Work Text:
Time passed slowly when you wanted it to go by quickly. Zhongli stared out of the window; the work of the day had already been completed. Papers were neatly stacked on his desk, the smell of ink drying wafted through the air. It was silent in his office.
Every day, he was biding his time until a certain Harbinger would be back for Lantern Rite. He was assured, more than once, by said ginger that he would be back faster than the last time. It was 'just a quick trip'.
Taking off with a lot of energy 14 days ago, he was scheduled to arrive in a few days during the hight of the festivities. They have penned letters, filled with a quiet longing not only on his part.
Strange for himself, as he always thought that he was used to waiting. To being patient.
He has waited for a lot of people. He still waits for a lot of beings today.
Never with Childe. His Ajax. More precious than any gem he ever came across in the long span of his arduous existence. He did not want to wait. Finding himself childishly impatient.
Just like now.
Impatience cursed through his blood the longer the young man could not be sensed treading the earth beneath his feet. Too far away to be perceived fully. Not yet in the scope of his jurisdiction.
A warm light in the distance that he could sense. Still with his feet on the ground. Albeit land with frosted rocks surrounded by ice and snow.
A sigh left his lips, and he leaned back in his chair. The smoke of sandalwood incense drew a trail up to the ceiling. He followed the motion, letting it sooth his nerves.
For a moment, he closed his eyes, sensing the energy beneath his feet. Listening to the people walking outside on the street.….
Childe was probably causing more problems for other people and his archon than himself. Was he fighting some fellow harbingers? Or looking bored while the other members schemed a new endeavor?
Maybe he received new orders, answered questions, or visited his family. Hopefully he was eating enough.
Zhongli meticulously prepared everything for his return. Reservations had been made at the most famous restaurants that are usually booked full during this time. Zhongli’s connections are nothing to be trifled with after all.
And now, it was only time to wait. Ah…He was so tired of waiting.
Imagine his puzzlement, when he was suddenly disturbed from his own quiet perusal. The funeral parlor director grabbed his arm, forcing him out of his chair. In order not to hurt her, he made himself lighter than normal.
“I can’t take it anymore!”
“?”
„Come on, out with you. You have been moping around all Lantern Rite this far! This is so unlike you, but then, you just sitting around like a rock staring off into space kind of is“, Hu Tao pushed him out of the door, onto the street.
“Archons you are so heavy-“
There was a retort on his tongue; this kind of behaviour was quite rude-
„Just fetch these books for me, alright? Tomorrow will do. Take the rest of the day off.”
A list was pressed into his hands. Hu Tao looked at him expectantly, hands on her hips.
“I’ll wave the new expenses that came to me from your recent expensive purchases in return. A good deal, no? “
Zhongli contemplated. He did feel quite bad for spending so much money on a few gems he found recently. He does not regret buying them on impulse. They would look good on Childe, shimmering in a beautiful blue just like his eyes.
This contract worked in his favor.
„Very well. I shall acquire the book-„
„Light novels, and thanks! “
She closed the door into his face. A familiar sense of helplessness but also ire rushed through his whole body. His mind itched to say something. But the opportunity had already passed.
His fingers holding the list flexed, relieving some tension.
It always posed a challenge to deal with this child. The second person who could wear down his patience and calm with such ease.
But the director was right. Sitting around would do nothing. He should go listen to an opera, eat a nice dinner, and then fulfill his duties the next day.
Zhongli moved through the crowd, exited chatter filling his ears. The festivities only started a day ago, yet people flocked from different nations far and wide to enjoy them. The ex-Archon’s mind brimmed with satisfaction and pride, seeing Liyue shining in these beautiful colours.
Another year has passed. Another year was to come.
The warm atmosphere washed away some old aches and memories he would not miss for a while.
Steady and familiar steps lead him easily to the bookseller, Wanwen bookhouse was everything but busy during this hour of the day. While he did enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city and his people, he had to acknowledge the beauty of admiring the latest books in solitude.
Lady Jifang greeted him with a smile.
“Mister Zhongli, what can I do for you today?”
“Good afternoon, could I trouble you with collecting these books for me?”, he handed the list to her. She looked over it, a smile beaming on her face, “Oh I never picked you as a guy to read light novels-“ she flushed, “oh I mean I did not meant it in a bad way-“
He gave her a reassuring smile, “No offense taken, I am not too familiar with the medium myself. These are for my employer.”
“Ah Miss Hu Tao, I see! If you are not too familiar, I can introduce you to the recent most famous writings”, she led him to a shelf, and he did not find it in himself to break her enthusiasm.
“These are the newest releases, why not look at them while I collect the novels from the list?”
“Then I shall do just that, thank you for your trouble.” He watched her scurrying off, turning back to the bookshelf. Some titles seemed very intriguing. He recognized a few famous titles that people tended to talk about.
Suddenly a few books in a corner caught his eyes. That ginger hair..
Intrigued, Zhongli picked up novel that featured a picture that clearly was at least based on a certain harbinger. The mask. The uniform. The resemblance was striking.
Turning the book around, he found a figure resembling his own.
?
A love story unlike any other!
A harbinger hailing from a frozen land, a consultant from mysterious background, entangled in a fight that puts the whole world -and their growing relationship- to test.
….
A sigh escaped his lips.
While he knew that they were quite inconspicuous and known to be met in a pair across Liyue’s streets, he never assumed there would be novels about them.
Where did they even gather their information from?
With the very recent development of the genre, it could not have been that long since people started to write about them.
The one in his hand seemed to be a story based on Childe as a cold envoy from Snezhnaya and him as simple consultant. Taken straight from reality with a few twists. Was it someone close to them taking inspiration from the source ?
Who would dare?
Weirdly, he had never found himself more intrigued. A look would not hurt.
Curious, his fingers turned the first page
The envoy from Shnezhnaya flashed a dark grin, blood dripping from a fresh cut on his face. There were bodies of monsters strewn around.
„Too easy.“
Footsteps made him turn around in a sharp motion, holding a blade to the throat of the newcomer.
The consultant held up a hand as a sign of no ill intentions, yet the other did not drop his threatening stance. The air was filled with an unspoken tension.
„Well who do we have here, a pretty thing like you getting lost in this wilderness?“
Zhongli blinked, his Childe would never speak like this. But then, these people don’t know him the same way he did.
The following pages described how they often crossed paths, getting closer, when he managed to extricate himself, more than just a few minutes passed.
The former archon continued to peruse the shelves. Were there more novels like this? Were they this famous?
Indeed, he found more. A detective and a toyseller (close to one truth),a monster and a dragon (this one must’ve been a coincidence). An adeptus and a fox spirit-
Some novels were penned by the same author. He took them all. There were other interesting classic novels that picked his interest too.
At the end, Zhongli purchased 11 books alongside the ones for the director. This would prove to be a good distraction.
Certainly, Hu Tao would not mind the extra expenses. The seller did, however, not look him in the eye.
“H-haha, enjoy your books Mister Zhongli.”, Lady Jifang smiled awkwardly.
The former archon was too old to even feel an ounce of shame, happily striding back to pass some of the books to the funeral director.
The following days, Zhongli found himself reading one novel after the other, just like now.
In the comfort of his home, with a warm tea on a heater next to himself, Zhongli immersed himself once again in an intriguing tale with a warm companion by his side. This one was about an emperor and his warrior.
Betrayal, revenge, and loyalty. A beautifully spun tale unfolded yet again.
Reading about Childe like this made him feel less alone. It was interesting, to see these facets that people ascribed to him and himself.
Some of them were interestingly accurate, and he often found himself drawn in by answers he would indeed give himself. Be it by happenstance or knowledge, some guessed his character quite right.
Written with a lot of extra care, the suspense and twists of the tale had his nerves alight with anticipation.
He was so engrossed in the novel, that he even failed to perceive a familiar warmth entering his home. The sound of boots coming off, a door opening, a jacket being put away all but flew straight over his head.
“Zhongli?“
Blood. There was blood everywhere. Shaking hands pressed down insistently on the wound.
„Hahaha“, a cough, „never thought I’d see you this distressed.“ the young man grinned cheekily up at the distressed emperor. „I won’t die from this you know that.“
Brows furrowed, Zhongli began bandaging the wound a bit tighter. A wince was his response, fingers curling around his wrist in a silent protest.
"Maybe kiss it better?"
A snort.
Footsteps came closer, yet his eyes were glued to the pages in front of him. While he knew that this was not reality, the depiction of injuries still made him feel distressed.
„He-lo-oh?“
„Let’s go home, come on. I know you are strong. Carry me? “, blue eyes blinked up at Zhongli. Trying to act all cute while being all bloody like this.
„Insolent“, yet he still picked up the man from the ground. He did find himself thinking that he would not have it any other way.
A voice right by his ear cut through the scene conjured up by his imagination.
„Now, I wonder what has my favourite consultant in such a thrall that he doesn’t even notice my presence? “, a scarred hand reached past his neck, a head settled on his own, eyes blinking down at the novel in his hand.
"Should I be offended?"
Only centuries of practiced calm resulted in Zhongli not jumping off the chair. How embarrassing. He quickly relaxed, letting the other pry the book out of his hands. Eyeing it with suspicion.
„It’s good to see you Childe“, a warm smile formed on his lips. The harbinger leaned down for a soft kiss, it was a strange angle from where he was standing behind the chair, but it did not fail imbuing Zhongli with a familiar warmth.
He came home early.
Blue eyes flicked back between him and the novel that was in the harbingers hands now. A silent question.
„It’s quite popular these days. I have found myself intrigued by the light novels sold around Liyue.“
There was a short pause, then a faint „Is this me? “
Zhongli nodded; his fingers could not help seeking out the other’s free hand not holding the novel. Clasping their hands together. He pressed a reverent kiss onto the gloved hand, earning a twitch.
„I didn’t know…I was this popular“, the ginger hummed, confused. „Was it so good that you didn’t even notice me?“
There was a playful pout in the cheery voice, and Zhongli knew it wasn’t meant seriously, yet he found himself trying to come up with excuses anyways.
‚Your presence is so familiar to me that my guard is always down for you‘ or ‚every version of you be it real or not captivates me‘ yet what came out was a rather simple phrase.
„Let me make it up to you. I will prepare some food for you.“
He stood up, stretching his tired limbs. Childe must be hungry, and food warmed the stomach and the heart, showing his sincerity and happiness at the sudden return.
He was caught midway,however, as the fatui pressed close, face buried in his neck. Warm hands sneaked around his waist, flexing in content.
„You ignored me.“
Zhongli smiled, patting the hand around his waist.
„I’m at fault, forgive me“, he paused, leaning into the embrace. „I missed you.“
A vulnerable admission, earning him an equally weighted answer in return.
“I missed you too.” Soft touches of lips burned a path up to his face. Zhongli hummed, accepting the kiss. Childe moved slow, yet insistent.
“Ajax.”
“Hm.”
Lips chased after his.
Childe did not seem to want him to move away, so he did not. Letting the other take his fill. There was no rush after all. The food could wait, apparently.
„I missed your food too “, a tired sigh, „maybe I’ve really gotten too used to the dishes here. Nothing can compare anymore. “
A sly smile formed on Zhongli’s lips, hidden behind a sip of tea. „It is good to have reasons to stay. Yet mind I remind you, it has not been that long since you have been gone.”
„As if I need even more reasons“, Childe placed the chopsticks down, a solemn look crossing his features. „Now, tell me more about your recent new hobby? “
Zhongli recounted the tales that he read. The funny depictions of themselves, the conspiracies surrounding their fictional selves, and the love and intimacy of their interactions.
„You were depicted quite charmingly, I have to admit that they do your charisma justice…“
At some point during their conversation, they had migrated to the couch in the living room, adorned with soft pillows and blankets. Childe drew him into his arms, to ‚recharge his battery‘.
„More charming than the real deal? Careful, I might cry “, the hand on his waist tightened possessively.
A low laugh escaped Zhongli's lips, he could feel rather than see the smile on the other‘s face.
„How could it be, I do not think that anything could challenge the ‘real deal’ as some might say.”
“Is that so, maybe I do have to read it myself if you talk about it with such high paise though. I wonder if some of my idle subordinates penned one of these…that one pen name is written in my home dialect”, the upturn of the sharp mouth promised eternal suffering.
The consultant took Childe’s chin into his hands, caressing soft lips with his thumb, “Now your thoughts seem far away. Why not tell me of your travel?”
“Tomorrow. Let me just listen to you like this. Wish I never needed to step on a ship ever again.” Childe sounded tired so he offered his lap as a temporary resting place.
Later, he could carry them to bed. But he himself did not feel like moving right now.
His hand caressed through the soft locks, tussled and curled by the long sea voyage. His hand was soon caught, however, and held tight. From experience he knew that he would not get this hand back without a fight.
The harbinger removed his glove, playing with the appendage in his grasp.
“Tell me of your days.”
Not only his hand was in the grasp of the man occupying his space, but also his heart.
So how could he even refuse such a simple request?
Under his own recounts of past days spent, Childe was quickly lulled into sleep. Zhongli found himself watching him for moments longer, after all, this trust was something he would never not cherish and relish in.
A few days later, as Zhongli was about to start another novel, his attempt was interrupted when Childe quickly walked into the room, drawing his attention.
“You are back early-“
“You cannot read this.”
The book in his hand was swiftly yanked away from his hand. He looked up, confused. “I was just about to start. Why?”
“The depictions in this book are horrendous, trust me”, Childe huffed, stomping out of the room in a swift motion, muttering under his breath.
“Whoever wrote this better watch out…”
The former archon sighed; he probably did not need to know. He could always get another copy in secret the next time anyways.
....
A diligent fatui member working on accounts sneezed. A chill went down his spine, he paused. Could someone be talking about him? No way.
Shaking his head, the fatui member went back to the paperwork in front of him. He better finish this before the Lord Harbinger returned.
extra:
It was only a matter of time until he became curious. Zhongli had been reading these books all day. He had to see why.
Childe read the light novel with rapt attention, this….he was not so weak. And whiny. Wasn’t he?
This-
He threw the novel onto the table.
„Oh, have you come to enjoy these novels as well?“, Zhongli walked into the room, carrying two cups of tea.
“Don’t read this anymore-“
„Why?“
Childe saw the dragon reach for it anyways.
„Tsk.“ He quickly snatched it away, „and the others too-„
Only later would he learn that his quest of ridding the house from light novels was futile- Zhongli secretly had second copies of his favourite versions stashed away.
Some day he would figure out where he was hiding them.