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If there is one word that describes Ajax Rybakov, it is charismatic.

He knows how to make people swoon; one smile and that is all it takes to make his audience’s ears flush red, their hearts pounding erratically against their ribs. His enticing words and charming laugh do nothing to help his case, and men and women fall at his feet in his wake.

However, right now, Ajax is anything but charismatic.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Childe. My name is Zhongli; I am looking forward to working with you.”

For some reason, Ajax is rooted at his spot, staring down at the hand in front of him, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. He’s frozen, unable to utter a single word as he looks back up at the figure standing in front of him.

Stunning eyes as brilliant as sun beams glistening through a piece of polished cor lapis stare back at him, and for a moment, Ajax stops breathing. Zhongli is every bit as handsome as the films made him out to be, with ebony wisps of hair feathering his cheeks. He looks meticulously put together despite having woken up early to shoot, and shit, wait, is that a mole under his eye—

“Mister Childe? Are you alright?”

Ajax snaps out of his trance with a start, suddenly realizing that Zhongli is looking at him with his brows furrowed in concern. He stiffens, his hand immediately shooting into Zhongli’s hand as embarrassment floods his body.

“Ah, s-sorry about that!” Childe laughs, already cursing at the way his voice trembles. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Mister Zhongli. Ah—wait, no, I studied Liyuen in the military… You would be Zhongli-xiansheng, right?”

Zhongli’s eyebrows shoot up, impressed. “That would be correct. I had no idea that you knew Liyuen.”

“Just a little something I picked up from my deployment,” Ajax insists, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s really nice to meet you. I’ve been a fan of your work since I was young.”

It’s true. Through Ajax’s troubled childhood, he found comfort in Zhongli’s films. Just five years older than himself, Ajax had always admired the senior’s works. When his father sent him to the Fatui, Zhongli’s films followed, even when he took a hiatus from acting for a few years. To Ajax, to get to act side-by-side with his biggest inspiration—in a boy’s love film, nonetheless—is a dream come true.

Zhongli offers him a polite smile, his hands retreating politely behind his back. “No, it is an honor to meet you, Mister Childe. I have heard much about you; I must congratulate you on being nominated Rookie of the Year at the Fontinalia Film Festival.”

Ajax’s heart is about to give out. What do you mean his idol knows about him and his feats? “Oh, thank you. I appreciate it a lot!” He offers a grin. “And please, just call me Childe. No need for any formalities.”

“Very well then, Childe.” Zhongli’s smile is almost blinding. “I look forward to working with you.”

…

I:

It’s been a few weeks since the filming of Genshin Impact: The Final Contract began, and Ajax still can’t make eye contact with the man.

It’s stupid and he knows it, but what else is he supposed to do? Gods, when they have to kiss at the end of the movie, he might not make it out alive. The only reason he’s standing outside of Zhongli’s dressing room now is that Hu Tao insisted they go to rehearse their lines together before filming their first scene together.

Ajax raises his hand to knock on the door, bracing himself as he finally gathers the courage to do so. With no response, he tries again, his heart pounding against his chest. “Um… Zhongli? You in there?”

“Childe?” Oh, that sweet baritone voice. The door swung open to reveal the actor, his hair cascading over his shoulders like waterfalls. A gentle smile curled at the corners of his lips as he greeted him. “It’s good to see you. Did you need something from me?”

Ajax slowly let out a breath he wasn’t even aware he was holding. “I-I—” he stuttered, gathering his wits about himself. Focus, Ajax! “… Director Hu Tao asked me to go over the script for this scene with you before we film it,” he finally managed to say, internally cringing at his voice. “Is now a good time?”

“Ah, yes. Come in.” Stepping aside, Zhongli allowed Ajax to enter his room. “I was about to get some water first, if you do not mind. I shall return momentarily, but please do not hesitate to make yourself comfortable in the meantime.”

“Go ahead, I’ll wait for you here.”

When the door shut behind Zhongli as he left, Ajax released a shuddering breath, clutching his hand to his chest. What the hell was Hu Tao thinking, sending him here alone?! If he made it out of here alive, it would truly be a miracle.

While it wasn’t messy, his room was definitely cluttered. Books of varying genres were stacked upon each other on top of the coffee table, and various pieces of dragon paraphernalia were scattered throughout the room like statuettes, plushies, and pillows. Ajax smiled to himself. It was endearing to see how an actor who appeared as untouchable as Zhongli had their quirks.

Eyes roaming around for anything that could calm his racing mind, something glittered from the floor of Zhongli’s vanity desk. Intrigued, he slowly stepped towards it, taking in his surroundings in the meantime.

When he ducked beneath the vanity, he noticed that the glittering item that had initially caught his interest was an earring. Not just any earring either—this was Zhongli’s iconic earring, with its cor lapis core and white tassel. According to interviews, it had been gifted to him by his mother before she passed.

While he was unsure how Zhongli would feel about him touching such a precious item, he doubted he would want to leave the earring on the ground. Stooping down to pick it up, he was about to place it back down on the vanity table when—

Clink!

Half of the earring falls onto the ground.

Oh.

Did he…

Did he just break Zhongli’s earring?!

Immediately, he swiped the broken clasp off the table, frantically praying that it would simply snap into place again. But to his despair, upon closer look, the metal had snapped off completely.

Suddenly, his mind was swirling. What was he going to tell Zhongli?! Oh, he could clearly see his face, deeply marred by furrowed brows and disappointment. How was he going to look him in the eyes?! Zhongli was definitely going to send Ajax away and ask to never work with him again—

The door creaked open.

Snapping out of his panic, he quickly slid the pieces of the earring into his pocket, picked up the nearest book, and flipped it open to a random page, praying that Zhongli wouldn’t ask about it. Please don’t ask, please don’t ask—

“Ah, Childe. I’ve returned. Would you like to go over the script now?” Zhongli shut the door behind himself, unaware of Ajax’s blight. Judging by the soft crescents his eyes formed when he smiled, he had no idea what had just happened.

Ajax stiffly nods, mustering up his best smile. “O-Of course.”

The earring burns in his back pocket.

…

This is absurd, the voice in Ajax’s head screamed as he neared the jeweler’s store, adjusting the cloth mask and pulling his cap tighter over his head. Zhongli is definitely going to find out!

I’m a dead man on both counts, he tries to argue with himself. I broke it, so it’s my responsibility to make amends. It starts here.

Letting himself inside, Childe glanced around the store at first, taking note of the people inside. When the coast was clear, Childe strolled up to the jeweler inside, pulling out the black velvet box he had so carefully placed the earring inside.

“Excuse me, but I have a broken earring here that I was hoping could get repaired?” Childe slid the box over to the jeweler. “Would that be an issue?”

“A repair, hm?” The woman behind the desk picked the box up with both hands and slowly opened it, appraising the earring inside. Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh…! I see…”

The employee’s fingers were trembling when she closed the lid, clearly overwhelmed. “Ah, I understand. This truly is a treasure—one of the very few authentic versions of this earring. The fix is simple, but to put it frankly, the cost of the materials…”

“—Don’t worry about the cost,” Ajax interrupts, his shoulders slumping with relief as the sensation floods his body. He pushes the box into the jeweler’s hands. “ I just want this done as soon as possible, please.”

“O-Of course. Let me just get a few more details…”

As Ajax finalized the payment, praying to Celestia that Pantalone would have mercy on him for spending such an unholy sum of mora, he finally felt his shoulders relax. Just a few days, and he would be out of the ballpark! Zhongli would forgive him and have his favorite earring back, and things would go back to normal, no hard feelings! Zhongli would have no idea that this ever happened, and—

“Childe? Is that you?”

With a shout and a jump, Ajax dropped his wallet on the floor, startled by that familiar, rich baritone that definitely should NOT have been there. Under normal circumstances, his heart would be soaring with glee, but now, all he felt was dread as it swallowed him whole. Helpless, all Ajax could do was turn and wave, hoping with all his heart that he did not see what was inside that jewelry box.

“Zhongli! Wow, haha, funny business seeing you here!” Ajax chirped, doing his best to distract him from the jeweler. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be resting today, we have a lot to do tomorrow—“

“Ah, actually, the story is rather unfortunate…” Zhongli smiled sheepishly, his cheeks flushing pink from embarrassment. “I have… misplaced one of my most prized earrings,” he admitted. “I have been unable to find it, so I have decided to take this as a sign to try something new.” Zhongli sighed. “I have been looking for it for days, but I cannot seem to locate it.”

Shit! “That’s really unfortunate, Xiansheng; I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you come across it soon!”

Zhongli’s shoulders slumped. “I hope so, too,” he murmured dejectedly before clearing his throat. “Enough about my blights. What are you doing here, Childe? Are you looking for something in particular?”

“U-Uh—“ He glanced at the jeweler, who was thankfully not paying attention to their conversation. “… I was… getting someone a gift! Yeah, a gift.” Good save, Ajax. “I was just about to leave.”

“Oh? Do you have any matters to attend to at the moment?”

“Uhh—“ Swallowing hard, he shook his head no, the gears in his brain going haywire. “No, I don’t. Is there something you need from me?”

“Ah, perfect.” Zhongli’s smile was simply radiant, putting even the most luxurious gems on display to shame. “Would you like to assist me with picking something out, then? Of course, you are always welcome to decline.”

“Yeah, of course!” He blurted, nearly regretting it the moment he heard the words escape his own lips. However, with the way Zhongli beamed at him, as radiant as the sun rays streaming in through the windows inside, he found it difficult to remain upset.

“Childe, look here. I have never seen such high-grade noctilucous jade. The color is rich and the quality is astounding.”

“Ah, what a fine piece of green jade. Childe, did you know that jade like this was used in ancient times for its healing properties?”

“Childe, you must look at these earrings right here. Cor lapis itself is rather difficult to gather, but to harvest two pieces so alike…”

Zhongli dragged Ajax from display case after display case, following whatever sparkly gem caught his attention. With each piece of jewelry, he always had something to say, whether it was random tidbits of rock trivia or the region the stones were mined from, and Ajax listened to each one with rapt attention.

He was in the middle of rambling about a pair of ruby earrings when he suddenly cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing pink in embarrassment. “I, ahem, may have gone a little overboard with my explanations,” he murmured, averting his eyes from Ajax’s in shame. “Apologies, Childe. I tend to go overboard when it comes to things like these.”

“Huh?” Ajax looked up from this display case, unfamiliar with the uncertainty oozing from the collected gentleman beside him. “What do you mean?”

“I, ah, tend to get carried away in my rambles,” Zhongli explained, distancing himself from Ajax to give him some room. “Unfortunately, because of it, I do not make the best company… I apologize if I have bored you.”

“No, no, you could never!” Suddenly filled with the need to see Zhongli’s smile again, Ajax surged forward, clasping both of Zhongli’s hands in his own, bending down to meet Zhongli’s cor lapis eyes. “You? Boring? Xiansheng, whatever gave you that impression?”

Ajax watched as Zhongli’s eyes widened, clearly taken aback. And yet, Ajax continued, pressing forward with his words. “You’re so knowledgeable in everything and have a way with words. You should really become a storyteller, you know?” As that familiar smile began to creep back into Zhongli’s face, Ajax one curling along his own. “I didn’t think rocks could be so interesting, yet somehow you don’t make it so bad.”

“Ah…” Zhongli seemed a bit flustered for words, but his smile didn’t disappear. “Thank you, Childe. I will try not to let it bother me.”

“Good.” Ajax finally let go of his hands, the warmth of his hand still lingering along his fingertips. “Now, what were you saying about the rubies?”

“Hmm… Yes, where was I…” Zhongli hummed, curling his finger against his chin in his thoughts. “Ah, yes. Childe, when is your birthday?”

The question made Ajax’s brain skid to a stop. “… July 20th? Is that important?”

“Ah, so I remembered correctly.” Turning to the employee behind the display case, he pointed to the pair of ruby earrings. “May I see those two earrings, please?”

With the earrings in hand, Zhongli turned to Ajax, holding one up to the light. The scarlet stone glistened in the light, almost like a drop of fresh, translucent blood. “These stones were mined from your country, Snezhnaya,” he mused before holding one up to Ajax’s ear. “And rubies are your birthstone.”

“I-I thought we were getting something for you, not for me,” Ajax reasoned, side-stepping away from Zhongli, yet that clever smile on his lips never disappeared. “Shouldn’t we be looking for something that suits your taste?”

Now, it was Zhongli’s turn to push, stepping back towards Ajax and holding the earring up again. “Yes, but I can’t help but think that this would suit you unbelievably well,” he insisted, pursing his lips together in a fond smile as he fished out his wallet. “Besides, you have always been fond of the color red in all of the events you have attended.”

“You noticed?” Ajax finally froze in his steps, turning only to greet Zhongli’s stunning face in return. “I thought–”

“I ought to know about my co-star before I film with him, hm?” Gently brushing the hair away from his ear, Zhongli fastened the ruby earring into place and took a step back, completely unaware of how his actions had rendered Ajax completely useless. It didn’t take long for him to smile in satisfaction, turning to the employee. “I’d like to purchase these, please.”

“Zhongli–”

Ajax is promptly shushed. “Take it as a gift,” Zhongli insists, stepping towards the counter with his wallet in hand. “For your time and your kind words today.”

“Okay, but I was just being honest! You really don’t need to! I only have one piercing anyway—”

“Then it is no issue; I will take the other for myself,” Zhongli hums, reaching for his credit card. However, his hand freezes, and he clears his throat. “Ah… a shame. It seems I have forgotten my credit card.”

In the end, Ajax walks out of the jeweler’s with a new earring and a suspiciously lighter wallet.

…

Okay, Ajax… This is fine… All you need to do is go to his room, apologize, and give him the earring… He wouldn’t be too mad, right? It’s already fixed!

Ajax was practically chewing his own nails as he stood in front of Zhongli’s dressing room, jewelry box in hand. He was here now, why was he hesitating?

“Childe? What are you doing here?”

“X-Xiansheng!” Ajax nearly leaped out of his own skin, his voice squeaking as he came face-to-face with Zhongli’s perfect face, though marred with worry. “Sorry, sorry! I thought you were inside…”

“Is there something the matter? You have been standing there for some time,” Zhongli notices, frowning in concern. “Were you looking for me?”

“I, er, yeah! I was,” Ajax stutters, rubbing the back of his neck. The jewelry box was still concealed behind his back, his knuckles turning white with how hard he clenched it in his hands. “I-I wanted to uh, give you something…?”

“A gift? For me?” Zhongli’s eyes widened with surprise. “Is this about last week? I thought I had informed you that I did not require anything in return. You, ah, ended up footing the bill nonetheless.”

Ajax furiously shook his head. “No, I know! This isn’t about that. L-Look, I know this is going to sound weird out of context, but I’m really sorry.” His cheeks are flushed bright red with embarrassment as he holds the black velvet box out towards the other actor, averting his eyes from his at all costs.

“Sorry?” Zhongli seems confused, but he takes the box nonetheless. “Whatever could you be sorry for—“

He opens the box.

“Oh…”

“L-Look, before you start jumping to conclusions, I accidentally broke it when I was trying to pick it up off the floor, so I went to a jeweler to get it repaired, then you walked in and bought me a really expensive earring when I had just broke yours, so I felt really guilty and—“

“Childe, you repaired my earring?” Zhongli interrupts him. His expression is unreadable.

Childe swallows, nodding slowly. He can feel sweat dripping down his back, and his mouth is as dry as a desert. “Yeah… I felt bad, knowing how important it was for you…” He chews on his bottom lip, awaiting a scolding when—

… Zhongli laughs?

When he looks up, Zhongli is doing exactly that, laughing softly behind a hand. Oh great, he’s laughing at him now! How pathetic must he look right—

“Oh, Childe, you didn’t break it at all.”

Ajax’s eyes shoot open, and the sight of a smiling Zhongli greets his eyes. He’s staring adoringly down at the contents of the box, and Ajax struggles to carve that radiant smile into his mind. When Zhongli looks up at him, he nearly faints from the sheer adoration in his golden eyes.

“I had actually broken it sometime back. I was attempting to fix it myself, and I suppose I accidentally dropped it when you came in. You have no idea what a service you have done for me.”

Ajax stares in stunned silence as Zhongli pockets the earring and takes one of his hands in both of his. His hands are warm and smooth compared to his calloused palms, and he watches as Zhongli redirects that pretty smile toward him. “Thank you, Childe.”

Relief comes flooding out of Ajax—if he were any weaker of a man, he probably would have cried. Instead, he laughs, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “I-It’s nothing, really! Why don’t you put it on?”

Zhongli’s smile only widens. “Why would I when we are already matching?” He turns his head, and oh, he really is wearing the earring they bought together.

Ajax is unable to focus for the rest of the day.

…

II:

After the infamous earring fiasco, Zhongli seemed keen on seeing Ajax after working hours.

It started as after-work evening walks along the harbor. Zhongli had waited patiently outside of Ajax’s dressing room, requesting his presence for a simple walk to wind down after work. The next thing he knew, their little walks became a part of their routine, and more often than not, Ajax found himself paying for each little trinket that caught Zhongli’s eyes. Despite insisting that his money should go elsewhere, Zhongli always accepted each gift with a smile.

(If you asked Ajax, it was but a small price to pay to see that smile.)

In retaliation, Zhongli started treating him to dinners. He toured all around, inviting Ajax to all of the local restaurants and telling him stories about the harbor and Rex Lapis. More often than not, Zhongli comes short of payment, and Ajax has to come up with the bill. That’s alright; two can play this game.

“Xiansheng~!” Ajax chirps, poking his head over his shoulder with the biggest grin on his face. “Do you have any plans this evening?”

Zhongli merely raises an eyebrow with a small, pleasant smile, unfazed by his enthusiasm. “Perhaps,” he muses, “is there something you need me for?”

“Actually, yeah. Do you wanna come over to my place?” When nothing but silence greets his question, Ajax starts sputtering. “N-Not for anything weird! I-It’s just that you’re always taking me around Liyue to try all of the food and I–”

“I’d love to.”

Ajax is about to continue rambling, but Zhongli’s words shock him into silence. “I haven’t even told you what we’re going to do yet,” he deadpans.

But Zhongli doesn’t seem to be swayed by his words, and Ajax swears there’s a twinkle in his honeyed eyes. “I don’t need to; I trust you have something wonderful planned for tonight. Now, shall we go?”

The exchange has Ajax floored, his mouth left gaping as Zhongli casually saunters away. Who just says that? Sure, they’ve gotten closer over the past few weeks, but for him to trust him so easily—

“Childe?” He looks up to see Zhongli looking back at him, waiting. “Are you coming?”

Ajax just smiles back. “Yeah, coming.”

…

“Welcome to my home away from home,” Ajax announces, opening the door with a flourish and gesturing politely for Zhongli to enter first. “Make yourself at home. Oh, you can put your coat on the rack and leave your shoes by the door.”

“Thank you for having me,” Zhongli hums, looking around in wonder. “This is a lovely apartment.”

“Thanks. It’s a little empty since I haven’t been here that long, but I’m working on decorating it. Follow me.”

He leads Zhongli into the living room. As he mentioned, the rooms are rather bare save for a few pieces of furniture, but the windows, which cover the walls from head to toe, reveal the nighttime cityscape of Liyue Harbor below. The lights flicker below like little fireflies, and it’s difficult not to be mesmerized. Zhongli hums appreciatively, making his way over to the window to peer down at the city below. “What a lovely view.”

“I know, right?” Ajax chuckles, scooting over to the kitchen to take out his prepped ingredients. “You should stop by whenever the sun sets—it’s really pretty. Anyways…” Ajax gestures to the vast array of ingredients on his counter. “Have you ever tried a home-cooked Snezhnayan meal?”

Zhongli’s interest is piqued immediately. “I didn’t know you cooked,” he admits, making his way over to the counter.

Ajax puffed out his chest with pride. “I learned how to cook from my Mama, and it helped a ton while I was in the military. You learn to make the most out of what you’ve got.” He ducks down to look for some pots and pans. “Do you want me to teach you?”

“I would enjoy that very much, yes,” Zhongli agrees, picking up the beets and inspecting them with fascination. “What are you planning on making?”

“Well, I’ve got a few things already made! As for what we’re cooking, the beets are for borscht, which is a traditional Snezhnayan soup. I was also planning on making some pelmeni, and that cabbage over there is for golubtsi! I’ve also got a special dish I wanted to make.” Ajax grins, holding a finger to his lips and winking. “As for what that dish is, it’s a surprise!”

“Is that so?” Zhongli starts rolling his sleeves up, and Ajax has to physically restrain himself from gaping at his hefty forearms. (Seriously, what was this man’s workout routine?) “I place my trust in your hands.”

It doesn’t take long for them to settle into a rhythm. As Ajax prepares the borscht, he sets Zhongli in charge of forming the pelmeni. He’s a little too good at it, forming each dumpling with perfect precision.

“It is quite similar to forming traditional Liyuen dumplings,” the actor explains. “For our next outing, I should show you how to make pan-fried potstickers. Perhaps the next time you visit your family, you can show them how to make them just like how you are doing with me.”

“Really?” The offer has Ajax soaring. “I’ll hold you to that offer, Xiansheng! Don’t you dare forget it!”

They fall into easy conversation about Ajax’s siblings as they wrap up the cooking. The kitchen is quickly filled with the familiar aroma of home, and before long, Ajax is setting the last of the dishes on the dining table. Pulling out a chair, he gives Zhongli a little flourish. “After you, Xiansheng.”

After Zhongli settles into his seat with a grateful smile, Ajax hustles to pop a bottle of wine open and to sit across from him, offering a quick prayer to Celestia for the food before gesturing to the vast array of dishes. “Help yourself! This over here is beef stroganoff, and those are sauteed mushrooms and potatoes.”

“This all looks amazing,” Zhongli comments as he gives himself a serving of a few dishes. “You are a man of many talents, Childe.”

“You flatter me, Xiansheng!” Childe laughs, digging into his serving of food. Ah, just like home. “Just make sure to save some space for dessert, I’ve got a honey cake waiting for us in the fridge! Oh, not to mention the special dish I’ve got planned! That should be ready soon.”

Zhongli picks up his wineglass with delicate hands, gently swirling the wine around and inspecting its coloration before giving a small sip. His expression melts into one of genuine appreciation, and oh, is he blushing? “You are too kind, Childe. You have truly spoiled me today.”

“Compared to taking me to practically every restaurant in Liyue, this is nothing,” Ajax insists. “Just consider it as thanks for all that!”

“That is nothing compared to hosting me tonight,” Zhongli answers. “And thus, I have brought a small gift for you today.” He pulls out a small, yet sleek, wooden box with a dragon engraved on the top. “I do hope that you will enjoy it.”

“You really shouldn’t have,” Ajax says, but he gratefully takes the box into his hands. He runs his hand over the engraving before opening it and—oh wow, it’s one of the most beautiful pairs of chopsticks he’s ever seen, with dragons and phoenixes intertwined on the golden ends. “Wow, Xiansheng! Where did you ever find the time to get this? It’s beautiful.”

Zhongli simply smiles at him. “I thought it was fitting for you. After all, you could use some extra practice with your chopstick skills.”

“Xiansheng, you wound me!” But he grins nonetheless, gently sealing the box once again. “I’ll be sure to use them for sure! Thank you!”

“Of course.” The older man looks proud of himself, having selected a gift that Ajax enjoys. “When I teach you how to cook Liyuen food, I insist you bring them over. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

“I’ll take you up on that offer! Anyways…” The ginger claps his hands together, leaning forward. “You never finished explaining the history of the Stove God earlier! Care to finish your story?”

Zhongli’s smile never falters. “I would be honored to. Now, where did I leave off? Ah, yes, I remember. Let me tell you about the Stove God’s sacrifice…”

They sink back into comfortable conversation (and by conversation, Ajax means listening to Zhongli’s sexy, deep voice, demonstrating his extensive knowledge of Liyue’s history) until Ajax’s oven timer beeps, demanding his attention. Snapping to attention, Ajax stands up. “Excuse me for a second! The last dish is done.”

Quickly making his way back to the kitchen, Ajax turns off the stove and uses some oven mitts to pick up a heavy pot. Heaving it back to the dining room, where Zhongli is waiting, Ajax sets it down among the rest of the dishes. “You ready to see my special dish?” Putting a hand on the lid, Ajax grins. “Introducing my specialty—”

He lifts the lid with a flourish.

“—My famous calla lily seafood soup!”

Looking inside, Ajax internally cheers. The dish came out exactly as he envisioned, with the octopus as the center of attention. It smells fragrant, and Ajax can’t help but feel relieved. Imagine him messing up his specialty dish!

He looks up at Zhongli for his approval, grinning like a madman. Zhongli’s eyes never leave the dish, and he seems frozen in place. Ajax has to restrain himself from bouncing in place; it looks so good, it even has Zhongli stunned!

“I-I… I must say I…” Zhongli finally turns to make eye contact with Ajax before hastily clearing his throat. “—am thoroughly impressed, Childe. I-It is truly a work of art.”

“Really? You think so?” Ajax can’t help but seek more of Zhongli’s approval. “I call it my 'Prize Catch’! My siblings go crazy over this dish! Hold on, let me fix you a serving!”

“Oh, please, I can get some myself,” Zhongli insists, about to stand and do it himself. However, Ajax stops him, tsking his tongue.

“Absolutely not, you sit back down,” Ajax refuses, already picking up two bowls. “I’m the host, so let me do the work.”

Zhongli sighs, knowing that he is fighting a losing battle. “Alright. Just… a small portion will do. I am rather full from the other dishes…”

Ajax nods, pouring in some soup and some of the vegetables. “Got it! Let me just make sure you get a nice chunk of octopus in there!” Slicing off part of a tentacle and dropping it into Zhongli’s bowl, he sets it down in front of him. “Enjoy! Let me know what you think!”

Zhongli’s smile is blinding—excessively blinding. “Thank you, Childe. I will be sure to, ah, savor it.”

They return to their original conversation, but it doesn’t take long for Ajax to realize that Zhongli hasn’t touched the octopus at all. “Xiansheng, you haven’t eaten any of the octopus,” he points out, cocking his head. “Is it undercooked? Or is it too tough? But my piece was fine…”

“N-Not at all,” Zhongli promises, shaking his head. His smile is a little sheepish as he picks up the octopus with a fork. “I was just, what do they call it? Oh, yes, saving the best for last.” Ajax watches with rapt attention as Zhongli brings the tentacle to his lips and takes a generous bite, slowly chewing before finally swallowing it. “I-It is truly delicious, Childe. The flavors and texture are… very unique.”

“Really?” Ajax grins. “If you’re too full to eat any more, then you should take some home with you!” Ajax stands, already set on getting some tupperware for Zhongli to take with him. “I’ll let you take home a little bit of everything.”

“Oh, I could never,” Zhongli tries to protest, trying to stop Ajax in his tracks. “You should keep the leftovers since you went through all of the effort to cook everything.”

“Oh, I don’t want to hear anything from you, Xiansheng!” Ajax comes out of the kitchen with some plastic containers, already pouring some of the dishes inside. “I made all of this for you. If I wanted more, I could just make more. Here, you can have the rest of the soup since you liked it so much! Here, I’ll pack the pot up for you!”

Zhongli is too polite, insisting that he doesn’t have to give him anything else, but he is quick to realize that once Ajax puts his mind to something, nothing will keep him from getting his way. He concedes with a smile and a stiff, “thank you,” as Ajax sets all of the containers into a bag and holds it in front of him, begging with puppy eyes. They bid goodnight to each other before Zhongli’s chauffeur picks him up and they drive off into the night.

…

Zhongli is truly a different person when he acts.

With Ajax, he is always gentle smiles and crescent eyes, soft chuckles and soothing stories. However, he isn’t regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time for nothing. He’s excellent at building a facade, and he gives each scene his all.

Ajax is sitting in a chair off-screen as the current scene plays out before his eyes. The senior actor is standing solemnly under the rain, clenching his hands at his sides. His expression is that of gut-wrenching heartache, having just realized that his lover has fled his country without so much as a word to him. He drops the glaze lily in his hand as he angles his head up to the gloomy sky and releases a shuddering breath, the set eerily quiet as he mourns his loss until—

“Cut!” Director Hu Tao shouts, clapping her hands together. “Good work today! Let’s call it quits for tonight! Zhongli, make sure you warm up! We can’t afford any setbacks if you get sick.”

Zhongli looks like a prince as he brushes his bangs from his face. His white button-up is sheer and sticks to his chest from being soaked by the rain, which Ajax is definitely not staring at. “Thank you, director. I will leave now, then.” He directs his cor lapis gaze to where Ajax is sitting, beaming at him like the sun peeking out from behind the clouds. “I will join you shortly, Childe.”

“Oh, uh, yeah!” Ajax stands up, waving goodbye to Zhongli before gathering his things. However, before heading back to his trailer, a voice promptly stops him.

“Nope, not you, Childe!” The bubbly voice of the director behind him causes Ajax to freeze in his tracks. However, instead of being faced with a scolding, Hu Tao has a sly smirk on her face. “I have some questions for you! I want to talk about something personal.”

“Oh… sure? Will this take long? I kind of have—”

“—Your usual date with Zhongli, yeah, yeah, I know!” Hu Tao chuckles to herself as she watches Ajax’s freckles disappear from how red his face turns. “Bahahaha! You should see your face right now! Don’t worry, I won’t keep you too long from your boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?!” Ajax hisses, incredulous. “W-We aren’t dating! It’s not like that at all, Zhongli and I are just friends, I swear!”

“Yeah, sure.” The director doesn’t sound convinced as she rolls her eyes, crossing her eyes. “As if anyone could get Zhongli to eat seafood. How did you do it?”

Now she’s just being confusing. “What are you talking about?” He asks, clearly puzzled. “Did he tell you about our dinner yesterday? He seemed to really like my seafood soup.”

“Wait, so it’s true?” Hu Tao’s eyes widen as she covers her gaping mouth. “You really did make that soup for him? Celestia, I can’t believe it! You actually got him to eat seafood?!”

“Yeah?” Ajax cocks his head to the side. “What is all this about Zhongli eating seafood anyway? Why are you making it sound as though this is some historical moment?”

Hu Tao’s jaw drops impossibly lower. “Because it is? You didn’t know?! Zhongli hates seafood! Refuses to even look at it unless it’s chopped into smithereens! I thought I was hallucinating when I saw him forcing himself to swallow a bite of an octopus tentacle during lunch today! When I asked him about it, he told me that you made it for him and that he could never let something Ajax made for him go to waste!”

Ajax’s stomach plummets. “Woah, back up there.” Once they have cooled down a bit, he starts again. “Zhongli hates seafood?”

“Yup.” Hu Tao’s answer is short and frank. “Especially anything with tentacles.”

“Why didn’t he say anything yesterday? Gods, I’m so stupid—” Ajax groans, running his hands through his hair as he debates ripping it all out. “I literally gave him the whole pot! If I knew, then I wouldn’t have even made it—”

“Made what, exactly?”

Much to Ajax’s horror, the man in question has returned, a towel resting over his shoulders atop a clean beige dress shirt and slacks. “My apologies for the wait, Childe. I have warmed up, so we may depart now.”

Ajax is utterly stunned into silence, frozen in place as Hu Tao promptly pats his shoulder in consolation. “Good luck, soldier,” she whispers before skipping away, leaving the two men alone together by the set.

When Ajax doesn’t say anything, Zhongli’s brow furrows in concern. “Childe? Are you alright? Did the director say something to you?”

“U-Uh, I guess you could say that,” Ajax stutters before taking a deep breath in and out. “I guess I’ll say this outright: I’m so sorry, Zhongli.”

“Sorry?” Zhongli seems genuinely confused by Ajax’s apology. “Whatever for?”

“Are we really going to pretend you don’t know why? I’m so sorry for giving you my seafood soup last night. I didn’t know you didn’t like seafood, and I practically forced you to eat it!” He rubs the back of his neck, guiltily averting his eyes. He didn’t want to imagine what Zhongli’s expression looked like right now! “I should have asked you first. If you still have some left, I’ll happily take it back.”

“Oh… I suppose that did happen,” Zhongli muses before chuckling. “I do not hold it against you, Childe. You did not know, and if anything, the blame falls on me for not notifying you. Look at me, please?”

Ajax reluctantly turns back to Zhongli, but his expression is soft and understanding. “You put in so much hard work to prepare such an extravagant feast for me, and I did not wish to let your efforts go to waste. You were more than generous by hosting me and spending the past couple of days working hard to ensure I had a good dining experience. And for that, eating a little bit of seafood was but a small price to pay for the wonderful time I spent with you.”

With each compliment, Ajax has to look away, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Are you sure?” Ajax grimaces. “I still feel terrible about it.”

“You have no reason to,” Zhongli promises, placing a hand over his heart. “If you truly wish to make up for it, then perhaps indulge me by joining me tonight for dinner.” He gestures to the parking lot, where their cars await them. “I could teach you how to make traditional Liyuen dishes, just as I promised yesterday.”

Ajax feels a little apprehensive about agreeing, and it appears Zhongli senses this. Before Ajax can say anything else, Zhongli takes the initiative, gently taking Ajax’s hand into his own and leading him to the parking lot himself. “Come, now. We should go shopping for ingredients first.”

This makes Ajax break out of his reverie, laughing softly to himself before giving Zhongli’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Alright, alright. I’ll go with you.”

Even after they’ve eaten their fill and say good-bye, Zhongli’s warm touch never leaves his skin.

…

III:

Ajax considers himself a light sleeper. Back when he was in the Fatui, he had to remain alert for any possible situation. Although it has been a few years since he left, some of his habits never truly died.

So when his phone rings at 4 AM in the morning, Ajax jumps to attention, groaning as he fumbles to turn on a lamp and grab his phone from the nightstand next to his bed. Not recognizing the number, he picks it up, turning on the speaker. “Hello…?”

“Hello? Is this Ajax… Rybakov? My name is Keqing, I’m with the Liyue Qixing. I have a few questions for you, if you do not mind.”

“The Qixing?” Ajax’s brow furrows in confusion. If he wasn’t awake before, he is now. “Is everything alright?”

“It’s a little complicated. Do you have any younger siblings, sir? We believe we have custody of one of them. Apparently, a cargo worker was unloading a shipment from Snezhnaya and found a child as a stowaway. He claims to be your younger brother.”

“What?!” Ajax sits up, his heart dropping to his stomach. “What do you mean by that? All of my siblings are supposed to be in Snezhnaya, not here! Who is it? Teucer? Anthon?”

“His name is Teucer Rybakov. Red hair, freckles, around 7 to 10 years old? Does that sound right?”

“Y-Yes, that’s my brother alright.” Ajax stands up and fumbles around in the dark to get dressed. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon. Is there anything else I need to be aware of?”

“No. We can figure out the specifics of his return when you get here,” Keqing settles on. “I’ll see you soon.”

The streets are completely empty when Ajax speeds to the police station, his car practically screeching to a stop. He doesn’t even care if his car is parked straight as he bursts inside, his chest heaving from the effort. “Where’s Teucer? Is he alright?”

“Big brother! You’re really here!” A shrill voice sounds from across the police station, and a small body barrels against his own, a blur of ginger hair clinging to his leg. “I missed you so much!”

“Teucer! Thank the gods!” He drops to his knees and takes Teucer’s face into his hands, inspecting his face for any injuries. “Are you alright? Are you feeling well? You’re not hurt or anything, right?”

Teucer beams right back at him. “I’m fine! I missed you lots, so I saw a boat filled with toys heading to Liyue and hopped on! I had lots of fun with all of the toys, and now I get to see you! This is the best day ever!”

“Teucer, you can’t just do that!” As much as he hates yelling at his younger siblings, the words come rushing out. “So many different things could have happened, and you could have gotten hurt. When they told me you were here, I was worried sick, not to mention how beside themselves Mama and Papa must be!” When he sees Teucer flinch, Ajax sighs, lowering his voice. “Promise me that you won’t go out on your own again, alright?”

“Okay…” Teucer mumbles, clutching his Mr. Cyclops toy closer to his chest. “I just wanted to see you again because you didn’t come home when you said you would last time...”

Ajax sighs, guilty. “I know… but you know I’m busy, Teucer,” he reasons with him. “If you wanted to visit me, you should have brought it up with Mama or Papa. We could have arranged something.”

“Alright, I get it.” Teucer lowers his head in shame. “I won’t do it again…”

“Good. I’m not mad at you, I just care about your safety. That’s all.” He ruffles his hair gently before standing up straight. “Let me talk with Miss Keqing, and then we can call Mama and tell her you’re alright.”

Negotiations take longer than expected, but after paying a hefty fine and agreeing to send Teucer off as soon as he can, he finally calls his mother to tell her about Teucer’s condition. She spares no mercy for him, hissing Snezhnayan curses under her breath. Even Ajax is afraid, hearing her fiery rage over the phone, but he promises to talk later before hanging up and bundling Teucer into his car to call off work. He can only imagine the headache this is going to cause as he dials Ekaterina up, tapping his leg nervously against the floor of his car as his phone vibrates in his hand.

“Good morning, Childe,” Ekaterina’s voice answers him. “It is unusual to call me so early in the morning. Is there something you need?”

Childe grimaces. “Hey, Katya. I think I’m going to have to call off work today. Could you let Hu Tao and Zhongli know? I’m really sorry, but it’s an emergency.”

“Emergency? Can you please elaborate?” He can hear her scribbling something down in the background. “Forgive me, but we are only allowed to shoot at the estate for a specific amount of time, so we’d really like for you to come in if you can.”

“I know, I know,” he mumbles, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “But I promise that it’s a real emergency. My kid brother kind of… stowed away on a cargo ship from Snezhnaya. By himself. Illegally. I kind of have to take care of him for a few hours until I can get him on a flight home.”

Ekaterina falls silent on the other end of the line for a few moments. “... Excuse me?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but I swear it’s true! Could you pass the word on to the director for me? Pretty pretty please?”

“... I’ll let her know,” Ekaterina relents. “Unfortunately, the only scenes we have left to film at this location are scenes involving you. It looks like we just need to call off the shoot for today, but you might have to stay in a bit longer in the following days to make up for it. Is that alright?”

“Yes, that’s perfect. Thanks for the help, Katya!” Hanging up, Ajax starts the car and turns out onto the street. “Alright, Teucer. We’ll head back to my place for a bit, and then I’ll have to find someone who can get you home safely.”

“But I just got here!” Teucer whines from the back seat, pouting. “And we didn’t get to play at all! Are you really just going to send me home?”

Ajax sighs. “As much as I wish I could, I told Miss Keqing that I’d have to send you home as soon as possible. You can set something up with Mama and Papa to visit me next time.”

“But they always say no!” Teucer groans, throwing his little arms to the sky. He slumps over in the seat, his lips pressed together as he struggles to keep the tears welling in his eyes in. “They always say that I’ll see you again when you come home, but you keep canceling…”

Guilt gnaws at Ajax’s heart as he pulls into the parking lot of his apartment complex. “I know, Teucer. And I’m sorry about that, I really am. But your big brother has a lot of things to do in Liyue, and I won’t be done here until the holidays.” He turns to look into the backseat. “How about this: I’ll try to buy us a little bit of time, and we can hang out until after lunch. You’ll need to go home, but that gives us the whole morning together. Do we have a deal?”

Teucer perks up a little. “... Can we make crepes together? Just like when we’re at home?”

Ajax’s smile softens. “If that’s what you want.”

“Deal!” The boy is basically bursting at the seams with excitement, racing inside the apartment complex. When Ajax opens his door, Teucer is bouncing off the walls, climbing almost every piece of furniture he owns. “This is so cool!” He cheers, running to the windows of the living room and looking down with fascination. “You can see everything from here! Everybody down there looks like an ant!”

“I know, right?” Ajax smiles fondly as he takes off his shoes at the entrance and joins his brother in the living room. “Be careful not to squash anyone.”

“I’ll be extra careful!” Teucer follows Ajax into the kitchen like a little duckling following its mother. “Can we make crepes now?”

“Alright.” Ajax claps his hands together, gesturing to the cabinets. “Get the pans for me?”

“Aye-aye, captain!”

They fall into an easy rhythm, pouring and measuring all of the ingredients together. They’ve only just finished the batter when there is a knock at Ajax’s door, and Teucer jumps off from his seat at the counter. “Coming!” He yells, barrelling down the halls.

“Teucer, wait!” Ajax sets the bowl of batter down, rushing to follow Teucer. Who is that at his door? Nobody buzzed in!

He tries to race ahead of his brother, but he’s too late. Teucer swings the door wide open, grinning at the figure standing at the door. Teucer’s eyes light up, and he starts to jump up and down in his excitement. “Hello!” He greets the person. “I’m Teucer!”

“Oh, hello there.” Ajax’s stomach drops when he recognizes that deep (sexy) voice. “Is Childe—oh, Childe, there you are.”

“X-Xiansheng?” Ajax gapes at the sight of Zhongli at his door, a large paper shopping bag in his hand. “What are you doing here? I didn’t hear you buzz in.”

Zhongli purses his lips. “Ah, about that. I attempted to, but the receptionist was ever so kind and told me to just go in. She must have recognized me from my many visits.” A smile graces his lips as he thinks back on the experience. “I heard that you called out of work today, so I assumed you were unwell. I am glad that does not seem to be the case. I also happened to have some gifts for your siblings, since you talk about them often, so I thought I should visit to give you these and check on you.”

Ajax grimaces. “I guess Ekaterina left the details out. It’s a long story, sorry.” He rubs the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly. “But I’m really thankful for the gifts and for you coming to check in on me.” He takes some of the bags into his hands. “You didn’t need to go out of your way to do this for me.”

Teucer, who has been squinting at Zhongli this entire time, suddenly stands up straight. “Wait, Ajax! Isn’t this the guy that’s all over your posters at ho—mmph!”

“P-Posters? What posters?!” Ajax squeaks, throwing a hand over Teucer’s mouth. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!” He glares at him from above, silently warning him not to say anything else before diverting his attention back to Zhongli. “Sorry, I haven’t introduced you properly. Xiansheng, this is my little brother, Teucer. I had to call off work to take care of him today. Teucer, this is Big Brother’s work friend, Mister Zhongli.” He gives his brother a pointed glare, hoping that he will get the message.

Zhongli seems amused by the display, chuckling softly into his hand. “Ah, so this is the infamous Teucer I have heard so much about. It is truly an honor to meet you.” He kneels down to Teucer’s height and holds his hand out for a handshake.

Teucer dramatically shoves Ajax’s hand off his mouth and eagerly shakes Zhongli’s hand with his whole arm. “Oh, so you’re the person that big brother Ajax keeps talking about! Tonia is always excited to hear about you when Brother calls! It’s nice to meet you, Mister Zhongli!” He chirps with a big, toothy grin. “Big brother talks a lot about you, too! I just didn’t know that—” Another glare. “... Nothing!”

“Is that so?” Zhongli gently retracts his hand, digging into his bag. “It is fortunate I get to meet you today. Your brother has told me much about you and your siblings, so I decided to buy some gifts for you.” He pulls out a long dragon plush, reminiscent of Rex Lapis’ dragon form. “This is for you, Teucer.”

Teucer lets out a huge gasp, clearly ecstatic as he bundles the dragon into his arms and nearly squeezes the life out of it. “I love it! Thank you Mister Zhongli, you’re the best! Now I understand why Ajax has a giant cardboard cutout of you—”

“T-That is not true!” Ajax hisses, but his cheeks are embarrassingly hot. “Quit making stuff up, Teucer! Go back to the kitchen!”

Teucer pouts. “But it is true! It has a red lipstick mark and everything—”

Ajax is determined not to let him embarrass him any further. “I-Is that all, Xiansheng? I’m sorry, but I’ve kind of got my hands full at the moment…”

Zhongli, with all of the patience of a saint, nods. He seems to be endeared by the sight of the two brothers bickering back and forth, a soft smile curling at his lips. “Yes, I just wanted to drop this off. There is a makeup kit for Tonia, some storybooks for Anthon, and some snacks for the rest of the family.” He smiles sheepishly. “There was some medicine as well, but it looks as though you do not need it.”

“No, no! I’m sure it’ll be useful in the future!” Ajax takes the bag gratefully, peering inside curiously. “You really didn’t need to do any of this, but I really appreciate you going out of your way to prepare this for my family. Thank you.”

“It was my pleasure. I should leave you to your… activities.” He pauses before leaning in and murmuring, “It was good to see you, Ajax.”

Satisfied, Zhongli adjusts his gloves as if he didn’t just singlehandedly fry Ajax’s brain and finally takes his leave. Ajax is still standing at the door, frozen utterly in place as his brain fails to comprehend what just happened, even as Teucer returns and tugs at his hand. “... Big brother? You’ve been standing still for five minutes now.”

“... I’m sending you home now.”

“What?! You can’t do that! It’s not even lunchtime yet!”

…

IV:

“Lumine, I don’t know what I’m going to do!” Ajax bemoans, curling up on his trailer couch. “I can’t even look him in the eyes anymore!”

“Childe, you’re overthinking again,” the singer warns, popping a lollipop out of her mouth. “He’s obviously into you. Just ask him out.”

“I-It’s not like that!” Ajax is close to ripping his own hair out, standing up only to pace back and forth. “It’s just that every time I see him, I always end up making a mess out of myself. And what does he do? He gives me the most blinding, perfect smile I’ve ever seen and tells me it’s all okay, and compliments me? Who does that?”

Lumine rolls her eyes, clearly done with dealing with his shit. “Someone who’s into you,” she deadpans, pointing her lollipop in his direction. “There’s no straight explanation for his actions. I know you sometimes have your moments, but I know you’re not that stupid.”

“Yeah, but he hasn’t given me an indication that he is into me,” he defends himself, his lips pressed together into a pout.

“Are you kidding me?” Lumine deadpans. “Have you ever seen Zhongli get so intimate with another actor or actress off-camera?” She gestures wildly with her arms in the direction of Zhongli’s trailer right next to them. “He’s one of the most elusive figures in Teyvat, and he’s showing interest in you.”

Ajax’s face reddens at the thought. “I-I don’t know! He’s close with Hu Tao.” He buries his face in his hands, his stomach twisting and turning into knots from the conflicting emotions gnawing at his chest. “I just never know what he’s thinking.”

“Hu Tao was the one who got him into the acting world, of course they’re going to be friends,” Lumine reminds him. “But if you don’t know how he feels, then how do you feel towards him?”

Ajax, for the first time that morning, stands still. He’s… never really thought about how he felt about Zhongli. “H-He treats me well, and I like spending time with him.”

“Wrong answer!” Lumine throws a pillow from the couch at his face, narrowly missing him. “What I meant was whether you want to hold hands and ride off into the sunset with him.”

“You could phrase it differently, you know,” Ajax grumbles. Lumine only gives him a pointed stare, and he finally relents. He sinks back onto the couch by his friend, splaying his arms out along the top as he stares at the ceiling of his trailer. “With him, I feel all warm and fuzzy, like I’m back home snuggling up to a fireplace with hot cocoa. He’s constantly telling me compliments, buying stuff for me and my family, and not to mention he’s always popping up from out of nowhere just to see how I’m doing…”

Ajax falls silent, trying to make sense of the aching feeling in his chest. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t like the attention Zhongli gave him. He loved how easy their relationship was and how easy it was to just be himself.

Lumine takes his silence as her answer. She pulls her legs to her chest, leaning her head atop her knees. “... So are you going to ask him out?”

Silence meets her question as Ajax considers his options. Normally, he’d jump at any opportunity given to him, but when it comes to Zhongli, he finds himself hesitating.

Sensing this, Lumine stands up, dusting off her skirt. “I’ll be out waiting by set.

…

“This is it, everyone! We’re finally at the last scene!” The director pumps her fist, grinning as the camera crew finishes setting up. “Let’s give it our all, everyone! How are you doing, Childe? Zhongli?”

“We’re set from my end,” Ajax says, standing up from his makeshift makeup chair. They’ve hiked to a scenic spot along a trail in Huaguang Stone Forest, the dry autumn leaves crunching beneath his feet. They’re so high up, the air is crisp and the clouds hover beneath their feet.

“I am ready too.” Zhongli stands up, and his outfit has Ajax’s stomach twisting itself into knots. He looks regal, the sleeves of his robes billowing in the wind and his long umber locks pulled together into a high ponytail. Somehow, it makes his jawline and eyes look sharper. Suddenly aware of his staring, Ajax forces himself to divert his attention back to Hu Tao, trying to keep his mind off his sweaty palms and shaky legs. Gods, why is he so nervous?

He fumbles through his lines, but he can tell his heavy mind has taken its toll on him. By the time they are at the final shot, the shot where Rex Lapis confesses his love to Tartaglia, he’s already done the previous scenes ten times over. Even Hu Tao looks a little worried as she converses with her fellow directors as they set up.

He doesn’t dare look at Zhongli.

He forces himself to push on anyway.

The final scene starts, and the cameras follow Zhongli as he approaches Ajax, who stands at the edge of the cliff. “Tartaglia, here you are. I have been looking for you,” he whispers.

Tartaglia turns to meet his amber gaze, offering a stiff smile. For the first time ever, he feels too small compared to the vast stage. Breathe, Ajax. You can do this. “... Rex Lapis,” he breathes back. His winter fur coat flutters along with the breeze. “I didn’t think you would come find me.”

“Of course I did. Why wouldn’t I?” Rex Lapis reaches out towards him, but hesitates, wondering if this is truly what he wanted. “You left the festivities so quickly, I had barely gotten the chance to even look at you.”

“Well, since the war against Celestia is over, I figured it was time to say goodbye.” He turns back around to look down at the stony peaks at his feet. “I’m heading back to Snezhnaya soon. Tomorrow, actually.”

“You’re leaving?” Rex Lapis’ voice cracks from emotion, and he sounds so vulnerable. “You were planning on leaving without telling me? Why?”

“I didn’t think you would care,” Tartaglia admits. “Our act is over now, so it’s time for me to bow and exit the stage.”

“Tartaglia, look at me, I beg of you.” Rex Lapis gingerly cups his cheek and turns his face over so he can face him. “... I care more than you believe.”

Ajax’s eyes widen as Zhongli wraps his arm around him, his hand flush against his hip as he pulls him closer to his chest. Stubbornly, he turns away again. “I don’t believe you.”

“Then what must I do to convince you?” He guides his face back to look at him again, and oh gods, his face is right. there. His eyes are so fond, and for a moment, Ajax’s heart flips, wondering what it would be like to wake to that expression every single morning—

“CUT!” Hu Tao’s voice echoes across the entire area as she calls for the cameras to stop. Shit! He forgot his line! “Childe, this is not the time to be spacing out!” Turning to everyone else, she claps her hands. “From the top!”

But unfortunately, this isn’t the only occasion of him messing up his line. Just before they are supposed to kiss, he stumbles on his words, rushes, and even stumbles on his step, crashing into Zhongli.

“—CUT!”

Hu Tao shouts for what feels like the millionth time, her voice grating Ajax’s ears. He sighs, hanging his head a little and letting out a huff of frustration. His cheeks are burning red—he’s convinced that if someone cracked an egg on him that it would cook instantly. He tries to stand up, awkwardly trying to shuffle away from Zhongli, but Zhongli’s hands hold him firm. “Uh, Zhongli? Can you—”

He is silenced when Zhongli rubs his thumb along his cheekbone, those honey eyes regarding him with concern. His touch is warm, even through the gloves. “... Are you alright, Ajax? You have been acting oddly all day. Do you need a break?”

There he goes again, being so perfect and caring. “I’m fine!” he squeaks, shaking his head. What else is he supposed to say? Sorry Zhongli, I keep messing up because you’re super handsome and I think I’m in love with you?! He’d rather die than admit it!

“It must be important if you are so distracted,” Zhongli insists, continuing to stroke his cheek. “Would you like to take a break?”

Something about how worried he looks tugs at his heartstrings, and Ajax finds himself nodding before he realizes it. The next second he knows, Zhongli is calling for a break and forcing him to sit down on the ground while he fetches some water. When he returns, he sits next to Ajax, smoothing out his clothes.

“... Thanks.” Ajax takes the water gratefully and starts drinking, but his eyes are trained on the ground. “I’m sorry I worried you. I think I’m just nervous today, hahaha, right? It’s our last scene and a lot is riding on it, not to mention this is my first time acting out a—”

“I understand.” Zhongli’s voice is soft and soothing, like a soft melody carried along by the wind. “We all have days where we struggle. It is our nature as humans. But sometimes, rather than stubbornly pushing onward, all we need is to rest and look at what is truly important.” When Ajax blinks at him with wide eyes, Zhongli smiles at him. “Tell me, have you ever visited Huaguang Stone Forest before today?”

“No, I haven’t. Why?”

Zhongli gestures at the scene before them. “Look around you. Not many people get the chance to see such a lovely sight. We were given special privileges to film here, as normally this area is closed to the public.” He closes his eyes and takes in the fresh mountain air, gesturing for Ajax to join him. “Let’s take a few minutes to just take it in, shall we?” The men release the breaths they had been holding, and after a few minutes, Ajax admits that his hands are less clammy. “Better?”

“Better,” Ajax echoes, but he doesn’t make an effort to move. “How do you always know the right thing to say?” I feel like all I do lately is mess up, and yet you take everything in stride.

Zhongli takes a second to contemplate his answer. “I do not,” he admits, “but I have been in your place many times before, and I simply say what I wish to hear in the moment.” He leans forward. “You are talented, Ajax. Believe me when I say that if there is anyone who can make this film a hit, it is you. I certainly believe it.”

His eyes are focused solely on him, and Ajax almost forgets to breathe. The sunlight casts a golden glow over his skin, and Ajax doesn’t think the man could ever look more ethereal than he does now. “... You’re too kind to me, Xiansheng.”

“I can only insist that my words are true,” Zhongli responds, “Let us finish this final scene together, shall we? We will have a wonderful celebratory dinner afterwards with all of your favorite seafood.”

“Really?” The offer already has Ajax perking up. When Zhongli nods, Ajax laughs, standing up as he dusts himself off. “I’ll hold you to that, Xiansheng!” Offering a hand to Zhongli, he grins as the autumn leaves disperse all around them. “Ready?”

Zhongli smiles gently as he clasps Ajax’s hand in his and hauls himself to his feet. Pretty. “Ready,” he echoes, and they reluctantly part to redo the scene.

This time, when Zhongli pulls Ajax into his arms for the scene, he allows Zhongli’s scent to wrap around him like a warm blanket.

“What must I do to convince you?” Rex Lapis asks him, and Ajax knows what he needs to do now

“... Kiss me?”

Zhongli is quiet for a second, but he melts into a smile. With the sun kissing the horizon in the distant background, dying everything golden and red, Ajax thinks he looks radiant. And for a moment, he can’t help but want to pretend that his enamored gaze is not meant for Tartaglia, but for Ajax. He can feel his breath fluttering against his cheeks as he draws him closer, bumping their foreheads together.

“Anything for you, my dear.”

Kissing Zhongli is different.

Zhongli holds him like he is the most precious treasure, and his lips move against his softly. He tastes just like how he imagined he would, like bitter tea with a honeyed aftertaste. There’s something tender in the way Zhongli pulls him flush against his chest and the way he pushes his bangs gently away from his eyes, and Ajax just can’t help but forget all of his worries.

The rest of the scene goes by in a blur as their characters reconcile for the final time, but when the director calls for the final cut, the cast and the crew break out into cheers and applause. But to Ajax, there’s nothing else more important than the person who reaches out to take his hand and squeezes it.

As they all start making the hike back down the mountain, Ajax debates reaching out to take Zhongli’s hand again, looking for any excuse to get as close to him as possible. He wants nothing more than to feel his palm against his own and to intertwine their fingers together. How would he react? Ajax reaches out—

He wants to say so much.

—But eventually, his hand falls back to his side, empty.

…

V:

The release of Genshin Impact: The Final Contract causes a great stir among the film community, immediately trending on the world’s biggest streaming services. Ajax’s social media is flooded with more traffic than usual, new and old fans coming together and praising his performance in the film.

He learns the hard way not to go outside. If he even steps outside of his apartment, people swarm him in floods, buzzing with excitement. As much as he appreciates their enthusiasm for the film and his performance, he can’t help but miss his past freedom.

He and Zhongli hadn’t seen each other at all since the show aired, although they kept frequent contact. Zhongli calls him almost every single evening to see how he is doing, promising to visit again whenever the commotion died down. Ajax only has a few weeks left in Liyue before his inevitable return home, and he can’t help but mourn the little time they had left.

He also keeps in touch with Lumine, often video calling her to rant about his disastrous love life. She lets him ramble uninterrupted, listening with rapt attention with a few comments here and there. Despite her mumbling and grumbling, Ajax knows she’s just worried about him.

He’s calling her one of these nights, snuggling up against his sheets and pillows as Lumine works on writing a song in the background. He’s been thinking really hard ever since their kiss, but he has never voiced these thoughts to anyone.

That is, until today.

“Lumine?” When she grunts in reply, Ajax shifts a bit.

“... Should I ask him out?”

Lumine’s typing stops as she turns to look at her phone. “Are you being serious right now?” She asks, almost skeptical of his motives.

Ajax nods a little. “... Yeah,” he admits. “I thought about it a lot. I mean, I head back to Snezhnaya in a week, so if everything goes south, I could literally flee the country.”

“You’re incorrigible. I’ve been telling you for months that Zhongli is head-over-heels for you! I know he’s an actor, but there’s no way he’d stoop so low to lead you on like that. Do you see the way he looks at you? I swear, there are hearts in his eyes!” She exclaims, throwing her hands to the sky in exasperation. “You literally call every single day.”

Ajax’s cheeks are hot, so he pulls the pillow to cover his face. “I know, I know… I’m just worried that I’m reading this wrong. I’m scared of messing this up.” His voice grows smaller and smaller with each word.

Lumine takes a moment to think before responding, her voice notably softer. “Think about it this way: if you don’t ask him now, when will you? You said it yourself, you’re going home in a few weeks. If you do that, then you’ll never be able to tell him.”

She looks directly into the camera, crossing her arms. “Now listen up: you’re going to do some research on some flowers. Doesn’t matter what they are, as long as they remind you of him, then they’re perfect. Then, you’re going to march your ass to his place and ask him on a date. Do I make myself clear?”

When Ajax doesn’t reply, her voice goes stern. “I said, do I make myself clear?”

“But what if—”

“Don’t think about what’s going to happen!” Lumine barks, refusing to let him say another word. “Just do it. The moment you start questioning things, everything is going to fall south. I’ll hang up, so you better do your homework. ‘Night.”

Lumine abruptly hangs up on him, and he groans, turning off his phone and shifting himself so he’s lying on his back. He spreads his arms and stares at the ceiling, considering Lumine’s words.

She’s right. Once he returns to Snezhnaya, who knows what will happen between them? Zhongli is a busy man, and once he moves back, he’ll probably forget him entirely. His heart aches at the thought. In that case, there wouldn’t be a chance for them at all. If he asked now… maybe he’d have a chance.

Ajax sits up, determination coursing through his veins.

It’s time to do some research.

…

Eventually, Ajax decides on what flowers to buy. Given Zhongli’s deep love for Liyue and its history, what would be a better idea than to give him a giant bouquet with all of Liyue’s native flowers? Alongside that, he even purchased some firewater for him to try—true quality firewater.

When the bouquet arrives at his door, Ajax is faced with the fact that all that is really left to do is to just… ask him out. On paper, it sounds simple, but nothing about Zhongli is simple. Ajax wants him to see just how much he values his time and company, and simply going up and telling him he likes him just doesn’t feel like enough.

He tries to make a speech, but as he stares at himself in the mirror, reciting the words, the more robotic and less sincere it sounds. He ends up crumpling the paper he wrote, tossing it into the bin.

He runs through what feels like millions of ideas: writing a song for him, writing a letter, dedicating a playlist—almost everything he comes up with just doesn’t feel right.

(He also considers confessing to him on a hot air balloon. He was going to go through with it, but chickened out at the idea of being stuck on a hot air balloon if Zhongli rejected him.)

He’s scrolling through some more forums for ideas at midnight when he hears his phone ding in the background. Curious, he picks it up.

He wishes he didnt.

There, staring back at him, is a news article headline. He clicks it with haste, wondering if his eyes are deceiving him.

There, at the top of the article, is a picture that is undeniably Zhongli. He’s walking alongside a beautiful woman with silvery hair and stormy blue eyes in a white skirt, a soft smile on his face. She’s kissing his cheek. The headline reads: Genshin Impact Star Zhongli Seen with Mystery Woman: Who Is She?

Ajax keeps scrolling through the article, wondering if there is any more information. There are more photos of him and the woman together at restaurants, and in one, Zhongli is seen leaving what is presumably the woman’s house at what appears to be the middle of the night. It’s clear that whatever he has going on with this woman has been happening for a very long time, and Ajax was clueless about everything.

He hates seeing it all, but he can’t help but keep reading. With each photo and word he sees, he feels his heart ache. She’s breathtakingly gorgeous, and Ajax knows that he’s already lost.

Out of nowhere, his phone starts buzzing in his hand. Startled, Ajax yelps, nearly dropping it on the floor. When he looks to see who is calling him at this hour, he realizes it’s Zhongli, probably calling just like usual.

Ajax doesn’t move to pick up his call. Instead, he pushes his phone away, unable to bear the idea of talking to him after getting his heart utterly shattered. He doesn’t relax even when the ringing stops, because seconds later, he gets a voicemail from him. He considers not opening it, but eventually, his curiosity wins over.

Zhongli’s voice is as smooth as ever. “Good evening, Ajax. You did not answer me, so I assume you are already sleeping. That is good. I know you seldom sleep before midnight, so I hope you continue to hold yourself to that standard. Please send me a message in the morning when you wake. Otherwise, I will talk to you tomorrow. Good night.”

Ajax wants to call him back, but he can’t bring himself to do it. So instead, he shuts his phone off, curls up in bed, and throws his covers over his head.

…

“Good evening, Ajax. You did not call me back this morning. That is alright, you must be busy, and I understand that completely. Please do remember to eat more than one meal a day, alright? And no, coffee does not count. I’d like to arrange one last dinner before you part to Snezhnaya again later this week, since the press has died down a bit. Please let me know your earliest available timeslot. Have a good night.”

…

“Ajax, are you alright? You have not been answering my calls and messages as of late. Apologies if I am overstepping, but this seems quite out of character for you. If you are feeling unwell, do let me know, and I will be sure to come as swiftly as I can. Please call me back.”

…

“Ajax? Have you been ignoring my calls on purpose? If I have done anything to offend you, I apologize. Please call or message me back. I would never try to hurt you on purpose.”

…

“Ajax… It has been some time. I thought that by giving you space that you would reach out on your own, but you haven’t said anything to me all week. I am so sorry for whatever I have done to hurt you. Just please, Ajax, talk to me. I miss you.”

…

Ignoring Zhongli isn’t something Ajax is proud of.

For one, he just sounds so… heartbroken. Ajax knows that he’s being a shitty friend by leaving without an explanation, but it isn’t fair for Zhongli’s girlfriend if he keeps taking up his time while he has these… feelings.

But Zhongli is persistent. Ajax doesn’t have the heart to block him completely, but each phone call and text seems to hit harder than the last. At some point, he even resorted to sending various gifts to his front door, ranging from flowers to chocolates, to gift baskets and wine. He can’t help but feel guilty as he returns them all to the sender, collapsing on his bed with his hand covering his eyes. It almost bothers him, just how caring and… perfect the man is.

His wallowing is interrupted by his phone, which buzzes insistently inside his pocket. He holds his breath, wondering who it is until he recognizes the caller as Ekaterina. His shoulders slump with relief as he brings his phone to his ear. “Hello?”

“Good afternoon, sir.” Ekaterina sounds as professional as ever. “Pardon me for disturbing you. I am aware that you are busy preparing for your flight home in two days, but someone has come into the office asking to set up a business meeting with you.”

Ajax frowns. “Who is it?”

“It’s, ah, Mister Zhongli, sir. He says that it’s urgent.”

Ajax has to force himself not to hang up, that familiar sensation of dread and endless guilt clawing at his chest. He runs his hand through his hair, grimacing. “I’m not meeting him.”

Ekaterina is silent for a second. “... Sir? Are you sure?”

“Tell him I’m too busy before I leave for Snezhnaya to meet. My schedule is swamped and I can’t switch anything around, so that’s my final answer.” Please hang up, please hang up…!

Ajax can hear Ekaterina conversing softly with someone, most likely Zhongli. First, it was the insistent calls, then the random gifts just showing up at his door. Just how desperate was he, going up to his assistant to meet him under the guise of a business meeting?

Ekaterina returns shortly, and for the first time in his life, he hears her voice waver. “... He says he is willing to fly to Snezhnaya to meet after your return, if that is what it is going to take,” Ekaterina explains further. Ajax can hear Zhongli speak in the background, and Ekaterina sighs. “He wishes to arrange to meet at your earliest timeslot.”

“Look, I don’t want to meet with him, alright? Just tell him no. My answer isn’t going to change, so tell him to give up.” The words leave him in a rush, and Ajax winces at how harsh his words sound. But he’s gone too deep to turn back, and he pushes himself to continue. “Please refrain from calling me for the rest of the day, please. Goodbye.”

He hangs up without waiting for Ekaterina’s reply, but not without a pang of regret stabbing through his heart. If things weren’t over between them before, things were surely over now. He laughs bitterly to himself, his eyes stinging with unshed tears. “... Fuck,” he breathes, rubbing at his eyes with his sleeve. But all it seems to do is open the floodgates, and the next thing he knows, he’s sobbing, the hot tears streaming down his face as he chokes on his breath.

Trying to gather his bearings, Ajax makes his way over the kitchen cupboard. He pulls out the unopened bottle of firewater he was planning to share with Zhongli weeks prior, the smooth glass cold against his skin.

Funny how he was hoping to make new memories with this drink.

Now, all he wants to do is forget.

…

+ I:

For Zhongli, the past few weeks have been the worst in his life.

He is aware of how desperate he looks, doing absolutely everything he can to grasp Childe’s attention, even if for a second. He wakes with dark circles beneath his eyes, his nights restless as he considers what he could have possibly done to warrant such a reaction. But each time, he comes up with nothing.

If Ajax no longer wants to pursue his companionship… then he would respect his wishes. He only wishes to know why.

His emotions swirl into a complex string of emotions. He’s frustrated, worried, and confused, and all he wishes is for things to go back to the way they were. He stares at his phone, wanting to call him once more with the hopes that he will actually pick up this time, but after recalling his words at Ekaterina’s office…

“Tell him to give up.”

He sets his phone aside.

Zhongli lies in bed, staring at the ceiling. He doesn’t want to give up on Ajax, but he cannot reconcile with him if he doesn’t want to. He can’t forget how bitter his voice was when he hung up on Ekaterina, and his words have been haunting him ever since. He’s never heard him so upset. In fact, he doesn’t think he has ever seen him with any other expression other than that confident, freckled smile.

Zhongli is shaken out of his thoughts when he hears his buzzer go off by the front door. He considers not entertaining his late-night visitor, but… what if it’s Ajax? The idea is enough to entice him out of bed, but when he realizes his visitor isn’t his Ajax (not his, he wasn’t ever his), his heart sinks in disappointment. He opens the door, revealing a short woman with long silvery hair. Her arms are crossed, and a frown is tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Guizhong… I was not expecting you,” Zhongli greets her. “Did you forget something last time you were here? You did not call beforehand—”

“You look terrible,” she interrupts him. She places her hands on her hips and examines him from head to toe, studying him with stern eyes. “Let me guess, you didn’t sleep last night.” When he doesn’t reply, she sighs. “Look, we need to talk.”

Zhongli relents, stepping aside with a sigh. “Come in,” he murmurs. “I’ll brew us a pot of tea.”

They settle in at his dining table, and Zhongli pulls out an extravagant tea set from his cupboard. His heart aches when he remembers who bought it for him, his mind filled with deep ocean hues and bright ginger hair. He hadn’t used it yet, waiting for Ajax to come visit to brew some new leaves he had obtained, but after what happened in Ekaterina’s office… the chances of that happening were slim to none.

He sets the steaming pot of tea down in front of Guizhong and pours her a cup. “... What was it that you wanted to discuss?” He asks when Guizhong pulls out her phone and starts waving it in his face.

“Zhongli, the press think we’re dating.” He chokes on his tea, and Guizhong doesn’t make any effort to help him. “This article came out a few days ago and now it’s taking the media by storm. They’ve been crowding around my house, trying to ask me about you. It’s absurd!”

“M-My apologies,” Zhongli manages to say between coughs, hitting his chest in an effort to ease his breathing. “Did you say that the press thinks we are together?”

“Yes!” Guizhong throws her hands into the air, waving them around in her disbelief. “They saw you leaving my house last week and went crazy! Now, all sorts of pictures of us have been showing up, and some of them are from years before you debuted!” She starts scrolling through the article, and each photo makes his stomach churn. “I swear, Ping looked like she was going to murder someone, so I’d really like to have this taken care of. Can you please just tell the press that we’re cousins?”

“I… I apologize for not hearing of this sooner. I will have a discussion with my PR team in the morning to make a statement,” he promises, pressing his hand to his forehead. All of this is a nightmare, and he can just feel the impending headache. “When was the article published?”

Guizhong sets her phone on the dining table, grimacing. “About a week ago. I’m assuming the moment they took that photo, they went and did their research. I didn’t pay it any mind at first, but then some journalist was able to find where I live this afternoon and…” She groans, slumping against the back of her chair. “This is all just so messed up!”

He leans forward, placing a hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “I will tell my employees to send out a statement as soon as possible,” he promises again. He picks up her phone, wanting to scroll through it some more. “I’m sorry. I thought I had been careful when I went to visit you, but it appears I was not careful enough.”

“No, I know you tried. I just hope this all ends quickly.” Guizhong huffs, twisting a strand of her long hair in her fingers. “I’m sorry I came without calling, but it was urgent. I know that you’re busy trying to woo your little co-star, but—”

“No, not anymore.” Zhongli turns off Guizhong’s phone, setting it down and looking down at his hands. “... He doesn’t wish to speak to me anymore.”

Guizhong is stunned into silence, her eyes wide. “I’m… sorry to hear that,” she murmurs, her expression filled with pity. “I’m just a little surprised. I thought you two were getting along well?”

“We were, but now he refuses to even look at me,” Zhongli bemoans, his eyes still trained on his hands. “I tried asking him what was wrong, and he never replied to me. I tried calling him, sending gifts, and I even tried to arrange a meeting through his assistant. This seemed to upset him further, and he told me to, ah, give up on him.”

“Really?” Guizhong looks shocked. “And this just happened out of nowhere? This sounds really out of character for him.” She pulls her legs up against her chest, pursing her lips together in thought. “You didn’t do anything, did you?”

He shakes his head, his expression sullen. “I didn’t. At least, not that I am aware of. He won’t tell me what I did to upset him, and I fear that I have already lost him.”

Guizhong places a hand on his back, patting it softly. “Look, I’m sure it isn’t your fault. If anything, you just dodged a huge red flag if he’s that volatile.”

“But that is unlike him,” Zhongli insists, shaking his head. Despite all that has happened, he can’t help but want to defend Ajax to the bitter end. “Something must have happened, but who am I to—” His breath stutters to a halt when he sees his phone buzzing. Curious, he picks it up, and his eyes widen as he immediately accepts the call. “Aja—”

“Luuumineeee,” a voice that is unmistakably Ajax’s whines from the other side. “I think I fucked up again.”

Zhongli remains quiet, fearing that if he says anything else, he will just hang up. “He tried to meet me through an appointment, and I said I didn’t want to see him again…” He groans, clearly frustrated. “Why did I do that…? Agghh, I need another shot.”

“Is he… drunk?” Guizhong whispers, not loud enough for the phone to pick up her words. Zhongli nods gravely, remaining silent in hopes of keeping Ajax talking.

He can hear Ajax take a swig straight from the bottle, clumsily slamming it back onto the table. “I think I just dug my own grave. He probably hates me now… He hasn’t even done anything wrong! I’m just stupid,” he slurs. “He’s just so perfect, I was stupid to think that he was still single…”

Zhongli slowly sits up, turning to his cousin with wide eyes. It didn’t take much for him to realize that Ajax was talking about their exchange earlier, and he begins listening with rapt attention. There are what feels like a million thoughts racing through his mind, each coming in one after another like flashes of lightning. Is he alright? Is he safe? What is he talking about?

“I think everything just got to my head,” Ajax continues to mumble softly, crestfallen. His voice is so soft and vulnerable, Zhongli wants nothing more than to bundle him up into his arms and never let him go. “We spent so much time together, I thought that there was something there. I know I’ve said this a million times, but I’ve never felt so connected to someone before. He made me feel like I actually mattered and…” His voice trails off. “... I fucked up, Lumine.”

Zhongli can’t take it anymore. “Is that really how you feel, Ajax?” he asks. His voice trembles, his heart rattling against his ribcage. No words can describe just how much he wants this to be real, to hear with Ajax’s own voice that he’s telling the truth. Does he…?

Ajax is silent on the other end for a second. His voice quivers. “... Zhongli?”

The line goes silent before Ajax abruptly hangs up.

Zhongli doesn’t waste a second, immediately standing up and rushing to get his coat and put on his shoes. “My apologies, Guizhong. I’m afraid that we are going to have to cut our meeting short.”

“Are you kidding?!” When Zhongli looks up from his shoes, Guizhong tosses him his keys, wearing the biggest grin that he has ever seen on his face. “Go get your man! I’ll clean up, don’t worry!” Dusting off his shoulders, she promptly shoves him out of his own house.

“Thank you, Guizhong.” The actor smiles fondly at her before rushing out of the door, fumbling around with his keys to get his car started. He races down the streets, paying no mind to his speeding. All that he can think of is Ajax passed out next to a bottle of firewater, and the idea is enough to tie his stomach into knots.

He doesn’t want to appear rude, but Ajax’s safety is his first and foremost priority. Upon the discovery that his front door is still unlocked, he steps inside, fearing that Ajax has already fled the scene. However, as soon as he walks inside, the first thing he sees is the younger man, slumped over his couch.

“Ajax!” Zhongli is immediately at his side, prying the bottle of firewater out of his grasp as he cups his cheeks. He reeks of alcohol, and he stirs a little at his touch. “Ajax, wake up please.”

“Mmmph—” Ajax grumbles, his eyes slowly fluttering open. Those deep blue eyes are glazed over, and it doesn’t look like he is aware of what is happening. There are dark circles beneath his eyes, and Zhongli’s thumbs brush over them softly. “Xian… Xiansheng? What are you… you doin’ in my place?” he mumbles, squinting his eyes.

Zhongli’s shoulders relax a little when he realizes that he is still awake. “Ajax, you are drunk,” he deadpans, brushing away the sweaty bangs covering his pretty eyes. “Why did you do that?”

“I’m not drunk,” he slurs, trying to push Zhongli away from him. However, his movements are sluggish and weak, and Zhongli’s grip remains firm. “I’m perfectly sober…”

He is clearly too inebriated to formulate any coherent thought, so Zhongli just offers him a stiff smile. “Let’s get you to bed,” he suggests softly, gently bundling him into his arms. It’s a little awkward, especially since Ajax is basically the same height as he is, but he manages to loop his arms beneath his shoulders and legs, gently cradling him against his chest. He has to force himself to focus when he snuggles his face against him, seeking more of his warmth.

He manages to carry him over to his bedroom, tucking him in beneath the soft sheets. He runs his fingers through his soft ginger hair one last time, keeping his voice low. “Rest. If you need something, I will be just down the hall.” He turns to leave, but Ajax’s frail voice stops him.

“... Stay.”

Zhongli freezes in his steps, turning back to see Ajax’s hand reaching out towards him. He still looks dazed, and Zhongli doubts that he will remember this in the morning, but he looks so vulnerable that Zhongli finds his resolve crumbling in his hands.

“Stay,” Ajax repeats, his eyes drooping. “... Before I go and… and I…” He never finishes his sentence, his eyes closing for good as soft snores fill the air.

Wordlessly making his way back to Ajax’s side, Zhongli can’t resist any longer. He leans down, brushing his bangs away from his forehead to press a soft kiss against it. It’s warm against his lips, but most of all, it feels right.

“... Goodnight, Ajax.”

…

The headache that greets Ajax makes his eyes cross, with black spots dotting his vision. He groans, running his hand through his hair as he attempts to sit up. But a weight pulls him down, forcing him to stay in bed.

His memory is foggy at best. All he remembers is the firewater he bought, slumping over the couch and calling Lumine, except—

Ajax shoots up, sitting up with heavy breaths. That’s right, he called Zhongli of all people like the idiot he is and—

—something, or rather, someone shifts from beside him, pulling him back down into bed.

Ajax watches in horror as the weight that had pulled him down sits up, the long dark hair unmistakable for the man who had him spinning in circles for the past few months. Zhongli’s pretty honeyed eyes are still a little dazed from sleep, but he hums, the throaty sound reverberating through Ajax as he nuzzles his nose into the crook of his neck.

“… Ajax,” Zhongli hums at last, and gods, Ajax isn’t sure if his heart can handle any more. “You are awake. How are you feeling?”

“W-What the hell are you doing here?” he sputters. "How'd you get in my apartment? Hell, why are you in my bed?!”

Zhongli pauses momentarily. “… You worried me,” he admits softly, and Ajax finds himself riddled with guilt. Of course kind and perfect Zhongli would take time out of his busy schedule to see him. “After so long, I finally hear from you again, and you are so terribly drunk I can hardly make out your words—“ He buries his nose deeper into his hair. “… I just had to ensure your safety. When I got here, your door was unlocked and I could not bear to leave you.”

He falls silent for a breath until, “Ajax… why?” His voice is so soft and hurt that it physically pains him, sending pangs of guilt through his heart. “Why did you ignore me? Have I done anything to deserve your ire? I assure you, I will do everything in my power to right my wrongs—“

“Y-You never did anything wrong,” Ajax is quick to intervene. “… I’m just… stupid.” He sighs, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

“You are not,” Zhongli firmly interjects. “Ajax, if anything bothers you, then it is important. I am here to listen.” He lowers his voice. “... Tell me, Ajax. I would never judge you.”

But Ajax is stubborn. “No, really, you’ll just laugh at me,” he bemoans. “Ugh, I still need to finish packing up, I leave for Snezhnaya tomorrow—”

“Ajax, I implore you.” Zhongli is practically begging him. “If you decide to never speak to me again, then that is fine.” (It really isn’t.) “ Just please tell me what I have done to hurt you.”

Ajax falls silent for what feels like forever. Zhongli can only feel his heart drop into a deep pit of despair, until…

“… I like you, Zhongli.”

He doesn’t dare to say love. “It’s stupid, I know. You’re completely out of my league, not to mention all I seem to do around you is make a complete mess of myself,” he scoffs bitterly to himself. “I just… You make it so easy.”

He finally lifts his gaze to meet Zhongli’s, but he struggles to hold it for more than a few measly seconds. “You’re handsome, talented, funny, and so much more,” he breathes. “You make me feel seen and important, not to mention happy. But I know that you don’t feel that way towards me, especially since you have a girlfriend, so—“

“You have it wrong, Ajax,” Zhongli insists, and the next thing Ajax knows, he’s gently cupping his cheek and urging him to turn towards him. His thumb makes soft strokes along his cheekbone, trying to rub the dark circles away. His gaze is so soft and tender and—

He leans in, kissing him softly. It’s a little less than ideal, neither of them having brushed their teeth and still mussed with bed head, but it somehow feels as perfect as their first kiss on film, and it only now begins to settle in that Zhongli feels the same way that he does.

They only part to breathe, but even then, Zhongli pulls him back into another one until the two are completely breathless, gently panting with their foreheads pressed together. Ajax’s eyes are wide, still a little stunned as he fails to process what just happened, but Zhongli’s gaze is resolute.

“Ajax, there has been nobody I have desired more than I have you,” he declares softly. “No man nor woman can ever take the same place in my heart that you hold. I love how you take the time to listen to me, even if I tend to ramble. You cook for me and invite me into your home, make me laugh, and inspire me every day. I love you, Ajax.” He strokes his cheeks adoringly, a hint of a smile gracing his lips. “... How could I not?”

“B-But what about Guizhong?” Ajax sputters. “The articles said—”

Zhongli rolls his eyes affectionately. “Guizhong is my cousin. She is simply overaffectionate.” The older man reaches out to take his hand into his own, gently mapping out all of the veins and creases on his palm. “There was never anyone else, Ajax. Only ever you. Shouldn’t you, of all people, know not to trust the tabloids?”

“... So you love me.”

Zhongli’s eyes turn into crescents as he laughs. “Very much so.”

Ajax finds himself groaning, the tense atmosphere suddenly dissipating. “You stupid—” He leans his forehead against his shoulder, gently pretending to pound his chest. “You made me go insane! Why didn’t you just tell me?” He whines.

Zhongli chuckles, running his fingers through his fluffy ginger locks. “I tried, dearest. Do you not recall the chopsticks I gave you?”

“What do chopsticks have to do with any of this?” Ajax pulls back, grumbling. “That doesn’t count,” he hisses, although there is no venom behind his words. “I—You know what? Just kiss me again, you stupid oaf.”

…

“I love you, Zhongli.” It’s a soft confession, whispered just for the two of them to hear as they’re wrapped in sheets dyed gold in the early morning sunshine. “I’m sorry for worrying you.”

Zhongli offers a thoughtful hum, tucking his head in between the crook of Ajax’s neck. “I’m afraid I require more penance. Allow me to accompany you to Snezhnaya?”

“Of course.”

…

The following year, Genshin Impact: The Final Contract is nominated for Motion Picture of the Year at the Fontinalia Film Festival. To nobody’s surprise, the film is announced as the winner, and as the two leading actors stand up to retrieve their reward, they do so hand-in-hand.

And if anybody notices their matching silver and gold bands on their ring fingers… then that is a story for another time.