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Dark clouds had replaced the once-clear blue skies, and night had already fallen. Most people strolled around Liyue Harbor as usual, browsing the shops or shopping for the delicious food that they could smell from a few metres away. There was no major event as of recently but nevertheless, it was packed on the streets on a Thursday night.
The ginger-haired man, who stood out from the bustling crowd, made his way swiftly whilst getting a few glances along the way, thanks to his bright coloured hair. He just returned back from helping the traveller with a day's worth of commissions. After a while, Childe was eventually shooed away by the traveller to return back to Liyue Harbor on his own first. "You're going to meet Zhongli, right? I shouldn't hold you back now. Wouldn't want you to cancel plans with him now."
"How did you know?" Childe asked, feeling dumbfounded at how the traveller somewhat knew that he was having plans with the older, but still made his way back anyway.
There was a very colourful display of lights surrounding Liyue Harbor. As he passed by the place he wondered what was making it so bright, he eavesdropped on a few people's conversations while passing by them and realised it was for the upcoming Lantern Rite. Although Childe had heard some things about the mentioned festival, he had never been able to attend one in person.
As far as he knew, this was pretty different from the festivals he witnessed back in Morepesok when he was younger. However, that was nothing more than a blur in his memories.
…Only if he hadn't fallen into the Abyss on that fateful day. Maybe things would have been different for him.
It would save him from having to fend for himself in the first place. That would also mean… he would end up no longer serving for the Tsaritsa as the Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatuis. No more bloodshed.
Perhaps, he would have spent more time building on his lost childhood if everything didn't happen for him.
In the midst of his own deep thoughts, he bumped into someone along the way.
"...Zhongli?"
"Oh hello Childe. Glad to see you around. Have you been doing well lately?" His deep voice echoed through the latter's ears. As far as Childe remembered, the older man looked more handsome than ever since they last met at the Golden House.
"Mmm, you know, the usual. I am waiting for my boss to give me further instructions about work since most of my co-workers are currently on vacation, but to no avail. I don't really have much of a choice to go on vacation as of right now."
"I see. It's the same with me. The funeral parlour doesn't have much business going on at the moment, so my boss gave me some time off for myself."
"...Anyways speaking of which, I just wanted to visit this popular teahouse that has become the talk of the town. Would you like to come with me?"
"That sounds great, I'm down." They finally came across the teahouse after spending a few minutes navigating around Liyue Harbor.
It was a fancy two-story building painted in black and gold (that screamed crazy rich in his eyes), contrasting with the other shophouses in Liyue Harbor. Because Childe was so awestruck by the building, he almost tripped on the stairs in front of him. Before he could feel himself falling down on the stairs out of embarrassment, Zhongli caught him by the waist.
"Are you okay?" He lifted the other man back up to his own feet.
"I'm fine…thanks for saving me there." Well that was embarrassing. They stood in silence for a while before making their way inside the teahouse.
—
"Hi! Reservation for two?" The person at the counter asks. "Yes please." After that, she showed them to their seats, which were closer to the window where they could watch the nightlife. The distinct smell of fresh tea that couldn't be forgotten once you enter the place, you could definitely tell they made their tea from scratch here.
Through the window, Childe observed the stunning night view as Zhongli poured some green tea for the two of them. Those night skies are really beautiful, Childe said to himself.
"Yeah, it sure is." It seemed as if Zhongli understood Childe.
Out of curiosity, he also asked, "How was your commission with the traveller?".
"Oh yeah, everything went smoothly." The ginger-haired man replied. "That's good to hear. I wanted to make sure you're okay. You've been doing a lot of commissions lately with the traveller, so I hope you're getting enough rest too." Zhongli is worried about...me? That's pretty unexpected coming from someone like him.
"Oh, thanks. You don't need to worry too much about me, I'm pretty strong too. I could easily eliminate four Ruin Guards by myself." In a proud manner, Childe takes a sip of the warm, green tea which is placed on the wooden oak table, before putting the cup down.
"I don't normally drink tea, but this green tea is very good and rich in flavour." He exclaims in delight.
"That's great to hear. This is also one of my favourite places to relax whenever I have a little time to spare at the funeral parlour and need a quick tea break."
"I see." A period of silence followed. Childe is unsure what he should discuss next. Having this kind of conversation with Zhongli was rare. They were usually done after a bit, with Childe returning to the Northern Bank and Zhongli also returning back to the funeral parlour to do their own work. That was it.
He stared solemnly at his untouched green tea. His mind would occasionally wander back to the times he found out Zhongli and his colleague, Signora, were scheming behind his back all this time.
And finding out Zhongli was also one of them, too.
"Are you alright, Childe? You seemed out of it today." He was concerned for the ginger-haired man.
"I don't know what to say...it's been a while since we talked like this. It's just been a busy few months since we last saw each other. There's something so confusing and lost about it all...I'm supposed to get the gnosis from you and finish everything in Liyue once and for all.
Recently, however, I keep remembering you. When I felt lonely without anyone around, you were always there for me. Even though my uninterested face would tell you otherwise, I always found it genuinely interesting to hear your stories about Liyue's long history." He wasn't lying about that. It was the actual truth.
In his spare time, when he was still disguised as a Snezhnaya diplomat stationed in Liyue, he would visit Zhongli and hear him tell old tales about Liyue, its history, and how it came to be. There was one name, however, that Childe always heard from the older man's mouth. What was her name? Guiling? Guilong? Guizhing? He has no memory of her. From what he knows from Zhongli, she was the God of Dust, who had perished very long ago during the Archon War.
Nevertheless, he felt jealous every time the older man mentioned her as if she was his beloved.
"This is just really crazy to hear from me, out of all people but…Zhongli. I…like you. Not just as a friend, but more than that." I…finally said it. This is crazy. This is actually happening right now- Countless thoughts were running through his head all at once.
"Childe…you like me?"
"My apologies for making you feel weird. As Childe glanced outside the window before continuing, he said, "I know it's wrong of me...I'm sure you still miss her, too." "And it's already late, I think I should head back." Before he could leave, he felt an arm hold his hand tightly. He eventually gave in and returned to his seat once more.
"Wait, Childe...I don't understand you. Me and her...we don't love each other at all. She's just a close friend of mine."
"Besides...I like you too."
"Oh finally- wait pardon? You…like me back too?" Zhongli laughs, "Yes, darling." Childe could feel his ears burning red hearing that endearing name rolling off from his tongue.
"Is it true you liked me all this time?" Childe asked.
"Yes, I have always liked you. Despite the circumstances both of us went through, I cannot help but think of you constantly."
"...You really know how to make me blush with your words, don't you?" While enjoying their warm green tea on the side, both laughed together in unison and caught up with each other's lives. The world seemed to have come to a halt for them, as they formed an official relationship together.
A loud explosion of fireworks could be heard in the sky, and without a care in the world, Childe felt at peace. As long as Zhongli is by his side, he does not have to worry about anything right now.