care of himself. Al-Haitham said another dry comment to that. 

Childe wanted to bang his head into a wall. Put him out of this misery. No, he wanted to bang their heads together and then run far, far away. Away from this awkward insanity. 

Childe ate his dinner and then headed for the front door. No way was he staying in this house with all this unsaid tension. 

Legs stopped his progress. “No. It is too late to go sightseeing tonight. Stay here and you can go out in the morning.” 

Childe glared up at Al-Haitham. The man stared back, unflinching. 

“Your choice. You can go out and get into deeper trouble than when I found you. There are no vision holders out this late. Or you can stay here and go out in the morning as long as you promise you will be back by nightfall.” Al-Haitham crossed his arms. “I heard a few of the Amurta scholars like to study unusual animals. I wonder what they will think of a fox of your unique coloring and habits. No normal fox would be seen in the city. Not around so many people.” 

Childe huffed and stalked away from the door. He hated to admit it but Al-Haitham had a point. Childe was no one’s test subject. He moved to the couch and jumped up on it in a fit of pettiness. If he was stuck here with these two love-lorn idiots then he was sleeping on the couch. 

“I have a question,” Kaveh spoke up from his spot in the dining room. “What is the story behind the fox? Why are we taking care of him?” 

Al-Haitham scowled at him and gave up on scolding him. He turned to Kaveh with a slight warmth in his eyes. “He is the pet of a friend of a friend. I was tasked with keeping an eye on him for the next few days until my… friend gets back.” 

Kaveh frowned. It made his sharp red eyes narrower than usual. “I still don’t get it.” 

Childe pointedly looked away from the two of them. Pet? He was no one’s pet. Looks like the pettiness went both ways. Well played, Al-Haitham. Childe would get him back. 

The two men went to their separate rooms after an hour or so of chatting (read: flirty bickering) in the main room. 

Thankful for some peace and quiet, Childe went to sleep as soon as he could. The quicker he slept the sooner morning would come and he could escape this drama-filled abyss hole. 

*****

Morning came and with it was Childe’s freedom. He tore out of the house as fast as he could. He would need to find other lodgings. He refused to stay another night with those two roommates. Childe hated being a third wheel on a good day. He wouldn’t stand for being trapped with them another night. 

Childe strolled down the streets taking in as much as he could. The scent of spices from the food was in the air. People went down the streets either setting up stalls for the day or heading to the Akademiya building at the top of the city. 

Childe ducked past a group of Eremites. What were they doing in this city? Didn’t they stay in the desert mainly? 

Something niggled at his mind. Something about a corps of thirty? Either way, Childe thought it best to avoid them as much as he could. 

Childe made it too a market square where a loud metal ringing on metal noise echoed in the streets. The blacksmith was over there. An older man setting up a grocery stall was by the north side. 

Was this all the Sumeru market had? Where were the other things Childe had heard about? Stories of a theater and stalls with colorful fabric and racks of different spices. Where was all that? 

Childe found a spot in the shade to rest. By this point, the sun was high in the sky and Sumeru was the hottest country temperature-wise he had been in. 

Childe rested and watched the flow of people go back and forth around the market. A lot seemed to disappear down a hidden walkway. Childe sat up and watched more carefully. 

People came from the hidden walkway carrying bags of items. The people going that way had nothing. Was the real market hidden from tourists like him? Was the blacksmith and this grocer just decoys meant to fool the non-natives? 

Childe had to check this out. He got to his feet and joined the flow of the crowd. He came across doors and slipped through them with a group of people. He had to sit and stare for a while at the sight in front of him. 

A massive stage with some white purple flowers planted in boxes dominated the space. It was gold and white and was really impressive. The streets leading up to the stage had various shops and stalls. Everything from spices and fresh loaves of bread to fabrics and clothes filled the space. 

A crowd seemed to be gathering by a signpost a little ways away. Childe edged closer to the group to eavesdrop. 

“Oh, I can’t wait to see the performance!” A young girl was this close to squealing at her friends. “Nilou is the best dancer ever! I wish I could dance like her.” 

“Keep practicing. I’m sure one day she will notice you.” Another girl encouraged the first with a pat on her arm. 

“Yeah. You will be up there one day with her. I know it.” The third girl sighed. “What I want is for one of the sages to notice me. I heard most of the Grand Sage and General Mahamatra saved Lord Kusanali from being imprisoned by the old ones.” 

“No. What you really want is for the First Sage of Buer to notice you and take you on as an apprentice.” The first girl gave the third a look. 

“Is that such a bad thing? They are pretty famous.” The third shot her friends an uncertain look. 

“No. It’s perfectly okay. What do you want?” The two girls turned to look at the second. 

“You know what I want. For the Flame Mane to take me on. I would kill for a chance to learn from her.” The second girl moved away. “Come on. We only have an hour before the performance starts. Let’s do some shopping before the-” 

The three girls disappeared into the crowd. 

A performance. By one of the greatest dancers of all time. In an hour. Well, Childe had nothing better to do. He needed to find a good spot to really see the dance. He could look for a place to stay tonight later. He still had a few hours before sunset. 

Childe scoped out the available seating for a good spot where he could see the stage. He felt bad about sneaking into the performance without buying a ticket. (Did you need to buy one? He could always donate some money to the theater later to make up for it. Would enough for a new backdrop cover it?)

There were no good spots unless he wanted to sit really far away. The stage was too tall for anything closer to his current height. His eyesight was good but not that good. 

Childe sat down and huffed. He wanted to see Nilou dance but he had no way to get a good seat. His black-tipped ear lifted when he heard someone say something about a fox. 

“Do you see that fox?” A woman’s soft voice murmured. 

“I know. He has been all over this area. Do you think he’s looking for a spot to see your performance?” Another teased the first good-naturedly. “You are so famous even the animal population has come into town to see you dance.” 

The first woman seemed to go quiet for a long moment. “Wait here.” 

“Nilou? What are you doing?” The second called after her. 

Footsteps approached him. Childe looked up at a red-headed woman with a headdress and bangles on her body. 

“Here. It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” She cooed at him softly. 

Childe took a slow step forward. He sniffed at the offered hand. Lotuses and lilies in a calm bubbling spring. (He didn’t know where he was getting the images for these scents but it felt right.) Childe pressed his nose up under her hand so her palm rested between his ears. 

“Aren’t you a handsome boy?” She praised while she gently scratched behind his ears. “Are you lost?” 

“Nilou? It’s almost time for your opening act. You have to go get ready.” Another set of feet came into his vision. 

Hands went under his forelegs and braced his back paws. Childe gave a short yip in surprise. 

“Come with me. I have a good spot where you can watch the performance. And then we can find whoever you belong to.” Nilou carried him up some stairs to the side of the stage. She set him down in a mess of fabric. “Wait here, Handsome. It will only be a few hours.” 

Childe relaxed on the pile of silks as Nilou started her dance. Now that he was looking for it, a hydro vision rested on her back in the middle of a blue bow. 

Maybe he wouldn’t have to stay with Al-Haitham and Kaveh again. He would take being called handsome over being stuck with those two love-struck fools any day. 

******

“You lost him. What do you mean you lost him?” Cyno pinched the bridge of his nose at Al-Haitham’s shrug. “After less than twelve hours you managed to lose our very important… You know what? Never mind. I will find him myself and then Tighnari and I will look after him until Nahida gets back.” Cyno turned to leave the Grand Sage’s office. “You are hopeless, Al-Haitham.” 

“Good luck tracking down that Harbinger. I'd like to see you keep him in one place.” 

Cyno said nothing as he shut the door.

Chapter Text

Nilou’s dancing was incredible. Childe knew she certainly lived up to all the rumors about her. She was more graceful than the best sword fighter and put a lot of effort and emotion into her dancing. She even used her vision to make small drops of water dance with her. Childe was in awe. 

After the performance, he was carried around the attendees with Nilou ‘looking for his owner’. As expected, no one was missing a fox companion. 

Once the last guest had left the area, Nilou looked down at him. “Looks like you will be with me until we find your owner, Handsome.” 

Childe watched the busy crowds. He glanced up at his newest friend when someone called her name. 

“Nilou!” Someone came running down the street. They darted behind people in a blur of blue and purple. 

“Dunyarzad.” Nilou beamed a wide smile and lifted one hand away from Childe to wave. 

“I just saw your performance. It was amazing as always.” The newcomer didn’t even bat an eye at Childe. She just kept talking about Nilou’s dancing. 

Childe turned away from them to study the crowd. The wisps of a familiar scent were floating through the air. Was that… smoke? And qingxin? 

A hand patted his head breaking him from his trance. Childe let out a small growl and lifted his lip. 

Dunyarzad pulled back her hand quickly. “Are you sure you are okay with keeping him? He doesn’t seem all the way tamed. I can get one of the ma-” 

Childe shook his head. His ears gently slapped against his face. The noise of birds above pinged against some nerves in his mind. Smoke. Qingxin. Birds? 

Ah. He knew who his Liyuen stalker was now. The one from the bookstore in Inazuma. He had to be really good to keep up with him for this long without losing him. Just how good was the bird that was following him? 

Childe was moving again. Nilou was walking away towards the exit to the theater. 

Childe sighed when fresh air hit his nose. The sun was lower in the sky from where it was before he went into the bazaar. 

“People say I sleep at the theater,” Nilou spoke softly as she began walking through the streets. “It’s because I spend a lot of time there. It’s not true. I don’t live at the theater.” 

They went past the ramps for the Akademiya. Nilou went quiet as they turned down a street that wasn’t far from Al-Haitham and Kaveh’s home. It was maybe a street or two away. 

“Please don’t run away. We need to find your owner.” Nilou murmured under her breath. 

Why would he run away? Nothing could be worse than being in the same space at Al-Haitham and Kaveh. He would even take some pushy grandmother over being with them. 

Nilou shifted him to the side with one arm and unlocked the door in front of them. Nilou breathed a sigh of relief. “He’s not home. He must be on a trip. Good. We have the house to ourselves for at least a few days.” 

Childe instantly became alert. She seemed like she really didn’t want to come home. Was… was she living with someone that didn’t treat her right? Oh. That makes it yet another person he needed to get back to when he was human. 

Childe planned it all out in his head. He would head back to Zhongli for him to figure out a way to make him human again or at least in a form with the ability to hold a weapon and fight. Then he would head here and help Nilou. Then he would be off for Mondstadt for Barbara and Mona and then he would take a boat to Inazuma and see Yoimiya and let her know that people cared about her and… 

Childe yipped in surprise when he was set down on a soft cushion. He stared up at his hostess when she sank to the floor next to him with relief. 

“Oh.” Nilou stretched her feet and arms while sitting. “I love dancing but sometimes it hurts to walk home afterward. I just don’t want to but my… roommate will get upset if I sleep at the theater again.” 

Childe’s lip curled into a snarl. Her roommate did what? 

“Hey.” Fingers bopped his nose. “Enough of that. It’s bad enough you scared Dunyarzad with that act. I’m worried she will still call the matra on me. Especially if she finds out he’s gone.” 

Childe glared up at Nilou with his best ‘are you serious’ look. 

Nilou sighed and slumped down. “I will tell you tomorrow. I’m not in danger. My roommate is a good guy. I’m just…” She yawned and stretched her hands over her head. “Really tired. Usually, my roommate will make some food and leave it for me if I have a performance day.” 

Nilou got to her feet. She headed for the kitchen. “I really wish we had a way to keep food more preserved. Nothing is worse than warm food when it’s meant to be cold.” 

Childe just had to laugh at the irony. Mona could literally make millions. Short barking wheezes came from his throat. 

Nilou instantly came running back into the room. “Are you okay? You aren’t choking, are you? I don’t have a way to treat you if you are and Tighnari is so far away.” She wrung her hands together as she fretted. 

Childe stopped laughing and slowly approached her. He rubbed his shoulder against her lower leg in a soft bump. He was okay.  

“Oh. You scared me.” Nilou seemed to slump. Her shoulders sagged. “I left my food on the stove!” She turned and ran back to the kitchen. 

Childe sat down on his cushion and waited. He had a lot to think about. From Zhongli to his plans and his now immortality, it was a lot to sort through and process. None of this would go away with a good fight. This was his life now. 

Childe was interrupted when Nilou came back into the room with two plates and a bowl. She set down the food. She had a steaming plate of a baked rice dish. It looked like it had berries in it. Two plates of that (one with a smaller portion) were placed on the low table. The bowl had some water in it. 

Childe waited for his host to eat first before he began taking neat bites. Hey, he got the hang of eating as a fox. That was one thing mastered. (One was better than none. Childe felt like celebrating by killing some fungi. He heard there were lots of those creatures here.) 

*****

Night fell and Nilou gave him a soft cushion and a blanket to sleep with. “I’m sorry I can’t offer much. It’s only for a few days though. As soon as my roommate gets back we might have an issue. He’s not very fond of animals.” 

Childe settled down in his makeshift nest. It would be better if Zhongli was here. Childe would be able to sleep much better in a pile of warm scales and be protected on all sides by him. 

Childe huffed as he curled up. His tail came up to wrap around his body. It wasn’t the same but it would do for now. 

“Aw. You are so cute.” Nilou whispered from across the room. 

Childe let an ear flick in his disdain. He was not cute. He was Tartagli… He wasn’t though. Was he? He wasn’t a Harbinger any longer. He was a Liyuen Adeptus that was immortal. He would forever be this young while his family grew old and died. 

Tonia was already sixteen. In five years she will be twenty-one. In ten more years she will be thirty. Then forty, fifty, sixty, then one day... gone. So will Anthon and sweet little Teucer. One day, all his siblings will be gone and he will still be here. Childe. Ajax. Forgotten and all alone. Forever looking twenty-five. 

Childe felt really sad. He didn’t cry though. He might not live in Snezhnaya anymore. But he was still a Snezhnayan at heart. What was that Mondstadt saying? Something about taking something out of… Oh. He got it. His version would be… You can take me out of Snezhnaya but you can’t take the Snezhnaya out of me. 

Childe might be considered Liyuen now but he would forever be a Snezhnayan at heart. 

He didn’t cry. Snezhnayans don’t cry

*****

Childe sighed and rolled over on the cushion. His belly was now up at the ceiling. His forepaws touched his chest. He couldn’t sleep. Too many thoughts were racing through his head. 

Ugh! He needed to fight something! It had been way too long without a good fight! How many days? A week? Two weeks? Three? He was on his best behavior in Inazuma and had refrained from fighting too much. The Fatui’s reputation could not be allowed to get worse there and a Harbinger beating up the local ronin and treasure hoarder population was not acceptable. They may be bad guys but they were still of the Inazuman population. 

Childe flipped onto his side. Yeah. No. He wasn’t sleeping this early. 

Childe got to his feet and began nosing around the room he was given. It seemed to be their living room. 

Childe walked the perimeter of the room smelling anything or investigating anything that caught his interest. Nilou’s soft scent of lotuses and lilies by a spring was there. It wasn’t the main scent though. This place was heavily scented with someone else’s smell. Probably her roommate. 

It was thick and a little cloying. It was spice and lighting and dry heat. The desert. Whoever her roommate was must visit the desert frequently. It was heat lightning. That’s what the scent was. 

Obviously being from Snezhnaya, Childe had read about heat lightning but never saw it for himself. It was said to be the desert's form of thunderstorms. Since it didn’t rain there, lightning made itself known in other ways. 

Childe’s hackles were raised at her roommate’s scent though. There were a few things off with it. It was making his fur stand on end and giving him a sense of danger. 

Childe quickly imagined a door between him and Zhongli and slammed it shut. No need to have Sumeru bombarded by an angry dragon looking for his mate over a few unnerving feelings about a scent. 

Okay. Get his thoughts in order. What was the first thing about this scent that bothered him? 

Lupine. It had a faint lupine scent to it. Wolf. Whoever this guy was, he clearly marked his territory very well. Issues my tail. Childe huffed. The instant her roommate got home, Childe would be flung out on his ear no doubt. 

Two… it had an even fainter scent of another person to it. Someone who… vulpine? Was this guy friends or something with another fox? 

Okay. Lupine and Vulpine. Strange mix but hey, Childe was a vulpine adeptus who was mates with a dragon. A wolf was less strange than a dragon. 

Three… it was not as strong as it could be. Either the roommate was gone a lot or he wasn’t as intent on marking his territory. 

Four… it was vaguely familiar. Something was familiar about it. He had met this person before. 

That was all.  Childe sat down in the doorway leading to the kitchen. He was done exploring. Now it was time to face his problems. Childe was no coward who shied away from his issues. 

Childe went back into the living room. At least he could be comfortable as he worked through his thoughts. 

****

Okay. Take it one problem at a time. Easy ones first. 

First one… He needed to find someone to teach him. He had too many instincts and things to get a grasp on. He was flung off the deep end into a pool of water he didn’t know how to swim through. He needed to find someone who could help him. (That faint scent of vulpine teased his nose. Maybe… No.) 

Second… His immortality. There was nothing he could do about it now. He doubted that it could be taken away once it was granted. Zhongli loved him. Childe turned into an adeptus. That was that. It wouldn’t be the end. Childe wouldn’t be alone. He would have Zhongli. If the other adepti could look past his attempts at drowning the Harbor then he might be able to make friends with them. (At the very least that bird adepti following him would make for a good sparring partner.)

Third and last, Zhongli. What was he going to do about Zhongli? Childe still loved him. He knew that. He would never truly stop. Somehow this guy had wormed his way past Childe’s shields and defenses, saw the core of him, and loved him anyway. But… Zhongli hurt him. He betrayed him. Made him look like a fool in front of both his coworker and the outlander traveler. Could that be forgiven? Could Childe forgive Zhongli for doing all of those things that hurt him? 

Childe really thought about that one for a while. 

Zhongli loved him. Childe loved him. The answer was yes but they needed to have a conversation. Childe knew there would be things he would never get to know about Zhongli. Zhongli had lived for many many years and had seen and witnessed a lot. He probably had several contracts and promises in progress to this day. In their time together, he would have several more. 

So… yes. Childe would be going back to see Zhongli. As soon as he got a grasp on these instincts. The very last thing he wanted to do when he saw Zhongli again was act like a submissive fool. (Once was enough, thank you.)

Childe settled down to sleep. His mind was much more at ease. His eyes closed and he fell asleep quickly. 

*****

“Buer. I didn’t expect to see you here. Is everything okay?” Zhongli answered the door to the soft knocking. 

Childe observed him carefully. He looked better. More put together. His hair was back in his usual style. He had no horns, scales, or fangs showing. He looked like the Zhongli most of the harbor knew. 

“I got your letter and I came to check on you.” The dendro archon placed her hands on her hips and looked Zhongli up and down. “You look better than I expected.” 

Zhongli let her into his home. “Surprisingly, Barbatos has been a lot of help.” 

Childe floated along behind them. He stopped inches from the back of Buer. 

“Barbatos?” She sounded shocked. “That old drunk?” 

Zhongli hummed in an affirmative. He sat down and pulled a teapot closer to him. “Would you like a cup?” 

Buer nodded and sat down across from Zhongli. She was soon passed a steaming teacup. While Zhongli was pouring himself a cup, Buer turned and met his eye from over her shoulder. She gave a smile and a slight nod before facing Zhongli just as he looked up. 

“Have you seen him? Did he arrive safely? Is he safe?” Zhongli took a deep breath. “Apologies. My emotions got the better of me.” 

“He is fine. He arrived with my grand sage yesterday. I made sure he had some people keeping an eye on him. My trusted advisors.” Buer took a small sip of her tea before asking a question of her own. 

With another glance at Childe, she spoke to Zhongli. “What are your plans when he comes home, Morax?” 

“I intend to court him properly and make my intentions more clear this time,” Zhongli answered without hesitation. “Last time I was too subtle and he didn’t understand.” 

Buer held up the teacup. “These have a dragon pattern on them. Where did you get them?” 

Zhongli smiled and cradled his cup carefully. “Childe got me them as a present. It was only fitting that I get him something in return.” 

Buer set down her cup carefully. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I am a little unsure about Liyuen customs, but the dragon and the phoenix have a special meaning in your culture, right?” 

“You are correct. The dragon and the phoenix represent ‘perfect unity and prosperity’. Generally, they are used for engagements in Liyue.” Zhongli pulled out a slim box from his pocket and opened it carefully. 

Childe floated closer. The chopsticks. The ones Zhongli had gotten him. The ones he accepted without knowing what exactly they meant. Childe had been engaged all this time and didn’t even know it. But… How did the teacups fit into all this? 

“Childe did the first part by offering this tea set.” Zhongli’s voice dropped to a sad murmur. “Though looking back, I don’t think he really understood what was happening.” 

“Childe is Snezhnayan. I’m sure they have different customs. I can lend you a book I brought?” Buer pulled a book from her side. “It is all about Snezhnayan customs.” 

“Thank you, Buer.” Zhongli took the book and set it by his side. “I will look at it later.” 

Buer sighed and stood up. “I must be going. I left Al-Haitham and Cyno in charge while I am gone and I fear what those two got up to in my absence. The last time I took a break there was an incident with a scholar making a hive mind and trying to eliminate Al-Haitham.” 

Zhongli choked on his tea. He shot a surprised look at Buer. “A hive mind?” He repeated slowly. 

“Goodbye, Morax. Until we meet again.” Buer left with a burst of green energy shaped like vines and flowers. 

Childe got sucked in with her. Childe opened his eyes to see they were standing in a forest. 

“Do you see now?” Buer was standing next to him looking towards the east. Towards Liyue. “He really truly loves you. You wouldn’t be a fox otherwise.” 

Childe took a chance on her hearing his voice. “I was dreaming about Morax and Barbatos and Barbatos mentioned something about a tragedy?” 

Buer got really quiet. “Once, I, too, had mates. We were very happy together. Me, King Deshret, and the Goddess of Flowers were happy. Then something bad happened. The Goddess of Flowers died. King Deshret sacrificed himself. I, myself, used most of my power and regressed into a kid.” 

Childe swallowed harshly. Yeah. Tragedy summed up that relationship. “I’m sorry.” 

Buer waved him off. “It was in the past. I can only hope one day to see them again. I brought you here so you can see how much he loves you and needs you.” 

Childe got a realization. “All those dreams. You have sent them to me.” 

Buer nodded with a small smile. “Yes. My hope is that your relationship will turn out differently than mine. All things die, Childe. Even us archons and other immortals. No one is truly immortal. Death comes for all. Just some a little later than others. You will see them again one day.” 

Childe crossed his arms over his chest. “Lord Kusanali?” 

“Call me Nahida. That is my chosen name. Much like Morax chose Zhongli and Barbatos chose Venti.” Buer glanced at him before looking back to the south. 

“Nahida. What you said about seeing them again one day… what do you-” 

Childe was ripped from his dream by a sharp shout. 

****

Childe jolted awake to a loud yell. He jumped to his feet and spun to face the threat. He relaxed just as fast. It was only Nilou cooking breakfast. 

Childe grumbled. He was a little miffed at the fact he lost his chance to ask his question to Nahida. 

Slowly the other aspects of the dream came back to him. Engaged. He was freaking engaged to the geo archon. And had been for a few months. Yet another instance of him being a fool. This one was of his own making. 

“Are you hungry?” Nilou entered the room carrying two bowls of food. “I made my specialty. I call it A Swirling Dance.” 

A bowl of the pudding was placed before him. Childe sat up and smelled it. It was a little floral but it was food. Childe began eating. While he ate, Nilou talked. 

“So… about my roommate. He found out I was living at the theater and offered me a place to stay. I accepted after a few… hesitations. I found out that he has a partner and then I accepted.” Nilou sounded rushed when she explained it. 

Childe slowly looked up from his pudding. Pieces were fitting together. Special pudding for breakfast. The hasty story about her roommate. He was coming back, wasn’t he? 

Childe met Nilou’s gaze carefully. He couldn’t actually speak to convey his question but hopefully, Nilou got it. 

“He will be back in an hour. Don’t worry. We will be gone by then. So hurry up and eat. I want to show you the city before he knows about you.” Nilou ate another bite of her pudding. 

Childe ate a little faster. He wanted to see the city and he selfishly wanted a few more hours with Nilou before he was scared off. 

Soon, Childe was carried out of the small house and down the street leading to the heart of the city. 

*****

“So… this is the Akademiya. We won’t be going inside but I did want to show you where it was at least.” Nilou turned around and began going down the ramps that they had just walked up. 

People wearing mint green and gray robes gathered in clusters and talked anxiously to each other. 

Childe spotted six groups around the area before they disappeared down the ramp. Childe wanted to walk so he yipped and pawed at Nilou carefully. 

“Oh. Sorry. You must be used to walking by yourself.” Nilou knelt down and set him on the ground. “Just be careful. I don’t want you to get stepped on or lost. Let me know if you see your owner.” 

Childe followed Nilou down the street. He looked around at all the stalls and shops. This was different than where he was yesterday. They went past a stall with a little girl and some cats. The two cats hissed at him and the child shot him a cautious look. 

Nilou made a turn into a plaza with tables and chairs. “This is where we will stop for lunch. This is Lambad’s Tavern. The best place to eat in the whole city. I think you will like his fish roll.” 

Nilou looked at him before taking a seat outside in the sun. Childe lay down at her feet. 

It rankled being treated like a common pet but he wasn’t going to risk them being thrown out because he ate from the table. 

A waitress walked up to them and took their order. She went away and silence fell. 

“I figure I owe you a better explanation.” Nilou patted her lap. “You can get up here?” 

Childe looked at her and then went to the chair opposite. Screw it. He could always come back as a human and try to eat here again. 

Nilou didn’t say anything about it. She just sighed and twirled a bauble on her skirt. “My parents were scholars. Real traditionalists. They didn’t approve of my dancing. I really wanted to dance. They thought I should join the Akademiya. We had a really bad argument and I left. I traveled for a bit before finding a mentor to teach me to dance. They introduced me to Mister Zubyar and I soon got a job there.” 

The waitress came by with their food and didn’t bat an eye about Childe sitting in the other chair. She just placed a Lambad fish roll in front of him and left. 

They ate for a few minutes in silence. Once their hunger was sated, Nilou continued. “I pretty much lived at the theater in the Grand Bazaar for a few years. Then my roommate discovered where I was living. He offered for me to stay with him until I found somewhere else. At first, I said no. I was a single girl going to live with a guy who had a bit of a reputation around here. I’m not completely helpless. I have a vision I can use for more than just dancing. I learned a lot while traveling with my mentor.” 

Childe licked his jaw from the remnants of his meal. He looked up at Nilou and gave a soft inquiring bark. 

Nilou pushed her mostly empty plate away and stood up. “I’ll go pay.” 

Childe followed her to the stand. Nilou paid for their meal and then continued her tour. “Up there is Treasures Street. It’s named because of all the shops along it. We can walk along there for a little bit before I want to take you to one last place.” 

Childe followed Nilou up the short ramps and to the left. He bumped into her a few times as they quietly walked past the blacksmith and a crafting table. He was careful to not trip her. She seemed to be lost in thought. Did he accidentally bring up bad memories? 

At the end of the street, Nilou turned to the right and began walking with more purpose down another street. 

“I just realized the time. We better hurry if we want to miss the rush after classes are out for the day.” Nilou scooped him up and walked even faster. 

They came to a stop at a place a little more expensive looking than Lambad’s Tavern. Nilou set him down out front. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” She entered the cafe swiftly. 

Childe could see a semi-long line before the door swished shut behind her. He had a long wait ahead of him. Better find a shady spot to lie down. 

Childe rested in the shade of a wall. Alhaitham wasn’t kidding about him being like a Snezhnayan snow fox. His fur made him so hot. He was panting! 

Childe’s tongue rolled out of his mouth against his will and his sides heaved. He needed to cool down. Too bad he didn’t have his vision. That would be a simple fix if he could access water. 

Childe could almost feel the cool mist that would soak into his fur and… wait a moment… That was real! 

Childe opened his eyes to see a faint mist shimmering around him. A soft blue glow radiated from spots on his body. Childe looked down to see his white fluffy tail tip was blue. He bet all spots that were white were now blue. 

How did he turn this off? People were going to notice a glowing blue and red fox.  

As soon as he thought that, it vanished and his tail went back to white. Okay. That needed more experimenting. He still had access to his hydro powers! 

Childe gave a yip in his joy. 

“What was that?” A gruff voice came closer to him. 

Childe hid behind a flower pot. This seemed dangerous. He summoned another door and slammed it shut. 

“That sounded like an animal.” Another higher voice answered. 

“Do you think it’s that fox that General Mahamatra is having everyone keep an eye out for?” The first person’s shadow fell across him. 

“I don’t know but we better investigate.” The second person began poking around the tables and chairs. 

This was bad. He needed to leave. Now. Childe inched his way behind planter boxes and various obstacles towards the street. 

He was so focused on the two searching for him, he made a rookie mistake. He forgot to watch behind him. A shadow darkened his path. 

“So this is where you ran off to.” A raspy voice mused from above him. “Come on. You are coming with me.” 

Hands reached down for him. Childe barked and tried to run. With a crackle of electro, Cyno was in front of him. “No. Don’t fight. It will only make things worse for you.” 

Childe was gripped under his arms and back legs and lifted in the air. Childe struggled. He tried scratching him with his claws. When that didn’t work he yipped and barked as loud as he could. People were turning their heads and staring at them. 

Cyno growled under his breath and something happened that made Childe instantly become limp and compliant in his arms. Cyno’s presence just for a moment had turned into something like that lady from Inazuma but much more animal-like. It was similar to Gorou’s but it was fiercer. Wilder. Like if Gorou was a dog then Cyno was a… wolf. 

Everything clicked into place. The scent. The same heat lightning and spice scent. Desert. General Mahamatra would have to make trips all over Sumeru. The wolf… no jackal… undertone. The fact he wouldn’t like that Childe would be staying in his home. 

Cyno… the General Mahamatra… was Nilou’s roommate. 

******

Childe was being held as a prisoner. It was against his will. Childe glared moodily out from his spot in a cage. A freaking cage. Like he was a common pet. 

*****

After Cyno had made Childe compliant and subdued him. Nilou had come out of the cafe with two drinks in her hands. One was much smaller than the other. 

When she saw Cyno she ran right up to him saying apologies and promising that she would find him a new home if he just let Childe stay one more night. 

Cyno sighed and told her they needed to talk somewhere quieter. With Childe still in his firm grasp, Cyno led them to a spot with no one else and explained some of Childe’s situation. 

Nilou had gotten very quiet. She looked down at Childe with a complex expression on her face. She reached out and gently rubbed his ears. “You need to go to him. Don’t let regrets rule your life. That is no way to live. I will let you go with Cyno now. Maybe come back and visit when you are you again. I will look forward to showing you another performance.” 

Nilou hurried off with her two drinks still in her hands. 

Cyno had turned and taken him to the Akademiya. 

*****

Cyno looked down at him from above. Childe was sulking in the cage. “I’m sorry for this and I will most likely get an earful from several people. But I’m not letting you out until we get there. You can plan your revenge all you want but if you harm my mate, even Morax won’t be able to save you.” Cyno let out a growl and a glare with a hint of fang showing. 

Childe whimpered and lay down. Crystal clear. No harming the other vulpine they were going to see. Because now, Childe could smell this other fox. It was the scent of vines and earthy mushrooms and fresh new growth all mixed in with the scent of fox. It was heavily entwined with Cyno’s own scent. 

“Two days,” Cyno grumbled. “Two whole days of hunting you down and where are you? Holed up with Nilou at my apartment. You are lucky all I did was put you in a cage. We are almost there.” 

Slowly the path went up onto a wooden bridge. They had reached Gandharva Ville. Childe was about to meet this mysterious other fox. The mysterious Tighnari.

Chapter Text

“Cyno!” A hand beat at General Mahamatra’s shoulder. “I can’t believe you put him in a cage! Come here. You can come out. We won’t hurt you. Well, I won’t. But I can promise to do my best to hold him back.” 

Childe peered out at the fox that was defending him against his captor. 

Dark shoulder-length hair with bright green streaks in the front fell forward into a mix of kind brown and green eyes. Tall dark ears that flicked between him and Cyno were on his head. (Were Childe’s ears going to be that big?) Black and orange gloves covered his hands. (Hands that were outstretched towards him) He wore a white tunic covered in a lot of decorations wrapped around a black shirt with a hood. One sleeve was short, exposing a strong looking tanned forearm. Blue, black, and red striped pants ended a few inches above a pair of sturdy hiking boots. A black and green tail swished behind him softly. 

As Childe watched the tail it stilled and laid flat on the ground in a display of non-threatening actions. 

Childe slowly stepped out of the cage. He walked right up to the other fox and laid down before him. Gorou’s words from a week ago rang through his mind. 

“You seem new at this so a word of advice… don’t ever walk up to another’s mate and do what you did today. You are lucky all you did was show your belly.”

He was no threat. Childe couldn’t believe he was doing this but he rolled onto his back and shut his eyes tightly. 

Tighnari let out a small surprised gasp. “Cyno! I can’t believe you! ” A loud meaty smack rang through the small hut. “And you put him in a cage?! That’s it! Out!” 

“Tighnari. I won’t leave you alone with…” Cyno began to argue but Tighnari must have done something to him. “Fine. One scratch, Harbinger and you are tiger food.” The leaves at the door rustled as General Mahamatra left. 

Childe let out an involuntary whimper at the threat in his tone. He closed his eyes tighter and fought the feeling that said he should bare his neck as well. 

“Hey, hey. It’s okay. You don’t have to do this with me.” Tighnari’s tone was soft and gentle. “I’m not like one of those big overprotective dummies. I’m like you.” 

Childe opened his eyes and got up on his four legs. Now that Cyno was gone the atmosphere in the room decreased its tension quickly.  

Like him? What did that mean? Childe was about to tip his head to the side to make his confusion obvious but Tighnari spoke before he could. 

“How new are you? Has your mate told you nothing?” Tighnari scoffed and muttered about overprotective fools. “Come here. I will teach you as much as I can. The rest will have to be taught to you by your mate.” 

Grateful for a teacher, Childe yipped and bounded up to Tighnari. He climbed up into his lap and let out a very fox-like grin. His tongue shot out without his permission and licked Tighnari’s nose. 

Childe froze. What did he just do? He didn’t mean to do that. Was Cyno going to come back and give him up to the tigers? Was licking someone else’s mate’s nose worse than letting them pet you? Cyno was fiercer and more mean than Gorou and… 

Tighnari sighed and pushed his face away with a gentle hand. “First lesson, how to control your instincts. Class begins now.” 

Childe got down off Tighnari’s lap. He sat as properly as he could. Right. He needed to get a grip on all this. He had a teacher now. Time to give it his full effort. 

*****

Childe went over the things Tighnari taught him about controlling his instincts. 

‘Breathe. Stop and think. You are more than an animal. These instincts do not control you. You control them.’

That was pretty much the basis of what he was told. Tighnari had a unique view on teaching and went off on tangents about other relevant but unimportant things. 

Childe attentively listened to each lecture and tangent. You never know what helpful advice or tip he might throw in along with the actual lesson. Take, for example, the lesson about plants that affect them. Tighnari started talking about mint and peppers but then said that while he could eat peppers and things like that, he generally didn’t like spicy foods. 

Childe took from that tangent that while he might not be able to eat jueyun chilis again, it wasn’t a definite thing. He could eat them, it was just a slim possibility. 

That was all earlier today. It was nighttime and Tighnari was sitting with Cyno across the fire from him. Childe had eaten a meal with a lot of mushrooms. 

He didn’t know that many of them were even edible. All he knew that were edible mushrooms were the matsutake ones and the regular mushrooms. (Xiangling had been going on about a special type of mushroom in some kind of forest filled with giant mushrooms but Childe passed it off as a dream she had.) 

“Did you enjoy your meal, Childe?” Tighnari asked him with a smile. 

Childe yipped a yes and sat back away from the crackling flames. He was still covered in thick fur and the heat was getting unbearable. 

“Should have made him- Omph!” Cyno grunted. “Tighnari,” he growled a warning.

“What do you have against him? If you cannot control your emotions you can very well find somewhere else to sleep tonight.” Tighnari scolded Cyno after pulling his elbow from his ribs. 

 “Why are you defending him?” Cyno glared at Childe. “He’s a Fatui Harbinger. You have seen what they are capable of. One of them even struck you with lightning! How can you defend him?!  That’s not taking into account what they did to Collei!” 

“Was.” Tighnari corrected softly. Tighnari leaned into Cyno’s side. “He was a Fatui Harbinger.” 

“What do you mean?” Cyno softened with his confusion. 

“I don’t know who his mate is but someone immortal must love him to turn him into this way.” Tighnari held up his hand when Cyno opened it with a regretful look on his face. “Honestly, I’m not asking you to tell me who it is. But… look at him. He is like me .” 

There was a slight emphasis placed on that last word. Childe looked on with interest. He studied the way Cyno’s regret got worse along with a look of guilt. 

“Yeah but…” Cyno turned to watch him. 

Childe stood proud but looked away from those glaring red eyes as quickly as he could. 

“He’s…” 

“Not the one who did all that to Collei. That was the Doctor.” Tighnari made a sort of purring noise. “He’s not the one who did that. Tartaglia was not that kind of Harbinger and you know it.” 

Childe turned away when they started getting too lovey for his tastes. Tighnari was apologizing and they started curling into each other and… yeah. He was leaving for now. 

“Don’t go off the path and don’t go farther than the lamps. Cyno was right about one thing. There are lots of Rishboland Tigers in the woods and crocodiles down in the water.” Tighnari went back to purring. 

Childe gave a bark of acknowledgment and went along the path leading up. He might be held here for now, but that doesn’t mean he can’t see the sights. 

****

Childe cautiously entered the small hut. He was hopeful that everyone was ready for sleep. The moon was high overhead and Childe had thoroughly explored all that he could of Gandharva Ville for tonight. 

“I made you a bed over there.” Tighnari looked up from his spot at his desk. Cyno was lying on the bed. 

Childe nodded and managed to control the happy yip that wanted to come out. He got comfortable on the thin blanket that was given to him. Childe’s bed was between two smaller crates with one of Tighnari’s capes draped over the top. 

“I know it won’t be the same. Nothing ever is, but this is the best I could do. Goodnight, Childe. I will see you tomorrow, bright and early. We have a lesson in social skills in the morning.” Tighnari set down his pen after a few moments and shut off the light. He joined Cyno on the bed. It creaked as he settled down. 

Childe listened to the soft sounds of their breathing. One of them fell asleep. The other’s eyes stared at him from the darkness. 

Childe lifted his head and saw a glowing red eye. The other was obscured by what was most likely hair. 

“I don’t like that you are here.” Cyno’s voice whispered in the dark. “You have probably guessed that Tighnari is special to me. I don’t want to see him hurt. One of your former coworkers already gave him a pretty bad injury and nightmares for months. He still is not good in thunderstorms. I know who your mate is, Childe of Snezhnaya. Despite not liking your presence I cannot doubt my mate’s instincts. They haven’t led him astray so far. But… if he gets hurt because you are here. If someone comes after him because of you, there will be nowhere in Teyvat you can run from me. Morax be damned.” 

Childe wished he could speak. He gave a slow nod and turned to face the back of the little den. Just two more days here and then he can head for Liyue. It was so close. The land seemed to pull at his soul. He could only imagine how bad it was for his bodyguard. To be so close but unable to get there. 

Two more days and then he will meet with Zhongli and see what they could do from there. 

*****

Childe woke up the next morning to a large face near his. He gave a startled bark and scrambled back into the wall. His heart was racing and he frantically cataloged this person in a fight or flight response. 

It was a young girl. Wavy green hair with a flower pinning part of it to the side, purple eyes, and a thoughtful frown on her young-looking face. She couldn’t have been older than fifteen. 

No fighting. No fleeing. She was not a threat. Childe repeated to himself as he calmed down.

“Very impressive. It seems you have learned something from my teachings. Good. Collei? You can back away now.” Tighnari’s voice was pleased. 

“Okay, Master Tighnari. If I’m done here, I will get back to my duties.” The small girl smiled at him and ran out of the hut with a cheerful wave. “Bye.” 

Childe’s lip lifted in a half-hearted snarl. This was his test? Give him the scare of his life and see how he responded. Ugh. What was with his teachers? Skirk threw him into life-or-death situations and let him work them out on his own. Tighnari decides to test his instincts by waking him up with someone strange in his face and stands back to watch how he reacts. Childe would have to remain on guard with this teacher.

“Hey. None of that now. You were doing so well.” Tighnari sighed like he had a massive job to do. “I have breakfast waiting and then we will have our lesson for the morning. Follow me.” 

Childe got up and stretched out his back and legs. He let out a wide toothy yawn. He felt better rested than he had yesterday. Something about being protected really made for some good sleep. 

Childe followed Tighnari out of the hut and into the morning air. It was slightly misty with dew. His paws got wet as he went up the path to a bigger hut. Tighnari exchanged something in his hand for two wrapped packages and two bowls. 

Tighnari moved over to a table and set down the two bowls in front of Childe. One had water. The other had a thick steaming porridge with slices of fruit in it. Sugar was sprinkled over the top. “Eat up. We have a patrol to do in a few minutes. I’m going to test your skills while I tell you about social do’s and don’t with our kind and how to identify others like us.” 

Childe quickly ate his food and drank his water. Time for a patrol. How bad could it be? 

*****

The answer to his question… really bad. 

Tighnari had obviously gone slow for his sake and yet, Childe still couldn’t keep up. He was hot. His legs were shorter and his fur weighed him down. While Tighnari bounded ahead of him, Childe was panting a few paces behind him. 

When they reached a stream, Tighnari stopped. He sat down on the grass next to the water in the shade. “Go on. Drink and rest up. We will start part one of our lesson.” 

Childe lapped at the water bubbling in the stream. When his thirst was gone, he collapsed at Tighnari’s side. 

“First off, we will start with greetings. What you did with me was not exactly right. What should have been the proper greeting between people that are not friends was to approach but wait for a few paces away for the other to beckon you forward. At least with others like us. When you are on your own territory, you will beckon them forward.” Tighnari rested his hands in his lap. “For people who are friends, it’s very different. With me so far?” 

Childe gave a nod in acknowledgment. 

So the lesson continues. Tighnari covered everything he could think of. Between the proper greeting to someone like Gorou to someone like Tighnari and him. He even went on to teach about the way to approach another’s mate. 

Childe had winced at that part. Gorou was actually being very nice about the whole thing, despite Childe’s mess-ups. Childe will have to go back and apologize to him. What made a good apology gift for someone like him? 

Tighnari stood up after an hour. “Come on. You are rested enough. Our patrol isn’t even halfway done.” 

Childe sighed and got to his feet. More running it was. He was already sore and tired. But he would keep at it. He won’t let some other fox best him. 

“Keep up.” Tighnari took off down the stream. 

Childe bounded after him. He wasn’t paying all that much attention to his surroundings. He was busy working through the information given to him. What made a good apology gift? He would have to ask Zhongli. 

*****

By the time they made it back to Gandharva Ville, Childe’s legs were trembling and he could barely walk. Tighnari did this every day? No wonder he looked more lithe and fit than Childe did. 

“You can rest for now. The hut is open. I have some other matters to attend to. I will come to wake you for dinner in a few hours. Think about what I have said and we will practice later tonight with Cyno.” Tighnari walked him to the split-off for his hut. 

Childe headed down the bridge to Tighnari’s home. His legs were weak but he managed to get to his small blanket area. He sank to the floor gratefully. He hadn’t had a workout that intense since the Abyss. He kind of missed it. Everything else had gotten a little boring after a while up here. 

Childe sighed and spread out to sleep this time. He didn’t want to sleep during the day but he was so exhausted. He needed to build his muscle as a fox. No way was he going to let Tighnari best him for long. 

Childe’s eyes slipped close and he dreamed. 

*****

“So, you have everything down, right?” Barbatos’ voice was what greeted Childe. 

Childe took a step forward into his dreamscape. He was in Zhongli’s abode. Three other people were gathered around him. Barbatos was lounging on the couch opposite Zhongli. Nahida was standing at the edge of the coffee table. A tall woman with long dark purple hair in a braid was by the window. A light purple kimono was what she wore. 

“Yes. When he gets here I will apologize.” Zhongli sounded depressed and a little anxious. He hid it well, but Childe had made it a habit to study him and all his little nuances back before the betrayal. He fiddled with Childe’s engagement teacup cradled in his palms. 

“Exactly.” Nahida’s tone on the other hand was disapproving. “I hadn’t heard the full story but what you did was not right. I hope now you understand just what he was feeling from your actions.” 

It was a little funny to watch the lord of geo shrink back from a tiny girl in a white and green dress. 

“I-I do.” Zhongli bowed his head and studied the teacup in front of him. “I should have done something more but that damn contract. I could have apologized sooner and he wouldn’t have run from me.” 

“It does no good to focus on regrets, Morax.” An unfamiliar woman answered. Her voice was loud and firm. “Should have and could have never done anyone any favors. What happened, happened. Deal with the consequences.” 

“A bit rich coming from you.” Barbatos snarked in an angry mocking tone. 

“Enough, Barbatos. We have come to help Morax. Not continue petty arguments from centuries ago.” Nahida frowned at the pair. Her disapproving glare turned to the anemo archon. 

“I am the archon of freedom. I hear when people cry out for freedom. It doesn’t matter what nation they are from, I hear it.” Barbatos snapped harshly. “Do you know how painful it was to hear your people calling out for someone to help them and not being able to respond?!”

“Barbatos.” Zhongli looked up at the anemo archon. “They are free now. Like what Ei said… what happened, happened. She will have to deal with the consequences.” 

The mysterious Ei snorted. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared out the window. 

“You can’t hide away forever, Ei.” Zhongli continued strongly. “Sooner or later you will have to face the consequences of what you have done.” 

“We have gotten off-topic. We are here to discuss Childe and Morax.” Nahida broke in. “Apologies. How do you plan on doing that?” 

Zhongli opened his mouth to respond. “I was thinking of…” 

“Hold on. We have an eavesdropper.” Nahida turned to look directly at Childe. “It seems you are more persistent than I first thought. No spoilers. If you want to know more then you must come back.” 

“Wait… Childe is here?!” Barbatos exclaimed loudly. “How the heck is he doing that?” 

Zhongli’s gaze shot around the room frantically. “Where? I have things I must…” 

Nahida’s hands glowed with green dendro energy. “Sweet dreams, Childe.” 

Childe felt a rush like he was flying as fast as he could before he settled into a soft dream about racing a bird through the sky. 

*****

Childe woke up feeling relaxed and so much better. The scratch of a pen on paper greeted him. It stopped a few moments after he opened his eyes. 

“Good. You are awake. Are you ready for the next lesson? I think the general structure of our kind should round this out. The rest you will have to learn from your mate.” Tighnari was at his desk again. 

Childe sighed and sat up. He padded over to Tighnari and sat next to his feet on the floor. 

“Don’t look so peeved. It’s a lot to cover and Cyno said we only have until tomorrow.” Tighnari reached down. He paused with his hand held a few inches above his back. “May I?” 

Childe nodded and arched his spine to make Tighnari’s hand connect with his back. 

Tighnari began expertly massaging his aching muscles. He started talking about the structure of their kind. “You and I are a separate type from others. For every match, there will always be one more… submissive than the other. You and I will fall under that category. That doesn’t mean we are weaker than them. I can hold my own in a fight and so can you. It simply means we are their heart so to speak. As you saw with Cyno, I was not shy to make my opinion known about his actions towards you.” 

Childe tipped his head at him in a question. 

“Why? Because of what we are.” Tighnari went on to explain some more things. 

After an hour, Tighnari finished his explanation. Childe had a much better understanding of his instincts and thoughts. 

Childe liked the ending to his lecture. 

“If you know they are wrong or you are not happy, give them hell for it. Don’t be shy about making your opinion known. I know your history as a Harbinger. They fell for you for a reason. I’m sure they won’t be upset about you standing up for yourself. Just because we are a little more submissive in nature does not mean we let them walk all over us. When they are being an overprotective idiot, let them know you won’t stand for that.” 

Childe very much liked Tighnari and his stance on things. 

After that afternoon, Childe felt so much better than when this all started. He had one more night with Tighnari and Cyno before he was going to be heading for Liyue. He and Zhongli needed to have a long open discussion about things that needed to happen for this relationship of theirs to work. 

****

That evening Childe had a lot to think about. He sat around a fire with Tighnari, Collei, and Cyno. 

Cyno always had one red eye on him and the other on Collei. 

Childe observed their relationship with Collei. Were they… they claimed to be her caretakers but they obviously were her parents. Tighnari made sure she ate and was the more nurturing of the two. Cyno was the protector and watched out for her. Definitely her parents. 

Did Zhongli have any adepti he saw as his kids? Was Childe going to be with a partner that essentially had children? 

Childe remembered Zhongli talking once a while back about a couple of adepti with a lot of fondness in his tone. One was… Ganyu. A secretary with the Qixing and the other was someone named Xiao. He didn’t know of any adepti by that name but maybe it was a nickname. 

So… at least two. Wow. Childe would have to work hard to earn their trust. Also, they were thousands of years older than him but somehow they were less mature. Must be an adepti thing. 

Childe shook his head. No more. He would cross that bridge when he came to it. 

Collei was sitting a little ways away from him. She was watching him carefully. Her purple eyes were examining him. “Master Tighnari? Why does he look different than you? Aren’t you two the same?” 

“We are but not at the same time. I am from Sumeru so I am a fennec fox. I was one before I even met Cyno. I just got a few… added abilities. Childe is from Snezhnaya. That is why he is white in some areas and has much thicker fur. His other coloring is from Liyue because that is where his mate is from. My guess would be a Liyuen adepti.” Tighnari smiled at her as he gave a mini-lecture. 

“But…” Collei frowned. She shot him a soft, concerned look. “I overheard Cyno talking and he said he was a Harbinger. So what will happen to him about that? Will he lose that?” 

Silence fell around the small campfire. Collei’s innocent question made everyone uncomfortable. 

“He most likely will, Collei,” Cyno answered her much more gently than Childe thought him ever capable of. “From what I have heard, the Tsaritsa doesn’t take kindly to her most loyal falling in love with another country’s… immortal.” 

Tighnari seemed to have noticed Cyno’s almost slip up because his eyes went wide before he looked back at Childe. He cleared his throat and glanced at his daughter. “He will be okay, Collei. He won’t be alone.” 

“He won’t?” Collei turned to face her parents. “Because he will have us, right? And his mate?” 

Cyno opened his mouth, probably to dispute what she said but Tighnari spoke over him. 

“Yes. He is welcome to visit any time.” Tighnari smiled down at him. “When you are back to your normal self, come visit and I will have some products and tips on how to care for your tail and ears. Taking care of that is very important. I even have this plant-based one that will protect it from rain and water. That will make it so it won’t get heavy and look like a rat’s tail. Nothing is worse than a wet tail without the proper care.” 

Childe yipped in gratefulness. Yes. Being wet with all this fur was a nightmare. Childe had a thought, could he rub it into his fur in this form? He might need help. Suddenly an image of Zhongli putting the product into his fur made him want to hide his blush. 

“Collei? Are you done eating? Cyno brought some Sumeru roses from his trip out so I made some Rose Custard. Would you like some dessert?” Tighnari stood up and headed for his hut. “We have to eat it tonight otherwise it will spoil. What I would give for a way to keep it preserved.”  

Childe sighed. He moved ‘Must Visit Mona’ higher on his list of things to do once he was back to his normal self. She needed a business partner who was knowledgeable on cryo. He would have to investigate possible people when he got back to Mondstadt. There were a couple of cryo people there. A cavalry captain and a bartender. Childe could be their benefactor. 

Tighnari offered him some Rose Custard but he refused. He was still full from the pita pockets they had for dinner. Childe wanted to go see the sights one last time. Tomorrow he was headed for Liyue. His bodyguard above him in the trees would be happy. 

****

Childe had stayed out a little later than he intended to. He was busy thinking of a thank-you gift he could leave for Tighnari and Cyno. Childe didn’t like being in debt. Even to friends. 

Childe would head back to look like he was going to sleep but then he was going to sneak out to gather some flowers for Tighnari. He had expressed the other day about loving the scent of a certain plant. Childe was sure he could find it near here. 

Childe settled down in his bed and faked being asleep. Cyno must have fallen for it because soon soft snoring could be heard from him. 

Childe had to be super quiet but he crept from his bed and left the hut without so much as a sound. Success. 

He started down the path towards the statue of the seven up on a hill. Didn’t Kalpalata lotuses grow on cliffs? 

The trees rustled overhead. The scent of qingxin and smoke blew toward him. His bodyguard was above him in the top branches. 

It took some effort and close examination but Childe found a small path that wound around the rock face up to the statue. Someone came here regularly. 

Childe was soon on top of the small plateau. He edged closer to the drop-off. Now, where were those flowers? 

Childe used his nose and found a strong floral scent. Perfect. Now to get them. He leaned further out and barely managed to snag a petal with his teeth. He pulled as gently as he could but the stubborn flower refused to come loose. 

“Foolish.” A voice was at his back. 

Childe yelped in surprise and spun around to face whoever snuck up on him. It was the Liyuen adepti that he saw in Inazuma. His amber eyes shone in the dim blue glow of the statue. 

“What are you doing? Do you really wish to break my lord so badly that you would throw yourself off a cliff?” he snarled at him. 

Childe huffed and shook his head. He nodded to the flowers. 

The adeptus scowled and stepped up next to him to look down. Childe saw his ears flush. The adeptus leaped down and clung to the side of the cliff with one hand. With the other, he plucked a few flowers off the side. He used his legs and a bit of anemo to get back up to the top. 

“Why are these so important that you would put yourself in danger for them?” The adeptus held the flowers carefully despite his harsh words. “Come here. We need to get down.” 

Childe's bodyguard lifted him with one hand before disappearing with a mix of different energies. Childe was set down on the path in Gandharva Ville at the split-off for Tighnari’s hut. The flowers were by his side. 

“Go to bed.” The adeptus snapped. “I need rest too, you know.” He was gone before Childe could even respond. The trees rustled overhead. 

Childe picked up the flowers and carried them one by one into Tighnari’s hut. He set them on his desk chair. 

Childe would be leaving before the first light. Something told him that part of this adeptus’ grumpiness was from being away from his home for so long. Childe too felt that pull. He would head home in a few hours. 

*****

Childe felt bad about his decision to leave before his hosts were awake. Hopefully, the flowers made up for that. Childe felt the direction of the pull. He was literally less than a mile away from Liyue. He just needed to find the entrance. 

Childe went down the path to the east. He walked past the statue of the seven. He kept an eye out for any way through the massive wall of cliffs above him. 

He stepped carefully through a stream and finally found his target. Time to go home. 

At first, the land still seemed like Sumeru. There was green moss on the walls and flowers and mushrooms growing on the ground. Eventually, it started to fade and become solid rock. Mining cart tracks were now what Childe walked nimbly across. 

He could see light ahead and a shadow pacing back and forth across the entrance. 

Childe slowed to a stop. That shadow was familiar. Was he really ready for this? 

A scent teased his nose. Glaze lilies and warm earthy rocks. It had something more to it now that he had a better nose. Soft herbal tea, a strong scent of dragon, and most of all a sense of safety. 

Childe didn’t realize how tense he had been all on his own without Zhongli there. 

It was time to see him. Childe was finally ready. Childe gave an excited yip and bounded forward down the rest of the tunnel and to that shadow anxiously waiting. Zhongli was here for him.

Chapter Text

Childe ran out into the sunlight and right up to that brown and gold-clad figure. He barked and danced around those legs in happiness. 

Zhongli sank to his knees and held out his hand inches from Childe’s head. Childe was about to press up to that extended palm but Zhongli spoke first. 

“Childe.” Zhongli exhaled heavily. “I know I was wrong and I owe you an apology. We need to talk about a lot of things before this is permanent. I have a way to make you temporarily in human form for at least two hours. This should be adequate time to talk through the things we need to. As soon as I touch you it will be in effect but I need your permission first.” 

Childe didn’t hesitate. He wanted to be human so badly. He had enough of not being able to actually talk to someone. (Or fight them) He yipped softly and pushed his head into Zhongli’s hand. 

Once Zhongli’s palm made contact with his body, Childe felt warm. Not an overwhelming heat but enough to take notice. 

A gold light shimmered and Childe felt cooler. His fur receded. He got much bigger. He now had hands and feet with fingers and toes. He still had his tail and ears but he was human. 

Childe laughed happily. “Oh, you have no idea how long it has been since I could talk. Or fight. I… Xiansheng?” 

Zhongli coughed, looked away, and handed Childe a Liyuen-style blue silk robe. 

He was confused for a moment before a breeze kicked up. He looked down and immediately went flame-red. He was naked. 

Childe swiftly put the robe on and tied it shut. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to flash you.” 

Zhongli finally turned to look at him. “It’s okay. It takes practice transforming and actually keeping your clothes. The number of times Xiao had to have…” Zhongli’s voice took on an amused parental dad tone.

A swift wind went between them, blowing the hem of Childe’s robe up in the air. Childe scrambled to keep hold of it. 

“Apologies. I will take it from here. Thank you. We will talk later.” Zhongli spoke to his bodyguard who was a few feet away. 

There was a flash of teal and then Childe finally sensed they were alone. Alone with only Zhongli there with him. 

“Shall we walk?” Zhongli held out his arm. 

“Actually. Can we get to a house? Preferably one with a shower?” Childe ran a hand through his greasy hair. “It’s been a while since I last cleaned myself. I think it was at Mona’s place.” 

Zhongli tensed up. His voice was a little deeper than usual when he said… “Mona?” 

Childe shook his head with a smile and walked to stand next to Zhongli. He was a little wobbly from walking with four legs for the past two weeks or so. He slipped his hand around Zhongli’s arm. It was still held out to him. 

“Yes. A friend from Mondstadt.” He stressed the word friend. “We only have two hours to talk and I am desperately in need of a shower before I touch on anything. We are a little far away from a shower so let’s get going.” 

Zhongli just smiled at him. “Hold on.” 

In a shimmer of gold, they disappeared only to reappear in a place Childe had only seen in his dreams. 

*****

Childe stepped out of the shower to find a set of clothes laid out on the counter next to the sink. It was a familiar pair of brown pants and a white shirt. 

It was better than nothing so Childe slipped them on and went out into the hall. He rubbed the towel across his hair. He forgot about his ears and winced as they bent in an unnatural position. 

“Here. Let me help.” Zhongli took the towel away from Childe. He rubbed it briskly over his head, missing his ears expertly. 

Childe’s tail was heavy behind him. Tighnari was right. It did look like a rat’s tail. All the fur was clumped with wetness and it dragged on the ground because it was so hard to hold up with all the water soaked in. 

Childe shot a glance behind him and immediately winced. His tail went limp and his ears flattened on his head. Sound was a little muffled but he clearly heard Zhongli ask him what was wrong. 

“I left a trail.” He gestured at the water behind him that led no doubt to the bathroom. 

Zhongli chuckled. “It’s okay. I will clean it up later. We now have only an hour and a half to talk things through. I have a few things that might help with your tail.” Zhongli held out his hand. 

Childe stared at it for a long moment. He reached out and connected their fingers together. Zhongli led him down the path to a towel-covered couch. The table before it had various hair-brushing items laid out in front of it. 

Childe sat down on the couch. When Zhongli made a motion, Childe draped his tail across the towel on his knees. Zhongli covered the towel around his tail and began to do the same brisk motions he used on Childe’s hair. 

“Xiansheng, I-” 

“Childe, I-” 

Childe stopped talking. “You go first.” 

“I’m sorry.” Zhongli’s movements slowed down. “I regretted what I have done to you for the longest time. I regret hiding things from you and I regret telling you the way that I did. But I can’t regret it at the same time. It brought me my freedom. You brought me freedom. I’m sorry for the way I told you. I’m sorry for hiding things from you. I can’t promise I will never do it again but I can promise that I will let you know when there is something I can’t talk about.” 

“Xiansheng.” Childe lifted his hand and pressed it against the other’s lips. “My turn. I forgive you. I know I made some mistakes as well. I was a little immature and ran off without speaking to you. I was hurt. You hurt me and I felt like you betrayed and lied to me.” 

“Baobei, I didn’t mean to-” Zhongli pulled Childe’s hand away. He entwined their hands and brought them to his lap. His thumb traced across Childe’s palm. “Buer said you might feel like this. For someone who claims she still has a lot of learning to do about human emotions and reactions, she understood a lot.” 

Childe squeezed Zhongli’s hand. “I’m here. I don’t plan on going anywhere for a while. I- I don’t know what the Tsaritsa will do to me about all this. My family, my job… I’m… worried. But that doesn’t mean I will abandon you.” 

Zhongli looked up at him. His hand cupped Childe’s jaw. “Baobei, I love you and I hope that we can work through this.” 

Childe leaned into his warm palm. “Zhongli? I fell in love with you a long time ago. I don’t think I will ever stop.” 

Zhongli smiled. His eyes shone a bright gold. “Childe, I…” 

“Ajax,” Childe whispered softly. “My real name is Ajax. Childe and Tartaglia were names I was given in the Fatui. I… I want to be Ajax again.” 

Zhongli pulled him closer. His face was inches from his. “Ajax. Will you stay with me and be mine?” 

“Yes. Always, Xiansheng.” Childe’s lips were taken in the softest kiss of his life. It was full of promises. Promises for the future. Promises to take care of him. 

“Yes!” A voice in the distance cheered. “I told you the blockhead could do it.” 

A deep sigh followed the comment. “Come with me Barbatos. Give them privacy.” 

“Ow! Buer! Let go of my ear!” Barbatos yelped. 

“You heard the woman. Move.” Ei snapped. “Congratulations Morax. At least one of us has a happy ending.” 

“All of you?” Zhongli sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t you all have countries to run?” 

“Not really. Ow! Buer! When did you get so mean?! No! Not my other shin!” Barbatos whined. 

“Leave! Now!” Zhongli nearly roared. 

Quiet fell. Zhongli sighed in misery. “I like them, I really do. They are the only ones who even have a shred of understanding of what I went through but I don’t like it when we all gather for too long.” 

Childe laughed loudly. “Oh Xiansheng. Based on what I have seen, you are kind of like their older brother figure. They just want to see you happy.” 

“Are you happy? Can you be happy here?” Zhongli looked at him with sad eyes. “I might very well take you away from everyone back in Snezhnaya, depending on how lenient the Tsaritsa will be.” 

Childe got very quiet. Would he be happy if he never saw Teucer or Anthon or Tonia again? Would he be happy with no job to do and nothing to fight for? Would he be happy with all that? 

Childe met Zhongli’s eyes. “It might make me really sad to never see my family again. But that day is coming eventually. Whether it is a few days from now or sixty years later, it will happen. I-I’ll be okay.” 

Zhongli opened his mouth to protest but Childe pulled his arm around him and cuddled into his mate. 

“Just hold me? I missed you.” Childe rested his head on Zhongli’s shoulder.

They laid back on the couch in silence for a few moments. 

Childe’s mind was whirling. “Hey, Xiansheng? What makes a good apology gift for someone who is like me in the sense we have animal ears and tails? I kind of made a few mistakes because I was just starting out.” 

Zhongli nosed at his ear. “I will help you.” 

Childe sighed in relief. “That would be great.” 

“I will also be courting you. I thought I should make my intentions known now.” Zhongli pressed a kiss to the side of his head. 

“Okay. When will I turn back? It has to be close to two hours now.” Childe shook when Zhongli laughed. 

“Ajax? From the first time, we said I love you and the kiss afterward, this has been permanent. You didn’t see the glow?” Zhongli sounded amused. 

“No. I was focused on other things.” Childe hid his face in Zhongli’s shirt. 

Zhongli’s hand came up and stroked his back. “I love you, Ajax. My Baobei. My treasure.” 

Childe leaned up. “That is what that means?! All this time we could have been together if you have just explained it. I can’t believe you.” Childe smacked his shoulder. 

Zhongli laughed. “I see you will be that type. I wouldn’t expect any less.” 

“Yeah well. I got some good advice from a friend while I was in Sumeru.” Childe laid down next to him. “We still have a lot to talk about.” 

“I know.” 

“I still want to fight you.” 

“I know.” 

“… I love you.” 

“I love you, too.” 

*****

The next morning, Childe was awake bright and early. 

Yesterday was spent with Zhongli. Sometimes in quiet as they simply reveled in being together again and sometimes with talking things through. 

This morning they had plans to visit the Tsaritsa and explain everything. Childe hoped she would at least let him say goodbye to his siblings. 

They got ready to go, dressing in thick coats, to brave the cold of Snezhnaya. 

Childe had to take a moment to breathe deeply. “I’m ready.” 

Zhongli held out his hand. “I have my own way of traveling. I am the Lord of Geo after all.” 

Childe took his hand. They disappeared under the earth in Liyue and popped out into the garden of Zapolyarny Palace. 

Childe blinked in awe. “That was amazing. I wish I could travel in a similar way.” 

“You might. All adepti have their own means of travel. Xiao has his own way. I will explain later.” Zhongli started walking through the garden towards the far doors leading to her Majesty’s throne room. 

“Wait. Don’t we need an invitation?” Childe stopped in his tracks. 

“We already do.” Zhongli stepped through the sheer ice doors. 

“Morax. My eleventh. Please come in.” The Tsaritsa’s voice was as harsh as ever as they walked down the throne room. 

Childe took a step forward and was about to bow before the throne but a hand stopped him. 

“No need for that, Ajax of Morepesok. It seems you have a story to tell me.” The Tsaritsa sat back on her throne and looked at Zhongli. “I wish to hear your side first. Just how is it, you came to fall for my eleventh?” 

Zhongli began talking. Childe listened to his side of the story. About their first meeting, the many lunches and dinners after, the shopping trips, and walks they took. How Zhongli came to love him. 

When it was Childe’s turn he started out and told his side. All the things Zhongli mentioned but he took it a step further and told her about his recent adventure. How he felt betrayed and hurt at being lied to, how he went off on his own little adventure as a fox, all the people he met, and finally their reunion. 

The Tsaritsa was quiet during all their talking. She sighed when Childe was done speaking. “I see. I can’t keep you here.” 

Childe nodded and bowed his head. He expected as much. He was about to leave when a cool hand touched his jaw and nudged his head up. 

“You misunderstand me, Ajax. I see how happy you are with Morax. I know how miserable you were here. I cannot keep you here in your misery when I know you will have so much more out there.” The Tsaritsa brushed her thumb across his cheek and pulled her hand back. “You have served me well, Tartaglia, Eleventh of my Harbingers. I release you of your vow in hopes that you will have a better life. Snezhnaya is a harsh place. Not many people find love.” The Tsaritsa’s voice got really soft. Childe doubted Zhongli would have heard her. “I only wish for all my Harbingers to find happiness like yours.” She cleared her throat. “Thank you for your service. You may leave now.” 

The Tsaritsa turned and swept from the room in a whirl of white silk and furs. 

Childe stared after her in shock. “Did that really just happen?” 

Zhongli smiled down at him. “It did. Let’s go home. I take it you want to visit your friends again? We will need to plan our trip.” 

Childe reached out for Zhongli’s hand. “You will come with me?” 

“If you want me to, I will be there.” Zhongli led them back to the garden. Within a few moments, they were back in Liyue. Zhongli paused taking off his thicker coat. “Would you like to tell me about your adventure? I want to know what happened.” 

Childe smiled and pulled him towards the kitchen. “I want to make some food while we talk.” 

Childe set to work making some cake. He had a sweet tooth craving. 

“So… It all started in the rain. I transformed in the middle of a thunderstorm. I went under a tree and was there until the Yashiro Commissioner and his sister along with their friend found me.” Childe mixed together the ingredients as he told about meeting Kamisato Ayato. (He left out the part about the commissioner hand-feeding him.) 

“Then I met with this sweet girl who was kind of lonely. I want to visit her and give her a hug.” Childe stirred the next part of the recipe as he told about Yoimiya and her dad. “Then I hitched a boat ride out of there after your Forest Fire Bird Adeptus startled me a little.” 

Zhongli was seated on the other side of the counter. He gave a small chuckle. “That’s Xiao. Do me a favor and never call him that to his face. I doubt Liyue can handle the battle that would break out. But yes, you are right. He does smell like a forest fire over Qingxin flowers and he is a bird adeptus but he doesn’t like being in that form all too much. This is the most I have seen him in that form since he first joined us.” 

Childe paused in licking the batter spoon. (He had already poured it into the pan.) “Why does he not like it? I think it would be freeing to fly around.” 

Zhongli shook his head. “Xiao’s story is for him to tell you in his time. He has suffered a lot and every new achievement of his and progress made, I am beyond proud of him.” 

Childe set the bowl and spoon in the sink. He turned on the water to fill the bowl. Without looking back at Zhongli he said, “Yeah, that right there is what we in Snezhnaya like to call parental pride. That is one aspect of being a dad, you know.” 

Zhongli made a choking noise. “You were telling me about how you went on a boat to where? Mondstadt?” 

“Nope.” Childe turned back to his cake. “Not quite. This is where I mess up spectacularly and owe someone a really big apology gift. We will have to get one before we meet with them.” Childe went on to tell about Gorou and Kokomi and how he met them and stayed with them. 

Zhongli nodded in thought. “Yes. That was a huge blunder. An appropriate apology gift is indeed needed. Let me think about that for a while.” 

Childe slid the cake into the oven and noted the time on a clock. He sat down on the seat next to Zhongli. “So now I go to Mondstadt with a woman named Beidou. Mondstadt was… interesting. It had some pretty good views but navigating those cliffs as a fox was really hard. I wasn’t paying attention and got hurt a little. I can’t fight as a fox.” 

“You can. It will just take practice. Cloud Retainer spends all her time as a crane yet she can still fight.” Zhongli assured. “Barbatos said he sent his best healer to you. I’m curious as to who they are.” 

“Oh. That would be Barbara. A nun with the Church of Favonius. Barbara is one of the reasons I want to go to Mondstadt first. She is really famous and was being stalked by a man that is double her age. She can’t be more than seventeen Zhongli. Her older sister didn’t even know.” Childe exhaled harshly in his frustration. “You have no idea how hard it was to know about it and yet be unable to do anything.” 

Childe told about his time with Barbara and the ending with her and his meeting with Mona. 

“Let me get this straight. To leave a situation that was getting a little dangerous, you decided the best option was to steal a woman’s purse, essentially mugging her and forcing her to run after you.” Zhongli raised an eyebrow at him in amusement. 

Childe lowered his head. He ran his hand through his hair sheepishly. “When you put it that way, Xiansheng… then, yes. I did.” 

“Continue. You met this Mona and did what exactly?” Zhongli turned in the chair to face him. 

Childe got up to start making the frosting for his cake. He pulled out another mixing bowl and started telling him about Mona and her ideas and situation. “That is why I want to go back to Mondstadt and give her encouragement. She could literally make millions just from the restaurants alone with that cold cabinet.”

Childe mixed together the ingredients for the frosting as he kept talking. He told Zhongli about Jean and Sister Rosaria and Barbatos. He also went into his time at Barbatos’ home and then leaving Mondstadt. 

Getting into Sumeru and the last of his trip went a lot faster.

(“You willingly left your hosts to worry about you?” 

“Yes. They were being dense idiots and if I had to stay there one more second, I would have bashed their heads together.”) 

(“You are right. We will have to visit Nilou for another performance. She sounds like an incredible dancer.” 

“She really is.”) 

 (“So that is where you got your advice from. This other fox sounds interesting. His mate sounds really… protective.” 

“Yeah. When you are put in a cage and then threatened to become tiger food it really… Whoa! I am fine! There is no need to be hostile about Cyno! Zhongli! Sit down. I am not finished.”) 

Childe finally had his cake done. He went to cut a piece but a loud rumbling like a rock slide echoed in the room. “What was that?” 

Zhongli sighed and stood up. “I hope you have enough for guests. We have company.” 

Childe went to the cupboards and pulled out more plates. Hopefully, the adepti could be appeased with cake. (He doubted it. This would happen sooner or later. It would be best to get the rejection and hostile emotions out now than to let them fester.) 

Childe found his tail very useful in helping his balance. He carried several plates of cake into the living room. He saw two cranes, a stag, and four other people in the home. He was going to need more cake. 

The room was tense like an argument was about to break out. “Cake?” Childe held out a few plates. 

All eyes swung to him. Childe shrunk back a little. His tail twitched in his anxiety. 

Zhongli swiftly approached him to take two plates. “Thank you, Ajax.” 

*****

Childe sat next to Zhongli and listened to the conversations around him. The two cranes and the stage were trying to get something out of Zhongli. The elderly granny was being the peacekeeper between the agitated three. The younger three were Xiao, Ganyu, and Yanfei. 

Xiao was sitting with his arms crossed over his chest and was glaring out at everyone, daring them to talk to him. Ganyu was falling asleep on the couch. Every so often she would snort in the way people do while sleeping sitting up. She would then lift her head and blink her eyes. Yanfei had a book open on her lap. It was a massive thick tome that had a lot of tabs sticking out of it. She was muttering to herself and ignoring the argument happening between the older ones. 

Childe had enough. He stood up and glared at the three instigators. “Enough!” He was a little startled at the animalistic growl that escaped with the words but he hid it as best as he could. His tail lashed side to side in his anger. “You three. Obviously coming here and picking at him is doing no good. You are not only making him mad, but you are making me mad as well. Is this how the adepti really treat their friends?” 

The two cranes and the stag looked offended. The white one with blue markings ruffled her feathers and opened her beak. 

“The boy is right Cloud Retainer. Here you are barging into someone else’s home and demanding answers for something he is not willing to give.” The older woman turned to face the other two. “Had one of us done this to the other there would be dire consequences to face. Not only are you doing this to him but also to his new mate. The boy has every right to berate you for your actions. Apologize to both of them and then we might actually get some answers if you ask nicely.” 

The stag and the brown crane offer their apologies with elaborate bows and words. Cloud Retainer hasn’t said a word. 

“Cloud Retainer.” The older woman scolded the bird. 

“This one apologizes as well. It was not one’s intention to make you or your mate angry. One merely wishes to know about the date set and your plans for…” Cloud Retainer stopped at the older woman’s glare. She gave a sniff and looked away. “This one is sorry.” 

Zhongli pulled Childe to him and down into his lap. 

Childe let out a noise that sounded suspiciously like a yip from his fox form. He stayed still when Zhongli wrapped his arms around his waist. “We haven’t exactly discussed that. Give us some time to talk about it before we set a date. Childe and I were planning on going on a trip to Inazuma, Mondstadt, and Sumeru. Ajax has friends he would like to see. Ask me again when we get back.” 

“How long will you be gone?” The question came from Xiao. 

“A few weeks at most. I won’t be away for long.” Zhongli assured Xiao with a smile. 

Childe observed their interactions and made a note that while Zhongli spoke like a parent telling their kids they will be back soon and to not worry, Xiao didn’t understand one bit of it. Yanfei had a soft fond smile on her face as she ducked back into her book. Ganyu let out a soft snore and fell against Xiao. Her head rested on his shoulder. 

Xiao stiffened but didn’t move. He allowed Ganyu to lie against his side. He sighed and gave a mild moody glare at Zhongli. “I thought I asked you to not let her work so hard.” 

“You know I can’t stop Ganyu from doing what she wants.” Zhongli and Xiao seem to stare at each other for a long moment. “The guest room is free. I can move-” 

“I got it,” Xiao grunted as he stood up and lifted Ganyu into his arms. “One of these days she is going to work herself into a coma,” Xiao muttered under his breath. 

Childe’s ear flicked to catch the sound of his words. They seemed to have a sibling-like relationship. These two must be Zhongli’s ‘kids’. 

Silence fell in the room. Childe stood up with a little effort. Zhongli was reluctant to let him go but eventually released him. “I’m making some dinner. Would any of you like to stay?” 

“Regretfully, one must decline. I have left a project in my abode and must finish it in the next few days. One will be leaving, but perhaps another time.” Cloud Retainer headed for the door. “If you wish to visit. One lives atop Mount Aocang. It is a simple trek north and up the mountain.”

Yanfei let out a short laugh. “That was practically a heartwarming ‘come at any time’. Cloud Retainer doesn’t give that out to just anybody.” 

“Agreed. The last time one approached Mount Aocang, one had to free themselves from a trap made of metal.” The stag lowered his head in a bow to both Childe and Zhongli. “Apologies for declining but one prefers to eat alone. Not many people make food that one can eat. Good night.” The stag left the room. 

“One must be going as well. Apologies to you.” The brown crane went out the door too. 

“I’m afraid I cannot stay as well. I merely came along to make sure they would not anger Zhongli too much. I see you are well suited to be with us. Congratulations, Childe. I wish you both the best.” With slow measured steps the older woman left the home. 

Yanfei snapped her book shut and stood up. “I have to be going. I have a case I have been working on. I mainly came here for the same reason as Granny. I will see you both later. Tell Xiao that we will catch up later.” 

With a bouncy gait, Yanfei was out the door and gone within moments. 

Childe sighed. He placed his hands on his hips. “One of these days we will have all of them over for dinner.” Childe spun to face Zhongli but froze at the soft far away look on his face. “Zhongli? What’s the matter? Was it something I said?” 

Zhongli shook his head. “No, Baobei. It will be nice to have dinner with all of us together again. Be warned, we can be a rowdy bunch. Especially when the drink flows.” 

Childe laughed in delight. “You might not be all that different than us Snezhnayans. Trust me, with good alcohol, any group of people can become rowdy… Xiansheng? What’s wrong?” 

Childe’s ear flicked to the side. A muffled curse, a whimper, and a thud reached his ears. 

“Xiao.” Zhongli stood up and ran as fast as he could down the hall. “Stay back.” 

Childe snorted and followed on his heels. “Like hell.” He muttered. 

Childe entered the room to see Zhongli trying to face a black swirling storm around the small hunched figure in the middle. Childe took in the situation. This energy… he was familiar with it. The Abyss had lots of energy like this. This black miasma was nothing to him. 

Childe hoped it still worked. He took a deep breath and called forth his abyssal nature, just a little. Not enough for a full transformation but enough to fight back the energy Xiao was putting out. He strode past Zhongli with his own black energy surrounding him. He noted absently that his energy was eating at Xiao’s. 

Childe crouched down at Xiao’s side. He was about to touch him but Xiao lashed out. 

“Stay back!” he snarled. His eyes were wild and pained. “It’s… dangerous.” He panted out. 

“Not for me. Let me help you.” Childe again reached for the adeptus stuck in his nightmares. 

“I have to help him. He needs me.” He muttered softly. “No!” Xiao roared. A polearm appeared and swatted Childe away. 

“Xiao! Stop!” Zhongli raised his voice over the sound of Xiao’s harsh breathing. Slowly the miasma died down. Zhongli approached and caught Xiao as he slumped to the floor. “It’s okay, Xiao. You are safe and you didn’t hurt anyone. Just breathe. You are okay.” 

“Help… hurts.” Xiao let out the smallest of moans. 

“I know. I’m sorry. Come on. Let’s get you up.” Zhongli lifted Xiao to his feet. 

Xiao looked unsteady but a guarded look crossed his face. “I have to go. I’m sorry.” Xiao left in a burst of teal and black. 

Childe stared after him in concern. He looked towards the room down the hall when a soft stirring came from it. Ganyu burst out the door with her bow in hand. 

“I heard… what happened?” Ganyu looked between Childe and Zhongli. 

“Xiao had another episode. Ajax was able to snap him out of it quicker than usual. He’s gone.” Zhongli’s hands held onto Childe’s arms, examining him carefully. “Strange, you don’t seem to be affected yet you were able to pass through the miasma like it was nothing.” 

Childe sighed and pulled away. “That is a long story for another time, Zhongli. Let’s just say, I wasn’t exactly human before I changed into this. I’m worried about Xiao. How long has he been having these episodes?” 

“For centuries. But they have been getting worse in the past fifty years.” Zhongli began talking with Ganyu but Childe wasn’t focusing on that. 

“Xiansheng…” Childe interrupted him. “Xiao said something before he pushed me away. He said… ‘I have to help him. He needs me.’” 

Zhongli frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. Who needs him? What are you thinking, Baobei?” 

“I think… I think Xiao has a mate. And for some reason, he has been ignoring him for the past fifty years.” Childe looked to Zhongli. “Think about it. It makes sense.” 

“That can’t be possible. No one can resist the bond for that long no one…” Zhongli began to protest with a troubled look on his face. 

Childe finished his statement. “Except for someone who has been fighting other things like that black miasma for centuries. You said it yourself… Xiao has been having worse and worse episodes for fifty years. The bond has been reacting to being suppressed.” 

Zhongli came to stand behind him. “What are you planning?” 

“I’m going to help him,” Childe announced. “He guarded me for two weeks in a form he hates. I am going to help him with his mate.” 

“I will help as much as I can too.” Ganyu squeezed past them in the hall. “I’m going to check on him. I will see you two later. Have a good night.” 

Zhongli pressed a kiss to his lips. “I love you and I’m happy you are back.” 

“I love you too.” Childe hugged Zhongli tightly. His tail curled around his hip and tapped Zhongli’s leg. “We got our happily ever after. Let’s help Xiao find his.” 

Childe planned and plotted. Maybe his years in the fatui would be a good thing. Childe stared at his mate. Yeah. Childe was happy he came home. This is where he belonged.

Chapter Text

******

YOIMIYA

******

Ajax pulled Zhongli through the crowd and onto the grass. “Come on! She should be this way!” 

“Hold still, Ajax. What if she doesn’t recognize you?” Zhongli was a few steps behind him. 

“She will.” Ajax let out a huge grin when he saw his friend sitting under the tree they shared their lunch together all those days ago. “Yoimiya!” Ajax waved his hand to get her attention and strode through the grass to her. 

Zhongli fell back and stopped them a good distance away. Ajax looked back at him with an arched eyebrow. He barely managed to stop the instinct of tipping his head to the side like a normal fox. 

“I will let you go from here. She doesn’t know me and having two strangers walk up to her might make her a little worried.” Zhongli clasped their hands together. He gave Ajax’s fingers a squeeze before letting go. “I will wait here, Baobei.” 

“Okay. I won’t be long.” Ajax turned and headed for the figure of a young blonde-haired woman sitting under a tree. 

At first, she looked up at him with confusion. Then her eyes caught on his ears and tail. “Red?” 

Ajax’s tail curled around his leg. “Hi. We have never met like this. I’m Ajax. Also known as Red.” 

Yoimiya’s gaze traveled from him to Zhongli waiting a few feet away. “Is that the archon who…” 

“Yes.” Ajax interrupted with a smile. “We have worked things out. He’s here secretly so you don’t need to make a huge thing out of it.” 

An awkward silence fell between them. 

Yoimiya stood up and crossed her arms defensively. “Can I help you with something?” 

Ajax softened. His tail hung limply behind him. “I just wanted to say thank you. For looking out for me when I was stuck and in trouble.” 

“It was no problem.” Yoimiya uncrossed her arms. Her eyes darted up to the top of his head. 

Ajax laughed and smiled widely. His tail gave a few wags in his happiness. “Do you want to pet them?” 

Yoimiya snapped her gaze back to his. Her eyes were huge. She shot a glance at Zhongli waiting for him. Then she looked back at him. “Will that be okay?” She asked slowly. “I don’t want to get in trouble or cross a line I shouldn’t and…” 

Ajax lowered his head and leaned towards Yoimiya. “It's okay. Friends and family are allowed.” 

Yoimiya still didn’t touch him. “Friends and family?” She repeated carefully. 

Ajax looked up at her. Blue met golden and Yoimiya finally reached out. 

A long delicate but strong finger stroked his ear from the orange-red colored base to the black-furred tip. Ajax flicked it involuntarily at the tickling sensation. Yoimiya pulled away from him. 

“Thank you.” Yoimiya smiled finally. “Would you like to stay for dinner? I was planning on making my special dango for dessert. You and your partner are welcome.” 

Ajax shot a look back at Zhongli. He gave the tiniest of nods. “We would love to.” 

Yoimiya grabbed his hand and started dragging him through the grass. “I’m curious about what happened to you before and after you stayed with me. I had an interesting visit a few hours after you left and…” 

Ajax smiled and followed Yoimiya to her house for a meal with her and her dad. He was happy she was doing well. She still looked a little lonely but Ajax would fix that. Once he learned how to get around easier than a boat he would come back and visit her as much as he could. Maybe one day he might bring her a dog or cat as a companion. (Most likely a dog. Yoimiya did not seem like a cat person.) 

******

SANGONOMIYA KOKOMI

******

Ajax stepped off the boat with a slight shake of his head. That dang sea spray gets him every time. 

Zhongli stood by his side. A hand slipped into his. Zhongli took a deep breath of the air on Watatsumi Island and his eyes instantly went slit pupil. “You didn’t tell me there was a dragon living here.” 

Ajax wrinkled his brow. “I didn’t? I thought I mentioned it. She is with Gorou. The one to who I have to apologize. You did bring the gift, right?” 

Zhongli patted his bag. “It is here. Do you want me to give it to you now?” 

“Yeah. That would be best. It was my mistake. I have to be the one to apologize.” Ajax accepted the box and started walking inland. “Come on. They should be up at the shrine.” 

Zhongli’s hand slipped into his. At first, the walk was pleasant. But the closer they got to the shrine the more Zhongli’s half-dragon form peaked through. First was the eyes, then the fangs, then the claws. By the time they reached the bridge leading to the shrine, Zhongli’s horns were out in full force. 

Ajax stopped and cupped his face in concern. “What’s wrong, A-Li?” 

“I-” Zhongli opened his mouth to speak but another voice went over his. 

“My apologies. When I sensed another dragon on my territory I went into a sort of defensive state.” 

Ajax looked towards the bridge leading to the shrine to see Kokomi standing at the edge of it. Gorou was by her side. His bow was held loosely in his hand. Ajax let go of Zhongli’s cheeks. He held onto his arm and slowly approached the two. He took Tighnari’s advice and waited about five feet away from the couple. 

Gorou gave a smile and tilt of his head. “You are learning. Good. You can come closer.” 

Ajax stopped in front of Gorou and Kokomi. “I want to say sorry. I made a fool of myself and messed things up really badly. I have a gift as an apology.” Ajax held out the box containing four sets of cor lapis colored shackles. “These are for your bow.” 

Gorou peaked into the box that had the four Dreams of the Dandelion Gladiator. His tail wagged exactly three times before he cleared his throat. He straightened up with a serious look on his face. “You are forgiven.” 

Ajax directed a smile to Zhongli at the excited shine in Gorou’s eyes. “We were just stopping by and I wanted to apologize. I met someone who is more like me and he explained most things. I know I made a huge faux pas and I’m sorry.” 

“Childe. It’s fine.” Kokomi gave him a warm look. 

“Ajax.” Ajax smiled at her. “My name is Ajax.” 

“Ajax. Do you and your partner have accommodations for your stay here? I’m afraid I can’t give you our couch again but there is a spare set of rooms on the other side of the shrine I can give you for a few days.” Kokomi started walking back towards the shrine in the distance. 

Ajax looked back at Zhongli with a hopeful smile. “What do you think, A-Li? Can we stay a few days?” 

“I thought you wanted to get to Mondstadt as soon as you could?” Zhongli tugged on their entwined hands. 

“Barbara and Mona can wait a few days. I’m… putting my trust in Jean for a little bit. If I come back and Albert is still stalking Barbara, I will give the Acting Grandmaster a talk she won’t be forgetting for a long time.” Ajax turned to watch Kokomi and Gorou who were waiting for them. “I have a few questions I want to ask Gorou about taking care of his ears and tail. Tighnari gave some helpful advice but I still don’t know all about it.” 

Zhongli smiled at him. “A few days, Baobei. Then we must go. I don’t like being here any more than she likes me. Dragons staying in close quarters on another’s territory doesn’t work out for long. Most dragons are solitary creatures. There are only three known dragons left in this world, myself included. Sangonomiya Kokomi and Dvalin are the other two. As it is when we arrive in Mondstadt I will have to see if Dvalin would agree to meet with me. I have a few questions of my own for him.” 

Ajax just leaned into Zhongli and started walking on the rope bridge. He marveled at the shrine ahead of them. Truly a home worthy of a dragon. 

They were shown into a set of rooms slightly smaller than Gorou and Kokomi’s. Ajax sighed and collapsed onto a chair. He wrinkled his nose at the scent of a cleaner that wafted up from the cushions. 

“Join us for dinner? That would be the best time to ask your questions.” Kokomi stood at the door. 

Ajax sat up sharply. “What?” 

“The wind carries here. Sometimes I can hear the residents of Bourou Village if the weather is clear.” Kokomi placed a hand on the doorknob. “I will leave you to get settled. Dinner will be ready at seven. Ajax knows where we live. We will meet there and then head to the gardens for our meal. It is such a lovely day out.” 

Ajax felt Zhongli relax from his spot behind him. “Thank you, Kokomi. We will see you at seven.” 

Kokomi nodded and shut the door behind her as she left. 

Ajax pulled Zhongli down to the couch and settled in his lap. “Is this really hard for you? We don’t have to stay the full three days. We can leave tomorrow if you want to?” 

“No.” Zhongli pressed his face into Ajax’s shoulder. “It’s been a while since I last interacted with a dragon. Even one as young as her. It will take me a little bit to get used to it. Dragons hardly gather together anymore like this. It has always led to fights and disputes in the past.” 

Ajax hummed and ran his hand through Zhongli’s hair. “I’m positive you won’t be fighting with Kokomi. We can leave any time you want. You aren’t taking over her land, she isn’t taking over your land. We probably won’t see much of her or Gorou. Gorou is gone most days training the guard and Kokomi has a lot of meetings and things to take care of as the leader of this island.” 

Zhongli gave a rumble deep in his chest and wrapped his arms around Ajax’s waist. “I know. I heard there was an influx of ruin machines on this island. Why don’t we help out Gorou and Kokomi with a little cleanup?” 

Ajax laughed in delight. “You know me so well, A-Li.” His blood burned at the prospect of a fight. 

Zhongli chuckled. “Easy. That won’t be until tomorrow. We only have a few hours before dinner will be served. I don’t know about you but all that sea travel has made me feel a little grungy.” 

Ajax mouthed that last word in dismay. “See, when you talk like that, people will know your true age.” 

Zhongli lifted him with ease and set him down on the seat next to him. “Kokomi is much younger than me. It’s not my fault you fell in love with an old dragon like myself.” Zhongli frowned. “Actually, compared to a human, I’m technically in my early twenties.” 

Ajax’s jaw dropped. “Over six thousand years and you are only comparable to a twenty-year-old adult? I’d hate to hear what age Kokomi is equivalent to.” 

“Hmmm. Probably in her late teens so not that much younger than me. She still has a few growth spurts left. She’s most likely in her four thousandth year.” 

Ajax was a little horrified. “And how long will we live?” 

Zhongli laughed. “Age doesn't matter. I am an archon and the prime adepti. We will never grow old. I will probably stop ‘aging’ when I am comparable to a twenty-five to thirty-year-old human.” 

Ajax couldn’t comprehend all that. Zhongli leaned close and stole a kiss from his slightly slack mouth. Ajax kissed him back but quickly pushed him away when a scent reached his now-sensitive nose. 

“Go shower. You stink like the sea.” Ajax curled up on the couch. He yawned deeply. “Wake me when it’s my turn to shower.” 

“Okay, Baobei. I love you.” A kiss was pressed to his temple. A hand smoothed back his hair. 

“Love you.” 

Ajax took a small nap and then showered for dinner. They spent three days on the island cleaning up the specters and ruin machines. They took walks along the shore and visited with Kokomi and Gorou when they could. 

That final dinner, Gorou had brought his bow. It rested casually against his chair. Ajax noted the new paint job it had and how much better it looked. Looks like his gift was appreciated. 

******

BARBARA & MONA

******

Ajax slipped past a group of people leaving the Cathedral. He waited on the steps by the front door, bouncing on his heels. His tail was swishing from side to side in his eagerness. His ears were moving in every direction, hoping to catch noise from the sister he was here to see. 

Soon, a short young lady in a white and blue Church of Favonius outfit came walking down the steps. She was humming under her breath as she went past. 

“Barbara? Sister Barbara?” Ajax called her name. 

Barbara looked up and met his gaze. A smile grew on her face and she ran over to him. Barbara flung her arms around his waist in a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She gushed. 

Ajax was a little stunned. He placed his arms around her shoulders a little awkwardly. He was expecting a polite greeting or confusion. Not a full-out hug and thanks. 

“Do you know who I am?” Ajax stepped back when Barbara pulled away. 

“Yes! You are the one fox who saved me. Jean, my sister, arrested Albert a few days ago. It turns out he was more than a little too enthusiastic. But, she made an example out of him and now I can walk the streets of my home without too many people bothering me.” Barbara twisted her hands in the front of her dress. “I even made a new friend who told me just who you are. I am actually going to meet with her for lunch. You might know her. Mona Megistus?” 

Ajax blinked in shock. “You know Mona?” 

“Yeah. And we are running late. Let’s go.” Barbara linked arms with him and started pulling him down the steps and to the stairs leading down into the city. 

Ajax took a moment to get his feet under him. He soon was walking by Barbara’s side. The whole time she was talking about her sister, meeting Mona, her fans leaving her alone for the most part, and how Mona became suspicious acting around a certain drunkard bard. 

Ajax took it all in with a fond smile. Barbara hadn’t changed much. 

“Here we are. Good Hunter. The best restaurant in town.” Barbara led him to an outside table by the railing. 

“Finally, you arrive. I already ordered for both of us… who is this…” Mona’s large purple hat was on a chair so Ajax missed seeing her at first. 

“This is…” Barbara frowned. “This is the fox! You know, the one you were telling me about. The one who stole your purse and made you chase him?” 

Ajax flushed and looked away. His ears flattened on his head in his embarrassment. Soft coos made him flush more. His tail lashed side to side before he cleared his throat and pushed back his instincts. “I’m Ajax. I am here because I wanted to see the two of you in person and not as a fox who can’t talk back.” 

Mona lifted her hat off the extra chair in answer and placed it on her head. “Go order for yourself. We will wait here. You are buying your own food, correct? Barbara, come sit down.” 

Ajax ordered his food, some extra side dishes, and dessert for the three of them, and paid for the girls’ food and his own food. It took a while so the two girls were deep in discussion when he finally came back to the table. 

“What took you so long? Did you order the whole menu? If you did, I am not paying for that.” Mona turned to study him. Suddenly she whipped her hand out and smacked the back of his head. 

Ajax gave a startled vulpine yelp and rubbed his head. “What was that for?”

“For stealing a woman’s purse and making her run after you.” Mona reached for her water like nothing happened. “Barbara? How did your dinner with your sister and Master Diluc go?” 

“Oh it was fine.” Barbara got really quiet. “It was amazing until Captain Kaeya showed up a little late and then it was just awkward. I really don’t like it when Adelinde invites Kaeya to these dinners. I know they used to be brothers and Adelinde wishes they would make up but until they do it’s just uncomfortable for everyone.” 

Ajax just listened and enjoyed the wind blowing through the square. Suddenly the wind flared up into a quick gale force that blew over signs and chairs and lasted for one and a half minutes before settling back down into a normal calm wind. 

Ajax frowned. “Is that normal?” When the two girls blinked at him, Ajax motioned to the wind. “That flare-up. Is that normal?” 

Mona slowly shook her head. “Not usually. Mostly it has been nice and easy here, but they started happening about a year ago. Quick little flare-ups like that.” 

Barbara sighed and moved her glass from side to side in her hands. “The Church thinks something is wrong with Barbatos. That he is upset or something.” 

Ajax hummed in thought. “What do you think?” He directed the comment to Barbara. 

“I think… I think he’s sick or something. If archons can even get sick. Like he doesn’t have a good grip on his power. Something is happening to him and we don’t know where he is or who he is.” Barbara took a sip from her glass. “No more talk like this for now. This is supposed to be a fun lunch.” 

“Okay, Mona. About your cold cabinet… I have a business proposition for you.” Ajax smiled widely at Mona’s startled look. 

“That old thing. I’m not too worried about…” Mona trailed off when the waitress brought over their food. Plates upon plates of food. “What’s all this? We didn’t order this.” 

“I did.” Ajax helped himself to some fresh sticky honey roast and baked carrots. He pulled a slice of Fisherman’s Toast off the platter and set it on his plate. “Eat up. I’m paying for everything. Don’t worry.” 

“Just how rich are you?” Mona mumbled as she pulled some Sweet Madam to her. 

“Rich enough to buy the Church of Favonius a proper set up for those morning services outside. Now, Mona. Back to my proposition.” Ajax began explaining what he could offer for her cold cabinet idea. 

After lunch, Ajax walked with Mona and Barbara around the streets before Barbara rushed off to her afternoon shift at the infirmary at the church. 

It was just him and Mona now as they walked down a side street toward the front of the city. 

“How is he really?” Ajax made a subtle head nod to a passing bard. 

“Oh. Him?” Mona hummed in thought. “Honestly? He’s drunk most of the time. Worse than usual. When he’s sober he seems to be in some kind of distress. You will know with the wind when he is sober.” 

Ajax nodded. “Thanks for the info.” 

A smile crossed his lips when he saw Zhongli walking out of a busy building with a thoughtful look on his face. “A-Li!” Ajax shouted and waved his hand over his head to get Zhongli’s attention. 

Zhongli started walking in their direction. He greeted Ajax with a distracted kiss. “Hey, Baobei. Is this Miss Megistus? It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Megistus and I must thank you for taking care of him when he was here last.” 

“Call me, Mona.” Mona gave them a small smile and slipped her arm out of Ajax’s. “I will let you two be for now. Ajax, I will think about your offer. You two are disgustingly sweet and adorable.” 

Ajax pulled Mona into a side hug with one arm. “We will be here for a few more days. Come visit when you have time. If you do accept, then Liyue is only a few hours' walk away from here.” 

Mona pulled back. “I will see you around, Ajax.” Mona gave a sort of half-bow to Zhongli. “Goodbye.” 

Ajax watched her disappear down the street. Ajax wrapped an arm around Zhongli and began walking in the opposite direction. “Did you find out anything?” He murmured in a low tone. 

Zhongli shook his head. “Not here. The wind hears everything here. I will tell you in a few days.” 

Ajax leaned into Zhongli’s side. “We need to do some research and see if there had been flare-ups around the times Xiao had his episodes.” 

Zhongli sighed. “That will be a little difficult. We don’t know who to ask. Dvalin is a recluse and doesn’t pay attention too much anymore and Andrius is a spirit and doesn’t leave Wolvendom.” 

Ajax playfully kissed Zhongli’s cheek. “Leave it to me.” He walked up to a random person on the street. “Excuse me, I was wondering about the storms here. Has there been one about a week or so ago?” 

Despite the strange look he got, Ajax smiled and waited. 

They only had a few more days to search here before moving on to Sumeru. Xiao needed this solved and Ajax owed him. 

******

TIGHNARI

******

Ajax sighed and took in a deep breath. Sumeru’s rainforest always had a distinct smell to it. He walked further along the path leading out of the chasm and into Gandharva Ville. He wanted to see Tighnari again, despite Cyno’s overprotectiveness. 

Ajax strolled hand in hand with Zhongli. They stepped through some arches and were greeted with a polearm to their faces. “Halt.” 

Zhongli let out a low growl and summoned his own weapon. 

There was an exasperated sigh and Tighnari broke out of the bushes. “Honestly Cyno. What has gotten into you?” 

Ajax let go of Zhongli’s tight grip and dashed up to Tighnari. “Hi. I don’t know if you know me but…” 

Tighnari reached out and pulled him into a quick hug. “Of course I do, you big lummox. I won’t forget those ears and that tail that fast.” 

“Ajax?” 

“Tighnari?” 

Ajax looked over his shoulder to see Cyno and Zhongli still locking polearms. Both had their gazes on him and Tighnari. He winked at Zhongli and started walking away with the other fox. “Come on. Let’s leave them to their posturing. I want to ask about some other things now that I can actually talk back.” 

“Oh, like what?” Tighnari started up the bridge leading to his hut. 

“Well to start with, how to keep my tail still. It is going all over the place when I talk to various people and…” Ajax smiled as he heard Cyno and Zhongli ‘talking’. 

Tighnari served him some tea. They sat down and began chatting over the steaming cups. 

Ajax learned a lot from Tighnari. At first, they discussed their tails and the habits they had as foxes. Then they started talking about Ajax’s story and how he became a fox followed by what happened after. Ajax had explained a little about Xiao and his situation. “And now we are looking for who his mate could be. Do you know of any Sumeru people who are now immortal?” 

“No. Sorry. It’s only me and Cyno that I know of besides Lord Kusanali. King Desheret and the goddess of flowers have both passed. There have been rumors about Al-Haitham but you already know his situation. I’m afraid you won’t find who you are looking for here.” Tighnari shrugged and sipped from his tea. “Have you tried Mondstadt? Maybe there is someone there.”

Ajax sighed and put down his tea. “There is one possible person there. We are working out what to do.” 

Footsteps rushed the hut. Cyno entered, followed shortly by Zhongli. Both were disheveled and panting. 

Ajax looked up at his dragon with a raised eyebrow. “Are you done posturing? Tighnari was telling me about immortals here and there is none that are single besides Nahida.” 

Zhongli sat down next to Ajax and placed an arm around his shoulders. A kiss was pressed to his cheek. “Cyno and I have come to an… understanding. Since you and Tighnari seem to be good friends we have decided to get along as best as we can. After all, they are only an hour or two away from where we live.”  

Cyno snorted and muttered under his breath. Tighnari whacked his side before pressing a kiss to his cheek. 

“How long will you be staying?” Tighnari poured Zhongli some tea. 

“A few days. We want to see Nilou dance and then we will be heading home. Zhongli has some kids he looks after who will be worried. We have already been gone for close to a month.” Ajax leaned into Zhongli’s side. 

“I will have a hut prepared for you,” Tighnari announced. He set down his teacup with a soft clink. “Tell me about these kids?” 

“Well, one is Xiao. I have already told you about him. The other is a qilin named Ganyu.” Ajax spoke over Zhongli’s protests. 

“Ganyu and Xiao are not my kids.” Zhongli frowned and shifted in his seat. “They both are fully grown…” 

“Teenagers who look to you for guidance.” Ajax patted Zhongli’s knee. “I will explain later, A-Li.” 

The rest of the day was spent catching up with Tighnari. They talked until Collei came to get them for dinner. They ate a delicious meal of pita pockets before they headed to bed. 

Ajax had a pretty good time with Tighnari. That night while he lay spooned up with Zhongli he calmly explained how Ganyu and Xiao were like his children. 

Zhongli had gone quiet for a while. “Is Tighnari the one you took advice from?” 

“Yes. I like him. He’s refreshing.” Ajax yawned. 

“I can see that.” Zhongli pressed a kiss to Ajax’s temple. “Go to sleep, Baobei. It seems like we will have a busy day tomorrow.” 

Ajax draped his limbs over Zhongli. (Tail included.) “Goodnight, Zhongli. Love you.” He was asleep before his wishes were returned. 

******

NILOU

******

Ajax held tightly to Zhongli’s hand as they went through the crowded market. Nilou was going to be doing a performance and everyone and their pet were here to see it. 

Ajax went to a spot by the side of the stage. They could see the platform but barely. Ajax grumbled. “They need to rebuild this stage. Hey, A-Li? Do you think if I gave them some money they would lower the stage and possibly do some different backdrops?” 

“Possibly. It all depends on how you present the situation.” Zhongli stepped behind Ajax to protect his tail from people walking by. His arms wrapped around his waist. Zhongli dropped his chin on Ajax’s shoulder. They were pressed cheek to cheek. 

The theater went quiet as flute music began to play. Nilou gracefully walked out on the stage and began dancing, using her hydro vision as a beautiful accompaniment to her dancing. Everyone was spellbound. Towards the end, a few other people came out and swirled around the edges while Nilou was in the center. 

Ajax clapped and whistled loudly with the others when the performance was over. Since they were by the side area, they waited for most of the others to leave. 

Zhongli was humming the music from the show while hugging Ajax to him. “That was an amazing performance. You were right. Miss Nilou is an incredible dancer. I bet she can give Yun Jin a run for her money.” 

“You are too kind, Sir.” 

A voice at their sides made both of them turn. 

Ajax smiled brightly. “Hey, Nilou. You probably don’t remember me but…” 

“Cyno has filled me in. Nice to meet you properly, Ajax, Mister Zhongli.” Nilou gave a short bow. “I was about to head out for a celebration at Lambad’s Tavern. Would you both like to join me?” 

“Certainly. Thank you for the offer.” Zhongli let go of Ajax and motioned with his arm. “Would you care to lead the way, Miss Nilou? I’m afraid it has been a long time since I have been in Sumeru City.” 

Ajax fell into step between Zhongli and Nilou. “I also will get a little turned around. It all looks different at this angle.” 

Nilou beamed a smile. “Sure. It’s this way.” 

They exited the Grand Bazaar and headed down the street past the blacksmith. 

“Would you mind telling me about your last visit here?” Nilou directed this question to Zhongli. “I have always been a little fascinated with what used to be in place of things now.” 

Zhongli smiled down at her. “Yes well, as I recall, that grocer over there used to be an open-air restaurant much like you would find in Inazuma. That building on the other side of the street used to be an…” 

Dinner and drinks passed much the same way, Zhongli and Ajax telling stories and Nilou listening with a focused expression. 

They parted ways late into the night. Ajax had given her a hug and told her that they will meet again. Nilou was his friend after all. Ajax and Zhongli made a stop at the Zubayr Theater and then headed back to Gandharva Ville. 

Two days later they headed back home to Liyue Harbor. 

******

Ajax relaxed on the couch in their shared apartment. It was nice to finally be home. Seeing all his friends were very nice but it was also calming for his instincts to be in his den with his dragon. 

Zhongli reclined next to him in a chair. “Are we agreed on the most likely candidate?” 

Childe nodded. “All facts point to him.” 

Zhongli groaned and ran a hand down his face. “I don’t like it. That bard is…” 

“No parent I have ever met likes it when their kid finds their other half.” Ajax clicked his tongue sympathetically. “In any case, Xiao needs to sort things out with him, otherwise he will only get worse.” 

“It may not be as easy as you are expecting. Xiao is very stubborn and Barbatos has swore repeatedly that he would never settle down. We may have our work cut out for us.” Zhongli laced their hands together over the open space between their armrests. 

“It’s Xiao. I may not have known him for long but he deserves this.” Ajax met Zhongli’s cor lapis-colored gaze with fierce determination. “I owe him a lot and I will repay him.” 

Zhongli inclined his head. “As you wish, Baobei.” 

Ajax got up and sat down in his lap. “What’s bothering you?” 

“Is Xiao really my child? Metaphorically speaking.” Zhongli frowned deeply. “If that is the case then I feel all the more guilty for what I have put him through.” 

Ajax pressed a kiss between those furrowed brows. “None of that, A-Li. Would Xiao want you to feel guilty?” 

“No.” Zhongli shook his head. 

“Then you shouldn’t feel guilty.” Ajax cuddled closer to his dragon. “I love you, my dragon.” 

Zhongli pressed a kiss to Ajax’s mouth. “I love you too, my fox.”