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Slowing down to a stop, Ajax parks their van underneath a shady tree.
He smiles hearing the quiet but excited chatter of the kids in the backseat. Their curious eyes are on the window, ready to bolt out of the vehicle at the first moment. Next to him, Ajax hears his husband, Zhongli chuckle fondly before he smoothly exits to attend to their children.
As for Ajax, he turns the engine off and leaves to open the trunk to grab their supplies including the large picnic basket that his lovely husband made early this morning.
“Xiao. Ganyu. I know you two are impatient, but please don’t wander away from your papa and I.” Zhongli reminds their children gently.
“Yes, Baba!” They both said in unison.
Closing the trunk, Ajax turns to his family and almost squeals at how adorable they are. Xiao and Ganyu are flanking Zhongli sides, their tiny hands occupying his larger ones.
“Papa, you’re slow.” Xiao raises his brow, and if he could cross his arms, he would.
Sweet little Ganyu chirps up, “Papa, can we see the flowers?”
“Of course!” Ajax laughs, moving quickly to join them before they decided to leave him behind for sightseeing.
The family of four found a comfortable spot underneath a ginkgo tree to settle in. After spreading out the large blanket, Zhongli takes over to sort through their lunch while Ajax keeps an eye on their children. Ganyu was dragging her older brother by his wrist to see the closest field of flowers. Although Xiao was frowning, he clearly didn’t mind his sister antics and stayed close to her in a protective big brother way.
Ajax, being a big brother himself, knew that very well.
“Is there something on your mind, dear?” Zhongli asks, scooting closer until their knees touch.
“Nothing wrong, why do you ask?” Ajax answers without taking his eyes away from Ganyu and Xiao making flower crowns.
“…You’ve been distracted lately.” The brunette observes, glancing at his husband who still smiles and hums like nothing is wrong in the world. He shifts his gaze to their children and adds quietly, “Even Ganyu and Xiao noticed.”
The humming stops.
Ajax- Childe wonders when he became so obvious for his oblivious husband and children to pick up his subtle moods.
Turning his attention to Zhongli, Childe face softens at his gentle beauty. With gold gingko leaves falling all over them, the brunette appears almost ethereal; an otherworldly creature many would want to covet for themselves.
But such a scenario will never happen as long as Childe is in the picture.
Because on this very day many centuries ago, Childe swore to the dying god in his arms and cried out, “I’ll find you, Zhongli. Even if the skies fall and the Abyss opens it gates, I promise that I’ll always find you; we’ll always be together, Zhongli!”
To seal their vow, Childe kisses Zhongli before his beloved took his final breath.
“I love you, Ajax.”
Startled, Ajax blinks in confusion and stares at his blushing husband, “Not that I mind hearing such words, but that’s out of the blue, love.”
“It’s the truth, dear.”
Zhongli reaches out to grab his hand, intertwining their fingers, and squeezes reassuringly. The brunette turns his head to meet his husband lifeless blue eyes, and for a moment there was spark in them. Smiling affectionately at Ajax, Zhongli rest his head on his shoulder and continues to speak.
“Every year at this time, you become distant as if you’re relieving an old past you can’t escape from. I do not ask and I do not mind it, because I understand you need your privacy. But the children don’t understand, and they worry their Papa is sad, Ajax.” Zhongli elaborates, as if he was telling a random trivia.
“…I’m sorry for worrying you and the kids, love.” Ajax said quietly, feeling guilty for making his most beloved people concerned about him.
“It’s alright, Ajax. I won’t pry what bothers you. I prefer for you to tell me whenever you’re ready and until then…”
When Zhongli raises his head, Ajax is spellbound by his beautiful golden eyes swimming with so much love it hurts. He feels a peck on his cheeks, but the ginger made a note to spoil his husband later with more than a chaste kiss.
“…Please don’t forget that we love you, Ajax. No matter what happens, we’re always together.”
Before Ajax eyes, he swore he saw their images overlap each other.
Not his Zhongli in the present, but a Zhongli from many centuries ago- a God disguising himself as a mortal, who wanders the world in a tailored suit. They both look at him with the same exact shade of golden eyes, loving him and wishing for his happiness.
Ajax doesn’t realize the tears running down his cheeks. He doesn’t care about wiping it either, even as Zhongli fusses over him and dabs them away with a handkerchief. His husband is confused, but he was more concerned.
It’s only when Ganyu and Xiao return bearing flower crowns made from silkflower and glaze lilies that Ajax starts to wipe the tears and snot from his face.
Despite his family's worries, Ajax was smiling out of joy that he finally found his happiness.
After the war with Celestia, Childe realizes he was both cursed and blessed with immortality, a final parting gift. With nothing to live for, Childe wandered Teyvat for many centuries searching for any signs of his beloved with golden eyes.
Then one day, Childe walked into a bookstore in Liyue and found his love standing right in front of him…