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"I don't get it." Childe stands, "you've fought in the archon war, repelled the cataclysm, shielded liyue for nearly 4000 years– and this is where you draw the line?"
Zhongli sighs, he doesnt turn to face him, "In the fight against Celestia, I have already played my part. All I want now is to know peace."
"Peace? Really, Zhongli?" Childe scoffs, closing the distance between them, "don't tell me you've really bought into their shit? We won't know peace until the heavens themselves cave in.
"I don't get why you're so willing to just lay down," Childe continues, forcing Zhongli to finally meet his eyes, "is the peace you want so badly not worth fighting for–"
"I have fought my entire life– for survival, for my friends, for my people," Zhongli cuts in, "I will not have a young mortal lecture me on the meaning of battle, not when all I know is war.
It is the only bitter constant I've had in this unnecessarily long life, the only companion that stayed as my friends and comrades died around me," Zhongli says, voice straining even through the imposed evenness of his tone, "and I finally want it gone."
Childe falters, righteous conviction sublimating into acerbic guilt. He watches silently as Zhongli collects himself, sanding down his expression into controlled solemnity.
"I'm sorry Ajax, this is the one battle that I cannot share with you," Zhongli sighs, looking back up at Ajax with a bitter little smile, "I am old, and I am tired. I think it's time I leave the fighting to the kids and focus on enjoying my retirement, don't you agree?"
Numbly, Ajax nods. His head hangs limply on his shoulders as Zhongli makes to leave, still reeling from the rare display of… hurt, from the older man.
He watches Zhongli's back as it recedes, still proud and sturdy despite his years of fighting, and feels the gaping maw of experience between them swallow him whole.